I've literally watched them build this place and couldn't wait to try it...it's been a couple years since then and I finally decided to give it a go by taking my dad out for his birthday along with my little brother. My dads face literally lit up like a 8 year old kid who got a Nintendo for his birthday. The service was amazing and 16-Bit offers a vibe you can't find anywhere else! Some of the games we played were Mortal Kombat, Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Mario Brothers and Artari! The games are all FREE yes FREE no purchase of ANYTHING necessary! The pin ball machines do cost but everything else is free. A couple of the machines were down but again they're FREE so who cares lol. Of course I had a drink ; ) I'd already been checking out the menu ahead of time and knew instantly I wanted a Molly Ringwald because she's a classic and the drink sounded amazing. It's a whisky based drink with ginger beer and ouch snaps topped with a tasty peach ring. My dad loved this spot so much he wants to come once a month, I'll surely be back thanks for everything 16-Bit the young man at the door was everything so attentive and gave my dad a cup for his birthday! read more

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Stopped in for a drink while waiting for dinner reservations with friends. The bartender was nice and provided recommendations for each of our individual tastes. I ended up going with the Game Over. It was like a fruity Long Island. Your game really might be over after drinking this one. We were there long enough to play games but saw so many that brought back childhood memories. So we'll definitely be back to play. Pro tip: Head to the upstairs bar for less of a crowd. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

16 Bit is my favorite bar to take out-of-town guests to--even my parents, and my dad doesn't drink! What I love: The selection of arcade games is great, and the only pay-to-play games are the pinball machines. The quarters from those are actually donated to charity! The decor is fun and well thought out. I'm not a beer fan, but they always have Ciderboys on tap that I enjoy. There's a decent assortment of mocktails if alcohol isn't your thing. Seating is never hard to find if you want a break from games. What I don't love: In my experience, the cocktails are very hit-or-miss, which sucks when they're $12 a piece. Pictured is the chipotle pineapple margarita I had last night, which I was hoping would be sweet and spicy; instead, it was more of a smoky chipotle with little pineapple. Weird aftertaste. The recommended tip on card reader is 25% rather than 20, so $3 a drink if that's what you choose to use. Groups tend to conglomerate right around ski ball, so you have to really stake it out if you want to play. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Chipotle pineapple margarita - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This place is a magical escape from everyday life, and I'm pretty sure it's by-far my favorite place in Indianapolis. (Might be tied for the Bottleworks Hotel.) If you've ever been to the location in Columbus, it feels like the Columbus one was a trial one to figure out what they could do to make it better - and this Indianapolis location is what resulted. It's fun with enough space that it doesn't feel claustrophobic with a ton of seating. I had an amazing time, spent so many hours in here that I forgot to eat dinner, and wanted to do it again and again. I will definitely make the trek to Indianapolis just to come back here. ACCESSIBILITY NOTES: -Two all-gender, single-room restrooms available on the top floor. -There are a lot of sturdy couches for seating, but otherwise, the rest of the seating is high-top tables or bar seating. -There is a second/top floor, but I did not see any elevator. Stairs-only. Access to the top floor isn't strictly necessary, but you'll miss out on some of the games (unique to upstairs only), the two single-stall restrooms, the Skeeball tables, and the second bar (closed when they aren't busy.) PROS: -All of the games (aside from pinball) are free as long as you're drinking something. They have mocktails in addition to beers and cocktails. -The fact that all of the games are free really, REALLY sells your experience here. Not sure if you'd like to play Asteroid? Cool, it's free. Give it a try. Hate your friend's favorite game? Who cares; no money wasted if you play a few games with them. We didn't experience anyone hogging machines while we were here - though I will say the three upstairs Skeeball tables seem to be the big draw for most people - especially large groups. -Great range of on-menu cocktails. These are not "refined" options, though - these are delicious sugar bombs. Some are, quite literally, served with rock candy as a garnish. There are a few less-sugary options and they have a standard bar for your preferred straights, but most of the drinks here are very sugar-forward. -If ya ain't into sugar, though, there's a gigantic (30+ taps?) beer list. -The atmosphere is just so modern and laid-back. Nothing feels cramped. As long as I wasn't standing near large 8+ groups, it didn't feel overwhelmingly loud. No bright, constantly-blinking lights. Just a semi well-lit arcade with reasonable noise and a wide enough space that it doesn't feel overwhelming. -Lots of great seating around too. There are multiple couches in front of TVs with VHS's, multiple couches in front of TVs equipped with nostalgic game emulators (SNES and Sega Genesis), and multiple couches in front of the Skeeball area. CONS: -As it goes in the world of beer arcades, even though this place is newer, some of the games' controls have gotten sticky and don't move as smoothly as they should. Gauntlet and Super Mario Bros both had that issue; it can be frustrating to die because the controls aren't responding in games that take split-second movements. read more

