Many hotels and resorts are now able to cater for their vegan guests and those who wish to enjoy plant based cuisine, life is getting easier for vegan travel meaning the days of having to eat salad for dinner are a distant memory.
However, these ‘5 hotels in Southeast Asia that are VERY vegan friendly’ have raised the bar even higher by offering multiple plant based and vegan options to their guests; our varied selection include a luxury business hotel, two boutique hotels, a wellness retreat and beachside private villas but they all have one thing in common, the vegan food is plentiful and outstanding!
Grand Hyatt Singapore
In the heart of Singapore you will find a business hotel that is leading from the front when it comes to including plant based and vegan food on their menus. Grand Hyatt Singapore has long been the choice for business and leisure travellers alike who enjoy the wide selection of rooms and suites, extensive leisure facilities and the multiple food and beverage outlets available.
But during 2018 things changed at this luxury hotel as they began to introduce plant based food throughout the property. This has been the innovative approach that the food and beverage director has taken which is not only in line with his personal diet, but also fits perfectly as the hotel wishes to offer guests healthy cuisine that has less impact on the environment.
It’s proved to be a real hit, gaining media attention from around the world, whilst at the same time the food loving Singaporeans were literally queuing around the block during the ‘Beyond Burger’ launch event. Currently there are multiple plant based options in ‘Pete’s Place’ including an Italian buffet lunch and ‘mezza9’ offers a selection of plant based options throughout the menu.
Bravo to Grand Hyatt Singapore!
Puri Ganesha
Bali conjures up images of tropical beaches, blue skies and rice terraces for many, it’s long been a favourite destination for pleasure seekers and rightly so as the island (if you know where to look) is unique and breathtaking. Proceed with caution though as many areas of Bali have seen rapid development and an influx of tourists way beyond what the infrastructure can cope with and this is why you need to do your research.
Head north, away from the masses, to the sleepy coastal town of Pemuteran and check in at Puri Ganesha where we can assure you that not only will you be blessed by your stunning surroundings but you will be staying at what we believe to be one of the most vegan friendly hotels or resorts we’ve ever stayed at.
Expect the chef to create dish after dish of wonderful plant based food that is not only delicious but healthy, organic and sourced locally wherever possible. The menus and the kitchen are under the watchful eye of a passionate and talented plant based chef who not only owns Puri Ganesha but has published vegan cook books and created vegan menus for some of the leading hotels and resorts in the world.
Puri Ganesha is outstanding, think beautiful Balinese villas, huge private pools with day beds overlooking a deserted beach, and then combine this with some of the most beautiful and satisfying vegan food you’ve ever eaten and you get the picture.
Wow, simply wow.
Ariyasom Villa
Built as a family home in 1941, Ariyasom Villa was one of the first houses on Sukhumvit Road at a time when there was not a condominium or shopping mall in sight. The property has been developed and extended in recent times by the family of the original owner and is now a boutique hotel set in beautiful gardens that are somewhat of an oasis in this busy and sometimes crazy city.
It’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and that’s before you pick up the menu from Na Aroon, the hotel restaurant which is an absolute treat for anyone who wants to eat healthy, organic and locally sourced vegan versions of traditional Thai cuisine. With dishes that are nearly all vegetarian (there are a few seafood options but no meat) and many of them either vegan or easily veganised, Na Aroon is a great option for the vegan loving traveller or indeed for lunch if you’re in the neighbourhood.
In addition to the extensive Thai cuisine that is available guests can enjoy a Western style cooked breakfast complete with ‘bacon’ and a ‘sausage’ which was a very interesting and fun option. But for the real taste of Na Aroon and Ariyasom Villa dine on delicious Thai food which is prepared by the chef who has been working with the family for nearly 40 years, you will not be disappointed.
Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel
Siem Reap in Cambodia is the gateway to the incredible Angkor Wat and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Many guests stay just 2 or 3 days and leave after visiting the temples which is a shame as it has much more to offer including a fast growing and exciting vegan food scene.
There are luxury hotels that have vegan dishes on their menus alongside traditional street food that is vegan; in this small but busy town you can eat vegan pizza, vegan cake and check into to an all vegan airBnB after a long day exploring the temples.
