The 10 Best Bar Arcades for Gaming and Drinking in LA

Combine your love for retro arcade games, pinball, and great drinks at these video game-focused bars.

In the system of thing , videogames have not been around very long — relative to game like , say , Mancala orCuju , they are a recent phenomenon . But they are already old enough to generate wave after wave of nostalgia , and for whole bungalow industries to ricochet up around that nostalgia . Perhaps the best thing to hail from it , though , is the advent of the barcade , a cool saloon bolted onto an old - school day colonnade .

New barcades lean towards stylish and trendy , with fun retro colour schemes that call back to nerd culture of the ‘ 80s and ‘ 90 , local craft beer , and game console that are mostly functional and in unspoiled condition . They are — unlike the vast legal age of real arcades — capital place to take a date , watch sport , a space for lighthearted everyday competition , blue prick - talking , and several unit of ammunition ofgood drinks .

Some run a little clubbier , and some are more game - focused . Some have better food , and some have wild interior decoration , but they are universally fun places for a night out . FromDowntowntoHollywoodand theValley , these are ten of our favorite barcades in LA :

Barcade

Barcade - Los Angeles

82

Arts DistrictThe Arts District ’s hot daub 82 is the barcade for citizenry who would prefer to keep the emphasis on the first syllable — there are good quality game here , but it ’s as much an esthetical flavour - setter as anything . There is also a large outside terrace , retail space , and a hearing taproom with a full - time DJ program . That mean that the energy can swerve towards clubby , with a more dressed - up downtown crowd than the others in the class . That enunciate , they do play host to theLA Pinball Leagueon Tuesday nights , and you wo n’t have a knockout fourth dimension get hold a partner for a round ofArea 51anytime .

Barcade

Highland ParkThere ’s a reason Highland Park ’s Barcade has a generic name — they invented the concept , or at least they claim they did . The company ’s first location opened in Brooklyn in 2004 , and they now have nine barcades go around across the country , mostly in the Northeast with one in Detroit and one here . Whether or not they were the first ( there are some phratry in Portland who wouldbeg to differ ) , Barcade has execute the mind to perfection , with a simple food menu , secure cocktails and beer , and a great set of Greco-Roman colonnade game and pinball game . And if you get a high score , they send it on their web site — we’re coming for you , Tenny .

Player One

North HollywoodMost barcades skimpy into the retro side of the esthetic spectrum , but few charge as firmly towards it as North Hollywood ’s Player One . Their massive space is on a prime street corner of Lankershim , a bright purple , pink , and teal monument to ‘ 80s retro - future tense style with teal palm tree and a vintage sci - fi cityscape in silhouette on the side . The paper continue throughout , with ‘ 80s and ‘ 90 jams on the stereo system , circumstances of glowing neon , and pile of vintage game console . There are bigger - format games likeDance Dance Revolution , and also regular event like Browning automatic rifle trivia and karaoke . There ’s solid craft beer and a full bar , and you could bring in nutrient as long as you clean house up after yourself and do n’t spill on the games .

Button Mash

Echo ParkBecause it is also aDodger streak , ataqueria , and anatural wine-coloured cake , you could almost forget that Button Mash is first and foremost a barcade , with a killer selection of vintage games in skilful condition . Play authoritative cracker likeGalaga , NBA Jam , andX - Menwhile you rap back some curated slyness beer . Then take a straightaway break with a mushroom-shaped cloud taco fromTacos 1986 , and head over to the skee - ball and pop - a - shot for some favorable contest .

EXP Barcadia

ArcadiaIf you long not for thebuzzing ‘ 80 arcadesofTronbut instead for the carpet hush of your friend ’s idiot box room , with a two - liter of soda and several videogame station relate by LAN , EXP Barcadia may be the blot for you . The interior decoration is relatively inflect down , with touches lifted in adequate theatrical role from a WeWork kitchen and a dorm plebeian room . The games are more reminiscent of a gamey - timbre home setup than a classic colonnade too , with PC gaming labs , console countersink up in mock animation rooms , and dedicate VR distance . Cocktails all have gaming - theme figure like the rummy and citrus - based Health Potion or the tequila and prickly pear Exp Boost , and there ’s an interesting food menu with Japanese and LA influences .

The One Up

Sherman OaksThe Sherman Oaks barcade The One Up is named for the additional spirit incentive in vintage picture games , but it could also refer to the manner they ’re one upping the competition with a simple policy — their games are free to dally for customer . If you ’re eating from their menu of veg - favorable pothouse food or drinking their cocktail or beer , you’re able to dive intoCarnEvil , Space Invaders , Double Dragon , or anything else from their large selection . The decor run loungey with fun , nerdy touches like a serial publication of popping cultivation portraits and a giant Mr. T mural .

Blipsy

KoreatownMany of these other colonnade bars look like your best memory of an old colonnade mix in with a voguish bar . Blipsy is more like an real previous shoal arcade — it ’s benighted and divey , some of the game are busted , and you will inevitably grab something that is mysteriously sticky . But they have a great selection of secret plan , low-cost drinks , and the Energy Department is always beneficial . If you want to see your childhood through pink wine - colored shabu , perchance look elsewhere , but if you desire to actually remember arcades as they were 30 years ago , this is your spot .

Walt’s Bar

Eagle RockThe polarity outside Walt ’s loudly proclaims “ Pinball ” in garish rainbow neon , but it is not as acute as that makes it seem — it is more of a bar with some cool pinball machine than a Pinball Bar . The focus is rather on their good natural wine-coloured leaning , upstanding craftsmanship beer , and red-hot dogs , with pinball tournaments as a special feature . Whether you ’re there for a tap putsch , a winemaker night , or just to flow out on a quiet weeknight , Walt ’s is a great spot to pink back a few thrill deglutition and bump a alloy ball around a automobile .

Guildhall

Burbank , WhittierGuildhall is n’t on the button a barcade like the others on the listing , but it is a howling place to have a drink , deplete some creative pub food , and play games — they’re just control panel game instead of video plot . Guildhall is an e - athletics bar , where you’re able to see top e - mutation competitions and Twitch streams on their TV screens , and it is also a card game bar , where you’re able to check out board games from their expansive program library of over 200 titles to meet while you eat and drink . The mechanics may be slightly unlike , but the play , competitory , nerdy flavor of the best barcades is very much alive at Guildhall .

Dave & Buster’s

Hollywood and WestchesterYes , it ’s a corporate behemoth , and no it ’s not as voguish or nerveless as most of the other options on the list , and yes the beer list go out much to be desired , but there ’s a understanding Dave & Buster ’s has grown to this sizing in the barcade game — their formula works . Each location has an absolutely massive selection of games , admit classics and modern hits alike , and the food and beverage are whole competent . It wo n’t give you the electric guardianship of a vintage - style arcade , but it would be a fault to spell off D&B — specially if you ’re look for a kid - friendly afternoon activity .

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