In Singapore’s food paradise, you can have the best of both worlds when it comes to dining for body and soul.
From restaurants that offer wholesome food to patisseries that boast a delectable range of sweet treats, our well-balanced mix of food and desserts is for both foodies eating clean and gourmands looking to indulge.
Here’s a curated list of healthy eats–think beyond salads and wraps–and happy food such as chocolates and cakes. If you’re planning a trip to Singapore and looking to enjoy both wholesome eats and decadent treats, this guide has got you covered.
Do remember to adhere to safe distance measures, wash your hands and to keep your masks on unless you’re eating or drinking.
Wholesome nosh for healthier bodies
Afterglow
Afterglow is known to boast a delicious plant-based menu free from eggs, dairy, refined sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Savour their signature kimchi avo rolls, made with kimchi and diced almonds in place of sushi rice. Fermented foods are said to contain health-boosting bacteria that helps fortify gut health, making it a great choice for health-conscious eaters. Alternatively, dig into comfort food-inspired dishes such as the ‘mac and cheese’, which is made with baked cauliflower and a delicious cashew sauce.
If you have any special dietary allergies and preferences, the kitchen is more than happy to accommodate. Besides their bread-based dishes, all items on the menu are gluten-free and made from scratch in small batches.
Afterglow. 24 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089131.
Mon-Sat noon-10pm.
The Social Space
The Social Space is a multi-concept store, tea bar and café promoting sustainability, making it a great all-in-one destination for vegetarians planning a trip to our city. The café itself offers a range of plant-based eats, including roasted eggplants in miso dressing, brussels sprouts drenched in tahini butter and a whole range of smoothie bowls.
Enjoy their specialty lattes such as the golden turmeric latte— its key ingredient has been widely used in Ayurveda treatment for centuries. The baked goods are equally impressive from protein balls to homemade peanut butter. The latter is made from freshly grounded peanuts, have no added sugar, preservatives or additives and available for order on their website.
The Social Space. 333 Kreta Ayer Road #01-14, Singapore 080333. +65 6655 0221.
Mon, Wed-Sun 9am-5pm.
Como Cuisine
Nestled among the verdant greenery of Dempsey Hill, this chic restaurant serves up a taste of nature’s bounty on a plate.
All dishes here are prepared from scratch using in-season and sustainably-sourced ingredients such as the lobster biryani, which is made with seafood sourced from the Maldives.
Nourish your body with their green bamboo rice bowl—made with ocean trout and shiitake mushrooms—and mangrove crab, which comes with a zesty lime dressing. For an extra dose of nutrition, consider their big raw salad that tastes as good as it looks. This dish contains broccoli, ginger and garlic, all of which are purported to boost one’s immune system.
Como Cuisine. 18A Dempsey Road, Singapore 249677. 1800 304 6688.
Mon-Fri 8am-noon, noon-3pm, 6-9pm; Sat & Sun 8am-4pm, 6-9pm.
Supergreek
Supergreek offers nutrient-loaded grain bowls, fresh salads and pita wraps using Greek culinary methods and spices. Dig into a delicious grain bowl with a side of souvlaki, or chow down on a lamb kebab wrap that’s bursting with cabbages, cherry tomatoes and eggplants.
If you’re looking for a snack instead of a substantial meal, this casual eatery also makes its own Greek yoghurt from scratch. The creamy treat is power-packed with protein and probiotics that do wonders for your gut. Best of all, you can customise your yoghurt with antioxidant-rich toppings such as blueberries, chia seeds and walnuts.
Supergreek at Wisma Atria. 435 Orchard Road #03-15, Singapore 238877. +65 6734 8352.
Daily 10am-9.30pm.
Kitchen by Food Rebel
This no-frills cafe’s altruistic vision is to strive for a healthier world and improve your health through a recipe of awareness, education and great food. Kitchen by Food Rebel places a strong emphasis on healthy dishes made with quality ingredients catering to vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free and dairy-free diets.
All sauces and dressings—from their salad vinaigrette to their tahini dressing—are made on-site from scratch. Foodies will also be happy to know that no MSG, artificial flavourings or additives are used.
Order the rebel salad made with organic leaves, pomegranate and goji berries rich in Vitamins A and C—nutrients that are vital for building immunity. For something more substantial, dig into their pan-seared barramundi, which is rich in the brain-boosting Omega 3 nutrient.
