If you’re looking for a fun and memorable date this Valentine’s Day (or any other day of the year), we’ve gathered some great gift and date ideas that will earn you major brownie points. Flowers, staycations, spas, jewellery, fabulous meals and even bungy jumping, we’ll let you do the choosing – or should we say wooing!
A deliciously sensory experience!
Take date night to the next level with a theatrical culinary adventure by Le Petit Chef at the Grand Hyatt Singapore. Powered by 3D projection mapping, themed music, props and a show presenter from Mezza9 restaurant, this dining experience delivers a sensory treat, following the footsteps of Marco Polo across the Silk Road through a six-course meal. It’s priced from $188, with a vegan menu available, too, and can be coupled with wine and champagne pairings from $88. The six-course extravaganza also includes a complimentary cocktail from Mezza9’s martini bar!
Each session is limited to an intimate 16 guests, with just a few daily seatings available – 12.30pm, 6pm and 8.30pm. Originally slated to end in December 2019, this special dining experience has been extended through to mid-2020 due to popular demand. So, go while you still can!
10 Scotts Road
singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants.com/le-petit-chef
French fusion for two
From 13 to 15 February, gourmet French-Chinese restaurant Racines at Sofitel Singapore City Centre is offering an intimate dining experience that’s perfect for foodies: a four-course dinner menu (priced at $188 per couple) specially prepared by Executive Chef Jean-Charles Dubois. There are two seatings available – one at 6pm and another at 8.30pm. You can also go even fancier by upgrading to a five-course dinner with Duval-Leroy Brut Reserve Champagne for an additional $40 per couple.
What to expect? After an amuse bouche of chilled cod brandade wrapped in crispy kataifi sets the mood for the evening, there’s a choice of starter: eggs royale with Hokkaido scallop flan and lobster foam atop melba) or soup (seafood bouillabaisse with langoustine and caviar crème). Opt for the five-course menu, and you’ll get both. Then comes either a slow-cooked wagyu beef karubi with fluffy truffle potato fondant, or a Mediterranean-inspired medley of pan-seared gambero red prawns and slow-cooked wild snapper with lemon tarama emulsion for your main – yum! End on a sweet note with Sablé Breton topped with Tahitian vanilla ricotta cheese, served with a scoop of seasonal exotic fruit sorbet and sweet tomato gelée. To book, call 6428 5000 or email HA152@sofitel.com.
Looking to go all out? The Romantic Escape Package includes a hotel stay from 14 to 15 February, with the special four-course dinner for two at Racines. Prices start from $348, depending on the room type.
9 Wallich Street
sofitel-singapore-citycentre.com
Some boxers for your guy?
Nothing’s more intimate than gifting boxers to your man for Valentine’s. Fancies’ boxer briefs are sustainably produced by ateliers in Manisa, Turkey, using locally sourced materials. They’re made of micromodal, a soft cellulose-based fabric that’s breathable and comfortable. The family-owned business is involved in the entire production process of the boxers, from sourcing materials and designing to marketing and distributing. This allows them to keep prices low – a pair goes for $18.50 and a set of three costs $49.95. Shipping is free worldwide.
In line with the brand’s fun-loving attitude, each pair also comes with a message for the wearer – from entertaining and silly one-liners to motivational quotes. There are four main collections to choose from: Cheeky, I Love My, Pump It Up and Passion. They come in a variety of fun prints and colours, including red, black, white and the newest red leopard design.
Special offer: Quote “EL10” and get 10% off your order.
Woo with jewellery!
Everyone loves a new bit of bling, so pick up a special gift for your Valentine at Forbidden Hill. The store’s jewellery collections are designed in Singapore, inspired by Southeast Asian cultures and made by fine artisans across the region. Each item comes in a silky cloth pouch inside a beautiful gift box.
What to get
- Featuring interchangeable inserts of Thai silk and precious metals, Forbidden Hill’s elegant silk bangles (from $195) will add colour and character to your outfit. There are three collections: the Huế range pays homage to the lattice pattern found in the Purple Forbidden City in Hue, Vietnam; the Lotus collection is inspired by regional blooms; and the Iskandar bangle is inspired by Iskandar Shah, last ruler of the Kingdom of Singapura.
- Pick up an elegant silk cuff (from $123) that comes with interchangeable silk slides in various colours and clip-on metal medallions, from the Peranakan-inspired Nonya Blossom to the beautiful Lotus Flower.
- Make a statement with earrings from the new collection. The Hoi An collection ($115) is a modern take on lanterns in Vietnam, while the Ban Zu collection ($145) is inspired by motifs on Chinese wares that were traded in olden-day Singapore.
46 Kim Yam Road
forbiddenhill.com
Indulge in a luxe staycay…
Treat your Valentine to a romantic weekend at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore and take your pick from their elegant guest rooms and suites. With the hotel’s Valentine’s Day Staycation Offer Room Package, stay in a Tower Wing Deluxe Room or Garden Wing Deluxe City View Room and get a complimentary upgrade to the next room category. There’ll also be daily buffet breakfast at The Line, plus champagne and strawberries waiting in your room when you arrive.
