Fancy a hearty buffet in the far east of Singapore? The Allora Buffet at Crowne Plaza hotel is one such place you can indulge with aviation. Allora offers an international buffet experience with a Mediterranean touch, tucked away within a quiet oasis in the heart of Changi Airport. Let’s see what’s on offer with a Sunday brunch dine-in.
The restaurant previously was known as Azur
On some history, Allora is a revamped restaurant of the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, which officially opened in 2008, together with Terminal 3. It was developed as part of Changi Airport’s push to enhance its airside and landside hospitality offerings. The hotel is inconspicuously located right next to Changi Airport Terminal 3 and is well served by pedestrian walkways connecting from Changi Airport for transiting passengers, airline crew, and business travellers. Notably, the hotel is owned by OUE Limited and operated by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).
Also, the hotel first restaurant at opening was called Azur. Notably, Azur operated for over a decade and was known for its international and pan-Asian cuisine buffet spread and all-day dining. However, as dining trends shifted and the hotel refreshed its offerings, Azur was eventually phased out, and in 2023 come Allora as part of the restaurant rebranding efforts, taking over the space previously occupied by Azur.
Upon entering from the Airport hotel’s main lobby, the architecture stands out with its resort-like feel. The layout tad feels welcoming yet modern. It spots vertical gardens, and quiet atmosphere despite being near the airport runways. The seating area is sleek with polished wooden furniture and soft upholstered chairs. Also, the lighting is warm and soft, done in combination of natural sunlight and interior lights. Service staff are friendly, greeting you politely and ushering you to your table efficiently. Notably, the hotel over the years had won multiple awards including “World’s Best Airport Hotel” by Skytrax.
Strong Italian and Mediterranean focus
Furthermore, the buffet mixes global fare with regional specialties and Mediterranean inspirations. Here, the buffet is segmented into clear food zones with an open concept, broken into Asian, Italian, and Western options. You are freely able to walk in and out of the with the buffet spread and split between two main sectors. The first is the main restaurant hall seating where the food counters reside. There is a secondary area is a seating area and where the restaurant open bar reside.
The food spread and variety is surprisingly large for a lunch time buffet. On the buffet menu, I found the roast and pizzas the highlight offering here, as well as the dessert counter. The buffet desserts counter strangely sits outside at the lobby area of the restaurant. It does bring colours and aromas to the hotel lobby waiting area. More on the desserts later. You notice a blend of locals, hotel guests, and curious diners looking at the buffet and dessert spread as they arrive at the hotel lobby.
Moreover, the restaurant pizza and breads counter greet you at the entrance of the restaurant. This is flanked by the cashier and the noodle and pasta cooking stands which serves made-to-order dishes. Here, a wood-fired pizza oven sits behind the Italian counter. Pizzas are made in large rectangular platters, touted as their 1-meter long pizza and served fresh with two flavours at a go. Their margherita pizza is simple, chewy, and decent. You can expect a fresh batch of a about 4-5 pizzas typical for each meal session.
Pasta and roast live stations
Moreover, the live stations are the buffet’s strong suit. These sections are mostly situated by the restaurant entrance. Moreover, the western hot mains offers two counters where you can have a chef slice roasted beef sirloin or Grilled Lamb Rack at the meat carving station. The beef is prepared medium-rare and nicely seasoned, best paired with the accompanying Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Beechwood Grilled Vegetables and brown jus as condiments.
Additionally, there is also a cheese wheel pasta station where you can pick order a choice of pasta cooked on the spot and tossed into a cheese bowl, complete with self-help sauce and toppings. You have a choice of a selection of pasta shapes, with linguine and penne pasta being popular choices paired with either sauces of basil pesto, arrabiata, bolognese or prawn. The pasta is creamy and well-balanced, worth a second helping. When tossed in cheese, your dish leans a tad too salty.
Oysters for Brunch
Moreover, I found their seafood offerings are pretty good for a brunch menu. Here, you can find a fresh comforting seafood spread including fresh oysters, baby lobsters and crayfish. Wrapping up the selection are poached prawns, mussels, crabs and scallops.
The oysters are served on ice with lemon wedges and mignonette sauce. They taste fresh and the restaurant still replenishes them at regular intervals, but the Oysters does run out pretty quickly during peak periods with patrons often queuing for them.
