It was a slow Saturday morning, the kind where you don’t have a plan and don’t need one.
I’d been meaning to try The Living Cafe for a while, and a quiet Saturday felt like the right time. It sits right at 779 Bukit Timah Road, just opposite Sixth Avenue MRT, easy enough to walk to before the day gets away from you. I went in hoping for a nourishing breakfast, the kind that actually sets you up rather than just filling a gap.
Two hours and a breakfast I hadn’t expected to think about again.
A Cafe with a Simple Founding Vision That Still Holds
The Living Cafe Singapore has been part of the raw food movement since 2011. Their founding principle is clear: no cow dairy, no red meat, no refined sugar, no preservatives, and no vegetable oils. They source organic produce where possible and combine the freshest ingredients to create what they call food for the soul. A small amount of white meat and fish does appear on the menu, and every dish is clearly labelled for vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy-free, and nut-free needs.
That simple founding vision still shapes everything on the plate.
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how calm it felt. High ceilings, lots of natural light, and the particular quiet of a place that isn’t trying too hard. The cafe below sits beneath a shop upstairs selling supplements and oils. Airy, unhurried, the kind of room where you lower your voice without meaning to. I took a small table near the window. A couple worked on their laptops nearby. Nobody rushed anyone.
Delicious and Healthy Meals Rooted in Plant Based Food
This is a vegetarian restaurant at heart, even if it isn’t entirely animal-product-free. The menu leans heavily into plant based cuisine, with raw food at its centre and a handful of cooked options built around whole, honest ingredients.
Zucchini, Pesto Sauce, Cashew Nut, and the Raw Food that Surprised Me
I started with the Zucchini Pesto Pasta ($14). Calling it pasta feels like a stretch. It’s ribbons of raw zucchini tossed in a herby pesto sauce, closer to a salad than a bowl of noodles. The pesto is dairy-free, made with olive oil, herbs, almonds, and a base of cashew nut that gives it a creamy, surprisingly good depth.
It was clean and light. The kind of dish that leaves you feeling good rather than heavy. But honestly, I wanted a little more punch. The portion was modest. Lovely, but not filling on its own.
The Grilled Tofu & Guacamole Wrap won me over more. It came properly stuffed, the tofu warm and savoury, the avocado cool and generous against it. That contrast of temperatures made it. This was the dish I’d order again without hesitation.
Raw Cashew Mayo, Coconut Sugar, and the Raw Desserts Worth Coming Back For
Then the desserts, which are quietly the most important aspect of a visit here. I had a slice of the raw blueberry cheesecake, and it genuinely surprised me. Dense and creamy, with a cashew mayo style base set with coconut oil and lightly sweetened with coconut sugar rather than refined sugar. A berry tartness stopped it feeling too heavy.
The lemon tart and hazelnut cake get the same love from regulars, and I understand why. They’re not sweet in the conventional sense. If you want bold, sugary indulgence, these raw desserts might read as too restrained. I found them just right.
I washed everything down with the Chocolate Monkey smoothie, a blend of cashew milk, banana, Medjool dates, and raw cacao. Thick, cold, a little like a milkshake that decided to behave itself. It’s one of the fresh juices and smoothies that keeps people coming back.
Sweet Potato Wedges, Mushrooms, Spinach, and What Else Is Worth Ordering
The Veggie Delight Pizza ($19) showed up on a neighbouring table and smelled incredible. It comes loaded with sweet potato wedges, sautéed zucchini, mushrooms, and peppers, dressed with a cashew mayo and macadamia cheese that delivers real umami depth without a scrap of dairy.
The Wild Barramundi Brown Rice Bowl ($16) is one of the few fish dishes on the menu, and it works. The fish is fresh, cooked clean, and comes with two sauces, a rich pesto and a bright, tangy gazpacho-style dressing with tomatoes, lime, cucumber, and sesame. Add some carrots and spinach from the salad bar, and it’s a genuinely balanced plate.
A fair warning. This isn’t cheap food, and a few dishes taste milder than their price suggests. Go in expecting fresh and gentle, not rich and salty, and it makes much more sense.
Healthy Meals, Organic Produce, and the Most Important Aspect of the Experience
The breakfast menu reflects the same care you’ll find across everything they do. The kitchen sources high quality, organic produce where possible, swapping vegetable oils for olive oil and coconut oil in every dish. Allium-free options skip the onion and garlic entirely, and the morning cooking feels considered rather than hurried.
What makes this a genuinely satisfying breakfast for plant based eaters isn’t spectacle. It’s the quiet care behind every ingredient on the morning plate.
If this is your kind of dining experience, you’ll also enjoy our guide to the best breakfast in Singapore with a healthy twist, featuring wholesome options across the city.
Service That’s Warm, If a Little Uneven
The staff were kind. When I hesitated over the menu, someone walked me through the raw food options and what to expect, no fuss.
That said, service can drift. My smoothie arrived well before my food, and there was a small lull where I wasn’t sure if I’d been forgotten. Nothing rude, just a little uneven. Others have mentioned the same, so it seems to be the rhythm of the place rather than a bad day.
Opening Hours, 779 Bukit Timah Road, and What You Need Before You Go
Address: 779 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269758
Nearest MRT: Sixth Avenue, right across the road
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 8am to 6pm
Price: roughly S$25 to S$35 per person, more if you add a smoothie and dessert
Reservations: book through thelivingcafe.com, or WhatsApp +65 9735 9404
Book ahead for weekend brunch. Weekday mid-morning or mid-afternoon is calmer if you want the quiet I found.
One small note. The Living Cafe avoids dairy, red meat, and refined sugar, but it isn’t fully vegan. There’s some fish and white meat on the menu too, and animal products are clearly labelled, so check before you order if that matters to you.
Who I’d Send to This Vegetarian Restaurant on Bukit Timah Road
If you love bold, salty, hawker-style flavour, this probably isn’t your morning. But if you want fresh, plant based food in a room that lets you exhale, The Living Cafe is a genuinely nice place to sit and eat.
I’d bring a friend curious about raw food, or a mixed group where one person follows a vegan diet and another wants fish. It handles that combination gracefully.
I came in for breakfast. I left thinking about that blueberry cheesecake. That’s usually a good sign.
For more honest reviews and everyday healthy eating ideas, come spend some time with us at Healthy Food Guide.
