Seriously....I almost died when I got the tab after ordering two shots and 2 beers. What the actual F?!? $32.50 for 2 shots??? In what world?! El Camino. And Little Palace down the street are both closing due to high rent. Apparently 16- bit is robbing patrons blind to stay open? This makes me so sad bc I really loved coming here. I can't justify returning after this. It's a total rip off. And the shots were so small to boot. Down the street we got a shot of the same Tequila and two beers for wayyyy cheaper and they poured a normal size shot. Not a sip of a shot. Also, they charge an "entertainment fee" Isn't it enough you charge astronomical prices for drinks? Gotta take that little bit more from the customer? Makes me really sad. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Seriously....ridiculous - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I absolutely loved this place and idea. Apparently, this is a thing in a lot of cities. I used to frequent arcades as a kid and I sincerely miss them sooooo very much. As an adult, it is leveled up with a bar serving booze! We were only spending one night in Colombus and unfortunately we arrived late in the evening. It was not too late though and we still had a couple of hours to have fun until they closed. We walked there from our hotel and it seemed like it was pretty dead on the streets, maybe because it is a business area as opposed to residential. We walked in and were able to grab some seats at the bar. Funny enough, there was someone checking ID's upon entering. I have not been asked to show ID in a very long time and of course once you pass 30, it feels like a compliment lol. It was quiet inside with music playing. There was only about 10 other people there enjoying drinks at the bar. We were greeted quickly and offered drink menus. I think I only ordered the Bombay & Lime slushy but I might have tried another drink. The slushy was really good. I think hubs stuck to beer. We ordered our first round and sat at the bar for a little to take in the scene. We inquired about playing the arcade games and were informed the games are free to play, as long as you are ordering drinks. Yessssss! My favorite arcade game is Galaga so I had to find that one first. I was so happy they had it! Hubs and I played against each other a couple of times and then we walked around to observe the other games. We stopped and played a couple different arcades and then returned to the bar. It was late when we arrived so we unfortunately did not get to spend too much time here. The bartender and patrons were awesome. The bartender actually had to cut someone off because he was started getting annoying. Other than that, everyone was cool. The place was clean and looked well kept. I don't think there were any arcade games out of order, which is an amazing plus. I definitely recommend this place and if we ever find ourselves in downtown Columbus again, we will be here! read more

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Rip Off. I ordered 2 shots and the bar tender had a friend of his taking me up and he changed me for her drinks and 2 shots of well lemon drops $50 bucks he charged me for her group drinks on purpose. The entire staff are rude and trashy like the owners. Pure trash and thief's. Never go there and tell them your from out of town. Pure trash the intire staff. Fake and rude thieves. read more

If you like old arcade games and having a drink or two, then this place is for you. The games are free as long as you purchase a drink. They have a good selection of drinks to choose from. The parking can be a little bit of a challenge as it can be for any place located in downtown. I highly recommend stopping by one of the many restaurants located within walking distance of this place while your downtown. read more

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16-Bit is a great night out with friends. The drink selection is good, I especially liked the original cocktails. Lots of options of free arcade games - plenty for 1, 2, or 4 players. I haven't played a lot of arcade games in my life, but I still found plenty that were fun and easy to pick up. Good vibes overall. This place is a lot of fun, I highly recommend! read more

Staff and services: Came here for a date night with my boyfriend and the employees were amazingly friendly. Their speed of service was fast. It took them no time at all to get us our drinks and there were a lot people here to. They are very attentive. Drink Menu: The drink menu is awesome and very creative I absolutely love it. The first drink I ordered the 16 bit and it came in this awesome collectable cup that I got to keep which is awesome. My boyfriend got an angry orchard tall boy off the draft and it was really good. Throughout the evening I ordered a few more mixed drinks and they did not disappoint. They were made beautifully and correctly and they tasted amazing. Will definitely be coming back for more drinks. Games: You could not ask for a better selection of old school retro games to play, it's amazing how many games there are to choose from. I played every game at least twice and had an absolute blast doing so. This is the perfect place for us gamer nerds to come and have fun with other people. Prices: You buy any drink and you play games for free you can't have better pricing than that. The drinks are reasonably priced especially the mixed drinks that are so creatively thought out and put together. There is nothing better than having a few drinks and playing old school games. I will recommend this place to everyone I know and everyone who reads this review. If ypu love old school games and great drinks this is the place for you. . read more

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Its free to go in and play all the arcade games (except pinball which is a 1.00$ a game). The drinks are really good and themed after video games. This place has a great vibe. The staff are extremely friendly. Definitely worth a trip! I can't say enough good things about 16 Bit. read more