Japanese sashmi selections
Additionally, there is a small Japanese counter serving sashmi staples, such as Salmon, Tuna and Octopus. There is also an assortment of Nigiri Sushi and Maki rolls. I found the sushi fresh with the Tuna being the better of the lot, though it is not the premium blue fin with flesh that melts in your mouth.
The quality of the sushi is adequate when it comes to mass-buffet standards, but still sits behind the Sashimi platters offered by Irodori Japanese Restaurant 4 Points hotel we previously dined at. Also, beside the Japanese counter is the salad and antipasti counter. You see grilled vegetables, marinated artichokes, olives, and burrata with cherry tomatoes. There’s also a DIY Caesar salad section with dressings, nuts, grains and cheese. Not bad if you like a lighter start.
Speaking of cheese, the cold starters section with a sizable cheese counter with 6 different types of cheese blocks (Grana Padano, Gorgonzola Dolce, Taleggio, Provolone, Smoked Scamorza, Mozzarella) to choose from as well as a selection of pickled meats. Here you can find cheese and crackers on the side along with nuts and dried fruit. Good if you want to end your meal on a savoury note. There are also an espresso machine and a small tea corner. Drinks are included, with juices, teas, and coffee on free flow.
Asian and cooked food
The Asian and cooked food counter located at the rear row of the restaurant has rotating items. On this visit, there is Paella rice, grilled vegetables, lamb and barramundi slices as cooked food highlights. There is also a small Indian food section with choices of curries as well as free flow of freshly made roti prata. The satay is well-grilled and comes with a thick peanut sauce. The rendang is tender but a bit mild in spice level.
If you crave a local Asian staple, just across the main walkway where the restaurant bar reside sits the drinks and the chicken rice corner, offering a local selection of Roasted chicken, White poached chicken and Roasted five spice pork belly slices.
For something safer, the roasted chicken with herbs is is a good bet. The meat is juicy, and well marinated. You can pair your chicken rice with free flow sides of pandan rice too.
Loaded Dessert selections
Moreover, the dessert section located by the hotel lobby entrance is rather extensive. Here you can find multiple cakes in variety of sizes (I counted about 5), sweet dessert cups including durian puree. There is also apple crumble and fudge served by the tray and replenished regularly. Topping up the sweets here are also a variety of sweet tarts, like panna cotta, and petite lemon tarts.
Also, the gelato and ice cream corner is one to wrap up with the sweets too. You have a choice of 5 different soft serve ice cream and sorbet flavours, including strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla. The lemon and peach sorbet stands out smooth and creamy with just the right sweetness.
On service, I found the restaurant service is attentive. Empty plates are cleared promptly, and staff check in regularly without being intrusive. Your dishes on the tables are cleared between courses just as you leave for your next course without delay. This ensures that your table is always ready for your next plate. You never feel rushed even when the place gets busy. For my weekend lunch, the restaurant was not full, with the ambience is quiet and calm, with no loud music or chatter and is a comfortable place even for large groups to sit back and enjoy a leisurely meal.
Wrapping up
Do note that their Sunday brunch is typically held on the last Sunday of every month, and special occasions, running from 12.30pm- 3.30pm. I find the pricing of the offering really good value for the $78++ asking price per adult and $39++ per child. Their spread and quality of the buffet food even rivals and betters more expensive $100+/pax hotel buffet offerings, like the Fullerton Town restaurant dinner buffet we recently dined-in previously. Though it still does not surpass the offerings of Colony buffet (which still takes the top-end for quality, but with a huge price tag to boot too). Allora offers complimentary airport parking tickets available on request which deducts $5 off your parking fee.
All in all, that wraps up our dine-in here at Allora. Overall, their Sunday brunch buffet was surprisingly pleasant for the asking price and delivers on taste and quality in a relaxed dining experience with above-average offerings. That offers good bang for the buck. The coffee house and bar operates from 6 am to 12am daily, though kitchen and buffet hours vary by day, so do check ahead for updated meal times. The restaurant is located at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, Level 2, 75 Airport Blvd, Singapore 819664.
This review is not sponsored by the establishment nor did they provide any editorial input or reimbursements into the content and outcome of this review. All meals were paid for in full out of my own pocket as a regular and anonymous patron.
Verdict:
Must Go! | Actually pretty Good | Worth Trying | Shortlist Optionally | Should Avoid
Allora Makan Place Locality Map
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport by IHG
75 Airport Blvd,
Terminal 3 Singapore Changi Airport,
Singapore 819664
Opening Hours: 6 am- 12am (Buffet times will vary)