Once you’ve settled in, you can choose to head out to nearby Orchard Road for some shopping or stay in and enjoy the facilities, including a long lounge by the pool. You’ll also be spoilt for choice with the Shangri-La’s range of restaurants and bars, from Cantonese cuisine at Shang Palace and Japanese eats at NAMI to local fare at The Lobby Lounge and Italian classics at Waterfall Ristorante Italiano. In the afternoons, drop by The Rose Verandah for some sweet tea-time treats.
The package is available for stays between 14 and 16 February, and room rates start from $320 a night. Book now.
22 Orange Grove Road
6235 1666 | reservations.sls@shangri-la.com | shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/valentines-day-staycation-offer
… and a relaxing spa sesh
Pamper yourself (and your Valentine!) from top to toe at Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. The special Couples Spa Package starts with a relaxing foot ritual, followed by a brightening face mask or age-defying mask. Once you’re all nice and relaxed, look forward to a one-hour massage of your choice. Take your pick from a deep tissue massage and Himalayan hot salt stone massage to the spa’s signature – an Asian blend massage that combines Thai pressure point, Balinese and Malaysian strokes, and Chinese energy flow. At the end of your treatment, enjoy some alone time in your private treatment suite as you sip Krug Champagne and snack on canapés.
The Couples Spa Package goes for $588 per couple and is available throughout the month of February 2020. Book your session now.
22 Orange Grove Road
6235 1666 | reservations.sls@shangri-la.com | shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/chi-the-spa
Impress with foodie favourites at Shangri-La
If, like us, wine, pasta and other fresh Italian fare sounds like an ideal date night, then you’ll love dinner at Waterfall Ristorante Italiano at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. On 14 February, they’ve got a special five-course menu ($88 per person) with highlights like fresh octopus, tuna and salmon carpaccio, and a black ink tonnarelli pasta topped with Italian tomatoes. Kick it up a notch with a wine pairing for an extra $59 per person. You choose between two seatings, 5.45 to 7.45pm, and 8 to 10.30pm. Diners at the first seating get 15 percent off their entire bill – splendido! To book, call 6737 3644 or email dining.sls@shangri-la.com.
Looking for a more international feast? Celebrate quality time with your sweetheart over an extensive buffet spread at The Line restaurant. Available on 14 February from 6 to 10pm, the interactive buffet ($128 including soft drinks, juice, coffee and tea; $64 per child) will have 16 stations offering the likes of pan-seared foie gras, slow-roasted wagyu prime rib, Singapore chili crab and seafood-baked rice. For reservations, call 6213 4398 or email dining.sls@shangri-la.com.
Then there’s the romantic, old-world charm of Origin, whose Valentine’s Day special includes a four-course dinner menu ($178 for two; add $69 per person for wine pairing). Among the highlights are scallop crudo pina colada, Wylarah cross-bred, grain-fed wagyu, and Valrhona chocolate sponge. Book online.
22 Orange Grove Road
shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/dining
Pretty blooms for your sweetie
You can’t go wrong with roses on Valentine’s Day! Order a bunch from Roses Only for that special someone. Sourced from Ecuador, Columbia, Ethiopia and Kenya, the long-stemmed roses grow at 8,000 feet above sea level, where they get plenty of sunlight and thrive at the ideal temperature. Each stem also comes with an individual water sachet.
Take your pick from the store’s Valentine’s rose gift boxes that come in sets of six, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 50. The roses are beautifully arranged in a box and topped with a ribbon and heart-shaped pin. You’ll also receive care instructions and a note about the rose variety. Choose gift sets that pair roses with teddy bears and chocolates, or, if you’re keen on getting flowers that’ll last longer, opt for the special year-long infinity roses that feel and appear fresh for about a year. (Note that from 13 to 15 February, only the Valentine’s range will be available.)
Create bespoke perfumes
Head to Duxton Road and enjoy a fun perfume workshop at Maison 21G. The Paris-based bespoke perfume house was founded by Johanna Monange, who has more than 20 years of experience in the perfume industry. Start by taking a fun personality quiz to find out what scents are best for you. From there, mix and match 33 perfume concentrates (all made from natural, sustainable and cruelty-free materials), dilute them in alcohol and craft your unique concoction. Once your scent is made, your perfume bottle can be personalised with text, a photo or design using UV-printing technology before you take it home. Prices start from $100 per person.
The store also sells ready-made perfumes which you can get in full-size or compact roll-on bottles. There are also non-alcoholic versions of the perfumery’s signature scents that you can get in the form of solid perfumes.
77 Duxton Road
maison21g.com
A new shirt and accessories?
At Meiko Tailor, each shirt, suit and formal wear is handcrafted in-house. From its everyday shirts and trousers to tuxedos and cheongsams, the store is helmed by tailor and founder Mr Chung Chi Kwong in the tailoring business for over 50 years. The store is now offering fine Irish linen from Baird McNutt – soft and breathable fabric that’s great for the Singapore weather. The tailored shirts are available in four colours (sky blue, wine pink, ash blue and camel). They start from $249.
