Selecting a restaurant for Valentine’s Day 2017 in Singapore is no different from planning any other significant romantic dinner or a hot date with your significant other, except for one thing. Everybody else is thinking of doing the same thing on the same day. Just in case you have not noticed it, Valentine’s Day 2017 is less than one month away (Tuesday, 14 February 2017). Procrastinate no further. In this day and age, celebrating Valentine’s Day need not be done at a dim candle light dinner. Don’t be a stereotype.
To help our readers who are thinking of where to go for Valentine’s Day 2017, we have not only compiled a list of restaurants, we will also share with you our SMART principles to help with ideas and suggestions for Valentine’s Day 2017 in Singapore. In selecting a restaurant for Valentine’s Day or for that matter any romantic get together, remember TOP’s SMART principles of restaurant selection: Serious, Modest, Ambience, Relevant and Takeaways.
Serious
Selecting a restaurant for Valentine’s Day or any other special occasion is serious business. We often put it off until the last minute, by which time the best restaurants are full and we are left to scurry around to pick up whatever is left over. Being serious means starting early. The target of your invitation will also appreciate your early invitation and your seriousness about the occasion.
Modest
There is no need to blow your life savings on Valentine’s Day. Spend within your means. Nowadays there are many food blogs and food guides to help you. There are restaurants that are suitable without having to donate any of your limbs. Even if you have booked a fancy restaurant, it is still important to remain modest about your selection – even good restaurants can have their bad days. It is best to under-promise and over-deliver.
Ambience
Food, service, ambience and price are the four elements that work together to make our restaurant experience. They are all important. Ideally they should all be good. But if there is one non-negotiable element in selecting a Valentine’s Day restaurant, it is ambience. In normal meals, we can accept poor ambience if there is good food. But we would never do it for a romantic meal. Dirty, uncomfortable or noisy places do not come into our radar for Valentine’s Day no matter how good the food.
Relevant
For the purpose of Valentine’s Day or any other romantic occasion, the only views that count are those of your significant other. The restaurant choice has to be relevant to your date. You and all the major tyre makers may think restaurant X is the best restaurant. But if the type of cuisine is not her type, then it is not a good restaurant. Knowing her likes and dislikes is therefore key. Select the restaurant based on this and this alone, not yours or ours or Mr Michelin and you will do well.
Takeaways
A Valentine’s Day dinner should be forever. After all that planning, the experience and the expense, it should not end with the dessert and coffee. Do plan for some momento of the occasion which will serve as a reminder of that day. It could be a copy of the menu signed by the chef or just the menu itself. A small present would be nice to give and receive. A photograph at the restaurant is essential. Better still if you bring along one of those instant cameras. A tangible memento can be printed immediately.
With all that in mind, here is the list of restaurant ideas and suggestions for Valentine’s Day 2017. Click on our links to our reviews for more pictures and information on the restaurants.
TOP list of restaurant ideas and suggestions for Valentine’s Day 2017.
We have listed the more serious restaurants (read more expensive) first in Part One. The more casual places appear in Part Two of the list. In Part Three we list some Valentine’s Day hotel and restaurant options that have been brought to our attention but which we have not tried.
Part One
Lawry’s the Prime Rib Singapore
Lawry’s in Mandarin Gallery serves some of the best prime ribs in Singapore. On 14 Feb 2017, there will be a special menu available for dinner. There are two sittings at 5 and 8 pm. Read our review here.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib
333A Orchard Road
#04-01/31 Mandarin Gallery,
Mandarin Orchard Singapore 238897
Il Cielo @ Hilton Hotel
A lovely Italian restaurant on the top floor of the Hilton Hotel on Orchard Road. Read our review here.
Il Cielo
Level 24 Hilton Singapore
581 Orchard Road
Singapore 238883
Whitegrass
A smart but not stuffy restaurant serving contemporary cuisine in CHIJMES. Read our review here.
Whitegrass
30 Victoria Street #01-26/27 CHIJMES
Singapore 187996
Ash & Elm
A tall, dark & handsome restaurant serving European cuisine at InterContinental Singapore. Read our review here.
Ash & Elm
80 Middle Road
Level 1 InterContinental Singapore
Singapore 188966
Aoki
A classic Japanese restaurant in Shaw Centre. Book early to secure one of the very private booth seats which are perfect for Valentine’s Day 2017. Read our review here.
