Here’s our guide on the must-visit New Bahru food spots to make a beeline for

You’ve probably heard it all on the news: Singapore’s first (and much looked forward to) creative cluster, New Bahru, has finally opened its doors in the vibrant River Valley ’hood. Being the foodies that we all are, it’s all too inevitable for us to wonder: What are some of the New Bahru food options available there?

For those not in the loop, it’s an up-and-coming lifestyle development that houses more than 40 homegrown, independent brands that span the gamut of wellness, dining, lifestyle, and retail. 

But why the name “New Bahru” (Bahru is Malay for “new”), though? Interestingly, the name is a reference to Singaporeans’ penchant for repeating a word twice — think local lingo such as “swee-swee”, “jalan-jalan” and “play-play”.

Location-wise, it occupies the former premises of Nan Chiau High School on Kim Yam Road. Gone is the historic school building, and in its place is a sprawling site that’s transformed and relaunched as a ground-breaking lifestyle enclave with plenty to eat, see and do. 

But before you rush down over the weekend, note that not all the tenants have moved in just yet. Although some businesses are already fully up and running, a handful are still undergoing construction work. 

That’s because New Bahru’s official launch date is slated for sometime in September — it’s still progressively gearing up for its grand opening — so you may want to hold off paying a visit until then.

Despite New Bahru being the new kid on the block, its opening has already caused a stir within the local community. 

That’s because it’s backed by renowned hospitality company The Lo & Behold Group, which is behind many successful and acclaimed F&B concepts. Its portfolio includes the Michelin-starred Odette and Bib Gourmand lister picturesque seaside spot Fico, among numerous others. 

New Bahru is also its biggest and most ambitious project yet, which the team hopes can be a game-changer in the local lifestyle scene. It aims to be a space where creatives can flourish and local talent can shine. 

With all the hype and buzz surrounding the New Bahru compound, we decided to swing by the space ourselves. We spent a full day there, exploring the different dining spots that are already operating in full swing. 

And of the lot, we cherry-picked a handful of New Bahru food spots that are a must-visit when you’re in the area.

1. Dearborn 

46 Kim Yam Road, 03-04
Open: Wednesday to Monday (9am to 3pm)

We made our first pitstop at Dearborn, a local granola concept by chef-entrepreneur (and Waku Ghin alum) Christopher Kong. 

Dearborn’s first outlet is located in the charming Everton Park estate, where it opened in late 2021. It primarily functions as a retail-slash-takeaway space, with limited outdoor seats available. 

On the other hand, its newly opened New Bahru branch — which is now its flagship — sees a bigger space stocked with a micro-bakery and breakfast provision goods. 

It also operates as a full-fledged dining venue with an expanded menu, where diners can enjoy both bakes and brunch items (including a couple of outlet-exclusives) fresh in-store.

There’s the bestselling duck and hash (S$17), which is a loaded dish stacked with bits of duck meat and an ooey-gooey sous vide egg. And underneath the ingredients, lie a crispy block of hash brown that’s fried to a tantalising golden-brown hue. 

All the elements gelled well together and we relished every bite. The egg yolk had a wonderful, melt-in-your-mouth creaminess, which contrasted nicely with the addictive crunchiness of the fried hash brown. 

The shreds of savoury duck meat also sealed the deal with its umami-laden notes and succulent texture. All in all, it was a substantial, fulfilling dish that we’d order again in a heartbeat.

Another outlet-exclusive item is the Dearborn breakfast sandwich (S$15), which is a sizeable dish comprising a juicy — albeit mildly spicy — sausage patty on scrambled eggs and melted cheese.

Tying all the elements together are two fluffy brioche buns that are soft, pillowy and imbued with a fragrant buttery aroma — just the way we enjoy our bread.

Although deceivingly plain-looking, it’s a sandwich that hits all the right spots for us. And true to its name, it’s the perfect, hearty breakfast combo to perk you up in the morning. 

2. Huevos

46 Kim Yam Road, 01-16
Open: Tuesday to Sunday (11am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm), closed every first Tuesday

Huevos is next on our list of must-visit New Bahru restaurants. You’ve probably stumbled upon videos on the place — after all, it’s a wildly popular Mexican joint that’s reputed for its authentic, wallet-friendly fare. 

If its name rings a bell, that’s because Huevos set up its first restaurant at North Bridge Road in 2020. Its eye-watering, loaded tacos took the social media sphere by storm late last year, which propelled it to viral stardom.

