As the season of love rolls around, it’s time to set your sights on celebrating your better half. You never need to wait for a particular day to spoil your significant other, but planning a perfect evening on the 14th of February might be one good way to show your love and appreciation.
There are countless options at your fingertips with which to commemorate Valentine’s Day this year—it all depends on what sort of couple you are. Perhaps you want to stay in and order a gourmet delivery feast to enjoy from the comforts of your home. If an elaborate picnic is on your mind, you could throw one together on your own or look to Botanico’s vineyard picnic set, which comes complete with charcuterie, a bottle of wine, pillows and mats. For active couples always looking for unique ways to spend time together, maybe a night of axe-throwing or a trip to the museum will be more your speed.
But if what you and your significant other truly enjoy is connecting over a luxurious gastronomic affair, the classic date night at one of your favourite romantic restaurants could never go wrong. Here, the most important choice you’ll make is your pick of venue—you don’t want anything so formal it feels stuffy, and neither do you want to swing for a place far too casual to really set the mood.
Here, Vogue Singapore rounds up a handpicked selection of romantic restaurants around Singapore that are perfect for the occasion, no matter what cuisine you are looking for, including elevated modern-Indian plates at Firangi Superstar, classic European flavours at Vue or fusion-Filipino at Smoke & Mirrors. And who says Valentine’s day is only for couples? If you’re presently enjoying singlehood, take your best friend out for a celebratory Galentine’s meal—your closest friendships are equally worthy of celebration. Love does, after all, come in many forms.
1 / 5
Vue
Framed by what is arguably Singapore’s most spectacular city skyline view, a dining experience at Vue comes with the perfect backdrop for you and your loved one this Valentine’s Day. Perched atop OUE Bayfront on Collyer Quay, the open-air space is also home to Singapore’s first rooftop spritz bar—perfect for those who want to stay out late.
As for the food, look forward to a romantic four-course menu curated by Executive Chef Sam Chin that features the freshest catch of land and sea. Your meal begins with a sharing Seafood Platter of luscious shellfish—Spéciale Geay Oysters, Scottish Razor Clams, Blue Lobsters, Cured Aged Blue-Fin Tuna Tartare and King Salmon. Next, choose between ‘surf’ and ‘turf’ with either the Pan Seared Hokkaido Scallops or the Pan Seared Foie Gras. For mains, you can’t go wrong with Chef Sam’s signature binchōtan-smoked A5 ‘Kokuou’ Emperor Black Wagyu Kumamoto. Known as the pinnacle of Japanese beef, the protein is slow roasted for over 20 hours and comes served with a side of rice salt flakes to showcase its true flavour. Finally, the showstopping Eton Mess—a charming medley of Ruby Chocolate Ganache, Champagne Gems, Roselle Jus and Chitose Strawberry—promises a sweet finish to a spectacular night.
Vue, OUE Bayfront, 50 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049321.
For inquiries: +65 8879 0923 / dining@vue.com.sg
2 / 5
Kubô x Smoke & Mirrors
Master of meat chef Kurt Sombero’s new concept Kubo is here just in time for Valentine’s day, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than at a one-day only culinary pop up at scenic rooftop bar Smoke & Mirrors. Look forward to a specially curated four-course menu (paired with cocktails from Smoke & Mirrors, of course) crafted to offer a window into what Sombero will be serving up at Kubo, a contemporary wood-fired barbecue restaurant showcasing traditional Filipino techniques and multicultural ingredients.
Start your meal with freshly shucked Sunseeker Oysters dressed with smoky soy and onion dressing, complemented perfectly by a glass of Champagne Besserat de Bellefon. Other highlights include Beef Tongue Callos and Pan de Sal Flat Bread, featuring braised and caramelised beef tongue, chickpea puree, fried honeycomb tripe, peppers, and roasted carrots seasoned to perfection. For a sweet ending, opt for classic Filipino dessert Halo Halo paired with the spirit-forward digestif cocktail Cupid’s Cup, made with Chivas 18 Years, Chivas Sherry Oak and Curaçao.
