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    Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade

    4.1 (1.5k reviews)
    InexpensiveBars, Arcades
    Closed 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 week ago

    Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade Photos

    GROUND KONTROL CLASSIC ARCADE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Live music
    Hipster
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade

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    Erin K.

    Great place to spend an afternoon or trendy spot to have a 1st date! So many games to play! The price for 300 credits is so affordable ($10). The bar has got some unique cocktails! Clean, ACed, & entertaining!

    Ball in the hole
    Deedee C.

    Great place to kill time while you're in downtown Portland and after you've exhausted Powell's book and all the public markets. This place is super cool. It's a dimly lit vintage arcade bar with a ton of working games. Whenever we come in during Saturdays, it's only semi packed and there's a lot of games open for people to play. It's fun to try out each of the pinball games and also try out some of the cool vintage games never introduced in the '70s. The food's also pretty good and drinks are strong

    The classic games and great pin line up.

    Very cool spot. The games are in great condition!! The decor is very cool and they keep the place very clean!

    Kirby
    Stephanie S.

    Adult arcade with lots of gaming options. Everything from Pinball to classic arcade games. Food was average bar food. Nice for a social event. Street parking in Downtown Portland.

    Alcohol on tap--beers, seltzers, and ciders
    Alma A.

    My husband and I were visiting Portland and wanted to check out an arcade. We came across Ground Kontrol and we were not disappointed. We were welcomed at the door and purchased a card to play games with. We got the $50 card and had PLENTY of credits to play for a few hours. The vibe inside is eclectic and fun. There are SO MANY games to play--pinball machines and retro games from decades ago. The drinks are great and perfectly themed--with great prices. They have a big screen for people to play Wii games, too. I would highly recommend this place and would come back when I get the opportunity!

    Sean M.

    This place rocks! Visiting and exploring the PNW from San Diego and found this wonderful place, so many great pinball machines in fantastic working order and classic video games. They have a full bar with a great beer selection, and prices seem crazy decent. You purchase a card and play, this place is like a cool version of corporate feeling Dave and Busters. Wish they would franchise and find this simple platform in every cool city. They have tournaments, clean bathrooms, and water stations too. This 60 year old kid loved his experience on a Wednesday evening. Cheers

    Brad W.

    Small $4 cover charge, but they have tons of pinball games and other video games to choose from. Dri,nks are available and $20 goes a long way.

    Asteroids
    Bill J.

    RAD! The 80's arcade theme is in the DNA of this place. They offer plenty of 80's, 90's, pinball, and modern games. I didn't try the food this time, but it looked good and I noticed a lot of people enjoying the grub. They have a bar as well and you're allowed to have a beer while playing the games. I was really impressed with the selection of games and I would highly suggest you check it out if you're an 80's guy like me.

    Vintage and new. Too much fun.
    John G.

    Fun atmosphere, adult beverages and the cleanest best operating vintage games in the northwest. (*Sketchy neighborhood. -1 ) Attentive employees and an attempt to separate adult beverages from minors. Countless gameplay and sliding pay scale on different games. Fair Honest Affordable **the games play like they did in 1984. 1986. 1988. No sloppy buttons No whacky joysticks Just original games in mint condition. -

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    10 months ago

    Excellent place for date night. No Altered Beast or Big Buck Hunter. No Star Trek shooting game.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Damn, that was a well stocked arcade. The amount of games to play was pretty nutty, I'm a big fan of this place.

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    Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade

    Is there a dance floor?

    No dance floor since the floors are lined with games. Although he do have a DJ on certain nights.

    Is there ski ball?

    No ski ball. Loads of pinball machines and old a bit arcade machines

    When I turn 21 at midnight am I allowed here at 12:01?

    Yes, as long as you have valid ID with you!

    Anyone know when the current expansion work will be completed?

    (Updated June 2018) Hey Daren!… Read more

    Are minors allowed inside?

    With the launch of our expansion, as of 6/6/18 we allow minors in the arcade from 12-5pm daily, and also begin alcohol service at noon in our additional bar.

    View All 9 Questions

    Review Highlights - Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade

    Great place for play your favorite video or pinball games regardless if you are by yourself or in a group.

    Mentioned in 326 reviews

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    Grand Central Bowl

    Grand Central Bowl

    3.4
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    Their website insists that you can only book a bowling lane by calling, which I've done several…read moretimes in the past, but they've replaced their phone system with an AI that doesn't recognize the simple request to book a lane. An incredibly frustrating process that I ended up giving up on! Safe to say that I won't be bowling at Grand Central anymore if it means I have to convince an idiotic robot to let me do so. But hey, at least y'all saved so much money not having an actual human person answer the phone! Congratulations!

    Grand Central Bowl 5 Stars Wow. The Christmas decorations…read morethis year are off the chart. The moment you walk in, the whole place hits you with that perfect blend of holiday magic and vintage swagger. From the bar to the black-leather booths, the hardwood tables, the chrome, the glass every inch feels intentional, polished, and full of nostalgia. What really gets me is the style. The staff dressed sharp, the lighting just right, the whole atmosphere giving off that confident sass and class vibe. If I ever had a spot of my own, I'd want it to look and feel exactly like this. And the location? Perfect. It's one of those places you can swing into for anything grab a bite, bowl a few frames, play some games, or just soak in the holiday glow. It's that rare mix of fun, comfort, and timeless cool that keeps pulling you back. If you haven't been here during the holidays, make it happen. The Christmas lights alone are worth the trip. I absolutely love this place. Five stars, easy.

