Great bartenders. Very knowledgeable and service is quick and friendly. Always a fun place to hang out, get a drink, and play games to feel like a kid again. They have both classic and new games so there's something for everyone. Great for individuals and groups. The food was a miss tonight. Pizza and dips were fair, not as good as in the past. read more

Still a super fun place. A little expensive. But it's perfect to sit and drink beer while watching our nephew play high school baseball. My favorite pizza is the stoner. My husband's is the meat lovers. Great mix of beers on tap and mixed drinks read more

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Overall it's a fun place to hangout with games & drinks. It does get crowded quickly so it feels like super slow getting drinks! The green tea shot was on special so we all tried it and it was good. You can grab pizza while there as well. read more

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It was my first time at this location and this Boxcar is much bigger than the one in Raleigh! I came on Halloween and had a great time. I didn't have to wait too long to play the games I wanted to try. Food was good and made to order. I just had beer and they had an extensive draft selection. My favorite game was the duck claw machine (I got 4 ducks)! I think the stuffed animal claw machine stole some coins from me. read more

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Pretty fun place. Service was good, staff members are nice, supreme pizza is super good.

Love this place. Fun vibe. Lots of great games. I do wish it was 21+ all the time because there were kids everywhere on all the games we wanted to play. We did get in some game time and lots of great people watching. We didn't try the food but the drink selection was good. The staff were friendly. Best part in my opinion was the drink holders on the games, I love playing skee ball and having to hold my drink while doing it isn't ideal so kudos for the drink holders. We will definitely be back. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Drink holders on the games - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Boxcar Bar + Arcade has three locations, all in North Carolina: Raleigh, Durham, and Greensboro. This review is for the Durham location, which is the only one I've been to. In short, this is a cool arcade and bar near Central Park in downtown Durham. It's a great place for groups to meet up and have fun. And it's open late -- until 1am every night except for Sundays (12am close). Boxcar doesn't have dedicated parking. We parked in The Blue Note Grill's parking lot (free) nearby since we went there for dinner after Boxcar. Two-hour paid street parking is available in front of and around Boxcar, on Foster St and W Geer St, respectively. Paid parking is enforced Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm. Otherwise, there's no time limit and parking is free. As a gamer child of the 80s and 90s, I was really impressed with the retro arcade lineup that Boxcar Durham had during our visit. For me, highlights included Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off Road, Mortal Kombat 1-3 (each in separate original cabinets), NBA Jam, The Simpsons, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the original arcade game). They even had games that went back further than that like BurgerTime, Centipede, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong (the original), Galaga, and Mario Bros. (the original, not "Super" that most people know). Boxcar also had several modern arcade games in addition to pinball machines. The coolest one was the Stern Limited Edition James Bond 007 Thunderball pinball machine. Incredible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY4FjkH3L4s All of the arcade cabinets and pinball machines appeared to be in good working condition. We didn't try any of the food since we were headed to The Blue Note Grill for dinner. Boxcar serves pizza, pretzels, and salads. I hate to say it, but a cockroach crawled up my leg while we were here. I had to shake it off. Yikes. IDs were checked upon entry. This Durham location of Boxcar Bar + Arcade opened in January 2019. read more

Great place, I like this one over Raleigh because the food but other than that I love them. Great drinks that are perfectly priced , drink specials daily . read more

Had a great time at Boxcar last night. We ordered a margherita pizza which was decently priced. It took around 10 minutes to come out, which wasn't bad at all! There was a long line so I was expecting a longer wait time. The pizza itself was delicious -- the sauce was light and garlicky, and it was topped with dollops of what I think was creamy ricotta. The games were so much fun!! It all made for a great night out with friends. read more

Came here recently and enjoyed the vibes! First, I was nervous when I had to talk to someone at the front desk before entering (because I was afraid they would make me pay a cover fee), but they just wanted to check my ID. OK, that's fine! I then wandered around and checked out the different arcade games. I was a little disappointed that everything required tokens since I was kind of hoping that Boxcar would be able to survive just based on drink and food sales, but oh well :) At least the games tended to be cheap (4 tokens or $1 per play). There's a good variety of pinball machines, classic arcade games, and standard fare like air hockey, skee ball, etc. I was excited to hear that there was a ping pong table, but it was outside and not under any shade, so we vetoed that one. The drink options weren't bad at all, and the pizza looked pretty good, although I didn't try any because I ate dinner immediately before coming in. Overall, this was a fun experience and I would definitely consider coming back! read more

