All the games are free and the food/ drinks are great! They have group cocktails that are presented very nicely. They also have a very fun trivia with a great turnout! read more

Headquarters Beercade River North - HQ Burger Time - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Went to the bar last week met a couple kids who openly admitted they were in high school? I don't know who the bouncers at this bar are but letting kids in who look that young is beyond ignorant. It was insanely obvious these girls were not even in college. My husband and I went back again for valentine's day earlier tonight and the same girls were there! I'm not sure if the bouncer is in a relationship with one of the kids but there's simply no way those children were aloud in the bar with a bouncer there. I wasn't planning on saying anything but after seeing them twice I figured I should bring it to higher management, something clearly isn't right. We love the Beercade and this has no reflection on our love for the bar, it's just after seeing this many under aged kids there we thought it was best to say something. read more

Bomb arcade with lots of Stern pinball games, and the only thing is you never know if the bottom area will be open or not?!!! Down there is the only working version of "Whack a Mole" I've ever seen. Also a full sized Super Hang on down there. Upstairs has lots of the classics in pristine condition from Street Fighter 2, Killer Instinct, and others. They even have an MK 11 and DBZ stand up arcade, which you won't find anywhere! Cool place read more

This is a heaven for adults - live DJ on Saturday night, free arcade games, food and booze. They had plenty of games ranging from basketball game to car racing - made me nostalgic of my childhood. They had decent cocktail and beer sections. I liked my cocktail which was citric and creamy (forgot the name). The bartender was also helpful making recommendations. Overall, we had a blast. read more

See all

FREEEEE all you need to do is show your ID! Great place to play some classic arcade games including DK, Blitz, DBZ, MK, Pinball, amongst tons of other games. Mature crowd so everyone stayed within their groups. The drinks here are strong, bartender told me to be careful lmao, very much enjoyed going here and definitely would go again. read more

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

See all

Fun date night spot! The games are free and there are a number of options. It does get packed on the weekends! There is only one basketball hoop and one ski ball machine, and these games were in popular demand. read more

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

Seemed cool, but we waited at the bar while they took everyone's orders (all men) around us. So we couldn't do anything lmao. read more

Headquarters Beercade River North - Kinda weird dress code. - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a fun place. You can eat (pub fare, burgers, etc), drink (many craft beers, cocktails, etc) and play arcade games for hours (most of them are FREE) ! This multilevel complex has great vintage arcade games like Ms Pac Man, Frogger, Galactica, Mortal Kombat, etc...as well as 12 pinball machines. My favorites are the Magic Theater, Mustang and Kiss. All fun. Lots of Purell stations keep your hands cleaned and sanitized. All machines have cup holders for your drink. Very nice setup. read more

See all

I came here for one of their funky brunch events. The atmosphere was very fun & laid back. A lot of people showed up for the event! The decor is very quirky - neon lights and old school arcade games. The drinks were decent, but I can't say anything about the food because I didn't get any. I am knocking a star because the bar service was pretty slow. read more

Got there basically at opening and they got busy FAST ! The drinks were cool. The service was great. Food was just alright. But the vibes were cool. We had a good time ! read more

See all

Stopped in on a Monday, and it wasn't busy. Nice way to start the week. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, delicious drinks. Try the jalapeño bombs! read more

Amazing spot themed after Jurassic park. Didn't even realize this but loved it when we got there. My girlfriend and I went for pinball and they keep their machines in pristine condition. Also drink were fantastic! read more

Headquarters Beercade River North - Bar 2 - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

A place for adults to get drinks and food and play video games is not completely unique. Places like Dave & Busters have sprung up in a lot of places, but not many of these places is like Headquarters Beercade. First, it's distinctly adult. No one under 21 is allowed. Make no mistake, is a bar. If want a place to play video game without kids running around this way better than Dave and Busters or any of its clones. Second, most of the games are free. With only a few exceptions, you can play as much as you want for free. Third, for any one who grew up paying video games from the 1980s thorough the late 1990s this place will bring back a lot of nostalgic fun and good memories. On a recent visit, I played Pole Position, Area 51 and NFL Blitz, just to name a few. They also have a lot of pinball machines. They also have some newer, exclusive games, such as Mortal Combat 11. My waiter was even passionate about gaming. Fourth, their food and drinks are great. On a recent trip, I ordered hurricane fries and chicken tacos. The hurricane fries where unique and yummy. All I can say that is they tasted like sushi, but worked. The chicken in the chicken tacos were deep fried and also delicious. I also enjoyed their drinks. I ordered the Mr. Potato Head, a whisky drink topped with potato chips and the Go ask the Wizard, a sweet gin drink. Over all, the drinks and food were great, but playing the free old school games was even better. read more

