The best Singapore hotels to watch the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix

Many of the Lion City’s top hotels around the circuit provide the best vantage points of the on-track action below.

By Matt Lennon, September 1 2022
The best Singapore hotels to watch the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is tightening his grip on the 2022 title race, however long-time fans will know anything can happen when the Grand Prix circus returns to Singapore on the first weekend in October.

Back on the F1 calendar following the pandemic, Singapore’s Marina Bay circuit is sure to provide another captivating setting for the leading title protagonists over 61 action-packed laps.

The Lion City’s three-day festival of speed and adrenaline will take place from September 30 to October 2, and the best places to watch it all unfold can be high above.

Here are seven of the best hotels where you can be in pole position to secure a great view of various parts of the five-kilometre street circuit.

 

The Marina Bay circuit, as seen on Google Maps
The Marina Bay circuit, as seen on Google Maps

Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore Hotel

Positioned right in the middle of the track, the cars will be flying along Raffles Boulevard  at top speed after exiting Turn 4, so if you have a room in the luxury hotel facing north or with a view of the Singapore Sports Hub, you should be primed for a good view here.

The spacious Ritz-Carlton club lounge boasts views overlooking Singapore’s Marina, while the hotel has in the past also hosted a huge Grand Prix after-party.

The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Club Lounge can be found on the top floor
The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Club Lounge can be found on the top floor

To gain access to said lounge, you’ll need to reside in a Club level room for your stay, with our pick being a 51 square metre Club Deluxe Marina, complete with views over Marina Bay.

From the lounge, it’s worth noting that while you’ll hear the F1 cars snaking their way through the Turns 18-21 complex, there’s usually a great big grandstand blocking the view, although you may catch a glimpse as they zoom towards the end of the lap.

Mandarin Oriental Singapore Hotel

Pretty much next door to the Ritz-Carlton is the Mandarin Oriental Singapore, with very similar views although you might be better placed here to see the cars approaching the Esplanade section of the track (Turns 14-17).

Espousing more classic, Oriental themed décor, this award-winning property impresses from the front door onwards, beginning with a soaring atrium lobby. 

Mandarin Oriental is well placed to catch the F1 action on both sides
Mandarin Oriental is well placed to catch the F1 action on both sides

The hotel features five restaurants ranging from luxury Italian and Cantonese to a classic American steakhouse. On the 19th floor, eligible guests can soak in their Singaporean views from The Oriental Club and its dining schedule from breakfast through to evening hors d'oeuvres.

For the best views of the on-track action, aim for a Club Ocean View room overlooking Marina Bay, however the lounge may provide better views, owing to its higher vantage. 

Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay

Found right at the Marina Square shopping precinct, Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay (once known as Marina Mandarin Singapore) is also well located to Singapore’s underground metro to help you get around the city.

Following a recent sustainability-minded refurbishment which colourfully reclassified this property as a ‘hotel within a garden’, the hotel’s all-day restaurant ‘Peppermint’ parlays some world-class flavours on a farm-to-table concept.

Catch some of the circuit's fastest spots from Parkroyal Marina Bay
Catch some of the circuit's fastest spots from Parkroyal Marina Bay

For the Grand Prix, you pretty much can’t go wrong with any north-facing rooms capturing the Turns 6-8 complex at Memorial Corner. 

If you’re facing the other direction, you’re in pole position for views as the cars approach Turn 14 and turn right back towards the Esplanade and head for the Marina section.

Compared to some others on this list, rooms are a little on the smaller side, which should encourage you to venture elsewhere in the hotel and its surroundings to maximise your view.

J.W. Marriott Singapore South Beach

Overlooking Turn 5 at its closest point, spectators atop this hotel will be in a great spot to witness what might be most of the overtaking in this Grand Prix.

Flying down Raffles Boulevard in one of the highest speed sections of the circuit, the cars will brake heavily here, with opportunistic drivers eager to make their move darting up the inside for the left-hand corner.

Many an overtaking move should be witnessed from the J.W. Marriott South Beach.
Many an overtaking move should be witnessed from the J.W. Marriott South Beach.

What’s more, there’s even an infinity swimming pool overlooking Turn 5 should you wish to indulge in the race that way, however opening hours may mean you have to dry off and exit prior to the chequered flag.

Prior to the race start, the hotel offers stunning views of Marina Bay itself, with 634 rooms and suites all fitted with luxury Marriott bedding and furnishings.

The hotel also features an Executive Lounge for eligible guests, with afternoon tea available from 2:30pm and evening cocktails served from 5:30pm to closing time at 9pm.

Swissotel The Stamford Hotel

If you’re catching the F1 activity from here, this is one of the slower parts of the circuit. The cars turn left after the high-speed run out of Turn 4 and then make their run around Esplanade Park. 