I came here Sunday night as I was in town for the duke lacrosse game. It is a well-run establishment with a great selection of games and beers and food. It is very clean and reasonably priced. My only gripe is to have more redemption games and exchange the tickets for prizes. Besides that, I was very impressed. read more

Great bar, open late, the classic original video games are a bonus. The pizza is also really good. We had the pepperoni with the hot honey and it was amazing! All the classic video games you could ever ask for. They have fire pits and heaters outside if it gets chilly. read more

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Great space for an afternoon hangout. Great beer selection including lots of non-alcoholic beers. The service is quick and straightforward. Great to bring family, friends and visitors to. read more

Went here with a group at noon on a Sunday and it did not disappoint. They have outdoor seating, outdoor games, food and full bar. The bartender was from Rhode Island, so was happy to see a fellow New Englander here. He suggested the mimosa special which worked out well. We ordered the margarita pizza and it was ok. It got the job done but I would not order it again. Overall good place. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Margherita Pizza - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I came here on a Saturday night with a couple of my friends, and the energy inside was amazing. There were plenty of people inside, bringing the energy up (but not enough to where I felt crowded or uncomfortable). The inside is very large with plenty of space. Filled with lots of arcade games, a bar, as well as a pizza spot. The drinks were great and have a daily special going on, so check to see what they have going on that day. The pizza spot had lots of options and the pizza was reasonably priced and came at a respectable time. I think one of the biggest perks of this is that the pizza is being made late into the night, so the craving for food is fulfilled right there without having to explore the surrounding area for places that are still open. Had a lot of fun here and will definitely be back! read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Bacon Broccoli Pizza - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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If your idea of a chill, fun evening begins with a simulated airport security TSA patdown, by all means, come on down! If the proprietor thinks so lowly of his patrons that they subject us to that, then we won't support them. Respect goes both ways. There's no reason I should have to "empty your pockets" as the security guy gruffly told me to do and then rushed to continue before I safely put away my things in my jacket again. I don't buy there's a reason for this. Literally. Not buying a drink, not buying a game. Not coming back. read more

So fun! Great drinks and prices. Would definitely recommend for a small to medium friend hangout or a date or even with some family and friends read more

Very cool experience. First time there to meet friends and watch some basketball- all I can say is I am glad it becomes 21+ after 7pm. Otherwise, this would be a discount Dave and Busters with all the kids running around. Not a huge deal, just something to make it better for adults. They seemed to be a little low on bartenders - service was a little slow. But the live music was great! I hope they expand that. I'll go back and try food next time. read more

Pizza was absolutely delicious, best I've had in Durham. However staff attitude wasn't the best.

I've been here a few times and while the drinks are usually good and the games are fun, the bartenders tend to be rude which makes me hesitant to come back. It can also get pretty busy/loud inside, but there is a nice outdoor seating area you can escape too if needed. The outside area also has a few ping pong tables and fire pits for the colder months which is nice! read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Nice hangout spot with reasonably priced arcade games! Good variety of drinks and beers. Came around Halloween and they also had cool seasonal drink choices. Pizza was delicious and I loved that they had so many options. There's also an online order option in case it gets really busy and you don't want to wait in line. Overall, friendly staff and service. Didn't have to wait too long for drinks and pizza. But it got busier as they night went on. read more

