(Played 04/18/2025 FR @ 7:00pm): Arcade and bar... two things that went well together! In my quest to explore the various cuisine scenes and things to do throughout Jersey City and specifically the Heights, my friend's friend mentioned that Jersey City's Barcade was closing after this very weekend, and she had a ton of tokens that needed to be used before then. Established in 2004 in Brooklyn by four close friends, Barcade was the originator of the arcade bar concept and the largest operator of arcade bars in the United States. Each location featured between 40-75 video games and pinball machines mostly from the classic period of the 1980s as well as 25-30 American craft beers on draft in addition to a full bar with cocktails, craft spirits, and pub food. Locations have opened in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, California, and Michigan. All locations are certified green by the Green Restaurant Assoc., a national non-profit organization that recognized and certified environmentally responsible restaurant and bar operations. I've been to the lone California location in Highland Park and had a blast. On this celebratory somber weekend, how was Barcade's swan song!? PURCHASE Pepsi Soda 12floz Draft ($3.00): Not a Coca Cola carrier, my friend had to do with their competitor which she wasn't happy about. Ginger Beer 12floz Draft ($3.00): My friend switched to one of my favorite non-alcoholic drinks to rinse the Pepsi out of her mouth - LOL! Rainy Day Real Estate Mocktail 12floz ($10.00): Because I was still in the throes of my annual ritual of no alcohol during Lent, I went with this drink crafted with housemade pineapple shrub, fresh lime juice, and ginger beer. The name initially got me (it was a take of a band I liked) and pineapple. It was a refreshing concoction with too much ice and a steep price tag. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=48&select=dpX0j4rsVWmTIksgTrxPnA Pseudo Fruito Mocktail 12floz ($10.00): This faux cocktail was mixed with housemade strawberry shrub, fresh lime juice, and tonic water. Equally refreshing as my first drink with more fruity flavor, but again too much ice and the price. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=48&select=_4Tkt6GNwpcE_I4BX-ReRg Tokens (N/A): Games ranged between 1-2 tokens ($0.25/token), but because someone had a ton of tokens to use, I received a bunch for free! I geeked-out and played games such as Bubble Bobble, Burger Time, Crystal Castles, Dig Dug, Frogger, and Tapper - memories! SERVICE The bar was crazy as you tried to get a drink, and I wasn't a fan that if you opened a tab, you had to give both your credit card and ID. If you needed tokens, just have your cash ready for the machine - 'nuff said. PARKING (Street; N/A this instance) This was an easy 25-minute walk from my friend's place. Otherwise, this was on a pedestrian-only section of town, but there appeared to be random spots (no known private lot) off the main drag of Newark Ave. and all surrounding roads, or best to utilize the very good public transportation light rail - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A high ceiling packed layout https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=48&select=n7rz5CwjT4kAQpJxOOqTKA of video games and pinball machines along every conceivable wall and even some in the middle of the floor, with a massive bar surrounded by a ton of stools while some tables were here and there. Honestly, every space was maximized to the fullest. Decent natural lighting came through the tinted large windows and doors while minimal electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There weren't any TVs while loud rock music blared in the background and drowned out everything else. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=48&select=2WhjRfktJ1jFmWH68IipjQ ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL It was sad to hear that Barcade's Jersey City location was closing, but I was glad to be a part of it in some way, especially since I unknowingly knew the brand from their Highland Park location. Although it was packed during its final weekend, according to my friend's friend, it always seemed busy whenever she went, so the closure couldn't have been due to a lack of business. From the awesome games, frenetic vibe, expansive beer and drinks selection, and the game prices, a fun time was had by all! Apparently, they also had a weekday happy hour! And, I always loved supporting small businesses whenever possible (only nine locations now). I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $28.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS read more

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Barcade is a fun place to relax and enjoy some beer while playing an arcade game. The space inside is spacious with high tables and video games all around you. I have been here a couple of times because it's nice to forget about life's challenges and worries getting caught up in a Pac-Man game. It brings back childhood memories of playing some older games from the 90s and also have your ID ready as they check for ID at the entrance. It is so unfortunate that they are closing down soon. Barcade Jersey City 10/10 experience read more

Barcade - Super punch out arcade game - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

We love it here! Dani is the best bartender, but they're all awesome. Drink are great, hot dogs are excellent. Veggies dogs especially. Vibes are chill on weekdays and party on weekends. read more

