Hello Singapore! We are back in Southeast Asia after several years, and in this complete Singapore vegan travel guide, I highlight the best vegan food spots, places of tourist interest and essential travel tips — all in one.
Introduction
Singapore is a vibrant city-state / island-nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It spans just 728.6 square kilometers – comparable to the size of New York City! With a population of over 5.7 million people, Singapore’s demographic mix includes Chinese, Malay, Indian, and expatriate communities.
For travelers, Singapore offers an array of attractions such as the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, and Sentosa Island. Its efficient public transport system, cleanliness, and safety make it a fine destination.
Singapore is a FINE city – you’ve probably heard of that before! You will notice once you land that there seem to be a lot of rules & instructions everywhere.
Strict rules and regulations include a ban on chewing gum and vaping, the death penalty for drug trafficking, caning for certain offenses, heavy fines for littering or smoking in some areas, and a ban on eating on public transport (durians are outright banned, likely from the strong smell.. I wonder why they don’t also ban fish/seafood/meat in that case).
Automation is prevalent throughout Singapore, giving it the feel of a futuristic Asian city. It’s not exactly a destination for relaxation or a laid-back atmosphere, nor is it ideal for a beach holiday. Instead, it’s more of a luxury Asian city escape. There are lots of shopping opportunities, but it’s far from an affordable destination.
Practical Info
Currency: Singapore Dollars (SGD). Card payment widely accepted, but many small businesses or street vendors accept cash only. As of current exchange rates, 1 SGD = 0,70 EUR = 0,76 USD approx. I mention prices in SGD (S$) in this post.
Language(s): Singapore is a multilingual country with four official languages. English is the primary language used in business and education – it serves as the lingua franca among the diverse ethnic groups. Mandarin Chinese is widely spoken and Chinese is the largest ethnic group in Singapore. Malay and Tamil are also official languages.
Weather: Singapore is located a degree north of the Equator, and has a tropical humid climate with temperatures being 30+ degrees year round. March – April, when we visited was perfect. There tend to be thunderstorms every now and then with the rainier months being November – December.
For more about the country, check out Geography Now Singapore
Getting Around Singapore
Getting around town is straightforward, thanks to an efficient and affordable public transport system of buses and the MRT (metro). You can purchase a travel card and load it with value, for example, 30 SGD, which would last for several days. Simply tap the card when boarding a bus and tap out when deboarding—it automatically charges you based on the distance traveled.
- From the airport, we boarded the Skytrain between terminals and then train from Changi Airport MRT Station into town.
Renting a car (right-handed drive) doesn’t make sense unless you want to make trips out of the city. Taxis can be expensive but Uber and Grab app make it easy to book a taxi.
Where to Stay in Singapore
This was a family visit for me, and I stayed with my sister in Singapore. The apartment was close to the MacRitchie Nature Park, which I recommed for canopy walk and nature trails – you can spot some wild animals here, which was quite a surprise. We saw monitor lizards, monkeys, tortoises and a Malayan colugo!
Green spaces to check-out in Singapore: MacRitchie Trail, The Botanical Gardens, Fort Canning Park, Gardens by the Bay
AirBnb is restriced in Singapore as the laws don’t allow for short term rentals of private homes. For a budget stay, there are several hostels and guesthouses, and I suggest a serviced apartment and self-catering.
There are 5-star hotels all around Central Singapore, but no vegan hotels, and few offer animal-friendly menus. The luxury hotels may provide plant-based food upon request. Reserve well in advance – prices for hotels are high on average.
Selection of Hotels*
- The Heritage Collection – aparthotel in Quay Area, where we spent a couple of nights. Automated check-in using their app, detailed instructions via Whatsapp. The rooms are small but neat and modern with private bathroom and kitchenette. It’s a happening nightlife area so may get noisy. Get a River View Studio : ) Room rates from 180 USD per night.
- Hotel Fort Canning – a colonial style boutique hotel. Featuring swimming pools, a fitness centre and a spa – in a great location. Their restaurant, The Salon offers several vegetarian dishes that can be made vegan. Room rates starting from 280 USD per night.
- Duxton Reserve Singapore – a luxury hotel in Chinatown. Their restaurant ‘The Yellow Pot’ offers several veggie dishes. Room rates from 300 USD per night.
- Marina Bay Sands – If you can, then you must! Room rates start at around SGD 600-700 per night for a basic Deluxe Room. If you are flexible with dates or booking early, you might find good deals.
*includes affiliate links through which you can make bookings (no extra costs to you; you can also choose other hotels). The commision supports the blog, thanks!
