I’m in my underwear, 23 floors above the bustling Millenia Walk at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay, when the suite’s window comes alive with the whines and roar of turbocharged V6 engines. An entire blurry procession of them, vanishing as quickly as they appeared in flashes of racing green, papaya, and red on the street circuit below.
Seconds ago, I was ironing a shirt for dinner plans later that evening. Now, my nose was firmly pressed against a floor-to-ceiling glass pane, fogged with excitement, watching the Friday practice session of Formula 1’s Singapore Grand Prix – and a practical demonstration of the Doppler Effect – unfold before my eyes.
This would be the first occasion in which Hilton would honour its promise to take me right up to the action, though it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Nor even the most memorable. On the hospitality group’s invitation, we lived an unforgettable 72 hours in the Lion City – here’s what went down and how you could replicate it as a Hilton Honours member via the Race Week Suite Experience.
The second home of McLaren Racing
As a longstanding partner of McLaren Racing, going on two decades this year, Hilton hasn’t just benefited from the mere association with grid success.
The travelling McLaren outfit actually stays at Hilton hotels while on the road (a grand total of 21 for the ongoing season). Meaning each location – especially Conrad Singapore Marina Bay – transforms into something of an attraction come race weekends.
Truth be told, prior to checking in for my three-night stay, I assumed the partnership was in name only.
That was until McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown hit me with a drive-by “faster!” while I was playing a reaction time game on the lobby’s McLaren promo wall; he declined hiring me as a third driver.
The following day, I shared a silent elevator ride with Team Principal Andrea Stella and his wife, the latter of whom broke the 23-floor tension with a polite “have a nice day.”
Awkward eye contact was even made with legendary F1 driver in his own right and Oscar Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber, while I was waiting to be seated for high tea at Lobby Lounge; the Aussie icon wisely switched seats to somewhere behind a pillar shortly thereafter.
It is worth mentioning, however, that given Conrad Singapore Marina Bay’s remarkable proximity to Marina Bay Street Circuit – quite literally steps away from the Turn 6 grandstand entry – you can also expect eager fans by the lobby entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of Piastri or Lando Norris entering/exiting a tinted people mover (don’t worry, they’re held back by a white picket fence).
But I suppose that’s the price you pay for being stationed in the literal heart of it all.
And anyone harbouring similar ambitions to said fans should know it’ll never happen: key McLaren Racing personnel quietly come and go via a hidden service hallway found by the hotel kitchen to avoid being swarmed.
“I don’t have the heart to tell them,” a concierge named Denry told me with a smile.
Saturday
Morning
If you arrive the Friday afternoon like I did, and decide to enthusiastically chase all those airport lounge and in-flight beverages with…
- poor posture throughout the eight-hour journey (and poor posture in general)
- a spirited upper body session at Conrad Singapore’s gym (anticipatory of the calories)
- a deliciously authentic Hainanese chicken rice dinner at Hilton Singapore Orchard’s Chatterbox
- followed by an array of world-class cocktails ranging from dirty gin martinis to “flamboyant whisky sours” at the acclaimed Manhattan Bar (previously ranked #21 globally by 50 Best)
- plus night one’s decadent turn down treat (an edible chocolate espresso cup with espuma and dried papaya)
… then you’ll also want to do what I did: skip the complimentary Saturday morning flow yoga, settle in for a hearty multi-cuisine breakfast at Oscar’s (no relation to Piastri), before getting worked on at the hotel’s very capable fourth-level spa facility. #selfcare
The menu here ranges from the Singaporean-inspired Heritage Renewal, Chinese Meridian Massages, and Swedish Massages, to Aromatherapy and custom-tailored treatments for whatever ails you.
Opt for the Physical Rescue to not only smooth out those post-air travel muscle and joint kinks, but also regain some life in your mug and help get that water weight moving out of the system. A dip in the pool immediately after certainly wouldn’t go amiss, either. At the right time of day, you’ll be treated to a symphony of race engines while you lounge.
