Wan Xin NgIt’s that time of the year again, when the sharp scent of durian starts creeping through hawker centres, dinner conversations, and now, buffet tables across the island. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a curious first-timer, there’s something about durian season in Singapore that invites a kind of ritualistic indulgence. You either love it or pretend to love it so that people won’t say ‘you sure you Singaporean?’
This year, hotels and restaurants are going all in. We’re not just talking about a slice of Mao Shan Wang at a pasar malam, we’re talking about durian-infused mains, torch-blown desserts, live stations cracking open husks on the spot, and enough tropical fruit sides to keep your internal temperature in check. From family-friendly dessert spreads to high-end fruit feasts, 2025’s durian buffets are more imaginative and over-the-top than ever.
Here’s what’s happening, where to go, and what to expect if you’re thinking of diving face-first into the King of Fruits.
Also read: New Ideas for Things to Do in Singapore 2025: Where to Hang Out, Chill and Explore
1. All Hail the King Durian Fest at Resorts World Sentosa: A short, sharp durian spectacle
While most durian buffets stretch across weeks, Resorts World Sentosa’s “All Hail the King” Durian Fest is a tightly packed, six-day affair. Held over two weekends in July at The Bay Restaurant within Adventure Cove Waterpark, this event leans into indulgence from the get-go, with premium durians, tropical fruits, and a few luxe side dishes that round out the experience.
Image Credit: Resorts World Sentosa Official Website
Unlike the hotel buffets, this is a one-session event. You’re given 90 minutes and full access to a curated fruit spread that includes Mao Shan Wang, Red Prawn, and D24, all served free-flow. Rambutan and mangosteen add sweetness and balance, while coconut water and Three Legs Cooling Water help ease the heat.
The event also includes gourmet offerings from Dian Xiao Er, including a roast duck carving station, making this feel less like a buffet and more like a fruit-centric feast with restaurant-level touches. It’s ideal for those who don’t need a sprawling buffet and just want to go straight to the good stuff.
Address: The Bay Restaurant, Adventure Cove Waterpark
Dates: 11–13 July and 18–20 July 2025 (Fridays to Sundays only)
Time: 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Price: S$268 per person
Includes: Free-flow premium durians (Mao Shan Wang, Red Prawn, D24), other tropical fruits, coconut water, Three Legs Cooling Water, and gourmet sides from Dian Xiao Er including roast duck
2. Goodwood Park Hotel’s Durian Dessert Buffet: A quieter way to start
The durian buffet season often brings to mind bold flavours, full bellies, and long queues at live stations. But at Goodwood Park Hotel’s Coffee Lounge, things unfold at a different pace. Their long-running durian dessert buffet offers a more measured experience, where attention is paid to texture, balance, and quietly creative combinations.
Image Credit: Goodwood Park Hotel Official Website
Running from April to early August, this year’s edition celebrates the hotel’s 125th anniversary with a few new surprises. One standout is the torched marshmallow durian ice cream, a toasted, creamy twist that manages to be both nostalgic and a little strange. There’s also a fluffy durian pancake, a durian sourdough pizza, and a generous mix of non-durian pastries and desserts for those who prefer a gentler introduction.
Guests can enjoy the durian dessert buffet on its own or pair it with a main course by topping up. It’s available from Friday dinner through to Sunday lunch, making it a popular pick for weekend catchups and quiet celebrations. For those just dipping their toes into durian season, this is where the story begins — not with a bang, but with a spoonful of D24 in soft, familiar form.Address: Coffee Lounge, Goodwood Park Hotel
Dates: 4 April to 10 August 2025
Price: S$65++ per adult | S$39++ per child
Top-up Option: S$50++ per adult | S$30++ per child (with main course or set menu)
Card Privileges: 15–20% off for selected cardholders (not valid for Mao Shan Wang items or à la carte durian ice cream)
3. SG60 Durian Fiesta at Grand Copthorne Waterfront: A buffet with a national twist
If the Goodwood buffet feels like a quiet nod to durian season, Grand Copthorne Waterfront’s version is the full-blown celebration. Running from mid-July to September, the SG60 Durian Fiesta at Food Capital ties Singapore’s 60th birthday into its annual durian spread, doing so with unapologetic flair.
Image Credit: Millenium Hotels Official Website
The buffet stretches across lunch and dinner, with a generous mix of local and international dishes. But it’s during dinner that things shift gears. Out on the terrace, fresh Musang King durians are cracked open live and served free-flow. Inside, the hot food line surprises with things like durian laksa, kampung-style durian fried rice, and even a durian-glazed roasted chicken that walks the fine line between novelty and balance. It’s not just about adding durian for the sake of it. The dishes are clearly and carefully built around them theme of durians, making for a deliciously cohesive experience.
