East Coast Park may be Singapore's default BBQ destination, with 70-plus pits along the beachfront, but it's far from the only option. From mangrove boardwalks to rooftop grills with karaoke rooms, here are the spots worth booking instead.

For a classic coastal cookout, Pasir Ris Park offers 65 pits across its 70-hectare grounds at $20 per booking. Between grilling sessions, you can walk the 6-hectare mangrove boardwalk, climb the three-storey birdwatching tower to spot hornbills and kingfishers, or let the kids loose on Area 3's Adventure Playground — the largest in Singapore. There's even free camping with a permit if you want to make a night of it. Sembawang Park is quieter still, with 10 beachfront pits from $12, including two electric ones if you'd rather skip charcoal. It has a battleship-themed playground, a dog run, and a 30m jetty for fishing — though part of the jetty is closed until 31 December 2026 for maintenance.

Plane-spotters should head to Changi Beach Park, where 20 pits ($16 per booking) come with low-flying aircraft rumbling overhead and views of Pulau Ubin from the promontory. Rent a bike and ride the 3.3km waterfront path, or check NEA's water advisories before a post-meal swim. Westies can stick closer to home at West Coast Park, where 9 pits cluster near Carpark 2 ($20, noon to 10.30pm) with ship-spotting views of the Strait. Note there's no shelter, so pack a canopy.

Prefer to grill in comfort? HomeTeamNS Khatib and Bedok Reservoir rent rooftop patios with electric grills and Wi-Fi from $40.74 for six hours (members; guests pay from $61.12), with add-on ManCave rooms featuring karaoke, consoles and pool tables. SAFRA's seven clubhouses each run their own BBQ setups — think pool packages at Choa Chu Kang and Jurong, or an air-conditioned Culinary Experience Studio overlooking Punggol Waterway with cleanup included. Members book up to three months ahead via the SAFRA app; guests book in person.

A few wildcard options: CSC @ Bukit Batok has sheltered treehouse pavilions for 15 to 30 guests from $76 (pool access is $3 extra), rain-proof and bookable a full year ahead. THE CHEVRONS offers poolside pits from $35 for members, near IMM and Westgate for last-minute supplies. And the cheapest of all: some HDB estates have communal pits run by Residents' Committees or Town Councils for as little as $10, found via the onePA directory or LifeSG app — though some are residents-only.

Whichever you pick, check whether the pit is charcoal or electric, since most public pits provide only the structure — bring your own charcoal and lighter. Bookings for NParks pits go through the respective park websites, and popular slots vanish fast around year-end and public holidays, so reserve early. For travellers, this is a genuinely local way to spend an evening in Singapore: a beachside grill with hawkers' supplies, a sunset and locals celebrating birthdays next door.