Cover New Bahru is the hottest lifestyle destination to debut in recent months and there are plenty of new dining options to be excited for (Photo: Odem)
New Bahru is the hottest lifestyle destination to debut in recent months and there are plenty of new dining options to be excited for (Photo: Odem)
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Taking over the former Nan Chiau High School, New Bahru is the hottest lifestyle destination to debut in recent months. From hearty breakfasts to communal dinners, here are the best ones to savour, all in a day
2024 is a big year for The Lo & Behold Group. The multi-disciplinary lifestyle hub was the product of an epic transformation of the former Nan Chiau High School, which homegrown brands now call home. What is Singapore’s buzziest new opening, the considerable project, spanning 20,156 square feet, is a collaboration with Sunray Group Holdings.
The spirit of the former school’s legacy is tastefully intact, especially when it welcomes a gathering of some of the best talents and creative entrepreneurs from Singapore and beyond. And boy, there are some dining gems to be uncovered in New Bahru as discovered over a day spent frolicking by this insatiable writer.
From coffee omakase at PPP Coffee to communal dinners at Italian chef Matteo Pertoldi’s Átipico and sundown drinks at Canadian chef Keiran Buck’s Bar by Bon Funk, here are the best new restaurants, bars and cafes to savour, all in a day.
Read more: Singapore’s latest lifestyle concept New Bahru is open—here’s what to expect
1. Átipico Room #15
Above Átipico chef-owner Matteo Pertoldi debuts his first-ever brick-and-mortar restaurant in New Bahru (Photo: Átipico)
Átipico chef-owner Matteo Pertoldi debuts his first-ever brick-and-mortar restaurant in New Bahru (Photo: Átipico)
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After masterminding countless captivating culinary collaborations with luxury brands and embassies, Átipico chef-owner Matteo Pertoldi is finally ready to take his gastronomic fever dream to the next level. There is no better space than New Bahru to debut his first-ever brick-and-mortar restaurant, Átipico Room #15. This time, it won’t just be serving up cakes. Instead, the transformative space is multidimensional when dishing out refined yet unpretentious nosh: mornings are reserved for bread and viennoiseries, fresh out of the oven, as well as bright cups of coffee or healthy cold-pressed juices; afternoons are generously filled with hearty dishes to refuel and recharge, think handmade ravioli stuffed with pumpkin and smoked ricotta and loaded fried chicken sandwiches.
Come dinner time, when the lights dim and the coffee machine cools, the space becomes a rather amorous private dining experience with an edgy selection of wines and cocktails to pair.
Átipico Room #15
Address: 46 Kim Yam Road, New Bahru, #01-15, S(239351)
2. Bar Bon Funk
Above Canadian chef-owner Keirin Buck debuts Bar Bon Funk in New Bahru (Photo: Bar Bon Funk)
Canadian chef-owner Keirin Buck debuts Bar Bon Funk in New Bahru (Photo: Bar Bon Funk)
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Bar Bon Funk is set to elevate Singapore’s cocktail scene under the guidance of head bartender Josiah Chee, who brings nearly a decade of experience working at Jigger & Pony, 28 HongKong Street, and Employees Only Singapore. The zero-waste philosophy is evident as the bar stretches the use of each ingredient, often reusing scraps to their full potential. It is also techniques over theatrics when it comes to making deceptively simple yet flavourful cocktails, where the team taps into methods such as fermentation and clarification. The opening menu features eight signature cocktails, including A Glass of Milk, inspired by cereal-soaked milk, and the Lean Green Salad, a savoury mezcal margarita.
Of course, chef-owner Keirin Buck has a hand in the food department. Alongside head chef Ryan Newman, the kitchen promises mouthwatering plates that include house-made mortadella and baloney sandwiches and creamy frittelles lifted by buffalo ricotta and fennel pollen.
Bar Bon Funk
Address: 46 Kim Yam Road, New Bahru, #02-01, S(239351)
In case you missed it: New Bahru by The Lo & Behold Group opens this May with 13 F&B concepts
3. Odem
Above Modern korean plates and a stellar makgeolli list makes up Odem (Photo: Odem)
Modern korean plates and a stellar makgeolli list makes up Odem (Photo: Odem)
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A boozy revolution is quietly bubbling in New Bahru. When founder Dominic Tan first realised the burgeoning of South Korea’s artisanal makgeolli scene, he quickly fell head over heels for the yeasty bevvy. With Odem, he brings a slice of this spirited culture back to Singapore in hopes of introducing handcrafted makgeolli to a new generation of diners. From a fruity house brew, redolent of lychee and rose, to richer flavours of honeyed jujube, guests can embark on a makgeolli exploration with the Odem Quintet—made up of five signature serves. Modern Korean dishes don’t play second fiddle to the drinks either, especially with head chef Bae Yumi at the helm—a former private chef for the Korean ambassador to Singapore.
Expect familiar favourites executed with a modern twist including kimchi mozzarella pancake with smoked gochugaru, abalone boribap enriched with Korean seaweed butter, and a savoury black garlic tart studded with berries and a dollop of smoked jujube chantilly.
Odem
Address: 46 Kim Yam Road, New Bahru, #01-17, S(239351)
4. PPP Coffee
Above PPP Coffee offers a first-of-its-kind coffee omakase at New Bahru (Photo: PPP Coffee)
PPP Coffee offers a first-of-its-kind coffee omakase at New Bahru (Photo: PPP Coffee)
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Whether you’re a caffeine chaser or a bean aficionado, PPP Coffee is out to please them all with a first-of-its-kind coffee omakase. And no, it isn’t just going to be americanos or flat whites. This caffeinated opera, promising a three-dimensional tasting experience, is where guests can fully immerse themselves into their bean of choice. While you wet your beaks with naturally processed coffee from Colombia for a start, cherry-pick from a selection of different coffee regions in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The omakase follows through with a filter brew that places emphasis on terroir while a subtle yet punchy cold brew awaits. The grand finale will star the signature beverage. But if you’re not opposed to a midday espresso martini, request for a coffee cocktail. For nibbles, a petite range of sweet and savoury pastries made by viral home baker Sandra Lee plays the perfect supporting cast to the bean juice.
PPP Coffee
Address: 46 Kim Yam Road, New Bahru, #01-06, S(239351)
5. Dearborn
Above Dearborn is where to start the day off right with freshly baked goods and hearty granola (Photo: Dearborn)
Dearborn is where to start the day off right with freshly baked goods and hearty granola (Photo: Dearborn)
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This is one breakfast club you won’t regret joining. Chef Christopher Kong first shot to fame with humble granola beginnings in 2020, making artisanal granola in the quaint Everton Park enclave. Now, his second and latest outpost checks into New Bahru with morning meals so divine, that you might forget about lunch and dinner entirely. Kong’s fine dining background and culinary prowess are best exemplified in the subtle elevation of classic breakfast favourites.
Take the Potato and Egg dish for instance, where a luscious onsen egg is bathed in an airy potato espuma, accompanied by textures of roasted potatoes, sourdough croutons, and puffed grains. A drizzle of aromatic chive oil lends a bright finish. Beyond the plates, curation is evident in all areas. Whether house-made sourdoughs and ground breakfast sausages or artisanal yoghurt and coffee beans, Dearborn is where to start the day off right.
Dearborn
Address: 46 Kim Yam Road, New Bahru, #03-04, S(239351)
