Your anti-Formula 1 guide

The 2015 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix is less than a month away now, and if you would much rather stay away from the maddening crowds instead, then we’ve got some luxurious ideas to cocoon yourself away for a weekend of indulgent treats. 

So Spa by Sofitel

Surrounded in a mini paradise where peacocks walk free and lush gardens abound, So Spa has crafted a special yoga and spa retreat to help you restore your inner sense of Zen. Your morning begins with three different kinds of yoga disciplines, before you are whisked away for a pampering, 30-minute massage session. Now that you are all relaxed and happy, go ahead and enjoy the rest of your day lounging by picturesque outdoor pools, or maybe work on a tan. Last but certainly not least comes lunch and just a few steps away is the Garden Restaurant, where you can end your holistic afternoon with a healthy mix of salad greens and crunchy fruits.

Picture credit: singaporeresortsentosa.com/sospa

Alkaff Mansion Ristorante

End your weekend on the right note at this charming colonial mansion, cushioned in between Mount Faber and Telok Blangah Hill Park. We recommend the Prosecco Brunch: a decadent buffet spread of oysters, Italian cold cuts, Scottish Salmon Carpaccio, as well as live stations serving up seafood ravioli, baked beef sirloin and roasted Atlantic cod. All that’s left to do is enjoy the unlimited supply of Prosecco, and premium red and white wines.

Picture credit: Alkaff.com.sg

Mezza 9, Grand Hyatt Singapore

Meat lovers, you are in for a treat. Just for the Formula 1 week, the Grand Hyatt will be flying Irish master butcher, Allan Morris, from John Stone Beef, into Singapore. With 50 years of heritage as a gourmet meat producer in the United Kingdom, Allan is your man to discover all you need to know about organic farm practices. Can’t decide which style of cooking – Thai, Chinese or grilled? Allan can definitely help with that too.

Picture credit: singapore.grand.hyatt.com

The Sanchaya Bintan

Who says you can’t have a luxurious getaway within one hour? Pack your bags and take your seat on Sanchaya’s private yacht from Singapore to the Bintan, where you’ll also clear custom checks faster than everyone else, thanks to the resort’s VIP lounge at the terminal. Once at Sanchaya, relax in the spacious sanctuary of your villa, tastefully decked out in rare art works reflecting Southeast Asia’s rich cultures. Feel like breakfast in bed, an in-room massage or a bespoke bath menu to end the night? The resort’s ‘companions’, who have all been trained by the British Butler Institute, will take care of that. Water babies will also enjoy Sanchaya’s beachfront location along Lagoi Bay with easy sightings of dolphins and turtles, or you could just as easily charter the yacht out for a romantic sunset cruise.

Picture credit: www.slh.com/hotels/the-sanchaya

Tippling Club

Spend your Formula 1 Saturday evening at the Tippling Club, tucked away in the quiet enclave of Tanjong Pagar. For dinner, celebrity Chef-Owner, Ryan Clift, will excite your taste buds with his latest special creation, Terroir Terroir, where the humble potato is baked in damp soil, and set in a luxurious bed of oak and black truffle dressing. If you think that’s it, the restaurant is also one of just a selected few in Singapore to serve the champagne House of Krug’s classic vintage, the Grande Cuvée: a most inviting blend of hazelnut, barley, almond and citrus fruits.

Picture credit: tipplingclub.com