No cover, not overpriced beers, free arcades and free pinball. What's not to love about this place? While I was visiting Chicago back in April, a friend of mine asked me to meet him here. Stupid me went to the other location and even though I was on my own, I was there playing pinball and arcades for about an hour and had a lot of fun. I do not go to bars on my own because I get easily uncomfortable but Headquarters Beercade's staff was friendly and the crowd seemed friendly too so I did not feel uncomfortable at all. I eventually found my friend at this location. Friendly crowd and staff as well. Also, I kicked my friend and his friend's ass on Street Fighter. It was a great night. Headquarters Beercade is one of the reasons I want to live in Chicago. I seriously need one of these near the NY/NJ area. read more

Headquarters Beercade River North - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was my first time come to HQ!! I loved the Christmas decorations they have for the holidays and so many games to play in. its perfect for a friend outing read more

It's a Beercade. That right there makes this a fun experience, but unfortunately it's not enough to make it an amazing one. There's tons of free and $1 games to play for one to four players. Bring a friend, a date, a group; it's great for all. We came on a Tuesday so we had plenty of game time. However, their Tuesday "$4 can special" was very deceiving. Though many drinks were labeled on the menu as "cans", the special only applied to a handful of options. I ended up paying more than I intended, and the drinks didn't seem worth it at full price. I had also ordered the butter garlic fries, and ended up with burnt fries drowned in a literal pool of oil/butter that left a lasting undesirable taste for hours. In addition, our server also disappeared in and out from time to time and members of our party ended up standing by the table away from the group for awhile waiting for another drink or food order. Personally, I'd only come back for the games, but maybe find somewhere else for food and drink. read more

Had a GREAT TIME tonight!!!! It was like going back in time but staying present.Was here for industry night with my crew.Had a total blast.At fisrt I was kind of worried because they only had ine bar open.It was PACKED.But their bartenders ROCKED.Kelly was my favorite!! She recognized my crew and I.One thing about industry night is we all take care of one another.I was worriesd that I wouldnt fit in with the young crowd.But I was sooooo wrong.Im 47 years old and I felt 28.Took me back in time.Was with my boss and four coworkers.We REALLY enjoyed ourselves.FREE VIDEO GAMES!!! And the music was spectacular!!! I LOVED IT.Found a new spot!!! They even have SPACE INVADERS!!! YEEEEEES!!!! read more

This place is beyond my wildest dreams. Although it really does remind me of Level 257 in Schaumburg. My holiday party was downstairs and we had the whole place to ourselves. The staff seemed nice and very attentive. Now about the games...super old school which I love. I could t get enough of PAC Man and The Simpson's. Oh yea Super MARIO Brothers was tucked away in the corner. Drinks were ok, but the food was pretty good. The wings were excellent and I enjoyed the meatballs. Very flavorful! I can't comment on any of the pricing because everything was free, including the games!!! I'll definitely be back again to experience the upstairs! read more

See all

Arcade games are FREE. Well, most of them. Love the eclectic of beers. One of my all-time favorite bars in Chicago, because the atmosphere is reminiscent of childhood memories at Nickel City or Chuck E. Cheese's (the only difference is trying to get high scores while intoxicated). You may end up staying here longer than you think and forget that there are other bars to be experienced in downtown (and maybe your friends too). Very spacious venue, but it gets crowded on the weekends! There is also a DJ and space for dancing if you want to take a physical break from gaming. Great place to meet up with friends or to take those who are temporarily visiting from out-of-town! Definitely my favorite beercade experiences among the places I've tried in Los Angeles. read more

The cocktails are amazing!! The best part: most of the games are free! The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is that they need more tables and chairs for people to sit back to take a break from playing games. The environment is a little uptight. For example, security is placed everywhere and will ask you to move your drink. But when I saw a man break a glass, I realize their regulations are for safety reasons. No one wants a glass falling off the top of Ms. Pacman and crashing to the floor. With that said, they should create more places for visitors to place their drinks. Although the little holders on the side of the machines are very helpful, they should install more than 1 holder per game. read more