See all

Amazing service!!!! The bartender Blane working by the DeLorean on Saturday was phenomenal, what an absolute asset to the company. The fact that most of the games are complimentary makes for a great night out. read more

My colleagues and I went to this place last night for some drinks and fun. We definitely had a blast. I LOVED the area with the cassettes. It was covered in Halloween theme but definitely nostalgic. Enjoyed playing the games as well. Felt like I was a teenager all over again. read more

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

See all

First time checking out HQ Beercade and I loved it! It was such a chill atmosphere with delicious food and drinks that made it the perfect setting for a night out. I'm a complete 80s lover and they had a Van Damme movie playing in the background which was the best!! You've got to try the hurricane fries and grilled cheese- both really good! read more

See all

Really cool atmosphere. The service was good and the environment had a cool aesthetic. The food I got was great overall, really enjoyed the salad options and the drinks were good as well. read more

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

Great vibes and fun games. Recommend to come here to hang out, have some beer, and play games.

Eat, drink and play at headquarters Beercade! Headquarters Beercade is one of the first arcade bars in Chicago; it lines the space with 70+ vintage arcade games and pinball machines such as Donkey Kong, NBA Jam, Rampage, Frogger, Game of Thrones, and more! They are open 365 days a year, open daily from 4pm-2am and you must be 21+ to enter. Most games are free and they offer a full menu of modern American food and cocktails. My favorite games are the basketball, ski ball and all the pinball machines. I also loved the quesadilla and blue kids on the block cocktail. This place it is so much tasty fun! It's a great date night spot, place to hang with friends or just a place to escape to have a little fun. read more

Place is really cool. They offer free arcades to customers. Adult Chuck E Cheese with good drinks. Wish the food was a little better, not bad, just not the best. read more

Really cool place! All the games are free and they are off old school so that's a big plus for us 80s and 90s babies ahaha drinks were amazing!!! Overall just an amazing and fun place to be read more

See all

I just came back from visiting the great city of Chicago and have to say this place is amazing. It's so great that we went twice during our short trip (we usually like exploring different places on trips, but this place is too good). They have a huge selection of arcade games ranging from early 1980s to games from the 2010s (they have the actual Tapper game sponsored by Budweiser as opposed to the more commonly found Root Beer Tapper). All the games worked and they were all free. The bar is great too as the the bartenders were friendly and attentive. They have a great craft beer selection. The whole place is laid back, fun, and a great place to hang out and chill. There's no "scene" here with instagram influencers or anything. Just people drinking, playing games, and watching the movies they show on the wall. More places like this need to exist. read more

Clutch burgers and beer. 21+ only. If I lived in Chicago I would definitely visit more often, damn! Honestly Beercade is way better than I expected. For a $10 burger I expected something okay but comparing this to Kuma's, I PERSONALLY liked the burger a LOT here due to several reasons. When you get your burger, the inside of the brioche is nice and toasted while there's zero sogginess at all. The burger comes with your angus patty but this was juicy without spilling over too much at all in the bread like most burgers do. The food is bomb and the beers are reasonably priced. It's definitely a dine and chill type of place, so while one takes 30 minutes to get food, you at least have the cool retro selection of arcade games and beers to pass the time. Great for some dates or some dinner meetups with friends! :) read more

See all

We need more places like this!!! Free arcade games as you walk around drinking beer? This is an 80's kid's paradise! I played games that I never would have just because I wasn't worried about wasting $1.00 in credits or tokens if I got insta-killed. Now I don't have to worry because I can get better as I intentionally impair my motor skills....so maybe I'm just getting worse? The only downside of this place is that it is very loud. You can imagine with all the games and people drinking as they play those games....plus the music. However, it's not that big a deal. Once you get acclimated to the environment you'll be screaming "FINISH HIM!!!" too. read more

