A romantic date night doesn’t have to be all about exotic European cuisines. Singapore’s many Japanese establishments offer equal parts sublime food and heart-melting environs. These are some of our favorites.

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If your date is a city-slicking urbanite with refined tastes and a penchant for nightlife, this Keong Saik restaurant ticks all the boxes. First, there is the location—right in the heart of Saturday night action, with plenty of cocktail bars for a pre- or post-meal drink. Then there is the industrial-chic interiors of this refurbished shophouse—think wall-to-wall exposed brick, exposed pipes and a long bar along the open kitchen, where you can get close. The food doesn’t disappoint either, with Japanese-European fusion dishes like the Amberjack carpaccio with caviar, and the black cod meuniere with morel, daikon radish with jus de mer.

Fat Cow

For a carnivorous date, look no further than this Japanese “meat atelier”. If it’s your first date, grab a spot at the 16-seater U-shaped counter, where you can make conversations while watching the chefs in action. For a more intimate date, grab one of their utterly charming “private rooms”— pale wooden tables separated by screens and shoji doors. The star of the menu is the imported A5 and A5 wagyu—the young and handsome chef Adachi is partial to the Saga prefecture—but don’t miss delicate appetizers like the zucchini blossom tempura.

Forlino

Sweep your date off their feet with sweeping views of the city skyline. The wraparound windows at One Fullerton’s Italian restaurant Forlino affords panoramas of Marina Bay and the CBD, setting the perfect mood for a weeknight date. Japanese chef Yohhei Sasaki sprinkles his dishes with plenty of delicate Japanese touches. Try the linguini aglio olio, which here gets not only bottarga from Sardinia, but also generous pieces of Hokkaido sea urchin and a squeeze of yuzu.

Lewin Terrace

For old fashioned romance, with flowing dresses, linen suits and lots of greenery, Lewin Terrace is what you want. The fusion fine dining restaurant is set in a classic, glamorous white bungalow in Fort Canning, and some of the best tables are to be found outside on the spacious balcony, with views of the trees—perfect for a year-end date when the temperatures drop a bit. Order from Chef Matsumoto’s selection of classic, simple dishes, such as the Nippon Rossini, a timeless combination of beef, truffle and foie gras.

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Trattoria 33

If you like your date night right in the heart of the bustling action, head on over to Cuppage Terrace, where chef Nick Goh whips up Italian comfort food with little touches of Japanese thrills. Try the smoked salmon capellini, with house-made fresh pasta, salmon that has been smoked with sakura wood, all topped with nori seaweed and fresh and zesty ikura. Grab a quiet table inside, among the riotously colorful paintings, or get one on the patio and watch the world go by.

Wharf Oyster Bar & Grill

No all dates have to be over-the-top—sometimes all you want is to get together with your sweetheart after a long day at work, enjoy the river breeze and chow on some comfort food with a bottle of hoppy IPA. That’s where Wharf Oyster Bar & Grill comes in. The Robertson Quay restaurant is all about hearty fare like grilled meats, burgers and lamb racks. Grab a cozy booth table, and order a half dozen fresh oysters to kickstart the date.

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