The best acai bowls in Singapore

What started out as a small stall in Katong has now expanded into an acai brand with sixteen 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 tasty and affordable treats for the masses. Try the Triple A ($6.90-$15.80) – 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 (from $8.90) that comes topped with cookie butter, berries or fresh avocado.

Slightly off the main belt of Orchard Road, this shopper's respite serves up fresh acai bowls (from $12.50) 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 an entire acai bowl? Get an acai soft serve that comes in small ($7) or regular ($8.50) sizes. The latter comes with artisanal granola, a generous squeeze of homemade almond butter, and your choice of fruit and toppings for a quick and easy fix.

Project Açaí is arguably the OG acai brand in Singapore with six outlets islandwide. Regulars flock back weekly to its Holland Village outlet, where acai bowls go at $7.50 to $15.90 and come with toppings like granola, fresh fruit and goji berries. There’s also the option of getting an acai smoothie ($9.20). Pick between seven different flavours including the ever-popular Yogi Wannabe-rry with fruits and chia seeds, or Where My Chocolate Abs with chocolate oat milk. You can also bring the superfood home in packs like the original blend ($12.50 per pint) or unsweetened acai ($15 per pack) to make your own acai bowls.

With a whopping 11 outlets islandwide, The Summer Acai is another big name in the acai game. The brand uses a blend of 100% acai pulp and lemon juice to achieve a slightly sweet and zesty base. The menu is jam-packed with 13 acai bowl combinations (from $10.20 to $16.70), from classic favourites like the Basic Bitch bowl with your quintessential acai base, fruits and granola, to unique bowls featuring yuzu sorbet, earl grey acai, or pear sorbet. And if none of these tickle your fancy, there’s also the option of customising your own bowl (from $10.80) or taking home a pint in one of their nine homemade flavours.

Nana’s Acai might just be one of the Toa Payoh neighbourhood’s best-kept secrets. Located right outside Braddell MRT, the store is a simple, small establishment ideal for takeaway orders, though a small standing table is available. The acai is blended with cacao for a smooth, rich consistency that is neither too sweet nor sour. Each cup (from $9.60 to $15) comes loaded with acai, fruits, nuts and drizzle, layered between dollops of acai so you get even chunks of toppings in every bite.

Beyond Fruit has gained popularity recently for its decently priced acai cups that start from as low as $1.90 for the small DIY option and $2.90 for the medium size. Base options include premium acai, collagen froyo or collagen yoghurt, while fresh fruits, toppings and sauces come at a top-up of $1 per item. For more substantial bowls, choose between five options including the Blueberry Oasis (from $7.90) with berries, granola, coconut shavings and cookie butter; or the Banana Crunch (from $4.90) with banana, granola and peanut butter. There are six existing outlets islandwide.

Haakon (pronounced ‘haw-coon’) is a Scandinavian-inspired café that brings superfoods from Norway to the table. For a quick and guilt-free energy boost, go for the classic acai bowl (from $8.90), topped with seasonal fruits, granola, chia seed parfait, blueberries and coconut flakes. Other variations include the Cacao Bliss and Nut Butter acai bowls, while fans of spirulina – the green-blue algae superfood – also have the option of the Green and Lean bowl that features a spirulina base.

This small café in the east is a surprising contender for the best place to get your healthy food fix, with generous portions and reasonable prices to boot. Replenish yourself with one of their savoury hearty bowls, or a bowl of sweet, superfood magic. A crowd-favourite is the Viva Amazonia ($12) – made with acai, banana, rice milk, raw cacao, strawberry, kiwi, blueberry, granola, mixed seeds, coco flakes, and goji berries. Else, you can go for the nutrient-rich Crimson Lush Superbowl, or customise your own. The brand also has an outlet at Raffles Place for CBD folks to get their acai fix.

Being healthy isn't always necessarily a hassle. Here at Moam, also known as Men on a Mission, there is an emphasis on fresh produce, general well-being, and nutritious food. Things are kept simple and fuss-free to allow diners to grab a quick meal within the CBD during a busy day. The popular acai bowls ($11.90) are named after Brazilian states such as Ipanema, Sao Paulo and Rio. Each contains acai, cacao nibs and in-house salted gula melaka granola while toppings of fresh fruits and nut butter are customisable. There is also a zero-waste policy over here which means fresh ingredients arrive daily and hence there will be limited bowls available.

This quaint café along Haji Lane has got delicious acai bowls hidden amidst its brunch-focused menu. Swing by for a guilt-free frozen treat after exploring the buzzy stretch. Made for acai lovers, the acai smoothie bowl ($14) is a tasty blend of organic ingredients, frozen bananas, fresh fruits, homemade nut butter and chia seeds.

Unlike its name, Acai Beach Club is located within Plaza Singapura so you can enjoy your bowl of acai in air-conditioned comfort instead of under the sweltering heat. Health-conscious folks will be relieved to know that the acai bowls here are a tad less sweet than the norm. Starting at $9.90, each acai bowl comes with toppings like kiwi, passionfruit, flax seeds and coconut flakes and drizzled with indulgent cookie butter sauce. Pro tip: stop by on weekends for special deals like two bowls of acai going at $15.

The Acai Collective prides itself on creating a smooth, creamy base without using sugars or additives. The blended organic acai from The Acai Collective then comes topped with fresh fruits like bananas, kiwi, strawberries, and blueberries in the signature bowl (from $10.50), or topped with chocolate buckini (activated buckwheat) and a dollop of nut butter (from $11.50) for a spin on the usual variant. They've also got interesting superfood alternatives such as acerola cherries for health food junkies to indulge in.