Photography: Anna Tukhfatullina via Pexels
Wholesome grain bowls, epic salads, hearty vegetarian and organic food – hit up these healthy cafes in Singapore for a guilt-free feast.
Planning a ‘vegetarian day’ to compensate for a weekend of booze and desserts (hello, cookies and cakes)? You’ll be pleased to know that clean eating doesn’t equate to bland food – these healthy cafes in Singapore offer plenty of nutritious options that taste great, too.
Healthy food in Singapore: Wholesome cafes, vegetarian meals and customisable bowls
1. Grain Traders
Photography: Grain Traders
If you’re searching for guilt-free comfort food, look no further than Grain Traders, which is shaking up the quick service meal scene with its concept of “fast good” food.
Craft your own bowls with a tantalising array of dishes made from whole grains, fresh vegetables, and lean proteins. We particularly love the salmon fillet, sweet potatoes with fennel, and mixed mushrooms.
Not in the mood for DIY? The menu features enticing options like the Hen’s Nest, with sous-vide chicken and quinoa, and the Down Under bowl, featuring steak and roasted veggies.
Don’t forget to save room for dessert! It’s all about balance, after all. Try the crumbly cookies, sweet brownies, or comforting banana bread to cap off your meal.
For those in the CBD, pop by Grain Traders during weekdays for lunch or dinner. Alternatively, stop by on Saturdays for a wholesome meal.
Grain Traders, #01 – 03, Guoco Tower, 7 Wallich Street, Singapore 078884
2. Smol
Photography: Smol
Up for a hearty weekend brunch sans the guilt? Make your way to Smol for its latest weekend-only brunch menu. This salad and grain bowl spot offers nutritious yet delicious creations to nourish your body from the inside out. Ask us for our recommendations and we’ll point you towards the Ree Soto (a creamy barley risotto topped with roasted butternut and kale chips), AB&J (seeded sourdough with house-made almond butter and wild berry jam), as well as the chu’ butternut salad that’s perfect for sharing.
Come weekdays, take your pick from colourful grain bowls with protein options like barramundi and chicken breast, or plant-based alternatives. Wash it all down with an iced cuppa or homemade sparkling lemonade. If you’re feeling adventurous, go for the Dear Goat, a double-shot latte with fresh local goat milk. Choose to sit in the cosy indoor space that’s decked out in neutral, clean aesthetics, or the outdoor seating area for a breezy alfresco brunch.
Smol, #01-05, PLQ Parkside (Park Place Residences), 2 Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 409053
3. Bamboo Bowls
Photography: Bamboo Bowls via Instagram
Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring – just ask the good folks at Bamboo Bowls, a crowd-favourite in Singapore’s sustainability food scene. The brand collaborates with celebrated chefs to develop healthy options that don’t compromise taste or affordability. The result? Exciting creations named after familiar Asian cities. Osaka presents the beloved Japanese curry with plant-based chunks, ramen eggs, and pickled vegetables. If you prefer noodles, get the Sichuan, which has a fiery kick.
Bamboo Bowls, multiple locations including Marina Bay Link and Far East Square
4. Garden@One-Ninety
Photography: Four Seasons Hotel Singapore via Facebook
Set on an alfresco terrace decked out in hanging plants and greenery, Garden@One-Ninety is a relaxing and breezy haven perfect for weekend brunch and tea. Expect a wellness-focused menu with dishes made from fresh market produce and a selection of craft cocktails. The delightfully crunchy Vietnamese summer rolls are filled with green mango and papaya, and the crispy crab cakes are delish! There’s also a plant-based menu if you’re looking for less meaty options.
Garden@One-Ninety, Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, 190 Orchard Boulevard, Singapore 248646
5. Carrotsticks & Cravings
Photography: Carrotsticks & Cravings via Facebook
This healthy food haven in Singapore serves delicious and nutritious dishes and desserts to nourish and recharge you. It has a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options, as well as refined sugar-free dishes, hormone-free chicken, salad bowls and smoothies loaded with superfoods. We love dropping by the Stanley outlet for a cup of almond milk latte and a slice of guilt-free carrot cake.
