Let’s be real: not all conserved shophouse rows in Singapore are made equal. On one hand you have those in areas like Duxton, Haji Lane, and Katong/Joo Chiat which mainly house cute brunch spots, art galleries, boutiques and a handful of pet-related stores; On the other spectrum of things are grittier stretches, and some of these appear to come with…less savoury offerings. You know what we’re talking about.
If one were to categorise the Prinsep area in either, the latter would be an easy pick. Though this area off Dhoby Ghaut has a couple of perfectly decent eateries – not forgetting Play Nation HQ and The Mind Café for wholesome board games – some of its bars, clubs, and KTV lounges veer towards seedy. The fact that it’s just across the road from the infamous now-defunct Peace Centre probably doesn’t help with the impression. It wouldn’t be your hangout area of choice if you’re for more refined experiences in life, that’s for sure.
Yet, nestled unassumingly within one Prinsep Street’s shophouse units is an elegant new Chinese teahouse called Incloud (巷云端) that’s going wildly viral for its ‘floating stream’ table – a concept that was previously made popular by a modern tea café in Japan. But what’s even better here is that instead of simply having your tea and tidbits sit atop the water, you get the fun of seeing your items meander along the flowing river as mist swirls around. It’s pretty therapeutic just watching the whole ebb and flow of things here, made even more relaxing with drifting flowers and a decorative moss feature.
Arm yourself with a translation app or a friend who didn’t fail Chinese classes in school, because Incloud’s menu descriptions unfortunately only come in one language. The friendly owner herself is also Chinese-speaking, but there are helpful staff around who will patiently explain the different items on the menu in English should you need any assistance.
We were first served a mini portion of Incloud’s specialty tea blend as a welcome drink, which was delivered on a little wooden saucer via the stream.
Then came our ‘one tea three drinks’ set ($68) – think of it as a Chinese version of afternoon tea. As its name suggests, it uses one type of tea to create three different concoctions: pure tea, a fruity tea mocktail, and nitro tea – all of which are noticeably different from each other in terms of flavour notes. There are five tea types to choose from, and ours was a palatable blend of oolong with apple.
Along with this comes an assortment of six Chinese-style sweets and a plate of six types of nuts. While five of the snacks are set on a pretty wooden stand, one will be sent off to make its rounds along the stream, ready to be picked up once you’re done with snapping that money shot.
Take note: The beverages and bites are not portioned out based on the number of people in your group, so you’d want to be here with someone you’re closer to as there’s no room for being saliva-conscious here. We also wouldn’t recommend having one set all to yourself, because it’d be way too much for most to singlehandedly polish off.
Another popular item is the hot milk tea ($28), served on a wooden warmer so that it remains at an ideal temperature throughout. Options include matcha, plum, jasmine, and ginger with red dates. We picked chrysanthemum, which came with other nourishing ingredients like dates and goji berries. Though we love how comforting this milk-based brew was with its distinct chrysanthemum flavour, we found it just a tad overly sweet and almost dessert-like – this coming from a sweet tooth.
The milk tea also comes with a tray of nuts, but if you’ve already had enough of that, ask to have it packed for a takeaway.
Other drinks at Incloud include a la carte tea mocktails ($18.80), nitrogen tea (from $12.80), loose leaf traditional Chinese tea (from $22.80)
Do note that the floating river table is a communal one, so there’s a high chance that you will be seated opposite a stranger especially during peak periods. This portion of the teahouse is also limited to 10 seats, so it’s a good idea to make a prior phone reservation to ensure you get the most out of your visit. We did a walk-in on a weekday afternoon and managed to get a seat here after a 10-minute wait.
If you somehow don’t manage to score a coveted spot at the water table, there’s always the alternative of zen tatami seats or booth seats that you don’t have to share with other patrons. The tatami seats are a good option if you’ve already experienced the novelty of the flowing river seats, and would rather sip your brew in peace without other distractions.
Our verdict: Is Incloud teahouse in Singapore worth the hype?
So, is the TikTok-famous Incloud worth a visit? Well, that really depends on your dining priorities.
Although prices are on the high side, you’re clearly paying for an experience and there’s currently no other teahouse in Singapore that dishes out such a unique concept – that’s already part of a winning formula, coupled with the tranquil atmosphere that looks straight out of a Chinese painting. The tea served is also of a certain quality, evident in all the layers of flavours from light and floral to robust, so tea enthusiasts won't be disappointed.
That said, the overload of nuts wasn’t up our alley, and we noticed other patrons also balking at the heaping of nuts served with their tea sets. Replacing those with a better range of small bites – or perhaps offering a more affordable drink set option without all that nuttiness – would make things much more appealing. And while the snowflake crisps and mini pastries that came with the ‘one tea three drinks’ set were of a satisfactory portion given the prices, they didn’t possess much diversity in flavour despite being served as visibly different-looking variations. Not that they weren't pleasant, but everything started to taste the same after a while despite us taking sips to cleanse our palates in between.
We also hope that there will soon be an English menu for better inclusivity and ease of ordering.
Incloud is located at 74 Prinsep Street, and is open daily from 11am to 3am, except on Saturday when it closes at 4am. Reservations can be made at 90881440 via call or WhatsApp. Stay updated via Incloud’s Instagram page at @incloud988 and check out the full menu here.
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