I enjoyed Boxcar. I wish the triangle offered more eclectic spaces and venues like Boxcar. While in the area at an event at Durham Central Park, we decided to venture over. Boxcar is located toward the end of Foster. There is street parking and a few local parking lots nearby. Boxcar features an arcade room, full bar, Pizza kitchen, large patio space and event room. We were ID'd upon entering and immediately hit the bar. Our bartender was helpful and recommended a Kentucky Mule. I enjoyed how cold and refreshing it was on a 90 degree night. We decided on a pepperoni and hot honey pizza pie and the service was excellent from the kitchen. The pie was fresh and decent. There are plenty of nostalgic arcade games like street fight, Pac-Man and the wizard of Oz pinball machine. Skeeball, basketball and outdoor yard games on the patio. The bathroom could have used some TLC and I really couldn't hear the music. All this place is missing is a live DJ. Sunday Funday features drink specials from the bar $10 bottles of champagne and $1 mimosas. Boxcar is also Dog Friendly. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I met others here on a Friday evening for a Birthday celebration. I enjoyed the space here and the games. I played basketball and a few of the video games while here. We went on to the patio area for fresh air. The staff here are pleasant and helpful. The arcade has good lighting and is clean. I love to see adults cleaning up behind themselves and I appreciated this and the mature vibes. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Great atmosphere! We were doing a good tour and stopped here as a break in between and it ended up being perfect. I have been to the location in Greensboro, but this was my first visit to this Durham location. $2 mimosas on Sundays is a heck of a deal, the bartenders were friendly and efficient. Great outdoor area with cornhole and tons of seating. Tokens are reasonably priced. They have a pizza oven for food as well! Great for adults or families. read more

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If I could give 5 stars for simply being a place where anybody and everybody can go, mix and feel welcomed, I would. Kudos for that! The bar service was friendly and we took advantage of $5 drafts on Mondays. Game selection was pretty much what you'd expect -- nothing really out of the ordinary. The food menu is pretty limited and the UX/app for placing food orders could be improved. But the pizza we ordered was good (margherita base with addition of chicken and jalapenos) as was the Greek salad (the olives were especially notable -- not too strong and salty -- and the balsamic vinegar dressing was also very good). Every city seems to have an arcade bar and Durham is lucky to have this one. read more

Such a fun gem in the heart of downtown Durham. As soon as you walk in the fun begins! There is a huge wrap around bar to the left with tons of beer, wine, and spirit selections. And of course throughout Box Car there are tons of new and classic games including The Simpsons arcade game that I totally forgot about. The also have skee ball, ice hockey, dance/dance revolutuon, a huge section of pinball games. They also have delicious food and a huge outdoor patio with ping pong. It was great to go outside, enjoy the weather, and eat my amazing Caesar salad. It was so good and their croutons have to be home made as they are roasted to perfection. Wow! I still have tons of tokens left, so I will be back!! read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Cool bathroom wall - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Always amazing! Every visit helps me relax from a long week of work. I love the games, atmosphere, and service!

Love coming to this place with friends or for date nights. It's pretty chill here. The bar has drinks. Just the usuals but there are sales for certain ones per day. The pizza is a banger. There is a good variety and for the most part, they are all really good. Pretty thin like New York style. The staff here are polite and respectful. Haven't had a bad interaction. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Caprese pizza - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Love Boxcar! Fun games and their drinks and pizza are great. The outside area is a whole vibe with fire pits and plenty of seating. Service is friendly and prompt. read more

Had a BLAST at the Boxcar in Durham on Saturday!! Had some drinks with friends out by the fire pit area, kicked my husbands butt at the basketball game and learned I am absolute garbage at pinball! They had the place decked out for the holidays which I absolutely loved. They had spiked hot chocolate on special and the pizza kitchen was calling my name all night (I will definitely be eating there next time, they have some really cool looking creations). Honestly this place is just such a cool concept and I love that they kick out the under 21 crowd after 7. Adults need an occasional haven for fun and nostalgia away from the everyday stress of adulting. Oh, and if you are wondering which Boxcar location is better the answer is Durham. Resoundingly. You can actually move and play games and get drinks from the bar, even on a Saturday. I wish they both had easier parking situations but that's the tradeoff about being downtown. read more

