Like my recent review of Lockbox, this is a four star review that might earn a fifth star at some point. This is a neighborhood bar with a hometown vibe. Bartender laid back and kinda dry, but kept everyone's drinks flowing and seemed like the kinda guy who probably warms up as he gets to know you. The drinks aren't bad. Not great, but you're not here for craft cocktails. I had the garden variety, made with Jamaican rum, curry orgeat, velvet falernum, Montenegro, lime, and grenadine. Sweet and a little watery. The Baby gap was probably my favorite, made with mezcal, luxardo, grapefruit, dem syrup, angostura, salt, and malort spritz. I was really surprised by how much I liked this drink. It was smoky and a little savory. I also had the HOA punch, made with Tito's, chamomile lemon ginger tea, scorched lemon, suav blanc syrup, and lemon. It had a tiki vibe. Arcadium has movie nights, including "bad" movie nights which are campy and fun. They do have a large beer list. I was hoping to play some arcade games (I brought tons of ones and a roll of quarters), but they don't have very many games and several are out of order, so that was a bummer. I'll try them out again. Random fact: Arcadium is adjacent to Favor, a niche restaurant that's hard to get into, and they provide the cocktails for the restaurant when they do dinner services. I am going to try to score a res at Favor next week. read more

See all

Excellently crafted and unique cocktails in a friendly bar with bartenders who are true craftsmen of the trade. It's a hidden gem in Lexington read more

See all

Very unique close to downtown Lexington several craft beers and the cocktail menu are worth the 5 min drive

Unfortunately I have to update my review and knock a star off because they got rid of the best bloody Mary's in town. I went back to get one and they said they quit doing them so I'm very sad to say this destination outing probably won't be somewhere I go out of my way for anymore. Staff is still friendly and attentive but man, sad days. read more

Arcadium - two bloody cocktails on a bar - Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Back again to call out the fabulous cocktail program at Arcadium, now including mocktails! My favorite zero proof liqour is Ritual, and Arcadium is offering some amazing options using their products! The margarita was tart, sweet, and honestly better than a traditional margarita IMO. Always a call out to the amazing staff as well! read more

See all

Great little bar for a date night or grabbing a drink with some friends. The inside is small so don't expect to bring your 15 closest friends and all find a spot by each other. Service was fast and friendly and the prices are fair. It looked like there was some outdoor seating for when it's nice and you can grab some food from Favor too. Cool spot. read more

Excellent service. I was looking for something chill on a Friday night with a good knowledge of a good selection of whiskey. Rarely find a place that I walk in and feel at ease, but this is that. read more

Total hipster spot. The place really needs more games though. It's a decent bar if you're looking for a change of pace but I wouldn't go there too often. It can get quite boring. Park on sixth street if you want to keep your ride from getting messed with. read more

Place has potential but bartender has a terrible personality. He warned us about a horror movie being played in an hour like he didn't want us to even sit down. Picture on website showed an amazing looking Bloody Mary which they don't do anymore so they need to update website . Dive bars need a good bartender to survive. If he only wants locals he should put that on the door. We would have stayed for more drinks but this guy was that bad. read more

No complaints, minus the drink prices are a little steep compared to the pour/atmosphere. Certainly higher than what you'd typically expect from a dive bar, despite having 7-8 pickled options for their Bloody Marys. Still, they have several arcade games and a very quaint setting, plus a nice little patio, so it's definitely a spot you want to visit that's somewhat off the typical radar. read more

See all

I absolutely loved the Bloody Mary bar here on Sundays! I had been looking forward to trying this place and the Bloody Mary's lived up to my expectations. It's fun to try out the old school arcade games as well. read more

Arcadium - Bloody Mary bar! - Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Arcadium is a neat place...lots of fun old arcade games to play while you enjoy a drink with friends. They also make the Best Bloody Mary's in Lexington! They have an amazing Bloody Mary bar on Sundays, with so many toppings to choose from (I chose all of them and was not disappointed). read more

Arcadium - Bloody Mary bar - Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

