What’s next for famed chef Louis Han? The chef-owner of one-Michelin-starred Nae:um is continuing his pursuit of modern Seoul cuisine with Gu:um opening on April 6 at Keong Saik Road, set to make its mark among this month’s new restaurants and bars. Gourmands in the know will recognise the chef’s fifth Nae:um menu, “Front Yard Barbecue”, from last year in the food here—take its range of grilled steaks like the Wagyu stiploin MBS 7 or the Ibérico pluma with an optional marination of galbi, gochujang, or fermented fish sauce. Don’t forget iconic Korean dishes like the sotbap, the bibim dongmyeon and the yukhwae jeon, a potato pancake topped with beef tartare. 

Gu:um
Address: 29 Keong Saik Road, S(089136), +65 8831 6308

Mashi No Mashi

In search of Singapore’s next best ramen? Look no further than Mashi No Mashi, the beloved Japanese ramen chain by Wagyumafia founder Hisato Hamada, which is opening its Singapore flagship on April 5. These ramen bowls only feature 100 per cent Wagyu, such as the signature Wagyujiro, which is made with a 24-hour stewed Ozaki beef bone stock. While you can fill up on the ramen you miss the most at its Tokyo, Hong Kong and Jeddah branches such as the Wagyu tsukemen and the spicy “Wagyu Tsukemen Death”, make sure to taste Singapore exclusives such as the bak kut teh ramen.

Mashi No Mashi
Address: 124 Beach Road, 01-04 Guoco Midtown, S(189771)

Maison Boulud

Yes, the beloved Db Oyster and Bistro Bar has closed, but in its place is Maison Boulud, celebrity chef Daniel Boulud’s supplanting two-story restaurant in Marina Bay Sands. Refinery is the word of the day, with delicate French dishes for an elegant palate. The seafood salad, for one, enjoys a pesto and anchovy-garlic dressing over red hamachi cured in gin and beetroot. When it comes to the mains, free-range rotisserie chicken is taken to the next level with curry spice, alongside sweet carrot confit and vadouvan jus. 

Maison Boulud
Address: 2 Bayfront Avenue, B1-15 & L1-83 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, S(018972), +65 6688 6088

Tamba

The cuisine of West Africa has arrived in Singapore within the trendy Duxton enclave. You may have heard of the staple jollof rice, which is prepared here with Sakura chicken and smoked pork belly. But make sure to expand your horizons with dishes like suya, an Angus tenderloin skewer dish that’s served with kachumbari, a tomato and onion salad, and smoked kuli kuli (groundnut chips). Enjoy it all under a thatched roof, surrounded with rustic clay vessels.  

Tamba
Address: 101 Duxton Road, S(089964)

Ammakase

Omakase, but make it Indian. At Ammakase, executive chef Abhijit Saha injects European and Asian culinary technique into traditional Indian recipes for a dash of innovative spice. Think Goan coconut kokum, which is here served with cured hamachi and mango chilli sorbet for a layered seduction of the palate. Or look at the picture-perfect caramelised rasgulla and mishti doi brûlée, a delicate creation that’s crowned with spun sugar and berries for a rich yet fresh flavour profile.

Ammakase
Address: One Raffles Place, 04-48, S(048616), +65 8898 5275

Lobby Bar

Joining the ranks of elegant hotel bars here is Lobby Bar at Amara Singapore. Set within a stylish space set in wood and accented with leather and marble, the project is a collaboration with wine merchant Grand Vin, which is why the bar is home to an oenophile’s paradise of bottles—indeed, besides top selections including Baron de Rothschild and Domaine Faiveley, Lobby Bar boasts the island’s largest collection of Louis Roederer champagne. Come in the morning for grab-and-go coffee and pastries before indulging in a glass (or two) at sundown.