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16 Bit is a must stop for downtown Indy! We spent our anniversary weekend downtown for a staycation and to have some fun on Mass Ave. 16 Bit was one of our many stops to celebrate year 11. It's a free arcade that has all the games of your past and then some! I'm a classic game nerd so I can play space invaders all day! Other games were Fix it Felix, Street Fighter, Ninja Turtles and more. In addition to the standing arcade games, there are sit down areas for nintendo, pinball machines, and ski ball. And I can't forget the drinks! There's a bar that serves retro concoctions like The Lisa Frank and The Hulk. I thought this place was 21 and up, but I recently found out that from 1-7pm kids can enjoy the arcade! They even serve slushies during this time! read more

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This is place is awesome!! It has been a whole since I have really ventured out since the pandemic began. I decided to hangout out on a double date. I honestly was not sure what to expect at 16-bit. It exceeded my expectations. I got to play old school arcade games that I have not seen in a long time. They have 2 levels of games in a spacious location conveniently downtown. While they do not food, you can have food delivered or bring your own food. A full bar woth over 30+ beers on tap will surely keep you hydrated. Goldie was our bartender and super attentive. Actually every bartender was attentive making sure if we wanted something, they were on deck to mix up whatever we wanted. On Wednesday nights, they show movies and include free popcorn. How can a gamer not love this place? I definitely will become a regular here! . read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

very cool game machines, excellent vibe. A lot of machines's free. I can recommend this place! read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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The vibe was great, really cool spot in downtown Indy to get away from all the kid-friendly places. The assistant manager Mike was amazing in helping get an issue resolved, handled the situation better than most and provided exceptional customer service! read more