Vegan in Singapore
This vegan guide to Singapore is from a tourist point of view, and focuses on Central Singapore area.
My overall impression as a vegan traveler from Europe is that Singapore is not particularly vegan-friendly. It is possible to find amazing Asian vegan food with some research, and there are over 40 vegan establishments scattered across the country. Compared to some other Southeast Asian countries, however, Singapore is relatively vegan-friendly.
We live in Helsinki and have travelled to many major European capitals, where it seems like veganism is going mainstream now, but that’s not the case in Singapore.
The term ‘vegetarian’ is understood, and due to the Indian population in Singapore, there’s many vegetarian restaurants. There are several Chinese vegetarian hawker stalls too, but these may be difficult to find if you don’t understand Chinese – and you’d need to communicate the need for dairy/egg free food.
I noticed that some items marked plant based might actually have milk, egg, or fish/oyster sauce. So don’t trust the labelling either. It’s best to ask the staff, especially if you have allergies to seafood. Luckily, we have resources..
Resources for vegan dining in Singapore
Abillion: a mobile app designed to support and grow the global vegan and sustainability movement. Its primary function is to help users discover vegan-friendly products, restaurants, and eco-conscious brands while contributing to social causes.
They are based out of Singapore so expect up-to date info on the Singapore vegan dining scene. Sign up with invite code ‘VEGANHAVEN’ so I can follow you there!
Fussy Traveller Club Playing Cards: created by fellow vegan travellers, this pack of cards also has translations in 52 languages for ”I’m vegan”, ”I do not eat meat, fish, dairy, or any animal products”. This will come handy in Singapore, while communicating the need for vegan food at Chinese restaurants, for example. Get yours*
Options in shopping centres, cafes, fast-food chains
Singapore has plenty of massive shopping centres, and you will find yourself spending a lot of time in those. Eating out at malls seems to be a national pastime too – all shopping centres have a large food court and some on several levels.
Plenty of smoothie, juice, bubble tea kiosks, ice cream kiosks, and it was rare to spot a vegan option. The ice-cream sandwich is a popular snack, but we didn’t find any vegan.
Food courts and hawker stalls tend to be meat and seafood heavy, you need to know which specific spots to go to. A lot of high-end restaurants in malls seem to cater to meat eaters, and it was disturbing to come across roasted ducks displayed on widows : (
Plant based milk is not widely available in cafés.. Starbucks and Coffee Bean Tea Leaf have soy or oat milk, but charge $1 extra. Here are some vegan spots:
- Oatberry – plant based in Orchard, offering gluten-free options, including waffles and açai bowls.
- Cultivate Café – plant based ‘fine dine’ health food café located in Maxwell Reserve Hotel.
Fast food chains – McDonald’s, Subway, KFC are especially terrible for vegan options, we once had a look at the Mac and Subway menu but found that there’s nothing eatable.. Burger King might be an option if you find no other food options – they have the impossible burger, ask for a vegan one.
Let’s talk about this thing called ‘beancurd’, which is basically TOFU! You will often see this on the menu – they do make a variety of tofu and great soy based mock meats here.
I hope this guide helps you plan your dining around in Singapore! Below I list all the spots we dined at and more, in the popular areas of the city.
Restaurants
Greendot Plus
78 Airport Boulevard, B1-297, Jewel, Singapore Changi Airport
Greendot is found in the shopping centre at Changi. So when you land in Singapore and need to eat, head over. It’s not at the food court, but the floor above. Vegan dishes are labelled on the menu. They have a lot of mushroom and soy based dishes and their ‘beancurd’ dish was pretty good! The nuggets we ordered were a bit dry and too cruncy, more like pakoras.
I was happy to see vegan dessert cakes but did not try any. They have other locations around town – check Google Maps
The Kind Bowl
71 Killiney Rd, Central Singapore, Singapore 239527
All vegan restaurant offering Vietnamese cuisine. It’s a short walk away from Orchard Road (a popular area with shopping malls). We had the Spring Rolls, Chicken ‘beancurd’ Rice and a salad – everything well presented and delectable.
Many things left to try such as the Bahn Mi and Kind Pho. Their hot coffee tasted like nescafé, but was made excellent! It’s not a huge eatery and best to reserve a table during weekends.
VeganPho – Lucky Plaza
304 Orchard Road, Level 1 BaoBao Foodcourt, Singapore 238863
Another vegan Vietnamese spot at Orchard Road! It’s a stall eatery in a shopping centre food court. They have good reviews, reasonable prices and a few good choices such as the ‘Crab’ Noodles and vegan Chicken Pho.
