It’s a Love Story: The Ultimate Guide to Dating in Singapore

In my opinion, dating can be an exhausting process. It’s like going to several job interviews until you find one that you like.

If you feel the same, I’m here to help! This isn’t a sure-fire way to find your one true love, but these are some good pointers to help you navigate the dating scene in Singapore.

How to Meet People to Date in Singapore

Your Friends Setting You Up

One of the most common ways to find a single person to date is by asking your friends to set you up with someone they know. There are several pros to this method.

Firstly, you don’t have to shoulder the burden of finding a person to date yourself. With this method, you have friends to help you. 

And since they’re your friends, they already know your personality, so they can find a potential match for you.  

Secondly, your friends can introduce you to other people whom you can befriend, and these new friends of yours can set you up with other people…and the cycle continues. Once you have a bigger group of friends, your dating pool will also improve.

The only downside of this method is that it takes some time and effort. Sure, your friends are doing the matchmaking for you, and though they may try to pick the best match for you, it doesn’t mean you’ll like the people they’ve set you up with. 

So, you’ll have to go through several rounds of dating to find one that you like.

Attending Events or Going to Public Places

Maybe your friends have constantly set you up with people you don’t like? Then, maybe it’s time to take things into your own hands and find people to date yourself. 

The best thing about meeting people yourself is that you’re in control of everything. You get to choose where to meet people, who to interact with, and if you’re willing to exchange numbers to keep in touch. 

There are also different ways in which you can meet people. My go-to is attending events—be it hosted by my family, work, or the community at large—because I get to have fun while interacting with strangers. 

Luckily for you, Singapore has many multicultural events and holidays that let you meet new people. A few examples include Chinese New Year, Christmas, and Mid-Autumn Festival (this is my personal favorite because it’s where I met my partner).

Aside from attending events, you can also go to public places that single people like to frequent. 

A few great examples are nightclubs and bars. Many people who come here are looking for a relationship whether it’s something casual or serious. 

Just like the previous method, the main disadvantage of finding people yourself is that it takes a lot of time and effort. You’ll have to physically go somewhere and interact with people for hours on end, and then you’ll have to repeat the process several times. 

Meeting Someone at Work

Many professionals are single due to the fact that they spend most of their time at work. Because of this, they tend to bond with their fellow busy professionals, and eventually, this bonding can turn into something more. 

For this reason, it’s actually really common for people to find their partner at work. And it’s possible that this will happen to you.

But dating a co-worker has its fair share of downsides. The first is that complications might arise should the relationship not work out and you break up. 

You’ll have to see this person every day, and that’s going to make things awkward.

Secondly, many companies discourage—and sometimes even forbid—people in the same workplace from dating each other. 

Online Dating

Online dating has officially changed the game. And it’s not surprising why: the idea of meeting people through an app instead of going to a bar or club just makes dating a lot less hassle-free. 

And that’s exactly the main selling point of online dating: it’s incredibly convenient. People make profiles with pictures and a few words to introduce themselves, and you get to choose which one you’d like to match. 

Once you find someone who also likes your profile, you get to talking, and it’s only then that you decide whether you’d like to go on a date.

Unfortunately, online dating also has its cons. The primary one is that it’s more prone to falsehoods: some people don’t put up a real picture of themselves or write a genuine profile about their personality. 

In other words, it’s really tricky to get to know someone through a dating app. So, while the process is easy and convenient, it might take you some time to find a perfect match.

Where to Go on a Date in Singapore

What if you’ve finally found someone you really like? Then, it’s finally time to go on a date!

But first, you have to ask yourself the important question: where are you going to go for your date? 

If you’re stumped on ideas, the best thing to do is ask the other person. They probably will have a preference, so feel free to use their answer as a guide.

But on the off chance that your date doesn’t give you specific activities to do or places to go, here are a few suggestions on where to go on a date in Singapore:

Cinema

Watching movies has got to be the most popular thing to do on dates ever. And it makes sense why: it’s simple (you only have to go to the cinema and pick a movie), and you get to be entertained for about two hours. 

Then, once the movie is over, you can discuss what you like and don’t like about it, so there’s no need to worry about dull conversations. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to know more about your date based on their movie opinions, which is a win-win situation.