Barcade - DIY dog - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I've been patronizing this location of Barcade for over a decade now and can say the place holds up well. The size of the space and games is comparable to the one in Chelsea but this one is usually less crowded, and maybe a tad cleaner. Whether it's classic games like pac man and tetris or newer games, it's easy to gather a group and find something for everyone, at just about 25cents or 50 cents a game. They have an extensive selection of beers on tap, and even cocktails and wine if that's more your jam. There are few places you can while away the hours on a small budget in the area and Barcade is a great option. read more

Bar hopping on a Friday night led me and my fam at Barcade. Whats cool about this place is the old school arcade games and the extensive list of draft beers. I had the Newburgh which was pretty good. A sweet ale. I didnt love the vibe of the staff. Bartender was kinda rude and said that the drinks were taxed. I dont know, it was just off. We ended up having one drink and moved on. If u are looking for a arcade spot with all of the old retro arcade games from yester year i recommend but there are better bars in the area. read more

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Absolutely positively love this place. I love the vibe, the diversity , the drinks and the food. The crowd it brings in is mellow, the drinks are made well. The bartenders are cool and def know how to make a drink. The food is fricking delicious ! I ordered tacos, loaded pubs fries and a hot dog. all 10/10. made well delicious and brought straight to your table. I spent $20 on coins to play and I was playing for hours and still drinking and eating. highly recommend for anyone in the area or looking for a night out with friends . read more

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I have only been here once, but my experience here was very good. The food and drinks were delicious, and the atmosphere was very casual. It was definitely a place I knew I could have fun in, literally. They had a bunch of arcade games from different decades, and the tokens were cheap. I believe it was $5 for 20 tokens. The bartender was very nice on guiding me through my first experience here. read more

Great place with a bar and lots of games. It wasn't very crowded since I went on a Tuesday evening. The happy hour is from 4 to 7 pm and the beer and wines are all a dollar off. Tried their Junglebird cocktail, a rum based drink which was pretty good. The service was faster too. Lots of games like pin ball, pac man are available. Good experience overall. read more

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Barcode is one of those places that's very crowd-dependant. The service is usually pretty good but other people can really make or break the vibe. If you want to grab a drink and play some old video games this is a great place to indulge some nostalgia. But if you go during a busy time, be ready for people who just want to drink and don't mind blocking machines or acting like complete fools. read more

I've visited Barcade a few times on separate weekends and it's just not my thing, so I'm calling it quits. The small setup creates a too-packed house so you can't maneuver too well when you're there. There are other arcades to explore to avoid the unavoidable mad house that is Barcade. Forget getting a drink, it's impossible to get to a bartender as other reviews have mentioned. This might be a better place to visit during off hours, but I think I'll skip it when in JC. read more

Barcade - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Dude I played vintage video games for a couple hours here and really took advantage of their $10 shot and beer special (not sure if that's a regular thing). Definitely going back for level 3 of Gauntlet Legends and some Mortal Combat. read more

Barcade - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I love visiting barcade in NYC but this location fell short for me. It was on the small side (the Williamsburg location is my favorite and much larger). Half the machines I put in tokens for just ate the token and didn't work. Then I was given tokens from the machine that were too big to fit in some of the games? Overall just a frustrating experience here. read more

What a way to spend a night out and play video games! Great setup once you walk in, it's open and inviting. The bar is centrally located with many tap beer options available. Indoor seating with low and high tables, and outdoor tables. The pricing is reasonable, and more so for the tokens, and game play. A few issues are: -Some machines kept swallowing my tokens and didn't register the game. So it cost me more tokens than the game asks for. -Only video games are available. They don't have hands on games like a Dave-n-Busters (no bball, skeeball, etc). -There is a wait for certain games if you're interested in playing since they only have 1 available. Other than that this is a nice spot to grab drinks and play some old school video games. FYI: If you start a tab at the bar you can ask the bartender for tokens and put on your bill when you close out. read more

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I've been to Barcade a few times, but never to this location. Out the others I visited, this one was definitely the smallest, and most crowded. I think that the concept of this place is supppper smart. Arcade games that are nostalgic for adults plus alcohol and bar food, it makes total sense. I do wish that this location had some chairs or seating so that you could actually order food. I would have loved to grab a bite to eat from here because the food is pretty good, but it was so packed that there was no way that could happen. I couldn't get a bartenders attention if my life depended on it.. there was just so much going on. The games are always a fun time but a few of the machines were broken or took our coins and didn't work. Again, it was so packed that there was no way to contact or let anyone know. No shade to Barcade because I do love it but I would not come back to this location. read more

