Beat your score at Toronto’s barcades and arcades

by José Gonzalez

Although the days of arcades have come and gone, those hulking machines haven’t vanished completely. Bars and lounges around the city have taken to installing them, so you can relive the glory days of the ’80s and ’90s when you dropped quarters to fight alongside the heroes of the S.S. Triangle against the menace of an endless series of asteroids. And taking the trend one step further are themed “barcades” catering to the gaming crowd with drinks, games and eats! [Photo credit: courtesy of the Rec Room]

Akiba Kissa
Recently opened, this manga cafe has plenty of reading material for you to enjoy, but if you’re reading this you might be more interested in the gaming setup. There’s a backroom with multiple arcade cabinets and a Wii U on a TV. Next to that is a second back room, often used for screening movies in the evening, but during the day it’s got a second Wii U setup so you can enjoy gaming on a big screen. The cover charge here is $15, but it includes a free drink off the cafe menu.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 2 pm to 1 am, Friday: 2 pm to 2 am, Saturday: 12 pm to 2 am and Sunday: 12 pm to 12 am
Where: 7634 Woodbine Ave.
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Cabin Fever
Billing itself as a pinball bar, this location has nine different machines for you to enjoy, and it host tournaments and special pinball events throughout the year. Every Sunday there’s a special $5 deal that lets you play as much as you want. Try not to tilt the machine!

When: Tuesday to Friday: 6 pm to 2 am and Saturday & Sunday: 4 pm to 2 am
Where: 1669 Bloor St. West
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Coalition
This bar’s pinball machine lineup features classics you’ll likely remember from your childhood. The lineup is changed every few months, so it’s worth checking back in to see if there’s a new machine or two. Depending on the night you choose to show up, you might also be able to catch some live music.

When: Daily 8 pm to 2 am
Where: 282 Augusta Ave.
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Get Well
A trend setter in Toronto on the barcade scene, this spot still sports a couple of classic arcade machines in the rear end of the bar, and two pinball machines for fans of flipper-based games. Perhaps even more alluring is its 13 beers on tap and dozens more in bottles and cans.

When: Daily 5 pm to 2 am
Where: 1179 Dundas St. West
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Hi-Lo Bar
An East End faux-dive bar, this place has a rock ’n’ roll vibe to it with the dim lights and pinball machines sporting Rolling Stones and Metallica themes. You can also check out the retro arcade games if you want to really feel like you’ve gone back to the ’80s.

When: Daily 5:30 pm to 2 am
Where: 753 Queen St. East
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May
This bar’s trio of pinball machines are part of a large lineup of games, including pool, mini-pong, and even karaoke. This venue also hosts concerts, Russian merengue dance classes, open mic nights, and serves Vietnamese-style tapas.

When: Monday to Wednesday: 7 pm to 3 am and Thursday to Sunday: 1 pm to 3 am
Where: 876 Dundas St. West
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Mayze
This escape game location also includes a VR arcade, complete with several games that let you play with up to three of your friends. There are also a few solo games if you’re looking for a single player experience.

When: Monday to Thursday: 6:30 pm to 12 am, Friday: 6:30 pm to 1 am, Saturday: 1:30 pm to 1 am and Sunday 1:30 pm to 12 am
Where: 2210 Markham Rd.
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Meltdown Toronto
Fans of PC gaming don’t have to feel entirely left out, as this bar focuses on letting you enjoy playing games with a healthy lineup of PCs. There are a few consoles setup as well, and of course, plenty of drinks you can order to go with them. Meltdown hosts a number of special events throughout the week, including free tournaments that will really test your skills.

When: Monday to Friday: 6 pm to 12 am and Saturday & Sunday: 2 pm to 2 am
Where: 686 College St.
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Nightowl
Each night at this bar can bring you something different. There’s a decent lineup of retro arcade games, non-electric games like Foosball and even a few board games. Nightowl also hosts live music some nights, so the atmosphere can get especially hectic and the place starts to feel like a big party.

When: Wednesday to Friday: 6 pm to 2 am and Saturday: 2 pm to 2 am
Where: 647 College St.
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Outbreak Escape Games
There are two different areas to enjoy video games here. It’s got the traditional board/video game hybrid space, outfitted with a number of some of the newest releases. It’s also got a VR space, the Hive Arcade, with over 30 different VR experiences for you to enjoy.

When: Wednesday & Thursday: 5:45 pm to 11:45 pm, Friday: 5:45 pm to 1:45 am, Saturday: 12 pm to 1:45 am and Sunday: 12 pm to 11:45 pm
Where: 152 Avenue Rd.
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Raiders E-Sports Centre
This sports bar is primarily a PC gaming setup (at $5/hour), but it also has three consoles (free) and two NEO GEO arcade machines ($1 per play). This spot hosts special events throughout the year, including tournaments and trivia nights with prizes. You can also buy a membership to save a few dollars playing on the PCs.

When: Sunday to Thursday 11:30 am to 1 am and Friday & Saturday 11:30 am to 2 am
Where: 1-49 St Clair Ave. West
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The Rec Room
This newly opened location sits right next to the Waterfront, and features more than 70 arcade games, from old favourites like Pac Man to a recent incarnation of Mario Kart. There’s also a VRX car simulator and a Ghostbusters themed VR experience. While you’re there you can also enjoy some food, live entertainment and analog games such as ping pong and pool.

When: Sunday to Wednesday: 11 am to 12 am and Thursday to Saturday: 11 am to 1 am
Where: 255 Bremner Blvd.
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Riddle Room
Although you might head here for the escape rooms or board game café, you can also take some time to enjoy the retro game setup, including consoles from the original Nintendo Entertainment System to the Gamecube. One of the nice bonuses is that there’s no cover charge to enjoy the café, they just ask you to order a drink while playing the games.

When: Tuesday to Friday: 2 pm to 12 am, Saturday: 12 pm to 12 am and Sunday: 12 pm to 10 pm
Where: 579 Yonge St.
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Tilt
This barcade includes a healthy game list including over a dozen classic arcade machines and nearly as many pinball machines. Fans of consoles can also make use of the Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo 64. Between games you can enjoy drinks such as craft beer and spirits, and snacks including hot dogs and fries, just remember to wipe your hands to keep the machines grease-free. Cover charges vary by day, but if you show up on Monday, you can get in for free.

When: Monday to Friday: 6 pm to 2 am and Saturday & Sunday: 4 pm to 2 am
Where: 296 Brunswick Ave.
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Unlovable
Ironically named, this bar wins over visitors with a retro vibe, complete with a pinball machine and table-top arcade machines. Although you’ll find a few options to scratch that gaming itch, the retro cost of 25 cents for each game will ensure you have enough money to order a few drinks too.