Lobby Bar
Address: 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, S(088539), +65 6879 2626

Dirty Supper

In search of a cool neighbourhood spot to indulge in good food and good drinks? Head down to Dirty Supper in Tiong Bahru, which shares a space with the iconic Hua Bee Restaurant. It’s helmed by chef Pete Smit, previously of Underdog Inn, who is bringing his talent for whole-animal cooking to the open-kitchen concept. Mashable, unpretentious nosh packed with flavour is the focus here—take the smoked mackerel, which comes on top of a fried chicken skin terrine that’s insatiably crunchy and bursting with juice. Or the barbecue squid that’s impossibly tender, enriched with a pork fat relish and cut with pickled tomato. The cocktails here are equally as important, so make sure to indulge in a Wagyu boulevardier or a pickled lemon martini.

Dirty Supper
Address: 78 Moh Guan Terrace, 01-19, S(162078), +65 6438 4567

Little Island Brewing Company at Gillman Barracks

Oldies really are goodies. At Little Island Brewing Co, Singapore’s first vintage vinyl bar, audiophiles will be pleased to note that you get to listen to retro music with Technics MK5G turntables and Altec Lansing A5-X speakers from the 1950s. The food, too, is on theme—take the vinyl charcoal pizza, featuring woodfire pizzas stained black with activated charcoal, mimicking the look of a vintage vinyl record. Elsewhere, munch on regional delights like nasi kerabu with rendang daging or its signature Little Island chicken wings, which are inseparable from Little Island’s own beer brewed at its Changi Village microbrewery.

Little Island Brewing Company at Gillman Barracks
Address: 43 Malan Road, S(109443), +65 6513 5088

House of Swiss Butchery

Holland Village welcomes House of Swiss Butchery to its charming neighbourhood. Featuring premium meats like Wagyu cuts, champagne hams and artisanal sausages, the retail and dine-in concept is overseen by chef Otto Weibel, who also runs Black Marble. Here, you can select your cut and have it cooked to your liking, or choose a dish from the regular menu. Nothing goes wrong with a classic Wagyu steak, but make sure to get your hands on sides such as the triple-cooked beef tallow potatoes flavoured with rosemary salt, or the Sapporo candied bacon.

House of Swiss Butchery
Address: 22 Lorong Mambong, S(277681), +65 9711 4271

Griglia Katong

The East Coast is bringing in another culinary gem in its fold. Griglia Open Fire Italian Kitchen opens its second location in Katong on April 2, offering its signature grilled Italian delights to the neighbourhood. What sets this branch apart from its Craig Road flagship is its more liberal use of the charcoal grill, so make sure you get your hands on generous cuts like the 30-day dry-aged Porterhouse “Fiorentina” and a suckling pig porchetta. 

Griglia Katong
Address: 139 East Coast Road, S(428829)

Shinrai

If you liked Sushi Yujo’s omakase concept, you might also like chef-owner Desmond Fong’s new izakaya experience at Shinrai. Don’t expect traditional izakaya fare here—instead, look out for plates such as salmon carpaccio, dressed with truffle sauce and topped with truffle caviar, or the torched scallop and caramelised foie gras sushi. Lovers of maki, the Shinrai signature maki is a must—filled with salmon, unagi, avocado, cucumber, tobiko and chicken floss, this maki is a mouthful. 

Shinrai
Address: 173 Telok Ayer Street, S(068622), +65 8858 8831

The Ushi Club

Those familiar with The Hitsuji Club should familiarise themselves with The Ushi Club, a new yakiniku restaurant serving top quality Wagyu beef with exquisite marbling. Thin cuts are best enjoyed lightly grilled, of course, but to truly taste what this beef has to offer, go for the beef tartare, drizzled with sesame seeds, spring onions, and an insatiable runny egg yolk. Don’t forget the beef tongue, a specialty that should set the taste buds alight.

The Ushi Club
Address: 64 Circular Road, 01-01, S(049418), +65 6423 9060

Beyond the Dough 

There is now one more place to get excellent Neapolitan-style pizza in Singapore—and its owners aren’t Italian. This March, Eddie Murakami of Tokyo’s Pizza Strada and Pizza Studio Tamaki will be bringing his pizza expertise to our shores, using a dough fermented for over 30 hours before it is baked in a woodfire oven. Expect traditional pizzas alongside house exclusives such as the “Beyond Bianca”, bringing together mascarpone, buffalo and burrata cheese, and truffle oil. Or even go for the Singapore exclusive, the “Singapore Rampage”, with its base of chilli and shrimp. 