Beer and old school games, what else do you need? The best place to hang out with a small group of friends or with yourself while enjoying some beer. I wouldn't recommend coming here with more than 6 people cause you're be screaming at each other all night and wouldn't be able to hear a word. The music here gets louder throughout the night, so it's suitable as you get more wasted throughout the night. If you wanna to spend a night by yourself while feeling like you're with a bunch of people, then this is also a perfect place for you. Most of the games here are for single players, so you don't really need to yak to anyone. Tip: the games here are free with the exception of a few games. read more

First off, this is nothing like the Headquarters in Lakeview. THEY SERVE FOOD. Yes, the free arcade games are great (I mean, honestly, get me a little sloshed and I somehow think I can beat the high score of every machine). But really, this place unexpectedly gets BUMPIN on the weekend. There's a DJ, there's a basement of more music. Their beer selection is awesome, they do have cocktails (though these get a pricey, fast), and most importantly, this place is far enough away from Hubbard/Illinois that you avoid the typical River North crowd. read more

Headquarters Beercade River North - A little sweet salad - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Grat beer selection combined with old school games and tv shows turns this place into the hang out my inner-child never knew she wanted. The draft list is great and always changing as are the game counsels. Beat part is that you don't have to pay to play the games and you can watch American Gladiators or old school wrestling while you wait your turn. Though, they were showing March Madness games last time I was there. read more

Headquarters Beercade River North - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't know why I was so hesitant to check this place out-probably because the word "beer" is in the name and I don't drink beer. I finally did check this place out. I was here with my angel and I was very impressed with this place. The whole theme of the place is very cool and even the cocktails are video game themed. There's a lot of cool decor, the music is good-I had fun here and would come back again. read more

Headquarters Beercade River North - I believe this was the sorbet side high. It was yummy, kinda tasted like candy - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ask for a neat pour of whiskey, you get some hilarious watered-down concoction. Call them out on it, you get cut off. The manager, who looks like a failed roadie for Papa Roach, is even in on the charade. I'd have gotten a better buzz consuming his hair product. This place is for children. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here! I love that several of the arcade games are free or low priced, and it felt very nostalgic! The cocktails were so delicious and their new food menu items were yummy! I would definitely bring my office here for happy hour, it's a fun large group spot! read more

Super fun bar. Drinks are a bit pricey but most of the games are free which was a bonus! The music was pretty awesome too.

One of my favorite places in this area! Tons of free arcade games available while sipping on their tasty drinks. Went there on a weekday and it was empty so didn't have to "street fight" nobody (eh?) for the machines. The bathroom was also a fascinating place (clean too!) with a rustic look to it and a vanity I wanted for myself. Definitely worth checking this place out! read more

See all

i absolutely love this place. it is irreplaceable. The decor is peculiar in an awesome way. I love the shel silverstein poems on the staircase walls as well as the beloved "Don't grow up it's a trap" sign. in fact, i want one of my own now. i've come here several different times with different groups of people and really enjoyed it every time. the atmosphere and people are great and they do a bunch of cool events such as the Rick and Morty event which was awesome! hopefully will be back soon when i'm in the area! read more

This is my first time to go to such a wonderful bar here in Chicago! With a funny friend！ Making my terrible day so happy! We order two drinks and play video games! Oh! Tips! Don't forget to take your ID here lol! read more

Love this place. Drinks were yummy and truffle fries were to die for. Will be back next time we visit chi town!!

