The 15 Best First Date Restaurants in Singapore

PUBLISHED June 17th, 2014 01:14 am | UPDATED March 14th, 2018 02:07 pm

Well done, you! You plucked up the courage and asked that guy/girl out for dinner and he/she said yes. Level one – mission accomplished. Here comes stage two; where to take them? Oh crap.

Choosing a date restaurant can be a veritable mine field. You want a place that has a cool atmosphere, that combines a good buzz but without being so loud that you can’t hear each other. And not to sound like a cheap Charlie, somewhere that isn’t going to break the bank. I mean, let’s face it; it is the first date after all! Save your financial bullets for the big occasions.

Let stage two commence:

1. The Study (CLOSED)

Ah The Study. What was formally Keong Saik Snacks has gone thorough something of a conversion and is now a rather trendy and spiffy restaurant with some excellent sharing dishes for you and your date. And of course, once you’re done with dinner, just shimmy on next door to The Library for an after-dinner drink and see where the night takes you…

The Study is located at 49 Keong Saik Road.

2. The Vault (CLOSED)

The Vault may not sound like a date place, but let’s just set a few things straight. 1) The food here is actually pretty good, and there’s something on the menu for everyone. 2) Location and ambience – it’s very central, and the exposed brick decor is pretty slick. Finally 3) The Vault gradually turns into a bar as the night goes on, giving the perfect excuse to stick around and partake in a few cheeky drinks.

The Vault is located at 23 Circular Road

3. KILO

For somewhere a little more romantic, KILO is always a good choice. Away from the CBD, the leafy and rustic surroundings add to the already wonderful ambience of the place. It offers good fusion food and decent service and furthermore, the guys from KILO have just opened up the KILO Lounge of the 6th floor so you don’t have to go far for an after-dinner drink.

KILO is located at 66 Kampong Bugis

4. Bincho @ Hua Bee

Want to impress your date? Of course you do. Bring your date along to Bincho and she’ll bound to be impressed. This super cool hidden gem resides behind the Mee Pok stall at Moh Guan Street in Tiong Bahru. Walk through the old shophouse to find a magic surprise of a fine yakitori and Japanese whisky restaurant/bar. With a very cool menu and a superb selection of whiskies, Bincho will definitely impress.

Bincho is located at 01-19, 78 Moh Guan Terrace

5. Binomio

Tapas is one of the best foods for first dates. You have a great variety of cuisine, in easily digestible portions, and there’s always plenty of wine close by. Binomio offers a great seating arrangement as well, as you can either be sat at a proper table, or just take up a couple of seats at the very classically Spanish bar.

Binomio is located at 20 Craig Road

6. BAM!

Sake + tapas = cool. But seriously, the great advantage of BAM! when it comes to a date is that all their seats are lined up at the bar, which gives you not only a great opportunity to watch and discuss the culinary spectacle before you, but also means you’ll get a good chance to chat more intimately.

BAM! is located at 38 Tras Street

7. The Black Swan

If you’re feeling like a classic night out, The Black Swan gives you that chance to dress up a bit and go out ‘Mad Men’ style. The menu here is classic Western with a twist so there should be something for everyone. And of course, the bar isn’t too shabby at all…in fact, they’re building up quite a good reputation for their classic cocktails.

The Black Swan is located at 19 Cecil Street

8. Salt Tapas & Bar

Salt Tapas is one of my go-to restaurants in Singapore. The food is always of a good standard, and there’s literally something for everyone; meat, fish and plenty of vegetarian dishes too. The wine list is also quite decent and reasonably priced so it won’t break the bank to have some wine with your meal.

Salt Tapas is located at #01-22A, Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road

9. Moosehead Kitchen-Bar

Located at the Raffles side of Telok Ayer, Moosehead offers a casual and cool dining option. With low seating and a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere, it’s a great place to get to know someone over some small plates and a glass of wine.

Moosehead is located at 110 Telok Ayer Street

10. The Crostini Bar (Currently Closed)

To step on the funky side of Singapore, check out Haji Lane’s Crostini Bar. Offering a well-priced and tasty European menu it’s a superb option. It can be a little noisy here but it makes for a great setting, and of course there’s always a chance of a post dinner drink at Bar Stories upstairs right after.

The Crostini Bar is located at 55 Haji Lane, and is closed for renovations as of 15 April 2014.

11. Life is Beautiful Kitchen and Bar (CLOSED)

One of the latest establishments to open up along Duxton Road is Life is Beautiful. This Louisiana style restaurant serves up some very tasty and interesting dishes such as their succulent Gator Meatballs. As the night goes on, Life is Beautiful turns into a bar/club with live DJs and a dance-floor opening up. Great place to continue your already successful date.

Life is Beautiful is located at 99 Duxton Road

12. O Batignolles Wine Bar & Bistrot

For some classic French bistrot charm, O Batignolles is a great option. Located on the quieter end of Club Street, it offers a great (and reasonably priced) selection of French wines. Food here is standard bistrot cuisine so expect some yummy rillettes, foie gras and the like.

O Batignolles is located at 2 Gemmil Lane

13. Bochinche (MOVED)

Dark, sultry, sexy and Argentinian – surely there could be no better combination for a first date? Sit up at the counter looking into the open kitchen and you’ll have plenty to talk about, plus a chance to get a little bit closer to your date.  With delicious Argentinian small plates made for sharing, a great atmosphere and the option to move on for a cocktail on the terrace if all’s going well, Bochinche absolutely hits the first date spot.

Bochinche is located at 22 Martin Road

14. The Folks Collective

Quite possibly the most reasonably priced option on this list. The Folks Collective has some stellar Thai food. What makes it a great place for dates however is its atmosphere. The super cool interior reminiscent of 1920s Shanghai will surely impress your date and set the right mood.

The Folks Collective is located at 20 Cross Street, 01-25 China Square Central

15. IZY Dining and Bar

Sitting at the bottom of Club Street is IZY, a gorgeously designed Japanese tapas-cum-izakaya bar. What makes this place such a good date spot? Well apart from the visual show of watching the Chefs expertly plate their ingredients, their food, and I mean every dish, is excellent. What’s more after your fabulous meal, there’s a cool hidden bar at the back of the restaurant offering an intimate spot to get to know each other.

IZY Dining and Bar is located at 27 Club Street