As the cars head out of Turn 9, there’s a bit of speed to be enjoyed here if you can get a view of this, but not like other parts of the lap. Make sure you’re in a Harbour View room here for the best look at the on-track action.

The luxury Swissotel will provide great views of the F1 cars
The luxury Swissotel will provide great views of the F1 cars

Swissotel The Stamford Singapore is one of the city’s biggest hotels with more than 1,250 rooms. There’s also the Level 65 lounge if you’re in a room granting access to it.

Time your reservation right and you may be in a position where Formula 1 could be the show to accompany your dinner. For this, we’re talking about the Skal bar and restaurant found on the 70th floor, where dinner is served 6-10:30pm (the race starts at 8pm…)

Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore

Located outside the circuit precinct itself, if you’re able to get a room facing south towards the marina, you could see two parts of the Grand Prix circuit – the high speed section out of Turn 4 and also the approach sections to this immediately after the slow left-right-hard-left opening corner complex at the start of the lap.

While the Benjamin Sheares Bridge and overpass might obstruct the view somewhat of the opening corners, you should be well placed for the high-speed section. So make sure you book a room with a view of the harbour.

There's bound to be some on-track action seen from the Pan Pacific
There's bound to be some on-track action seen from the Pan Pacific

Pan Pacific Singapore also boasts the Pacific Club lounge on Level 38 with 360-degree views of the harbour and city. If your room offers access to this, you’ll be set for a great view of the race. The lounge is open until 10pm daily which might help you catch the whole race, although there may be extended hours for the Grand Prix.

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

One of Singapore’s most historic hotels, The Fullerton is often seen on television broadcasts of the Singapore Grand Prix as helicopters catch the action from high above.

North-facing rooms have great views of the on-track action as the cars navigate the Singapore Sling corners and race over the Anderson Bridge before the hand left-hander back onto Esplanade Drive, so the Esplanade Room will really be the prize pick.

If you like the bridge section of the track, The Fullerton is your bet
If you like the bridge section of the track, The Fullerton is your bet

Make sure you don’t confuse a Quay room with a Marina Bay room, or you will need your television to see the race despite the cacophonous V6 hybrid engines being well within earshot.

Elsewhere in this historic former post office turned luxury hotel, The Fullerton’s Town restaurant specialises in international buffet spreads featuring gourmet charcoal-grilled meats and seafood. A three-tiered afternoon tea platter at The Courtyard will also get your engine running for race start.

Marina Bay Sands Singapore

One of the city’s icons, the Marina Bay Sands is positioned to give F1 pundits some distant views over the final corners of the lap.

Unfortunately the hotel is positioned side-on to the circuit's front straight and pit lane, but if you’re in the closest tower, try and get a room overlooking the gardens as these have balconies and you may be able to see a small portion of the track.

An amazing hotel but you might struggle for a great view of the track
An amazing hotel but you might struggle for a great view of the track

It’s important to note that while it’s always tempting to go for a room overlooking the harbour, these rooms don’t offer balconies, so you’ll be watching from a window.

It will still be a reasonable view overlooking the grandstand and the marina part of the circuit, but not the same as having a balcony.

Come late September, Singapore will be abuzz with Formula 1 excitement.
Come late September, Singapore will be abuzz with Formula 1 excitement.

The Singapore Grand Prix will be Round 18 of the 23-race season in 2022 and by the time the F1 circus reaches the Lion City, the championship may be decided or it may still hang in the balance.

And as legendary former Formula 1 commentator, Murray Walker, used to say: “F1 is IF spelled backwards.”

Make sure you’re in position when the lights go out and the field screams towards Turn 1 in Singapore.

05 Oct 2017

Total posts 531

I wonder what the entry requirements for Singapore will be like in September/October this year? Perhaps back to normal or is this wishful thinking? More and more countries and even the likes of Bill Gates and the WHO have spoken of Covid ending within this year or to make Covid "endemic". I hope this happens sooner rather than later, perhaps by July or so as some countries are subtly hinting at.

Would be awesome to be able to fly into Singapore without tedious pre-planning, no need to wear a mask on the plane (or anywhere else after arrival), no more testing, vaccine passports or any of this other nonsense.

There are some signs what currently seems like a pipe dream could happen by then, but then a part of me says that it might not. Whatever happens, if Singapore doesn't ease up on its ultra authoritarian rules (which are some of the strictest in the world, possibly the strictest) then this event won't be able to be held. Imagine going to prison for being a spectator not wearing a mask! No joke, this is actually happening in Singapore (look up the case of a British expat who was arrested, charged in court and later deported for not wearing a mask on the train a few months back). They've always had strict rules in Singapore, but this is a step up even for them.

06 Sep 2018

Total posts 1

And do any of these hotels still have rooms available? 

I was able to secure a room at the Sofitel, only through benifit of my ALL Platinum room guarantee. Swisotel has long been booked out, even for Platinums!


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