Beware: Dress code on the weekends that is not listed online. We traveled an hour to get to the Beercade and were turned away because someone in our party was wearing black shorts that were a lighter summer material. But the frat boys with backwards caps, backpacks and khaki shorts were fine. Update: they also do not have all the games listed online so call ahead to avoid disappointment. read more

Had fun here. Was recommended to us because of the craft beers. I was disappointed they didn't have a selection of wines but that probably doesn't mesh well with the arcade theme. They had some sour beers in the menu and I tried a few of them. They were good. The arcade games are all free! read more

Pretty cool place. I was in town for a conference and they had a networking event here so I thought, sure let's try it. I would opt to skip the food since it all tasted like rubber but the games were fun! They had Paperboy! 90's kid in the house! read more

Headquarters Beercade River North - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not as many arcade games as the lakeview location, but overall the place is nicer looking, plus it serves food and has a wider selection of cocktails. The furniture and decor is nicer and newer. I think the lakeview location had more beers to choose from, but this one still had a good selection. The games are the usual standard of popular arcade games. Honestly I didn't really play any, I mainly was there to socialize. Still had a good time tho overall read more

I may or may not start frequenting Headquarters daily to perfect my ski ball game. Look for me at the 2020 Olympics. Every game here is free. I'm talking classics like Pacman and Super Mario. I'm also referring to some lesser knowns (at least for me) like a game called PRIMAL RAGE where T-Rexes and other ancient creatures battle it out until the end. So THAT'S how the dinosaurs became extinct. Who knew? Not me. But these games are an excellent source of relief after a day at work battling not-so-ancient creatures (colleagues...clients...I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I love everyone!!) The beer. As one should expect from a place referred to as a beercade, there is quite an extensive list to choose from -- both bottles and drafts. Do I wish they had a few cheaper options like a $3 can of PBR? Yes. But I'm from Detroit and was therefore spoiled at some of my favorite bars there. Not having to shell out quarters for the games maaaaaaybe makes up for it. Or so I'll tell my financial advisor (I don't have a financial advisor.) Anyways, I like this place. I'll come back. For the ski ball. And Primal Rage. And probably for some beer too, because duh. read more

Had the most amazing time at HQ this past weekend! They have dozens of ~free~ vintage arcade games for your entertainment, perfect for a night out with friends or even for dates! They are open 365 days a year from 4 PM to 2 AM, by around 8 PM the location is poppin' with people. We got their Hurricane Fries with their special HQ sauce which were amazing and their Grilles Andouille Sausage was a good portion of food. They also have many signature cocktails unique to their location (see my comments below). Initially, we got the Clever Girl cocktail because of the dinosaur figurine that came with its presentation, but tbh I thought it was the best tasting one of the four we got (but they were all good)! Games wise, I had so much fun with skee ball, street fighter styled games, and realize I suck at the shooting games despite playing so much Halo growing up. They also have a line of new pin ball machines that we were occupied with for a while, including a Stranger Things one! Finally LOL at the infamous Michael Jackson game on TikTok where he dances to kill bad guys and saves children in need. Personally, I've always wanted to go to a old school arcade spot like this in the movies and now it's your turn for the fun! read more

The Headquarters Beercade was an amazing venue. It was two floors. The first floor had games, a bar, a dance floor, comfortable seating, and meal options. The second floor had a similar layout. I would most certainly make this a top choice when visiting Chicago! I didn't order drinks because I was driving, but the food looked amazing. Apparently, the chicken and waffles was the thing to get so the next time I go that is what I will be trying. Things to know: 1. The majority of the games are free. I played this shooting game and I'm sad to say it beat me! I didn't have to pay for it so Im not too crushed! Since they are mostly free if you see an open game, don't be shy, get in there and start playing! 2. The music is timely and well mixed. I hope this is a reoccurring theme. The DJ played some of the best songs I've heard in a while. Some where new so I got out my Shazam app to identify the songs, while others were remixes of some of chart toppers. 3. The crowd was a nice diverse cross section. 4. Parking was a bit challenging. We ultimately paid to park in a parking lot right behind the location, which cost about $12. It was a quick walk down an alley way and we were at the front The doors. 5. I'm sure it's possible, but on initial review it appeared a challenged for those with difficulty climbing steps. The entrances has you either walking up or down steps to get to the main floors. read more

See all

This place was so cool! Worth checking out if you have some spare time in the city. I was originally reading that the beer was more expensive here compared to the other beercade in the area but I didn't think it was overly expensive. The best part is that they arcades are free here. This was a great place to chill and play some retro video games with your friends. read more