Barcade - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Over priced drinks and most games are broken or takes the money and not work . The food is ok

I'm giving it four stars for fun. And beer. Unfortunately the machines don't work at times BUT they are good for the return so that's cool. It's an easy breezy dive-y joint with video games. I mean, cmon. Go. Turn into the big kid that you are. Have fun & relax. Grab a few beers. Play a few games. Order the nachos if you feel so compelled but there are plenty of spot to eat right outside so I say come here for the chill vibes and to be where you're allowed to be a big kid again. Have a few beers & don't judge so much. Cheers...to good times. read more

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PROS: This place was as cool as I expected it to be. Games all around and of different genres too. They had many drinks, food available, and the games were cheap. CONS: They only had 3 one person bathrooms which always created a line. The bartenders weren't the friendliest and the there was not enough room to walk around in. Most of the games were knock offs as well. You had some original games like Donkey Kong, Pong, Galaga but 85% of the consoles I saw were similar to original games but changed up. OVERALL: The reason for why I gave it a good rating despite more cons is because it's a unique bar that you won't find anywhere else in the state that I enjoyed going to. I may not be back, but if you haven't gone yet I would try it out. read more

Come for the beer and games, not for the food. They have a good happy hour that borderlines great thanks to being until 7PM, unlike most other places in JC. $1 off beers and we'll drinks isn't bad! The beer selection is off the charts. Constantly changing, always fresh, it's one of the best parts of Barcade, hands down. Oh and the games! The food - we'll take a look at my pic. $7 or $8 for a one tiny scoop of guac is ridiculous. the chips were stale, too! With that said, the guac WAS good. Definitely stop by Barcade. read more

Barcade - This was $7 worth of Chips & Guac. Not worth it. Guac was good but this is what you pay $1.50 for at Chipotle. - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

It was okay, they had a few out of service popular game. Honestly it was much to do but it was a nice vibe

So why is Danny (Dani), Matt and Samar(?) are the best ones here (everyone else is great too...but let's highlight them?) Nachos are fresh, drinks are quick What else can you ask for ? I would return again and again...as I already plan to . Did someone call me a regular? I said what I said. Thanks , see you soon ! read more

Very Yelpy place to go to. Just a quick warning your not gonna wanna come here for the food. We ordered a few things while we were there and it was alright but it's just not the place for that anyway. Really cool place to stop In if your a nerd at heart like myself. They have every old classic arcade game you can imagine. Ninja turtles, Jambo, space invaders etc. Another cool/weird thing is that they only have ipa beers. You can't go up and just get a 3 dollar bud light. They name all of their beers in a unique way but it just adds to the experience. Def a must stop if your in jersey city for sure. read more

Barcade - Cider - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Thought it would be a fun time but was sooo wrong about this place. The bouncer looked like a 40 yr old virgin and called me a f slur. I immediately turned around and left. Truly disheartening for a JC establishment. read more

Cool spot. I was super excited to visit this baracade, but there were bad vibes from the BARTENDERS. They made my experience unpleasant, and they made me feel uncomfortable. Not only did it take a while to get my beer on a nonbusy day, but one of the bartenders would look at me and give a smirk and help out whomever arrived. I sat down at the bar, and nobody was sitting there. I made it during happy hour, but I didn't get the happy hour special. Once I got my drink, the bartender told me I couldn't sit there because someone was already sitting at that exact same seat. I moved because it was not a big deal, and nobody was sitting there. WTF!!!!! There are much better bars around the area. Don't waste your time with this garbage of a place!!! read more

Been here a few times. The adult arcade room. It's a nice decent stop for a brew and an arcade game. Big gaming area with your old school arcade games (Simpsons, street fighter, PAC man, Daytona USA) u can find a game to play. They have several tap beers. Not your normal taps but there is something there you would like. Bartenders were cool. I had a dog fish head can't go wrong with that. Prices aren't too bad for the location. They have a place where you can order food. But I haven't tried any food there yet. Good local stop. read more

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A cool and comfortable spot for all nerds to unite. I've been to the Barcade closer to home (Philly) and the experience was much different. There was lots of seating at the bar and so many games were available. I'm used to hanging around and waiting for games to open up. We started off with PacMan which is a 4 player game that looks like a table with joysticks and a screen in the middle. 80's nostalgia for real. I loved it. I mostly played the pinball machines. You can swap out your dollars for tokens at the designated machines or just use quarters. Bathrooms are gender neutral and were stocked with soap, paper towels and toilet paper. There's also a section in the back where you can find Barcade merch for sale. I did find the drinks to be kind of pricey. For 3 draft beers, it was $22. I suppose you pay for the experience because it is a unique concept. I didn't mind, as we were in town visiting some friends and we had fun here. read more