They also customise cufflinks ($290 per pair) that can be designed in the initials of your choice (be it English alphabets or Chinese characters). Made in 14k gold, rose gold, silver and bronze, the cufflinks take three weeks to be personalised, depending on the complexity of the design.
Special offer: Expat Living readers can enjoy 10% off cufflinks!
Capture and collate memories
Surprise your Valentine with a printed photo book of special moments this year! Artitude Designs is able to help you compile and lay out your photos in personalised memory books with fun captions, notes and embellishments. You can get them in either jute fabric handmade covers or as printed bound books in a variety of colours. Visit the website for samples.
Prices for a jute fabric memory book starts at $280 (minimum of 24 pages). You can also add a digital flip-style version for $75 – the link can be easily shared with others.
Enjoy a spa day
Treat your Valentine to a relaxing spa sesh at the St. Gregory Spa at Pan Pacific Singapore. Throughout February and March, it’s offering an exclusive couples’ package. Choose a Balinese massage to help eliminate toxins and improve circulation or a Swedish massage with essential oils to relieve muscle tension.
What’s on offer
- Enjoy a two-hour couples’ spa ($528, usually $740) that includes all sorts of goodies. You’ll first get all silky and smooth with a refreshing body scrub (30 minutes) and nourishing milk bath (30 minutes), before indulging in a Balinese or Swedish massage (one hour). For the body scrub, you’ll get to take your pick from a peppermint body polish, salt scrub with lime and ginger and an anti-ageing cream scrub.
- The couples’ spa package includes two-day passes to use the hotel’s wellness facilities such as the outdoor swimming pool, gym and steam room. Plus, you get 20% off at restaurant Edge (excluding blackout dates)
- The other option is to go à la carte and take your pick from the spa menu, which includes facials, foot massages and other rituals.
7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square
6826 8140 | panpacific.com/pp-marina/st-gregory
Pretty and yummy chocs
Janice Wong is offering a Valentine’s collection of XOXO chocolates and 40-gram chocolate bars. Available in a box of nine, the cute and colourful XOXO treats ($38) are designed as lips and hearts, and come in three flavours: rose, lemon and basil, and Baileys Salted Caramel. The dark chocolate bars are handcrafted and come in an exclusive rose raspberry flavour for the season of love!
Nice smellies you’ll both enjoy!
Botanical-based skin-care line Thann has launched a new range – the Eastern Orchard Collection – that features a refreshing blend of yuzu and neroli essential oils. The collection includes aromatherapy shower gels, rice extract body milk and even the brand’s first sheet mask. Coming in a box of four, these hydrating facial masks ($45) contain vitamin C, green tea extract and hyaluronic acid.
#03-45 Paragon Shopping Centre
thann.com.sg
Bungy jump from 50 metres above
Here’s how to have an unforgettable Valentine’s Day: visit AJ Hackett Sentosa. Soaring high above the ground on Siloso Beach, you and your brave date will have the chance to leap off the 47-metre-high Bungy Jump, enjoy a thrilling ride on the Giant Swing, or traverse the Skybridge, a 40-metre walkway with see-through sections. If you’re there in the evening, don’t miss catching the sunset from the Paulaner Sundowner Deck. After all the fun, fuel up at the alfresco dining area, which serves drinks and delicious food from 12pm.
30 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa Island
6911 3070 | ajhackett.com/sentosa
Dine in absolute darkness
Located just off Haji Lane, NOX Dine in the Dark offers a one-of-a-kind experience perfect for an edgy yet romantic date night. This unique concept allows diners to enjoy a modern European meal in a restaurant plunged into pure darkness! The unusual experience, which is hosted by specially trained blind and visually impaired servers, allows you to discover the ways in which removing one of the senses changes your appreciation of food. Psst… On Valentine’s Day, a special Valentine’s Mystery Dinner ($288 per couple) will be served, including a welcome drink and two amuse-bouches served in the illuminated bar, before you head to the pitch-dark dining area for a three-course meal. The meal finishes with petit fours and a rose presented to your special someone. Reservations are required, so book now!
269 Beach Road
6298 0708 | noxdineinthedark.com
Spice it up at home
On this popular couples’ day out, most restaurants are not just packed, but also pre-booked. If you’re looking to beat the crowds, an intimate cooking sesh at home is a great alternative! Have a go at Indian cuisine with Indian Spicebox’s ultra-useful spicebox kit ($105), which features a fun cookbook with easy-to-follow recipes, as well as nine types of organic spices sourced from small farms in India. This unique concept allows you to easily recreate popular dishes like tandoori chicken and palak paneer, all in the comfort of your home. With just a quick trip to the market for fresh ingredients, you can whip up a healthy yet satisfying Indian feast at home with your special one!
Read more about living in Singapore:
The expat’s guide to where to live in Singapore
Things to do this week
