F1 Pit Stops

Singapore’s F1 night race  is coming up again on 23-25 September. We know that ‘cos the barriers are up all around the Marina Bay area and the kids are lurching towards their final exams. Why in the world is the F1 scheduled smack bang at that time? For those who aren’t stuck at home supporting kids suffering from pre-exam fever, here’s what’s in store.

 

Fairmont Singapore’s got one of the best locations along the tracks, at the edge of Turn 9. For the best seats on the house, check into a race track-facing room. Not cheap, but a real treat for motorheads. Priced from S$1,250++ per night for a minimum of three nights. If that’s too much of a commitment, you can still try getting a table at Italian restaurant Prego. Not such a great view, but it’s near enough to the tracks so you can hear the engines roar over your three course lunch and dinner menu. Screens will be set up so you can watch the live telecast of the night race and get in the mood. Meanwhile, on your plate, expect to sup on Beef Carpaccio, Garlic Aioli and Rocket Salad with Grissini and Pan-seared Pork Chop with Caponata and Lardo di Colonnata. Happy prices are in place too. The set lunch is at $40++ and set dinner at $50++. Over at the halal Asian Market Café, the dinner buffet of local and regional cuisine has been extended to 10:30pm with live telecast of the race.  $55++ per adult and $30++ per child (6 – 12 yrs). Tel: +65 6837 3883, fax +65 6336 6210 or email reservations.singapore@fairmont.com.

 

 

If Fairmont has one of the best views, The Fullerton Hotel has  the closest and arguably the most exciting. Check into this hotel for an eye- and ear-ful of the hairpin turn at Anderson Bridge in front of the hotel. Rooms start from $1,000++ per night for minimum three nights for a Courtyard room which includes daily American buffet breakfast for two persons at Town Restaurant and in-room Internet connectivity. Across the road at their sister hotel, the new Fullerton Bay Hotel, rooms are priced from $1,200++ per night for a Deluxe with brekkie and internet. We understand that inhouse guests will also get exclusive access to the rooftop of The Fullerton Hotel to watch the race on 24 and 25 Sept. There, you can catch a close up view of the cars whizz by the Fullerton Hairpin (Turn 13) - one of the narrowest it seems and therefore most exciting – and for views you cannot see, there’ll be a widescreen TV to fill you on, plus necessary free-flow Champagne and canapés. We absolutely like!
Tel: 6877 8153 or email booknow@fullertonhotel.com
 

The swanky Podium Lounge returns to The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore’s poolside on the three race days from 10pm every night. A two minute walk away from the race pit building, this is the place for star studded after-race parties. If you’re still into celeb spotting, this is the place to go for a chance to see race drivers, celebrities, Asian royalty, ambassadors, models and musicians, and be entertained by a international D.J’s who will be spinning dance racks through the night. Prices start at S$118 nett per person, or  S$218 nett per person inclusive of a bottle of G.H.Mumm Champagne. Alternatively, gather some friends and book a VIP table starting from S$988 nett for four people, with two bottles of G.H.Mumm Champagne and a bottle of spirits. Highlights include an auction of race related collectibles in aid of the Children’s Cancer Foundation (Singapore), and the services of a master of Sabrage to sabre bottles of champagne for guests. For tickets and VIP tables, email robbie@b-yond.com.sg. Tickets are subject to availability and can be made by visiting www.apesnap.com/event/podiumlounge

 

Getting into the mood, The Greenhouse is also offering up to 50% discount off its buffet lunch and dinners between 19 and 24 September, with its Countdown to the Singapore Night Race promotion. Speed is of essence here. The earlier you confirm your reservation, the more discount you get for your meal. Make the reservation five or more days in advance and you’ll get 50% off your bill. Four days ahead gets you 40% off the bill, and so one, until one day before where you get 10% off. It’s a cute deal, and worth the trouble ‘cos we all know the buffets there are absolutely fabulous.
Tel: (65) 6434 5288 or email rc.sinrz.restaurantreservations@ritzcarlton.com  

 

Over the Marina Bay Sands, hunt down the pop up bar Finish Line which will appear 16-18 Sept (5-10 pm) and 19-25 Sept (11am -11pm). You’ll find this set up at the Southern Promenade, Bay Level in The Shoppes. Sip on Mumm Champagne, nibble on contemporary Indonesian tapas from The Moluccas Room, watch “live” screenings of the race and dance to performances by guest DJs. A hobby car race track will also be set up at to allow F1 fans to get into the high-octane mood by pitting their remote control cars against one another. Cute. Up on the Sands Skypark, restaurant and club KU DE TA (above) offers a great vantage point at their alfresco dining area where you can watch racers speed into the pitstop and towards the finish line. There are several premium packages if you want to book a table to enjoy the F1 race. Call +65 6508 2288 or email event@kudeta.com.sg for details.

 

Less lofty but easily more meaningful is Royal Plaza on Scotts’ life size macaroon race car, created by the hotel’s team of chefs. Measuring 4.40 metres long, 1.90 metres wide and 1.30 metres tall, it’s on display in the hotel’s lobby, flagging the hotel’s charity drive from now until 25 September. For every scale-model chocolate race car it sells at its deli Gourmet Carousel, S$5 will be donated to the Community Chest. Similarly, 10% of proceeds from the sale of its macaroons (which we absolutely swear by!) will also be donated. Each macaroon goes for $2.20 and a box of five is priced at $11.50. As for the life size macaroon car, the chefs used four litres of water, 600 egg whites and 12.5 kg each of ground almond and icing sugar to make the 10,461 macarons which make up the car. Tel: 65897788 or email gourmet@royalplaza.com.sg for details.