Food Republic – Vivocity mall
There’s not much vegan in this large food court, when you return from Sentosa island and want to eat. We managed to spot a couple of stalls with V labels and this one near the exit had plant-based snacks!
I confirmed with the person at the counter that it doesn’t contain dairy/egg. We didn’t try the red bean buns, those sweet treats (they may contain milk in the dough, confirm with the baker).
Thai Accent – Vivocity mall
1 HarbourFront Walk, #02-143 VivoCity, Singapore 098585
This is a fairly nice Thai restaurant where we chose to have dinner. There is a separate vegetarian menu, and most dishes are vegan – soup, salads, rice and noodle based dishes. I orderd the hot basil beancurd (actually very spicy, would not recommend, unless you can handle.)
Portions large, comes with rice, good service and all in all good experience. Prices 11-15 SGD per dish.
- If you’re looking for sushi, Genki Sushi restaurants have some vegan options.
Veganburg
44 JALAN EUNOS, SINGAPORE 419502
A burger restaurant, as you can guess.. Did you know it was the world’s first vegan burger joint, established in 2010? They have a fabulous lineup of burgers, featuring soy and mushroom-based patties served in wholemeal buns. Popular choices include the BBQ Burger and the Tangy Tartar, along with local-inspired creations like the Satay Burger.
The only downside is that the restaurant is located a bit far out, in East Singapore.
Chinatown
You must visit Chinatown in Singapore! Find beautifully preserved temples, shophouses and landmarks showcasing the history of the Chinese community of Singapore and also find time to shop and eat some delicious food. There were many stalls selling durians, which is funny because durians are banned in public transport in Singapore..
Yi Xin Vegan Food
43 Temple St, Singapore 058588
Dining out in Singapore can be expensive, but there are affordable spots, e.g hawker centre and streetside food stalls. Yi Xin is a small streetside cafeteria with a few tables. There’s a buffet but also à la carte menu.
We got the brown rice fried rice, curry ‘chicken’, dumplings and satay skewers: Everything was delicious. Good portions, lunch buffet available.
- Another vegan spot around Chinatown reopened as Firefly – go here for local specialities such as Kolomee and ‘thunder tree rice’.
Eight Treasures – vegetarian
282A South Bridge Road, Sago Ln, Singapore 058831
Chinese restaurant located right next to the Buddha Tooth Relic temple. Vegan options are marked – I tried the sweet n’ sour vegan chicken and fried rice. It turned out to be slightly expensive and like some places, you need to pay for the wet wipes on the table, if you open/use them.
- Note: The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple has a vegetarian dining hall in the basement that offers affordable mixed rice and noodle based dishes as well.
Tre Café – Vietnamese fusion & bar
1 Club St, Singapore 069400
We dropped in here during happy hour to try a Singapore Sling and noticed that they have a plant-based menu section! Prices are steep and while I don’t recommened the cocktail (too sweet and not strong), the vegan menu did look good.
Little India
There’s honestly not a lot to do around ‘Little India’ besides eat Indian food. And if you’re an Indian living abroad, you might want to check out Mustafa for snacks to take back home.
The following restaurants offer Indian vegan food options. They are classified as ‘pure vegetarian,’ which means they serve vegetarian food without eggs but do include dairy products (the Indian concept of vegetarianism).
Gokul, Aarya, MTR and Ananda Bhavan – these have South Indian vegan meals like dosa with coconut chutney and sambar.
Universal Studios
Universal Studios Singapore is one of the best theme parks in the world. Located on Sentosa Island, it’s a major attraction for families and travelers alike. We spent a day to enjoy the rides, which were fantastic. However, it’s not very vegan-friendly, especially compared to amusement parks in Europe.
- The entry ticket to the park costs about 80 S$
The Lost World theme restaurant offered Sweet and Sour Vegetarian Prawns and ‘Fish’ wrap with rice for 16 S$. Fossil kiosk has potato wedges – make sure to tell them no cheese. Ancient Egypt has the Oasis restarant with some Indian food options like samosas, chickpea curry and veggie biryani. Besides these, we did not come across much vegan at the park. I do hope they improve the offerings.
Clark Quay & Boat Quay
The quay is a happening area by the river with a bustling food & bar scene and nightlife – not very vegan friendly unfortunately. Here are some vegan spots in and around the Clark and Boat Quay:
NomVNom – vegan
3rd Floor, Clarke Quay Central mall
NomVnom is a beloved vegan fast food restaurant is known for their signature burgers, such as the “QQ Cheezy” made with a house-made mushroom patty, gooey vegan cheese. Their popular “Vegan Truffle Fries” and “Mala Soup” blends local flavors with international trends.
