This review is for booking a table for a kid's birthday party... I first attended a Yelp event at Pixels and had such a great time, I thought it would be great to host my son's birthday party there! Booking was easy to do online, and the owner Rob answered questions that I asked via email. Last Saturday, I showed up with 8 boys to celebrate my son's birthday, and the group had a blast. The party was mid-morning, and I appreciated how quiet the venue was. Some arcades have music that is blasting and so many lights flashing, and that can be overly stimulating. There are plenty of machines for guests to spread out. In the back, there are 4 controllers for Nintendo Switch, and the staff did have to come help change games for the kiddos but if you know what you're doing, you might be able to navigate on your own. Ordering pizza from Red Rooster was really easy, and the staff at Pixels even walked over to pick up the pizza for the party. So thoughtful! Throughout the 2 hours there, there were other families who came in to enjoy the arcade, as well as adults. 2 hours goes by so quickly! All the parents whose kids attended said their kiddos had a blast. Great place for a birthday party, young and old :) The dads are now talking about gathering again without the kids! Quick logistics: A single use bathroom is at the back of the space. Bring cash for tips or you can tip with card payment. Parking in the lot is free on weekends, otherwise pay for metered street marking Monday - Saturday. read more

My family of four really enjoyed our Sunday spent at Pixels. We've also been to the pinball museum in Alameda so I figured this would be a similar experience. In comparison to the pinball museum, Pixels had more video games and I think it fit our interests more. We each got a drink from the place, the kids picked out soft drink / juice, and the husband and I each got an alcohol beverage. I like that there were many local brews they are serving. I like the idea of supporting local businesses. My son was a little shy to go play the video game station set up with gaming chairs. But we pretty much tried all the other free games. There are a few machines not included in the package cost, they are clearly labeled and close to the entrance, you will need cash coins to play those, if you want to play them. The bathroom was clean. There were so many bottles of anti-bacterial solutions lining up near the entrance and inside the facility. I'm a bit of a clean freak after the Covid-19 pandemic, so seeing this made me happy that the owner cares about protecting people. We spent about 3 hours here. I saw some lady some in with a bunch of kids. It was kind of interesting to watch them because she was working on her laptop while the kids ran around and played games. It's like a cheap daycare! I wish the had one of these arcades closer to where I live, I can just let my kids loose while I do my own thing for a couple hours! read more

See all

This is my second time at Pixels and I had a great time. Lots of games to play with a bit of nostalgia mixed in. After beating my high score a few times it was time to try something new. Love the extended hours during school break, gave the kiddo something fun to do. read more

See all

We celebrated my son's 9th birthday at Pixels. Booking was easy and Rob was super helpful leading up to and during the party. We loved that we could easily order food and drinks as needed, and the open play for the kids so you don't have to worry about game cards or tokens getting misplaced. The kids had a fantastic time! Would highly recommend if you're looking for a unique birthday experience. read more

Wanted to love it. Looks exciting. But, waited 10 minutes at the front desk and no one ever showed up to check us in despite a lot of people alredy playing/drinking? We even called in case someone was in an office but no luck. Took our beer and gaming business elsewhere. Too bad they didnt want our money. read more

Pixels Arcade & Taproom - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

Awesome place to have a birthday party or just a round drinks & some fun. They have all the old pinball machines plus some new ones like John Wick & Hot Wheels. I got to play my favorite one of all time which was Terminator & of course The Simpsons game which brought me back to my childhood. I can't tell you how many vintage games they have like PAC MAN & MS. PAC MAN plus newer ones like Mario Kart on Switch, XBOX & PLAYSTATION. The beer is self pour which I thought was very cool. The cider they had on tap was very delicious too! I will be coming back with some friends or maybe just have a fun date night. Thank you Rob & cool suit btw!!! read more