Beyond the Dough
Address: 150 Arab Street, S(199832)

Ki Su

An omakase menu without fresh seafood—or other Japanese meats, for that matter—is almost unimaginable, but at Ki Su, you’ll have to see its plant-based omakase experience to believe it. The cuisine is shoujin ryori, a style of vegetarian Japanese Buddhist cuisine, which is why you’ll leave sated yet nourished. Here, pumpkin purée takes the place of uni, while cashew cream is shaped into a block of truffle pâté that’s best enjoyed over a slice of toast. Don’t come in with expectations, and see just what flavours can be coaxed out of vegetables and herbs. 

Ki Su
Address: 60 Tras Street, 01-01, S(078999), +65 8522 6824

Bombay Brasserie

Unlike its counterparts in London, Cape Town and Dubai, the Singapore outpost of Bombay Brasserie brings together Indian and continental cuisine in a stylish French brasserie setting. Iconic street food snacks such as chaat and comfort foods including rogan josh rub shoulders with brasserie favourites such as steak au poivre, lobster thermidor and scallops with pea mousseline. 

Bombay Brasserie
Address: 26 Beach Road, B1-23/24/25 South Beach Avenue, S(189768), +65 6980 7163

Jiak Kim House

Taking over Zouk’s former home is Jiak Kim House, a new hotspot for modern Asian flavours with Western accents. For those with a taste for nostalgia “Tingkat of Memories” with its chilli crab kueh pie tee, Spanish mackerel otak otak and herbed crab cake hit the right spot; make sure to sink your teeth into other moreish plates like the miso marmite Ibérico pork chop and the opeh leaf laksa fettuccine.  

Jiak Kim House
Address: 5 Jiak Kim Street, 01–17, S(169425), +65 9831 5430

Torno Subito

With the opening of Torno Subito, celebrity chef Massimo Bottura can now finally claim a permanent concept in Singapore. The first Asian outpost of the Torno Subito flagship in Dubai, the restaurant offers authentic Italian flavours in its handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas and moreish mains, all bearing Bottura’s innovative twists. There is an à la carte menu, but go for the six-course set menu for the full experience. 

Torno Subito
Address: 26 Dempsey Road, 01-02, S(249686), 1800 304 6688

The Prince

Standing on the site of the old Fat Prince is The Prince, a new concept by The Dandy Collection that presents Arabian cuisine with a modern twist. The star of the restaurant is the “Karam” menu, which encapsulates Arabian generosity with a nine-dish mezze platter with cashew hummus, salmon pastirma, and pumpkin walnut baba ghanoush. The rest of the meal, including mains such as whole Mediterranean seabass and beef tomahawk, is best enjoyed with friends and family for a delightful, communal experience.

The Prince
Address: 48 Peck Seah Street, S(079317), +65 3129 7547

Kee’s

Arriving in splendid style is Kee’s, a modern European restaurant at boutique hotel 21 Carpenter, which is helmed by culinary director Andrew Walsh. Expect Walsh’s sophisticated yet unpretentious fare—the tuna tartare with Vietnamese and coconut dressing makes for an excellent starter, while the beef cheek rendang hits all the right spots.

Kee’s
Address: 21 Carpenter Street, S(059984), +65 6373 6985

Fourgather

Located within Amoy Hotel is Fourgather, a casual Thai restaurant that will take you to the streets of Bangkok. Time-strapped professionals in the central business district are better off ordering its lunch sets with classic dishes such as basil pork rice, but there’s much more to explore on this 50-item menu, including a whole fried fish best enjoyed enveloped within a lettuce leaf with an array of condiments. Wait around till night falls to see this space transform into a vibey after-dark hotspot.