Afternoon
When it comes to dining, Singapore offers an embarrassment of riches – both on-site with Hilton properties and beyond those lobby doors (more on this for your Sunday breakdown).
Though if you plan on hitting the Paddock Club later, don’t do what I did: overindex on breakfast at the aforementioned Oscar’s and then double down on that mistake at lunch with a carb-heavy affair of pizzas and pastas from Nancy Silverton’s Michelin-calibre Osteria Mozza (also located at Hilton Singapore Orchard).
Live and learn, but mostly just live.
In any case, don’t fret about missing out on Hilton-curated culinary experiences. There’ll be plenty of opportunities to taste the goods inside said Paddock Club.
Head back to Conrad Singapore Marina Bay, shower to rinse off that famed Lion City humidity, before putting on your Sunday best/most breathable to hit Marina Bay Street Circuit, and wade through the crowds under the guidance of a Hilton hospitality rep and their unmistakably blue paddle sign.
Evening
Once you’ve gotten the lay of the land and the team garage, courtesy of both Hilton and McLaren Racing – perhaps even collected some complimentary merch and logged a few laps on the simulator inside McLaren’s Hospitality Suite – you’ll want to roam the Paddock Club.
Most people will either camp out somewhere with a decent view of the track ahead of qualifying or get their grub on. We found an excellent mix with the former and a few cocktails at the pop-up of the newly crowned world’s greatest bar, Bar Leone from Hong Kong.
Pro tip: while everyone gets caught up in the immediate rush of the paddock walk opening, use this time to hit all the Paddock Club restaurants that were hampered by queues. Just make sure you leave enough time to make the walk yourself before qualis kick off.
Now here’s where the day comes down to a matter of priorities.
For the F1 diehards, you’ll probably want to chill out in the McLaren Hospitality Suite like we did – or wherever you happen to be taking in qualis from – till pole position has officially been awarded. Marina Bay Street Circuit, of course, is a track that doesn’t exactly allow for overtakes during race day, meaning qualifying is arguably where the real weekend-deciding drama unfolds.
But if you want a fighting chance of getting up front near the barriers to see a headlining musical act like The Foo Fighters do their thing, you’ll need to make your way to the Padang Stage approximately halfway through Q2, and the beginning of Q3 at the absolute latest. Otherwise, you’ll have to make do somewhere halfway up the field.
This balancing act between the Singapore Grand Prix’s unbelievably heavyweight music lineup and the actual racing proved to be something of a recurring theme for our weekend; I missed Crowded House right around the dinner hour in desperate search of a phone charger and vowed it would not happen again for Elton John.
Back at your Conrad Singapore Marina Bay suite, enjoy the turn-down treat waiting for you: flasks of Tropical Papaya Punch to recharge and rehydrate ahead of race day, along with a very cute Conrad pit-crew teddy bear to be taken home, and all that merch you got a hold of (though didn’t have to carry around all evening) thanks to the Hilton concierge service.
Sunday
Morning
Depending on how and when you’ve pulled up, you’ll either want to replicate Saturday’s slow-going itinerary of breakfast at Oscar’s, a spa treatment, and pool time, or actually strike out on your own for a bit of exploration.
As per the suggestion of B.H. Magazine editor-in-chief and – up until recently – a Singapore-based expat, James Want, the Roast Paradise in Old Airport Rd should be on the list if you’re keen on tasting “the best roast pork and char siu in the city.”
If you’ve got the appetite and the time, we also recommend the Maxwell Food Centre in Tanjong Pagar, near Chinatown, for an almost obligatory bowl of laksa.
For more B.H.-approved hotspots, check out our comprehensive ‘Beyond The Track’ guide masterminded by print deputy editor (and former Singapore-based insider) Karlie Verkerk for a breakdown of where to eat and drink, as well as all the must-try hawker dishes.
Sightsee according to your own discretion/enthusiasm.