However, there is one hotel that stands out from the others when it comes to vegan and plant based food, that is Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel. One of the owners is vegan and has worked hard with the local chef and staff team to introduce not only plant based Cambodian cuisine to the menu but also a selection of Western style vegan dishes including not just one but two vegan burgers and tofu ‘fish’ and chips.
Expect attentive and passionate service at Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel and make sure to sign up for the vegan cooking class during your stay so you can prepare your own Cambodian vegan food when you return home!
The Farm at San Benito
Just 90 minutes outside Manila in the Philippines lies a luxury resort like no other called The Farm at San Benito. Situated within a coconut plantation, surrounded by the greenest of green countryside and boasting some of the the most verdant and lush gardens you’ve ever seen the location is simply stunning.
And then when you realise that Alive! (the restaurant at The Farm) is 100% vegan with many raw options you will quite honestly never want to leave. The food is creative, delicious, healthy and packed with nutritional goodness, just when you think it can’t get any better they present another menu that you didn’t know existed with even more plant based delights for your pleasure.
We will return for sure…
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about these 5 hotels in Southeast Asia that are VERY vegan friendly and hope you have the chance to stay at one of them very soon, we are pretty sure that we want to return to each and every one of them at some stage during our time in this enchanting region!
Paul Eyers is Founder of Vegan Food Quest. Vegan Food Quest have become luxury vegan travel specialists as they continue to find, eat and write about the best vegan food in the world.If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Food Quest who write about luxury hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia with a focus on sustainable travel, eco travel and vegan travel. Currently based in Malaysia, Paul also writes about sporting events and some of the finest golf courses throughout the region.
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32 Comments
Not all of those dishes seem vegan but still thanks for the list.
Thanks for the descriptions, Paul! I met with the people at The Farm from San Benito recently, and correct me if I’m wrong, but everything they produce is vegan…?
You are correct Paul. The restaurant, Alive! is 100% vegan and plant based. It’s not only a very decent resort but the food is incredible. They offer lots of retreats and health based tourism and the plant based cuisine fits in with that perfectly. Would love to return one day…
Wow, that’s handy! Perfect place to head for lunch :)
Thanks for your comment Terry
Thanks for featuring us on this list Paul! I gotta say it’s very exciting how vegan food is developing in the region. I’m excited that we’re a part of it. That dessert from The Farm looks incredible – gonna have to make a special trip to the Philippines for it!
with the demand for vegan travel growing rapidly then i certainly feel any all vegan hotel launching has a great chance to succeed!
The Farm at San Benito is the only 100% vegan property on this list and it is outstanding on many levels.
We’ve stayed at the Grand Hyatt in Singapore and their service is truly top notch. I’m not a vegan but I was able to try some of their vegan food, and they’re really tasty. The texture can take a bit of getting used to, especially if you’re used to the creamy, smooth texture of food with dairy products.
Thank you for your comment Mei Ling. It is good to hear you enjoyed your stay at Grand Hyatt Singapore and were impressed with their service. They will also be very pleased to hear you enjoyeed their vegan and plant based food especially as you’re not vegan yourself. I think the future of vegan food and vegan travel is based around not only growth in the number of vegans but also them amount of non vegans who choose to eat vegan food for some of their meals beacuase of the helath and environmental benefits.
I’ll have to head to Grand Hyatt when I’m next in Singapore. I’m slightly surprised that they’ve added many plant based dishes to the menu. Great to see a well-located, business hotel on the list here!
Dear Lauren
Thank you for your comment and please feel free to reach out if you’re ever in the region…we’ve got lots of vegan travel tips and advice for you!
Such great information if I’m ever in the area. Looks like an amazing place to travel with lots of tasty vegan options!
these hotels and resorts are all perfect for vegan travel Stephanie, thanks for your comment…
I spent two months in Thailand this year and while I am not vegan or vegetarian myself, I spent some time traveling with a vegan couple. They often found it hard to find a place to eat – especially in more remote places where nobody spoke English so it was almost impossible for them to explain what they want. I felt a little sorry for them, eating toasts with peanut butter in our hotel while I had a great fried noodles with chicken or seafood… this list would be so helpful for them. Anyways, I love Asian cuisine and I miss it a lot. I’d love to try its vegan alternatives :)
Hi Dorota and thank you for commenting. It is indeed harder in more rural areas when the language is of course an issue. The big cities are no longer a problem with more and more vegan options opening. We also research where we are heading to try and find at least one vegan option and always travel with snacks and food so we don’t go hungry. None of this is a problem if you stay at a hotel or resort like the ones above though!
