News from Kempinski

From Berlin to Bangkok, the festive season brings glittering celebrations and a digital journey into the heart and history of Kempinski

Geneva, 1 December 2025 — As winter unfolds and the year reaches its close, Kempinski celebrates the most wonderful time of year with celebrations across the global constellation and a digital journey into the heart and history of Kempinski.  

Counting down the days to Christmas, Kempinski’s digital Advent Calendar takes guests on a journey into the brand’s history from today. Hosted on the Kempinski website, the experience comes to life through a fully clickable and immersive 3D recreation of the original restaurant on Leipziger Strasse in Berlin. The story unfolds through a collection of letters from Berthold Kempinski. Every day from 1 to 24 December, a window opens to reveal a personal note celebrating defining moments that shaped the past, from the opening of Hotel Schloss Marquardt, Kempinski’s first hotel, to the introduction of valet parking in postwar Germany and the many Kempinski innovations patented since 1872. By celebrating the spirit of timeless European hospitality, the calendar is a tribute to tradition, audacity and reinvention: traits celebrated at every Kempinski hotel across the world, throughout the festive season.  

Simultaneously, Kempinski hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Asia are preparing to welcome the festive season with a month-long calendar of enchanting evenings, gastronomic experiences and sparkling celebrations. From gospel choirs and mulled wine to cinnamon-scented afternoon teas and a collection of magical family-friendly moments, Christmas with Kempinski is designed to bring a dash of effortless elegance to the most wonderful time of the year. 

Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich

Christmas joy and time-honoured traditions are celebrated in the Bavarian capital, where Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich promises generous hospitality and a warm welcome. Alpine culinary heritage is brought down to earth in The Talstation, a collection of heated ski gondolas outside the hotel where guests can sip on warm mulled wine and feast on fondue, raclette and other à la carte delicacies. Christmas Afternoon Tea created by Chef Pâtissier Ian Baker, is served daily in the Nymphenburg Room with a curated collection of Bavarian specialities: savoury gourmet bites including foie gras Baumkuchen and truffled brie with thyme honey, followed by sweet treats such as gingerbread canelés, served with a glass of Champagne. The gastronomic highlight of the season is an exclusive New Year’s Eve black-tie dinner at Schwarzreiter Restaurant, which presents an exquisite seven-course menu. No less enchanting, the New Year’s Eve gala dinner welcomes in 2026 with an evening of culinary sophistication, featuring live jazz followed by Champagne and fireworks on the Maximilianstrasse at midnight.

Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga

Art Nouveau grandeur meets timeless holiday charm in Riga, where Christmas lights and seasonal markets bring magic to the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage historic centre. Visitors are afforded a warm welcome at Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga, where festive celebrations unfold around thoughtfully crafted menus at Amber Restaurant and Stage22. Guests staying over Christmas will enjoy breakfast at Amber Restaurant on 24 December, followed by a sumptuous Christmas dinner featuring a curated selection of fresh seafood, premium cuts and decadent desserts. Guests staying over New Year’s Eve can choose from two exquisite experiences: Amber Restaurant promises a decadent five-course dinner and treats including a self-care mask set from 111SKIN, while Stage22 promises a six-course set menu followed by an evening of entertainment. Late check out on New Year’s Day, and complimentary access to Kempinski The Spa and Fitness Centre afford the opportunity to start 2026 in style. 

Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

Memories are made at Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin, where the lobby is transformed into a cosy seasonal celebration with mulled wine and Stollen, accompanied by a gospel choir. A British-inspired Festive Adlon Afternoon Tea is held at Bel Etage from Thursday to Sunday, and Adlon Champagne Advent Brunch is served in Brasserie Quarré on all four Sundays of Advent, while traditional festive wreaths, exclusive gifts and fragrant blooms are available at the Flower Atelier & Boutique. Thoughtfully curated menus are presented in the elegant surroundings of Bel Etage and Brasserie Quarré on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and Chef Jonas Zörner presents a special six-course menu with expertly paired wines at Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer. To mark the end of the year, sparkling New Year’s Eve celebrations take place across the hotel, with welcome cocktails, special menus, live music and Champagne at midnight, as well as New Year’s Day brunch for overnight guests. 

Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden

Christmas in Dresden carries the aroma of gingerbread, mulled wine and cinnamon. Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden celebrates the season with a full month of Christmas cheer, from festive cocktails and decorations in the lobby to traditional dining experiences. Celebrating the culinary heritage of Saxony, Das Palais Restaurant will be serving a traditional braised goose menu throughout December, filled with winter flavours like red cabbage, caramelised chestnuts and saffron pear. Afternoon tea at Amalie Patisserie & Lounge takes a celebratory turn with Dresden Christmas Stollen and pastries complementing sandwiches and scones, served fireside with a glass of Taittinger Champagne. There’s also Christmas Eve lunch and dinner at Das Palais; a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner with Champagne reception and wine pairings at Bel Etage; and a glamorous New Year’s Eve Party in the hotel’s Kurfürstensaal, the historic ballroom dressed for the occasion in seasonal finery, with live music until the early hours.

Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest

The festive season brings out the best of Budapest, from traditional Christmas markets that light up the city to gourmet treats. Overlooking Erzsébet Park, Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest is perfectly positioned to explore this winter wonderland. Guests are invited to indulge in warm mulled wine on the Winter Terrace of ÉS Bisztro, where outdoor heaters and soft blankets create a cosy environment full of Christmas cheer. Inside, Festive Afternoon Tea is served daily in The Living Room, and there are special Family Tables on Sundays during Advent. New Year’s Eve unfolds with sparkling celebrations across the hotel’s dining venues: The Living Room is transformed into an elegant Champagne Salon with a tasting menu that complements the bubbles; ÉS Bisztró takes guests on a five-course culinary journey; Nobu presents an exclusive seven-course Omakase menu crafted by Chef Gábor Schreiner; and Blue Fox The Bar rings in the New Year with an elegant evening of night of live music and dancing.

Çirağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul

Standing at the threshold between Europe and Asia, cosmopolitan Istanbul marks the festive season with joy and cheer, but nowhere does Christmas quite like Çirağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul. Home to the city’s most popular afternoon tea, Gazebo is celebrating yuletide throughout December with New Year’s cookies, cakes, and pastries served with select gourmet teas and mesmerising Bosphorus views. The Çirağan Ballroom will welcome 2026 in style, with a six-course Gala Dinner featuring exquisite delicacies and free-flowing beverages, live music and a late-night DJ set. Guests spending the night will also be invited to share New Year Brunch on 1 January, 2026. The hotel’s newest dining venue offering sophisticated Anatolian cuisine, Rüya, will also host a sparkling celebration to mark the final moments of the year, with an exclusive five-course set menu celebrating traditional and modern Turkish flavours and a spirited Countdown Party before the clock strikes midnight.

Kempinski Palace Portorož

Festive magic fills the air on the Slovenian coast, where Kempinski Palace Portorož is transformed into a winter wonderland of gourmet dining experiences and Christmas cheer. Following the Sparkling Wine Festival in the opulent surrounds of the Crystal Hall Ballroom on 26 December, the year concludes with a spectacular New Year’s Eve celebration with welcome drinks and canapes in the Palace Club, before moving into one of two distinct dining experiences. At MICHELIN Guide-recommended Restaurant Sophia, a seven-course degustation menu celebrates the bounty of the Adriatic Sea and land, with dishes like white truffle soup, lobster ravioli and Wagyu striploin. In the iconic Crystal Hall Ballroom, a ‘Silk & Salt’ themed evening brings dining delights at a collection of live cooking stations offering Istrian cold cuts, fresh pasta with truffles, and seasonal specialities like glazed ham and beef Wellington, accompanied by live music. When midnight comes, a late-night DJ keeps the party going at Palace Bar until the early hours. 

Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok

European elegance is infused with the warmth of Thai hospitality at Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, where the festive season promises a programme of dining and entertainment that blends culinary excellence with time-honoured traditions. Throughout December, the hotel lobby is transformed into a winter wonderland with a gingerbread village, crowned by an 8-metre Christmas tree. Every day, Christmas carols and live ballet performances from The Nutcracker are held in the lobby, and families are welcome each Saturday of Advent for a Santa Family Buffet Lunch. Afternoon tea at 1897 Lounge is crafted by Executive Pastry Chef Franck Istel as a celebration of tradition and taste inspired by European traditions, accompanied by live performances by harpist Madame Wang. Special Christmas and New Year’s menus will be available at Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin and ALATi, making Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok the ideal destination to celebrate with loved ones and end the year in style. 

Kempinski Hotel Muscat

Arabian sunshine creates a distinctly different festive ambience in Muscat, where Christmas blends European elegance with the allure of Omani heritage. At Kempinski Hotel Muscat, Christmas unfolds as a collection of thoughtfully crafted experiences, seasonal feasts by the sea and family gatherings under the stars. Families can learn new skills at a cooking master class, where the hotel’s expert chefs teach guests to craft chocolate, Stollen or gingerbread houses. On Christmas Day, Santa is expected to pay a visit to The Kitchen, where live entertainment accompanies a lavish international buffet dinner, while Zale offers an à la carte menu on the beachfront. As the year draws to a close, guests are invited to embark on a culinary journey on New Year’s Eve, from Indian cuisine paired with crafted cocktails at Bukhara to modern Thai flavours at Soi Soi, and glamorous celebrations at The Kitchen and Zale – beautiful moments to celebrate the spirit of the season. 

Kempinski The Boulevard Dubai

Dubai’s captivating combination of effortless elegance and luxurious hospitality makes it an ideal destination for a winter escape and Christmas sunshine. At Kempinski The Boulevard Dubai, the festive season is elevated by exquisite dining and dazzling skyline views. Refined Afternoon Tea rituals take place in the Lobby Lounge, where artfully crafted pastries, delicate savouries and hand-picked teas are served in plush surrounds bathed in natural light. On Christmas Eve, La Brasserie Sur Le Boulevard invites guests to join in a three-course dinner celebrating French culinary delights, accompanied by dazzling city views, and on Christmas Day, the celebration continues with a sunlit brunch overlooking Burj Khalifa. Whether dining on the terrace or the restaurant’s elegant interiors, guests can indulge in a lavish spread, from fresh oysters, sushi and foie gras to truffle risotto and traditional roasted turkey and decadent dessert. On 31 December, the year draws to a close with a spectacular New Year’s Eve Soirée on the Lobby Lounge terrace, with unrivalled views of the Burj Khalifa fireworks – the perfect finale to an enchanting evening. 

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