Smoke & Mirrors, 1 St. Andrew’s Road, #06-01, National Gallery Singapore 178957.
For inquiries: +65 9380 6313 / [email protected]
3 / 5
Botanico
For a romantic escape away from the busy city, look no further than Botanico. Housed in a beautifully conserved 1920s Art Deco building amidst the lush greenery of the Botanic Gardens—if an enchanted garden is what you are searching for, you’ve certainly come to the right place.
This Valentine’s Day, look forward to an irresistible five-course dinner that presents a simple yet thoughtful approach to food. The seasonality-focused menu draws inspiration from the restaurant’s surroundings, combining contemporary European methodology with Asian inflections to highlight natural, seasonal produce at their best and freshest.
Starters include Pan Seared Foie Gras with a house-made duck rillette, as well as Hamachi Ceviche—thinly sliced pieces of Japanese amberjack drizzled with roselle flower vinaigrette and chive oil. Keeping up with the east-meets-west theme, the two mains both feature a side of Asian-influenced accompaniments. Tuck into a Grilled Angus Beef Striploin with cordyceps flower braised daikon, fluffy mashed potatoes and herb jus, or opt for the crispy pan-seared Kulhbarra Barramundi with laksa espuma, pillowy potato gnocchi and a sprinkle of laksa leaf powder. To top it all off, enjoy complimentary glasses of His & Hers cocktails, both specially concocted by Botanico’s own mixologist. We can think of no better way to spend date night.
Botanico, 50 Cluny Park Road, Singapore 257488.
For inquiries: +65 9831 1106 / enquiry@thegarage.sg
4 / 5
Ichigo Ichie
Named after an ancient Japanese proverb that loosely translates as “one life, one moment”, you can be sure that a meal at Ichigo Ichie will be one to remember. Helmed by Chef Akane Eno, the fine dining Kappo restaurant features authentic Japanese flavours as interpreted through Chef Eno’s artistic sensibilities. Kappo—which means to cut and to cook—refers to a less formal cuisine that emphasises the proximity between the diner and the chef. Much like an omakase, dishes are primarily seasonal and left entirely up to the chef, making for a delightful and intimate experience.
This Valentine’s Day, Ichigo Ichie presents a Japanese take on the romantic occasion. In Japan, it is customary for women to give chocolates to men to express their feelings on Valentine’s Day, with the men reciprocating with gifts a month later on White Day. While there is no such practice yet in Singapore, Chef Eno hopes to convey her gratitude and appreciation to diners by presenting each guest with a complimentary box of houjicha nama chocolate from award-winning brand Maiko Tea. Diners will also get to enjoy a specially created dessert by Chef Eno that features a seasonal highlight of fresh strawberries from Fukuoka. If you are looking for an intimate dining experience this Valentine’s Day, make it a date with Chef Eno at Ichigo Ichie, it will definitely be one for the books.
Ichigo Ichie, Intercontinental Robertson Quay Singapore, 1 Nanson Road, Singapore 238909.
For inquiries: +65 9018 2897 / reservations@ichigoichie.com.sg
5 / 5
Firangi Superstar
An Indian food feast may not immediately scream romance, but Firangi Superstar’s unparalleled moody ambience is hard to beat. Each enclave in the meticulously decorated venue is equally suitable for a truly intimate evening of connection.
The restaurant is also serving up a whimsical Valentine’s Day menu full of its trademark modern Indian delicacies, with new highlights like Out on the Puducherry Sea, a Hamachi ceviche with coconut, beetroot gel, and bright bits of finger lime, and 6 Feet Calling, an Alaskan King Crab shellfish curry with a luxurious touch of sea-sweet caviar. For plant-based diners, a vegetarian menu is also available, starring a tandoor-charred cauliflower complexly flavoured with spice and fire. Alongside the indulgent meal, treat yourself to Cocktail No. 18: a milky concoction typically reserved for Holi, fragrant with chai masala syrup and rose. It tastes deceptively sweet—but will definitely put you and your significant other in the mood for love.
Firangi Superstar, 20 Craig Road #01-03, Singapore 089692
For inquiries: +65 6304 3022 / info@superfirangi.com
