It’s a well-established fact that Singapore has a stellar hawker scene, but not everyone is quite on board with the idea of a hawker centre as a backdrop for romance. According to a recent study by the dating platform Bumble, one in five (21%) Singaporeans think that hawker centres are an unacceptable location for a first date. And while this number may already seem pretty low and indicate that most people are open to the idea, the reality is that only 16% of respondents have gone for a first date at a hawker centre.
Let’s break this down a little more. Among the folks who voted “no”, Gen Zs make up for most of them (23%), followed by young millennials aged 27 to 34 (20%). Only 18% of respondents aged 35 and above were against the idea of hawker centre first dates, showing that Gen Zs are a group that seems to place more importance on first impressions.
Some of the reasons people cited for why hawker centres aren’t ideal first date locations are that they are too hot, noisy and crowded. But more interestingly, 41% of respondents feel that visiting a hawker centre makes the date “seem unimportant”. Whoops. All that to say, while most are generally open to hawker fare and cheap eats, established restaurants and romantic dining destinations still have their place in the dating scene.
But if you’re guilty of committing this first date ‘faux pas’, not all is lost. The majority of Singaporeans – 66% to be exact – say that their perception of a potential partner would not be affected if they suggested going to a hawker centre for a first date. And in general, 89% of Singaporeans are willing to go on dates at hawker centres – just not first dates perhaps.
In fact, many respondents expressed that hawker centres are affordable, convenient, and present us with an abundance of food choices. On top of that, the humble location sets the stage for down-to-earth connections between people. Not to mention, the quality of food at hawker centres doesn’t disappoint – but let our guide on the best hawker centres in Singapore tell you that instead.
This study by Bumble was conducted on 1000 Singaporeans to explore the significance of food preferences on dating habits. Among all of the Interest Badges on Bumble’s platform, the “Foodie” badge is one of the most popular ones used by Singaporeans. Find out more about Bumble’s Interest Badges here.
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