It typically takes a lot for me to give an establishment 1-star. I generally try to give a place the benefit of the doubt, but this experience was wall-to-wall terrible. First let's start with the fact that this a bar that has (not entirely) free video games to play. That's it. That's the entire premise that gets you in the door. So considering the fact that "bar/arcades" are about a dime a dozen in the city (e.g. Emporium, Logan Arcade, FTW, Uptown Arcade, Replay, etc), you would think that they would want to have some other draw that would make them more attractive than their competitors... In short: They do not. Regarding my experience: I was hosting a group outing on a Saturday night, so I had people showing up at different times. The bouncers (who I wouldn't trust to wash dishes let alone do something as harrowing as checking IDs and doing backwards math) wouldn't let 2 of my friends in -- one of whom because "he was wearing cargo shorts"... at an arcade bar... i.e. a bar with video games... despite the fact that there were other patrons inside the bar with cargo shorts on... I wish I were making this up. As far as my friends who were fortunate enough to get past the "Mensa members" at the front door, one had an allergy to peppers and asked the server what she could order. The server seemed way too put out to help, so he gave her a dissmissive, "They put peppers in pretty much everything, so there's nothing you can order". The service overall was terrible (extremely long waits between visits, burger was burnt, but I had no desire to wait for a fix) and while I don't pin the service entirely on the servers, the management seemed to be perfectly fine having about 4 servers on a Saturday night when the place was at capacity. Once my check came, I got charged for a beer I never got (no big deal... it was busy... it happens), but when I told the server what happened, he snapped at me, saying "IT CAME TO THE TABLE!" He eventually took it off my check, but it's bad enough paying a minimum of $7 per beer for a beer you didn't even get. It was around this time that my second friend had been denied entrance to the bar, at which point I asked him to wait while the rest of us left to go elsewhere. To sum up: If you don't care about over-paying for beer and slow service because playing Pac-Man for free means THAT much to you in an over-crowded bar with a "club-level" of loudness, rendering any conversation impossible, then yeah... Headquarters is "totally kick-ass"! Otherwise, you can always just google "arcade bar Chicago" and go to any of the far superior locations to get your gaming nerd on... at least they won't care about cargo shorts ruining their image... read more

Gigi was honestly one of the most spectacular servers I've had in a while. We came here as an adventure after our office party and she actually made our night amazing and gave the perfect ending to a stressful week. If you're really looking for a good time G.I. G.I. Gigi is the one to give it to you! read more

A great place to hang out with friends! It's very spacious and has two floors so coming with a big party won't be a problem either. Beercade has a diverse selection of old school arcade games from skee ball and pinball to Mortal Kombat and Pacman. The best part? All of these games are FREE (with the exception of an ice hockey game that costs $1.00/play). They also host Bingo on certain weekdays in the basement. Aside from the arcade games, they have a pretty good selection of craft beers. There's 3 bars among the place so you'll easily be attended to. read more

Free arcade games...what more could you want? They have pinball, skee-ball, time crisis, Tetris, and so many more that I can't type out. There are a few that you have to pay for but it's only a $1 at most. I got a boba colada which was a pina colada with popping strawberry boba. It was so good, but too small; I could have drank like 7 more. They are $12 each so I just got two. The bartender was super nice and so was the security guard who let us in. We walked from our hotel but there ended up being plenty of parking on the street, we did go on a Thursday night so I can see it getting full on the weekend. read more

See all

Cool local spot in Chicago. They have arcade games that are free and a live DJ that plays decent music. The environment and crowd is awesome and the food is decent. Great selection of draft beers and a overall cool spot to check out. I will def be back :) read more

Super fun place with mostly free arcade style games, decently priced drinks and lots of space-- I went on my first date here with my boyfriend and it was quite a good time. I would recommend it for a change of pace for a date night, for a fun time with friends and if you just want to do something less basic for a night out. read more