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    Glowing Greens

    Glowing Greens

    3.7
    (256 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    while we were here, we did both the mini golf and the escape room. we stayed in portland for only 5…read moredays and ended up spending two of our evenings here. the mini golf was really well decorated and fun. the staff cleaned our golf clubs before giving them to us (we didnt ask) which made me feel a lot better about how many people have probably touched them. the staff was so friendly every time we talked to one of them and were generally just pleasant to talk to. i feel like i could have made friends with any of them. the escape room was a lot of fun with puzzles that were tricky but not too difficult. we didn't end up finishing it, but we got very close. i would recommend doing this with more than two people. i do have to mention that there are a lot of sudden noises and there are some parts of the room that were a bit scary- not scared for my life but definitely startled. they didn't warn about these but they were very cautious about making sure we were okay with flashing lights and small confined spaces. i wouldnt bring anyone younger than 13 to this room. overall a wonderful experience and a great place to spend an evening (or two)

    We had such a fun time for my bday!!!! The mini golf was fun, but it went by too quick! We also did…read morethe hotel escape room. It was really fun and challenging but we made it out with 4 mins to spare (with hints!). I'd recommend going on a weekday, we went on a Wednesday and it was great!

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    Loved the glow in the dark vibe
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    Punch Bowl Social

    Punch Bowl Social

    3.5
    (788 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    The workers didn't seem like they knew what was going on and weren't familiar with the promotions…read moregoing on. They did have a all you can bowl package which was nice. I would like to go back again in the future to see if it would be a better experience. It has the potential to be a fun place for a date night. I'll check it out the next time I'm in the area with some friends.

    We came here for a day trip to Oregon. The service was great! We had two servers because of a shift…read morechange but both were very kind! We ordered the shrimp tacos, the BLT sandwich, and the charcuterie board. I ate the whole charcuterie board myself which was certainly a choice by me. But I wish there was some guidance about what paired with what. I've never really had a charcuterie board before but I was combining everything together and it seemed like nothing went well together. Overall not that good but I liked the almonds. The strawberry jam is very sweet. The sandwich had a lot of bacon and my friend told me she liked it. The shrimp tacos were not as good as we were hoping. The surroundings were so silly. Loved the ambiance and my friend loved the sports games that were playing. There were a lot of different ones so there was surely one that you would be interested in. I was facing away from the bar so I couldn't see the games, but I'm not really a sports fan anyway. Overall 5/5 service, 5/5 ambiance, 3/5 food. Would come back to try a burger because it looked really good!

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    OMSI

    OMSI

    3.6
    (106 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    I love a good adults only event! All exhibits are open during the event and you can touch and play…read morewith all the things. You have to line up outside for ID check so dress for the weather. Everyone is required to show ID regardless of age. Once inside you'll stand in another line to show your tickets. Parking is $2. If there's a show or lecture you'd like to see make sure to line up about 20 minutes before to secure your spot. The lines get long fast and space is limited. There were a good number of vendors serving drinks and a couple with food. Theres also a small corner with vendors selling goods. The different activity stations vary based on the theme but there's always plenty to stop and look at.

    I'd like to share our experience with the OMSI Summer Camp in case it's helpful to other parents…read more My child only attended for two days and then refused to go back. The biggest issue was that the teachers didn't seem very patient with the children, which made my child feel uncomfortable. The classroom conditions were also below our expectations. The camp doesn't provide lunch, and there wasn't much for the kids to do during the lunch break. They were each given a ball to play with, but there were no organized activities. Much of the time, the children were outside near the entrance in the hot sun, which was uncomfortable on warm days. This was our personal experience, and other families may have different experiences. However, if you're considering this camp, I would recommend asking about the teachers' approach, lunch arrangements, and midday activities before enrolling.

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    Playdate PDX

    Playdate PDX

    3.2
    (373 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Great indoor jungle gym designed to look like a castle. Staff is friendly and helpful. They are…read morestanding next to the entrance of the play structure but there is no door/gate. There is parking on the street only. They have a rather large cafe and bar (beef and wine) with more offerings then most places and not just gross fried food. The seating area for parents/cafe is as big as the play structure. It's massive. The open a " garage door " to help keep air circulating. There are also several TVs on for parents. Disappointed this place is closing

    Generally speaking, this is a really wonderful establishment that is suited at catering for adults…read moreand children alike. There is a large indoor play structure and it's big enough to accommodate dozens and dozens of kids. Before you can send your child to play in the structure, you do have to fill out a basic waiver online. It's a flat fee of $15 per kid for the entire day regardless of how long you stay. Kids do have to remove their shoes before they enter so I highly recommend that you bring at least one good pair of socks. For parents, there are plenty of tables out front of the structure, where you can observe your child while they play. The tables don't really allow for unobstructed visualization of your kid, but you can see them every so often as they approach the front of the structure. There is a full snack bar that includes your basic treats and some simple foods like pizza and appetizers. There's also wine by the glass and beers on tap. There is a small dedicated parking lot in the back of the facility, but it fills up very quickly on weekends. Otherwise, you're subject to to street parking which has hourly costs. The bathrooms are mostly clean and they accommodate children, as expected. The food is above average and the prices are fair. The place does feel a little bit chaotic at peak hours, but my child always has a lot of fun and I generally don't have to feel too worried about their safety while they play. They have a few dedicated rooms for birthday parties and events, which I have never used. They also have very large garage door panels on the walls that can be opened when the temperatures are warm to lift and allow for better ventilation from the exterior. I do worry a bit about the cleanliness of the entire place and I wish they had more hand sanitizer stations throughout the business. Otherwise, the service is as good as I would hope and it's generally an above average experience for everyone in my family.

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    Absolutely disgusting
    Absolutely disgusting
    Another view for the kids!

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    Another view for the kids!

    Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade - bars - Updated July 2026

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