The best acai bowls in Singapore

After indulging in Stranger’s Reunion’s hearty brunch plates, alleviate the guilt by having a healthy superfood bowl for dessert. The acai smoothie bowl ($11.90) is made with a base of açai, berries and coconut water and topped with honey granola, pepitas, coconut flakes, goji berries, and other fresh berries. Those looking to switch things up should consider the avocado smoothie bowl ($11.90). It comes with a naturally creamy avocado base topped with tropical ingredients of bananas, coconut flakes, and coconut chia pudding.

Tucked away slightly off the main shopping belt of Orchard Road, Coocaça provides respite from a long day of shopping with acai bowls ($12.90) and smoothies (from $6.90). Each acai bowl comes topped with more superfoods like goji berries as well as fresh fruits for a sweet treat that isn't as sinful as a chocolate pie. Too full for a full acai bowl? Get an acai soft serve that comes in small ($6.50) or regular ($7.90), the latter comes with granola, and your choice of fruit and topping for a quick and easy fix.

What started out as a small stall in Katong has now grown to an expanding acai brand with three outlets islandwide. Founded by two SMU undergraduates, Anna Ng and Isabel Lee, An Acai Affair aims to spread the gospel of the superfood's benefits while making a tasty and affordable treat for the masses. Try the Triple A ($5.90-$13.90), the most basic acai bowl that comes with fresh fruits and superfoods like chia seeds and almond flakes. If you're looking for something more filling, it also has a range of sourdough bread ($5.90/$6.90) that comes topped with cookie butter, berries or fresh avocado. 

Blink and you might miss this little shop tucked unassumingly in the crowded basement of Raffles Place. Parallel specialises in acai bowls and Common Man Coffee Roasters specialty coffee – likewise, its menu is short, simple and straight to the point. The bowls come in two sizes (from $8.90) and are as pretty as they come. Topped with banana, blueberries and granola (or you can go for even more unusual toppings like goji berries and dragonfruit), the bowls are all naturally sweetened with no added sugars. If you like your slurp your super berries, the thick acai smoothies are right up your alley. 

Haakon, pronounced  ‘haw-coon’, is a Scandinavian-inspired café that brings superfoods from Norway to your plate. It only uses premium Norwegian smoked salmon – it’s rich in protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants – to make dishes like salad bowls (from $11.90) and avo toast ($8.90). For those with a sweet tooth, go for Haakon’s classic acai bowl (from $7.90), topped with coconut flakes, banana, strawberries and blueberries for a quick and guilt-free energy boost.

Project Açaí puts this berry superfood front and centre at its Holland Village café. The berry features in bowls ($6.80 to $13.50) with toppings like granola, fresh fruit and goji berries, as well as smoothies ($8.50) like the Beach Body To-go. The acai is smoothly blended and doesn’t melt easily but we later find out that although they are mixed with other ingredients, the acai purée comes pre-packaged from Sambazon, the same brand that Park Bench Deli uses in their acai bowls. To bring the health food home, pick it up in packs like the original blend with guarana ($12.85/one pack, $21.40/two) or pure unsweetened ($15/one pack, $26/two) to make your own acai bowls.

This small café in the east is a surprising contender for the best place to get your affordable healthy food fix. Replenish yourself with one of their savoury hearty bowls or a bowl of superfood magic. A favourite is the Viva Amazonia ($12) – made with acai, banana, rice milk, raw cacao, strawberry, kiwi, blueberry, granola, mixed seeds, coco flakes, and goji berry.

The minimalist café dedicated to acai serves up Brazilian bowls ($5.90 to $11.90) and the Absolute Acai signature bowls ($7.50 to $15.50) in small, medium and large. There’s the option to make your own ($4.90 to $9.50), with add-on toppings of seeds, dried fruit, nuts, fresh fruit or superfoods, like bee pollen and dried goji berry ($0.50 to $1). The acai bowls come naturally sweetened with puréed apples and bananas, with generous toppings of granola to make this a hearty dessert. 

With the #eatclean movement on the rise, this vegan deli retailer bar has its sights set on bringing the raw food movement proper to Singapore. Afterglow works with local and regional farmers to procure crops for its inventive fare. So it comes as no surprise that you'll find a mean acai bowl ($15) in the "raw desserts" menu. Made of acai berry, raw muesli, banana, seasonal fruits, raw berry puree, salted tahini 'caramel', and cashew cracker, the acai bowl makes the perfect treat.

The quaint deep blue facade, bar seats and the lure of the deli’s sandwiches busting with meaty fillings are the main reasons why people head to Park Bench Deli. But look up at its huge menu and you'll find the healthy acai bowl ($8), with fresh fruit, honey and coconut flakes to help cut through the meaty grease. Just be sure to come early as it's only available from 7.30am to 11am on weekdays.