Ayeeee Frans welcome to another yelp post!!!! Soo I decided to enjoy the nice warm weather today and visit this Arcade Bar in downtown Columbus. Order: Lisa Frank & Jack n Coke Pros: Love that the games are free with a purchase of an adult beverage!!!! The drinks are not expensive so this is a major plus!!! They have a lot of nostalgic video games that you can play. I also love that they have video games hooked up to the tvs. This is so dope!! I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. Also, for this to be a bar they had really clean bathrooms! Not sure if this a one off but it was definitely noticeable. I always enjoy my Jack n Coke. Cons: I kept loosing lol! The Lisa Frank was a little to sweet for my taste buds. I always like to try something unique at every place I visit. So this is more about my taste and not indicative of the establishment. You should try it though!! read more

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The first really cool thing you see and you're not even inside 16 bit yet, is the amazing mural of Donkey Kong on the outside of the building. there's another great projecting sign of a Space Invader on the front of the building too. This super cool place post a full bar set up, but the real amazing highlight are all the old-school arcade games - the kind of stuff that I shoveled quarter after quarter into when I was a kid. It's all here and it's all magnificent if you like the original kind of arcade games this is the place to be definitely. Really fun to come here with a group to hang out and there's always something to do if the conversation gets stale. read more

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When people from out of town ask me what are some of my favorite places in Columbus I always mention 16- Bit as one of my favorites. Everything about the place is taylor-made for a extrovert, fun loving. nerd such as myself. The free arcade games, pop culture wall art, and delicious cocktails with '80s inspired names. Everything. They also offer a couple pinball games that are not free to play. If you are looking for pin ball I wouldn't recommend 16 Bit. Head to their sister location: Pin's Mechanical. Also, 16-Bit does not offer food, but you can bring in whatever outside food you desire. Which is honestly a good thing because they are within steps from Late Night Slice, Dirty Franks, and Hadley's. Excellent options for pizza, hot dogs and burgers respectively. If you are looking for a super fun night out to just hang out in a place with a cool vibe or to play some video games and drink definitely check out 16-Bit! read more

So, I'm not much for games of any kind, but always have a good time when I come here. The whole premise kind of sets you up for conversation and people are excited and laid back. Games are free as long as you purchase something from the bar, except for pinball. They don't serve food, but let you bring in takeout from, well, wherever, with Dirty Frank's, Mikey's and Hadley's all within half a block, so that's pretty awesome. Honestly, I like the boozy slushies the best. I've always loved slush type drinks, and these are pretty old school, with cherry and blue raspberry for sure. Cherry with vanilla vodka was pretty awesome. read more

As someone who does not drink, I absolutely love this bar. I first visited years ago when I was in town for a wedding and I was happy to see that they are still in business! They have an awesome selection of old games, including and N64 and an old Playstation. You could seriously come here every night for a year and have a different experience every time. My only complain is that they need to fix the joystick on Galaga machine - but I'm sure they already know that ;-) If you are a resident of Columbus or just passing through like we were, you must visit this place. It's easy to get to from both the Short North and German village so you have no excuses! This would also be a fun first date idea... read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - sign outside - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Great place to hang out! I like drinking and playing in the arcade area. I try to visit every time I come to town, my favorite drink is "Kevin Bacon", it's just delicious! Bartenders are friendly. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Kevin Bacon - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I love 16-Bit! The entire atmosphere is super fun! I mean who doesn't enjoy playing free arcade games while sipping on some adult beverages? My hubby and I have been coming here since the place opened and we bring out of town friends here whenever we get the chance. My favorite drink is the Hulk Hogan! It's blueberry vodka and lemonade with a bomb pop dropped inside! Super yummy! My favorite games are PAC-MAN and Frogger. Lol. Not a huge gamer, but love those "old-school" games! There are two reasons why I had to knock a star off from this review. 1. The restrooms. Only one restroom per male/female. This place stays pretty busy so you're bound to have to wait in line whenever you need to use the restroom. Especially on the weekend. Last night (a Thursday night), I had to wait behind two women so I ended up running into the men's after my husband was finished. 2. It can take a while for the bartenders to get to you. The bar area stays packed so it's a little hard to squeeze in to get the bartenders attention. Other than those two minor things, we always have a great time and will continue to come and bring our friends! read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - The Hulk Hogan! It's my favorite drink and we have even started making them at home! Bomb pop, blueberry vodka, and lemonade! - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Best place to take your kids on a lazy Sunday. All games are free, you get a beer, everybody wins. Pinball machines are the only games that required money, everything else was no-pay. A few games I was digging; Burger Time, Super Mario Brothers, WWF, and Operation Wolf. The kids enjoined Paperboy (which I found extremely difficult to play) and any game involving a gun. There was defiantly a game void I felt; no Rampage, Contra, or Pitfall. The list is actually longer, but I feel like at least *one* of these three classics should be at any arcade, anywhere. Oddly enough there was a Budweiser-sponsored game called Tapper. There were slushees for the kids and beers on tap for Mom + Dad. They have a super fun drink menu, (pics attached) but I stuck to a beer on tap. The service was good, the place wasn't obnoxiously crowded for a kids okay free Sunday and we had a good time. The restrooms were clean and had chalk walls you could write on. This is definitely a place that's in out list for rainy days and a break from monotony. read more