Bring your quarters and your dog with you to this fun little spot. In the several visits I've made there have always been a good size crowd of cool patrons and the staff is nice too. Why bring quarters? The retro video games like TMNT and Ms Pac Man among almost a dozen other arcade games only take quarters (there is a change machine FYI). As an original old school arcade game aficionado (we're talking Pong here people) this is the arcade me and my friends dreamed about as no good meddlesome teenagers. Besides a great selection of craft beer they have a full bar and bloody Mary's you can almost make a meal out of...or poke your eye out as they use skewers loaded with your choice of munchies. Why bring the dog? I'm sure it's "unofficial" but like a lot of Lexington businesses, well behaved dogs seem to be welcome. In fact, my last visit began with the sweetest greeting from an adorable Chocolate lab. And any place that loves dogs is where I want to be! And if the video games aren't enough, their big screen TVs usually have a sporting event on. Cheers read more

Arcadium - Bloody Mary's that you can eat! - Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Best toilet paper in town! When you walk in, you are guaranteed a gentle wipe in this bar. Definitely the best TP over any other bar in Lex. The cocktails are good too, I'd recommend a Last Word with Castle & Key Gin. Needless to say, you won't be disappointed with the beer, drinks, or toilet paper at Arcadium. The bartenders are also super rad. 10/10. read more

Cool little space in an up and coming part of Lexington. Have fun playing arcade games for .25 cents each and drinking on a tasty draft beer from their local/regional picks. They also have a nice back patio space for warmer weather and/or if you need a spot to smoke. read more

There are three things that I enjoyed at Arcadium. The environment, the video games, and the drink selection. The environment was very relaxed.There was not any dancing or loud music. So if you enjoy a place to hangout with friends and play games this is your spot. They have a good range of video games. My favorite retro game is the Mario Donkey Kong classic. I was impressed that this bar actually had that game. The drink selection was great. The drinks were reasonable. Overall, if you like video games and want to go to a chill environment this is the perfect bar for you! read more

This place is a Bloody Mary Lovers Mecca. This little bar is located on North Limestone kind of across from Al's Bar. They get their name because they have added some old video games in every nook and cranny they have here. So cool to be able to have an adult beverage while playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Street Fighter. With that being said, bring your Quarters because you are going to need them. They have a few tables for seating but most people here just belly up at the bar. That is what my friends and I did. We came on a Sunday. I know this is a day they offer a Bloody Mary Bar. You get to pick all kinds of delicious toppings for your Mary's. You can pick anything from Salami, Olives, Onions, Beets, Pickles, Cheese, Baby Corn, Mushrooms, Etc. just to name a few options. Some items they put add to them, I have no clue what it is. Either way, they are so good. Every drink is like a little sip of Heaven. Just the right tang and the perfect amount of heat. It is just so good. These people have got their Bloody Mary's down pat. If you have a hunkering for a great Bloody Mary, stop in here and the barkeep can sure hook you up right. Arcadium also has a full stock bar and a lot of beers with many on tap. Their kegs are constantly rotating in and out so pay attention to the chalk boards to see what they are offering at that time. I really love this place. I will be stopping in again soon. Also a little tid bit of information...Arcadium is ranked as one of top 55 bourbon bars in the US from the Bourbon Review. How awsome is that? Now you have to see why. read more

See all

"Um, watch your step, there's a dog in here" Actually, there were 2 good size dogs sprawled out in the very narrow, very hot, very crowded bar. One of the bartenders grabbed what looked like a beagle by the collar and led it outside before NOT WASHING HIS HANDS and making my Bloody Mary. He touched every single pickle, pepper, and olive that went into my drink as I watched with my mouth hanging open. I'm not a germaphobe by any means and I love dogs, but give me a break. *I decided to come back to this review and give an extra star because the Bloody Mary was choice. One of the best I've had in Lex... just not a big fan of dog-fingers in my drinks. read more

Fun little place and the drinks are amazing! They have good craft beers and amazing cocktails, that look like they change everyday. Would recommend, however the games are 25 cents if you are ballin on a budget! read more

When friends suggested a visit to Arcadium, I was excited. While I am not a big video game person, I do enjoy a round or two of arcade games - it brings me back! The bar itself is fairly small, but I enjoyed the vibe. There were a handful of games that weren't working, which was disappointing, and so that docked a star to start. I docked the second star because the service was way below what I would've expected, given there were 2 or 3 bartenders at any given time for a bar so small. It took at least five minutes to get anyone's attention, and then once we placed our drink order it took almost 10 minutes to get a beer and an old fashioned. My friend had even worse luck after she arrived after us, and was ignored for almost 15 minutes while the bartenders just chatted and together took shots at the far end of the bar. I really like what Arcadium is trying to do, but they have the opportunity to do it better. I'm willing to go back, but won't sign on to be a regular. read more