One of the best things I've ever come across in a random city. A free arcade that goes past midnight. Literally every game is free here except the pinball and couple other things. Never heard of free skee ball that's amazing. Their drinks are yummy too always seems like a happening place. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Inside - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Update: he was actually a regular patron that was way too comfortable at this bar. I still think the bar staff could have been more assertive in keeping us safe on the day this happened and in the future watch their patrons more closely but I really really appreciate the GM Janelle for banning him. They handled the investigation and escalation of this situation and incident well, after it happened. Thank you! I have been here several times over the past few years and never had a bad experience. I love this place. The bartenders are so sweet. My opinion completely changed 6/26/25 when I went out with my friends to celebrate one getting married 6/28. As soon as we entered 16-bit we were approached by a bouncer who said to one girl in our group, who tore her tendon and was wearing a boot, "be careful girl, you are a slow target". He was also limping, so this was not only predatory and TERRIFYING but ironic. He then watched us get drinks and waited by the stairs. We wanted to play skiball, so we frequented that corner. We all saw him look up all of our skirts/dresses as we went up. He saw us catch him, and we said something, and he seemed embarrassed, but did not stop approaching or following us around 16-bit. For the rest of the night, we were hyper aware of his location and made sure he was not near the stairs before descending. YOUR PATRONS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THAT. He made several comments to all 5 women in our group about our appearance, clothes and tattoos. He was hovering by us, by the slide, doing laps to make sure he could talk to us, staring at us. We were all incredibly uncomfortable. At this point, the bride and groom in our group went to 16-bit's management, and they described this conversation as disappointing. The predatory bouncer came to us and gave a forced, slurred, nonsensical apology about how "he thought he recognized one of us but didn't, oops." He said nothing about trying to look up our dresses, following us and did not apologize for making the gross joke about stalking/violence towards women. After his apology, he then approached me a few moments later AGAIN when I went downstairs to get a drink and told me he likes my chest tattoos, which was inappropriate, considering we had already been clearly avoiding him, moving away from areas he was, and he had already apologized to us, as per his boss' orders, even though he didn't mean it and apparently didn't even know what he did wrong, because he was making up reasons to be sorry. Right before we cut our losses and left the bar, and went to a different one to finish the night (where we did not get preyed upon by staff) , we saw this same creepy bouncer leaning on the bar downstairs and staring at a girl in short jean shorts. He was looking her up and down like she was meat. We warned her of what happened to us, and she seemed concerned but grateful we alerted her. The guys in her group heard what we said, and said to the girl in jean shorts, "WAS THAT THE BOUNCER THAT WAS WEIRD TO YOU WHEN WE CAME IN?" So, it clearly was not just us... not just once... and not just last night. He has a pattern of inappropriate behavior. This behavior was inappropriate and 16-bit management/staff seemed to be aware but apathetic to this predatory bouncer's behavior. He is supposed to keep patrons safe and make the environment feel welcoming, not run a group of 10+ people out of his workplace because he can't keep his composure. It is absolutely unacceptable and unsafe to allow this behavior in your bar and ridiculous to not take customers' concerns seriously when brought to your attention. Women will not feel safe here anymore and women will not come back. Women bring men to your bar. Everyone brings money. You would think management would take it seriously but since they didn't, I took to Yelp. Ladies - don't go to 16-bit. But god forbid you do, don't go alone, not even on a weekday, in a group of TEN, or without men. This bouncer backed off once the groomsmen in our group hovered around us, glared and made it clear we were not "slow targets" but that didn't avert his eyes or offhand remarks. Men - don't let your girlfriends/friends/loved ones wander off alone here. Don't even do it yourself. Some of the bouncers seem to be waiting for patrons to be isolated in a dark corner, of which there are many here. They literally make jokes about it. It is repulsive to see a person use their place of work/position of power to take advantage of their customers for their own sexual gain. Very disappointed in one of my favorite Indy spots. read more

Such a fun place! I've been to a few arcade bars and this was one of my favorites for a few reasons. First off, the drinks are awesome. They are colorful, layered, arcade-themed cocktails. Delicious. I also loved how open the space was. Many arcade bars are pretty cramped and probably covid-city. I liked how open the space was and that there were areas for just drinking and eating separate from the games, and there were tables next to the games to set your drink down on. The game selection was great although they really need to fix the console games because only 1 of them worked! read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

So in love with this place I went twice in one week. It's so much fun and all of the games are free with the exception of pinball. I revisited my childhood with teenage mutant ninja turtles and pac man, it's an awesome Place if you have people in town and want to take them to a really cool place. The only issue is that they do not serve food just alcohol which is fine because the ambiance is so fun. Highly recommend read more

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We came in from Austin, TX & was met with a fun and attentive bartender. Shoutout Ms. Taylor, if we lived here we would definitely be back. The games were fun and had some pretty cool 2P games. Fun for date night! read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I'll make this short. If you are in town for a race and near downtown Indy, you are probably looking to have a fun night out. I like to find an arcade and play some games. This place has a good selection of 80's and 90's coin-op games as well as a few pinball games. I separate the two because I really enjoy Pinball more than video games and many arcades don't have pinball. If you go to 16bit Arcade, you order a drink and you play for free. The pinball is an extra cash game. But, the beer selection is good and so is the 'free' video game selection. I had a good time playing games from my childhood and worth the time out. read more

