Singapore Father's Day guide: 88 ways to spoil dad

Business Times

05-06-2025

Like Mother's Day, Father's Day has a tendency to sneak up on us. One moment you're choosing between latte or cappuccino, the next you're scrambling for dinner reservations or panic-buying a 'World's Best Dad' mug that he'll politely pretend to love.
But not this year.
Whether your dad is the strong, silent type who gets nostalgic about his youthful days, or a karaoke mic hog who knows every word to Eagles' songs, it's time to show up like the world's most prepared child. That doesn't mean big gestures – just thoughtful ones.
Father's Day is about being present, paying attention, and letting him know he's appreciated. Of course, if you're also after the perfect bottle of Japanese single malt, a hand-stitched wallet, or a dinner reservation he can brag about, don't worry – we've got that covered too.
Here's 101 ways to celebrate the big man on Jun 15.
Thoughtful gestures
1. Wake up early and make him coffee before he asks.
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2. Handwrite 'Best Dad in Singapore and JB' on a card. He'll get the Phua Chu Kang reference, even if you don't.
3. Set up a photo slideshow of you two growing up.
4. Frame his National Service (NS) photo. If you can't find it, frame his best dad joke. Either would make him beam.
5. Ask about his childhood – and really listen to him. Resist touching your phone unless to record him.
6. Take him on a nostalgia walk around the old neighborhood.
7. On the walk, snap wefies, post them on social media, and show him the likes.
8. If the house he grew up in is still standing, consider asking the current owners if he can take a quick look inside – just ten minutes, for memory's sake.
9. If he's tired, book him a foot massage.
10. Get a table at an old-fashioned kopitiam and ask him what he worried about when he was your age.
11. Find his old friends – his NS buddy, kampung mate, or university classmate – and arrange a surprise meet-up.
12. Take him to an old vinyl store and let him go wild. Red Point Record Warehouse on Playfair Road has 20,000 vinyls, CDs and cassettes.
13. When he comes home, surprise him with a mini 'dad exhibition' – old photos, passports, office passes, even the pager he refuses to throw.
14. Gift him a new clean copy of a book he loved when he was younger.
15. End the day by telling him: 'I hope I age just like you.' Let the silence linger.
Style him up
16. Book a full grooming ritual at Sultans of Shave's Capitol branch – shave, haircut, facial, with premium whiskey in hand. They even have a father and son offer, so both of you can get sharp together.
17. Buy him a structured Panama hat from Hat of Cain.
18. Tailor him a shirt at the much-lauded men's clothing store The Prestigious with master tailor Thomas Wong. But if dad doesn't like to be fussed over, try Determinant – a Hong Kong brand newly available at Takashimaya. Its shirts come in 61 ready-to-wear sizes, designed to fit men of all builds.
Determinant shirts come in 61 sizes for Asian men of all builds. PHOTO: DETERMINANT
19. Surprise him with a Hermes Apple Watch band – or the Nomos Club Sport Neomatik if he prefers analog. If his taste leans towards classic, gift him a Tank from Cartier.
20. Swap his exploding wallet for a slim check leather bifold from Burberry.
21. Buy him an Oasi cashmere scarf from Ermenegildo Zegna, for plane rides and European weather.
22. If he likes to hike, get him the Tiffany 1837 Makers sterling silver compass from Tiffany's. He'll want to show this one off to his friends.
23. Engrave cufflinks from Montblanc.
24. Book him a custom fragrance session at Maison 21G to design a scent that's unmistakably his.
25. Upgrade his sunglasses to a pair from Jacques Marie Mage – bold design, limited runs, serious style cred. Available in Jamco at Fullerton Hotel.
26. Slip him into a classic pair of Ferragamo loafers.
Louis Vuitton's Christopher MM backpack in textured Epi XL leather. PHOTO: LOUIS VUITTON
27. Elevate his travel look with Louis Vuitton's Christopher MM backpack in textured Epi XL leather – sleek, structured and show-stopping.
