Barcade
There’s a new bar in Williamsburg featuring tons of classic arcade games like Moon Patrol, Centipede, Frogger, and Donkey Kong,and Zaxxon.
(from tangentialism):
i don’t normally like big warehousey bars in williamsburg, especially when they’re right around the corner from where i live, but at first glance, i kind of like barcade. it’s super super “hipster”, but then again, there’s twelve arcade cabinets lined up against the wall. plus there’s lots of different beers, if that’s what you look for in a bar. i figure this place will do pretty well in the long run. this crowd seemed a little on the slim side for a saturday night, but i don’t think word’s gotten out yet
Barcade
388 Union Avenue
Brooklyn, New York, 11211
even though this sounds a bit like an uber-hipster joint, the arcade games might help to give it a less self-important, murky vibe than, say, union pool. i’m looking forward to checking it out.
more of these reviews, please, and throw in some music reviews too!
I hang out there.
pedestrian.
It’s a fun bar, perhaps “hipster”ish… but it is Williamsburg. Much less pretentious feeling than most Williamsburg bars, because you can’t really act like hot shit playing Pac Man.
Plus, they have crazy beers.
i didn’t really mean to label the bar as a “hipster joint”, because i really like the idea and the space is totally comfortable. since i wrote that review, plenty of my friends have gone there and told me that the experience, like rodney and h. have said here, is defused by all the video games (even though ms. pac man is broken). apparently, all the beer is five bucks, too.
the crowd is kind of antisocial
but the video game selection is impressive
rheingold pints are 3.50
i say good for after hours–not to plan an evening around
I’ve been looking for the vintage arcade game Popeye. Anyone seen it anywhere? It was the only game I was ever good at
i checked the place out this past weekend, and found that i enjoyed myself, as did my friends, and the vibe was generally friendly. supermario was difficult to play with arcade controls (as opposed to hand-held nintendo controls) but kicked ass nonetheless. helpful staff, too. very decent joint.
my friend and i found this place before it blew up and now its full of god damn yupsters. but its a great place… people cannever seem to find it though because of the alcove in the front. my friend mike had the highest score in asteroids for awhile.but then he converted to galaga. the beer selection is very good and the owners are super nice. its my new favorite place sans fridays/saturdays. try to the harpoon winter. its my favorite. sparkling and cinnmonny.
I dont know how anyone could say this is NOT a hipster spot. It’s funny though, since hipsters are so good at the 80′s thing, and all of the games are from the 80s, you really feel like you’ve gone back in time. The crowd is young but chill and surprisingly it’s not a sausage festival, lots of young ladies enjoying the games. My biggest problem with this place is the inflated price of beer. This is the kind of bar in which I could spend many hours – if I wasnt paying 5 bucks for a pint. There are no cheaper choices – like the usual $2 papst or $3 Yuengling. Very well done but the rip off factor will keep me away – plus no pinball.
Sorry, when I said pedestrian, I meant. It makes my pooter smile.
do they have … Paperboy??? please please tell me they do.
Get over the Pabst thing and understand that $5 is a deal for the types of exotic beer this bar provides. Plus they always have one tap (sometimes two) for $4. Anyway, Pabst is a massive company that has built its business over history by buying smaller breweries and then shutting them down. They care nothing for their employees or their enviornment. Small breweries like the ones on tap at Barcade are all small businesses or family owned businesses with strong community ties and many have strong enviornmental-friendly agendas. I think its nice to know that my $5 is going to a good place – and not to Pabst.
…or Bud. Even worse.
Good point and well said. So Papst isn’t the answer (that was just an example anyway) but I contend that there should be a special for $2 or $3 bucks – Mugs pulls this off perfectly. It’s always a good beer, something I wouldnt normally try and it’s always $2.00. Dont get me wrong, I’ll still go to Barcade once in a while. I will bring people from out of town for the novelty of it but I wont be there all the time – like i might if there was a happy hour, cheaper choices or a weekly special. That’s all I’m sayin..
Also a good point…
I did NOT see Paperboy at Barcade, unfortunately…and I agree with Recone about the high priced beer situation. I don’t mind paying extra for a fine local beer, but when a place denies me a cheaper option- that upsets me. I must say I was a little turned off by the barback girl in the shirt that says “Don’t talk to me, I hate you” and on the back it said “Change machines over there” or something to that point. Arkanoid was fun. Overall, a fun night.
arknoid got harder since i was 12 cause i blew a handful fo quarters on it and barely got past the first level.
arkanoid is hard. berzerk is probably the hardest game they have
i just found out about this place a few weeks ago. i think it’s becoming my Friday night hang out. after a long week, there’s nothing more i want to do than indulge in good beer. i was surprised to see Barcades’ selection of lagers.
one word, yum!
love the bar, but some fat bitch padded her tip…make sure you check your balance! (also, I am spiteful so I am absolutely coming back here to post her name once I figure it out.
Was bored on the way home from there last night, penned this down… dedicated to Harri, haha.
played russian attack
until 3am
lost a million in quarters
by half past ten
blisters on my fingers
and an aching head
turned every last one into bleeding red
I down a beer, duck and fire
jump and stab, keep climbing higher
on the high score list
keep changing my name
let everyone know this is my game
’cause you can’t beat me at this shit
just check it out
this is the list
1. SUK
2. MY
3. FAT
4. ASS
5. YOU
6. COK
Some of you sound like cheap morons………….$5.00 for a microbrewed pint is cheap, by 2004 standards, 2008 standards, any standards over the past 10 years or so. To all the whiners, please please go somewhere else………I like the fact that they don’t serve PBR or Coors Light, it keeps your kind far far away.
Do you have to be 21+ to enter?