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Got the Pam Anderson and it was sooooo goooood. Literally tasted like fruit punch. A lot of the games were obscure 80s games so I think I'll take my dad here because I didn't like a lot of them (except pac man and skee ball). Our waitress was soooo nice! So conversational and attentive. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Taylor was amazing. great vibes, good drinks, free games. The light up wall was so fun read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - my art - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Very fun time at 16-Bit! I have never gone and didn't know what to expect. The drinks were so fun and the whole place had a great vibe. You could tell everyone there was having a good time. They have free arcade games which was SO cool and they had a slide. It made you feel like you could let loose and act like a kid again and it was just awesome. Parking is probably best off Mass Ave or a parking garage. read more

big fan of how clean, spacious and fun this bar is. a very good location on mass ave too. lots of free arcade games to play, a fun slide and a lot of big tvs and seating. read more

Visited for the first time last weekend. What a good time! Free arcade games as you drink a speciality cocktail or a beer from their large list! We spent time inside playing arcade games and then went to the outdoor area to play life size Jenga. The servers were nice and the overall vibe was that it's a place to have fun! Bonus: dog friendly (not kid friendly due to Indiana laws). I saw so many cute pups! read more

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Talk about being in a way back when machine, whoa Nelly. This place is certainly FABULOUS! Exceptional service on a Friday night. The vibe here is welcoming to anyone who's within legal drinking age & wanting to truly enjoy downtown Indy IDs are checked upon entry & met with the genuine Hoosier hospitality. The gentleman who checked ours was respectful & kind. The young man ensuring that underage folks need not try is a good thing IMO. He did his job well & was very courteous. It wasn't like a look see, he actually took time investing compliments as each patron entered & without inflicting customers with a cover charge. As a first timer to this place, I felt appreciated & valued. I didn't feel like a number. While we had six (6) in our party, not once did we experience a lack of service. Beginning at the door, ordering adult refreshments, their replacements, recommendations of such, removal of empties to overall coziness, & ambience were all marvelous. Although this establishment appeared busy, it wasn't too excessively so. Patrons were friendly with proper manners. The absence of drama wasn't missed. Everyone interacted well with each other which has become something I appreciate in today's world. This area with its diversity is welcoming to those not familiar with our State's capital. Servers were outstanding as our party felt the passion as it should be in a bar scene. In the event that you're an introvert & find crowds overwhelming at times, you probably won't here. A person is able to sit back, absorb the gorgeous newer area to marinate. This place has outdoor interactive games & fire pits that affords an individual to separate themselves from their group & feel safe. I love love love this truth be told. Perhaps next time, we'll actually make it inside Seeing young folks being young is rewarding to me. Downtown Indianapolis IN still has my . read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - The ladies @ 16 Bit - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I went to this bar in downtown Indy and its super nice. The drinks are very good even though they're on the pricier side. The games are mostly all free to play and its fun even if you don't like video games. The staff is also super friendly and nice. The ambiance is good... overall good place to go read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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16 Bit is an adult arcade that doesn't disappoint. 16 bit boasts a ton of games upstairs and downstairs, and a wonderful outdoor space full of games as well. In these socially distanced times there are enough games that people can socially distance and still get lost in their own world of shooting aliens, driving recklessly or just competing against a friend in a friendly arcade game. The drinks are so fun and inventive and don't disappoint. This is definitely a great place for a group of friends or just to unwind after a stressful week. read more

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A fun bar with many beers and cocktails to choose from. The Mimosa pitcher deal is especially good. The console gaming area is fun as are the vintage games. The bartenders were friendly. The only thing that's weird to me is that the bill breakers can't handle $20s as they can in other barcades I've been to. The cashless bar can't break bills either. So if you walk in with a bunch of $20s and want to play pinball, you have to take additional money out of an ATM that dispenses $10s with a $3 charge to play pinball. read more