Barcade - Pinball machines - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

In general I have come here to hang out and have cocktails. Most recently, I came for a late night snack as well...which did not sit well with me. At. All. Pretty sure I got food poisoning from the 'special' cheesesteak hot dog. It was special alright. Woke up in the middle of the night and I could not stop throwing up...no it wasn't because I drank too much. Also the purple chips it came with tasted like cardboard. Come for the games and drinks, but pass on the food. read more

Barcade - Special cheesesteak dog - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

The Barcade is giving what it's supposed to give, a grungy arcade/bar for adults to live out their inner child. Definitely a cool place to come and play old school arcade games with some friends and have some drinks. I did not eat but it does not strike me as the place to eat unless you want bar food to soak up the alcohol. They do have a great beer list however. I do wish that the space was a little bigger because it gets crowded and stuffy. Also, there's not a lot of tables so if you wanted to eat it would be hard if it was crowded. Also, some sanitizer and wipes near all the games would be nice since Covid is not totally over. My advice is to definitely come early, play some games and have some drinks before it gets too crowded. read more

As an avid gamer, I was excited to visit Barcade! Barcade is filled with vintage arcade machines and various types of craft beer. In fact, I think the craft brew is the biggest draw. I can't speak to the quality of the food since I've never eaten here. You'll need coins to play the arcade games so you can either bring a bag of quarters from home or exchange your cash for coins using the change machines onsite. Barcade also has outdoor seating in the front of the building during warmer months if you're looking to take in some fresh air while enjoying a pint of beer. If you're looking to play some classic arcade games while getting tipsy on some of the best local beer, this is the place for you! read more

This is probably my favorite barcade location between the Brooklyn, Newark, and Jersey City spots that I've been to. As always, don't come for the food, but come to have a nice draft and a fun time. I prefer this spot because it's larger than Newark, not as far as Brooklyn since I live in Jersey, but also because it is centrally located. If you're looking to bar hop or just see where the night takes you, then the Jersey City location is walking distance from the path train that can lead you to Hoboken and New York. read more

Had a great time I hate the card system. Go play games here. The game selection is ridiculous

Good drinks and fun vibes. Was a bit busy, but the bartender was working hard! Would go back!

Best place to have a drink be your self and enjoy all the gaming opinions. What more to enjoy when you have the best bartenders giving the strong ass drink and cheap. The right place to enjoy a drink and pick up and nice lady if you like . read more

Fun place to play retro games. It does get really crowded though. But overall, everyone is having fun and enjoying themselves. Warning... DO NOT get the nachos! They are terrible. I've never seen nachos with grated Parmesan cheese before. read more

Beer + video games, why didn't I think of that? Went here for my friends birthday, make sure to get here early to grab a spot and get some games in, because it gets packed fast. They have everything from TMNT, to the Simpsons, NBA JAM, and even a 4 player pac man. Beating some TMNT brought back some childhood memories. Good selection of beer, and though I didn't try any food, it looked and smelled good. I had the Pastrami Pils which was a collaboration beer between barcade and schmaltz brewing. If you were to put a pastrami sandwich in a blender, that is what it tasted like. You got the rye bread, the smokey meat, and even the mustard, I could not stop drinking it. If you are a nerd, like video games, and are a fan of craft beer, this spot is a no question destination for you. read more

Barcade - TMNT - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

We walked in on a Friday night and it was packed! Everywhere! It's a fun bar with arcade games everyone hooked on to. Long extensive selection of beers in great prices - we got the nitro and allagash white and couldn't complain. Also ordered the Nachos and was expecting it to be loaded with cheese but was surprised to eat a less cheesy more flavorful with colorful tortilla chips and sweet spicy queso sauce. We ended up playing wherever we could find a spot - pinball (2tokens) crazy taxi (2tokens) and Daytona USA (2tokens) . Pinball machines are sometime to gawk at for long with such details. There's a place where you can get tokens in exchange for bills of $1/5/10/20 but those can't be refunded incase you're many leftovers. But I did read you can use it for the bar food , but can't confirm. It's loud, happening and you'll see everyone getting their hands on either those machines or on the beers. Fun place to come in a group over the weekend. read more

