May 2026 brings standout new openings and menus to Singapore's food scene, including Ember & Salt's wood-fire debut on Telok Ayer, a reimagined tasting menu at Cloudstreet, and Southbridge's Southeast Asian cocktail menu Borrowed Time.
New Restaurants and Menus in Singapore Worth Booking This May 2026
Singapore's food scene refuses to slow down, and May 2026 is proof of that. Despite the chatter about F&B closures making the rounds, a fresh wave of new restaurants and menus in Singapore is landing this month — and honestly, the quality bar has never been higher. Whether you're hunting for a splurge-worthy omakase, a casual weekend brunch spot, or a bold new bar menu to anchor your Friday night, May has something that will make you clear your calendar and book a table.
What's Opening This May 2026?
The biggest buzz this month surrounds Ember & Salt, a wood-fire concept helmed by chef Marcus Tan, formerly of Burnt Ends, which has set up shop along the increasingly exciting Telok Ayer stretch. The restaurant leans hard into live-fire cooking — expect aged duck breast charred over applewood, whole roasted cauliflower with bone marrow butter, and a dry-aged beef programme that changes weekly depending on what the team is working with. The dining room seats just 40, so reservations are already tight for weekends.
The menu is built around sharing, with small plates starting at $18 and larger centrepieces ranging from $48 to $88. Chef Tan has spoken about wanting to strip back the theatrics and let the ingredients do the talking — a refreshing approach in a city where dining experiences can sometimes feel more like performance art than actual food. The wine list is tight but well-curated, skewing natural and low-intervention, with bottles from $75.
- Must-order: Aged duck breast with plum kosho ($52)
- Vegetarian highlight: Whole roasted cauliflower, bone marrow butter, crispy capers ($28)
- Price range: $60–$110 per person with drinks
Ember & Salt
📍 22 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068569
⏰ Tue–Sun 6pm–10:30pm; Sat–Sun Brunch 11am–2:30pm
New Menus Worth Revisiting Old Favourites For
It's not just brand-new openings making noise this month. Cloudstreet, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant on Amoy Street, has rolled out a completely reimagined spring-to-summer tasting menu under chef Rishi Naleendra. The new 8-course progression leans into Sri Lankan coastal flavours more explicitly than ever before, with a standout course featuring cured yellowfin tuna, coconut water gel, and a curry leaf oil that somehow tastes like a childhood memory you never had. At $298 per person for the full menu, it's a serious commitment — but one that regulars are calling the best iteration of the restaurant yet.
Over in Duxton Hill, cocktail bar Southbridge has quietly launched a new drinks menu titled Borrowed Time, drawing on Southeast Asian botanicals and nostalgic Singaporean flavour profiles. The Bandung Sour ($24) — rose syrup, lychee eau de vie, egg white, and a dusting of dried butterfly pea — is already being ordered by every table. Bar snacks have been upgraded too, with the addition of a crispy prawn roll with sambal aioli ($16) that pairs dangerously well with everything on the menu.
- Standout cocktail: Bandung Sour ($24)
- Bar snack to order: Crispy prawn roll with sambal aioli ($16)
- Best time to visit: Weekday evenings before 8pm for walk-ins
Cloudstreet
📍 84 Amoy Street, Singapore 069903
📞 +65 6513 3038
⏰ Tue–Sat 6pm–10pm
Southbridge
📍 80 Boat Quay, Singapore 049868
📞 +65 6877 6965
⏰ Mon–Sat 5pm–1am
The Verdict
If you only have one booking to make this May, Ember & Salt is the one. It's exactly the kind of restaurant Singapore needs right now — intimate, ingredient-driven, and free from gimmicks. That said, if you're already a Cloudstreet regular, the new tasting menu is reason enough to go back immediately. And if you're looking for a lower-commitment evening out, Southbridge's Borrowed Time cocktail menu is the best new bar experience in the CBD right now. Book early, go hungry, and don't skip dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best new restaurants in Singapore in May 2026?
Ember & Salt on Telok Ayer Street is the standout new opening this month, offering a wood-fire dining concept from a Burnt Ends alumnus. Cloudstreet has also launched a reimagined tasting menu worth booking for returning visitors.
Do I need a reservation for Ember & Salt?
Yes — the restaurant seats only 40 guests and weekend slots are already filling up fast. It's best to book at least two weeks in advance via their website or a reservations platform like Chope or Oddle.
Is Southbridge's new cocktail menu available every night?
The Borrowed Time menu is available during all regular service hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 5pm. Walk-ins are possible on weeknights, but weekends tend to fill up by 9pm.
What is the price range for the new Cloudstreet tasting menu?
The new 8-course tasting menu at Cloudstreet is priced at $298 per person, with optional wine pairing available at an additional cost. It's a special-occasion spend, but one that long-time fans of the restaurant are calling the best menu they've produced to date.