28. Pick out a contemporary batik shirt from Baju by Oniatta – elegant, rooted in heritage, and perfect for Sunday brunch or Gillman Barracks.
29. Refresh his weekend wardrobe with low-key luxe casual pants from In Good Company.
30. When in doubt, take him to Dover Street Market Singapore – where cutting-edge fashion meets cult classics, and he'll walk out cooler than you.
Food, glorious dad food
31. Greenwood Fish Market is extending its Lobster Monday promotion for Father's Day weekend (Jun 13-15), offering whole Western rock lobsters at S$59.95
32. Wolfgang's Steakhouse offers a three-course set menu featuring US prime ribeye or Colorado lamb chops, complemented by a signature cocktail and a complimentary Polaroid keepsake, from Jun 11-18.
33. For modern Chinese cuisine, Mott 32 has a Parent's Day Set Menu (so mums don't feel left out) at S$188++ per person, available from Jun 1-15. It includes complimentary ArtScience Museum tickets.
34. LeVeL33 has partnered Butcher Box to create the ultimate Father's Day sharing menu (S98++). It features seasonal seafood, premium dry-aged steak, and housemade desserts.
For meat lovers, LeVeL33 has a special Father's Day menu. PHOTO: LEVEL33
35. Min Jiang offers curated set menus of delectable Cantonese cuisine starting from S$108++ per person, available from Jun 14-15.
36. At Fat Belly, indulge in a 1kg Little Joe's Grass-Fed Tomahawk (S$188++), available from Jun 9-15.
37. Lawry's The Prime Rib offers a 5-course set menu at S$169++ per person, available from Jun 14-15.
38. Kwee Zeen at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is hosting a SeafoodFest Weekend Buffet from 13-14, and a Father's Day Brunch on Jun 15 at S$108++ per person
39. Bedrock Bar & Grill has a special 3-course set lunch at $88++ per person, including a complimentary glass of Casas del Toqui single vineyard merlot. Available from Jun 12-18.
40. Delight his palate with the legendary Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Limited Edition whisky, a harmonious blend of rich fruitiness and subtle smokiness.
41. That or the Macallan Double Cask 18 Years – a smooth, warm single malt that pairs perfectly with his deep thoughts at night.
42. Also great is the Dalmore's Luminary No 3 – a complex, limited-edition whisky finished in seven casks, with packaging by architect Ben Dobbin.
43. No Father's Day meal is complete without a cake. So get him one with his face superimposed on Iron Man.
44. Does he love coffee? Common Man Coffee Roasters offers an approximately 3.5-hour coffee tasting and sensory analysis workshop.
You can't go wrong with cheng tng from Chow Zan Dessert. PHOTO: BT FILE
45. Does he prefer hawker fare to restaurant food? Organise a hawker crawl across the city, starting at Maxwell Food Market and ending at Old Airport Road Food Centre.
46. Take him on a durian tasting tour – XO, Mao Shan Wang, the works.
47. Look for a retro ice cream cart and share two potong bars under the sun.
48. Ask him what his favourite childhood snack was, track it down, and surprise him with it.
49. Bring home a dessert flight and let him indulge guilt-free – kueh, mochi, tarts, and warm bowls of cheng tng and tao suan.
50. Ask mum to remember what their dinner wedding menu was – and try to recreate it for her and Dad.
Really useful gifts
51. Treat his car to a professional clean.
52. Better still, treat him to a subscription with AutoApp, a concierge service in Singapore that handles car servicing, repairs, and inspections on his behalf – so he never has to queue.
53. Upgrade his daily drive with a discreet but powerful car air purifier from IQAir or Philips.
54. If he complains about aching knees or tired feet, consider FitFlop's range of ergonomic slippers. They offer support and style.
55. Still on the topic of aches, Therabody Theragun Pro Plus is one of the world's favourite massage guns. There's a Father's Day sale right now at its MacPherson store.
56. Celebrate his health with Eu Yan Sang's Father's Day hampers, filled with heritage tonics and health-boosting treats.