This review is strictly for the recurring Bippity Boppity Booze event. We attended Under the Sea. 2 1/2 stars because it is as average as an outing can be. The burlesque show was average (but props for burlesque on a Sunday afternoon), the drag show was average and the food was average at best. If you are hoping to make your $35 back in unlimited free mimosas, think again. You get about 2 ounces of the cheapest champagne in a plastic cup, topped off with 10 ounces of warm orange juice. But the worst was the costume contest. Don't even enter unless you come with at least twenty friends to root for you. When cheap Halloween Store costumes, not even specifically Little Mermaid themed, beat out very inventive, made from scratch, costumes, you know it's nothing but a popularity contest. Bottom line: boring and over priced. read more

Stopped in for some drinks around 10pm on a saturday night. Absolutely loved all of the game options and amazed that you could play for free. Although there was a little bit of a crowd, we were served our drinks pretty quickly every time. They also have TVs around the main bars that were helpful since there was a March Madness game one. They also have a DJ with a dance floor, so no matter who you are or what you're looking for you can find it here. read more

Headquarters is one of those great concepts that someone ran with and made an insanely good business out of. The food, wait service, and games are all great here. The fact that 98% of the games are free (some games have a $1 play charge) is absolutely amazing. The prices on food and drinks are pretty decent, especially for the quality. Unfortunately, I don't live anywhere close to the bar so it would take me a bit of a trip to get here, but even still I plan on making a special trip to Headquarters. The food service can become a little slow at points, but don't worry the food is all worth the wait. read more

I have been here a few times and the amount of game selection is not as great as the other (former) location in Lakeview. The downstairs location doesn't open until after 9pm so space is pretty limited. Recently we won a pizza party at the former location in Lakeview and because of the legal trouble surrounding that location the party was moved to the River North location. Since the RN location has a kitchen the pizza idea was scraped and instead we were promised appetizers. After arriving, with an expected party of 20, we were initially given one table. Obviously this doesn't accommodate 20 people. After discussing this issue with the staff and waiting 20 minutes, we were given another table. This was only the start to the "fun" night. After all members of our party were present at the now two tables, we were given a single plate of appetizers. The waiter lingered around the table and gave us menus hoping we would order food, which made no sense because we were promised free appetizers throughout the night. After waiting two hours and dealing with a pissed off waiter, we spoke to the Event Manager and they gave us a single small pizza. This whole ordeal took over three hours. This isn't the pizza party let alone party we were promised. Brian & Jordan, if you offer your customers a contest to win a pizza party, but then don't follow through then don't offer it! Sure you have legal issues going on, totally understandable, but at least hire competent staff that can handle the location switch and are AWARE of what's going on. Overall it wasn't a fun night. read more

WOW! This was a really cool place for a Saturday afternoon. A bunch of free arcade games including SKEEBALL!! My favorite was the Deadpool pinball machine. This is a great place to come hang out as a group. The hosts were welcoming and the table service was fast! Will definitely have to come back soon :) read more

You can't go wrong with barcades. You really can't go wrong with barcades where games are for free! Headquarters down in River North had all of that and more. I've only been to the Lakeview location so I have a bit of an impression of how everything in this place is going to be like first walking in. However, once I stepped in to this location, I had to say that I was very impressed in what I saw. Games. Were. Everywhere. Good games too. The music was bumpin too; the DJ just got on so he made the place get turnt like no one's business. This was on a Saturday night so I felt like I walked right into a nightclub featuring some old arcade games but I was alright with that. Drinks were a bit overpriced yet satisfying. Good thing this place is close to my job, because I expect to come by as often as possible. read more

This place really pushes my buttons...in a good way. I mean it brings me true joy [stick]. It's chicken soup for the [con]soul. Great beer selection Great selection of nostalgic video games Great music High score: Headquarters read more

We held an event here last night and it was PHENOMENAL! The service was amazing even with such a large group! Special shout out to Hannah Wilson for helping us organize this all and being such a wonderful event director! She really made sure we had a blast!!! We will be back!! read more