Best Vegan Restaurants in Singapore

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
Published: July 18, 2024
Group of friends chatting and laughing over a meal in a restaurant.

Plant-based meat and dairy alternatives have seen a massive surge in popularity in recent years, even among cultures where meat-eating is virtually a national sport. And no wonder: not only is a plant-based diet (obvs) a superior option for anyone opposed to breeding animals for food, veganism also has many other benefits, including reduced cholesterol and improved heart health.

Now for the science bit: vegan food tastes waaaay better than all those nay-saying carnivores can possibly imagine. Trust us when we say that modern vegan foods have come a long way since their 1990s heyday of drab lettuce sandwiches, insipid vegetable broths and cardboard-flavored nut roasts. The 21st Century’s imaginative vegan dishes now really bring the party to your tastebuds leaving many diners hard-pressed to distinguish mouthwatering plant-based meat substitutes from the real thing. We took a deep dive to seek out the best vegan restaurants in Singapore

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Cultivate Cafe

Located in the historic Tanjong Pajar district of Singapore’s CBD, Cultivate Cafe is the jewel in the crown of the Maxwell Reserve Hotel, a grand colonial-style old dame that’s been doing business here for over a century. Inside, colorful plant-based taste sensations are expertly whipped up using locally sourced organic ingredients and served in plush surroundings with wood-paneling, gorgeous 1920s-style lighting, shelves that fairly groan with antiquarian books, and stately velvet chairs with Liberty-style prints. The menu is an absolute vegan’s paradise. Think steamed white asparagus with Turkish figs and Sicilian olive dressing, zingy pad Thai and leek and pumpkin tart. Wash down with a cold-pressed juice or vegan beer and finish up with ice cream or cake. Dark chocolate and prune brownie with bitter chocolate ganache? Count us in!

Find it: Maxwell Reserve Hotel, 2 Cook Street, Singapore 078857

Afterglow

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Close to Chinatown, Afterglow offers a wide, varied and entirely plant-based menu. We defy any doubters to try the cheesy cauliflower bites (made with cashew milk), kimchi avocado rolls or marinated mushroom scallops and not become an instant convert to vegan food. This one’s child-friendly too, with kiddie faves like chicken nuggets and meatballs represented by moreish lentil flaxseed nuggets and teriyaki mushroom balls. Burgers, noodles, tacos and an impressive lasagne made with mushrooms, walnuts, pesto and zucchini sheets complete the savory line-up. Don’t miss the frankly unbelievable cheesecake, with cashew cream, medjool dates, maple syrup and coconut oil. Undoubtedly one of the very best vegan restaurants in Singapore.

Find it: 24 Keong Saik Road #01-0, Singapore 089131

Genesis

You’ll find Genesis just a short stroll over the Coleman Bridge from Fort Canning Park. It’s a fine option for cheap and good vegan food in Singapore, with pocket-friendly dishes including delectable steamed dumplings, aromatic nyonya laksa and claypot rice with mushrooms, vegetables, cashews and soy sauce. Desserts include the peculiar Malaysian favorite cendol, a sugary iced dessert with cashew milk, kidney beans and wormlike green jelly noodles made with rice flour. Work it all off with a hike up the hill to Fort Canning Park where there are nine historical gardens to explore, including the city’s original botanic garden and another showcasing the colorful plant species collected, studied and planted by Sir Stamford Raffles in the early 19th Century.

Find it: 2 Havelock Road, Singapore 059763

Warung Ijo

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You can’t really go wrong at any of the eateries in the atmospheric Kampong Glam neighborhood, but this vegan Indonesian joint is in a class all of its own. Compact, and popular enough that queues often form outside, this cute café is worth the wait for its zingy meat-free sambals, rendang fried rice and fragrant nasi padang. Order at the counter, grab a table and get stuck in! Afterwards, make for the cool indie boutiques on Haji Lane or get lost in Arab Street’s cavernous antique treasure troves, crammed to the rafters with Turkish handicrafts including textiles, ceramics and intricate mosaic lamps.