Those dishes look amazing! Bravo to those hotels for serving vegan!
we love when pro sports stars are vegan as it totally dispells the myth about a vegan diet lacking in nutrition and protein!
I imagine it could be quite challenging eating out when you’re vegetarian, and especially so if you’re vegan. Posts like this are incredibly helpful as a resource to point you in the right direction, and these all sound like great choices. I’m not vegan but my mouth’s watering at some of the options. The dessert at the Grand Hyatt, what looks like gorgeous fudge cake with delicious icing, definitely gets my vote!
glad you liked our post Rachel, thank you for the comment! we are finding new options all of the time meaning no longer do we have to go without…
I’ve been traveling throughout Southeast Asia for a while now and you can tell there is definitely a trend toward eating healthier. That’s pretty obvious in a place like Bali. I’m surprised to find that your recommendation is so far afield from all of the touristy areas in the south. Next time I go there, I’d definitely like to get up in that area of the island. People there are so friendly!
We love Bali and the healthy / vegan / plant based food available is widespread for sure. But getting away from the crowds in the South adds a whole new element to travel on this wonderful island.
But during 2018 things changed at this luxury hotel as they began to introduce plant based food throughout the property. This has been the innovative approach that the food and beverage director has taken which is not only in line with his personal diet, but also fits perfectly as the hotel wishes to offer guests healthy cuisine that has less impact on the environment.
But during 2018 things changed at this luxury hotel as they began to introduce plant based food throughout the property. This has been the innovative approach that the food and beverage director has taken which is not only in line with his personal diet, but also fits perfectly as the hotel wishes to offer guests healthy cuisine that has less impact on the environment.
It’s proved to be a real hit, gaining media attention from around the world, whilst at the same time the food loving Singaporeans were literally queuing around the block during the ‘Beyond Burger’ launch event. Currently there are multiple plant based options in ‘Pete’s Place’ including an Italian buffet lunch and ‘mezza9’ offers a selection of plant based options throughout the menu.
Bravo to Grand Hyatt Singapore!
Puri Ganesha
Bali conjures up images of tropical beaches, blue skies and rice terraces for many, it’s long been a favourite destination for pleasure seekers and rightly so as the island (if you know where to look) is unique and breathtaking. Proceed with caution though as many areas of Bali have seen rapid development and an influx of tourists way beyond what the infrastructure can cope with and this is why you need to do your research.
Head north, away from the masses, to the sleepy coastal town of Pemuteran and check in at Puri Ganesha where we can assure you that not only will you be blessed by your stunning surroundings but you will be staying at what we believe to be one of the most vegan friendly hotels or resorts we’ve ever stayed at.
Expect the chef to create dish after dish of wonderful plant based food that is not only delicious but healthy, organic and sourced locally wherever possible. The menus and the kitchen are under the watchful eye of a passionate and talented plant based chef who not only owns Puri Ganesha but has published vegan cook books and created vegan menus for some of the leading hotels and resorts in the world.
Puri Ganesha is outstanding, think beautiful Balinese villas, huge private pools with day beds overlooking a deserted beach, and then combine this with some of the most beautiful and satisfying vegan food you’ve ever eaten and you get the picture.
Wow, simply wow.
Ariyasom Villa
Built as a family home in 1941, Ariyasom Villa was one of the first houses on Sukhumvit Road at a time when there was not a condominium or shopping mall in sight. The property has been developed and extended in recent times by the family of the original owner and is now a boutique hotel set in beautiful gardens that are somewhat of an oasis in this busy and sometimes crazy city.
It’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and that’s before you pick up the menu from Na Aroon, the hotel restaurant which is an absolute treat for anyone who wants to eat healthy, organic and locally sourced vegan versions of traditional Thai cuisine. With dishes that are nearly all vegetarian (there are a few seafood options but no meat) and many of them either vegan or easily veganised, Na Aroon is a great option for the vegan loving traveller or indeed for lunch if you’re in the neighbourhood.