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A fun bar to go to after dinner in the downtown area. The drink names are fun and taste good. 16-Bit has free video games to play spread out throughout the bar. They have some pinball machines but those cost money. It would be nice if the pinball was free. 16-Bit is a good place to go with a couple of friends, grab some drinks, and let your competitive side out with a few arcade games. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Drinks anyone? - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This place was so cute. My boyfriend and I stopped in while we were in Columbus as we saw the good reviews and were staying in a hotel fairly close by. It was a Thursday around 11:30 pm or so and the bar was very quiet but not entirely dead. We were impressed with the creative drink menu - most drinks involved some sort of candy or other consumables. The one I ordered was a vodka-based drink that incorporated pop rocks sprinkled on top and made audible popping sounds as I drank. My boyfriend ordered one of their spiked slushees. Drinks were super cheap - I believe all cocktails were $8, and fairly strong. The whole bar's perimeter is comprised of vintage arcade games like Frogger, Pac-Man, etc. All of them are free to play with the exception of the pinball machines, which charge a nominal 50 cents to play. There were plenty of "shelves" next to the games so that you could rest your drink. Bartender was super sweet. My only complaint with this place was that it was supposed to close at 2:30 and they had last call shortly after midnight because it was slow...I understand completely, it's just not something that I've ever seen in NYC where most bars stay open until 4 rain or shine, hell or high water. All in all, would definitely return if I'm ever back in Columbus! read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Drink with pop rocks - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Only popped in for about an hour, but had a real good time. This was Friday, around 6pm. Happy hour lasted until 7, so we enjoyed $2 off beers (a $6 beer became $4). For someone visiting from NY like I was, this was a treat. A $4 beer and the opportunity to play free arcade games is comparable to about a $25 night at Barcade in NYC ($9 beer plus $1 or more every time you want to play a game). I gladly paid the $1 to play Metallica pinball, as every arcade, N64, Sega and SNES game is free, but pinball costs a buck. The bartender, whose name I didn't get (maybe 27 years old, brunette male with some facial hair) was really nice and helpful with the beer list. My only complaint is that, as an outsider, I wish they had more local Columbus beers on tap, but other than that, great place. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - All free as long as you're drinking! - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Thankful that 16 bit has stayed open during the pandemic! They're still making a vast menu of mixed drinks, still powering a wild variety of video games -- creating one of the most "you decide" entertainment spots in the city, with a culture that won't let you stand on the sidelines. Once you're here -- dive in, try something new, and put yourself fully in a new world. Now, I can only imagine how much harder the staff is working to tackle covid requirements, intermittently clean the games, bathrooms, and keep that wide bar serving drinks at all angles of requests. There's no easy role in restaurants -- but likely only those who believe in creating the kickass vibe of this place and it's unique culture have stayed on to create that experience for us. So, let's always remember to tip well and know which cocktail we want prior to ordering! Every time I have a friend come in from out of town, I'll keep sending them here read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - My girlfriend, Nakarys, loved 16-bit! They don't have these Venezuela yet :) - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

My idea of a perfect date night includes old school games, cocktails and pizza which makes this a triple play! The service is great with super fun cocktails and pizza from Late Night Slice a couple doors down is welcome. Laugh the night away playing your favorite arcade games. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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A bunch of friends and I invaded after a Sunday night Blue Jackets game and had a great post game experience. The atmosphere is super nostalgic and the drinks were awesome. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Dining and games - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Love this barcade! I am proud to say it started here in Columbus. They've got locations in Cincinnati and Cleveland and are planning on opening a location in Indianapolis this year!! So awesome! I came here on a Friday evening around 7 and it wasn't quite packed but there were lots of groups here. Some were even celebrating a birthday and brought catering that they decided to pass around and share with us! You're allowed to bring food here which is nice. They've got tables up by the front and some by some of the games. It's a nice open space. Some of my friends had been to the one in Cincinnati and said that one was a little smaller. They had a good selection of games! They're all free, except the pinball machines which are 50 cents. Still not bad at all! They greet you at the door and you immediately feel the warmth of the indoors. It was a cold evening so this was very pleasant! As we walked by the bar, a lady came over to us with an iPad and got all of our drink orders. I love whiskey and they had a huge selection of them, including my favorite: Larceny. It's almost impossible to find up here in Columbus and I was delighted so I had to order some! They've got some specialty mixed drinks named after celebrities. It was entertaining. I got to try a few from my friends who ordered them. They were all pretty good and were definitely sweet. My friends and I ended up staying here for almost 4 hours. It was insanely fun! It got packed towards the end of our evening. So many people! I saw young adults, older men (who are probably your dad's age), and some people who coulda been grandparents. Weird mix but I get how it appeals to all ages. It was cool! I'd come back here again. Don't bring your jacket here no matter how cold it is outside. You'll get pretty warm in here. read more