Fourgather
Address: 76 Telok Ayer Street, 01-02, S(048464), +65 8071 2946

Berlin65

Can’t go to Berlin? Berlin will come to you. Berlin65 is co-founded by Lorenz Raich and Stephan Zoisl, former colleagues at Chef’s Table by Stephan. There are classic German staples here such as currywurst and Königsberger Klopse, but expect further Asian and Middle Eastern twists to keep you on your toes. Wash it all down with its special house-made ayran.

Berlin65
Address: 30 Stanley Street, S(068739)

Allora Ristorante and Bar

Situated within Crowne Plaza Changi Airport is Allora Ristorante and Bar, serving up authentic Italian plates shaped by executive chef Stefano Sanna’s upbringing in Vogogna in northern Italy. Sanna’s regional cooking is best seen in the polpo e patate, which stars grilled octopus with a side of vegetables and a bagna cauda sauce for maximum flavour, while pasta and pizza lovers will not be disappointed with gems such as the beef ravioli doused in a three-pepper beef jus sauce, and the Bari pizza with burrata, capers, and anchovies.

Allora Ristorante and Bar
Address: 75 Airport Boulevard, Terminal 3 Singapore Changi Airport, S(819664), +65 6823 5354

Señor Taco

This iconic taqueria has reopened at the heart of Clarke Quay. Señor Taco, opened in 2009, now boasts 3,500 square metres of space, replete with addictive tacos filled with ingredients like Kurobota pork and Oaxacan cheese, and Singapore’s only mezcal library of over 200 labels. Once you’re done with your meal, get up and dance with a live DJ playing Latin pop, reggaeton, mariachi, and more Latin American styles every night.

Señor Taco
Address: 3C River Valley Road, 01-09A, S(179022)

Song Yue Taiwan Cuisine

Homely Taiwanese dishes take the spotlight at Song Yue Taiwan Cuisine, where each dish is primed for a satisfying family meal. Health and wellbeing are centred here with the use of fresh seasonal ingredients, making dishes like the poached farm chicken with spring onion and the silken tofu with pumpkin crab meat nourishing and healing. Tea lovers, make sure to get your hands on the restaurant’s selection of premium Taiwanese teas. 

Song Yue Taiwan Cuisine
Address: 5 Stadium Walk, 01-38/39 Leisure Park Kallang, S(397693), +65 6988 3322

Duomo Ristorante

There are few things more comforting than an Italian-style family meal, and at Duomo Ristorante within Chijmes, indulge in classic Italian-Mediterranean fare to soothe the soul. You will find, of course, your favourite Italian classics such as cacio e pepe and cantaloupe wrapped with 24-aged parma ham. But look out for standouts, including the linguine al grancho, featuring a tomato mascarpone sauce with Atlantic crab and spiced with a little bit of chilli. Or enjoy the whole Mediterranean sea bream that’s perfect for sharing, served with zucchini, tomatoes and capers.

Duomo Ristorante
Address: 30 Victoria Street, 01-32 Chijmes, S(187996), +65 9381 6431

Nou

Noodles and drinks? It’s an easy sell for anybody. Indulge in hearty bowls of noodles at this new bar, which includes gems like “duck kut teh mee sua”, featuring a white pepper bak kut teh broth with duck cigar, and the signature Nou umami noodles, which is doused in an olive scallion sauce with pickled jalapeño and tea ramen eggs. They go well with creative twists on classic cocktails like the “Duck-tini”, starring duck fat-washed Machetazo Salmiana with pickled onion and dill flower, or the “Nougroni”, the house’s version of a negroni with Amazzoni Rio Negro and Carpano Antica. 

Nou
Address: 45 Craig Road, S(089683), +65 8768 1224

Zuicho

Having established a name for itself in Hong Kong and Macau, Zuicho has arrived in Singapore at the Mandarin Oriental to serve up its Japanese gastronomy. Helmed by head chef Kenji Takahashi, you can indulge in its elevated kappo fare like fried Miyazaki Wagyu tenderloin, uni with handmade somen noodles, and a handroll packed with minced tuna and bafun uni. 

