CATEA Chinese teahouse in Upper Thomson
When it comes to cat cafes in Singapore, cat lovers are absolutely spoilt for choice. You won’t have to look too hard to locate one in your vicinity when you’d like to while the weekend away cuddling with furballs. Unsurprisingly, another one has popped up on the Little Red Dot, but it’s not your run-of-the-mill feline-filled joint.
Enter CATEA, a new Chinese teahouse in Upper Thomson that not only specialises in authentic brews from China, but also houses a couple of playful ragdolls to brighten up your day. Here’s all you need to know before heading down to their tranquil premises.
Enjoy traditional Chinese tea while chilling with ragdolls
Image credit: @catea_sg via Instagram
Getting to CATEA is easy; it’s located just a 4-minute walk from Upper Thomson MRT which is part of the new Thomson-East Coast line. There’s no entry fee or hourly rate here; you just have to purchase their snacks (from $5) or pre-brewed tea sets (from $16). Do note that children above 7 years of age are allowed to enter, but will need to be accompanied by an adult.
There’s no time limit during non-peak hours, so you can take your time to chill with the teahouse’s cats. But when the teahouse gets particularly busy, you’ll have a maximum of 2 hours to enjoy your tea. It’s also recommended that you make a reservation by dropping the official CATEA Instagram page a message to secure your seats before your visit.
Image credit: KG via Google Maps
Once you’re here, you’ll be greeted by a zen-like environment accented by the teahouse’s wooden furniture and elevated platforms, making it a lovely spot to hunker down for a productive study sesh. The centrepiece of the establishment has to be the literal cat tree in the middle, which the resident ragdoll cats love to scale to take a nap in its nooks.
Each tea set even comes with adorable cat-themed utensils, and a card with more information about your drinks.
Image credit: @catea_sg via Instagram
Before you get cuddly with the cats, do order any one of their tea sets; they are a teahouse after all. These start from $16 and they’ve got both hot and cold options. If you’re a tea-drinking novice wondering which one to go for, place an order for their Yashi DuckShit DanCong tea ($18).
Yes, you read that right. Don’t worry, your drink is not going to be laced with “special” ingredients. The tea leaves used to prepare this tea are grown on special soil, known by Chinese locals as duck shit soil, and is a chalky, yellow loam rich in minerals.
To safeguard the soil, the tea farmers intentionally gave it an especially icky name to ward off people trying to steal the soil for themselves. Give it a try for yourselves and you’ll find that it’s quite refreshing, as it has a floral and fruity taste with notes of honey and orchid.
Image credit: Pearl T via Google Maps
For something to munch on, CATEA also has light snacks like nuts (from $5/plate) and preserved dried fruits ($5/plate), as well as Chinese pastries ($6/piece). If you’re looking for a complete tea-infused experience, opt for their 2 or 4 pax set (from $68), which includes any 2 cold teas, along with 4 snacks and 2 pastries to whet your appetite.
The teahouse will provide lint rollers to rid your clothes of fur, so cuddle away.
Image credit: Bryan & my gmail via Google Maps
Of course, do set aside some time to play with the teahouse’s fluffy residents. There are a couple of them roaming around, so feel free to give them chin rubs and belly scratches. Visitors have noted that they’re particularly curious, so don’t be alarmed when they hop onto a seat beside you to check out what you’re eating.
Image credit: Jane Teo via Google Maps
Before you leave, don’t forget to have a look at their merch section too. It’s filled with cute cat-inspired trinkets, which serve as perfect mementos of your time at CATEA.
Swing by CATEA the next time you’re in Upper Thomson
If you’re in need of some much-needed cat-fueled R&R, CATEA’s got you covered. With its serene setting, aromatic brews, and clowder of aloof ragdolls, it’s pretty dang hard to find a better place at which to set your mind at ease.
For more cat cafes to visit, Cat Times in JB is another peaceful one to hit up across the border. But if you’re looking to keep it local, Fuzzies is a co-working space with an in-house cat cafe, while SGCatHouse is a popular option amongst Easties as it’s conveniently situated in Paya Lebar.
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Cover image adapted from: @catea_sg via Instagram, my gmail via Google Maps