Carrotsticks & Cravings, multiple locations including Robertson Quay and Stanley
6. Dosirak
Photography: Dosirak via Facebook
Who says Korean food has to be gut-busting? Dosirak delivers clean Korean fare in a fast-casual setting. Bibimbap is the highlight here. Choose from variations such as kimchi tofu, soy citrus salmon and beef bulgogi alongside a medley of veggies and tantalising sauces like apple cider gochujang. Everything is served in takeaway tubs instead of the traditional stone bowl. Pro tip: go for cauliflower rice, tofu or cabbage as the base for a low-carb meal, and mix it all up before you tuck in.
Dosirak, multiple locations including OUE Downtown Gallery and Guoco Tower
7. The Living Cafe
Nutritious yet tasty fuel for the day. Photography: The Living Cafe
Joined at the hip with holistic wellness centre Balanced Living, this cafe aims to inspire patrons with its dedication towards sustainability and a healthy lifestyle. It’s housed in an airy space with a high ceiling (always a plus!) and a mezzanine floor decked out with furniture in earthy neutral tones. The menu is truly extensive, offering organic, raw, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options to provide you with nutritious yet tasty fuel for the day. From the pesto zoodles to the spiced chicken burger, there are plenty of mains to order. But leave space for dessert, as the raw blueberry cheesecake is a must-try.
The Living Cafe, 779 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269758
8. Harvest
East Coast salad nook. Photography: Harvest
The CBD has no lack of salad spots, but the same can’t be said for the other districts in Singapore. If you’re around the East Coast area, you can count on Harvest for your leafy greens fix. This salad bar serves what you’d expect at any city lunchtime nook but at a more affordable price. For $13.50, you get one protein, one base, three sides and a topping and dressing. Have yours with a cold-pressed juice for an extra dose of goodness, and take time to enjoy the cafe’s cool jungalow-style interior.
Harvest, #01-01, 81 East Coast Road, Singapore 428785
9. Haakon Superfoods and Juice
Photography: Haakon Superfoods and Juice via Facebook
A firm believer of Danish wellness philosophy hygge, this Nordic-inspired healthy cafe is known for its nosh that’s good for the body and soul. We especially love the tasty acai offerings, but save that for dessert and feast on the savoury meals first. The poke, grain and salad bowls are replete with choice proteins like beef steak, tuna tataki, falafel and baked salmon. Wash it all down with freshly squeezed juices like the Green Goddess, a refreshing cup of spinach, celery, apple and cucumber.
Haakon Superfoods and Juice, multiple locations including 313 @ Somerset and Kinex
10. Real Food
At Real Food, all of its produce is ethically sourced. Photography: Real Food
For healthy eaters, Real Food is a household name in Singapore. Run by a passionate team of ethical food advocates, the cafe is free from meat, processed ingredients and trans-fat. The menu features a combination of Western and Asian fare, with items such as sweet pumpkin pancakes, scrambled tofu with broccoli and sourdough toast with homemade kaya. And oh, everything’s pretty pocket-friendly, too.
Real Food, multiple locations including Orchard Road and Yishun
11. The Daily Cut
Build your bowl with proteins, greens, and grains from The Daily Cut. Photography: The Daily Cut
The Daily Cut has multiple locations around the CBD and is one of the most popular places for lunch. The protein-heavy bowls are an easy, fuss-free option perfect for gym rats and healthy eaters. Beef up your bowl with an array of protein-packed fillers – from generous servings of roast beef to herb-crusted dory fillet – before topping up on other nutritious goodies like Thai basil tofu, sweet corn and avocado. But before you pile on the proteins, track your calorie requirement with its online macro calculator.
The Daily Cut, multiple locations including Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar
12. Poke Theory
Photography: Poke Theory via Instagram
A healthy meal doesn’t have to cost a lot, and this poke joint proves that. Fully customise your bowl with a vast selection of fresh ingredients, including pickled beetroot, wakame seaweed, kimchi and pineapple. It’s a great way to eat your colours! Top it off with a choice of spicy mayo salmon, spicy garlic sesame tuna or sous vide dashi chicken. And instead of Japanese sushi rice or crunchy romaine lettuce, you can even switch your base to the nutty lemon herb quinoa.
