Cempedak Island, a private island near Singapore, is hosting a foraging feast with a Michelin-trained chef.
Most weekend getaways follow the same formula: lounge by the pool, sip on a cocktail, and squeeze in a massage before heading home feeling marginally more relaxed. Cempedak Island has a different idea. This adults-only hideaway off Bintan, Indonesia, invites you to slow down in ways you probably haven’t for a while. Think barefoot walks through the rainforest, dinners that celebrate what’s growing around you, and leisurely mornings where the only thing on your agenda is deciding whether to hit the beach or your private plunge pool.
Now, there’s an extra reason to book that ferry. We’re talking about the cool events line-up at Cempedak Island, including Australian chef Michael Lewis popping over for a series of foraging dinners that’ll have you looking at weeds, seaweed and wild herbs in a whole new light.
Upcoming events at Cempedak Island
Chef Michael Lewis, who’s cooked everywhere from Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy and France to award-winning kitchens in Denmark, invites guests to roll up their sleeves and head outdoors before dinner is on the menu.
You’ll wander along Cempedak’s shoreline and through pockets of greenery, stopping to taste edible leaves, discover coastal herbs and chat about the surprising ingredients growing all around the island. The best part? It all culminates in a communal dinner with Chef Michael as the host, and a menu inspired by everything you’ve discovered earlier in the day, alongside produce from the island’s farm and fresh local seafood. It’s the kind of meal that makes you appreciate how good simple food can be.
Foraging dinners with Chef Michael: 23, 25, 28 & 31 July 2026
Price: $75++ per person
Other events include a one-night special with Chef Angelo of Wildcard on 9 August 2026, with a menu rooted in his cooking style, and the Murder Mystery Weekend from 2 to 4 October 2026, where the island will transform into a “crime scene” for one weekend.
Little things make the stay special
Picture this: a gorgeous bamboo villa tucked between the trees, a private plunge pool overlooking the sea, and no TV demanding your attention – just ocean breezes and birdsong reminding you that you’re in the middle of nature.
The island only has 20 villas, each thoughtfully spaced apart so you never feel like you’re sharing paradise with half the city. Better yet, almost half the island has been left completely untouched, so the rainforest remains exactly as it should be.
Fancy learning how the island turns food scraps into compost? Join the nature walk. Want to paddle around hidden coves, snorkel over healthy reefs or spend an afternoon on a deserted beach with a picnic? That’s an option too. Or you can simply do absolutely nothing, which somehow feels surprisingly productive here.
A truly sustainable getaway
One thing we love? Sustainability is instilled into everything that Cempedak Island does. The menus change daily depending on what’s freshest, food waste gets turned into compost instead of heading to landfill, produce comes from the island’s own farm on nearby Bintan, and the villas are naturally cooled by sea breezes.
P.S. When booking your stay, you have the option to contribute to marine conservation and education programmes through The Island Foundation. It’s the kind of feel-good holiday where your booking helps protect the place.
If you want to spend your days snorkelling, wandering through the rainforest, disconnecting from the digital world and ending the evening over a good meal, check those ferry schedules, stat. Email relax@cempedak.com to start booking!
This post is in partnership with Cempedak Island.
