JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach
Opened in 2017 this modern and stylish property located in downtown Singapore is perfect for business and leisure travellers alike. Boasting 624 rooms including 5 types of suites, two pools, a gym and a spa alongside a number of F&B outlets both in the hotel and as part of the South Beach complex there really is no need to leave. If you do need to venture out and explore Singapore the hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of a number of malls and both City Hall or Esplanade metro stations offering easy access to the whole city.
Rooms are bright and contemporary with white, chrome and mirrors playing a big part in the design. Featuring all mod cons as you would expect from a JW Marriott and a bed that was divinely comfortable. Book a room or suite which offers access to the Executive Lounge and enjoy complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and evening canapés with a superb cocktail hour that runs from 1730 to 2130.
The Vegan Food
Always tell the hotel you are vegan when booking and then again at check in as this helps them prepare for your stay. You also never know what surprises they might have for you as part of the evening turn down service. On our first day we were treated to a tray of specially prepared vegan power balls and on our second day we were given a generous selection of roasted nuts. The evening canapés in the Executive Lounge included a number of items that were vegan friendly. These included breads, salads, guacamole, hummus, sun dried tomatoes, marinated shallots, Chiodini mushrooms, fruit rojak and a selection of nuts and seeds. There was one hot item too that was suitable for vegans and that was roasted bell peppers, tomato and basil. Drinks included Peroni, a Viognier from Yalumba and a Syrah from Gayda Wines which are all vegan friendly according to Barnivore.
Breakfast at Beach Road Kitchen was an extravagant affair. The all day dining restaurant offers an extensive buffet for breakfast and when we say extensive we really mean extensive. The superb Chef Gana gave us a confident and informative tour around the breakfast buffet pointing out the multiple vegan options that were available. We swept through each different station from soups to salads, breads to curries, English breakfast goodies to dessert pizza. There was congee, noodle soup and a rich, coconut milk creamy, spicy Sayur Lodeh loaded with tofu, vegetables and delicious curry leaves served with nasi lemak rice (rice cooked in coconut milk). Salads to die for with an abundance of leaves, beans, dips (hello hummus, babaganoush and guacamole) and vegetables. A mini scoop store of nuts and seeds with pistachios, macadamias, chia, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. For a more traditional breakfast option there was vegan oatmeal which was ready to be topped with fruit compote or fresh fruit. Then there was the pizza. Breakfast pizzas coming straight out of the wood fired pizza oven, smothered in sticky apricot jam, seeds and nuts. Pizza for breakfast is sure a sign we are winning at life. Add to this tea or coffee with soya milk and an extensive fresh fruit and juice selection and you have all the ingredients for a perfect breakfast.
Following on from the successful partnership with Akira Back at JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi, Akira Back at JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach offers “modern cuisine and aims to provide guests with an unforgettable dining experience.” We would have to agree as our vegan meal was creative, modern and innovative meaning we can’t wait to return! Our multi course vegan dining experience was accompanied by a fine Australian Chardonnay from Xanadu, which is listed on Barnivore as vegan friendly. A simple sounding starter of ‘Edamame and Brussels Sprouts with Sea Salt’ offered a strong start to our meal. The contrast of the fresh steamed edamame beans with the deep fried and salted leaves of Brussels sprouts was perfect. Enter a line of mushroom tacos. ‘Mushroom Tacos with Spicy Tomato Ponzu’ was 4 neatly presented taro taco shells stuffed with king oyster Mushrooms and a spicy tomato ponzu which was dripping out of the sides like a tasty invitation. The taro taco shells were light and delicately crunchy. Next up, a vibrant and enticing ‘Bell Pepper Carpaccio with Nanbanzu’ which featured soft and intense peppers with a sweet vinegar marinade, topped with micro herbs, a slither of fried garlic and finely slicked green chilli. This pepper creation was visually stunning as well as delicious.
The sumptuous creations kept arriving from the kitchen including ‘Roasted Mushrooms with Bulgogi, Togarashi and Quinoa’ which was a medley of mushrooms in a sweet rich dressing and tiny crunchy pearls of crispy quinoa scattered throughout. Quite simply this was a mushroom lovers dream. Next up was ‘Crispy Rice with Eggplant and Spicy Ponzu Aioli’ with the creamy and spicy ponzu aioli offering quite a kick. The crispy rice cubes were topped with eggplant and seaweed, the combined flavours and textures of this dish certainly ticked all of the boxes for us, each bite sized portion was perfection. Our final savoury dish was ‘Crispy Tofu with Kochujang Soy and Finger Lime’, the light batter, sweet dressing with a hint of delicate lime and topped with sliced spring onion created one of the tastiest tofu dishes we’ve enjoyed for a long time. Our vegan meal climaxed with a ‘Soy Bean Panna Cotta with Mixed Berries’. Any chef who creates a vegan panna cotta is a favourite of ours and this plant based dessert was a welcome end to our memorable meal. So often, an amazing vegan meal ends with a dessert that is a little disappointing but this was not the case here, it was the perfect end to a perfect evening at Akira Back.
The Vegan Essentials
Our bed was comfortable, very comfortable indeed. This combined with non feather pillows and duvet (which are available upon request) ensured a sleeping experience that we loved and have been longing for since we checked out! The bathroom amenities were from Aromatherapy Associates who do not test on animals and use natural and organic ingredients wherever possible. They include honey or beeswax in some products but their website lists these, we can therefore happily report that the product lines available in our bathroom were vegan friendly…
The Vegan Food Quest Verdict
This modern and luxurious hotel is a great option in the heart of Singapore. The extensive offering for breakfast at Beach Road Kitchen, and vegan options including vegan alcohol in the Executive Lounge, make this a vegan friendly luxury hotel that we would certainly return to. The ‘upon request’ vegan menu at Akira Back elevated our experience to the next level. Beautifully prepared and supremely delicious contemporary Japanese cuisine served in a stylish environment. Book a table at Akira Back whether you are staying at JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach or not, you will not be disappointed!
We were guests of JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach but please rest assured that their generosity in hosting us didn’t influence our views.
JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach
30 Beach Road
Singapore 189763
Telephone: +65 6818 1888
Cost From: £225 / $295 (April 2019)