Poke Theory, multiple locations including Novena Square and CIMB Plaza
13. Cafe&Meal Muji
Photography: Cafe&Meal Muji
We know Muji for its minimal and functional homeware, but did you know it offers wholesome meals too? The menu at Cafe&Meal Muji sees healthy ingredients that’ll improve your sleep and overall health. After all, us city folks struggle with sleep thanks to stress and countless devices keeping us awake. Enjoy the likes of mentaiko potato salad, prawn couscous salad, chicken nanban and more. The cafe offers delivery via Capita3Eats, too.
Cafe&Meal Muji, multiple locations including Plaza Singapura and Raffles City
14. Salmon Samurai
Customise your own salmon bowl. Photography: Salmon Samurai
This joint is by the people behind Tanuki Raw, Shinkansen, and Standing Sushi Bar, so you know it’ll be good. Toppings include salmon fillet in teriyaki sauce and salmon slices topped with mentaiko to go with your choice of base (furikake rice, udon noodles, chilled citrus ramen, buckwheat soba and mixed green salad). If that’s not enough for you, try the miso soup filled with generous chunks of salmon!
Salmon Samurai, multiple locations including Ocean Financial Centre and 100AM
15. The Lawn
No plain ol’ salad here; The Lawn serves up delicious, wholesome and healthy meals. Photography: The Lawn
This halal-certified specialty salad spot is where you can customise your green bowl with an array of toppings and grilled meats. We’re not talking plain ol’ steak cubes and grilled chicken, by the way. Chow down on items like pesto chicken and grilled salmon. If you don’t feel like building your own bowl from scratch, try the signature salads instead.
The Lawn, #01-07, Nanos Building, 31 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138669
16. WellSchmoot
Photography: WellSchmoot via Facebook
Eat well and feel great at WellSchmoot. This vegan pizzeria and ice cream parlour has everything from toasties and burgers to pastas and waffles. We particularly love the ice cream – it’s made with organic brown rice milk, fruits and nuts so you know it’s jam-packed with nutrition and wonderfully guilt-free.
WellSchmoot, #01-58, 319 Jurong East Street 31, Singapore 600319
17. Kind Kones
Photography: Kind Kones via Facebook
Using only fresh and natural ingredients – sans preservatives, refined sugar, artificial flavouring and all those nasties – Kind Kones offers a great alternative to ice cream. Offering a bevy of fun flavours such as almond brittle fudge, charcoal vanilla and black forest, the brand proves that vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free ice cream can taste just as good! You’ll never notice the difference. Psst: bring your own container to get 50 cents off the bill.
Kind Kones, multiple locations including Forum Shopping Mall and The Paragon
18. Project Acai
Photography: Project Acai via Instagram
Singapore’s first dedicated acai cafe sources organic and sustainable acai to turn into sin-free superfood bowls. And if you’re wondering, the acai fruit isn’t touted as a superfood for nothing. With up to 10 times more antioxidants than blueberries, it’s high in fibre, low in GI and makes for a great vegan source of essential heart fats. Drop by the healthy cafe to give this amazing fruit a try! We love the Nuts For Acai bowl – an acai blend served with granola of your choice, bananas, cacao nibs, chia seeds, along with generous dollops of nut butters and sauces.
Project Acai, multiple locations including Holland Village and Takashimaya
19. Canteen by Trapeze Rec. Club
Photography: Canteen by Trapeze Rec. Club
Aside from a yoga studio, gym, outdoor sauna, and consult rooms, the four-storey Trapeze Rec. Club also has an in-house canteen with a wellness-focused menu. Talk about all-in-one! Here, you’ll find a limited menu of yogurt and acai bowls, toasts, coffee, and smoothies made with healthy and organically sourced ingredients. Can’t resist a good ol’ bagel? Head to the build-a-bagel bar to put together a delish treat with smoked salmon or homemade egg salad.
Canteen by Trapeze Rec. Club, #02-00, 27 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088450
20. Mahota
Mahota prides itself on being a “gathering of goodness”. It’s all about growing good food, serving good meals and stocking only good ingredients. Pop by its pop-ups for hearty snacks and goodies that nourish the body and soul.
Mahota, available online and at pop-up locations
Enjoy a meal of healthy food at these great cafes in Singapore!
