Going on a First Date? These Four Restaurants in Singapore Just Might Get You a Second One

They say first impressions last. And on first dates, this rings true. While it's normal to feel the jitters prior a first date, there are ways you can take to set a great impression. Among these are dressing well, arriving right on time, being kind and confident, and if it's a lunch or dinner date, choosing an appropriate restaurant (with this also comes having table manners and treating the waiter with respect, FYI).

Whether you're the one asked or the one doing the asking, here are four restaurants in Singapore you can suggest for a first date!

Merci Marcel

From its name, you can already tell that Merci Marcel is French inspired. The good thing with the Merci Marcel Group is that it has three branches of its namesake brand (in Tiong Bahru, Club Street, and Orchard Road) to choose from depending on your location and mood of the date. For a relaxed lunch or brunch date, we recommend Merci Marcel on Orchard and Tiong Bahru for its tropical and bohemian vibe that will surely set the tone for a casual and fun time. For a dinner date, go for Merci Marcel Club Street, a French wine bistro whose blue velvet and rattan accents spell romance and intimacy.

Birds of a Feather

For a hip and laidback first date, check out Birds of a Feather along trendy Amoy Street. This restaurant and bar is your little slice of Chengdu, China, in Singapore, with a menu marrying both contemporary Western and Sichuan cuisine. Indoors, Birds of a Feather's interiors boast of a seemingly masculine modernity with its concrete and glass-metal ceiling, hardwood tables, and seats in green, navy, and gray. Nevertheless, the potted and hanging plants that dot the restaurant, plus its dim lighting, give it a romantic but easy-going flair, a setting perfect for whispered conversations throughout the night.

The Halia

Dreaming of a breakfast or brunch date that's close to nature? The Halia is nestled in the one-hectare Ginger Garden of the Singapore Botanic Gardens where more than 250 species of gingers, foliage, and vibrant flowers call it home. Halia, which means ginger in Malay, opened in 2001 and through the years has established a reputation for being an oasis within an oasis. Thanks to its dining room's full height glass windows, guests can enjoy the garden's greenery and majesty. After your early date here, you and your companion can go and take a stroll around the botanic gardens to marvel in its beauty.

NOX – Dine in the Dark

If you want an unforgettable date experience, then NOX – Dine in the Dark is the place to be. This multi-sensory dining experience will have you and your date eating in a pitch-black room. With the temporary suspension of your dominant sense of sight, you will be treated to a blind, exciting, and delicious journey through smell, touch, sound, and taste. NOX is perfect for intimate date nights, which is why it offers a romantic dinner for couples who want to try this unique experience out. The dinner includes an impeccable three-course meal consisting of 12 unique and mind-blowing creations.