With the sheer number of restaurants and bars in Singapore that have made it onto the list of the world’s best, you’re definitely spoiled for choice when it comes to finding a good dating spot for Valentine’s Day. But if you’re growing weary of the typical romantic dinner, and need new date ideas, why not make things a little more special by showing your other half how much they mean to you in a uniquely Singaporean way?

#1 Coupons to your favourite local dining spots

Singapore’s hawker culture isn’t on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for nothing. From the Old Airport Road hawker centre to Tiong Bahru market, the island is full of hawker delicacies. Leverage the vibrant food culture this Valentine’s Day and personalise some coupons for your partner’s favourite stalls, so they can redeem them as hawker “date nights” across the year. Definitely a bonus if one of the coupons includes having you queue up for the Michelin star Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles for them!

#2 Have an Instagram photoshoot

There are more reasons to dress up than for a fancy dinner! This Valentine’s Day, treat your partner to a photoshoot at one of the most Instagrammable locations in Singapore. Besides a few nice pictures, it’s a fun date idea to get out of your comfort zones and explore places you haven’t been to as a couple just yet. Plus, with the quality of our smartphones these days, you might not even need to splurge on a photographer—set up your phone on a tripod and you’re all set!

#3 Give recent trends a romantic twist

Over the last two years of the pandemic we’ve seen hordes of Singaporeans take to hiking, nature walks and cycling, so if your partner is a bit of a nature-lover or fitspo, one date idea is to check out Singapore’s best hiking and cycling routes together. Top it off with a gift of a bike accessory or new walking shoes and do a little research about the cafes and restaurants in the area, so you can wrap up the day with a romantic meal for two.

#4 Massage away the WFH blues

The pandemic has seen many of us starting to burn out from work-from-home arrangements . So if your partner has been working particularly hard over the last few months, why not treat them to a full spa package? Look out for Valentine’s Day promotions or any couple’s packages you can enjoy with them. It might be a little on the pricier side, but look at it this way: It’s a gift of rest, relaxation and mental wellness and that, arguably, is priceless.

#5 Scavenger hunt through the memories

Where you first met, had your first date, first kiss, proposal or even wedding are just some of the many milestones in a couple’s relationship history. And while the places where these happened might not make it to the tourist guidebooks, they are definitely special spots in Singapore to you and your partner! So this Valentine’s Day, take a trip down memory lane and send your other half through a scavenger hunt to these locations so you can both relive those good memories, while creating new ones for the years ahead.