Dining out in Singapore is a costly affair. We know that the total bill for a meal at a decent restaurant can easily rack up to the hundreds and most people try to avoid dining out at all. But do you know that you can dramatically cut your expenditure with 1-for-1 main course offers and even enjoy complimentary house pours at certain places? No, we are not kidding!

There are numerous ways to significantly reduce the costs of dining and we are thrilled to share these money-saving hacks with you, so that you can feel better about your epicurean lifestyle without worrying too much about the hefty prices.

From credit card rebates, happy hour promotions to The Entertainer app, here are 5 Ways You Can Save Money While Dining Out In Singapore.

#1 CREDIT CARDS REBATE

When used correctly, credit cards can actually help one save a significant amount of money. You just need to choose the right credit cards to apply for.

For example, the OCBC 365 Credit Card gives users 6% cash back on weekend dining and 3% cash back on overseas dining (with a minimum spend of S$600 per month). You can earn up to S$80 cash back every month, which adds up to total amount of S$960 each year!

#2 GROUPON VOUCHERS

Maybe Groupon’s popularity has plummeted, but it is still one of those ways that work. It allows one to purchase dining vouchers from various restaurants via the mobile app or the internet.

You can purchase a S$100 voucher at TungLok XiHé Peking Duck Restaurant for just S$60! These dining deals however do have an expiry date and varying redemption terms and conditions. Do remember to bring the printed voucher along or simply redeem it from your phone.

#3 HAPPY HOUR PROMOTIONS

Most bars do offer Happy Hour Promotions in the evening, where diners usually are entitled to a second alcoholic drink on the house or other discounts. ‘Happy Hour’ sure are two very pleasing words.

For example, diners at Pisco South American Kitchen & Bar get to enjoy 1-for-1 cocktails from 3pm to 7pm daily and Mezza 9 offers 50% discount off all cocktails from 6pm – 9pm from Monday to Friday. What a steal!

For more Happy Hour Promotions, read our guide on The Best Happy Hour Promotions In Singapore.

#4 LADIES NIGHT PRIVILEGES

Being a lady in Singapore has many perks. And you have to make use of them for Ladies Night privileges.

From complimentary beverages to free club entrances, you will be surprised by how much you can save on Ladies Night – typically on Wednesdays and/or Thursdays! Here’s a tip – all ladies are granted free admission and a free house pour at CÉ LA VI on Wednesday nights.

#5 THE ENTERTAINER

The Entertainer is an amazing mobile phone application that entitles users to 1-for-1 main courses and/or beverages (depending on the merchant). And it is an app that we have been signing up for for the last 2 years.

Use The Entertainer App and you can dine at PARKROYAL on Pickering Hotel Lime Restaurant for free with a paying adult. Similarly, you get to enjoy 1-for-1 beverage at Habitat Cafe.

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

It is a Singaporean’s culture to dine out, because there are way too many awesome options to choose from. But if only we could have a rebates card that could reward us on all our dining expenditure. Well, good news for everyone who relates to the aforementioned situation, because there IS a card that rewards you every time you eat out in Singapore!

The OCBC 365 Credit Card is the Card for all the foodies out there, as it gives you cashback all year round at any dining establishment. And because it is applicable to cafes, restaurants, fast food outlets and even caterers, it basically means feasting time all year round!

With the OCBC 365 Credit Card, you can enjoy 3% dining cashback on weekdays and 6% dining cashback on weekends. And when you travel overseas, you can also enjoy 3% cashback on your overseas dining too! What’s more, the card also gives 3% cashback on groceries, online spending and more.

But first, let us share with you how much we’ve saved from using the card for our daily meals. Last week, we went on a C-A-S-H-B-A-C-K cafe marathon, and covered eight cafes with names that with the respective alphabets. It was such fun feasting while saving, and here are the eight cafes in Singapore that we love:

C / CRAFTSMEN SPECIALITY COFFEE

One of the newest cafes to open in the East, Craftsmen Speciality Coffee at Siglap V has already garnered a strong following among locals and expats who are staying in the neighbourhood. The food menu is simple and it consists of mainly all day breakfast and brunch items like Croissant Sandwiches (S$15), Toast (S$5 – S$15), Pies (S$9.50 – S$12.50), as well as sweet and savoury Waffles (S$15).

OCBC 365 Credit Card gives you 6% cashback when you dine out in Singapore on weekends.

Total bill at Craftsmens Speciality Coffee: S$45
Cashback earned with OCBC 365 Credit Card: S$2.70

2 First Street
Siglap #01-01
Mon to Thu: 8.30am – 8pm
Fri & Sat: 8.30am – 9.30pm
Sun: 8.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Kembangan

A / AFTERGLOW BY ANGLOW

Fancy a guilt-free meal in a chic environment? Then Afterglow is for you! We love its 90′s ambience with dim lights and ditzy tiled floor, but more than that, we actually feel good going all healthy with its eat-clean menu. Nothing is sinful here, nothing is lauded with zero calories and unnecessary fats. The menu is carefully put together by a team of enthusiastic health nuts, and no, healthy eating does not equate salads. Be surprised by the selection of sushis, pastas and sandwiches here at Afterglow!