Happy hour supposedly 4-7 weekdays, however, unless their small drafts are $9+ (which, woof! If they are) my total did not reflect any sort of discount. read more

Stopped by while waiting to get a table for some yummy hot dogs next door. They have so many drinks and the prices aren't bad at all. The best part is you buy one drink and can play all the games you want! My friends and I had gone out the night prior so didn't want any alcohol, some of us got regular sodas and others non alcoholic slushies. I wouldn't get the slushie again.... atleast not without alcohol. It was too much sugar. But I would definitely go back and try any of the assortment of drinks they have such as the Hulk Hogan and the Pam Anderson. This is definitely a fun spot and I'm upset we didn't find it sooner. My friend and I played pac man while my other friends played Mario cart. For the 30 minutes or so we were there we had a blast! Also, the service was great and the bartenders were very nice. 100% recommend this game bar in Columbus. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Outdoor - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This was my first time here. My fiancé and I stopped by here after dinner to play some games and have a drink. All of the games are free so, although I don't know if it's required, it's good to get at least a drink to support the business. I tried one of the drinks off the pride menu. It was a bit sweet for my taste but still glad I tried it. I'm not really a gamer but with all of the different arcade games even I found a few that I enjoyed. If you're a gamer, this place is a no-brainer. Good way to end our date night! read more

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I had so much fun here that I got a parking ticket. This place is packed wall to wall with games that bring back fond memories and I was so excited to see some of these "old friends" that I dropped $3 or $4 into them before I realized that all the games were free. I was also pleased to discover that I wasn't a helpless noob and that on a few of my favorites I could still play well enough not to embarrass myself. I knew I couldn't stay long and had purposely not put much money into the parking meter. But I was cursing my lack of self control when I finally walked back to my car and discovered that I'd gotten a ticket 2 minutes earlier. One, single quarter in the parking meter instead of the arcade and I would have saved myself $35. Curse you 16 Bit !!!!!! My 1,400th review. read more

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE! I have been a handful of time and everytime I am completely satisfied and leave happy. This Sunday we went as a family for the "bring your shorty" 12-5pm. My kiddos had a blast. And who wouldn't?!?! Amazing drinks and never ending games! Absolutely the best way to wrap up a weekend with your Fam. And did I mention the drinks?!? WOW read more

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SEVEN WORDS: Bar and Video Arcade / No Food / Good Value. . As the name implies, 16-bit is all about old timey video games (Pac-Man, Asteroids, Centipede, Joust, Track &Field, Knock-Out) and a classic two-corner, wrap-around bar that has a certain appeal. You can enjoy all those 16-bit video games that you loved in the 80s, yet you can have a couple of drinks and hang out with friends. The video games are 100% free and pinball is 50c per play. That's a fantastic deal and allows you to nine-play all those games you wanted to as a kid, but couldn't afford 25c for a three-minute game. Also, the drink prices are very reasonable able, if not just plain cheap! . The only drawback is a lack of a kitchen. However, 16-bit does have a great end-around by allowing carry-in food from any of its neighbors. We loved eating single slices of NY-style pizza from Mike's Late Night Slice. . 16-bit is a place we loved. We just wish there were more of them ~along with more ready-to-eat appetizers. read more

This place is SUPER dope!! If you drink, you play for free!! And no, their drink menu prices weren't crazy out of control, they were reasonable! This spot has all kinds of cool, old school style arcade games! You play for FREE!! Plus, they have an old school Nintendo hooked up with Super Mario Bros 3 game going down. And another TV offered players to battle it out, Tetris style, on the PlayStation! They have an awesome drink menu, offering a nice collaboration of cocktails named after people you may know. They feature classic arcade games such as Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, Punch-out, Donkey Kong, Paperboy, Street Fighter, and the like... Just to name a few. If you're looking for a mellow place to chill and have some fun... I definitely recommend this spot! It's absolutely worth checking out... read more