In addition to the extensive Thai cuisine that is available guests can enjoy a Western style cooked breakfast complete with ‘bacon’ and a ‘sausage’ which was a very interesting and fun option. But for the real taste of Na Aroon and Ariyasom Villa dine on delicious Thai food which is prepared by the chef who has been working with the family for nearly 40 years, you will not be disappointed.
Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel
Siem Reap in Cambodia is the gateway to the incredible Angkor Wat and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Many guests stay just 2 or 3 days and leave after visiting the temples which is a shame as it has much more to offer including a fast growing and exciting vegan food scene.
There are luxury hotels that have vegan dishes on their menus alongside traditional street food that is vegan; in this small but busy town you can eat vegan pizza, vegan cake and check into to an all vegan airBnB after a long day exploring the temples.
However, there is one hotel that stands out from the others when it comes to vegan and plant based food, that is Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel. One of the owners is vegan and has worked hard with the local chef and staff team to introduce not only plant based Cambodian cuisine to the menu but also a selection of Western style vegan dishes including not just one but two vegan burgers and tofu ‘fish’ and chips.
Expect attentive and passionate service at Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel and make sure to sign up for the vegan cooking class during your stay so you can prepare your own Cambodian vegan food when you return home!
The Farm at San Benito
Just 90 minutes outside Manila in the Philippines lies a luxury resort like no other called The Farm at San Benito. Situated within a coconut plantation, surrounded by the greenest of green countryside and boasting some of the the most verdant and lush gardens you’ve ever seen the location is simply stunning.
And then when you realise that Alive! (the restaurant at The Farm) is 100% vegan with many raw options you will quite honestly never want to leave. The food is creative, delicious, healthy and packed with nutritional goodness, just when you think it can’t get any better they present another menu that you didn’t know existed with even more plant based delights for your pleasure.
We will return for sure…
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about these 5 hotels in Southeast Asia that are VERY vegan friendly and hope you have the chance to stay at one of them very soon, we are pretty sure that we want to return to each and every one of them at some stage during our time in this enchanting region!
Paul Eyers is Founder of Vegan Food Quest. Vegan Food Quest have become luxury vegan travel specialists as they continue to find, eat and write about the best vegan food in the world.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
Not all of those dishes seem vegan but still thanks for the list.
I’m curious. What is it about them that doesn’t look vegan, Ray?
Hi Ray,
Thanks for taking the time to read the article, let me assure you that every dish is 100% vegan!
From top to bottom these are the dishes:
1 – Burger from ‘Beyond Burger’
2 – Chocolate fudge cake
3 – Gado gado with cashew cheese
4 – Vegetable and coconut soup
5 – Tofu green curry, pad thai and papaya salad
6 – Tofu satay and massaman curry
7 – Vegetables, tofu with rice noodles
8 – Tofu satay
9 – Nut crusted almond tofu
10 – Dairy free ice cream and dehydrated coconut wafers
I hope that helps clear things up! Maybe next time i will incoude the description of each dish in the article…
All the best,
Paul.
Thanks for the descriptions, Paul! I met with the people at The Farm from San Benito recently, and correct me if I’m wrong, but everything they produce is vegan…?
You are correct Paul. The restaurant, Alive! is 100% vegan and plant based. It’s not only a very decent resort but the food is incredible. They offer lots of retreats and health based tourism and the plant based cuisine fits in with that perfectly. Would love to return one day…
Would love to visit one day also… they said they would be happy to host us but just have the issue of flights… one day! :)
Only tried the Baby Elephant as I work nearby. It never disappoints. Great selection and nice quiet location
Wow, that’s handy! Perfect place to head for lunch :)
Thanks for your comment Terry
Thanks for featuring us on this list Paul! I gotta say it’s very exciting how vegan food is developing in the region. I’m excited that we’re a part of it. That dessert from The Farm looks incredible – gonna have to make a special trip to the Philippines for it!
