This New Cafe Looks Like A HDB Estate, Has Hokkien Mee Ravioli And Kaya Latte

Lou Shang is a HDB-themed cafe bar along Prinsep Street

While the above image may look like the corridor of a HDB estate, it’s actually a new cafe-bar by the people behind speakeasy bar Mama Diam. Lou Shang 楼上, meaning upstairs in Chinese, is its name.

Lou Shang operates as a cafe till 5pm each day, before transforming into a cosy bar at night. The constant between these two modes of operation is, of course, the HDB-themed interior, which though carefully put together, has drawn plenty of controversy in recent days. There’s an interpretation that this is a form of class appropriation, where the lived realities of Singaporeans are commodified.

Still, one can also think of Lou Shang as a homage to the true-blue heartlands with its decor—it just depends on how you look at it.

Image credit: @saltyaaron

If you’re keen on checking the place out, you’ll need to access it via a hidden elevator within Mama Diam. Take the lift up and you’ll find yourself there.

Image credit: Lou Shang 楼上

The cafe-bar offers an interesting range of food and drinks. When it comes to food, there are exciting fusion dishes such as the Chilli Crab-tivating ($20++), consisting of tortellini drenched in chilli crab sauce, and Prawn-tastic Adventure ($18++), which sees ravioli done hokkien-mee style.

Image credit: Lou Shang 楼上

There are also eye-catching desserts, such as the Tutu Kueh ($13++), which is a cake version of the traditional snack. Its exterior is made out of fluffy meringue, and its interior features aromatic shredded coconut.

Image credit: Lou Shang 楼上

Drinks-wise, there are creations such as Hochinchow ($8++), essentially hojicha with grass jelly, and Pandan Kaya Latte ($7++), which sees latte infused with notes of pandan kaya.

For a new retro-inspired cafe with moonlight hor fun and coconut coffee, read our Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe review. For a minimalist cafe in Tanjong Pagar with Korean-inspired pastries, check out our Snap Cafe review.

Address: 38 Prinsep Street, #02-02, Singapore 188665
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 9am to 5pm, 6pm to 11pm, Fri-Sat 9am to 5pm, 6pm to 12am, Sun-Mon 9am to 5pm
Tel: 8714 0012
Website
Lou Shang is not a halal-certified eatery.

Feature image adapted from @saltyaaron and 楼上.