Looking for "barcades"

October 5, 2007 11:48 PM

Looking for "barcades" (classic arcade games + bar/music) around the country. Basically places for those of us of a certain age to relive our childhood Saturday afternoons at the arcade, with the addition of alcohol.

I've found ones in Portland, Brooklyn and L.A. Any more?

posted by gottabefunky to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (13 answers total)

Chatterbox Pub in Minneapolis has Atari and Nintendo games and comfy couches, although it may be styled more like a rec room than an arcade.
posted by streetdreams at 11:56 PM on October 5, 2007

I don't know, but now I want to open one.
posted by rhizome at 12:25 AM on October 6, 2007

I've never been to one, but this chain says the have "everything from the classics to the latest and greatest interactive and video games."
posted by miniape at 2:40 AM on October 6, 2007

Dave and Busters is precisely what you're asking for, and has outlets in many cities. See miniape's link.
posted by Malor at 2:58 AM on October 6, 2007

Dave and Busters has a very small amount of "classic arcade games". It's a nice place to go if you want to go with a group of friends, hang out, drink, and play a wide variety of games. However.. you'll be competing space with children. Primarily children and teenagers.
At the locations here in Atlanta they used to kick the kiddies out after 9pm, but the few times I've been recently.. there was no announcement made, so some stay (and when I mean some.. I mean entire families) til closing time at 1am.
posted by czechmate at 3:45 AM on October 6, 2007

Shorty's in Seattle. It's mainly pinball.
posted by proj at 8:15 AM on October 6, 2007

Another chain is Jillian's, but the games are mostly more modern. Seattle used to have High-Score Arcade (or was it High-School Arcade?) that had wonderful classic games, but they went under shortly after we moved here in 2001 or so.

I find bowling alleys, the more retro the better, have wonderful smelly rooms of old arcade games and of course serve drinks.
posted by GaelFC at 8:24 AM on October 6, 2007

Some of these are just bars that happen to have an old machine or two...

Pharmacy Bar, Washington D.C. - Multi-game tabletop machine. Space Invaders, Galaga, Burgertime, Donkey Kong, etc.

Lee Harvey's, Dallas, Texas - Upright Galaga machine.

Rubber Gloves, Denton, Texas - This one actually has a fairly large selection of old arcade games, both upright and tabletop.
posted by erikgrande at 8:50 AM on October 6, 2007

Ground Kontrol is the best. nothing beats some beer and pinball.
posted by furnace.heart at 10:08 AM on October 6, 2007

there are a couple of tabletop games in galaxy hut in arlington, va, as well as the black cat in dc. both also have pinball, as a plus.
in chapel hill there is reportedly a SUPER-old school pinball machine at 'hell'.
posted by kneelconqueso at 10:41 AM on October 6, 2007

Blueberry Hill in the U-City Loop, St. Louis, has a good selection of video games, pinball and darts.
posted by gc at 11:40 AM on October 6, 2007

Games N'At in Pittsburgh is a pretty sweet arcade. It's BYOB, and I believe it's pay-per-hour instead of pay-per-game.
posted by denimflavored at 8:12 AM on October 8, 2007

The Goldmine in the French Quarter in New Orleans has lots of video games. And Flaming Dr. Pepper's. gag.
posted by pyjammy at 12:51 PM on October 8, 2007