We got the Ramly and the Fishless burger – both tasty! Ramly was unique and something I had not tried before – it’s a vegan twist on the popular Malaysian street burger.
Privé – vegan options
Victoria St, #01-33, Singapore 187996
Privé has a great location in Chijmes, with a lovely outdoor seating area. The menu is ‘sustainabilyy’ focused and several vegan options, clearly labelled on menu. We ordered the veggie lovers pizza and a nacho plate with extra avo which was quite filling! The pizza has plenty of veggies + soy based ‘mozzarella’.
I regret not ordering the Tiramisu! When there is vegan Tiramisu on menu – you order it! The prices are above average, but it’s definitely worth a visit. They have a restaurant also in the Botanical Gardens of Singapore.
Analogue – vegan
30 Victoria St, #01-31 CHIJMES, Singapore 187996
This bar is near Privé in Chijmes, and we walked past it a couple of times, admiring the interiors. It’s an upscale bar with a fancy cocktail list, and their snack bar menu is actually completely plant-based! See menu here.
Flavours by Sauté – vegetarian
107 North Bridge Rd, Funan Mall #B1-30, Central Singapore, 179105
Plenty of choices at this Singaporean fusion restaurant – everything on menu is vegan unless otherwise mentioned. Main dishes are priced at around 11 – 13 SGD.
We ordered the Vegan Orh Luak and Kolo Mee with minced soy with yuba noodles. Also tried the fried gyozas which were OK – 5 pieces per plate, no dip.
- Genesis is a small restaurant serving Chinese cuisine in Havelock. It’s located inside the Havelock shopping mall, and seems tricky to find. We didn’t dine here, but it’s a known spot for vegan versions of Singaporean, Korean and also pasta dishes.
Marina Bay
The main attraction of Singapore is undoubtedly the iconic Marina Bay Sands resort, featuring three 57-story hotel towers connected by a massive rooftop structure, and a world-famous infinity pool.
There is a light show over the bay every evening, free to watch. Gardens by the Bay nearby is worth a visit as well for a light & music show at the Supertree Grove.
Level33 – vegan options
8 Marina Blvd, #33 01 Tower 1, Singapore 018981
For a fam dinner, we chose to dine at Level33, a unique rooftop microbrewery offering stunning views of the Singapore skyline alongside a refined dining experience. As the world’s highest urban microbrewery, it’s known for its craft beers brewed on-site.
Beyond this, they cater to conscious diners with a selection of vegan dishes – creative plant-based appetizers, mains, and desserts, often made with locally sourced ingredients.
You need to request the vegan menu as they don’t have it by default for some reason.. we had the housemade vegan burgers, truffle fries, vegan spring rolls and the pearl barley risotto. Everything was delicious!
Reservations needed and expect to pay 50$ per person.
Whole Earth Café
76 Peck Seah St, Singapore 079331
Singapore’s first plant-based restaurant, Whole Earth Cafe, has been included in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list for multiple years. It is renowned for its Peranakan-Thai inspired cuisine and thoughtfully crafted vegan dishes, like the Penang Rendang and Olive Rice. It is a vegetarian restauarnt but almost all dishes seem to be vegan.
Other tips on dining out in Singapore
Singapore is a foodie destination – but don’t go to a restaurant expecting there to be vegan options – do your research and check menus beforehand : )
Restaurants that also deserve a mention:
- Joie for a vegetarian fine-dining experience, The Boneless Kitchen for veggie Korean classics, The Living Cafe for raw vegan, gluten-free options, Pizza Fabrica for godd vegan pizza, Saladstop for vegan bowl options, Kind Kones for vegan dessert!
In Singapore, mala is popular, with many local food stalls offering variations of spicy noodles, stir-fries, and hotpots. You can pick and choose vegan ingredients only and make your own mala!
Happy Hour is a thing here, but I feel it’s a scam, as you get diluted cocktails and the prices are still quite high. Trying the (original) Singapore Sling at Raffles (popular among influencers), is fun experience for cocktail enthusiasts.
Grocery Shops – FairPrice is a general grocery store where you can get basic supplies – bread, fruit and veg, plant milk.
Singapore Vegan Travel Guide..
I did a lot of research before (& after) my trip to bring you this guide : ) Are you planning to visit Singapore? Bookmark this page! If you have – what were your favourite spots? Let me know in the comments!
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