If you are looking for something new, you should check this place out. I had a blast here with my BF. In what used to be a club called Enclave, you now have an arcade for adults. Go figure! The space is pretty open and doesn't feel too crowded. There were some games we wanted to get to but didn't, since others were playing them for a while, but that is understandable. NBA Jam was a highlight, as were the iterations of Mortal Kombat (FINISH HIM!!!). The earlier games like Space Invaders are a bit before-our-time, so we stuck with the 1990s games, of which there were plenty. The bar had relatively quick service and a decent selection of drinks and such. I also like the detail of mini kegs with wooden planks on top next to each machine, serving as a small table to give customers both hands for game play! It is a bit tough to find, and I wish the coat check was free. Even so, it is a fun place to check out. read more

Fun place for games and a great selection of drinks!! Really recommend the pop culture cocktail ! read more

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

See all

Only had drinks but the fact all the games are free play and the machines and bar seem very clean and well maintained it definitely deserves 5 stars! Such a cool date spot or a night out with friends! If you do plan on going on a Saturday night and eating there is a minimum for a table so definitely keep that in mind. We just sat at the bar and did drinks which was the easiest thing to do! read more

See all

I've been here a few times and it's hard for me to knock free video games and because of that it's definitely a one-up on most of the other barcades in the area. I usually enjoy going on weeknights or in the day if I can, simply because there's obviously less lines and with that, less wait times. Unfortunately, playing hooky from work would mean I couldn't drink any of their beers so, I've gone on weekends where it's been very busy. You would think that the combination of free games and lots of people would breed a lot of ill will but there are usually enough games and pinball to go around and even with popular games people playing are usually courteous enough to stop and take turns. My only real gripe is that some of the games need some servicing and it's not done *cough* Time Crisis *cough* but other than that it's solid. read more

Love Headquarters Beercade! Been here a few times now and I always get hooked on the pinball machine the atmosphere is so lively and it's a great place to hangout with friends to get some great bites & fun cocktails! My favorites are their hurricane fries & chicken tacos! They are to die for! read more

See all

Went there for drinks and arcade. Bar is a bar as you can imagine & the arcade is fun too! All besides 2 or 3 games are actually free so you can spend more money on drinks!! Lol Went there on the last day of Halloween and had a fun night. read more

I would come here only for beer and arcade games. I would not come here for excellent food or cocktails. Headquarters overall is a good size with plenty of tables. They have a lounge area that you can rent for private parties. I came here for a private party. The cocktails weren't very good in my opinion. I liked that they were quirky and original but they ended up tasting just that, quirky but not very good. I had the Motts cocktail that has apple sauce in it, it was interesting but not worth whatever I paid for it. My friends also weren't a big fan of the cocktails they ordered. I also had their alcoholic popsicles which I normally love, the popsicle I had (the blue one with vodka) was awful!!!!! It tasted like syrup. I couldn't even eat it. So based on this, I would stick to their beer selection. Since it was a private party we may have had food that is not typically on their main menu. We had a caprese sandwich but it was on a mini hamburger bun, that was just weird to me. I think they should use better bread so it doesn't seem like a poor man's caprese sandwich. The mac and cheese was decent. We also had baked potatoes with cheese on top, boring but decent. The boneless wings were tasty and the salad we had was pretty good. It might be worth trying their menu food but I wasn't blown away. I like their selection of arcade games and that they are free. Service was good. read more

Headquarters Beercade River North - Blue kids on the block and Motts - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Do not attend DJ concerts at this venue. "Brunch" event does not actually mean brunch, this is false advertisement.

