It’s date night, and the pressure is on to select the perfect venue – somewhere not too loud or obnoxious, and doesn’t have a price tag you’ll regret the next day.

Singapore is renowned for its bespoke cocktail bars; many come and go, but good, unique ones stay!  Now remember,  this  is  date  night: Finding the right mix of atmosphere and romance is important.  Sitting in an overcrowded bar where you must yell or you won’t get a seat is not what you want.

These three hidden gem bars are guaranteed to fill this void – and bonus points, the majority of their cocktails are around $20-$30 (inclusive of the ++)!

Here’s one of my hot date tips: Let’s do date night in an out-of-the-ordinary fashion. Ditch the dinner and head straight for the bar – snacks included, because a) I love food; and b) You don’t want your night over too soon due to one of you getting intoxicated too quickly!

So why skip the meal? Spontaneity, that’s why. When you go out for dinner, whilst it is lovely you are generally forced to sit apart from each other. When you’re on date night, you should want to be close – hand-holding,  sneaky kisses, and strokes to the face. You want to have in-depth conversations – these moments can’t be achieved over dinner.

**Remember: Some PDAs are cute, and some are not – make sure you know the distinction!**

Now, Onto The Date Night Bars in Singapore:

The Black Swan

One of my favourite bars, overlooked by so many people who don’t work in the CBD, is The Black Swan.  It has an excellent cocktail list, and the 1930’s setting is eclectic. I love how the hostesses dress in gorgeous black flapper outfits, all glittery head gear and drowning in pearls!

In The Black Swan, you’ve got two options: By the bar downstairs, if quiet is what you prefer; or upstairs to the powder room, where their finest cocktail makers will whip you up cocktail treats beyond your wildest dreams!

The reason why The Black Swan stands out for me is because I can never decide which cocktail to have, and there is always a cool twist that goes with each one. Each drink is made with love or something quirky – think popping candy around the rim of your Rhythm & Booze, or a side of sorbet with your BB King.

And if you want to start the night right with a light nibble or end it with one, don’t miss the spiced nuts, frog’s legs, and wild mushroom & bacon jam crostini. Yum!

Bitters & Love

Free the Robot by day, creates love and happiness by night. Small and intimate, Bitters & Love’s cocktail list is one to be desired.

Drinks are customised to your taste – so why not use this time to see how well you know each other as a couple? After all, the bar is just flowing with love.

The game is set: You must each select a drink for the other – start with the base, and then add the love potions to it. If you are a bit stuck for choices, don’t worry – the staff here are some of the loveliest people I have met. They will help you whip up an epic concoction for your lover.

As for nibbles, they have a small selection of bar snacks, but make sure this is your destination earlier in the night as the kitchen shuts early.

Manhattan

I stumbled upon Manhattan with two girlfriends of mine, not on a date. However, we all insisted our next date night be there.

Whilst it is in a HOTEL (#boring!), the moment you step into Manhattan you feel like you have been instantly transported across the seas to Manhattan Island itself.  With cocktails formed and inspired by the different districts on the Island, you can pretend you are sipping soulful whisky infusion from Harlem, or taking part in high society while indulging in something light and fresh.

What’s even better, each cocktail list is paired with a matching district nibble selection. Think corn bread from Harlem with your whisky, or a street style hot dog with your Cosmopolitan from the Theatre District.

Another reason to ditch the dinner and just nibble here too!

In all honesty, the door staff are a bit disconcerting; however, the beautiful waiters inside certainly make up for that. Now grab a seat on the soft plush sofas and pretend you are somewhere else far. far away. Perhaps make plans for your next holiday together OR tell each other your ultimate holiday dream!

On Etiquette:

On nights like this you’re bound to run into a colleague or friend – no doubt they will want to join you, or ask you to join them. Or, they may just be rude and join you anyway.

To avoid them taking residence next to you, ensure you mention you are on a romantic date night, followed by a squeeze of the hand and peck to your loved one. If this isn’t hint enough, politely pull them aside and tell them that this is your date night and you want to keep it to two of you.

DO NOT coil and make a joke of it with an eye roll; be confident – you guys are on this because you want to break out of the norm. Get that friend or colleague out of the way – if not, finish quickly and get out of there!

On Being Cost-Conscious:

For the cost-conscious, this is another reason why you might have to skip the meal: Most cocktails come with the obligatory $25++ price tag. Okay, some of The Black Swan cocktails are $21 price based, but what is another $4, really?

Now pick your two favourites, write your lover a sweet note suggesting a romantic night out, and think of another way to please them. I promise, you will not be disappointed – these bars are suited for romantic date nights out.

Enjoy – I am off to the Black Swan now, the popping candy is calling!

NB: None of these bars paid me for my comments or drinks – this was put together to highlight my favourites based on service, drink selection, romantic ascetics, price point, and did I mention customer service?!  Think you’ve been somewhere better? I doubt it – but tell me anyway!