Foodies touted the spot as one of the best places in Singapore to get Mexican food, and it became so well-received that getting seats was next to impossible — unless you were keen on queuing for an hour or so. 

Now, Huevos has opened a second outlet in New Bahru, bringing a taste of Mexico to the River Valley ’hood. And with its new (and larger) space, comes a new-and-improved menu that boasts both its signature classics and outlet-exclusives.

The menu is extensive and we debated about what to order. After much back and forth, we all agreed on the Huevos con papas (S$20) — a hulk of a dish made with potatoes — that came highly recommended by the staff. 

Chunky cubes of crispy potatoes sit in a bowl, then spruced up with salty-smoky bits of chorizo and a sunny-side-up egg. But what, exactly, makes the dish oh-so-addictive? We reckon it’s the potatoes, which have been fried in beef fat for an umami-rich oomph.

The dish is also generously drizzled with garlic aioli and sweet chipotle vinaigrette, which marry well with the savoury potatoes. Each bite was as tantalising as the last, and before we knew it, we had devoured it all.

3. Kotuwa 

46 Kim Yam Road, 01-03
Open: Monday to Thursday (6pm to 11pm), Friday to Saturday (12pm to 12am) and Sunday (12pm to 11pm)

Kotuwa is another New Bahru food spot that you can’t miss. 

It’s spearheaded by esteemed chef Rishi Naleendra, who’s the brains behind wine bar Fool and one Michelin-starred Cloudstreet — which was ranked one of the World’s 50 Best restaurants in 2023. 

Kotuwa is his creative take on authentic Sri Lankan cuisine and it also pays homage to his Sri Lankan roots and heritage. Through his food, diners embark on a gastronomical journey, where every bite elicits the familiar flavours of his childhood.

You’ll find Sri Lankan classics on the menu, such as the aromatic crab curry (depending on the market price), street food kottu roti (from S$26) and more. Bar snacks are also up for grabs, all of which match well with the tipples.

Unfortunately, by the time we swung by Kotuwa in the late afternoon, lunch service was already over. Only bar snacks were available then.

We decided to go with the dallo baduma (S$14), which saw deep-fried calamari rings tossed in spicy chilli butter and crunchy spring onions. If you can’t take spice, steer clear of this dish as it’s very heavy-handed with the chilli. 

Alternatively, the toothsome crab cutlet (S$16) is a milder option that features Sri Lankan-style croquettes stuffed with a spiced crab meat brandade. Succulent crab meat bits are nestled in a crispy, deep-fried shell and both elements make up a sinful, flavour-loaded combo.

4. Artichoke  

46 Kim Yam Road, 01-02
Open: Tuesday to Sunday (5.30pm to 10pm), Saturday and Sunday (11am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm)

Last on our list of New Bahru food spots is Artichoke, a Middle-Eastern concept by renowned chef Bjorn Shen. He’s undoubtedly a familiar face to many — you’ll have spotted him on reality cooking competition MasterChef Singapore, where he starred as a resident judge from 2018 to 2023. 

While it previously stood at Middle Road for nine years, the restaurant has since relocated to its new home at New Bahru in May. Diners can expect to savour novel creations when you’re here, for chef Bjorn prides himself on an eclectic menu that showcases a spectrum of Middle-Eastern flavours.

The mains, such as the signature shakshuka (S$22) and decadent hummus plate (S$22) are must-orders, if you’re sharing between friends. While they were every bit as tasty as promised, the real stand-out for us was the cold milk baklava (S$18). 

The dessert is a pretty and vibrant lil’ dish, and it impressed everyone at the table from the very second it arrived. Creamy lemongrass milk crowns a flaky, multi-layered pastry like a moat, and the sliced strawberries add a pop of colour to the plate. 

The crispiness of the filo pastry complemented the smooth, ice-cold milk underneath, while the berries lent a welcome sweetness and tanginess to the dessert. Across the board, we all agreed that this was one of our favourite dishes of the day, and we’d return for it in a heartbeat. 

Want a more in-depth take on our visit to Artichoke? Read our review of the space.

For the latest eats, read about famed China cafe Greybox Coffee’s opening at UE Square, and what to eat at the New Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre in Sengkang. Alternatively, check out the newest openings in Singapore here. 

All restaurants except for Artichoke and Dearborn are on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off with GrabUnlimited). 

Do explore the GrabFood Dine Out service for awesome deals.

You can also book a ride to the bustling New Bahru to check out the restaurants.