The engines don't roar until sundown, so what's the game plan before the track lights turn on?
Sitting in your hotel room waiting for night practice isn't it. The Singapore Grand Prix brings incredible energy to the city, but daylight hours belong to culture, good food, and local exploration. If you're wondering about the best things to do in Singapore during the day this F1 weekend, step away from the circuit barriers.
Here's how to explore the coolest neighborhoods on the island like a true local before the night race kicks off.
1. Keong Saik: Heritage Shophouses, Temples, & Cafes
Keong Saik was once a gritty red light district. Today, it's one of the coolest streets in town. It balances vibrant local heritage with modern dining, all lined with colorful shophouses.
Start your morning grabbing coffee and kaya toast from a traditional kopitiam. Walk along the street to admire the detailed wall tiles and old architecture. Discover several local homegrown brands scattered across Keong Saik, many can be found on the second floor of the shophouses.
For shopping, head up to the second floor of a traditional shophouse at 25 Keong Saik Road. That's where you'll find Binary Style. They have the largest scarf collection in Singapore, and every single print is Singapore-themed. Twin architects hand-draw each design, turning shophouses, street food, and tropical birds into pure silk and cotton art. It's the easiest way to take a piece of Singapore with you back home.
Places of interest:
Binary Style (25 Keong Saik Rd, #02-01): Browse original hand-drawn Singapore story scarves, write letters on a vintage typewriter, and use our custom rubber stamp station.
Tong Ah Eating House (35 Keong Saik Rd): Historic kopitiam serving traditional crispy kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, and local kopi.
Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple (73 Keong Saik Rd): Historic 1925 Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha, famous for its ornate five-tiered Rajagopuram and deep roots along Keong Saik Road.
Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery (28 Kreta Ayer Rd): Intimate community museum spotlighting the precinct's rich cultural heritage, from traditional Chinese opera and puppetry to nanyin music and calligraphy.
Cafes all over Keong Saik Road, Kreta Ayer, Neil Road, Bukit Pasoh: There are several nice cafes and restaurants scattered all over this area encompassing these 4 streets. Making it a nice area to walk around and explore. Everything is within a 5 minute walking distance of each other.
Best for: Local heritage, boutique shopping, charming cafes & restaurants
2. Tiong Bahru: Art Deco Corners and Old School Charm
Tiong Bahru is the oldest public housing estate in Singapore. It looks completely different from the rest of the high-rise city. The neighborhood features low curved buildings inspired by 1930s aviation design.
Start early with freshly steamed chwee kueh and local kopi at the buzzing Tiong Bahru Market. It's a genuine slice of daily heartland life.
After breakfast, wander the quiet back alleys. You'll find indie bookstores, record shops, and quaint bakeries serving fresh croissants. The mix of elderly residents chatting downstairs and young creatives sipping iced lattes gives this area its unique Singapore charm.
Places of interest:
Tiong Bahru Food Centre (30 Seng Poh Rd): Landmark food haven famous for Jian Bo Shui Kueh (chwee kueh) and roasted meats.
Plain Vanilla Bakery (1D Yong Siak St): Cozy bakery pioneer known for specialty espresso, cupcakes, and a quiet leafy patio.
Tiong Bahru Bakery (56 Eng Hoon St): The original flagship cafe that started Singapore's modern French bakery wave, celebrated for flaky croissants, kouign-amann, and lively outdoor street seating.
Qi Tian Gong Temple (44 Eng Hoon St): Historic 1920 Taoist temple dedicated to the Monkey God, famous for intricate wood carvings and its deep spiritual connection to the estate's founding days.
Best for: Art Deco architecture, hawker breakfast, cafe hopping, local food
3. New Bahru: The Creative Hub for Homegrown Brands
Housed in the former Nan Chiau High School along Kim Yan Road, New Bahru is the newest creative playground in town. It brings together the very best local brands, independent designers, and culinary concepts in one spot.
Instead of generic mall chains, you get genuine Singapore craft. You can build your own pleated bag, shop locally made ceramics, and browse independent lifestyle labels.
When you get hungry, grab wood fired pizzas or locally roasted coffee in the airy central courtyard. It's lively, creative, and shows off modern Singapore design at its best.
Places of interest:
MAKE by GINLEE (#02-10 New Bahru): Hands-on sustainable fashion space where you choose colors and pleat your own bag on demand.
The Coconut Club (#01-14 New Bahru): Vibrant dining hall serving elevated Nasi Lemak made with freshly squeezed, cold-pressed coconut milk.
Beyond The Vines Design House (#01-07 New Bahru): The brand’s largest flagship store worldwide, featuring playful modular architecture, on-site bag personalization, and a curated design reference library called Between The Lines.
Best for: Local brands, creative workshops, lifestyle shopping, casual dining.
4. Kada: Cool cafes
Set in a conserved 1920s mission hospital right next to Maxwell Food Centre, Kada is a fresh lifestyle enclave. It brings historic architecture and modern chill together under one roof.
It still houses one of the oldest working birdcage lifts in the city. You can take it up to explore sunny rooftop bakeries, coffee spots, and wellness studios.
Grab a matcha latte downstairs, check out the minimalist art corners, or jump into a quick recovery session before your long night on your feet at the track. Since it's steps away from the food centre, you can chase your iced coffee with world-famous Hainanese chicken rice.
Places of interest:
Pacto by Parchmen (#01-10, Kada): Calm specialty tea and coffee bar pouring artisan matcha and single-origin brews.
Alani (Level 4, Kada): Sunny rooftop bakery featuring fresh sourdough loaves, open-fire dining, and neighborhood views.
