Is Colony At The Ritz-Carlton The Best Hotel Buffet In Singapore?

Colony has $78++ lunch buffet in a five-star hotel 

I’ll be honest: I’m not usually a buffet person. Over the past decade writing about food in Singapore, I’ve tried my fair share—from affordable “hidden gems” to grand Sunday brunches with free-flow Dom. More often than not, they’re either way out of my budget or the quality of the dishes doesn’t quite hit the mark.

When I got the chance to try Colony at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, I jumped at it. Here’s why: the buffet restaurant boasts a stellar 4.6-star Google rating from nearly 3,000 reviews. Plus, my picky friend—who rarely vouches for anything—always raves about Colony’s buffets, so I knew it was worth a try.

The five-star hotel’s daily lunch buffet is priced at $78++ per person on weekdays and $82++ on Saturdays, running from 12pm to 2:30pm. We visited on a Thursday.

Food at Colony

From experience, the best place to start any buffet is the seafood section. I headed straight to The Ice Bar, which was well-stocked with fresh seafood on ice.

This station was extremely popular, and there was always a crowd surrounding it. That being said, the chefs worked fast in replenishing the oceanic goodies, so you never have to exert patience.

Everything was incredibly fresh. From the snow crab legs and poached prawns to the tiny white clams, each item was perfectly cooked, bringing out a natural sweetness that didn’t need any extras.

I enjoyed the seafood with just a squeeze of fresh lemon—no other condiments required. This was probably the freshest seafood on ice I’ve ever had.

Nearby, the Japanese section offers an assortment of sashimi, sushi, and rice rolls.

Everything is prepared fresh; you’ll see chefs slicing up salmon and tuna sashimi at this station.

You’ll also find a solid selection of charcuterie and cheeses right around the corner, featuring beef pastrami, mortadella, salami and more.

By this point, my appetite was ready for the main spread, so I headed inside for more.

My friend had hyped up the live pasta station, so I knew I couldn’t leave without checking it out.

Of the four pasta dishes, all cooked-to-order, the Linguine Carbonara stood out as my favourite. Made the classic way with guanciale and pepper, the noodles were perfectly al dente, and the creamy sauce was well-seasoned.

The Paccheri Puttanesca, featuring wide, tube-shaped pasta in a tangy, piquant sauce, was also delicious. I loved the umami-rich tomato sauce, which had a pronounced anchovy flavour that cut through the dish beautifully.

After picking your pasta, head over to the Western Carvings section for slices of Macka’s Angus Striploin.

I recommend pairing the tender beef with creamy Sauce Diane—a creamy and savoury sauce made from seasoned pan juices—alongside a smidgen of sweet onion marmalade.

There’s also a hearty selection of meats, with my personal favourite being the Lamb Rump with Vadouvan Sauce. I usually avoid lamb because of its gaminess, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it—I even went back for seconds!

Seafood fans should definitely try the Norwegian Salmon with Buttermilk Nage, Dill Oil, and Pickled Cucumber. It’s poached to perfection and so tender, it could easily pass for a main at a fine-dining restaurant.

Next stop: The Tandoor. Colony has an entire corner devoted to Indian specialties, including a tandoor oven where fresh naan is baked throughout lunch service.

You can’t go wrong with the Butter Chicken, a North Indian classic, featuring a rich tomato-and-cream gravy and tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken chunks.

Pro tip: Skip the biryani and grab some slices of fresh Garlic Naan to soak up all that saucy goodness.

Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying a bowl (or three, in my case) of Colony Laksa. This local favourite is cooked a la minute at the live noodle station.

Colony’s laksa hits all the right notes with its lemak, umami-packed broth. The aromatic coconut base is boosted with a dollop of sambal—you can add your preferred amount at the condiment station—and comes loaded with uber-fresh hum and a handmade lobster ball.

If, for some reason, you’re still peckish for more carbs, head to the bread section in the middle of the buffet spread.

The Chicken Floss Breads caught my eye, as you don’t usually see floss buns served at a hotel buffet.

There’s also a dim sum section with freshly steamed options, including Har Kow and Vegetarian Jade Dumpling. We were hoping the Salted Egg Custard Bun would be molten in the middle, but the filling was set.

Desserts are always a highlight at any international buffet, and Colony’s selection didn’t disappoint.

I made a beeline for the Nyonya kueh, featuring familiar favourites such as Kueh Dadar, Ang Ku Kueh, and my personal favourite, Ondeh Ondeh.

I was also impressed with the variety of mini tarts and whole cakes in the refrigerator display. The macarons were particularly delicious with a crisp shell and decadent caramel middle.

Another must-try is the Taiwanese peanut wrap, where peanut brittle, yam ice cream, and fresh coriander are rolled together in a thin, popiah-like crepe.

Ambience at Colony

Located near the entrance of The Ritz-Carlton, Colony lives up to its name with a British colonial-inspired design, blending modern furniture with vintage prints. The buffet area is bright and airy, with soaring skylights that let natural light flood the space.

One thing I loved about Colony is how the buffet stations are set up. Most of the food is tucked away from the main dining area, with diners having to walk through a discreet sliding door to reach the main spread and live cooking stations. It makes the whole experience feel a lot more relaxed—you’re not jostling with other diners while you eat. The space is huge too, easily fitting up to 260 people.

When we visited on a weekday around 11:50am, a line had already formed outside, with diners waiting for the 12pm opening. Reservations are highly recommended to secure a spot.

Colony is a six-minute walk from Esplanade and Promenade MRT Stations.

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The weekday lunch buffet at Colony hit all the right notes. Between the huge variety of dishes, the quality of the food, and the swanky ambience, it’s definitely a spot I’ll be bookmarking for all my future celebrations. Honestly, I think I’ve just found my new favourite buffet in Singapore!

To recover from your post-buffet food coma, check out our Kurasu review and Narrative Coffee Stand review for some great coffee nearby!

Address: 7 Raffles Avenue, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, Singapore 039799
Lunch buffet hours: Mon-Fri 12pm to 2:30pm
Tel: 6434 5288
Website
Colony is not halal-certified.

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Photos taken by Marcus Neo.
This was a media tasting at Colony.