New York City's 6 Best Arcade Bars

https://www.flickr.com/photos/goodrob13/6126436177
https://www.flickr.com/photos/goodrob13/6126436177
Dana deLaski

When it comes to nightlife, there’s something in NYC for everyone. Looking for a dive bar? There are plenty. More interested in bottle service and a night of dancing? Hit up one of the clubs. Craft cocktails are your thing? Some of the best cocktail bars anywhere are here. And if you’re looking to play a game while you drink, check out this list of arcade bars in the city.

Barcade

Barcade is the classic NYC bar/arcade, clearly evident from its name. It’s got three locations in the city (two in Manhattan and one in Williamsburg, Brooklyn), so you’ll never be too far away. Barcade is all about timeless classic video games, and you can check out their full list of options on their website. Plus, they’ve got tons of American beers on tap to keep your thirst quenched.

Multiple locations

http://instagram.com/p/BJbHUQug6_n/?taken-by=barcade

1. Full Circle Bar

Bar, American

A casual spot in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Full Circle Bar is all about skee ball and cheap beer. Check it out any night of the week for their awesome happy hour deals, or, if you’re really an expert, consider joining their skee-ball league. This place is all about nostalgia: the actual bar is constructed from old skee-ball parts and beers are mostly served in cans from ice coolers.

2. The Fat Cat

Music Venue

The Fat Cat is a subterranean bar in the West Village in Manhattan, and if you’ve never been, it should be at the top of your list. It’s almost impossible not to have fun here: there’s live music, board games, shuffleboard, pool tables, ping pong, and so much more. Come early to snag yourself a table or, if you’re a die-hard ping pong player, you can enter their Sunday tournaments.

3. Ace Bar

Bar, American

Opened in 1992 in Alphabet City, Manhattan, Ace Bar is a rare find. In a neighborhood that’s undergone gentrification, Ace Bar is a reminder of how the neighborhood used to be. It hasn’t changed at all since its opening – it’s still cheap and there are still no frills – and it’s still a place to go for a round of pool, darts, pinball, or skee ball.

4. Two Bit's Retro Arcade

Bar, American

Located on the Lower East Side, Two Bit’s Retro Arcade is what it sounds like – a retro arcade! It’s got 22 rotating games, drink specials, and a projection screen playing old-school movies and shows. If you’re a serious video gamer, this bar has some of the rarest games you can find, and if you’re not, they also have a surprisingly good list of wine and sake.

5. Royal Palms Shuffleboard

Bar, Food Truck, Pub Grub

The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, New York
Courtesy of Royal Palms Shuffleboard
While technically not an arcade, Royal Palms Shuffleboard has become the place to be for drinks and games. The place is huge and feels like an escape from the city, so it’s the kind of place you’ll want to spend all day at. It gets busy, so if you have to wait for a shuffleboard lane you can drink and play Jenga while you wait, or hit up the food trucks that are often parked outside.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
close-ad
Edit article