Find it: 337 Beach Road, Singapore 199565

Casserole

Hop on the cable car for a drop-off right outside the swanky Shangri-La Rasa resort on Sentosa Island. It’s here you’ll find Casserole, its meaty-sounding moniker belying the plant-based taste sensations that await within. Gorge on Middle Eastern spiced kebab and falafel, charcoal grilled satay skewers and Thai fish cakes for the win. And don’t miss the banana leaf dry-braised beef rendang, a perennial Casserole favorite that will leave you 100% convinced that what you’re tasting is real beef.

Find it: Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Level 3, 101 Siloso Road, Sentosa Island 098970

Love Handle

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Love Handle: presumably so-named because, once inside, you won’t stop stuffing your face until you feel that waistband begin to tighten. Seriously though, this vegan butcher-cum-restaurant is a little bit special, serving up decadent, messy plant burgers that fairly ooze with sauces, pickles and (non-dairy) cheese alongside a tempting menu of rice and noodle dishes, fried chicken and waffles. Meat eaters: take a big appetite and an open mind and we guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

Find it: 8 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069788

nomVnom

There’s a handful of these burger joints scattered around the island; you’ll find them at Clarke Quay by Fort Canning Park, at Tai Seng and way up north in the Woodlands neighborhood. Each outlet has a different menu to try but all are laser-focused on serving up the finest plant-based patties in Singapore. Pair a satay burger with truffle fries and a refreshing pink guava juice or turn up the heat with a double crispy fishy wasabi burger and spicy kimchi soup. Yum.

Find it: various locations

Kind Kones

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What kind of list would this be if it didn’t include at least one ice cream emporium? A rubbish one, that’s what. So here it is: like nonVnom, Kind Kones has three outlets in Singapore, two of them along the shopping mecca that is Orchard Road, ideal for a little mid-spree refreshment. Popular favorites in this plant-based paradise include a decadent tiramisu, creamy double chocolate brownie, and the signature Blue Planet, made with butterfly pea flower, vanilla, matcha cake, and coconut and cashew milks.

Find it: various locations

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Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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Singapore to Seoul