See all

We recently hosted an 8th-grade graduation party at Pixels, and it could not have been more perfect. We had seven families and 53 guests, and the venue was ideal for a group of that size. Even with everyone there, the space never felt crowded, and the fun, energetic atmosphere made it the perfect place for our boys to celebrate this milestone together. A huge part of our positive experience was working with Rob. From the very beginning, he was incredibly responsive, flexible, and easy to work with. Planning an event with multiple families can be complicated, but Rob made the entire process feel effortless. He accommodated special requests, communicated clearly, and genuinely wanted the event to be successful. The food was great, the games kept everyone entertained, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. The value was outstanding, especially considering we hosted such a large group. Most importantly, the kids had an absolute blast. It was one of those rare events where both the kids and parents left happy. Thank you, Rob and the Pixels team, for helping create such a memorable celebration. We would absolutely host another event here and highly recommend Pixels to anyone looking for a fun, stress-free party venue. read more

This is a cool concept. Marin needs more indoor activities like this for younger kids. Thought it was pretty well kept up. You can bring food in which is kinda cool but they also have alcohol and nostalgic pin ball machines - quite a large selection for the older crowd. read more

We rented out Pixels for a private party and it was great. Rob and his team were very helpful in the preparation and ordered food for us from surrounding restaurants. Both adults and kids had a wonderful time! Highly recommend for a fun and different event! read more

I decided to try taking the Golden Gate transit bus from the bridge out to Marin(San Rafael). I found the transit center in downtown San Rafael...I walked around and found Pixels Arcade...one of the pinball machines says "Free Gold Watch"(from Haight St). It was a super fun arcade to spend time at for 3 hours...there is a seating area with 4 TVs to play Xbox or watch TV...there was a unique assortment of vintage arcade games...sensational! Pacman, Simpsons, classics, and new ones...go on a spree and play all of them at once...indie beer on tap...pinball...ones I couldn't figure out like Donkey Kong haha...going back to the 1990s...this made my visit to downtown San Rafael all the better.. read more

Pixels Arcade & Taproom - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

Pixels thinks of everything. There's amazing combination of generations best gaming. From tempest to donkey Kong to Mario cart there's something for everyone. The games are set to free play and there's an admission type model to play for an hour or unlimited time for the day. There is pour your own beer as well as cans and bottles including NA options. The owner is amazing and really goes out of his way to ensure an a wonderful guest experience. He keeps amazing upkeep of the games and typically they're all in great working condition when we go which is unlike any other arcade I've been to. This is my personal favorite spot but I may just be biased because I met my now fiancé there. We love having date night here (21+ after 8pm) but we also bring our daughter here since it's all ages before 8 pm. They also do parties like birthdays and team building events and because it's a small business they are able to customize and do things other places never could. Shop small and support this local small business. read more

My girlfriend took me here as part of my Valentine's Day present. It was a bit of a schlep from Oakland but worth it. Great beer selection. Great game selection. Staff was friendly and kept everything in good shape/clean. Only complaint would be wish there was more games but they're working with the space they have. I will definitely be back. read more

When the owner gets the self serve beer rocking this will be a cool cozy little spot to reminisce over Centipede or Joust! I guess they overhaul these nostalgic video games and the place has many. You prepay and away you go! Hope it lasts! read more

See all

Stop thinking about it, you've got to check this place out! I've taken groups and kids to other giant franchise arcades or jumpy places, but your group eventually splits and you never got the connection you wanted. Not this place. I came in the afternoon - At the front, you get access to vibrant and nostalgic pinball area surrounded by custom made art and movie posters made culture while being a quick self-serve wristband tap away to a great selection of beer spouts. In the back there's a darker arcade vibe that transports you to that vibe you remembered at your local arcade as a kid where you'll hear the original TRON and other soundbites that will trigger a revival of your youth - and the machines all WORK! Nothing challenges your gaming skill more than the old classics - they are humbling - so there's a couple of modern gaming consoles for the younger crowd to gain back their gaming confidence. :) Its a cozy enough place for a kids birthday party or team workplace gathering - not too loud so you can hold a good conversation, too. If i had anything to suggest, it would be to add bag/purse hooks underneath their tables that you can sit/reserve for your group. They have a fridge stocked with applesauces and other refreshments and snacks for kids but being on downtown 4th street means you can bring in food from Sol Food takeout/Amicis/Stateroom, etc! Their owner, Rob and staff are super chill and happy to help you learn how to play any of the games and share tips or just talk about Star Wars. Parking is super easy - very close to two downtown garages and safe walk at night. If you live or work in Marin or just passing by, this place is a gem worth visiting. The music, sounds, and friendliness of this place will bring you back to a time when everything was good. read more

The daytime cost to go in, get a bracelet and just zone out on some pinball and arcade classic machines is a straight up bargain.

