Singapore’s buzziest lifestyle destination is getting a serious upgrade. New Bahru, the sprawling complex that’s already home to names like The Coconut Club, Rye, and Beyond The Vines, is adding 15 new tenants across its Factory Block and School Block, all slated to open by the end of May 2026. The expansion tilts heavily local, with a reimagined food court on the Factory Block’s second floor, a standalone izakaya-style outpost from cult dumpling brand Dumpling Darlings, and the first Southeast Asian store from Japanese retail powerhouse Beams.
A Food Court Built for Community
Level two of the Factory Block now houses five F&B kiosks arranged around a central bar, seating about 150 diners. The setup evokes Singapore’s classic hawker centres but with elevated finishes and a tighter curation. At the heart sits Orh Gao Peh Gao, a craft beer and Asian comfort food bar with 14 taps, all pouring local brews. Manager Darien describes the move from Serene Centre as a “reset” and a chance to reach new demographics. The menu stays anchored in nostalgia: kaya toast sets from $5.50 and crab fried rice at $16.
Next door, Kios Minang brings 40 years of Indonesian heritage to a modern kiosk format. Second-generation owner Ariff Zin calls it “an express version of nasi padang,” with dishes like beef rendang ($12) and a new Padang wrap ($12) designed for health-conscious diners. The goal, he says, is to “reach a new generation” and shift the perception that nasi padang is only for an older crowd.
Rounding out the food court are Kulon, a Bali Lane favourite known for contemporary Indonesian noodles from $8.90, and Laifaba, which reinvents wood-fired roast meats into hearty rice bowls and artisanal noodles starting at $12.80. Founder Royce promises “bold, flavour-driven signatures” like barbecue pork jowl and dry-aged duck. Pricing sits between hawker fare and casual dining—think $12 for a Padang wrap versus $20 for The Coconut Club’s nasi lemak—but the real appeal is the neighbourhood feel, with vendors who greet guests like familiar faces.
Dumpling Darlings Goes Izakaya
On the ground floor, Dumpling Darlings opens its third location with its own street-facing entrance. Co-founder June describes the new concept as “izakaya-style,” developed in collaboration with Mustard Seed. The extended menu includes agedashi prawn tofu ($10) and nasi ulam ($11), alongside more drinks and alcohol. For June, the draw is the creative community: “We’re surrounded by other Singaporean brands we personally patronise.”
Retail: Beams Arrives, Local Brands Experiment
The retail lineup is anchored by Beams, the Japanese select shop opening its first Southeast Asian store on the Factory Block’s ground level. Representative Gen says the concept “brings together a mix of brands curated for the Singapore market,” spanning menswear, womenswear, kids, and lifestyle goods. Expect a tightly edited selection from in-house labels like Beams and Demi-Luxe Beams—elevated staples straddling polished and off-duty.
Across the way, Stacked Store opens its first flagship, described by experiential lead Haikal as a “living room-style, curated concept” that reimagines home shopping. The brand, known for quirky home goods from artists like Jean Julien and Danish brand Hay, had lived online since December 2022 before opening a smaller space at IMBA Theatre.
School Block: Pop-Ups and Sound Healing
Over in the School Block, Store Store serves as a rotating pop-up platform spotlighting independent brands. The first edition features Atlas Kind, a contemporary fashion label focused on responsible practices, and Source, a modular apparel brand making its physical debut. Founder Vincent notes that customers can now “feel the fabrics, understand the construction, and see how the pieces come together.”
Rounding out the block is Future Resonance, a wellness space offering light, sound, and vibration therapy. Visitors move through two environments: a warm, analogue Solar space rooted in traditional sound healing, and a futuristic Lunar space exploring Light Sound Vibration (LSV) through immersive technology. The brand evolved from eight years at Pyramids of Chi in Ubud, Bali, and this marks its first urban Singapore outpost.
What This Expansion Signals
Walking through both blocks, a pattern emerges: almost every tenant is reimagining a heritage format, evolving from a previous location, or opening their first physical space. Very few are static transplants. New Bahru’s refresh feels like a testing ground for local brands to experiment in a vibrant, creative-led environment. It’s a model of what Singapore’s destination complexes could look like when homegrown names are given the spotlight, without the usual lineup of international chains filling most of the gaps.
All 15 tenants will open by end-May 2026. Follow New Bahru on Instagram for updates.