For a heady mix of cultures, terrific and varied pan-Asian cuisine and a list of weird and wonderful attractions as long as your arm, Seoul and Singapore are second to none. Frequent direct flights between the two mean doing the Singapore to Seoul (or indeed Seoul to Singapore) double on your Asian vacation couldn’t be easier. Read on for our bite-size city guides and discover the best ways to get from one city to the other. Seoul: the Lowdown Split through its middle by the wide Han River, Seoul is a densely populated megalopolis of some 10 million people, its futuristic towers, bridges and skyscrapers set among ancient mountains and plains in the northwest corner of South Korea. Attractions here are many and varied with several ancient UNESCO sites, including the regal gardens and pagodas of Changdeokgung Palace and the royal tombs of the Joseon dynasty, which ruled over Korea for 500 years from the 14th to the 19th centuries. More modern pursuits include a visit to Seoul’s tallest building, the skyscraping 123-story Lotte World Tower, and its sprawling amusement park namesake on (and around) Seokchon Lake. Then there’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a space-age architectural marvel packed with shops, bars, restaurants, exhibitions and even a sensory playground for kids. And the achingly photogenic oasis that is leafy Nami Island, a mere 90 minutes from the city center. Seoul is dry and icy-cold in winter and very hot and humid in summer, with a monsoon season that runs between June and September. The relatively short spring and autumn seasons are therefore the best times to visit, when you can expect mild weather and clearer skies but also – as inevitably as night follows day – higher hotel rates. On the plus side, there’s accommodation here to fit most budgets, though visitors should remain conscious that a week in Seoul can be eye-wateringly expensive wherever you end up staying. As a general rule, downtown districts including Jongno or Euljiro are likely to be cheaper than Myeong-dong and Gangnam, while longer-term visitors might want to consider rented accommodation in student neighborhoods like Sinchon and Hongdae. Wherever you choose to lay your hat, you’ll find getting around Seoul a breeze thanks to its superb metro system, which has a whopping 300+ stops within the city’s relatively compact nine-mile radius. Just download the Seoul Subway Metro Map – an interactive route-planning app – pick up a T-money card (and add some credit) and you’re good to go. Handily, your T-money pass is valid for use on metros, buses and even taxis across South Korea. Save a bit of cash with Go City when you buy an All-Inclusive or Explorer pass to multiple major Seoul attractions. Singapore: the Lowdown There’s a whole world of fun awaiting in Singapore, from splashing around in the world’s biggest rooftop infinity pool (57 stories up atop the Marina Bay Sands Resort, fact fans) to gorging on chili crab and sticky pork satay in one of the wonderful hawker centers here. Then there’s the soaring Singapore Flyer observation wheel, authentic Singapore Slings at Raffles Hotel (where the iconic cocktail was invented), the Instagram-tastic Gardens by the Bay, and the island playground that is Sentosa, its myriad attractions – Universal Studios, the S.E.A. Aquarium and several of Singapore’s finest palm-lined beaches – easily reachable by monorail or cable car. In fact, getting around Singapore is remarkably straightforward in general, largely thanks to the super-efficient (and mercifully air-conditioned) mass transit system, or MRT. Six lines and close to 150 stations ensure good coverage of most of the island, but you’ll likely spend most of your time here in and around the downtown circle line which calls at many of the main attractions. Pick up a Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) for unlimited use of the network for 24–72 hours or simply pay as you go by tapping in and out of stations using your contactless debit or credit card. There’s also a decent cycling infrastructure here, and plenty of green space to explore – they don’t call Singapore the Garden Island for nothing, you know! Rent a bike and cruise your way around the epic Park Connector Network and beyond. The climate in Singapore is hot, humid and wet, with temperatures in the high 80s year round. Monsoon seasons between December to March and June to September all but guarantee daily downpours, but also make for some of the most competitive accommodation rates at these times of year. We’re speaking relatively, of course: Singapore is notoriously expensive, but you may just about be able to afford a stay at luxury icons like Raffles and Marina Bay Sands during the monsoons without the need to mortgage a kidney. Cheaper alternatives are of course available, with plenty of good budget and mid-range options available in the likes of Chinatown and even around the high-end shopping mecca of Orchard Road. Save a bit of cash with Go City when you buy an All-Inclusive or Explorer pass to multiple major Singapore attractions. Singapore to Seoul by Air and Rail Direct flights between Singapore and Seoul depart several times daily and take a shade over six hours each way. Carriers serving the route between Singapore’s Changi Airport and Incheon Airport in Seoul include Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Asiana, with a one-way trip starting from around £300. Express trains from Incheon to downtown Seoul depart every 20–40 minutes and take 40 minutes; the slower, more regular trains make several stops along the route but still only take an hour to the center of town. At half the price and five times the frequency, these are probably the better bet, assuming you’re not in a crazy hurry. And if you’re really in no rush, you could even consider making the epic voyage from Singapore to Seoul by rail. Not for the faint of heart, this method takes you up through Malaysia, and across across Thailand and Laos (with a bit of bus travel required here), then onwards through Vietnam and China before finally catching the ferry from Qingdao in North Korea to Incheon in South Korea – because you can’t cross the North/South Korea border by land. If spending several days traveling 7,000 kilometers through unfamiliar countries on public transport sounds like an utterly absurd idea, that’s because it probably is. But adventurous souls with time on their hands could make it a reality, experiencing amazing coastal vistas, jungle trails, supercities, traditional villages and a mix of wildly different cultures along the way. Or, you know, go as far as Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok and catch your onward flight from there – both also epic adventures with plenty of fun to be had along the way! Save on attractions and activities in Singapore and Seoul Save on admission to Singapore and Seoul attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
The bandstand in Singapore Botanic Gardens.
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Singapore in May

