Best Arcade/Bar

[Cronson]

I went to this new bar in Richmond last night called Strange Matter. It was very cool: about 12 arcade games in the back, full bar with a genesis and N64 on one end (Golden Eye was the only thing being played), a stage for live music (they've had some chiptune bands play apparently) and a very retro inspired decor. So first off, I highly recommend this place to anyone who lives in RVA or comes through. Their drinks and food were all super cheap, they have lots of tournaments and shows going on and just seem to be a really fun and chill bar.
But it also got me thinking: we need a thread for this sort of thing. Do you know of cool retro inspired bars near you? This could be a great place to collect knowledge on all the unknown/hidden retro bars out there.

[Medical Dust]

Ground Kontrol in my home city, Portland (OR), is widely regarded as one of the best arcades in the country, and probably the very best retro arcade. Ground Kontrol has a full bar and an active venue.

[fvgazi]

I went to this new bar in Richmond last night called Strange Matter. It was very cool: about 12 arcade games in the back, full bar with a genesis and N64 on one end (Golden Eye was the only thing being played), a stage for live music (they've had some chiptune bands play apparently) and a very retro inspired decor. So first off, I highly recommend this place to anyone who lives in RVA or comes through. Their drinks and food were all super cheap, they have lots of tournaments and shows going on and just seem to be a really fun and chill bar.
But it also got me thinking: we need a thread for this sort of thing. Do you know of cool retro inspired bars near you? This could be a great place to collect knowledge on all the unknown/hidden retro bars out there.

I feel like I went to that bar when I was on tour last year. There are a few places I remember going to. I played a Thrift store with my band in the downtown area.

There are a few bars on LI that have arcade machines, but nothing like an actual arcade to have tournaments (at least that i've been to). One of the bars has X-Men - Children of the Atom.

[Bikeage]

Im jealous. The only bar in my town of 100.000 + that I know of that has a classic coin op ( a couple of sports bars around here have a few pins and Big Buck Hunter, thats it) has a Ms. Pac Man/Galaga, but the idiots placed it way too close to the far more popular pool tables, meaning you could be playing and someone might poke you with a pool cue.

I'm lucky though, there is a "Family Fun Center" place nearby that has a decent arcade. I just get buzzed before I go!

[Rurouni_Fencer]

You know, it's been a long-time dream of mine to open up a Bar-cade someday, since there are so many of us who grew up as kids with the old arcade scene. And now that most of us are all of drinking age, there's no place to walk in, away from the Big Buck Hunters and Mega 4000's, throw a quarter up on the monitor screen and go a few rounds of Street Fighter II: CE or Marvel Vs Capcom 2..

Does anybody else here think the arcade scene, despite being in the glory days of XBLA and PSN, could feasibly make a comeback..? I know I'd love to see this dream a reality.. (cue Herald of Angels, clouds, and a NeoGeo MVS machine...)

[DaGamingMonkey]

Ground Kontrol in my home city, Portland (OR), is widely regarded as one of the best arcades in the country, and probably the very best retro arcade. Ground Kontrol has a full bar and an active venue.

Agreed.
Although they have some great retro arcade games they Shine in their pinball selection. :drool:

[wip3outguy7]

Another vote for Ground Kontrol. That place alone is worth flying to Portland for a weekend.

[Pabstblueribbon]

i would KILL for this here. I live in downeast Maine so its pretty desolate as far as video game stuff goes (Other than walmart i have to drive a friggin hour to go to any gamestops or anything like that)

Then again, my history with video games and drinking (my poor friend Joe's rock band drumset) I would probably just break shit and get kicked out.

[DaGamingMonkey]

Then again, my history with video games and drinking (my poor friend Joe's rock band drumset) I would probably just break shit and get kicked out.

Drinking and old school uprights/pinballs go together perfectly for me. With no pause button and a good amount of time spent playing and waiting for a friend to finish his turn it makes good pacing for drinking.

[Octopod]

I have been wanting to open up a bar/arcade myself. Seems pretty risky though.


There is a place in Brooklyn called Barcade.

http://www.barcadebrooklyn.com/

They seem more like a bar with some games rather than an arcade that has a bar though, if you know what I mean.