Arcade games and drinks. Straight forward. I can see how some people could be into it, but not for me read more

One of my favorite neighborhood bars. I wish the games were free. I'd spend more money on drinks. Not enough games and pretty cramp but as cool as it gets in town. If you're lucky there might be some free snacks but everyone here is pretty chill. read more

Great little bar with friendly staff. Nice selection of draft beers and mixed drinks. Retro video games round out the fun. Great pricing helps too! Be sure and grab some food from their neighbor Favor and enjoy the patio! read more

The Arcadium is a great bar to hit up before heading to Al's Bar for a show or to catch up with a friend on a weekday to drink craft beer and play video games. It is usually very active and crowded on the weekends; and it's a fun place to meet people. The crowd is fairly varied, but definitely leans towards hipster (arcade and craft beer, right?) They have a great collection of arcade games. Galaga and Shinobi are my favorites, but they have a bunch more. See if you're up for getting your name on the high-scorer list posted on a giant chalk board elevated for all to see. You should keep in mind that if you're looking for a quiet place on a weekend night, the Arcadium is probably a bad idea. And the quiet-thing probably wont work out if Al's bar is having a good show, because they're very close to one another. Note that Al's has shows on any night of the week. read more

My first thought when I walked in this place had to do with missing my beard and not having worn flannel out that night. That being said this is a pretty solid bar with a good selection of small-brew beers and a great selection of bourbon. I did have the misfortune, when randomly choosing a bourbon to tie off the evening, to pick one that was somehow made in New York, but that's really on me. The place is small and a bit on the loud side; carrying on a conversation was difficult even if the person was on the stool next to you. Could do with a couple of more standing tables and some extra seating; the atmosphere is definitely cozy. The arcade machines are really the heart of this place. They keep running high scores on a chalkboard opposite the bar. I didn't see a great many people playing with them however. Service was friendly and efficient. The bartenders were knowledgeable about all of the beers and bourbons that I had questions about which is good enough for me. I would recommend this place as a corollary to Al's Bar across the street. Pop in for a good bourbon or some beer; maybe play some games with some friends. I enjoyed the place and will definitely be back. read more

1980's arcade games (glitches still included). A great selection of beers. Great atmosphere, friendly staff. A hidden gem. read more

Arcadium - Arcadian front. - Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Fantastic Bloody Mary bar on Sundays and an overall great vibe. My only complaint is that indoor seating is very limited and the outdoor seating is not covered (which can make for very hot summer evenings and/or wet, rainy nights). read more

Arcadium - My favorite Bloody Mary in Lexington! - Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

This is my favorite bar in Lexington. It's a great place to take people, because all thirsts can be satisfied. I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to drinking (i.e. I'm boring and order a whiskey soda nine times out of ten). However, Arcadium also has an expansive tap list, a full range of liquor, and bartenders who know how to make a craft cocktail. The presentation of every drink is lovely, but not fruffy. You can always tell a bar takes itself seriously when it has like 30 different sizes and shapes of glasses. The interior has a long glossy wood bar and a few 4-person hightops. The lighting is dim and moody (but not to the point that I have to channel my inner old lady and pull out my cell phone flashlight to read the menu). There are about a dozen older arcade games as well (the namesake of the bar I assume). I only ever play Ms. Pac-Man, but other games include Mario Bros. and Tetris. All the games are in good condition and pretty cheap (a quarter for one-player and two quarters for two-player on the MPM). There are also two TVs mounted above the bar. Usually this would be a negative for me, but they play good stuff and take requests. Last time I was there, Inglourious Basterds was playing. Basically everyone at the bar ended up watching the last 30 minutes together... good fun! Every bartender I've interacted with has been really great -- attentive and knowledgeable without being hovery. They also have a private fenced patio! That you can smoke on! It's always been nice back there, but on my most recent visit I saw the new upgrades: two heat lamps, strings of light, and new stump benches. Super clean and cozy back there. Honestly I only hesitated on writing a great review, because I selfishly I don't want it to get too crowded there, but they deserve the 5 star buzz! read more

This is definitely a locals place. The bartender and the customers seemed to all know each other well. There are only about 8 games, but they're only a quarter a play and have little tables for your drinks. I think the games may rotate, because there was a board of high scores including games that weren't in the bar at the time. It does have a bit of a "geekier than thou" vibe. read more

Cool spot. Amazing Bloody Mary's...not happy that all things skewered for Bloody Mary's done with bare hands.

