Love Dining happenings: Hotel and Restaurant updates

Love Dining Happenings? Above Image: Poached pear dessert at Basilico, Regent Singapore

Love Dining Happenings

So here’s the latest news on Love Dining happenings in Singapore.

For those new to this space, the Love Dining benefits is a dining discounts programme that comes with a qualifying American Express card (such as the American Express Platinum Charge card). It allow diners to eat in at a number of reputable hotels (Hotel Dining Guide here!)  and several high-end restaurants (Restaurant Dining Guide Here!) at up to 50% off.

Time and time again, new restaurants do join in and old ones occasionally leave the programme. Here are the most recent updates.

Hotel Dining Updates

• Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel: From 1st April 2022, Crossroads and Lobby Lounge will undergo a temporary closure. When I probed to check for a re-opening date, the hotel gave an estimation to about July 2022, though it was not officially confirmed at the time of writing this. 
• Regent Singapore: From 21 February 2022, Basilico, a current Love Dining partner, will allow Love Dining benefits to apply only to an exclusive Amex Set Menu. Love Dining benefits will no longer apply to the usual a la carte menu. 

For Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, I’ve dined in at Crossroads before, and the experience was pretty positive.

Lobby Lounge also offers a lovely English Afternoon High Tea; though the high-tea itself does not have Amex Love Dining benefits. (I use the Entertainer App however, for 1-for-1 high tea). Love Dining perks only apply to certain items on the a la carte menu.

I love that their location is in town. There’s still some time to head down there before it’s closes in April 2022 – so if you love this place try and get there before the closure.

Life-changing Affogato at Basilico

With Basilico however, the change is more drastic.

With Love Dining benefits shifting from the entire a la carte menu to a narrow fixed set menu, this feels like somewhat of a downgrade.

Personally, the husband and I love Basilico so much that we’ve dined here multiple times. I’ve even written THREE reviews of this place in this blog (see first review, the second review, and third review).

I’m definitely going to miss the whole array of appetisers, mains, pizza, and desserts. Basilico definitely has a special place in our hearts. 

Having said that, I am looking forward to try the new Amex exclusive menu as well. Stay tuned for that – will definitely go for it in the near future.

Pizza at Basilico – with huge chunk of Burrata cheese

Inspired by this post and want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points or statement credit:

• The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$900 statement credits and Samsonite Choca Spinner 68/25 (worth S$700) when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$350 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 38, 000 Krisflyer miles and S$50 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met. 

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed on this page are that of Happy High Life and may not necessarily reflect the position of American Express. Happy High Life is not responsible for any decisions made by readers. The terms and conditions for each credit card's application and usage may be subject to change by American Express. Therefore, readers are recommended to check any matters with American Express or its partners; the list of all benefits of the Platinum Charge Card can be found here.

Restaurant Dining Updates

Unfortunately, Love Dining happenings could mean bad news; at the time of writing, a few restaurants will have departed / be departing from the Love Dining programme.

• From 1st February 2022, Fyr will no longer offer Love Dining benefits
• From 1st April 2022, Hutong, INDOCAFE, and RENNthai will no longer offer Love Dining benefits.

Personally, I’m most bummed about INDOCAFE – it was unique and one of the few Love Dining restaurants that specialized in South East Asian cuisine.

I had also recently included this restaurant in the list of Most Romantic Restaurants that offer Love Dining benfits. What an irony that the dining discounts will be no more.

Burbur Chacha at Indocafe

Both INDOCAFE and RENNthai joined Love Dining only in early 2021; so unfortunately they couldn’t stay on a little longer. 

Having said that, places DO come and go – if you look at the example of Conrad Centennial Singapore, they had a history of going in and out of Love Dining repeatedly. So hopefully we’ll see more noteworthy places show up in the near future. Either way – most of my personal love dining experiences have been either good or exceeded expectations, and I still am a fan of Love Dining benefits regardless. 

Inspired by this post and want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points or statement credit:

• The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$900 statement credits and Samsonite Choca Spinner 68/25 (worth S$700) when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$350 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 38, 000 Krisflyer miles and S$50 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met. 

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed on this page are that of Happy High Life and may not necessarily reflect the position of American Express. Happy High Life is not responsible for any decisions made by readers. The terms and conditions for each credit card's application and usage may be subject to change by American Express. Therefore, readers are recommended to check any matters with American Express or its partners; the list of all benefits of the Platinum Charge Card can be found here.

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