The original arcade bar
Barcade is the Williamsburg spot that invented the genre — a big, loud room lined with classic 1980s arcade cabinets and pinball machines, all running on quarters, with a serious American craft-beer list behind the bar. It’s been a Union Avenue fixture for years and remains the blueprint every other ‘barcade’ copies.
The weekday happy hour, 4–6pm, takes $3 off beer, wine and well liquor — a genuinely good discount on a craft-beer list this deep. Come early, grab a pour, and get a few games of Donkey Kong in before the cabinets fill up.
The Happy Hour
Happy hour runs Monday through Friday, 4–6pm:
- $3 off beer, wine & well liquor — a strong discount across the board
- Mon–Fri, 4–6pm — the after-work window, before the room gets busy
- Quarter-op games — dozens of classic arcade and pinball machines on the floor
- Craft beer focus — a deep, rotating American draft list is the whole point of the bar
For a craft-beer bar, $3 off everything is about as clean a happy-hour deal as it gets.
The Beer
Barcade made its name pairing classic games with American craft beer — a long, rotating draft list heavy on independent breweries, plus wine and well drinks. It’s beer-first: come to drink your way through the taps between rounds of pinball.
The Games
Dozens of classic arcade cabinets and pinball machines, all running on quarters — Donkey Kong, Galaga, Ms. Pac-Man and a rotating lineup of retro favorites. It’s the reason the place exists, and the cabinets fill up fast on weekends.
The Room
A big, industrial Williamsburg space at 388 Union Avenue near Ainslie Street, with a long bar on one side and rows of glowing cabinets on the other. It’s loud, fun and social — good for groups, dates with a competitive streak, and anyone nostalgic for the arcade. The G and L trains at Lorimer/Metropolitan are close by.
Who Barcade Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Beer & old-school games | $3 off drinks at happy hour, dozens of quarter-op cabinets |
| A fun group night | Loud, social and built for friendly competition |
| Craft-beer hunting | A deep, rotating American draft list |
| A nostalgic date | Classic 80s arcade games and pinball, drink in hand |
More NYC Happy Hours
Good Room is one of Brooklyn’s best-loved dance clubs — a Greenpoint institution built around a serious sound system, a proper dance floor…
The Gutter is Williamsburg’s beloved throwback bowling alley — eight vintage wood lanes, a long bar, neon, and a wood-paneled barroom that…
City Winery’s New York flagship sits inside Pier 57, a glassed-in waterfront space in Hudson River Park with sweeping Hudson views.
Barcade FAQ
Does Barcade have a happy hour?
Yes — Monday through Friday, 4–6pm: $3 off beer, wine and well liquor.
Where is the original Barcade?
388 Union Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, near Ainslie Street — a short walk from the G and L trains at Lorimer St / Metropolitan Av.
Do the games cost money?
Yes — the classic arcade cabinets and pinball machines run on quarters.
What are the hours?
Open daily from 4pm (weekends open earlier), late into the night. Hours vary, so check before you go.
Barcade’s happy hour ($3 off beer, wine & well liquor, Mon–Fri 4–6pm) is from the bar’s official site. Hours vary by day — details last checked June 2026; confirm with the bar before visiting.