On the ground floor of Chinatown’s Four Points, LaGula — from the team behind The Hungry Tapir — is rewriting the rules of what a vegan eatery can be: part brunch spot, part resto-bar, and entirely unlike anything else in the city.
The vibe: Run by Makissa Smeeton and her mother, Cynthia Rodrigo, the quirky, maximalist bakery-bar is washed in the decade’s most defining colour: pink, in every shade and shimmer. There’s also a d-floor. At night, the room pulses with a nightclub-quality sound system, with Makissa’s brother, Tristan, holding down the DJ booth as the house selector.
The food: Buttery pastries (yes, vegan!) and plant-forward mains: a pulled ‘pok’ bap that tastes just like the real thing; sourdough pizza topped with marinated hedgehog mushrooms and kuah kacang (a playful riff on satay); and tortillas brightened by mango and mushroom ceviche. Save stomach space for bakes and sweets.
The drinks: Come for breakfast smoothies, stay for cocktails and natural wines.
Time Out tip: On Friday nights, the space transforms into a stage for the city’s best jazz, blues, and soul musicians. Check LaGula’s Instagram to stay up-to-date with the latest lineup and programming; it could be Bollywood-themed one night, and stand-up comedy the next.