7 Melbourne Bars Where You Can Play Games
From rare arcade games to classic board games and everything in between, these gaming playgrounds are guaranteed to take your night to the next level. Dodge obstacles in Donkey Kong at Bartronica, drift in gear in Daytona at Pixel Alley and out stack your friends in giant avalanche Jenga at IceBar. Game on!
Bartronica
Bar, Beer
Pixel Alley
Bar, Bubble Tea Shop
Pixel Alley
Nostalgic in nature, Pixel Alley boasts an impressive variety of classic game cabinets and multi-game cabinets, from Daytona and Big Buck Hunter to Snow Bros, Sega Standards, and Pac Man. There are also pinball machines and on the last Tuesday of every month, the bar runs a pinball competition. Located directly underneath Mr. Wow’s Emporium, Pixel Alley serves gaming inspired cocktails, Bubble Tea and boozy milkshakes.
95 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC Australia, +61 3 9416 0079
h Apartment
Diner
29th Apartment
Styled to re-create the residence of the infamous oil painter and street walker Katishe, 29th Apartment brings to life an urban New York abode where you can dance, drink and play games. The living room has a retro television playing cult classics as well as games such as Jenga and Connect Four; meanwhile, in the diner, you’ll find an AC/DC pinball machine. On Tuesdays, drop in for Mario Kart, pizza, and beer or just chill out in the boudoir or bathtub and take advantage of the meal deals.
29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda Melbourne VIC Australia, +61 3 9534 0485
Courtesy 29th Apartment
Alchemists Refuge
Bar
Alchemists Refuge
Underneath Games Laboratory on Lonsdale Street is a bar focused on old fashioned fun. Alchemist’s Refuge has a vast library of board games featuring family favourites and lesser-known titles, but be warned: games can get heated and bar tenders often double as adjudicators. Speaking of the bar, they stock a mouth-watering, rotating menu of craft beer and a cocktail list as spirited as the characters they’re named after. The Refuge also hosts Geek Trivia nights with prizes galore.
Basement 28 Little Lonsdale Street, underneath Games Laboratory, Melbourne VIC Australia
The Rooks Return
Bar
The Rooks Return
Described as ‘an extension of your best mates’ living room, but a lot more stylish,’ The Rooks Return is a laid-back bar for gigs and games open seven nights a week. Play Trivial Pursuit and Cards Against Humanity or try your hand at a game of cards in one of the cozy nooks. On Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday crowds swarm as bands play, while the bar serves beer, wine and spirits along with cocktails, coffee and tea. You can even order pizza from Shawcross.
201 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC Australia, +61 3 9417 1401
Courtesy of The Rooks Return
Holey Moley
Holey Moley
Not your standard putt putt course, Holey Moley is an immersive labyrinth of challenges that will have you navigating 27 themed mini golf holes including Smells Like Tee Spirit and a Game of Thrones hole throughout three multi-sensory nine-hole courses. Golfers can refuel at The Caddyshack with drinks including Happy Gilmoreo, Long Island Iced Tee, Teeyoncé Holes and Fresh As A Birdie, all of which are served in red solo cups, as well as wood fire pizza.
590 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC Australia, +61 3 1300 727 833
IceBar
IceBar
Ever wanted to play giant avalanche Jenga in subzero temperatures? Well at Fitzroy’s IceBar you can. Upon arrival, the staff will provide you with snow capes, gloves, and snow boots and after you’re dressed, it’s time to shiver into the ice palace where you can play an Antarctic game of hoop and shiver through brain-teasing puzzles. Kids are welcome until 6:30pm and although there is no time limit, most people can only withstand 30 minutes before hanging up their Eskimo gear.
319 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC Australia, +61 3 9077 9716
Courtesy IceBar
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