Restaurants and Hawker Centers

Visiting restaurants and hawker centers is another common thing to do for a date, and it’s just as fun. Usually, couples come to a dining spot after watching a movie or visiting attractions, but you can also spend your date entirely in a restaurant if you want.

The great thing about going out to a restaurant for a date is that it’s very relaxing. There’s no pressure of doing anything grand. 

You can just talk about anything you want the entire time while eating delicious food. 

And if both of you are foodies, going to a hawker center might sound like a good time. After all, you’ll get to taste a variety of food, including ones you’ve never tried before, and then you can talk about your favorites with your date!

Parks

If you and your date are more of the active type, then I recommend stopping by a park for your date. Fortunately for you, Singapore has many parks and green spaces to choose from. 

If you’re overwhelmed with all the choices, it doesn’t hurt to go with the most popular parks in Singapore, namely the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay. 

These two are known for the beautiful attractions within their premises—the Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay is such a unique sight—so you and your date will have a memorable time just roaming around. 

Another public park that I love and will always recommend is Jurong Lake Gardens. 

This park is just so aesthetically pleasing, and the attractions are so distinct from each other. I just feel like going on a date here will be an unforgettable experience.

Other Options

Do you think that the suggestions above are too common and boring? Don’t worry because this list of date suggestions doesn’t stop here.

There are still many unique date ideas that you can try. Here are a few that come to mind:

• Visiting museums. Singapore has no shortage of fascinating museums, and each one specializes in a particular topic. You and your date will get to learn a lot about history and culture while getting to know each other! 

My recs are the National Museum (the largest museum in Singapore), the National Gallery (featuring all kinds of Southeast Asian art), and the ArtScience Museum (featuring famous exhibitions in the world). 

• Trying out escape rooms. Do you want to go on a date that gets your heart pumping? Then, you and your date might want to try an escape room. Here, you have to work together to solve a mystery in a short timeframe! 

• Going to carnivals. Who says carnivals are only for children? Couples can also have their romantic moment here. My suggestions will be the Marina Bay Carnival and the fun fair at Punggol Container Park. 

Words of Advice on Dating and Finding Love in Singapore

Communicate and respect each other

I believe that communication is key to making relationships work, so I suggest you communicate with your partner all the time. Even if it’s your first time going out, you should already communicate a few things to each other.

For example, you should let them know if you have any suggestions on what to do or where to go, and you should also tell them about your boundaries. Any time there’s an issue that comes up, don’t hesitate to voice out your thoughts.

Manage your expectations

I know the movies and love songs have convinced us that going on a date is a magical experience, but the reality is that it’s not going to be like that all the time. So, it’s best if you manage your expectations from the get-go.

One way to do this is to avoid the checklist syndrome. The checklist syndrome essentially refers to making a checklist of expectations for your date. 

A lot of the time, these expectations can get really grandiose, and whenever they aren’t met, you’ll feel disappointed. So, to save yourself from feeling let down, just go on a date with minimal expectations.

Never put your needs last

Some people don’t want to do anything that will “scare away” their date, so they end up just saying yes to everything. I highly suggest you don’t do this. 

I know it’s difficult to get rid of the people-pleasing habits, but never ever put your needs last in favor of another person’s desires. It will only hurt you in the end, so it’s best to advocate for yourself. 

Don’t make them the center of your life

Have you found someone you absolutely feel connected to—a person who understands you inside and out? That’s great, and I’m happy for you!

But I’d like to warn you not to fall into the same trap that other people have fallen into, which is making the relationship the center of your life. 

Being in a relationship isn’t the end-all be-all; it’s still important that you focus on yourself in order to grow as a well-rounded person. So, be sure to keep things in perspective. 

While being in a relationship is great, it’s not going to be everything.

Focus on yourself when you have the chance. Do things you like to do alone, nurture your friendships, and keep yourself happy.

Date only when you’re ready

The last word of advice I’d like to impart to you is to date only when you’re ready. I know that sometimes, we feel alone, and we think that dating someone is going to solve that loneliness, but it won’t. 

I’ve been in that situation multiple times myself, and it always ended horribly because it was obvious that I wasn’t ready to date. 

If you’re still healing from a past relationship or have goals you want to focus on, then it might be best to hold off dating for a while.

And when you’re ready, dating will be a whole lot more fulfilling.