This place is awesome. Me and my Baby Boomer husband came in here after a date night dinner and were 13 years old again.. Qbert, Joust, Pacman, and more. We are definitely coming back with some of our friends . read more

Pixels Arcade & Taproom - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

Super fun spot! It's awesome to have a place where adults can gather & do something that's not focused on earthing & drinking (although eating & drinking are definitely options here). Pixels is interactive & brings back great memories from my childhood! Mrs Packman Mario Cart Shooting hoops Pin ball Mortal Combat And SO many others!! We hosted a birthday party here with about 25 friends & Rob was an excellent host! He was super helpful with all my questions & even accommodated our playlist requests. He coordinated to bring pizza over from State Room (yum!) and has a delicious array of local beers with some hard cider & wine options too. The entire venue was clean & welcoming. We will definitely be going back! read more

Pixels Arcade & Taproom - Competition amongst the moms in Mario Cart World! - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

We had our son's birthday party at Pixels. The staff was great, really helpful. All of the boys had a great time and loved the mix of old games and newer console based games. It was the perfect party. We will be back soon! read more

I recently held a Birthday for my son here. The place was so fun! It was clean and the workers and owner were very helpful, nice and resourceful. They even have adult beverages which my guests really enjoyed. I am looking forward to coming back with adults only. Thank you for such great service! read more

I'm so glad Pixels exists. It's a fun location with retro arcade games, and taproom. Kids are allowed til mid-evening then it becomes adults only. You can order food from across the street like pizzas, burgers, etc. We threw my daughter's birthday here recently and the kids had a blast! read more

Imagine my delight upon entering and seeing 12 pinball machines! I happily pay the $12 for an hour of play, determined to make them all my b*tvh and prepared to fail miserably. BUT more than half of them cost an additional dollar per play? The gimmick of this place is to pay for an hr of unlimited play. I didn't think to check each machine ahead of time. I leave with deflated flippers. read more

The games here were honestly a lot of fun, and the pricing seemed great at first--just $8 for an hour of play. Seemed like a solid hidden gem... until the owner completely ruined the experience. My brother and I had only been there for about 20 minutes when the owner suddenly accused us of being there for over an hour and demanded we pay the unlimited rate. We were shocked and even showed him clear proof: timestamped videos from a nearby café we were at right before walking into the arcade. We also showed him his own receipt that had the exact time we paid and checked in. But none of that mattered to him--he refused to believe any of it and just kept accusing us. It was incredibly frustrating. A simple apology would've gone a long way, but instead he doubled down and treated us like we were lying. Businesses that treat honest customers this way and can't even take accountability don't deserve loyal, respectful patrons. Would've gladly returned if not for how poorly we were treated. read more

This is exactly what downtown needs a blast to the past and a nod to the future! People, socializing and having activities. I happen to stop in. Tonight was a very festive night and it was fun to play Pac-Man and back to the future pinball. Glad to see your new business in downtown San Rafael. read more

It is a small place perfect to get your game on. You pay when you arrive and most games are available for unlimited play. There's maybe 4 pinball machines that cost extra. They have Ladies Nights and some other themed nights and monthly events like Karaoke. I highly recommend. The self service beer is amazing. read more

This brings a lot of memories back! Great games, great beer, perfect way to spend afternoon with friends!

