Singapore’s dining scene has welcomed another round of new openings.
From a Shibuya kaisendon specialist making its first move outside Japan to Mediterranean flavours paired with Japanese influences, these are five new restaurants worth having on your radar this September.
1. NOOR
Mediterranean and Japanese flavours might not be the most obvious pairing, but that is exactly what NOOR is bringing to Mohamed Sultan Road.
The menu starts with familiar Mediterranean ingredients like tahini, labneh, harissa and olive oil, before weaving in Japanese touches such as miso, yuzu and dashi. The result is dishes like Tahini Gyoza filled with chicken shawarma, Miso Hummus served with pita, and Hamachi Tartlets finished with yuzu labneh.
Beyond dinner, NOOR leans into a livelier evening atmosphere with cocktails and weekly programming. Wednesdays bring free-flow prosecco for ladies, while Thursdays turn up the energy with its Yalla Tokyo night.
Address: 17 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238966
Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 5pm–12am
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2. MUKAI
If kaisendon is your usual Japanese order, MUKAI is one to know. Originally from Shibuya, Tokyo, the seafood specialist has opened at Plaza Singapura, marking its first location outside Japan.
The restaurant specialises in Kaiho Don, or “sea treasure bowls”, topped generously with premium seafood. Options range from the Nami to the Goku Goku, its most indulgent bowl featuring ingredients such as chūtoro, uni and ikura.
There is also a second part to the meal. After working through most of the seafood and rice, warm dashi can be poured over what remains to turn it into ochazuke. It makes for two distinctly different ways to enjoy the same bowl, and is part of MUKAI’s signature dining experience.
Address: 68 Orchard Road, Plaza Singapura, #B1-07, Singapore 238839
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am–3pm & 5.30pm–10pm
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3. Casa Lola
The team behind FOC Group has a new restaurant on Boon Tat Street, this time taking inspiration from the neighbourhood bodegas of Barcelona.
Casa Lola keeps things casual with Spanish comfort food and tapas designed for sharing. The menu includes Crispy Iberian Pig’s Ears with smoked paprika aioli, garlic king prawns with Spanish Agria potatoes and eggs, and a baked macaroni ragù inspired by co-founder and chef Juanjo Carrillo’s grandmother’s recipe.
Seasonal paella is another highlight, while the intimate shophouse setting, complete with exposed brick, retro posters and wine barrels, adds to its relaxed bodega feel.
Address: 3 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069612
Opening hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 12pm–3pm & 5pm–10pm
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4. Tembusu
Image: Tembusu
Taking over the former The Halia space at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Tembusu is a new Straits dining house surrounded by the greenery of the Ginger Garden.
The restaurant takes familiar flavours from Malay, Peranakan and wider Southeast Asian cooking and presents them with a contemporary approach. Breakfast starts with dishes such as homemade kaya pullman toast, while the wider menu moves into options including Tembusu Nasi Lemak, Squid Ink Claypot Rice and Udon Laksa.
It is also an all-day option, opening from breakfast through dinner, with a pet-friendly section available for those visiting the Gardens with their dogs.
Address: Ginger Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569
Opening hours: Daily, 8am–9pm
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5. Le Ju Xuan
Marina Bay Sands’ latest Chinese restaurant, Le Ju Xuan, brings Cantonese, Northern Chinese and Sichuan flavours together in a more relaxed, family-style setting.
Located at the Hotel Tower 2 lobby, the 188-seat restaurant is led by Chef Simon Tho and serves a broad menu designed around communal dining. Signatures include Marble Goby and Sichuan Mapo Tofu, alongside handmade noodles, dumplings and fresh seafood prepared in different cooking styles.
The drinks programme is worth noting too. Le Ju Xuan carries around 70 baijiu labels, including rare and limited-edition Kweichow Moutai expressions, making it one of the more extensive restaurant collections of the Chinese spirit in Singapore.
Address: Hotel Tower 2, Lobby, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
Opening hours: Sunday–Thursday, 11am–10.30pm; Friday–Saturday, 11am–11pm
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For more places to add to your list, check out our guide to 5 new cafés in Singapore worth checking out this August.