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I mean, what's not to love about 16 Bit? There's booze and there are vintage video games. For me, it's like stepping back in time to my childhood (80s kid here) back when they had arcades in malls and you'd ask your mom for some money to play games but she'd just say "well, you didn't do your chores so you didn't earn it" and then you'd just sit there and watch everyone else play and earn tickets. I digress. Everything is 80s themed - even the drinks. I've always enjoyed them but could only get one or two of their signature drinks because they're very sweet. They also had the original Nintendo consoles with game cartridges behind the bar but I didn't see them last time. Lots of great arcade games to choose from. I'm boring but I've always had an affinity for Pac Man. We're still in a pandemic so I wish there had been wipes or something available to wipe down the communal controllers but just be mindful to wash yours hands often here! I'm moving to Charlotte, NC and was stoked to see a 16 Bit there so hopefully I can get better at Mario again! read more

I loved this place. The bartenders were great and I didn't realize until about $25 in quarters later, the games were free! Hahahaha even better!!! I wish they had a DJ or played music louder. They probably do but I was there on like a Sunday night. Super sketchy crowd out front though. I was approached at least 12 times in a one block journey from my hotel. But that's not their fault at all. I'd go again next time I'm in Columbus . read more

What was life before beercades? Beer is great. Arcade games are fun. A cool idea to take a date was never made so easy. I think I like 16-Bit a bit better than most of my hometown Chicago beercades. It's not quite as huge, but had a great selection of games, a great variety of craft beers and there was always something that had no wait. I had a fun time beating down my man in Mortal Kombat and some zombie killing gun game. For the sake of his manhood, I will say he whooped my booty in a couple others. Games at 16 Bit are free! (with drink purchase of course). Craft beer cans were $6 and came with a cool 16-Bit Bar coozie. Crap tall boy beer cans were $3 if you're being cheap and actually 'enjoy' the taste of Miller. Chill high top tables at the front of the beercade for relaxing PLUS you can play Sega or Super Nintendo games while chillin'. Where was the OG Nintendo though!? I wanted to get my Duck Hunt on old school style. Service was good and I even saw the bartenders cleaning up cans from some of the tables. That just doesn't happen where I'm from, ha! Bonus Points for every game having drink stands next to it. Sooooo helpful. We need a 16 Bit up in Chi! read more

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Super cool and different! The games are all oldies and super fun! The drinks are themed and super yummy! Some drinks have lollypops or popsicles too. They are very unique and really fun! read more

Do you ever have those experiences where you feel like you've died and went to heaven. Well, if heaven was a bar it would be 16-Bit Bar & Arcade. My best friend took me here because he knew I would love it. Being my best friend, he was right. It's not a huge space so I imagine that during the weekend it's an absolute nightmare to try and play any games. I feel like once you found a game, you're stuck with it. So the bar area is pretty much the central focal point of the room. Beers run $4-$6 and this allows to play the video games sans pinball machines, for free. That's right, FREE. No quarters. No dollars. FREE. Buy a beer, play free. Some of my favorites include: Marble Madness X-Men Street Fighter Rampage The Simpsons Dig Dug BurgerTime Outrun There are a few pinball machines that run you fifty cents. It was just a really fun place. They also have vending machines with nostalgic candy like big league gum and candy dots. When I'm back in Columbus I will make sure I come back here again. I wish every city had a bar like this. read more

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Always a great time here! My only feedback is better training for the staff on drink making. For example, an old fashioned uses a single large ice cube, not a glass full of small ice cubes. As well, a Manhattan has no ice in it. Staff is friendly, the games are good, and a great selection of tap beers. I always enjoy bringing my out of town friends here read more

A fun place in downtown with a good beer selection. Lots of games from the 80s and 90s.

Enjoyed throughly! In NYC we have something similar but what makes this better is that the games are free (except pinball games). The drinks are great minus the Kenny G, which I found to be a bit overly sweet. It's BYOF, which is great if you want to keep the party going. Staff was nice and helpful. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Cheech Marin - Arcades Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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DO NOT BUY DRINKS HERE I got a cocktail and double shot and it was over $50 They scam you legit. Also some of the consoles don't work. read more

It's a whole vibe here. The one in Dublin however is very plush. I'm moving to the area within the next month. I wasn't dressed correctly last time I went. Next chance I get to go there I will be dressed correctly and then I'll see how my night goes. read more

The 80's meets bar in this beautiful marriage. You can play classic arcade games all while sipping your favorite cocktail. It can be difficult to find a game or seating due its popularity. read more