Chill out and connect with your significant other with these six cool – literally and figuratively – date ideas. For no more than $30 each, you can explore quirky museums, conquer escape rooms, play like kids, and more.
Ignite your curiosity at niche museums
There are the usual cultural and historical institutions we are all familiar with, and then there are some obscure speciality museums that you may not even have heard of, much less visited. For example, shutterbugs will appreciate the Vintage Camera’s Museum, while the Singapore Musical Box Museum is simply an embodiment of romance. Tickets cost no more than $20 per person.
Another one that’s great for the young-at-heart is the MINT Museum of Toys. Coo nostalgically over your respective childhoods and be amazed at how toys have evolved since the 1840s. Each $30 admission covers optional guided tours and movie screenings. Last but not least, you could introduce your bae to our military culture at the Singapore Navy Museum and Air Force Museum – entry is free for Singaporeans.
SAFRA members enjoy 5% off general admission to MINT Museum of Toys; more info at safra.sg/promotions/mint-museum-of-toys
Escape the heat and more as a team
Beat the heat and humidity and jump into a puzzling adventure together. Escape rooms offer a cool, air-conditioned environment where you and your date can work side-by-side, finding clues, solving mysteries and cracking codes before time runs out. It’s a fun-tastic way to test your teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills over a shared immersive experience.
For escape room options that are easy on the wallet – under $30 each – and don’t require more than two to play, check out The Escape Artist or LOST SG. And if overcoming glitches in a mythical Shangri-La metaverse or outsmarting extraterrestrials in the Museum of Humankind sounds like your idea of a date, then head to Escape @ Science Centre, which offers STEM-themed escape room concepts from $25.
SAFRA members enjoy 20% off tickets to Escape @ Science Centre; more info at safra.sg/promotions/escape-science-centre
Let your inner child loose at indoor playgrounds
Who says indoor playgrounds are only for children? Feel like a kid again on a playful date at an adult-friendly indoor play space. These aren’t your typical jungle gyms. Imagine giant obstacle courses like those at SuperPark Singapore and X-Scap8, where for about $30, you can challenge each other to augmented sports and ninja warrior-style courses, complete with climbing walls, trampolines, and ziplines.
For something more relaxed, Jewel Changi Airport has lots to offer. Explore the airport-themed digital world at Changi Experience Studio, then bounce across suspended nets, see double in a mirror maze and slide around a sculptural playscape at the Canopy Park. Attractions start at $6 each. While you’re at the airport, take the opportunity to pop into The Slide@T3 for an exhilarating – and free – 4-storey ride!
SAFRA members enjoy 10% off Jewel Changi Airport attraction tickets; more info at safra.sg/promotions/jewel-changi-airport-2
Stroll through gardens minus the sunburn
Take a romantic stroll in lush greenery, but take it in climate-controlled comfort. Imagine yourselves as the leads in a K-romance movie and stroll hand-in-hand through seasonal floral displays at Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome, then take a misty walk at the Cloud Forest next door. From $12 each or $20 for both conservatories, tickets include complimentary access to two new multi-sensory experiences, ‘Impressions of Monet: The Experience’ and ‘The Hidden Forest’.
Alternatively, immerse yourselves in the vibrant world of orchids at the National Orchid Garden for just $5. You’ll find that a whimsical wander through its Tropical Montane Orchidetum in sublime temperatures ranging from 16 to 24 degrees Celsius is exactly what the doctor ordered. For even more cool horticultural treats, mark your calendars for 3 to 11 August, when the Singapore Garden Festival returns.
SAFRA members enjoy 15% off admission tickets to Singapore Garden Festival 2024; more info at safra.sg/promotions/sgf2024
Sing your hearts out at karaoke
Singapore’s diverse karaoke scene boasts plenty of affordable – and respectable – options to keep you cool and your spirits high. Duet on classic love songs or rock out with a playful showdown. For extra wallet-friendly sing-along dates, take advantage of weekday rates and happy hour deals. For instance, HaveFun Karaoke offers themed rooms with funky decor from just $22 per hour.
If singing always leaves you thirsty and peckish, then head to Jewel Music Box, which includes free-flowing soft drinks and snacks in the price. You can even work in a classic board game or two while catching your breath between sets. Off-peak rates start at $12 per person for a 3-hour session, so even though there’s a 3-person minimum per room, it’s still a great bargain at $36 for two. Mic drop!
SAFRA members enjoy special discounts and benefits at HaveFun Karaoke and Jewel Music Box outlets located within SAFRA clubs; more info at safra.sg/promotions/50-off-karaoke-room-charge-at-havefun-karaoke-@-safra-yishun-safra-toa-payoh & safra.sg/amenities-offerings/jewel-music-box
Chill out over icy cool desserts
Sometimes, all you need is a chilly dessert to fuel a romantic date. Head to the dessert stall at an air-conditioned food court, such as the newly opened retro Food Republic in the basement of City Square Mall, and share an old-school ice ball or chendol. Or settle into a cosy booth at one of your favourite ice cream or gelato joints – try Van Leeuwen at Orchard Central to really impress her.
Saving up for your next trip to Thailand? In the meantime, satisfy your Thai dessert cravings at Yenly Yours Dessert. The popular mango café which has 15 outlets across Bangkok currently has two Singaporean outposts at Suntec City and Plaza Singapura. Enjoy their signature mango sticky rice desserts with house-made ice cream, along with fresh mango, coconut and strawberry smoothies.
SAFRA members & Servicemen enjoy 20% off at Yenly Yours Dessert; more info at safra.sg/promotions/yenly-yours-dessert
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