How Singaporeans date, according to Bumble

National day is coming and it's time shine a spotlight on our locals — Bumble has recently released the results of several surveys conducted on dating trends among Singaporeans. One of those surveys focuses on what locals do on a date.

Who is compatible

Singapore is a country where food is a huge part of our culture. Therefore, it is unsurprisingly that Singaporeans see food as important in relationships; 41% of those surveyed claim that food is crucial in creating a sense of intimacy and connection with a partner. The data remained consistent across different genders and age groups, truly underscoring the role that food plays in people’s daily lives.

Furthermore, 38% of Singaporeans think that it is important for them and their partners to have the same preferences in food. From this statistic, it appears that Singaporeans associate compatible palettes with compatible personalities. 

Perhaps this is related to how many dates between Singaporeans revolve around food, so having similar preferences make deciding on a date spot easier and more enjoyable.

Where to go

The next point that Bumble investigates is the venue that people choose for their dates. Hawker centres are a large part of Singaporean culture — Singapore’s hawker culture was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — correspondingly, nine in ten locals are willing to go on dates at hawker centres.

However, people’s opinions change when asked if hawker centres were acceptable first date spots. One fifth of Singaporeans said that hawker centers were unacceptable venues, with a third of all surveyed saying that their perception of a potential partner would be affected if they suggested going on a hawker center for the first date.

What’s the difference

This perspective is easy to understand when considering the importance of a first date. First dates are usually the first opportunity for people to see each other in a romantic context. This applies regardless of how those people met. 

For those who meet online, first dates will be the first time the pair meet. For those who meet organically, such as starting to date after being friends, or being match made through friends, first dates are the first chance that the involved parties get to see each other in a new, romantic light.  

Therefore, those who are going on a first date likely want to present the best sides of themselves, both inside and outside, while taking their time to get to know each other. Hawker centers, which tend to be rather hectic, may not be the best for that purpose. The heat might cause people to sweat, which may affect each person’s appearance, while the mass of people and the sound they bring may give the couples pressure and make the date become awkward. 

Furthermore, arranging to have a first date at a hawker center may also give the wrong impression. 41% of people say they don’t want to go on a date at a hawker center because it gives the impression that the date is unimportant, such that no extra effort is made to arrange it. This misunderstanding is more likely to occur on a first date, when the two people involved don’t know each other as well. 

Why not

It appears that going to a hawker center for a first date is more unacceptable for those who are younger. The survey reveals that 23% of Gen Zs think first dates should not happen there, as compared to 20% of younger millennials aged 27 to 34 and 18% of older millennials aged 35 to 47. 

This may indicate that those who are younger place more emphasis on first impressions for a first date. Perhaps this reluctance to go to a hawker center for a first date is liked to how younger generations grew up together with social media. 

Growing up with social media, people become more familiar with how their image can be captured at any time and uploaded for the world to see. This ever pervasive possibility hangs over the head of people of the younger generation, encouraging them to be very mindful of their image, lest an image of them be publicised and taken in ill faith. 

This may also seep into real life, where people become very focussed on presenting a perfect version of themselves on a first meeting, and only allowing a less glamorous version to emerge after getting to know the other party better. 

Going to the hawker center for a first date, where people tend to be more casual, requires Gen Zs and younger millennials to be more open and imperfect than they want to be on the first meeting, which may make them more opposed.

How to date

The survey results goes on to suggest some ways to plan dates for those who might prefer hawker dates but have not realised the image associated with such dates. 

Although a majority of Singaporeans are receptive to hawker center dates, provided that they are not a first date, the survey recommends that special occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries, should be spent with greater fanfare at a more established restaurant. 

Those surveyed slightly prefer foreign cuisine restaurants (68%) over local cuisine restaurants (64%), so individuals should make decisions based on their partner’s preference.

When to spend

Furthermore, the survey results provide a guideline for how much to spend on a date. According to the survey results, four in ten Singaporeans spend $50 to $99 on a meal for two on a date, while 28% spend between $30 to $49. 

However, these statistics vary by age group: half of older millennials (aged 35 to 47) spend in the $50 to $99 range. This larger proportion of people is likely due to older millennials having a higher spending power and an overall preference for a more comfortable dining experience.

Lastly, the survey recommends sharing dishes. Apparently, sharing food helps people feel more intimate with each other as well as giving those on the date more food options to munch on. However, certain dishes should be avoided, primarily those that cause bad breath and make people sweat. 

Bumble’s survey results are fun to read to learn more about people’s dating habits. While it appears that people may have different opinions on how much to spend and where to go, dates consistently revolve around food.