Father’s Day Special: Date Ideas Inspired by Dad’s Pastimes

Game enough to do it like dad? Hey, don’t be too quick to dismiss your fathers’ ideas of relaxation or having a good time as being not hip enough.

Sometimes classic “dad” activities or pastimes can become unexpectedly fun and unique date experiences in Singapore too.

In tribute to dear dads on Father’s Day, here’s our tongue-in-cheek guide for couples in Singapore on how to channel dad-core energy for a casual date. Need more nostalgic date ideas for modern couples? Hmm, ask your dad!

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Learn to enjoy dad’s hobbies for your next date at these places:

• Neighbourhood kopitiam or hawker centre
• Zi char restaurant
• Indie cinema
• Handyman repair workshop
• KTV

1. Bond over a morning coffee

Rise and shine! Romance can be felt in the air when the sun is out, not just in the still of the night. Go on a breakfast date and immerse yourself in kopitiam culture — a long-standing tradition of older generations in Singapore.

Don’t fancy the uncle vibes? Suss out coffee shops such as SG Kopitiam at Blk 161 Bukit Merah Central, which has new generation hawkers serving Wanton Mee, Thai Zi Char, Western food and authentic Korean fare. Traditional perk-me-up drinks like Kopi-O and Teh-C are offered alongside fancier Rose Teh-O and Gula Melaka Coffee, Thai Milk Tea, Soughdough Egg Tarts, etc.

Alternatively, go on a hawker centre coffee trail. Sabana Coffeehouse is a gem at Mei Ling Food Centre, run by a 27-year-old hawkerpreneur who is keen to serve all demographics with his classic Nanyang-style drinks (Kopi-O, Yuan Yang, etc) and artisanal drinks such as Black Sesami Kopi and Pandan Cloud Latte. Other stalls worth trying are Pan’s Kopi, the latest addition to a slew of coffee stalls run by millennials at Amoy Street Food Centre, and Generation Coffee with several outlets in various hawker centres.  

• Why we think dads will recommend this: Chilling out with a morning kopi is great for early risers. And neighbourhood kopitiams or hawker centres offer an unpretentious vibe that is accessible to everyday Singaporeans.

2. Make zi char your language of love

Some dads will say food doesn’t need to be glamourous or IG-worthy all the time. Instead, it should be hearty and best served with a good dose of wok hei.

So, the next time you’re planning a dinner date, why not consider dining at a zi char restaurant, like how your older family members would love to do?

Local celebrity Ben Yeo’s Tan Xiang Charcoal Fish Head Steamboat Restaurant is where you’ll get classic dai pai dong dining vibes. Think industrial canteen locations at Kallang, Chai Chee and Woodlands with natural ventilation (aka no aircon), heartland buzz, the constant clanging of woks and mind-boggling food varieties. Must-tries include the eponymous Fish Head Steamboat served in copper pots and Yam Ring, which is coated with charcoal powder to give it a novel black colour. Since portions are usually catered to bigger parties, consider inviting your other couple kakis along for a double or triple date feast.

If you choose an establishment like Kok Sen Restaurant, you won’t have to worry about sweating buckets. Plus, you can boast about having a date at a restaurant with serious foodie cred. Located at Keong Siak Street, the fully air-conditioned Kok Sen earned Michelin Bib Gourmand status for nine consecutive years from 2016 to 2025. Signature menu picks include Claypot Yong Tau Foo and Big Prawn Hor Fun.

Another “atas” zi char place to check out is New Ubin Seafood at CHIJMES. Your pops or gramps may be familiar with the restaurant’s humble roots at Ubin island. But since it moved to mainland Singapore, it has transformed itself into a modern diner that not just serves traditional zi char dishes but also boldly reinterprets other cultural cuisines. For example, it serves USDA Black Angus ‘Choice’ Rib-eye, Smoked Pork Fried Rice, and even elevates your dining experience with a Champagne+ Bruch Buffet. 

• Why we think dads will recommend this: With zi char, love is expressed through the time-honoured way of feeding your loved one well, sharing dishes in a semi-private space. No strict table manners required!

3. Feel nostalgic vibes at an indie cinema

Current generations may be more familiar with swanky cineplexes but long before the likes of GV Gold Class and IMAX theatres were introduced in Singapore, going to the movies was a more muted affair.

Since The Projector, housed in the historic Golden Theatre at Golden Mile Tower shuttered in 2025, the only other cinema that comes close to offering nostalgic vibes is likely EagleWings Cinematics. Singapore’s first independent cinema situated at King Albert Park, it features five small cinema halls that are perfect for a cosy couple’s date night. Besides the latest blockbusters, EagleWings also screens wholesome faith-based films to bring joy and uplift the hearts of its patrons.

• Why we think dads will recommend this: Just like in the good old days, indie cinemas are less busy and give a more relaxed atmosphere. This creates better opportunity for a calmer, more genuine interaction during your date.

4. Strenghten couple creed with a DIY skill

Many fathers enjoy pottering around the house, tackling small repairs, helping their wives fix faulty kitchen appliances or changing tyres for their kid’s bicycles. Such skills are invaluable, especially for married life.

Learn to repair electrical appliances, do home electrical repairs such as replacing wall electrical outlets, use a power drill to install fixtures, repair furniture or pick up basic plumbing skills at Repair Kopitiam. Their various handyman repair workshops are all SkillsFuture credit claimable.

At the end of the day, you not will both partners pick up practical life skills, but also share a sense of fulfilment when you successfully complete the repair tasks together.

• Why we think dads will recommend this: If dad is the hands-on type, such activities will be right up his alley. From his experience, he’ll also tell you that being able to make simple fixes around the house will score you brownie points with your (future) spouse. 

5. Serenade your love with KTV classic hits

The ‘90s era was when KTV-style venues became very popular in Singapore. Dads who picked up karaoke as a hobby back then would likely remember singing all the then-popular Hong Kong Cantopop and Taiwanese Mandopop hits.

Though karaoke is no longer a mainstream local culture, you can still find many KTV spots in Singapore to sing your hearts out.

Check out HaveFun Karaoke, where private rooms come in a variety of themed styles and sizes. Its flagship Orchard Cineleisure outlet features futuristic space-themed interiors that are highly Instagrammable, while those at Lucky Chinatown have wallpapers with flora and fauna prints for a more relaxed vibe. Choose from their massive song library, with up-to-date tracks in multiple languages. It doesn’t matter if you can’t sing well. Just have fun, nobody will be judging.

• Why we think dads will recommend this: It brings back the nostalgia during their NS days and courtship years. It’s all about enjoying the music and the social interactions.

Dad-core can be fun-core!

Dads often favour pastimes that are social but low-pressure and practical. Take a leaf from their routine the next time you’re planning your own couple date and you might have more unconventional ways to spend time together. In fact, our suggested activities will make great Father’s Day celebrations too. They’re nostalgic, sometimes old-school but provide good opportunities for family bonding as well!

with Love, 

The Dateideas Team

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