Singapore Neighbourhood Spotlight: New Bahru’s Rise As A Lifestyle Hub

Photo Credits: Indesignlive

New Bahru opened progressively from May 2024 inside the former Nan Chiau High School, a building first opened in 1941 and expanded in 1974, according to a detailed history compiled by TheSmartLocal. What started with roughly half its tenants open has since grown past 60 brands with the addition of a new Factory Block, and the complex keeps adding names, with 15 more tenants confirmed for opening between late April and early May this year.

This guide covers what is actually there now, how the space has changed since opening, and how to get there.

What Makes New Bahru Different From A Regular Shopping Mall?

New Bahru is not a mall in the conventional sense. It is a converted school building spanning roughly 20,156 square metres, mixing food and beverage tenants with retail, wellness studios and a serviced apartment called Alma House, according to TheSmartLocal’s tenant directory of the site.

The building’s age is part of its appeal. Unlike a purpose-built shopping centre, New Bahru keeps traces of its original structure, and the mix of old architecture with new brands is what has made it a repeated subject of design coverage, including a feature by architecture publication Dezeen on how local studio FARM approached the conversion.

Before its current life as New Bahru, the same address had already been used as a lifestyle space once before, under the name The Herencia, housing tenants including a patisserie and a co-working space. New Bahru is technically the site’s third act, not its first attempt at reinvention.

What Tenants Are Actually At New Bahru Right Now?

The tenant list has grown considerably since opening. Early names included Artichoke, the Middle Eastern restaurant relocated from Middle Road, alongside The Coconut Club, Sojao and Beyond The Vines’ largest store. The most recent wave of 15 new tenants includes Japanese lifestyle label Beams opening its first standalone Singapore store outside Lumine Raffles City, French shoe brand Veja’s first standalone city store, and Japanese sushi chain Sushiro, according to Time Out Singapore’s reporting on the announcement.

Here is a snapshot of what spans the complex today.

If you want to see the complex in full swing rather than just reading a tenant list, our guide to the New Bahru Open House block party covers what the site looks like during one of its bigger public events in Singapore living.

Is New Bahru Worth A Dedicated Trip?

Here is the honest answer. New Bahru rewards a slow visit more than a quick one. With over 60 tenants spread across a converted school campus, rushing through in under an hour means missing most of what makes it worth the trip in the first place. Blocking out a half day gets you food, a browse through the retail spaces and time to actually sit somewhere rather than walk past everything.

One practical limitation worth naming plainly. New Bahru is not directly on an MRT line. Fort Canning station on the Downtown line is the closest stop, and it is still a walk of close to fifteen minutes from there, so factor that into your plans if you are relying purely on public transport. It’s a beautiful old building. It’s also genuinely inconvenient to reach on foot in the heat.

Bus services 32, 51, 54, 64, 123, 139, 186 and 195 all stop within reach of the site if you would rather avoid the walk from Fort Canning.

For more neighbourhood spotlights of this kind, browse our Lifestyle section for ongoing coverage of how Singapore’s districts are changing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New Bahru fully open now, or are more tenants still coming? The complex has grown well past its original tenant count, and new names continue to be added, including the batch of 15 tenants announced for opening between late April and early May, so it is worth checking for the latest additions before a visit if you have a specific brand in mind.

Can I stay overnight at New Bahru? Yes. Alma House, an 83-key serviced apartment on site, accepts both short and long-term stays and partners with neighbouring New Bahru brands for in-room amenities and dining packages.

Is New Bahru free to enter and walk around? Yes, walking through the complex costs nothing. You only pay for what you eat, shop for, or book into, such as a wellness class or a stay at Alma House.

What was the site used for before it became New Bahru? It was originally Nan Chiau High School, which opened in 1941 on Kim Yam Road and was expanded in 1974, before the school relocated to Sengkang and the site was later redeveloped into New Bahru.

Is New Bahru suitable for a family visit, or is it more for adults? Both. The complex includes family-friendly features such as an outdoor communal slide and interactive activities alongside its bars, wellness studios and adult-oriented retail, so it works for a mixed group rather than one specific age range.

If you have visited New Bahru recently and spotted a new tenant we have missed, email us at admin@dei.com.sg.