What will New Year’s Eve dinners in Singapore look like this year?

Martin from Level33 believes that smaller, more intimate celebrations are the way to go.

“Given the situation we are going through and looking at most of the other countries around the world, the simple fact that we still have the chance to dine out in small groups is appealing,” he says.

Which is why on December 31, there is a four-course set dinner option, with two seating timings available ($138 at 5pm/ $188 at 8pm). “We have a much more approachable menu with fewer courses,” explains Martin, adding that there is even the option to continue the celebrations at home with a complimentary gift of wine, Prosecco, or beer.

Others are finding new ways to impress guests. At Zafferano, managing director Vadim Korob shares that the restaurant is changing its focus to provide “a gastronomic experience” instead. Seasonal ingredients are freshly flown in to prep its dinner menu ($148/$398), featuring scallops and sea urchin from Hokkaido, live Alaskan king crab, Sicilian red prawns, and more.

The main dining room and outdoor lounge will also be dressed in “festive sparkle” to add to the charm and ambiance.

Similarly, the Sky Lounge at Ce La Vi will come decked out with sparkles and exotic wall hangings. According to the spokesperson, the usual live DJ set will also come replaced with a curated playlist of R&B and house music to “ensure the atmosphere is not affected”. Props will also be set out on each table to keep guests entertained.

Don’t want to head home too early? Sky Lounge at Ce La Vi will remain open till 1am. It will stop serving alcohol past 10.30pm, and will instead switch to a sober menu of non-alcoholic beverages. All while tucking into a lavish selection of a la carte bites – oyster topped with caviar, pan-seared foie gras, wagyu prepped over the binchotan, lobster roll, and more.

1-Altitude might be used to hosting big year-end parties, but this year, it will convert its rooftop bar into a scenic dining spot (from $180) instead. “This will be the first in 10 years that we will not be planning the usual countdown party format,” says business manager Immelia Izalena.

The parties might have been tabled, but Immelia shares that they are keeping the festivities going, by way of a 10-week long celebration for its 10th anniversary. She explains: “We now have several interesting collaborations and offerings as part of the line-up, instead of what would have been a weekend of parties.”

Level33, too, has a similar approach. Instead of cramming the merrymaking to just one night, it has since rolled out an ‘advent calendar’ of promotions – one where customers can partake in the festivities at their own time, in the days leading up to the end of the year. Pints might go for just $10 come December 22, or sold in threes for $20.21 on December 29. It is a different countdown of sorts, one that culminates in champagne flutes going for $10 on 31 December.

Vadim from Zafferano believes that despite the lack of fanfare, New Year’s Eve dinners are still important. He says: “It will always be a symbolic day, even without the fireworks.”