Aoki Japanese Restaurant
1 Scotts Road
#01-17 Shaw Centre
Singapore 228208
(Opposite HSBC Bank, Tanglin Branch)
Tel : +65 6333 8015
White Rabbit
A beautiful restaurant in a restored chapel in the Dempsey dining area. Read our review here.
The White Rabbit
39C Harding Road Singapore 249541
Les Amis
A top rate two Michelin star French restaurant along the same row as Aoki. Read our review here.
Les Amis
#01-16 Shaw Centre
1 Scotts Road
Singapore 228208
Valentino
A traditional Italian restaurant in Turf City (Bukit Timah) that consistently dishes out good food with good service. They have private cove seats that are appropriate for Valentine’s Day. Read our review here.
Ristorante Da Valentino
Turf Club Road, #01-19
Singapore 287994
Tel: +65 6462 0555
Empress
A modern Chinese restaurant at the Asian Civilisations Museum. Get a seat with a view of the Singapore River and it will be an enchanting evening. Read our review here.
EMPRESS @ Asian Civilisations Museum
Empress Place, 01-03
Asian Civilisations Museum
Singapore 179555
Tel : +65 6238 8733
Wan Hao
A very good Chinese restaurant serving fine Cantonese cuisine offers a 5 course Valentine’s Day Romance Menu at $88 per person. Read about our meal at Wan Hao here.
Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road
Singapore 238865
Tel: +65 6831 4605
Part Two
Here is our list of casual restaurants for Valentine’s Day 2017.
Food for Thought @ National Museum
A casual cafe that occupies an open space in the museum has a modern and stylish look. Read about our brunch at Food for Thought here. Food for Thought has a special $50++ 5 course dinner for Valentine’s Day.
Food for Thought
93 Stamford Road #01-04/05,
Singapore 178897
Tel: +65 6338 9887
Open Door Policy
Open Door Policy, a hip little restaurant in the trendy neighbourhood of Tiong Bahru, offers a Valentine’s Day Menu with a fanfare of cheekily-named selections such as Be Yours First – a medley of warm beetroot quinoa, scallop and black tempura oyster aphrodisiac – and Touch My Sweet ‘Pot, a tummy-warming sweet potato soup served with homemade GFDF focaccia and greens from the wall. The 4 course set is $80++ per pax or $148++ per couple. Read our post on Open Door Policy here.
Open Door Policy
19 Yong Siak Street
Singapore 168650
Tel: +65 62219307
Open Door Policy Menu – (Early Lovebirds: S$120++ per couple for bookings confirmed before 10 February 17)
Dallas Restaurant & Bar @ Suntec City
The Dallas Restaurant & Bar is housed in a glass cube on the roof top (more glamorously known as the Sky Garden) of the Suntec City Mall. They serve contemporary cuisine. There is a Valentine’s Day 4-course prix fixe menu at $120++ per couple which looks like good value for money. Read our review here.
Dallas Restaurant & Bar @ Suntec City
3 Temasek Boulevard
03-302/303 Suntec City Sky Garden
Singapore 038983
Beast & Butterflies
Situated in new hotel M Social Singapore – it is a hip new restaurant bar on Robertson Quay. This is a more relaxed and casual option for Valentine’s Day. Read our review here.
Beast & Butterflies M Social Singapore
90 Robertson Quay
Singapore 238259
Tel: +65 6657 0018
Ô Batignolles
French bistro Ô Batignolles at Club Street. It is not air-conditioned but should be pleasant in the evenings. Read our review here.
Ô Batignolles
2 Gemmill Lane 069247
Singapore 069247
Tel : +65 6438 3913
Ninethirty
An awfully good place on East Coast Road, by the people that makes Awfully Chocolate cakes. Read our review here.
Ninethirty
131 East Coast Road
Singapore 428816
Tel: +65 6345 2190
DW Workshop
A bistro and workshop that is housed within a restored black and white bungalow next to the main Rochester Mall building. One of the tables on the verandah would be a nice place to be at night. Read our review here.
DW WORKSHOP
41 Rochester Drive
Singapore 138582
(Carpark at Rochester Mall)
Tel: +65 6659 0879
Queen and Mangosteen
Some parts of Queen and Mangosteen in Vivo City have the look and feel of an English pub, and parts of it look out to the sea and Sentosa Island. Read our Review here. It has a special Valentine’s Day menu at $98++ per couple.
