People here cannot get enough of American swimmer Michael Phelps, it would seem. Muddy Murphy’s Irish Pub has had customers walking in and asking if he is on TV.

Olympic fever has hit Singapore and some entrepreneurs are cashing in on it. Harry’s bar has come up with an Olympic bar menu with cocktails that sport names such as Steroid Test, Fosbury Flop and Muhammed Chilly. Kopitiam food court has also launched a new sweet creation, Dream Torch, to celebrate the Games and the chain’s 20th anniversary.

Operators say the turnout for the opening of the Beijing Olympics on Aug 8 was massive, though most admit that Friday and Saturday nights are when they are usually packed with bar-goers.

Though people might be interested in watching the events at bars and eateries, operators say the timing of the Games events does not work in their favour. That is because the finals for most of the events are held in the mornings and afternoons, when most people are at work.

Mr Devin Kimble, 45, managing director of Brewerkz, says: “Most of what’s being shown during prime time are preliminary events and people just aren’t as interested in the preliminaries.” 

Yet some bars and eateries will continue to screen the games every day while others will screen both Games events and other sporting events such as the upcoming Barclay’s Premier League matches.

Mr Mohan Mulani, 48, chief executive of Harry’s Holdings, which owns Harry’s chain of bars, says: “Sports is the foundation of our bars – that’s why we are proactively screening the Olympics.”

The atmosphere at these places is something some customers are drawn to.

Banking executive Luke Lim, 24, says: “It is always nice to watch the Olympic games in a bar. There’s more atmosphere and we can band together to cheer for our country and our favourite athletes.”

Where the actions is

Bobby’s Taproom, Grill and Ribs
This restaurant-cum-watering hole boasts a large outdoor screen measuring 1.8m by 2m
Where: 30 Victoria Street, B1-03,
Chijmes fountain court, tel: 6337-5477,
open: noon to 1am (Sundays to Wednesdays), noon to 2am (Thursdays to Saturdays),
Happy hour: 5 to 8pm (Sundays to Fridays), $10 nett for house pours, Tiger and Heineken beer.

Harry’s
Check out its Beijing Olympic cocktails, such as the Muhammad Chilly, Steroid Test and Heavyweight, $10 each
Where: Various outlets including Chijmes fountain court, Boat Quay and Dempsey Hill,
Happy hour:  Boat Quay (4 to 8pm daily),
Dempsey Hill (5 to 9pm on weekdays, 11am to 9pm on weekends), Chijmes (11am to 9pm daily).

Kopitiam
Try the Dream Torch dessert ($3, below,left), a scoop of ice cream with fresh fruit such as mango, strawberries and
honeydew. It was created to commemorate Kopitiam’s 20th anniversary and the opening of the Beijing Olympics.
Where: Lau Pa Sat Festival Market, open 24 hours

Muddy Murphy’s Irish Pub
Watch the action while tucking into its Sunday Roast Lunch (from $14). Choose from roast beef, chicken, lamb or fish.
Where: Orchard Hotel Shopping Arcade
Basement, tel: 6735-0400, open: 11.30 to 1am (Mondays to Thursdays), 11.30 to 2am (Fridays and Saturdays), 11.30am to midnight (Sundays),
Happy hour: 11.30 am to 7.30pm daily

Wala Wala
Relax in this open-air bar in the heart of Holland Village, which has three plasma screens above the bar.
Where: 31 Lorong Mambong,
tel: 6462-4288, open: 4pm to 1am
(Mondays to Thursdays), 4pm to 2am (Fridays), 3pm to 2am (Saturdays), 3pm to 1am (Sun),
Happy hour: From opening till 9pm daily.

Tong Shui Cafe
Make sure you try the peanut butter toast ($3.88) and the mango prawn roll ($3.38).
Where: Various outlets including 54 Zion Road, 417 River Valley Road,1 Liang Seah Street, 01-05/06,
open: noon to 6am daily. 3 Monkeys (below) Eat whatever you feel like – 3 Monkeys serves a range of international cuisines.
Where: 01-20 Orchard Towers,
tel: 6736-7330, open: 11am to 5am daily,
Happy hour: 2 to 8pm daily, $5 for a mug of Tiger beer.

Brewerkz
Check out the range of beers which are brewed in-house.
Where: Various outlets including Riverside Point, Indoor Stadium, Terminal 3 and Bukit Timah.
Happy hour deals vary with outlets.

Siem Reap I
Try the fresh Vietnamese rice paper prawn rolls ($7) and the Vietnamese pork chop rice ($14).
Where: 44 Lorong Mambong,
tel: 6468-5798, open: 1pm to 1am (weekdays) and 1pm to 2am (weekends),
Happy hour: 2 to 9pm daily, one-for-one for all types of beer, liquor and house wine. Not applicable for cocktails.

The Pump Room
It has its own microbrewery, so be sure to taste some of its beers.
Where: Great World City, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, 01-66/67, tel: 6887-3229,
open: 10 to 1am (Sundays to Thursdays) 10am to 2pm (Fridays and Saturdays),
Happy hour: 5 to 8pm daily, one-for-one on beers (except beer tower and sampler).