Afternoon
Considering it won’t be lights out and away we go until 8 PM local time, and the fact that you’re getting properly amongst it at the Turn 1 grandstands as opposed to yesterday’s hospitality suite set-up, you’ll want to have a nibble and a sip of something. Especially if you didn’t hit up a hawker centre as per our credentialled suggestion.
For the entire duration of race week – and a little more on either side of the dates – Conrad Singapore Marina Bay’s Lobby Lounge serves as the perfect daytime pitstop with its Alchemy of Chocolate Papaya Edition (a special expression of the hotel’s seasonal high tea series).
The multi-tiered degustation comprises Guanaja foie gras terrine with cherry glaze, pancetta croquette with chocolate drizzle, toasted dates with Valrhona powder, Parisian ham and Gruyère sandwiches with confit truffle egg yolk; Dulcey marmalade tart with mango banana, a gluten-free Cocoa Pod with Manjari mousse, Chocolate Mille Feuille with Komuntu crémeux, alongside warm vanilla and raisin scones with clotted cream and wild strawberry jam.
The grand finale involves a theatrical tableside serving of the Smoky Chocolate Espuma and an edible espresso cup from the first night.
At this point, you’ll probably want a quick post-tea siesta for what lies ahead.
Evening/Late Evening
To sidestep the soon-to-be overwhelming influx of motorsport fans infiltrating Marina Bay Street Circuit, take full advantage of Conrad Singapore Marina Bay’s ridiculously close proximity to the track and forward in some time between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM.
This will also give you ample time to find where you’ll be sitting, grab a beer (or several), and take in the set of a music act like The Smashing Pumpkins in all their nostalgic glory on the Wharf Stage during golden hour.
Second pro tip: find your seat and settle in several minutes before the formation lap to avoid a chorus of irate papaya-clad Aussies yelling at you to sit the f**k down, along with a spirited assortment of barbed yet somewhat fair name-calling.
Once again, live and learn, but mostly just live. And once again, decide whether you’ll stick around to witness the overtake-less procession come to an official end before rushing onto the track for McLaren Racing’s back-to-back constructors’ win on the podium… or make an early-ish exit to secure a decent vantage point for Sir Elton John.
We chose the former and fear not if you do the same: similar to Dave Grohl and The Foo Fighters on the Saturday, Sir Elton’s setlist accommodated stragglers, and not a single note of his most beloved hits – from ‘Tiny Dancer’ to ‘Rocketman’ – were played until after we arrived. Though be prepared to stand at the back of an overpopulated Padang Stage fan zone.
Upon returning to your Conrad Singapore Marina Bay suite, you’ll be greeted with an ice-cold bucket of Moët & Chandon to be consumed with room service from Oscar’s, several mementos to remember the race weekend – including McLaren Racing F1 car paperweights, a mini replica helmet, and a set of Hilton pillowcases monogrammed with your initials. And therein lies the mark of truly elite hospitality.
It’s not just anticipating a need with indulgent treats, trinkets, and hours tailored to the weekend (late-night kitchen orders and late-checkout, alike). It’s not even the remarkable attention to detail that makes a lifelong pauper feel like he was bred to be a princeling.
It’s the well-honed ability to embrace a guest and make them feel perfectly at home, to the point where that actual home pales in comparison and feels like a legitimate psychic affront (a little above the pay grade of your garden variety holiday comedown).
There’s a distinct pang of melancholy when I slide into the car service Conrad Singapore Marina Bay’s concierge has called for me post-checkout. Right in the chest. But as I cruise back to Changi International Airport, I come to realise this isn’t really “farewell.” Merely “until next time.”
Hilton for the stay, indeed, and in light of what I had the privilege of receiving, probably no other for the rest of my days.
Thankfully, you don’t have to work for B.H. to access this VIP experience. Make your bids here as a Hilton Honours member to live like we did during the next Singapore Grand Prix (or any other race weekend and sporting event that tickles your fancy).
Address: 2 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038982
Contact: +65 6334 8888
The author enjoyed this trip as a guest of Hilton at the Conrad Singapore Marina Bay.