Queen and Mangosteen
1 Harbourfront Walk #01-106/107
Vivo City
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6376 9380
Angela May Food Chapters
The restaurant by American-Thai Culinary Host and TV Presenter Angela May offers interesting food which reflects her Western and Asian influences. Read our Review here. Angela May Food Chapters has a special Valentine’s Day set menu at $98++ per couple.
Angela May Food Chapters
Robinsons The Heeren #02-02
260 Orchard Road
Singapore 238855
Tel: +65 6681 7440
Cafe and Bar Gavroche
Visiting the Cafe and Bar Gavroche on Tras Street is like stepping into a Parisian cafe. If circumstances do not permit having dinner, a simple lunch or teatime on Valentine’s Day 2017 at this cosy French cafe would be the next best thing. Read our review here.
Oeufs Cocotte
Café & Bar Gavroche
69 Tras Street
Singapore 079008
The Landing Point
Having tea at Landing Point Fullerton Bay Hotel is always a treat. Read about our tea at the Landing Point here. For Valentine’s Day The Landing Point has a special Tea Set which includes French Oysters with Champagne Jelly, Buffalo Wings with Spicy Dip and Heart-shaped Pralines. The Afternoon Tea Set and The Evening Tea are priced at S$49++ per person.
Landing Point Fullerton Bay Hotel
80 Collyer Quay
Singapore 049326
Tel: +65 6333 8388
Still unable to find something you like? You may wish to consult our 2016 list of restaurants for Valentine’s Day, many of them are still relevant for 2017.
Part Three
Here are some additional options that have come to our attention. They look interesting but are places we have not patronised recently and written about.
Pete’s Place, the Italian restaurant at Grand Hyatt Hotel has a special offer available only on 14 Feb 2017
“Soak in the rustic atmosphere this Valentine’s Day with the best Italian delights as you mark this occasion with a special couple’s set, at just SGD 98.00++ per couple. Comes with a starting sharing platter, choice of two signature mains and desserts. For a touch of something special, enjoy a bottle of Villa Sandi Prosecco at only SGD 35.00++ with every Valentine’s Day set ordered.”
“Marriott Cafe presents Of Love & Romance Dinner Buffet – with an enthralling selection of International and local delicacies, Valentine’s Day desserts as well as glasses of bubbly. Look forward to freshly shucked Oysters; Roast Prime Rib of Beef; Pork Saddle with Prunes & Pancetta Stuffing; Singapore Chilli Crab, and more. Rich and luscious pastries such as Strawberry Baked Cheesecake; Mount Blanc; Eton Mess; Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, and more.”
When: 14 Febrruary
Dinner Buffet
Adult: $88++*/$98++**
Child: $38++
*Inclusive of a glass of sparkling wine, beer or soft drink
**Inclusive of free flow of sparkling wine, beer and soft drinks
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport has a Valentine’s Day package from 11 February to 14.
“Be greeted with sparkling wine and a heart-shaped cake upon your arrival. Wine and dine in the comforts of your room with an indulgent four-course dinner. The package also includes buffet breakfast for two adults. The Valentine’s Day room package are priced from $380++. Guests can choose from two room types: Premier View room or Suite. email reservations.cpca@ihg.com; Tel: +65 6823 5388.”
Park Hotel Alexandra presents a romantic staycation package for couples.
“From just $288++ per night for Deluxe Rooms, couples can enjoy late checkout till 2pm, complimentary Wi-Fi and breakfast (worth $50++), and to set the mood, rose petals scattered across the bed upon arrival. In addition, there’s also dinner at The Carvery, Park Hotel Alexandra’s signature restaurant known for its meats buffet offering a comprehensive selection of quality roasts accompanied by an entourage of accompaniments to whet any appetite (worth $128++). Specially on Valentine’s Day (14 Feb) couples can also savour a complimentary dessert – a luxurious Valrhona Chocolate Soup with Cocoa Sorbet and Grand Marnier.”
When: Fri, 10 February till Tue, 14 February
Tel: +65 6828 8880
The Ordinary Patrons
Singapore Food Blog by Ordinary People looking for Places to Eat