No tickets? No problem

From outdoor big screens to super sports bars, we've found the best places to watch the Games with a crowd. Plus, your chances of scoring day-of tickets

Cultural Squares

The Olympic organisers have pumped 140RMB million into 26 "cultural squares" in Beijing, which will feature big screens, sponsors areas, exhibitions and art performances. At press time, we couldn't get more information on exactly what will be at each one, but we'd expect the squares to be heavy on official sponsors and light on soul. That shouldn't matter, though, when you have thousands of locals cheering on Liu Xiang in the 110 metres hurdles or Guo Jingjing in the women's three-metre springboard. As BOCOG PR adviser Jeff Ruffalo tells us, the squares will be aimed at local communities rather than tourists, which is reason enough to go. We've also heard that there will be a giant screen outside the Workers' Stadium North Gate and a 1,600 square-foot screen installed at the International Sculpture Park on the western end of Chang'an Jie. Listed below are the squares that are reasonably close to the city centre:

Chaoyang district

Workers' Stadium North Gate, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district

朝阳区工体北路工体北门

 

Square outside the West Gate of Chaoyang Park, 1 Nongzhan Nan Lu, Chaoyang district

朝阳公园西门外广场, 朝阳区农展南路1号

 

The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang district

世贸天阶广场, 朝阳区光华路9号

 

Wangjing Square, Near Wangjing Nanhudongyuan, Chaoyang district

 

Jiangtaiwa Cultural Square, Jiangtaiwa Cun, Dongfeng Town, Chaoyang district

将台洼村文化广场, 朝阳区东风乡将台洼村

 

Dongcheng district

No. 8 Area of Ditan Park, A2, Andingmenwai Dajie, Dongcheng district

地坛公园八区, 朝阳区安定门外大街甲2号

 

Xicheng district

Xidan Cultural Square, 180, Xidan Bei Dajie, Xicheng district

西单文化广场, 西城区西单北大街道180号

 

Haidian district

Haidian Park, Northwest corner of Wanquanhe Intersection, Haidian district

海淀公园, 海淀区万泉河立交桥的西北角

 

China Millennium Monument Square, A9, Fuxing Lu, Haidian district

世纪坛广场, 海淀区复兴路甲9号

 

Judo Hall Square at University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30, Xueyuan Lu, Haidian district

科大柔道馆广场, 海淀区学院路30号

 

Shunyi district

Guangming Square, South of Fuqian Dongjie, Shunyi district

光明广场, 顺义区府前东街路南

 

Hexie Square, Inside Chaobaihe Forest Park, Shunyi district

和谐公园, 顺义区潮白河森林公园内

 

Shijingshan district

International Sculpture Park, 2 Shijingshan Lu, Shijingshan district (8868 1247)

石景山区石景山路2号国际雕塑公园

 

Bars

You could live here: The Goose 'n' Duck

As a pure sports bar, this is as good as it gets in Beijing. As well as having six big screens and being open 24 hours, there are basketball nets, dart boards, numerous pool tables and, best of all, a baseball batting cage. The food's not bad, either. It's particularly good for American sports, so if you want to be sure to catch the big American events, especially in swimming and athletics, chances are they'll be on here. S1, Green Lake International Tower, East Side of Chaoyang Park, Chaoyang district (5928 3045). Open 24 hours daily.朝阳公园桥东门观湖国际大厦1号1层

 

Sports with a Spanish Flair: Sangria Club

This two-floor Mediterranean-themed bar feels like the basement of your Spanish friend who likes sports and cooking dishes his mum taught him. So as well as big screens on both floors, you can eat a delicious Spanish seafood stew for 70RMB and drink cheap-but-delicious cocktails like the Sangria, which features fresh apples and cinnamon (30RMB). A place to escape tourists with loud voices and loud t-shirts. Lucky Street (next to Elisa's Italian restaurant), 29 Zaoying Lu, Chaoyang district (5867 0248). Open 4pm-late daily. 朝阳区枣营路北口好运街

 

Cleaning up sport:The Den

This former congregation point for Russian ladies of the night cleaned up last year with a re-decoration and a stricter door policy. It's still not the most salubrious bar in town, but it's got big screens on both floors with good sound, and is open 24 hours. It has a history of showing a lot of Australian and British sport, so should be a good bet when those countries are competing. A4, Gongti Dong Lu, in front of the City Hotel, Chaoyang district (6592 6290). Open 24 hours daily. 工体东路甲4号城市宾馆旁边

An oldie but a goodie: Frank's Place

This is possibly Beijing's friendliest sports bar. A very loyal crowd (including lots of inanimate middle-aged men) watches sports on five big screen TVs and two projector screens. There are also darts boards, pool tables and passable Mexican food.Jiangtai Xi Lu, Lido, west of the Rosedale Hotel, Chaoyang district (6437 8399 ext 213). Open 8am-2am daily.朝阳区洞直门外大街28号

 

Fun crowd, comfort food:The Rickshaw

The Rickshaw is a bit of a Beijing institution, and is constantly packed with a young and up-for-it crowd. There's a big screen upstairs (get there early for games and events), a pool table and some of the best comfort food in town – we love the fresh guacamole, where a tray full of ingredients are mashed together at your table, and the wide range of chicken wings.Corner of Sanlitun Nan Lu and Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district (6500 4330). Open 24 hours daily. 三里屯南路滚石西门

 

A bit of posh: The St Regis Hotel

With its leather-bound books and dark-wood panelling, the St Regis is where P.G. Wodehouse or F. Scott Fitzgerald characters would choose to watch the Olympics. You can watch on widescreen TVs whilst trying some of the eight varieties of Bloody Marys (gentlemanly faculties are likely impaired after three or four), then retire to the wine-tasting and cigar rooms. Jolly good.21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district (6460 6688; starwoodhotels.com/stregis). Open 4.30pm-2am daily.朝阳区建国门外大街21号

 

 

Fear not, Olympic-goer

If you haven’t got any tickets, you should still be able to get some. BOCOG tells us that a number of tickets will be sold at booths outside venues, and there will no doubt be people around the place selling tickets. You’ll obviously have less of a chance at events like swimming, diving and athletics, but it’s probably worth heading to smaller events early and seeing what you can find. If nothing else, most venues will have big screens where you can watch the events.