Banyan Tree Bintan

Banyan Tree Bintan is an exclusive Indonesian resort on the serene and picturesque Bintan Island, which is part of the Riau Archipelago, and is where guests can enjoy a luxurious escape surrounded by pristine natural beauty. The lush tropical rainforest envelopes the elegant villas, many of which boast stunning views of the South China Sea. Banyan Tree Bintan provides an idyllic sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation located just a short boat trip away from both Singapore and Malaysia.

Our Rainforest Sea View Villa at Banyan Tree Bintan was perched on a verdant hillside and boasted panoramic views of the South China Sea, all framed by the lush tropical foliage. The spacious interior featured traditional Indonesian design, a king sized four poster bed, and a lavish bathroom with more of those memorable views. The villa’s private deck, which was complete with a good sized plunge pool, was an excellent location to watch kingfishers, sea eagles and hornbills swooping gracefully over the trees and ocean, before each day ended with the sun setting over the horizon. This nature lovers paradise was the perfect home away from home.

The Vegan Food

The food at Treetops restaurant was rivalled only by the gorgeous panoramic ocean views that stretched the entire length of the restaurant. Famed for its menu of Indonesian classics, this is a must visit place for people wanting to try Indonesian food. Our breakfast each day was a delightful array of plant based goodness. We feasted on congee (rice porridge), nasi goreng (fried rice), kway teow (flat noodles) and soto sayur (noodle soup) all served with spicy and sweet sambals. We were in vegan food heaven every day at Banyan Tree Bintan.

Diving into the roots of West Javan cuisine during lunch at Treetops, we enjoyed a fresh and flavourful karedok salad which was crafted from rounds of lontong, compressed rice cakes, pieces of fried firm tofu, glass noodles and a rich spicy, sweet and aromatic peanut sauce tossed together with chopped cucumber, crunchy bean sprouts, shredded cabbage and green beans. Urab, another traditional salad made with raw vegetables, was full of crispy fried shallots and toasted coconut and dressed with a liberal amount of spicy chilli and zesty aromatic lime leaf. Any foray into traditional Indonesian cuisine has to include satay, the often cited national dish of Indonesia. Ours was made from tofu and tempe, stacked on a mini grill and covered with a generous amount of peanut sauce. Satay is a cornerstone of Indonesian cuisine and we were happy to sample a vegan version of this dish which enabled us to experience all the elements of this iconic Indonesian culinary offering. Dessert dreams came true with wajik, made from sticky rice, treacly palm sugar and creamy salted coconut milk. Natural ingredients, traditional cooking and flavours combined to make a culinary experience to be savoured.

Next stop on our Banyan Tree Bintan culinary adventure was The Cove where we enjoyed a slice of the Mediterranean accompanied with mesmerising views of the South China Sea. Our trio of plant based dishes started with quinoa salad, before moving on to spaghetti with veggies and a mushroom risotto. They all provided a perfect alternative to the amazing Indonesian food being served at Banyan Tree Bintan, and they were each an excellent light lunch next to the ocean. Just to remind us that we were in Asia and not Europe, our dessert was mango sticky rice with an additional scoop of creamy coconut sorbet; an absolute classic to round off a delicious slow paced lunch overlooking the sea.

Enter the world of Saffron at The Banyan Tree where delicious and elegant Thai food awaits. It doesn’t take long to to understand why this restaurant is a favourite with guests from all over the island who head here from their chosen hotel or resort. Our meal began with a table side hand wash ritual, setting the tone for the impeccable service that followed. The food had all the authentic flavours of Thai cuisine and additional elements, like a choice of 4 different rices served by the restaurant’s ’rice master’, truly made it a meal to remember. The existing menu has a vegetarian section with vegan options as well as other dishes that are easily adapted and the chef was also happy to create ‘off menu’ dishes to further enhance the Thai plant based dining experience. The food was exceptional, starting with the humble traditional rice crackers served with a duo of dipping sauces including a creamy coconut tofu creation which was inspired. Delicate butterfly pea rice noodles with spicy laab tofu, a creamy, spicy and fragrant green curry and a mushroom pad krapow full of pungent Thai basil flavour, was followed by a slightly salty and slightly sweet coconut milk and fruit dessert that was the final chapter of a wonderfully memorable meal.

The Vegan Essentials

The team at Banyan Tree Bintan have removed plastic water bottles and miniature toiletries from the resort which is great to see. An on site water filtration plant allows them to produce all of the drinking water for the resort and a new heat pump system has reduced electricity usage. Their sustainability initiatives include an inspiring sea turtle conservation project and an award winning sustainable aquaponic farm that benefits from fertiliser made from organic food waste whilst producing ‘zero mile’ ingredients for guests and staff. No stay at Banyan Tree Bintan would be complete without a visit to the spa where you can choose from an indulgent array of massages, from one of the professionally trained therapists. With a choice of well appointed rooms, some boasting sea views, your spa visit at Banyan Tree Bintan will surely be as memorable as our couples spa experience.

The Vegan Food Quest Verdict

Banyan Tree Bintan offers refined luxury, an enviable location and exemplary service making it an excellent choice for anyone considering a trip to Bintan. The fact that we were able to enjoy plant based Indonesian, Thai and Italian food during our stay elevates our feelings for this exclusive resort. It’s seriously good and we would love to return one day to this idyllic Indonesian resort. Highly recommended.

We were guests of Banyan Tree Bintan but please rest assured that their generosity in hosting us didn’t influence our views.

Banyan Tree Bintan
Pulau Bintan
Indonesia

Telephone: +62 770 693100
Email: reservations-bintan@banyantree.com
Cost From: £350 / $445 (July 2024)