As Singapore lurches towards the busy summer season, May presents one of the last opportunities to see the city in (relative) peace and quiet before the vacationing hordes descend. It’s also one of the hottest and most humid months of the year here but, again, it’s all relative on an island where the climate doesn’t really vary all that much from one end of the year to the other. Read on for our expert guide to visiting Singapore in May. Visiting Singapore in May Temperature: 77–88°F • Average Rainfall: 19 days/month • Average Sunshine: 9 hours/day Don’t let that scary-looking rainfall stat put you off: May is so hot and humid in Singapore that, believe us, you’ll be glad of the respite provided by those occasional brief downpours. These short thunderstorms are mere amuse bouches for the monsoon season proper, which arrives in June and doesn’t begin to peter out until September. There’s also sunshine in May, and lots of it, so prepare accordingly by donning massive Jackie O sunglasses, light cotton and linen clothing and the floppiest, widest-brimmed sun hat you can lay your hands on. Or make like the locals and pack a parasol for the midday sun and an umbrella for the afternoon downpour. Like the climate, hotel prices don’t vary much across the year in Singapore. But May, loosely speaking, is low season, so you’re more likely to find good deals now than, say, in June or July. Our advice? Book well ahead to take advantage of any early bird discounts that may be available. Things to do in Singapore in May May’s hot, humid weather means you won’t want to be outdoors all the time. Indeed you’ll likely find yourself sweatily seeking out air-conditioned malls, restaurants, hawker centers and, heck, even public transport, every hour or so, just to get a bit of respite. A great way to spend a sizzling May day is to get out and about early, discovering the kinds of fine outdoors attractions that have earned Singapore its ‘Garden City’ nickname before the heat really begins to bite around noon. Dodge the soaring temperatures with a few indoor attractions in the afternoon before seeking out a beach or rooftop bar for cocktails at sunset. Perfect. Singapore’s many gardens and forests are great fun for exploring, and have the added benefit of providing a bit of natural shade and temperature control on warm days. Hotfoot it to the spectacular Gardens by the Bay where the OCBC Skyway provides some fine aerial views from 22 meters up in the canopy of the park’s iconic Supertrees. Or stick to the trunks, where your morning stroll is absolutely gratis. Step inside the vast durian-shaped hothouses for ancient olive groves, a sky-high waterfall and carpets of colorful blooms that emit an intoxicating riot of perfumes. Across town, Singapore’s Botanic Gardens provide further opportunities to smell the roses. And orchids. And Rafflesia. This sprawling 200-acre oasis also has a picture-perfect bandstand and peaceful Swan Lake, ticking off your Instagram and picnic requirements in one fell swoop. Equally alluring are the Southern Ridges, where six miles of elevated walkways and jungle trails, weave along the island’s south coast, connecting Mount Faber Park and the Labrador Nature Reserve. Expect to see (and hear) a rainbow of native birdlife as you tiptoe through the treetops, including orange-bellied flowerpeckers, red-whiskered bulbuls and many more tropical critters. Don’t miss the decidedly more manmade structure that is Henderson Waves, an architectural masterpiece of steel that snakes across the trees and, at 36 meters above ground, is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. A little further north, MacRitchie Reservoir (pictured above) is a huge natural playground with, yes, another epic treetop walkway that links the park’s highest points, plus plenty of running and walking trails and, this being a reservoir, an abundance of water for kayak enthusiasts to explore, perhaps spotting the occasional monitor lizard or macaque along the way. Hazy May afternoons in Singapore are best spent over long lunches in air-conditioned hawker centers. Order a sweet and refreshing bandung (condensed milk and rose syrup over ice) and gorge on local specialities including chicken rice, chili crab and pork satay before hitting the (also air-conditioned) mega-malls for a spot of light retail therapy. As evening approaches, catch the cable car across the bay to the tiny resort island of Sentosa, where a cocktail at the beach bars or dip in the 85°F waters that lap palm-lined sands are the ideal way to top off your day as the sun disappears over the horizon. What’s on in Singapore in May? Vesak Day is celebrated on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Which, for those paying attention at the back, generally means sometime in May. It’s a public holiday and precipitates an island-wide festival in celebration of the life of Buddha, usually manifested in various religious and cultural activities in and around Singapore’s many temples. Join the festivities at landmark beauties including the Insta-perfect Burmese Buddhist Temple and Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery, where you can also witness awesome candlelit processions at the end of the day. Culture vultures rejoice! For May is also the month of the Singapore International Festival of Arts, which showcases some of the finest in theater, music, dance and visual arts from Singapore and around the world. A wide and varied program includes ticketed performances as well as a number of free events around the city. But, if your idea of a great day out tends to involve giving your credit card a workout in chic boutiques, swanky stores and big-brand emporia stuffed with clothes, accessories, gadgets and toys, we also have something just for you. The Great Singapore Sale kicks off towards the end of May, bringing extended shopping hours and whopping great discounts (often as high as 70%!) to some of the city’s biggest retail outlets. Just don’t blame us when you get a fevered call from your bank manager the next morning! Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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