My husband and I had the good luck to park in front of this blast from the past dream experience. Rob was lovely, welcoming and clearly dedicated to his vision. The fees are super affordable - drinks were tasty, games were classics and the music playlist was superb. I could have stayed all day and look forward greatly to returning!! read more

Pixels Arcade & Taproom - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

Front of house staff was friendly. We were let down by the quality of the machines, along with being told of "additional pay-to-play games" after we had already paid for entry. This was disappointing, as the games on that list were what drew us in. I did not check to see what drinks were on tap, though based on other reviews, I imagine it's a decent selection. Also, I noticed State Room menus, leading me to believe that the restaurant across the street will deliver food, which is pretty neat. Not worth the money for us, but wouldn't be a bad place for socials. read more

Great fun at our holiday party last night. We had 22 people. Rob had reserved two tables for us. He arranged food and everything we needed and it was delicious. He and Claire were very helpful all night and the service was incredible. The games rock. My favorite was an original space invaders with the loud bass sound as the invaders got closer. Thanks again Rob. read more

Fun new spot! They had a great variety of games; it was easy to spend a few hours in there read more

Pixels Arcade & Taproom - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

We had my birthday party at Pixels Arcade and Tap Room. There were about 30 of us and the venue was fantastic! I particularly liked the retro arcade games and pinball machines and the self service beverage bar. Rob and his staff are really helpful and accommodating- personalizing the experience, ordering food from local restaurants, taking pictures, you name it! All my guests loved it and I'm sure some will host their own parties there. I'd give them 6 stars if possible. Thank you Rob! read more

Arcade, Beer and Pizza. Grab a wristband and play the evening away. 5,7 and 10 bucks for free play during Lunch, Happy Hour and Evening price. 21 and over play. Forget Dave and Bust read more

Pixels Arcade & Taproom - Players ready - Beer Bar Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

Fantastic arcade with plenty of options and beers on tap! Great for parties. Rob the owner is a friendly host too.

My birthday party at Pixels was an absolute hit. It provided a unique and interactive experience that was both nostalgic and thrilling. The combination of great games, excellent service, and a lively atmosphere made for an unforgettable celebration read more

Was visiting some friends in Marin and we decided to check this place out after dinner. What fun. Great nostalgic games and you can buy a beer, wine or seltzer to drink while you play. The staff was super friendly. My only gripe is that there are some tables floating in the middle of the space and with the amount of people gathering around them, it makes it difficult to play some of the games as people were actually blocking them, or you couldn't get around from one part of the arcade to the other. I just think they need to rethink the layout- maybe put the tables more in the back. Other than that, what a fun place to go! read more

Simply amazing. I was walking by and saw complete amusement, beyond there front door. I played for hours and only spent 9$. The best happy hours ever. I had so much fun, that I was sweating and my arthritis would not let me out of bed in the morning. Chris was a delight. Kind and helpful. This arcade is a full service establishment. All of there machines are fully operational and if something goes wrong, Chris can have it fixed. Back in the 80's, I would never have thought, that I could have a glass of wine or a beer and play these nostalgic games. They are having draft beers. all electronic and self serve. I had a lager and it was reasonably priced at 8$ (minus tip). Just fantastic. I am going to ask if they rent out the room for parties. Throw in a Pizza and exhaustion will be your only reason to leave. read more

All my favorite games and hours of fun. I love the flat fee for unlimited play. If you ever saved up your quarters to go play when you were a kid, it's heaven. read more

Hosted a magical 40th birthday for my wife here. Rob was always flexible and supportive of our requests. Everyone had a BLAST, and the new bar setup allowing you to pour your own beer was an absolute hit. While many spent most of their time socializing, a good portion also used the time to play some of their favorite arcade games. If you are considering hosting an event here, just do it! read more

We held a private event at Pixels on a Saturday night and it was fantastic. Rob (owner) and his team are great hosts and did a wonderful job preparing and managing the event with around 50 people in attendance. Rob handled all of the food service from local restaurants which worked out great and the self-serve beer taps were a big hit with our group. And of course all of the old school video games (PacMan, Donkey Kong etc) brought back great memories from our childhood! read more

Awesome atmosphere with an impressive array of classic cabinets with modern consoles available as well!