This was such a cute place for a date or just to hang out if you are into arcade games. The service was pretty good. The drinks were great the Pamela Anderson was my favorite. They also had a giant pig light board that was fun. Just a fun little gem in downtown Indy. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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This is a nice new bar to add to the downtown development that is going on. It is very spacious with two levels to visit. Each level has a bar. They also have a huge patio area with a fire pit. It is decorated with 80s memorabilia and has tons of retro video games like Burger Time, Qbert, Tron, NFL Blitz, and Punch Out. As long as you are drinking, you can play the games for free. There is also a few tables scattered across the bar with tons of seating and couches along the walls where you can catch an 80s flick. The bar has some interesting signs all over. Very unique. Especially the one that reminds you to keep an eye on your belongings. They have a garage door that would be awesome to have opened during warmer days. Be sure to have your ID ready. They are very strict and check everyone at the door. They have cooled 80 themed drinks like the Pamela Anderson, and Kevin Bacon. They also have draft beer. The drinks are decent sized, reasonably priced and delicious. All the games are free, except for the pinball machines. You have to pay for those and I did not see any change machines around. They do not serve food, but you are welcome to bring in your own. They allow people to reserve space there for special events and parties. You just have to bring your own food as I mentioned. There is metered parking in front of the bar and along adjacent streets and parking garages in walking distance. I was there on a Friday night and it was pretty packed with people of all ages. They were jamming 80s music throughout the bar. I really liked this joint and I think you will too, even if you were not an 80s kid. It is worth a visit. read more

16-Bit is what you'd expect from a bar with an arcade. Positives- creative drink menu, lots of seating, open windows, arcade games. You can also have food delivered here (as there is no food on the menu). Negatives- even in COVID surges no masks, windows closed and incredibly crowded, lots of arcade games not on/broken, drinks were pretty weak and very, very sweet. I'd visit again but only during the day as the evening was just too crowded (no seats, people bumping into you, people screaming in your ear, etc). I did love the decor and the idea of the bar. The best part of my drink was the candy on top lol so I'd try something different next time. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Hulk Hogan with a popsicle - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Drinks were really good and there was a great selection. Proces are fair. Also loved the arcade part since most games were free. Really gives customers something unique to do while drinking. I look forward to coming back in the future. read more

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Ariana is the best ever!! She was so fast and professional! Outfit so cute!!! Will be back definitely

the moment I saw the outside, I was thinking ... there is an arcade here... FOR ADULTS! Alcoholic Beverages + Old School Arcade Games, this is a dream come true! The workers there are really helpful and nice! They have more than 50 machines in the facility (they even have ski-ball which is free to play)! You must purchase a drink in order to play the machines here, but luckily all the machine are only 25 cent. There are pinball machines which were 50 cent and some machines are free to play! I highly recommend bring cash to exchange for quarters at the machine, but they do have an atm machine Incase you don't carry cash. This location is great for reunions, parties and social events! From what I heard, you can host events for your friends or community here that way you all can have fun and create new memories! I'll definitely come back here! This is the best way to hang out with friends who also enjoys old school arcade machines like street fighter, donkey Kong and super Mario. read more

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I thought this place was awesome minus the sewage smell throughout! The bartenders and drinks were great and the fact that the games were free (minus pinball) was super cool. The place was huge with a ton of games and comfy lounge areas. The bartenders were super friendly especially Sean! It got pretty busy around 10 pm with a super young crowd. read more

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If I were looking for a first date place, or a place to meet a big group for a birthday, or just a place to relax and have fun on a Tuesday, I would choose 16 bit. The ambiance is so much fun!! They really put a lot into the decor. Plus who doesn't love some fun and games?! Comfy couches, neon signs in the bathroom. Fun cocktails, beers, non alcoholic drinks. I was a little bummed that some of the games I wanted to play were out of order... but seeing the gremlin sign did make me smile even through the disappointment. I also have a love/hate relationship with the free game play. You just don't get the same adrenaline and accomplishment of beating a game when you have infinite lives vs enough to live on the stack of quarters you brought. read more

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My boyfriend and I checked out this bar when we were visiting Indy. We heard that Mass Ave is the place to be for nightlife. The bar/arcade is 2 floors. The drinks are named after celebrities, I got the Lisa Frank and my boyfriend got Pam Anderson. There's an outdoor section with a fire going, Jenga and tables to sit and drink. Arcades were on the first floor and Skee ball was upstairs. Definitely a place to check out! read more