Total bill at Afterglow By Afterglow: S$96
6% cashback earned for weekend dining with OCBC 365 Credit Card: S$5.76

24 Keong Saik Road
Tel: +65 6224 8921
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Outram

S / SUNDAY MARKET

Located at Lim Tua Tow Road, Sunday Market serves a small but concise menu including toasts, pastas, duck dishes, salad and waffles — most dishes are reasonably-priced below S$15. We will come back again for the Crispy Duck Leg Confit (S$17.90) and the excellent Sirloin Rendang Toast (S$15.90).

Total bill at Sunday Market: S$82.60
6% cashback earned for weekend dining with OCBC 365 Credit Card: S$4.95

22 Lim Tua Tow Road
Mon to Fri: 1am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

H / HOOPLA COFFEE & KITCHEN

The moment we stepped in to Hoopla Coffee & Kitchen, we knew we would fall in love with the cafe. It ticked all the right boxes: well-cooked comfort food at affordable prices (everything on the menu is priced below S$17); a welcoming and friendly environment where you can hang around with your friends; good coffee and homemade cakes; and for those who drive, inexpensive and convenient parking at Infinite Studios.

Total bill at Hoopla Coffee & Kitchen: S$47.50
6% cashback earned for weekend dining with OCBC 365 Credit Card: S$2.85

#01-05, Infinite Studios, 21 Media Circle
Tel: +65 6778 0051
Tue to Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: One-North

B / BRUNETTI

This well-loved pasticceria and coffee bar from Melbourne has a stunning array of desserts, pastries and gelato that will make your heart skip a beat. Beyond the sweets, Brunetti also dishes out decent main courses, sandwiches and pastas. If you are in the Tanglin area, Brunetti is a good choice to escape from crazy crowd in town.

Total bill at Brunetti: S$60.50
6% cashback earned for weekend dining with OCBC 365 Credit Card: S$3.63

163 Tanglin Road
Tanglin Mall
Tel: +65 6736 4922
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

A / ARTISTRY

A stone’s throw from Haji Lane is Artistry, an artsy Indie cafe that we really love. The laidback vibe and creative menu make a winning combination for this cafe. Predominantly monochromatic, Artistry boasts an inviting decor for brunch and a cuppa. The range of unconventional burgers – think Nasi Lemak Burger (S$15) and Crab Burger (S$20) – and a hearty selection of pastas (S$14 – S$16) are note-worthy, and we really love the little arty corner for the creative souls to indulge in and to find themselves.

Total bill at Artistry: S$31
6% cashback earned for weekend dining with OCBC 365 Credit Card: $1.86

17 Jalan Pinang
Tel: +65 6298 2420
Tue to Sat: 10am – 11.45pm
Sun: 10am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

C / CAFE MELBA

We always love a good “glasshouse cafe” with high ceilings and ample sunlight streaming in. Cafe Melba is one of those rare ones like that in Singapore, with both indoor and outdoor seating, a family-friendly environment, and honest food for the tummy. We popped by on a weekend for brunch, and fell in love with the truffle fries and Homemade Brioche French Toast. The Eggs Florentine and pancakes were decent, too.

Total bill at Café Melba: S$69.50
6% cashback earned for weekend dining with OCBC 365 Credit Card: $4.17

90 Goodman Road
#01-56 Goodman Arts Centre Block N
Tel: +65 6440 6068
Mon to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Mountbatten / Dakota

K / KITH CAFE

Kith Cafe at Park Mall has long been our go-to cafe in town due to its accessible location, but ever since we discovered its branch at the tranquil Quayside Isle, we have been going there more regularly instead. From Blackstone Eggs Benedict (S$18) to Big Breakfast, to Vongole (S$20.80) and Truffle Fries (S$9.50), breakfast at Kith Cafe is always a good idea.

Total bill at Kith Café: S$85
6% cashback earned for weekend dining with OCBC 365 Credit Card: S$5.10

31 Ocean Way #01-08, Quayside isle
Tel: +65 6734 9007
Daily (except Tue): 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

For this C-A-S-H-B-A-C-K Cafe Marathon, the total OCBC 365 Credit Card total cashback earned was S$31.02.

The savings that you get from OCBC 365 Credit Card can add up to a significant amount. You can earn up to S$80 cashback each month, which sums up to S$960 every year which equates to getting free air tickets for a holiday All you have to do is to spend a minimum of S$600 on the Card in a calendar month, to enjoy cashback of 6% on weekend dining, 3% on weekday dining and overseas dining.

What’s more the card also gives you 3% on online shopping, groceries and up to 18.3% fuel savings at Esso service stations.c It is as simple as that!

Go to ocbc.com/personal-banking/cards/365card to find out more about OCBC 365 Credit Card, the additional card privileges, as well as the terms and conditions.

This post is brought to you by OCBC 365 Credit Card.