Zuicho
Address: 5 Raffles Avenue, 3/F Mandarin Oriental Singapore, S(039797), +65 6885 3595

Overflow

This new bar at Changi Airport allows you to sip on drinks while you listen to live tunes—all before your flight. Located in a garden at Terminal 2, this pet-friendly bar hosts live acts every night from Monday to Saturday, including mandopop hits and rock and roll. Whether you’re into wines, bubblies, beers, or even cognac and whisky, this bar has just the right vibes for a pre-flight pick-me-up or a chill weekend hangout. 

Overflow
Address: 60 Airport Boulevard, 01-T2S-01 Singapore Changi International Airport, S(819643), +65 8743 1863

Moss Cross Tokyo Singapore

Cult favourite Moss Cross Tokyo has found a second home in Singapore at Capri by Fraser China Square. Its signature offering is the Shokado omakase experience, which includes nine courses themed around travel presented in a lacquered wooden box. Look out for delights like the Hyogo oyster with camembert mousse, kelp broth and caviar, as well as executive chef Akihiro Masuyama’s showstopping Wagyu sushi with uni and truffle soy sauce. 

Moss Cross Tokyo Singapore
Address: 181 South Bridge Road, 02-01, S(058743)

Little Italy

Little Italy has opened its third outlet at Woodleigh Mall, bringing with it its brand of authentic Italian cuisine. Just a few quality ingredients are emphasised in each dish, bringing out their unique qualities for a simple yet moreish plate. Start your meal with a platter of parma ham and burrata, before digging into pastas like its signature short pasta, tossed in a cream sauce thickened with parmesan and mozzarella with nuggets of porcini mushrooms and Italian sausage and a drizzle of truffle oil. Don’t forget its signature “Little Italy” pizza, which comes with an array of salami, mushrooms, cooked ham and onions for a hearty bite.

Little Italy
Address: 11 Bidadari Park Drive, 02-48 The Woodleigh Mall, S(367803), +65 9710 9052

Air

Situated within the tranquil Dempsey enclave is Air, a new restaurant, circular campus and cooking club. Air, which opens on January 31, stands for “awareness”, “impact”, and “responsibility” and will be helmed by chefs Will Goldfarb and Matthew Orlando, founder of Amass in Copenhagen. Maximum flavour is achieved using sustainable practices and techniques, including pressure-cooking fish bones to make into noodles, which are served alongside a creatively presented whole coral grouper. Look out for other highlights like the jackfruit and local bean “hummus” and fish ceviche.

Air
Address: 25B Dempsey Road, S(249918)

Side Door

This new gastro-bar on Neil Road offers unpretentious food and creative cocktails. At Side Door, the brainchild of chef-mixologist duo Tryson Quek and Bannie Kang respectively, you can expect hearty dishes like a blue lips mussel stew with burnt garlic, bacon, chilli and butter; delicacies like foie gras mousse between duck-shaped crispy potatoes; and pastries like cannelés. Don’t miss out on Kang’s cocktails, which often include South Korean twists—a nod to her South Korean heritage. 

Side Door
Address: 3 Neil Road, 01-01, S(088805)

Entrepôt

Entrepôt, the signature all-day dining restaurant of the newly-opened The Robertson House, pays homage to Singapore’s historic status as a strategic entrepôt with Anglo-Asian flavours. French corn-fed chicken, for instance, is first smoked with dried angelica root and served with cordyceps mushrooms and herbal honey. The hotel’s exclusive gin by Tanglin Gin, The Robertson House Gin, as well as its exclusive Dr Robertson’s Lager in collaboration with Reddot Brewhouse, are also available to imbibe here. Enjoy it all within Entrepôt’s colonial black-and-white interiors.