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The best happy hour for beer in town with the best beers on tap. Not only is the vibe super laid back, the beers on tap are all very diverse and their cocktails are yummy! Loved the strawberry smoked margarita. Great covid precautions, laid back crowd and some Dungeons and Dragons?!? Sign me up! Did I mention the pinball machines here are amazing just to watch people play from your chair. read more

Barcade - Brooklyn Capataz (stout) Cape May Coastal Evacuation - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Well this place has come a long way since COVID. It's the cleanest I've ever seen it. They have tables spaced out and you can only drink at your tables. I didn't see anyone cleaning the games off so they lost a star for that but still a major improvement from pre-COVID days. read more

Craft beer, video games, 80's metal. I'm in love. Oh yeah, this place brings back memories of those countless hours I spent at the local video arcade after school pumping quarters into the games and flirting with all the honeys. Except back then they did not offer a killer beer selection as Barcade does! This place looks like hipster central was pulled out of Williamsburg and dumped into Jersey City, but it's all good. The actual place is one large room painted in all black, dimly lit with large windows up front, picnic type tables to chill at, and all types of old school video games along the walls. Q-Bert, Burger Time, Centipede, Galaga, Tapper, Zaxxon, Double Dragon, Frogger, and so many others. And just like back in time, it's only a quarter to play a game! Oh yes - vintage 80's and 90's hard rock and hair metal tunes are joyfully played non-stop offering a kick ass aural stimulation on the brain. Heavy metal love! What I like is that there are little beer shelves next to the games so you can enjoy your brew while dumping your change in the machines in a frenzied attempt to get that high score. What a terrific craft beer selection they have here! All reasonably priced at around $6-$8 a pint. I counted about 25 craft beers on tap! Had a Sixpoint Nitro Otis while playing a few games. There is also a small kitchen open until midnight to grab some grub if hungry. Had a decent roast beef and melted cheddar on toast with pickles on the side for $8. They also have some small bites like Bacon and Nutella! Yes! Wasn't too crowded on a Thursday night but I would guess it can get crowded on weekends. I would also assume this place can be a nerds paradise and a bit of a sausage fest, but there is a large bar to sit around while enjoying a good brew while listening to some classic tunes. Bring a roll of quarters and take a step back in time. read more

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JC downtown has a couple of jewels in the heart of dowtown and Barcade is one of them. Never knew a place like this ever existed in a quite neighborhood like this. Tried this place while bar hopping with friends in Hoboken and JC downtown. The setup of this place is similar to other Barcade... the one in Brooklyn. The place is huge and arcade games on two sides of the wall. It was fun to play all those fun arcade games(Pacman, Street Fighther) after a long time. The ambience is hipster and they have a dim dark light to give the place a more intimate look. This is known for their beer selection but they do carry other liquors too. They rotate the tap beers on daily basis so there is always something new to try here everytime. The server was nice and helped us choose our drinks.Haven't tried food here so can't comment on that.Overall a fun place to hangout with friends in JC downtown. read more

I don't like playing arcade games. Never have and never will. I do however, enjoy a fine craft brew and because of that I frequent Barcade. The craft beer selection here is unparalleled. They always have something new and unique on tap and if you like it make sure to get it- there's a good chance it might not be in the rotation for another few weeks, or even another few months. Last time I came in I had a DuClaw Sweet Baby Jesus. This beer has peanut butter and chocolate in it. I'll say that one more time for emphasis. Peanut butter and chocolate infused beer. Perfection in a pint. Sometimes they bring in breweries for tap takeovers which is always a treat. Carton had a tap takeover the other week and it was incredible! They had at least 12 different beers to choose from. Everything from trail mix flavored beer, to Irish coffee and even something infused with pineapple. I was geeking out real hard. Barcade definitely gets packed out, especially on those weekend nights. I don't mind it because the crowd is always really nice and friendly. It's not rare to strike up a convo with a fellow beer enthusiast by the bar or sit at one of the long tables alongside some new pals. They have outdoor seating here which is always a plus! The tables are really rickety though, and if you put your beer down it wobbles a lot. Definitely guilty of dropping a few beers on the floor, whoops. Totally the tables fault, and I won't blame the 12% beers. Overall, this is a casual and fun spot to grab a brew and hang with some friends. Even if you don't dabble in arcade games like me, the vintage games strewn about the room make for a really funky and old school feel. Definitely different then your average bar! read more

Barcade - Lots of beer selection - Bars Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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