Headquarters Beercade is the perfect spot for a fun night out! Not only does it offer great entertainment with over 70+ free vintage arcade games and pinball machines but it also has amazing food and cocktails. I absolutely loved the triple cheese pizza and the popculture cocktail and I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu! Here's a list of all the items I tried during my visit: Popculture Cocktail: absolut elyx, lychee, saffron, lemon, ginger beer, blackberries Blue Kids On The Block: blueberry infused hangar 1 vodka, lemon, simple angostura, 5-spice, blueberry red bull ice cube Triple Cheese Pizza: HQ signature triple- cheese blend, roasted tomato sauce Hurricane Fries: Lime mayonnaise, HQ sauce (soy- ginger gastrique), bonito flakes, nori, sesame seeds read more

See all

A funky retro bar with a rustic decor where rules don't apply. There is a bath tub hanging from the ceiling, old tube TVs behind a bar, 1000s of cassettes on 3 walls stacked floor to ceiling, kitchen sinks as planters hanging fron the ceilling, a giant Rubik's cube, and more. Set up for the young crowd and young at heart, as the namesake states, this is a bar and an arcade, with pinball machines and arcade games popularized in the 1980's I was there for a special event, & the games were free when I visited; I was told they always are. There are plenty of them, so if you are patient enough, there is a good chance to play. A good variety of beers from many regional breweries is the other attraction. The service is good, with plenty of bartenders who are very attentive and seem to enjoy their work. I never had to wait long for service, or needed to call their attention; Soon after I approached the bar, one was ready to help. A great place to go with a group or with a friend. Maybe meet some new friends who enjoy the arcade scene as well. read more

See all

Damn. I couldn't get past Level 1 of Donkey Kong--the barrels got me every time! Other than leaving poor Princess Peach in the hands of a giant gorilla, spending a late night a Headquarters Beercade was a blast! There's no cover and most pinball and arcade games are free. This is a great place to come with a group of friends and challenge each other to all your childhood games, but this time with grown up drinks. read more

See all

Headquarters is such a great spot for food, drinks & fun vintage arcade games. It's the perfect place for a chill night out. read more

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

Somebody mined my childhood, and made a bar to hit on all the nostalgia. Who are these evil overlords? Headquarters Beercade is a bar and arcade that patrons can play for free (with the exception of the claw machine and a couple others.) They even have their fair share of pinball machines to get your game on. I came here on a Friday night, and it's conveniently located right next to Moody Bible Institute. There is some street parking that you can find close by, but I'm not sure that you'll be in any state to drive with the abundance of alcohol that you're probably going to indulge in. There's a nice variety of beers, albeit a little pricey, and even some food to absorb what you're having. I had pizza burger, which was a letdown. The burger was cooked medium rare. That was good. Topped with pepperoni, but the sauce and mozzarella was almost nowhere to be found. It's a burger. Messy is okay! Where's the juicy patty and melty cheese? Also, the fries were WAY over salted. There's no amount of alcohol that could disguise all that salt. Service was friendly, but expect to wait If you're here, it's probably not going to be primarily for the food. The games, bar, and the atmosphere is what you'll be coming here for. There was a bachelorette party at Headquarters Beercade the evening I was there, and it's a fun space for group gatherings. You'll find some great arcade classics like Street Fighter II, Galaga, The Simpsons, pinball machines, and there'll be some pumpin' tunes blasting through the place from the area with all those cassettes on the wall. read more

See all

Staff was great, door guy was super nice. Pumping music pretty loud for A Monday night but that's my opinion. Where I wasn't impressed at all was the food, I was with a group and sampled a few things and got a pizza for myself. The pizza crust was pretty soggy and wayyy too much parsley thrown on top. The elote fritters were pretty bland, not much flavor unless smothered in the sauce on the bottom of the dish. The Bao were kinda dry, they really needed some sort of sauce to bring it together. The one thing that I really enjoyed was the truffle fries, crispy and great flavor. Beer is at pint prices for a 12oz tulip on all options. I get the stronger IPA's but the oktoberfests too?? Not a bad experience and the pinball machines are in great shape but there are better "Beercades" in the city. read more

It wasn't worth the trek to downtown for pinball considering that a good portion of the games are reserved for private parties. A real bummer. read more

Love this place for a low key chill vibe when going out. The music is great, a majority of the games are free, and the drinks are good. Our go to every time we visit Chicago because of the atmosphere. read more