Eye on the ball

Barrio Chino
Facilities: Two wall-mounted, 42-inch TVs (plasma and LCD) at the front and rear. Visible from the bar, tables and bench seating. 
Prices: Glass of Stella Artois beer $12, Hoegaarden $13, glass of wine $12. 
Happy hour: Mon-Fri noon-8pm, Sat 4-8pm. Glass of Stella Artois $7, glass of wine $7. 
Sports selection: Rugby is generally the priority, but staff will take requests for any other sports. Australian Rules Football also gets an airing. 
Promos: Anyone wearing their country’s colours during the Rugby World Cup gets happy-hour prices during the match. Also, five-bottle buckets of San Miguel beer for $35 while the game is on. 
Atmosphere: Football may dominate the sporting landscape of Singapore, but rugby isn’t too far behind. And at Barrio Chino, it takes top billing. Whether it’s union or league, all ovalball angles are covered. Manager Verity Pearce is a big fan, although she does confess that the good-looking players are a major plus point. While you can drop in for a pint at any time, Pearce is also willing to open the bar for oddlytimed sporting events, providing there is a substantial enough demand and advance arrangements are made. 
Free snacks – dips, calamari, chips – are often provided for customers glued to the screen, and a selection of sandwiches, salads, baguettes, pizzas, chilli and jacket potatoes are on the menu for those looking for something more substantial. 
The intimacy of the bar means audio commentary and crowd atmospherics add to the occasion. It gets busy on a big sporting night, so if a few of you are wandering down, book in advance to guarantee a table, especially during the Rugby World Cup (7 Sep-20 Oct). 

Dempsey’s Hut 
Facilities: Two 32-inch televisions perched at each end of the bar give viewing access from both the bar and outdoor area. 
Prices: Glass of beer $5 ($3.50 for every alternate glass, then back to $5), glass of wine $8. 
Happy hour: Daily noon-8pm. Jugs of beer for $20. 
Sports selection: English Premier League (EPL) is a big favourite, but staff will take requests and also block bookings for major Pay-Per-View events, free of charge. 
Promos: Deals change monthly, but five-bucket bottles for $35 are a regular. 
Atmosphere: Situated on former British Army quarters, the D’Hut, as it is affectionately known, is a gem of a bar. Its rainforest-like surroundings house rambutan and jackfruit trees, while squirrels aren’t afraid to say hi. If you prefer food not picked straight from trees, the chef serves delicious fare, from finger food (chips $2-$3) to main courses (spaghetti bolognese $10).
Although EPL is the main focus (within opening hours), manager Kelvin Hoon and his staff will turn on the goggle-box at any time if you have special requests. Perfect if you’ve avoided a 4am kick-off from the previous night and want to nip down at lunchtime to watch a re-run. 
Throw in a pool table, comfy leather chairs, a varied food menu, ample parking space, an outdoor smoking area (aptly named the ‘sin-bin’) and excellent service and you have a home win every time. 

Liquid Kitchen
Facilities: 58-inch outdoor big screen with a narrow viewing area, tables and chairs; three LCD monitors inside, easily visible, whether standing or sitting. 
Standard prices: Glass of Tiger $7.80, glass of wine $12.80. Happy hour: Mon-Sat 4-9pm, Sun 4-9pm. 20 per cent off all drinks. 
Sports selection: Football, F1 Grand Prix – anything and everything. 
Promos: 1-for-1 on imported beers. 
Atmosphere: Perched on the corner of River Valley Road and Zion Road, this venue boasts four different viewing areas. Outside you have the big screen – but you’ll need to get there early to secure a prime spot. In the main bar there are three plasma TVs, one handily placed directly above the bar, one in the far corner from the entrance, and another in a more private seating area. EPL is of course popular, but all sports – even pool – are shown, so don’t worry if you have a special request. But with the Grand Prix F1 season reaching fever pitch – Hungarian GP (5 Aug), Turkey GP (26 Aug) – the Liquid Kitchen could be a cool venue for a Sunday evening motor-racing fix. And although the seating may appear slightly garish and pretentious, the staff are down-to-earth and welcoming, even if you are a sports jock. 

Tivoli Beer Bar 
Facilities: Two TVs inside in the small bar; two mounted 32-inch plasma screens in the alfresco area, clearly visible from all spots. 
Prices: Glass of beer $6, 1-for-1 martinis $15. 
Happy hour: No official happy hour; prices are always the same. 
Sports selection: Liverpool football games take priority but all sports, including more American-specific ones like NBA and baseball, get screen time. 
Promos: Spin the Carlsberg wheel for free prizes (free beer, golf head cover, towel) when you order a one-litre Carlsberg tower.
Atmosphere: The cool thing about Tivoli is that you can watch TV inside and outside, so you won’t ever miss a shot, pitch or basket. Tivoli specialises in Carlsberg’s draught beer and their range of bottled beers, so Liverpool football fans can’t go wrong, as the Danish brewery are the Reds’ sponsors. Every match involving Steven Gerrard’s men is shown. Also, a signed Liverpool shirt is framed and mounted in the bar. 
If you don’t want to stay inside, grab an alfresco spot for an on-the-terrace feel during matches – around 100 customers can be seated outside. The crowd is a mix of expats and businessmen, with a relaxed atmosphere. Football shirts are fine, even if you’re wearing Chelsea or Man United.