This year, there’s an added collaboration with local ice cream brand Udders. Launching on 15 July, their new flavours (including Durian Cheesecake, Durian Pengat, and the ultra-rich Emperor Mao) will be featured at the dessert live station on a rotating basis. These pair alongside a selection of durian desserts like panna cotta, cream puffs, and tartlets, rounding out a line-up that’s clearly been curated with durian lovers in mind.
Image Credit: Millenium Hotels Official Website
It’s a buffet that’s built for indulgence, but still manages to keep things grounded. The flavours are playful, but the spread holds up on its own even without the durian. That’s a rare balance — and one worth checking out before the season ends.
Address: 392 Havelock Road, Singapore 169663
Dates: 14 July to 14 September 2025
Price:
Lunch (Mon–Sat): S$72++ per adult | S$36++ per child
Dinner (Sun–Thurs): S$118++ per adult | S$59++ per child
Dinner (Fri–Sat): S$128++ per adult | S$64++ per child
Highlights: Free-flow Musang King durian (dinner only), durian-themed mains and desserts, Udders durian ice cream rotation
Special Event: National Day-themed buffet from 8 to 10 August 2025
4. Paradox Singapore’s Durian Extravaganza: Where things get serious
If you’re craving something a little more excitement in your dishes, then maybe this one’s for you. At Ellenborough Market Cafe, there’s no soft launch. From the moment you step in, it’s clear this is about going all in.
Image Credit: Paradox Hotels Official Website
The space itself is elegant in that familiar, hotel-buffet kind of way, but the menu reads like a fever dream curated by someone with both deep culinary skill and absolutely no fear. Durian finds its way into soup, seafood, pasta, roast meats, and mashed potatoes. It’s a kind of chaos that somehow stays on the right side of coherence. Enough to make you laugh at the audacity, and then quietly go back for seconds.
Weekend Dinner: Durian Extravaganza Buffet
Image Credit: Paradox Hotels Official Website
Dates: 2 June to 31 August 2025 (Fridays to Sundays & Public Holidays)
Time: 6:00pm to 10:00pm (Two seatings: 6:00–8:00pm, 8:00–10:00pm)
Price: S$98++ per adult | S$42++ per child (6–12 years)
Held on weekends, this buffet reads like a challenge in the best way. Dishes rotate weekly but often feature bold experiments like durian chicken soup, sambal durian roasted chicken, bacon durian cream pasta, and cauliflower durian gratin. Every menu item is a supririse combination of ingredients you never knew would have worked till you taste it.
The dessert selection includes more familiar comforts like durian triple cheesecake, pandan waffles spread with durian paste, and the cafe’s signature durian pengat. There’s also a good mix of local kueh, fruit, and non-durian cakes for those easing in slowly.
Thursdays Only: Royal Durian Bazaar
Image Credit: Paradox Hotels Official Website
Dates: 10 July to 7 August 2025 (Thursdays only)
Time: 6:00pm to 8:30pm (Walk-ins allowed after 8:30pm, subject to availability)
Price: S$138++ per adult | S$50++ per child (6–12 years)
For a more fruit-forward experience, the Royal Durian Bazaar transforms Thursdays into a durian tasting session with a side of buffet. A live riverside stall dishes out unlimited servings of premium varieties like Musang King, D24, and others in season. Mangosteens are served alongside to cleanse the palate between bites. It’s less about novelty here, and more about pure, punchy flavour of the fruit.
Tripzilla Tip: If you’re planning a weekday visit in June, Paradox is also running a Kids Dine Free promotion for their from Mondays to Thursdays. Note that this applies to their regular buffet, not the durian-themed one.Up to six children (aged 12 and under) dine free per bill with paying adults, which if worth considering if you’re thinking of bringing the whole family along.
Also read: Best Places To Travel With Kids Near Singapore
Final thoughts
Image Credit: Paradox Hotels Official Website
There’s no one way to eat durian, and this year’s buffets prove it. Some take the dessert route, others go full experimental with laksa and gratin. A few just hand you a plate and point you toward a live Musang King stall. Whether you’re in it for the novelty, the nostalgia, or just to see how many varieties you can name, there’s something oddly joyful about the whole experience.
And that’s exactly the draw around durian season in Singapore. The planning, anticipation and shared reactions over a beloved national dish somehow manages to bring people together even when opinions are split. You don’t even have to love durian to get caught up in it!
