brwd / KINN: A cosy escape from the hustle and bustle of city life

Nestled in the lobby of KINN Habitat along the busy neighbourhood of Clarke Quay, brwd / KINN is an unexpected cosy haven away from fast-paced city life. 

The name may seem like gibberish at first, and I pronounced it by spelling out the letters "brwd" and then KINN. In my curiosity, I decided to find out what it meant.

Like me, you may not know that the term "brwd" is part of their slogan, "brwd to perfection"—as in, "brewed".

When I gingerly stepped into what seemed to be the check-in area of the hotel lobby (KINN Habitat), it finally dawned upon me that brwd / KINN is part of the hotel's offerings. I had assumed the space to be a full-fledged cafe. Very unique, I'd say.

Characterised by the single signage at the hotel's entrance, it truly feels like a hidden gem, often missed by those other than hotel guests and those who work in the area.

I was greeted by the central plush sofa armed with low tables. It's not much, if you really want to nitpick, but I honestly felt at home very quickly, thanks to the calming and wabi-sabi interior design.

The ambience slowly grew on me. The neutral tones, carefully curated ceramics that adorn the wall and more strikingly, its (huge) soft light fixture all work together cohesively for the perfect homey ambience.

Not to mention the jazzy lo-fi music and relaxing hotel fragrance coupled with the slightest hint of freshly roasted coffee beans that fill the lobby, bringing up the zen vibes a notch higher.

The coffee bean profile conveniently placed at the foot of the coffee grinder is a clear indicator that brwd / KINN means business.

The menu focuses on a simple spread of classic cafe drinks and a few specialities such as their signature Sunkissed Brew ($6.50) - a combination of orange juice and espresso. Not forgetting their small selection of croissants with local flavours like kaya butter and classic flavours like chocolate.

We had the mocha and the plain croissant!

The rich and velvety Mocha ($6.50) had the slightest hint of espresso, personally not quite strong enough to keep me awake, but nonetheless still a warm hug to start your day. Buttery, flaky and airy, what more could you ask for in a Plain Croissant ($4.50)? Pair with your choice of coffee for the perfect pick-me-up throughout the day.

Albeit an unconventional location, brwd / KINN provides a quick, tranquil escape during your usual coffee runs and if you like people watching, what better place than a hotel lobby? (Or go in the late morning and you'll have the whole lobby to yourself!)

The KINN Habitat offers two types of hotel stays: KINN Capsule, KINN Studios.

brwd / KINN (Hong Kong St)

5 Hongkong St, Singapore 059648