PUBLISHED August 21st, 2015 08:43 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:29 pm
Turning a year older soon? Know somebody else who is? We’ve got some awesome ideas to help you fend off the birthday blues. From cooking classes to cocktail bars, read on for some plans to keep the spirit young, even if the ol’ body machine gets a little older and a tad more rusty.
Coriander Leaf’s Culinary Classes
Chef Samia’s Culinary Classes in session
Coriander Leaf’s cooking lessons are among the very best in Singapore. With two purpose-built cooking studios dedicated to culinary education, and the chance to learn from their gifted chefs, namely Coriander Leaf’s chef and founder Samia Ahad and assistant director of culinary education, Vivian Pei, this is one of the best ways to spend your special day. Expect an wide range of Asian cuisine classes; from Thai (think perfect Pad Thais and killer Red Beef Curries) to South Asian classics (Chef Samia’s Chicken Biryani and Kebabs are incredible), and not forgetting Singapore’s own specialties like Chili Crab and Chicken Rice with the ‘Streets of Singapore’ class.
Whether you have no cooking experience or plenty of it, round up a bunch of friends and spend a day in a relaxed, fun atmosphere picking up tips and tricks from Chefs Samia and Vivian. We hear that there’s always too much sumptuous food left over, so you’ll be able to pack it home for some after-class birthday indulgence with loved ones. A great surprise gift for a foodie friend with an upcoming birthday, we reckon!
Coriander Leaf’s Cooking Classes are held at Coriander Leaf on Fridays and Saturdays and are typically 3.5 hours long. Classes start at $150 per person. For the full schedule of classes and timings, visit the Coriander Leaf’s website.
Go-Karting
Image Courtesy of KF1 Karting.
For a celebration that’ll get your adrenaline pumping, why not try go-karting? Many F1 superstars like Lewis Hamilton started out on these little devils, which can touch hair-raising speeds above 100km/h in competitive races. In Singapore you won’t find commercial karts going over 50 km/h, but that’s still a decent clip to satisfy a little need for speed! Check out Singapore’s dedicated karting tracks like the KF1 Karting Circuit, designed by renowned F1 track designer Hermann Tilke, and Kartright Speedway, both which offer awesome race features like floodlit night racing and live lap timing systems.
A go-karting birthday bash isn’t the most economical, of course. Kartright Speedway, for instance, charges upwards of $1,500 for an hour’s exclusive use of the track, along with 10 Karts. But it’s certainly an unforgettable experience, and one heck of a way to celebrate with friends; you can even get customised trophies to cherish and you’ll be talking about the races you had for months to come.
More information about the KF1 Karting Circuit can be found at their website here while Kartright Speedway’s website can be found here.
Forest Adventure
Did you know that Singapore had an actual, awesome, tree-top obstacle course? Featuring a Grand Course with 35 obstacles (including an incredible zip line over Bedok Reservoir!) as well as a shorter Kids Course (for littlies aged five to ten), Forest Adventure offers everyone in the family a birthday challenge like no other.
If you’re planning for the young ‘uns, Forest Adventure has some really neat packages for kids parties (up to 25 children), including 90 minutes’ exclusive access to the Kids Course, along with 2 dedicated instructors, Forest Adventure-themed birthday invites, candles and a delicious cake! There are also special Grand Course event packages available for the older kids and adults. Head down for a day of tricky tree-top trapezes, wobbly logs, and breathtaking views. If you need more convincing, check out our review here.
Forest Adventure is located at 825 Bedok Reservoir Rd, 479244. For more information about birthday packages at Forest Adventure, click here.
Go Wild at the Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, and River Safari
You’ve probably visited most of them before, but did you know that admission to all the parks under Wildlife Reserves Singapore is free on your birthday? All you need to do is show the folks at the ticketing counter your ID (for proof y’know, nobody takes your word for it these days) and you’ll get a special Wild Birthday Badge! That’s not all, you also receive 10% off retail and F&B for the day, along with complimentary ice-cream (which is probably the best kind). Even better? Tram rides are included with the birthday admission, too.
The birthday special is identical for all parks. Visit the River Safari page here to see what the promotion looks like.
Cocktail Classes
We always have a good time when drinks are involved…and we’re guessing it applies to you too. Instead of getting wasted though, it might be cool to enjoy your booze and learn something at the same time. Consider a cocktail class with the good folks at Drinkdings, who offer a fun range of 2 hour hands-on cocktail workshops to try out. Their ‘Cocktails From The Movies‘ class will teach you how to shake martinis fit for James Bond and fix up Cosmopolitans from Sex and The City. Priced at $60 per participant, the fee includes notes, equipment, mixers, and alcohol. Of course, you get to drink what you and your friends come up with!
If you prefer a swankier setting, Raffles Hotel’s hour-long Singapore Sling Masterclass is available till December 2015, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the iconic cocktail. Priced at $88++ per person, you’ll get to learn the secrets behind the original Singapore Sling from the hotel’s bartending team! On top of satay (meat skewers) breaks, the masterclass also includes a Singapore Sling glass with the commemorative 100th anniversary logo you can keep as a birthday memento.
Check out the full list of Drinkdings Classes here and get more information about the Raffles Hotel Singapore Sling Masterclass here.
Have an awesome time celebrating!