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This huge space is full of old school arcade games that are FREE to play with the exception of pinball, which is .50. There are three bars inside so you can always get a drink quickly. The drink menu is eclectic with drinks named after celebrities and fun garnishes such as rock candy, a bomb pop or a sour rainbow strip. The staff was very friendly and there is plenty of space for a gathering or just you and a couple of friends. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Carrie Fisher - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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So. Much. Fun. This was our next stop on the great July 23 Mass Ave. Birthday Tour, and it was so fun! Lots of old school, retro games, Jenga, pinball, the whole nine. Everything is free if you order drinks, aside from Pinball (it's $.50 - cheap). Two bars, upstairs and down, along with a TON of speciality cocktails and craft beer offerings. Best for dates, or nights out with friends, but will definitely stop back in! So much fun! read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Skeeball Upstairs - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I went to 16-Bit for the second time on Saturday night around 8pm. We arrived and it wasn't super busy. A lot more people were sitting on the patio than inside. It felt like there wasn't AC inside so our group also opted for outside. The bar has a lot of drink options and there is something for everyone on the cocktail list. I will say, the mixed drinks are the sweetest I've ever had and I have never finished a drink there because they are just that sweet.. Maybe opt for a beer or normal cocktail if you're planning on having a beverage. This is a great spot in downtown indy if you're looking for a younger crowd with a fun atmosphere. read more

Fun for all adults! My mom loved it! A great place- we didn't try the fun Popsicle drink- but a bomb pop plus vodka and lemonade! Such a cute fun drink for summer! The arcade games were so fun! And the staff are great! read more

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Absolutely amazing if you are into old super old arcade games! Drinks and food are pretty decent and they even have non alcoholic drinks for DDs. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Still such a great bar. Skinny at the front door was super funny and great to be around! The giant Lite Brite is closed due to covid, but it looked like the rest of the games, including skee ball, were open. Lots of space inside, and imaginative cocktails on the menu. They have a pretty good beer selection as well. read more

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This bar is not for people who do not like large crowds or loudness. I know it should be expected as an arcade bar but most people who come here are here to throw down in drinking and have fun in large groups! Just a heads up. I've been here quite a bit. My personal experience has varied depending on the time of day and the amount of people in here. I will say the bartenders definitely seem to be agitated most of the time, which is understandable since they're dealing with the intoxicated inner children who can be douches lol. All in all if, please be considerate of these bartenders and just make them laugh and TIP them. Anyways! There's a good amount of game selection. There are 2 floors, 2 bars (1 upstairs and 1 downstairs) a couple of tv lounge areas that feel personable like it's at someone's house. Lot of seating downstairs and even outside with a fire pit. Downstairs holds most of the arcade games and there's a few upstairs alongside a ski ball section of 3 lanes. Which is a lot of people's go to, so be aware of it being occupied constantly. I feel it's mostly dedicated to it being more of a bar than an arcade. Because most people sit and drink more than play games. It's like a cool upscale basement game room at a big house. If that makes any sense! Lol. I dock it 1 star because I'm always uncomfortable with the types of people who make their way in here. They're kind of full of privileged folk who do not care about space of others. Even in a pandemic. Which is not the establishments fault. The workers shouldn't be held responsible for grown adults who don't respect social distancing! The workers are super cool and accommodating overall. They do NOT serve food FYI. But they do allow you to bring other food in there. Like if you want to bring food from restaurants nearby, they encourage it. I still go back because I love their drink menu and it's a great spot to pregame, start or end your end your night or unwind after walking mass ave. They have a humorous and nostalgic layout of their special drinks. Even have drinks specialized with rock candy! read more

My wife and I waited for 10 minutes at the bar waiting for a bartender to acknowledge us as multiple people walked right up in front of us and were served immediately. Was hoping to have a fun evening but just left. Cool looking place but doesn't matter when you are ignored. read more