Entrepôt
Address: 1 Unity Street, S(237983), +65 8380 1689

Fireplace by Bedrock

Beloved steakhouse Bedrock has opened a new wood-fire grill concept, Fireplace by Bedrock, at One Holland Village. Casual chic is the vibe here, alongside moreish plates like bone marrow toast crowned with pickled shallots, parsley and caramelised onions; orange and honey-marinated Jurassic quail; and a grand Wagyu tomahawk steak is not one to be missed for beef lovers.

Fireplace by Bedrock
Address: 7 Holland Village Way, 03-27/28 One Holland Village, S(275748), +65 6589 8760

Ginkyõ by Kinki

Also opening at One Holland Village is Ginkyõ by Kinki, where head chef Terence Ong serves up Japanese cuisine with creative twists, made with fresh seafood from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market. The restaurant’s exclusive “Ginkyõ Crispies” are best enjoyed with premium toppings, such as uni, caviar, ikura, and even gold flakes, while an array of sashimi, sushi, carpaccios and ceviches await you at Ginkyõ’s Raw Kitchen. 

Ginkyõ by Kinki
Address: 7 Holland Village Way, 03-01–04 One Holland Village, S(275748), +65 6248 0943

Roia

Shielded within the lush foliage of the Singapore Botanic Gardens is Roia, a new restaurant at EJH Corner House. At its helm is chef Priyam Chatterjee, the youngest Indian chef to be awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole, who has mastered the precision of French culinary technique; expect modern French creations with premium ingredients, like Challandais duck and Scandinavian langoustine.

Roia
Address: 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens, S(259569), +65 8908 1705

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Liberty Singapore

Marina Bay Financial Centre boasts a new restaurant with Liberty Singapore, a Southern American barbecue restaurant with Asian influences. With a menu crafted by chefs Yong Soo-Do and Chris Tuthill, look out for delights such as char siu pork belly and kalbi short rib, alongside cocktails like the “Roaring Pink Dragon”, a refreshing concoction of rum, mango, pink dragon fruit, lime, and mint. 

Liberty Singapore
Address: 10 Marina Boulevard, 01-04 Tower 2 Marina Bay Financial Centre, S(018983), +65 6322 3777

High House

One of the hottest restaurant openings in recent memory, High House on the 61st and 62nd floor of One Raffles Place is a lively day-to-night concept that combines the best of food, art, music, and design in one electric package. Sink your teeth into plates like lobster mac and cheese and Thai massaman curry with sakura pork belly before delving into the cocktails as the night progresses, like the “Sticky Mango Highball” inspired by the mango sticky rice, and the “Seaweed and Shiso” made with seaweed-infused Roku gin, shiso Baldonia dry, and umami bitters. 

High House
Address: 1 Raffles Place, L61-62, S(048616), +65 9677 8074

Close Shave

From beloved barber Sultans of Shave comes Close Shave, a seductive new addition to the bar scene. Replete with atmospheric interiors, style is a word that never leaves your lips as you sip on elegantly presented cocktails, leaving you feeling as fresh as a Sultans of Shave haircut. 

Close Shave
Address: 13 North Canal Road, 01-02, S(048826)

Cha Chaan Teng

If you long for the nostalgia of 1980s Hong Kong, there’s no better place to visit than Cha Chaan Teng. With regards to food, expect tapas-style plates of Hong Kong cuisine like the har cheong tin gai, fried frog legs dressed with homemade shrimp paste and chef’s secret chilli house, or the classic crackling pork belly. As for the drinks, prepare to challenge yourself with cocktails like the “Sap Saam Mui”, where burnt claypot rice and lap cheong are unlikely bedfellows to gin, campari, and dry vermouth. 

Cha Chaan Teng
Address: 284 Lavender Street, S(338802)

Jypsy Parkland Green

Jypsy has opened its second outlet, bringing its signature modern Japanese fare to the East Coast. With an outlet-exclusive brunch menu including highlights like the salmon egg benedict, Wagyu hamburger steak plate and a tamago sando, this is the right spot for beachgoers, families, and joggers on a break. 

Jypsy Parkland Green
Address: 920 East Coast Parkway, 01-25–27, S(449875)

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