57. For the audiophile dad, gifting the Dyson's OnTrac headphones is a no-brainer. It was listed on Time's Best Inventions of 2024 and Esquire's Editor's Pick 2024.
Dyson's OnTrac headphones is highly-rated by users and experts. PHOTO: DYSON
58. An Audible Premium Plus subscription opens a world of audiobooks and podcasts.
59. If he has a man cave or home office, get him the Smeg Retro Style Mini Fridge, which blends functionality and vintage charm.
60. A Moleskine Classic Leather Notebook for his thoughts and plans.
61. If he loves watches, splash out on Assouline's The Impossible Collection of Watches, a horology coffee-table book that offers a curated journey through 79 iconic timepieces, presented in a luxurious clamshell case.
62. Elevate his writing experience with Graf von Faber-Castell's classic Anello Titanium pens. The rose gold or ivory model is just beautiful.
63. Tickle his funny bones with Jimmy Niro's Dad Jokes book.
64. If he has gadgets and cables lying around, present him with the Nomatic Tech Organizer – a thoughtfully designed case that puts every wire, dongle and gizmo where it comfortably belongs.
65. Speaking of storage, check on his travel luggage. Tumi's new ultra-portable 19 Degree Lite collection comes in terrific new masculine colours, like cobalt, amber and titanium.
66. To aid sleep, gift him the Tempur Symphony Pillow, made with memory foam that cradles the neck and shoulders like a first-class cabin seat.
67. Upgrade his sleepwear with Loro Piana cotton-silk pyjamas.
68. Help him track and improve his rest with the Oura Ring Gen3, a sleek titanium sleep and wellness tracker that gives real-time sleep scores.
69. If he often wakes up thirsty, keep his beverages at the perfect temperature with the Yeti Rambler tumbler, which has over 90,000 positive reviews on Amazon.
70. Plug his ears with Ozlo Sleepbuds, which lull him to sleep with white noise, then seamlessly switch to noise-masking mode once he drifts off – before finally waking him gently with a discreet alarm system.
Experiences over things
71. Go on that long-postponed Malaysian road trip.
72. Hop on a ferry to Montigo Resorts in Batam.
Montigo Resorts in Batam is perfect for a quick dadcation. PHOTO: SIMRAN PANAECH
73. Book him a staycation at a luxury hotel. Let them pamper him from check-in to check-out.
74. Charter a private boat for offshore sport fishing.
75. Catch any fish? Cook it together with absolutely no help from mum or the domestic helper. Burnt bits are all fodder for good memories.
76. Arrange a surprise Zoom call with the extended family.
77. Stir up patriotism at National Museum's exhibition, Once Upon a Tide: Singapore's Journey from Settlement to Global City, which charts the island's journey from a thriving port to a cosmopolitan country.
78. Visit the maze of galleries at National Gallery Singapore.
79. Legendary sports car maker Porsche has a special Father's Day event: Dads get to indulge in a tasty afternoon treat at Mandarin Oriental, followed by a 30-minute test drive of a Porsche 911 or Taycan – all for just S$78.
80. Get your hands dirty at a pottery studio. Am I Addicted is Korean studio in Orchard Central with plenty of great classes.
81. Take him to a live jazz show at Maduro, known for its world-class sound and curated cocktails.
82. Watch the thrilling Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning now playing in cinemas. Insist he's ageing better than Tom Cruise and could totally perform those stunts.
83. Better still: Let him pick his favourite old movie and watch it at home with the rest of the family – complete with pillows and wagyu burgers from Burnt Ends.
84. Organise a family barbecue where dad gets to be grill master, playlist DJ, and undisputed king of the tongs.
85. Print out his funniest comebacks, wisest advice, and most unintentional gems from the family WhatsApp chats – then bind them into a little book to share with the family.
86. Make a time capsule together. If burying it underground is too much, tuck it deep into the closet for future rediscovery.
87. A hug, a 'thank you,' and an 'I love you.'
88. If all else fails, let the man nap. No questions asked.