Hello fellow FTers,
I'm intending to propose to my girlfriend during our trip to SIN this coming Sep, was hoping to get some good advice on which restaurant you recommend to pop the question!? Just a few of things I would prefer:

- Great ambience/romantic, definitely a place where she'll feel magical during our dining experience. A table with a view would be the icing on the cake.
- Of course, high quality food and service.
- Not trying to break the bank Michelin star style, but not being a cheap skate either. I figure $200-$300 for the total bill.

Thanks much in advance for any advice you can lend me

Some options -

http://www.jaan.com.sg/ Higher than your budget but the food is great.

http://www.marinabaysands.com/restau...sky-on-57.html Food is not the best, but v nice views.

http://www.aura.sg/

You didn't mention which cuisine you prefer though.

Equinox (same hotel / dining area as Jaan) has a gorgeous view. Food's cheaper than Jaan so within your budget, but of course not as good. Oh, they charge s$20 for a table by the window. And they don't serve free water, gotta pay s$5/pax for 'filtered water.'

Ocean Restaurant is pretty unique in that it's next to the large tank in RWS's aquarium. No clue about the food or service though as I haven't visited.

If you're looking for something a little more 'green,' Corner House is in a colonial building in the middle of SG's Botanic Gardens.

ilLido at the Sofitel Sentosa Resort and Spa

http://www.sofitel-singapore-sentosa...-at-the-cliff/

Nice view of the sea from atop of a cliff. Food is pretty decent.

One of the restaurants in Raffles would be special (but not the long bar--too many rowdy foreign tourists). There's a formal dining room (with its own small piano bar) behind the front desk in the main building, but I actually like to sit in the courtyard at the somewhat casual fish restaurant with the outdoor kitchen which used to have quite good live music. You look at the building and do a bit of people watching as day turns into evening and then night. The tables are fairly well spaced too.

I like Jaan too, including its view. [BTW, there's a reasonably priced menu at lunchtime, at least during the business week.]

Would you like to do the Ferris wheel? I think dinner there would be too expensive (and I wouldn't be particularly confident about the quality of the food) but you can also arrange for a champagne ride.

Depending on what you mean by a view, there are restaurants along the river (at the far end, for example around the artsy boutique hotel, not the places near Clarke Quay that seem to be mobbed by drunks) and on Sentosa that would have water views. Along the river, there's a French bistro place and further down, but on the same side of the river, a northern Italian place, both with lots of outdoor seating. The Millenium Hotel across the river also has a restaurant, but the place seems to get conference groups. The restaurant and bar in the Westin used to have views, but I think a new building now blocks a lot. I've never eaten there, but there's a restaurant in a distinctive spot near the Fullerton Hotel that seems to overlook the Merlin; you might also be able to see the new helix bridge. The Fullerton Hotel itself has an outdoor porch restaurant and bar looking toward the Asian Civilizations museum. I think the top of the Fullerton Bay Hotel has only an outdoor deck and bar, with no restaurant.

A local once took me to a very pretty place for lunch inside the orchid garden. It was leafy green with lots of dark wood and seemed to be surrounded by jungle vegetation. I'm not sure whether it would be open for dinner.

Much of Singapore's food scene revolves around hawker centers and extremely informal (tightly packed big round tables with plastic tablecloths and mismatched plastic chairs) seafood places (for example, along the coast in the general direction of the airport). There are also some big buffets (including in at least one restaurant in Raffles), which I also think wouldn't be suitable for a proposal.

Thanks everyone for the advice and recommendations, certainly appreciate it.
I find Jaan and Ocean to be very intriguing, so leaning towards those.
What's odd is that I can't seem to be able to find any available reservation times on any of the dates I'm there for nearly all of the restaurants mentioned above, the only exception is ilLido at the Cliffs.

If you are trying to make a reservation online, these restaurants typically don't open their online reservations so far out, as they are quite popular, and also to prevent no shows.

Drop them an email and explain that it's for a proposal.

If you eventually go with Ocean, make sure you get a reservation for a table right next to the aquarium. Ditto for Jaan, must get a table by the window.

If you've already decided to propose why r u waiting 3-4 months to do so?

There's always the Thai joint on the 3rd floor of Orchard Towers. That way, if she says no you have options to fall back on....

How about...

http://www.saintpierre.com.sg/

Wishing you good luck with your proposal.

Cheers & Safe Travels. ^

Jaan is great but only 40 guests so not easy for prime-time reservations; just had dinner there costing SGD 1100 for 2 (so a bit above your budget). They do deliver good food and service however, you wont find better in Singapore. Bar on same lever has great cocktails and same view for SGD 60, Equinox is half the Jaan price, so there are some lower cost alternatives.

Depends on the type of person your other half is. If she wants a nice elegant venue, then you probably should go for something at a top end hotel.

Maybe something more casual and fun, you could try one of the many random places like le bistrot du sommelier.

Or a bit of experience, you could walk through the Botanic Gardens (try to not to sweat too much!!), and make your way to Hali restaurant. That's meant to be really great.

Hope it is a memorable day!