Five standout new restaurants opened in Singapore this May 2026 — covering Japanese omakase, Mediterranean wood-fired cooking, coastal Italian crudo, and weekend brunch. Bar Maré in Telok Ayer is the top pick for most occasions.
5 New Restaurants in Singapore Worth Booking This May 2026
May 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting months for new restaurants in Singapore, and if you haven't already started making reservations, you're already behind. From sleek omakase counters to buzzy all-day brunch spots, the city's dining scene is firing on all cylinders this month. Whether you're planning a date night, a long overdue catch-up with friends, or simply treating yourself to something new, these five openings deserve a spot on your calendar right now.
Omakase Vibes and Japanese Precision
First up is Kura Omakase, a new intimate Japanese counter dining experience that has quietly slipped into the Tanjong Pagar dining corridor and is already generating serious buzz among food lovers. The 12-seat counter is helmed by Chef Kenji Mori, who previously worked at a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Osaka before making Singapore his permanent home. Expect a meticulously curated 10-course omakase menu featuring seasonal imports from Toyosu Market, with highlights including aged kinmedai with sudachi zest and a closing course of housemade mochi with black sesame cream. Dinner sets start at $220 per person, which feels steep until the first course lands in front of you.
- Signature dish: Aged kinmedai with sudachi zest
- Must-try course: Housemade mochi with black sesame cream
- Price range: $220 per person (omakase set)
Kura Omakase
📍 Craig Road, Singapore 089692
⏰ Tue–Sun 6pm–11pm
Mediterranean Sunshine on Your Plate
If you're after something a little more relaxed but equally impressive, Solara Mediterranean Kitchen on Keong Saik Road is the kind of all-day spot you'll want to return to every weekend. The space is airy and sun-drenched, with whitewashed walls, terracotta accents, and an open kitchen that lets you watch the team at work. The menu leans heavily into wood-fired cooking, with standout dishes including a charred whole sea bream with chermoula butter, hand-rolled pita served with whipped feta and honey, and a slow-roasted lamb shoulder that takes six hours to prepare and sells out almost every service. Lunch mains hover around $28–$38, making it a genuinely accessible option for a leisurely midweek meal.
- Signature dish: Slow-roasted lamb shoulder ($42)
- Must-try snack: Hand-rolled pita with whipped feta and honey ($14)
- Price range: $28–$55 per person
Solara Mediterranean Kitchen
📍 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089114
⏰ Mon–Sun 11am–10:30pm
Cocktails, Crudo, and a Very Good Time
Bar Maré is the new coastal Italian bar and crudo counter that has taken up residence in Telok Ayer, and it's already become the go-to spot for the post-work crowd looking to transition smoothly from drinks to dinner. The concept is built around raw seafood preparations — think tuna crudo with Calabrian chilli oil, scallop carpaccio with yuzu kosho, and a daily changing selection of oysters sourced from France and Japan. The cocktail programme is equally considered, with a rotating list of aperitivo-style drinks that include a blood orange Negroni and a house-made limoncello spritz that pairs perfectly with the lighter bites. Expect to spend around $60–$90 per person if you're going the full drinks-and-crudo route.
- Signature dish: Tuna crudo with Calabrian chilli oil ($24)
- Must-try drink: Blood orange Negroni ($22)
- Price range: $60–$90 per person
Bar Maré
📍 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068587
⏰ Mon–Sat 5pm–12am
Brunch Done Properly in the East
Sunday Club brings a much-needed weekend brunch destination to the East Coast Park stretch, filling a gap that locals in the area have been complaining about for years. The menu is unapologetically indulgent — think ricotta hotcakes stacked with caramelised banana and salted caramel, a smoked salmon Benedict with dill hollandaise, and a breakfast ramen that has already gone viral on local food accounts. The space itself seats around 60, with a breezy semi-alfresco section that makes it ideal for lazy weekend mornings. Coffee is taken seriously here, with beans sourced from a small-batch roaster in Melbourne and a flat white that genuinely rivals the best in the CBD.
- Signature dish: Breakfast ramen ($22)
- Must-try sweet: Ricotta hotcakes with caramelised banana ($19)
- Price range: $18–$35 per person
Sunday Club
📍 East Coast Road, Singapore 428726
⏰ Sat–Sun 8am–3pm, Mon–Fri 9am–3pm
The Verdict: Where to Go First
All five openings are worth your time, but if you can only pick one this month, make it Bar Maré. It hits the sweet spot between casual and considered — the kind of place where a quick after-work drink turns into a full evening without you even noticing. The crudo is exceptional, the cocktails are well-priced, and the Telok Ayer location means it's easy to get to from almost anywhere in the city. Book ahead though — word has already gotten out, and tables are filling up fast. For the full dining experience with a special occasion in mind, Kura Omakase is the one to save up for. Chef Mori's precision and attention to detail make every course feel like a considered gift, and $220 suddenly feels like very good value by the time you're done.
