Sacramento Bars With The Best Arcade Games
Sometimes when you're out having a drink, you might get the inexplicable urge to play a game of pinball, or perhaps even Pac-Man. Fear not as Sacramento is a place where you can mix some old school gaming with the rest of the night's festivities. Some bars have the occasional dart board or pool table. While the latter is always a fun, traditional pastime at a bar, this list offers just a little more. If your idea of the ideal night at a local bar consists of dumping quarters into video games while enjoying your adult beverages, then pay close attention to the following bars.
Players Bar And Grill
4060 Sunrise Blvd.
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
(916) 967-8492
www.playerspub.netIf you are familiar with the bar scene outside of the downtown area, you know Players. In the past, Players has been recognized as Best Sports Bar in Sacramento and is among some of best dive bars in our city. In addition to soft-tip dart boards, it offers competition basketball and a variety of other games on site. An added bonus is the fact that the pub serves breakfast Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the regular menu every day from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., closing at 2 a.m. Players has television sets everywhere you look including three big screens and a sports schedule which is updated regularly.
Tallac Lounge
3982 60th St.
Sacramento, CA 95820
(916) 455-2139Tallac is an old school favorite in Sacramento. Its famous happy hour runs every weekday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and open-close on Wednesdays. What makes its happy hour so "happy" is the $2 well drinks which is an absolute steal. The bar has some arcade games as well as pinball, foosball and shuffleboard while although not an arcade-style game, is a rare find in most bars in town. For any information on the bar, you will have to call as it doesn't have a website. Better than calling would be stopping by for a tasty and moderately priced cocktail.
Republic Bar and Grill
908 15th St.
Sacramento CA 95814
(916) 822-5152
www.republicsac.comRepublic has a variety of arcade games to go with the lively atmosphere. A bonus when visiting Republic is that the menu is put on by one of Sacramento's longest-running and most popular food trucks, Drewski's Hot Rod Kitchen. From basketball to Big Buck Hunter, you will find yourself well entertained with the arcade selection at Republic. The bar is quickly becoming known as one of the top places to be if you want to watch a fight or sporting event. The convenient midtown location doesn't hurt either.
Related: Best Bars for Foodies In Sacramento
The Other Office
926 2nd St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 444-2002
This bar made the list specifically because of its arcade games. The Other Office has a room filled with games which are all able to be played for free. Located in Old Sacramento, this spot has been several different bars and clubs over the years, most recently Tunel 21. The space itself is quite striking as it was designed by an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright. The answering machine will tell you the bar is open seven days per week starting at noon. Please note the bar is actually open Thursday through Sunday from 3 p.m. until midnight.
Pins N Strikes
3443 Laguna Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95758
(916) 226-2695
www.pinsnstrikes.comThis place isn't just fun, it's fun for the entire family. It is a bar and grill, a bowling alley and an arcade. Coach's is the bar inside of Strikes serving up the libations for the masses. This is a virtual one-stop shop if you're looking to squeeze in a myriad of activity into one visit. The arcade features over two dozen video games to enjoy in between tossing your balls down the lane. The menu at Strikes offers a large variety of items well above average for a bowling alley. As a matter of fact, the menu shows a great deal of creativity and imagination.Related: Best Bars For Groups In Sacramento
As a hospitality professional Andy Soto has worked every facet of the industry. He currently leads the team at Spectrum Restaurant Consulting. He started writing a hospitality blog in 2009 and restaurant writing for Sacramento Press in 2010. In 2011 Andy became a Sacramento Restaurant Examiner for Examiner.com. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
