New Bahru’s Final Glow-Up Has Arrived

After months of staggered openings, curious peeks behind construction hoardings, and a steady drip-feed of cult brands moving in, New Bahru has officially hit full power mode. The final piece of the puzzle (the long-awaited Factory Block) has now opened, alongside a freshly revamped School Hall, bringing the creative lifestyle destination to a whopping 62 brands across food, fashion, wellness, culture, fitness, hospitality, and retail.

Since opening in the former Nan Chiau High School at Kim Yam Road, New Bahru has positioned itself as more than just another trendy mall. It’s become a kind of creative playground for Singapore’s coolest homegrown names, alongside select international heavy-hitters making their local debut. With the Factory Block now complete inside the restored former Tai Wah Garments & Knitting Factory, the entire precinct finally feels like the fully realised version of the vision we were promised: equal parts design hub, dining destination, community space, and cultural hangout. 

The biggest headline? Japanese cult favourite BEAMS has officially landed with its first directly-operated Southeast Asia flagship, bringing Tokyo cool to River Valley with exclusive Singapore merch and curated fashion drops. Also touching down for the first time in Singapore: French sneaker darling VEJA and rugged outdoor icon YETI, both opening limited-time pop-ups inside the Factory Block. Over in wellness, Bali-born future resonance arrives via Pyramids of Chi with a futuristic sound-healing concept that feels very “Singapore wellness scene 2026”. 

Image credit: Dumpling Darlings | Supplied

Food-wise, New Bahru’s getting even more dangerous for your wallet. Dumpling Darlings has opened its biggest outlet yet, complete with a new izakaya-style menu and exclusive merch, while SUSHIRO brings its wildly popular conveyor belt sushi into the mix with over 100 menu items. There’s also Parlour, a nostalgic new-school gelato spot devoted to classic flavours done properly. Upstairs, the new communal dining hall pulls together a stacked lineup of kiosks including a city pop-up from Michelin Bib Gourmand darling Fico, Indonesian favourite Kulon, heritage heavyweight Kios Minang, cult roast meat specialists LAIFABA, and the very intriguing day-to-night concept Orh Gao Peh Gao, which transforms from coffeeshop to taproom after dark. 

Retail has levelled up too. Stacked Store finally moves from appointment-only online shopping into a cosy physical home, while Store Store debuts as a rotating residency platform for indie labels and creative concepts. Elsewhere across the precinct, existing favourites like Beyond The Vines Design House, OM, MAKE by GINLEE, Curious Creatures, Woods in the Books, Studio Yono, SOJAO, and soilboy continue to make New Bahru feel less like a mall and more like the city’s most stylish creative playground. 

What really makes this expansion matter though is how intentional the entire project feels. Instead of chasing generic luxury tenants or big-box retail, The Lo & Behold Group has built something around discovery—spotlighting local creatives, independent businesses, experimental concepts, and brands that actually have personality. Even the architecture leans into that ethos. The Factory Block preserves the bones of the old garment factory with industrial detailing and nostalgic nods to Singapore’s textile history, while the upgraded School Hall has been sensitively restored into a flexible events venue for exhibitions, performances, markets, and community programming. 

In other words: New Bahru isn’t just “done”. It’s finally become the all-day creative campus Singapore’s been slowly obsessing over since day one.

Looking for more? Check out:

• Where To Eat And Drink At New Bahru, Singapore’s Coolest New Lifestyle Destination​
• Australia’s Cult-Favourite BODHI Spa Lands In Singapore With A Luxe New Bathhouse Experience
• Tiong Bahru’s Michelin-Approved Chicken Rice Opens At Takashimaya​

Main image credit: BEAMS | Supplied