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Fun for families, friends, and couples. Also pet friendly! They have a boxcar in both Raleigh and Durham and it's a cool bar with arcade games. Only the Durham location serves food though and the menu consists of only pizza, pretzels, and salad. As an adult you have to be 21+ to enter and kids can come in if they're accompanied by an adult of age. The Durham location is also much more spacier and while Raleigh Boxcar's outside area is more of a patio, Durham is more of an outside grassy area with picnic tables where a lot of people bring dogs. The pizza was okay but I didn't expect the greatest pizza from here. The staff is friendly and service is wonderful! I would say there is much more kids here than the Raleigh location so if you want more of a drinking/adult vibe I would go to Raleigh because Durham felt more family friendly. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Classic Cheese with jalapeños - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I've been here a few times and it's always so much fun. I used to come for the $1 mimosas, I did notice that they changed it to $2 although I'm not sure how long ago they changed the prices. The food is normally really good. I've had both the pizza and the pretzels. I think I read that the dough is made there possibly but they do but effort into their food. They are always so helpful whenever the games stop working. I think when covid happened they lost some of the games but they still have a good variety. Lots of old school games and some other fun classics. They also have tournaments that are fun such as a skee ball one. The outdoor section is very nice. I will say that it is hard to find parking and you have to find street parking but there are a few lots up the road. It really gives me a fun hipster vibe which kind of reminds me of Durham overall. It will stay a classic in my rotation! read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Came in on a weekday, it wasn't packed and there was just enough people to feel a nice ambiance while still enjoying the games with enough space. The bar is impressive, they carry a variety of options and the bartenders were quick. The food menu is just right for the occasion, simple and quickly served. I love that they have what looks like a brick oven. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I absolutely love the Durham location! The outdoor area is huge, they serve food and the indoor area has so much more space than the Raleigh location. Our bartender was amazing! We had the caprese pizza and a pretzel with cheese and mustard. I would absolutely get the pizza again. The pretzel was good, but the dips were lacking for me. The spicy mustard was good, but the cheese was cold - would have preferred warm beer cheese. read more

This place is so much fun! We went as the hurricane Ian was subsiding and they were still have their hurricane party! Seems like there is an event almost every weekend! The drinks were good and priced well and the bartenders were helpful, friendly, and efficient! We had so much fun playing all the different games! We did have to wait for a few but that's to be expected on a weekend. They have machines to buy tokens which accept cash or card (4 tokens for a dollar and most games cost 2-4 tokens). I would love to go back when there pizza kitchen and their patio is open (unfortunately because of the hurricane it was closed)! They don't have a parking lot there but there is one down the block in either direction! read more

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We love a good arcade bar and this place didn't disappoint. They had great drink specials and great little spots to play some old game systems. We will be back and we have to try the food next time. read more

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A fun addition to any night out downtown. When you enter you purchase tickets to be used at the various arcade games ranging from classic to modern. Games range from 50 cents to $1 and single player to 4 player. On a Saturday night it can get quite busy, so you may have to wait a few minutes for a game you want or for a drink at the bar, but overall there are plenty of space and game options to accommodate everyone. There is also ample seating outdoors to get some fresh air. I did not get to try the food, but the pizza was very popular and looked yummy. Will have to return to test it out. read more

The perfect place to go with your boo thang! It's inexpensive and so much fun. Tokens are cheap and they have a lot of games to choose from. Throwback games like froggy, pac man, super Mario and air hockey. We had a blast and will return to use our tokens. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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On a previous visit, I had a drink and played a few games. On our latest visit, we were there for dinner since we had a deal with a local discount dining company. We ordered a veggie pizza and spinach salad since they said they were out of romaine lettuce. We got our buzzer, found an outdoor table, and got two beers at the bar (you pay separately). After waiting a little while, our buzzer went off and we collected our pizza. I have to say for something that supposedly just got out of a piping hot pizza oven, our pizza was kind of lukewarm. We did enjoy the outdoor tables, and while we were there, they turned on the fir pits for others to enjoy. Several parties, some with dogs, seemed to be enjoying their Tuesday night out. Our pizza was just the right size for the two us, just too bad it wasn't a tad hotter. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Arugula salad, veggie pizza - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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A solid fun space with a kind of eclectic and semi warehouse style. The inside was clean and the staff was all very friendly. The atmosphere was quite fun and great for just hanging out with friends, eating, drinking, and playing some games. The pizza was very good and the bars selection was quite nice. The game/machine selection was quite nice with plenty of classics. There were a couple that were more popular that I wished perhaps they had repeats of so you didn't have to wait, but understand that they don't. The setup was nice with plenty of space, but that also made it so that it could look/feel quite empty/dead pretty quickly. Otherwise I had a great time with friends and will likely return, would definitely recommend. read more