Kitchen by Food Rebel. 28 Stanley Street, Singapore 068737. +65 62247088.
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat 9am-3pm.
Sweet treats for good vibes only
Awfully Chocolate
We know how chocolates can uplift our spirits thanks to the irresistible taste of cocoa.
Consider Awfully Chocolate, the chocolate cake shop that started with selling one cake only–its signature all chocolate cake made with their own chocolate in a unique dark roast flavour. The cake does not contain any cream, and its soft and moist cake layers are not too sweet either, allowing the natural roast of the cocoa to shine through.
Besides the all chocolate cake, try their other favourites such as the chocolate praline and chocolate banana cake.
The former is an elegant cake layered with a confection of hazelnut praline and lightly crunchy feuilletine, while the latter is a delicious treat layered with chocolate and fresh local bananas.
If you’d like to sit and indulge in a full meal alongside dessert, be sure to plan a visit to Ninethirty by Awfully Chocolate. Located in the charming Peranakan* neighbourhood of Katong, the chain’s flagship restaurant offers their signature cakes alongside Western classics like charred lamb chops and ribeye steaks.
*The term is an Indonesian/Malay word that means “local born”, which generally refers to people of Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage.
Awfully Chocolate at ION Orchard. 2 Orchard Turn #B4-50, Singapore 238801. +65 6884 6377.
Mon-Thu & Sun 10am-8pm; Fri & Sat 10am-9pm.
Ninethirty by Awfully Chocolate. 131 East Coast Road, Singapore 428816. +65 6345 2190.
Mon-Thu noon-10pm; Fri noon-midnight; Sat 9.30am-midnight; Sun 9.30am-10pm.
Fossa Chocolate
The chocolate indulgence continues with artisanal bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker Fossa Chocolate. Founded by a trio of chocolate lovers, Fossa Chocolate makes chocolates and confections that are handcrafted at their workshop in Singapore.
Instead of using semi-finished products like pre-grounded cacao liquor and cocoa butter, Fossa chooses to make their chocolate from scratch, bringing out the rich flavours of this decadent treat. Made with top quality craftsmanship, sleek packaging and pure dedication, these chocolates are the perfect gift for making a classy impression.
Pick from a wide range of chocolates such as the salted egg cereal blond chocolate and chilli peanut praline dark chocolate. The former is a special white chocolate that has been caramelised to attain a blond colour and biscuit aroma, and sprinkled with homemade salted egg cereal. The latter comes with roasted peanut packing a spicy punch and rustic texture.
Fossa Chocolate at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore. 15 Stamford Road, Singapore 178906.
For a full listing of establishments carrying Fossa Chocolate, click here.
Sinpopo
If you like cakes, but chocolate’s not your thing, you can still enjoy cakes with a variety of flavours at Sinpopo.
This establishment proudly takes inspiration from the nostalgia of yesteryear, with its old-world décor and wide selection of cakes inspired by traditional desserts and ingredients.
Look out for pastries with traditional flavours like ondeh ondeh (glutinous balls filled with palm sugar), a well-loved local dessert bursting with caramel goodness.
Another favourite is the pulut hitam cake, a reinterpretation of classic Southeast Asian sweet porridge, which comes with soft gluten-free black glutinous rice layers paired with delicate coconut cream.
Sinpopo. 458 Joo Chiat Road. Singapore 427671. +65 6345 5034.
Mon-Thur & Sun noon-10pm; Fri & Sat noon-1am.
Old Seng Choong
Besides cakes and chocolates, treat yourself to delightful cookies from Old Seng Choong. A tribute to chef-founder Daniel Tay’s father and his family’s tradition of baking, the confectionery offers a variety of homemade cookies and cakes inspired by the flavours of local cuisine.
Awaken your senses with the smell and taste of their popular bak kut teh cookies, where its flavour profile is inspired by the peppery pork rib soup popular among local Chinese. The cookies are infused with aromatic white pepper, herbs and spices, which complement with a cup of tea.
And we bet you won’t be able to stop munching on the laksa cookies, which is a modern take of the iconic spicy coconut milk-based noodle dish popular with locals. The laksa cookies come with hints of coconut, dried shrimp and subtle kicks of chilli powder.
Old Seng Choong at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands®. 2 Bayfront Avenue #01-72, Singapore 018972. +65 6688 7341.
Daily 11.30am-8pm