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

Image credit: @saltyaaron

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

Mama Diam Review: Speakeasy Bar With Secret Entrance Behind Retro Mama Shop

Do note that our Mama Diam coverage is outdated. We will be updating the article soon.

A few years ago, Lou Shang’s HDB-themed interior drew some controversy. There’s an interpretation that this is a form of class appropriation, where the lived realities of working-class Singaporeans are commodified. Still, one can also think of Lou Shang as a homage to the true-blue heartlands with its decor—it depends on how you look at it.

Image credit: @saltyaaron