I enjoyed my first visit to arcadium a couple of weeks ago. It was a Monday night so not crowded which to me was nice. There were fewer games available to play than I anticipated but can't beat for a quarter with no real wait to play any of them. They had a few beers on tap I liked (not always the case) and reasonable as well and bartender was nice. I plan to return. read more

Staff is A1, drinks are perfection and a bad ass kitchen is about to pop up here. Never disappoints

Well what can I say turns out it's a push not a pull door. I was wrong before. This place rules. Matt is a great bartender and so is Sean. I asked for an obscure cocktail and they had no problem making it. I've come here for years. My favorite watering hole. read more

Best bourbon bar around! The neighborhood is getting better and crowd is less hipster than before...however they did get rid of the only good bartender (Anne) they had... read more

They have a ton of great coin-ops in the bar, as well as a lot of good beers on tap. I went on a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty full. I would say it was because of the NFL playoffs, but the crowd here is not necessarily your NFL playoff kind of clientele. I played a few rounds of TMNT and Tetris while I downed a few. There's also Double Dragon, but I can't remember any of the rest off the top of my head. If it was near enough my house to walk, I would probably be in there every day blowing through all of my money. read more

They only have about 12 games and a third of them don't work and a third of the rest are terrible. Once you get over your hipster self you can look around and realize the games that don't work and aren't occupied kind of suck. Also, it's a "nerd bar" yet they don't even share their WiFi password. Just like wookies on Endor, that does not make sense. The tap list is OK, but you can definitely do better in Lexington. read more

Craft beer and 80s era arcade games? Perfect. I just wish it was located somewhere else. Pretty sure you can buy crack cocaine within 100 feet or so of this place located in the crack district of Lexington. read more

I used to complain about the fact that someone hadn't opened a barcade in Lexington. I even thought about taking out a business loan and trying my hand at it...but never got past the drawing board. One day, a friend and I were cruising down North Lime and saw some new signage hanging across from Al's. "Arcadium" it read. My jaw dropped. I felt just as elated as I was jealous. We rushed in and sat down for a drink and I immediately confessed to the owner (who was bartending) that he had beat me to the punch of opening Lex's first barcade. I applauded him and told him I had no idea the place had been here right under my nose. "Well, we just opened. Like just now" he said. We had a couple rounds, played a few games - then went on our way. We returned again and again, soon growing to adore the staff and venue. The bourbon selection was astounding, craft beer offerings were out of this world, and there always seemed to be a new arcade game every time I stopped in. I grew to love this little bar; the ambiance, the people, the times spent there. It's a very special place to me, although I moved and rarely go to bars these days. If you're looking to go to a bar where you can have good conversation, great drinks, and keep yourself busy trying to climb the scoreboards of Ms. Pac Man, you have to check this place out. Just be sure to put your hand over the change machine...its notorious for spitting quarters into the air vent just below it... Don't forget to try their Bloody Mary-it's a meal in itself! Pros: great atmosphere, varied clientele (although mostly millennials), wide selection of classic games, quality drinks, friendly staff Cons: small, very cramped when busy, never has any live music, sometimes too hip for its own good read more

Great beer and awesome arcade games! I liked that they had grippos and mingue brothers beef jerky as well for a little snack. Their beers are constantly rotating and they offer some nice rich porters and stouts which I like and beer on the lighter side if that is more your speed. Some of the arcade games switch out to keep it fresh and they have the standards like Ms. PAC Man and Street Fighter 2. While the atmosphere is great and the beers delicious, the on thing that keeps this place from obtaining that last star is the bartenders. They spend more time on their phones than actually interacting with their patrons. They put off a vibe that they don't want to be there and don't care about the way the bar presents itself. All in all, this is a great place to go but don't count on great service. read more

20 taps plus a cask. I don't care about the old school video games - though they are cool. This place has a great beer list. 3 Against the Grain beers on. 3 Dark Horse on. Schlafly. Country Boy. Evil Twin. I'll be back. read more