That dessert at The Farm was really as good as it looks! Also, very excited to stay somewhere that is 100% vegan…
Hi,
Interesting read and the food looks all great from the pictures
This makes me wonder how an all Vegan hotel/guesthouse would fair in such a competitive industry
What is your take on this readers?
thanks for your comment Norbert.
with the demand for vegan travel growing rapidly then i certainly feel any all vegan hotel launching has a great chance to succeed!
The Farm at San Benito is the only 100% vegan property on this list and it is outstanding on many levels.
We’ve stayed at the Grand Hyatt in Singapore and their service is truly top notch. I’m not a vegan but I was able to try some of their vegan food, and they’re really tasty. The texture can take a bit of getting used to, especially if you’re used to the creamy, smooth texture of food with dairy products.
Thank you for your comment Mei Ling. It is good to hear you enjoyed your stay at Grand Hyatt Singapore and were impressed with their service. They will also be very pleased to hear you enjoyeed their vegan and plant based food especially as you’re not vegan yourself. I think the future of vegan food and vegan travel is based around not only growth in the number of vegans but also them amount of non vegans who choose to eat vegan food for some of their meals beacuase of the helath and environmental benefits.
I’ll have to head to Grand Hyatt when I’m next in Singapore. I’m slightly surprised that they’ve added many plant based dishes to the menu. Great to see a well-located, business hotel on the list here!
Thanks for your comment Ian, it truly is the most vegan friendly city centre luxury business hotel we’ve ever visited…
Wow, so many outstanding vegan options! Thanks for putting this guide together, Paul. I’ll keep these spots in mind whenever I make it to Asia!
Dear Lauren
Thank you for your comment and please feel free to reach out if you’re ever in the region…we’ve got lots of vegan travel tips and advice for you!
Such great information if I’m ever in the area. Looks like an amazing place to travel with lots of tasty vegan options!
these hotels and resorts are all perfect for vegan travel Stephanie, thanks for your comment…
I spent two months in Thailand this year and while I am not vegan or vegetarian myself, I spent some time traveling with a vegan couple. They often found it hard to find a place to eat – especially in more remote places where nobody spoke English so it was almost impossible for them to explain what they want. I felt a little sorry for them, eating toasts with peanut butter in our hotel while I had a great fried noodles with chicken or seafood… this list would be so helpful for them. Anyways, I love Asian cuisine and I miss it a lot. I’d love to try its vegan alternatives :)
Hi Dorota and thank you for commenting. It is indeed harder in more rural areas when the language is of course an issue. The big cities are no longer a problem with more and more vegan options opening. We also research where we are heading to try and find at least one vegan option and always travel with snacks and food so we don’t go hungry. None of this is a problem if you stay at a hotel or resort like the ones above though!
Those dishes look amazing! Bravo to those hotels for serving vegan!
thank you for your comment Cindy, it’s great to see more and more hotels offering vegan food!
What a beautiful array of delicious food! I wish I could jump into your suitcase!
haha we can try to fit you in our suitcase one day if you like!
Veganism is coming of age. It is sweeping the world and not just in South-East Asia.
Even in the macho world of America’s National Football Lesgue 220 pound linebackers are turning vegan basing their diet on a plant-based regime.
The Tennessee Titans are leading the league in Vegans and their heading for the play-offs too!
we love when pro sports stars are vegan as it totally dispells the myth about a vegan diet lacking in nutrition and protein!
I imagine it could be quite challenging eating out when you’re vegetarian, and especially so if you’re vegan. Posts like this are incredibly helpful as a resource to point you in the right direction, and these all sound like great choices. I’m not vegan but my mouth’s watering at some of the options. The dessert at the Grand Hyatt, what looks like gorgeous fudge cake with delicious icing, definitely gets my vote!
glad you liked our post Rachel, thank you for the comment! we are finding new options all of the time meaning no longer do we have to go without…
I’ve been traveling throughout Southeast Asia for a while now and you can tell there is definitely a trend toward eating healthier. That’s pretty obvious in a place like Bali. I’m surprised to find that your recommendation is so far afield from all of the touristy areas in the south. Next time I go there, I’d definitely like to get up in that area of the island. People there are so friendly!
We love Bali and the healthy / vegan / plant based food available is widespread for sure. But getting away from the crowds in the South adds a whole new element to travel on this wonderful island.
Thanks for your comment Jake!