The hottest F1 parties in town

1. Amber Lounge

22 & 23 Sep
Temasek Reflections, Millenia Walk
This is always the party for which die-hard fans might truly be tempted to give up their kidney. Amber Lounge 2012 will be a go-to destination for drivers feeding off their lingering adrenaline rush – Sir Richard Branson and Holly Valance have been spotted. Average Joes will find the $900 ticket hard to stomach but if you do manage to get ushered into the pop-up tent, you’ll be guaranteed a steady stream of Moët and plenty of eye candy, as well as a performance from R&B crooner Lemar of his new single ‘Invincible’. Runway cats will also model pieces from La Perla, Brioni and Stefano Ricci. Tickets: $900-$26,000.

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2. Johnnie Walker Circuit Lounge

22 & 23 Sep
Gardens by the Bay
Upping the ante of Johnnie Walker’s Jet Black parties, the exclusive invite-only Circuit Lounge makes its Asian debut against the Flower Dome’s lush backdrop. Lucky patrons will sip cocktails shaken up by Diageo Reserve’s World Class bartenders and sample new strains of the whisky label at a pop-up ‘flavour lab’. Deck stalwarts include Grammynominated producer, DJ and E! host Clinton Sparks, New York’s electro-house duo Disco Fries, Taiwanese disco don DJ Ray Ray and Butter Factory’s homeboy Dave Does. Tickets: Non-VIPs can try to snag an invite on Facebook.

3. Podium Lounge

21-23 Sep
Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore
This elegant poolside playden attracts models, celebs and a driver or two. The Dom Pérignon VIP section ($888) offers a lavish flow of drinks while general entry starts at $138. The runway will showcase Trisha Vu’s (21 Sep) luxe evening gowns, Italian label Canali’s (22 Sep) dapper suits and Willow & Huxley’s (23 Sep) ultra-feminine labels. Ibiza stalwart Seb Fontaine is on deck duty every night, supported by Giuseppe G, Angie Vu Ha and Nicole Chen & Tenashar – accompanied by percussionist Pablo Calzado – setting this summery soirée’s chilled-out pulse. Tickets: $138-$888. 

4. Zouk

21 & 22 Sep
Zouk’s enviable line-up in the dance circuit kicks off with G.H. Mumm presents Rev Up Friday when the godfathers of house Booka Shade unleash currents of deep house and bare-bones electro. The revelry continues as Christian Karlsson – of Swedish indiepop peddlers Miike Snow – debuts on Epic! Pit Stop Saturday. Finally, Velvet Underground hosts an instalment of DMZ, a specially curated night uniting signees from Darker Than Wax and Midnight Shift. German techno rascal Iron Curtis takes centre stage, accompanied by local peers. www.zoukclub.com 

5. 1-Altitude

21-23 Sep
One Raffles Place
The world’s tallest open-air rooftop with its unbeatable birds’ eye view of the city and the race circuit below will keep the post-race excitement going; the 63rd-level vantage point might be worth the $58 door charge alone. Resident mix-meister DJ Funkman will be spinning a spirit-stoking mix of electro, disco and funk-tinged hooks across all three nights. As a parting gift of sorts, racegoers who flash their GP pass will be granted free entry on the 23rd. If you haven’t run out of steam by then, London-born crooner Rob Collins will be belting out an eclectic playlist of tunes, from Motown to rock ’n’ roll and swing. www.1-altitude.com

6. Ku De Ta

21-23 Sep
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Another flooded-with-glamsters spot, Ku De Ta’s turned down its weighty price a notch this year – entry from 6-11pm is $100, including a glass of champagne, and bumps up to $200 afterwards. Still, past years have proven this MBStopping bar a reliable pitstop both before and after the race, with live broadcasts of the action on the ground blazing on numerous screens. This year’s details are still under wraps, but we’re expecting to be gleefully satiated by a guest DJ pumping out big-room hits and an influx of primped-and-polished lookers knocking back drinks. www.kudeta.com.sg

7. New Asia Bar

20-25 Sep
Swissôtel The Stamford
A mite along in years, this rooftop bar proves it’s still one of the big players with its string of Grand Prix doozies. This year’s Opening Party kicks off race revelry a day early with tech-riddled progressive house from London decknik Jon White. Three more bumper nights promise dancefloor euphoria with beatmeisters Keza (France), DJs from Mars (Italy) and Roma Pafos (Russia) changing gears from soul-shakin’ house to explosive electro and cheeky mashups. You might not be among celebs here but the $30 fee is the best-value F1 shakedown in town. www.swissotel.com

8. Avalon

21 & 22 Sep
Marina Bay Sands Crystal Pavilion
Since its grand opening last year, Avalon’s been courting padded-out club kids, peachy-skinned models and high-rolling corporate types with an approvable string of dance nobility and an over-the-top sound system. Rather than a bumper line-up of noiseniks, its newly spruced urban space – including invite-only lounge Spider Room – will do most of the talking this F1 season. No matter, Danish prog-house pimp Jerome Isma-ae (21 Sep) and Finnish electrohouse hotshots Mason & Dragen (22 Sep) see to it that sonic skulduggery will be had. www.avalon.sg