The sprawling lifestyle destination in Singapore is getting bigger. New Bahru, already home to beloved names like Rye, The Coconut Club, and Beyond The Vines, will welcome 15 new food and retail tenants across its Factory Block and School Block by the end of May. The expansion leans heavily into homegrown brands, with several operators using the space to test new formats, debut first physical stores, or reimagine heritage concepts for a younger crowd.
Walking through the Factory Block in the final days before opening, the space hums with last-minute preparations. Vinyl stickers are going up. Counters are being wiped down. And a palpable sense of anticipation fills the air.
A New Food Court with a Local Flavor
The heart of the expansion sits on level two of the Factory Block, where five F&B kiosks form a modern food court built for about 150 diners. At the center of the action sits Orh Gao Peh Gao, a local craft beer and Asian comfort food bar with 14 taps.
Manager Darien described the move from Serene Centre as a reset. “This is a step up for us,” he said. “It allows us to explore new demographics and connect with a different crowd.” The bar will feature beers exclusively from local breweries, paired with snacks like kaya toast sets (from $5.50) and crab fried rice ($16).
Next door, Rumah Makan Minang brings a 40-year-old Indonesian heritage brand to a new generation. Head Chef Ariff calls it “an express version of nasi padang,” with dishes like beef rendang ($12), ayam bakar ($12), and a healthier Padang wrap ($12) designed for health-conscious diners. The brand hopes to shift the perception that nasi padang is only for older crowds.
Kulon, a longtime favorite on Bali Lane, offers contemporary Indonesian noodles (from $8.90) with an expanded menu of sharing platters. Founder Haris said the New Bahru outpost is designed to be more social than their main store.
Laifaba reimagines the hawker staple of wood-fired roast meats. Founder Royce created a menu of hearty rice bowls and artisanal noodles (from $12.80) featuring barbecue pork jowl, crispy pork belly, and dry-aged duck.
The food court pricing sits between hawker affordability and casual dining. Minang’s $12 Padang wrap costs less than The Coconut Club’s $20 nasi lemak but more than a typical $5 hawker plate.
Dumpling Darlings Goes Izakaya
On the ground floor, Dumpling Darlings opens its third Singapore outlet with a new direction. The cult-favorite dumpling spot is experimenting with an izakaya-style format, collaborating with Mustard Seed on small plates like agedashi prawn tofu ($10) and nasi ulam ($11).
“Being surrounded by other creative Singaporean brands that we personally patronize is exciting,” said co-founder June. “It’s great to be part of this community.”
Retail Gets International and Experimental
Beams, the Japanese select shop, opens its first Southeast Asian store on the Factory Block’s ground level. The space features the brand’s recognizable aesthetic: lit-up logos, streamlined shelves, and pops of color. Representative Gen explained the curation brings together menswear, womenswear, kids, and lifestyle goods tailored for the Singapore market.
Across from Beams, Stacked Store opens its flagship retail space after launching online in December 2022. Experiential manager Haikal described it as “a living room-style, curated concept” that reimagines home shopping.
School Block: Pop-Ups and Sound Healing
The School Block features Store Store, New Bahru’s rotating pop-up platform spotlighting independent brands. The first edition brings together Atlas Kind, a contemporary fashion brand focused on responsible practices, and Source, a modular apparel brand making its physical debut.
“Customers have been asking to try things on,” said Vincent, founder of Source. “People can fully experience the brand now—feel the fabrics, understand the construction.”
Rounding out the block is Future Resonance, a wellness space offering light, sound, and vibration therapy. Visitors move through two environments: the Solar space for traditional sound healing, and the Lunar space for immersive, technology-led experiences. The brand evolved from eight years of work at Pyramids of Chi in Ubud, Bali.
What It All Means
Nearly every tenant in this expansion is doing something new: reimagining a heritage format, evolving from a previous location, or opening a first physical store. New Bahru’s refresh functions as a testing ground for local brands to experiment in a creative-led environment. It signals a model where Singapore spotlights its own, backing homegrown names and giving them the attention they deserve.
Where to find the new tenants:
Factory Block (Level 1): Dumpling Darlings (#01-07), Parlour Gelato (#01-01), Beams (#01-03), Stacked Store (#01-06), VEJA pop-up (#01-02), YETI pop-up (#01-05)
Factory Block (Level 2 Food Court): Fico pop-up (#02-04), Kios Minang (#02-05), Kulon (#02-06), Laifaba (#02-03), Sushiro (#02-01), Orh Gao Peh Gao (#02-02)
School Block: Store Store with Atlas Kind and Source pop-ups (#02-06), Future Resonance (#04-03)
All 15 tenants open by end-May 2026. Follow New Bahru on Instagram for updates.