Angsana Bintan
Angsana Bintan is located within the expansive Laguna Bintan resort complex and offers a tranquil Indonesian escape on the stunning Bintan Island. This beachfront resort is is blessed with a pristine white sand beach and crystal clear waters and is a truly perfect holiday destination. Being just a short boat ride from both Singapore and Malaysia, Angsana Bintan is popular with visitors from both these locations as well as those from further afield, all wishing to enjoy everything that this beach resort has to offer. Having enjoyed our stay immensely we can see why it is a popular choice for couples, friends and family needing a break from the big city and everyday life.
Our Island Suite at Angsana Bintan was spacious and well appointed, featuring a separate living and dining area and a large balcony to soak in the stunning ocean views. We loved having a bathtub in our suite, enjoyed the extra space to relax and certainly felt blessed to be so close to the ocean. We swam in the ocean every day and enjoyed the inviting and refreshing pool surrounded by tropical gardens. With well-equipped gym facilities and a range of other guest activities which changed daily, Angsana Bintan has something for everyone.
The Vegan Food
Breakfast is served at Lotus Cafe and turned into a wonderfully long and lazy affair as we started our day sampling the delicious offerings from the kitchen. The friendly staff team were always on hand with soy milk lattes and offers to prepare ‘extra’ vegan food for us if there wasn’t enough on the buffet. It’s safe to say we certainly didn’t go hungry! The congee station had plenty of vegan condiments so we could personalise this Asian breakfast staple to our own plant based tastes. It was great to see clear labels on the buffet, allowing guests who wish to eat vegan (or gluten free) food, to easily find suitable dishes. We enjoyed the Indonesian favourite of nasi lemak (rice cooked with coconut milk) with a bowl of veggie curry, and spiced potatoes. The chef also made delicious fried glass noodles for us, served with emping crackers, tofu and tempeh. The noodles were packed with flavour and we have to say, anything that is served with tofu AND tempeh makes us smile.
We also enjoyed other meals at Lotus Cafe during our stay as the bright and breezy restaurant surrounded by landscaped gardens is at the heart of Angsana Bintan. We were kept smiling with abundant tofu and tempeh and we loved the nasi goreng (fried rice), which just like the mee goreng (fried noodles) was packed with flavour. The chef prepared fresh and crunchy salads, mini samosas and naughty but nice pisang goreng (fried bananas) which were served with divine mango sorbet.
Destination Dining
Guests are able to enjoy various destination dining experiences during their stay at Angsana Bintan. In addition to these unique experiences, the trio of restaurants at Banyan Tree Bintan are just a short buggy ride away. Choose from Treetops, The Cove or Saffron and enjoyed more culinary delights created by the talented team of chefs. Saffron serves authentic Thai cuisine and the menu has plenty of vegetarian options, some which are vegan and others that can be adapted. Spicy tofu laab served with butterfly pea glass noodles, creamy green curry and pad krapow with mushrooms were just three of the dishes that we were served, each of which were delicious and a true taste of Thailand.
Our ‘Dinner of the Legend’ experience was located on the soft white sand beach where a beautifully set table and comfortable lounge area awaited us. The sound of the gentle waves and the colours from the setting sun were our backdrop to a banquet of vegan Indonesian food served family style by our personal waiter. Dining on a traditional Indonesian Kelong in the sea offered another unique and memorable experience. This traditional floating house, set on a wooden platform on the water had been converted into a beautiful restaurant where the dining area was decorated with twinkling lanterns and the gentle sway of the Kelong on the ocean waves added to the peaceful atmosphere.
The Vegan Essentials
In line with the worldwide trend to become more sustainable, Angsana Bintan have made lots of planet friendly changes. There were no plastic bottles at Angsana Bintan and the bathroom amenities were in refillable ceramic dispensers, we are unsure if the amenities were vegan friendly but were happy that this is another resort that no longer uses single use plastic bottles for their bathroom amenities. In addition, our duvet and pillows were all made from synthetic materials meaning we were able to enjoy a feather free sleep in our comfortable bed. We loved that the team at Angsana Bintan have created an organic vegetable garden at the heart of the resort, producing fruits, vegetables and herbs that can be foraged by the chef, before finding their way on to your plate. Our final ‘vegan essential’ during our stay was a couples spa experience complete with ocean views and serene vibes, this was one of the true highlight of our time at Angsana Bintan.
The Vegan Food Quest Verdict
It’s hard to imagine that the fast life of Singapore is just an hour away but that’s what Angsana Bintan does so well. Their warm welcome, beachfront location and the natural surroundings all combine to whisk you away from the pressures of city life and allow you to relax and rejuvenate during your stay. This is further enhanced by chefs that conjure up a selection of plant based Indonesian delights that are full of flavour and traditional ingredients.
We were guests of Angsana Bintan but please rest assured that their generosity in hosting us didn’t influence our views.
Angsana Bintan
Pulau Bintan
Indonesia
Telephone: +62 770 693111
Email: Reservations-bintan@angsana.com
Cost From: £130 / $165 (July 2024)