Imagine the excitement of being able to play games at an arcade, while also having the option to buy food and liquor, all in the same place.
That’s what I hoped for when I visited the 1up Arcade Bar in Westminster for the first time, with a few friends, last December.
We all wanted to have a location where we could hold an end-of-semester party, to celebrate the completion of the Fall 2025 term, and, in short, this is a marvelous setting for it.
Just a disclaimer: As per the website, the bar requires guests to be 21 or older to enter, but if you are underage, you can still get in, with an accompanying parent or guardian who is at least 25, until 8 PM.
Upon entering the establishment, its vibrant scenery astounded me. One of the areas seen almost right away is the bar, elegantly decorated with figurines of different characters, such as Yoshi, from the Super Mario series, along with a colorful display of bottled spirits.
As I took the time to explore the arcade section, I found there to be a combination of classic retro games as well as some modern amusements.
You’ll find that there are some old-school pastimes, such as Pac-Man, MarioKart, Mortal Kombat, and Space Invaders. Some of the more contemporary games, though, that I played included Crossy Road, Bonus Hole (a coin pusher game), and Hoopx Fx (a basketball game).
What the arcade may also be well-known for, in addition to its standard games, is its pinball machines. It boasts an incredible, overwhelming array of pinball games, with themes from Deadpool and Stranger Things, just to name a few. A more exhaustive list of the games can be found here.
Eventually, hunger prompted my next move: seeking the bar’s menu for food. The large scope of dishes exceeded my dining expectations.
There are entrees that are typical of a bar, such as hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and salads, and while these items can be bought standard, there are variations of those same items with creative names, making the experience all the more unique.
For instance, besides purchasing the regular hamburger, you can also buy the “Goomba Burger”, referring to a common, mushroom-like enemy from the Super Mario franchise. With salad, you can also buy the “Pac-Man Wedge”, concerning the yellow, pie-shaped video game character from the Pac-Man game. A wider-ranging list of food can be seen here.
I opted for the standard chicken sandwich and a side of French Fries, with water to drink, savoring the scrumptious meal. Grease coated the buns, giving them a smooth, buttery taste. Conversely, the fries crunched on the outside, while the interior felt like a pillowy and soft texture, nicely complementing the main course.
Although I believe this barcade did exceptionally well in terms of its game and food offerings, there are a few areas where it may be lacking. To buy the tokens that you need to play the arcade games, you need to possess cash, as the token machines only accept paper bills, such as $5, $10, $20, etc.
In a modern world where card payments are accepted at almost every commercial business, I felt that this was a slight inconvenience. Fortunately, there are ATMs in the game bar that give out cash, should you not bring any prior to coming in.
Moreover, unlike other entertainment centers, such as Main Event, this establishment does not contain a prize room. I hoped to be able to earn something in exchange for playing, such as coins or tickets, that could be redeemed for rewards. Nonetheless, I still felt satisfaction from using the arcade games.
To sum up, if you are looking for a lively spot for downtime, whether you are taking a break from classes, just finishing up work, or wanting to spend your leisure time somewhere, this is a solid choice.
I do believe, however, that the arcade bar could be a little more streamlined by allowing users to acquire tokens via card payment, as well as implementing a prize center.