Echo House (#01-08, Kada): Relaxed, pet-friendly cafe serving creative craft drinks like cold brew topped with vanilla cream, paired with fresh bakes like their signature sweet bolo croissant.
Kyuukei Coffee (#01-04, Kada): Japanese-inspired sanctuary known for precision pour-overs, velvety flat whites, and warm brisket pesto toasties tucked away from the busy streets.
Singapore's Oldest Electric Lift: A rare, fully working slice of local architectural history featuring manual metal scissor gates, still transporting visitors through this restored 1920s mission building.
Maxwell Food Centre: Legendary open-air hawker hall right next door, home to the famous Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice.
Best for: Historic architecture, specialty coffee, iconic local food
5. Jalan Besar: Industrial Cool and Traditional Kopitiams
Jalan Besar offers a raw, vibrant look at Singapore. Hardware supply stores, old automotive workshops, and Buddhist temples sit right next to craft beer microbreweries and third-wave espresso bars.
It's known among locals as the ultimate cafe hopping battleground. You can spend an entire afternoon strolling past vibrant shophouses, sampling sourdough pastries, and cooling down with local artisanal ice cream.
Stop by the historic Berseh Food Centre to try traditional turtle soup or crispy oyster cakes. It's an unpolished, authentic enclave with tons of neighborhood pride.
Places of interest:
Chye Seng Huat Hardware (150 Tyrwhitt Rd): Former industrial hardware shop converted into an iconic roastery and courtyard coffee bar.
Berseh Food Centre (166 Jalan Besar): Authentic multi-level hawker building known for traditional Fu Zhou oyster cakes and braised comfort food.
Apartment Coffee (139 Selegie Rd): Serene, light-filled brew space dedicated to quiet moments and origin-focused filter coffees.
Moonchild (351 Jalan Besar #01-01): Bright, pet-friendly dining spot created by the team behind Atlas Coffeehouse, known for hearty bowls, Scallop Rose Mafaldine, and specialty espresso.
Space 23 (393 Jalan Besar): Quiet, minimalist neighborhood cafe offering all-day brunch, house bakes like lemon drizzle cake, and precision pour-overs.
Average Service (315 Jalan Besar): Tongue-in-cheek retro cafe and evening hangout serving thick cut bacon brunch plates, creative espresso tonics, and specialty matcha drinks.
Best for: Craft coffee, industrial cafes, traditional street bites, temple walks.
6. Dempsey Hill: Lush Greenery and Tranquil Dining
Need a break from downtown crowds and track noise? Head up to Dempsey Hill. This leafy dining enclave was once a British military barracks in the 1800s.
Today, the high-ceilinged colonial buildings host fine dining spots, wine shops, antique galleries, and artisanal chocolate dispensaries.
It's surrounded by towering nutmeg trees and tropical greenery, making it noticeably cooler than the city streets. Sit outside for a leisurely weekend brunch, taste Asian bean-to-bar chocolates, or browse antique Southeast Asian teak furniture. It feels like an island retreat just five minutes from Orchard Road.
Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie (13 Dempsey Rd, #01-03/04): Interactive chocolate space featuring Asian single-estate cacao and a build-your-own chocolate bar station.
The Dempsey Cookhouse & Bar (17D Dempsey Rd): High-ceilinged, breezy colonial dining room created by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Museum of Ice Cream Singapore (100 Loewen Rd): Whimsical, multi-room sweet wonderland with interactive pastel exhibits and unlimited dessert treats.
Candlenut (17A Dempsey Rd): The world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, helmed by Chef Malcolm Lee to serve elevated Nonya classics like braised ayam buah keluak and blue swimmer crab curry.
Samy’s Curry (25 Dempsey Rd): A beloved Singapore dining institution since the 1950s, famous for its signature fish head curry, spiced fried chicken, and classic banana leaf rice served in an airy heritage mess hall.
Dover Street Market Singapore (18 Dempsey Rd): Rei Kawakubo’s multi-brand concept space housed in a restored colonial army barrack, blending cutting-edge avant-garde streetwear, runway fashion, and rotating art installations.
Best for: Colonial dining, lush greenery, cafe hopping, quiet afternoon drinks.
7. Gillman Barracks: Contemporary Art in the Jungle
Gillman Barracks combines visual art with wild tropical surroundings. It's a former colonial army camp tucked against the jungle near Alexandra.
The white colonial outposts are now home to international art galleries, indie design studios, and quirky dining spots. You can walk between galleries to view modern Southeast Asian art without any entrance fees.
The pace here is slow and relaxed. After viewing the exhibitions, grab an iced drink at a local cafe nestled under huge banyan trees. It's peaceful, creative, and completely free from city hustle.
Mizuma Gallery (22 Lock Rd, #01-34): Contemporary visual art gallery highlighting innovative works and installations from across Southeast Asia.
The Naked Finn (39 Malan Rd): Understated restaurant built inside a military hut, celebrating pristine, minimally seasoned sustainable seafood.
Little Island Brewing Co. (43 Malan Rd): Relaxed microbrewery set under colonial canopies serving fresh craft beer and wood-fired pizzas.
Best for: Contemporary art galleries, nature walks, quiet craft beer spots, colonial architecture.
Make the Most of Your Race Weekend
F1 in Singapore isn't just about what happens under the floodlights. The real flavor of the island comes from exploring quiet shophouse streets, eating at open-air markets, and discovering homegrown designers.
Take a break from the grandstands during the heat of the day. Head over to 25 Keong Saik Road, step into our second-floor boutique, and say hello. Browse our hand-drawn silk prints, find your favorite local neighborhood pattern, and take a piece of Singapore with you wherever you travel next.