Love the atmosphere. Bouncer named E, noticed my birthday was a few weeks ago when checking my ID & said happy late birthday. Meant a lot considering when I went out on my birthday, no one had noticed. Super friendly staff & delicious drinks! read more

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This place is amazing! I came for the celebration of my 21st Birthday last week. We attended on Friday night with my parents, brother, and friends. This place is great for all ages above 21! They had pinball and a ton of other great cabinet games to play. The staff was amazing as well. As I am newly 21 I had no idea what I wanted and the bartender was able to find the perfect drink for me even though it was packed. Throughout the night staff came to us and helped us get what we needed/wanted. Honestly, I loved this atmosphere. Bar Arcade at its best! Highly recommend this establishment for anyone wanting real fun! read more

I love the idea of this place, and I enjoyed its ambiance and decor. Went here for a gathering of friends a few weeks back. I really enjoyed playing games for free, but I especially loved playing pinball. I didn't love having to pay to play that, but I didn't hate it, either. Pinball machines are finicky and probably difficult to keep in good repair, so while I grumped about it for a moment, I got over myself and played anyway. I adore the images along the back wall where the pinball machines are. Pretty much just hung out in the Spock corner, getting my live long and prosper on. I can't really speak to many of the drinks, other than they made a specialty drink for my out-of-town friend and his GF who were celebrating an anniversary. Super nice of them to do that! And one other thing: adult slush puppies. Luckily, the adult in me stepped in and cut me off at one, or there might have been trouble. Delicious, tequila-filled slush puppy flavored trouble. The kind men write about in dirty country songs. That was my poison of the night. Some friends raved about one made with Fireball, but as I'd limited myself to one, I didn't get to try it, but I definitely will next time. This place: fun as hell. read more

Best place to go where I can have an adult beverage while playing some of my favorite childhood games. This place is truly unique and has a great beer selection. I can spend hours in this place, but usually my wife is with me and she snaps me out of the video game trance. Also, I forget the name of the drink with the popsicle in it but that's never a bad choice. P.S. if anyone wants to get beat in NBA Jam, just let me know read more

My fave Bar in Cincy Who doesn't love fun unique cocktails and all you can play Burger Time, Ms PacMan, and Tapper - amongst many other amazing arcade games. My fave cocktails so far (try a different one every time) are The Winnie Cooper, The Hulk Hogan, and The Dude. Many of the drinks have a fun novelty twist (Hulk Hogan - bomb pop, Carrie Fisher - rock candy, Darryl Hannah - Swedish Fish) You can bring your own food in and sit at the tables there as well! read more

Alt Right hotspot from what I hear. Expensive and weak gimmick drinks, a stale cabinet selection, loose pinballs rolling around and pathetic food options. I hate writing bad reviews. I am crying writing this because I love Foodies and Yelpers and a lot of Foodie Yelpers like this place but I've only had bad times here and heard bad things about some elements of the bar. Try Arcade Legacy Bar Edition instead or just drink and play video games with friends at home! Or at Kings Island! ***EDIT: Came in with Ronny after work after making this post after the eclipse and I told the bartender about my bad experience the time before and about this Yelp review. I guess they fired the people who were attracting the fascist crowds and pouring weak drinks. He gave me and Ronny a few free rounds and I played a rythm game and to be honest I had fun. Thank you for making this space safer and cleaner! No dirt piles on the floor this time. read more

While video games aren't really my forte, I visited 16-Bit Bar+Arcade in Columbus shortly after it opened and enjoyed it a lot. I was excited to hear about another location opening up in OTR and finally made my way there last night. For first time visitors, it's pretty clear what they're going for here - a super modern, sleek bar meets the arcades and the games we grew up with (or our parents grew up with). It's like Game Works or Dave & Busters but better because they throw in a ton of nostalgia, the games are free (except pin ball) and everything feels much more clean. One of my favorite touches is their signature drinks named after 80s characters. I had the Hulk Hogan (a vodka drink with an actual Bomb Pop in it) and my friend had the Winnie Cooper. And I got a really big kick out of t-shirts the staff wore with quotes from 80s movies. On top of this place having a cool concept, it's very well executed. As previously mentioned, it's very clean. The staff is attentive, not only at the bar but circling the room taking orders while you're playing games. And while the staff isn't necessarily able to control the customers, my experience is that everyone is pretty cool about passing their game on to the next person in a reasonable amount of time. That definitely makes a huge difference in your experience. I'm giving 16-Bit 4 stars because while they do what they do really really well, it doesn't appeal to everyone. It only keeps my attention for an hour or so. Everyone should check it out, especially if you're really into gaming or the bar scene, but for me personally it's just a cool, occasional stop. I'm not regular. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Enjoying the Hulk Hogan and the Winnie Cooper - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Great bartenders and signature drinks. Love that the games are included when you buy a drink.

I will never go to 16-bit again. This used to be one of my favorite spots in OTR. But, after how their bartender behaved over the weekend, I can safely say they have lost my business. I went to 16-bit with a group of friends last Sunday. After a couple of rounds, we decided to close out our tabs and go elsewhere. However, because of an error on the bartender's part one of us never got our card back. According to the employee he placed the card on the bar instead of handing it to us because he couldn't reach us from where he was standing. First of all, this is complete BS. I could have reached out and grabbed his arm while he was giving me his half-assed excuse. He searched for the card for a few moments before giving up and implying that someone must have walked off with it and we should have been paying better attention. He offered no apology and when I asked for one he got mad and stormed off. I am totally blown away by how disrespectful and immature he behaved, after losing our credit card. We have since been contacted by 16-bit and notified that the bartender dropped the card on the ground and that is why we never received it. We still have not received an apology for the inconvenience and for the employee's rude behavior. My advice to anyone looking for a game bar downtown. Skip 16-bit, go to The Rook. read more

Apparently joints like this are becoming quite popular, but we don't really have any back home. My boyfriend and I came here to pass time while we were waiting on a dinner reservation, and we were pleasantly surprised. There was a good selection of arcade games (Duck Hunt, Street Fighter, you name it!), and a good selection of beer, too! I love that there were several craft beers on draft, including the local Rhinegeist. We were there on a Saturday evening, so it was pretty packed, which made navigating a bit difficult. Since the big draw to it is the arcade aspect, seating seemed to be fairly limited. With that being said, service was good, and it didn't take long for a bartender to take our order even though it was busy. If we were local, we'd hang out at 16-Bit all the time! read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

4 stars and not 5 solely because i don't love it so much that i'm a frequent customer. I have no issues with the place, actually. Well, other than the fact that it's so novel (for Cincinnati) that it's always packed Fridays and Saturdays. The games are FREE and that's definitely a plus. If you wanna go for the games, I recommend going on a weekday. Everyone gets the popsicle drink so I guess try getting that when you go there your first time. Ample seating including outdoor seating too. Noise level is tolerable, not like other bars where your thoughts can't even be heard because they're drowned out by overplayed top 40 hits. read more

I have seen this place on the news many times. I actually made it in today. Oh what a joy and the nostalgia of my youth and video game addiction came back to me with ease. I played centipede, qbert, PAC man. Mrs PAC man, space invaders, galaxa, duck hunt, frogger, and donkey kong. This is a great place for date night. A guarantee to elicit smiles. There was a section of Nintendo type games as well. But, I was stuck in Atari Heaven. The games are free to pay with drink purchase. You have to show your ID for entrance. Our drinks were great, they have a full service bar and a variety of beers to choose from. The bathrooms were clean. I can't wait to go back again. Perfect for: couples, large groups, small groups, girls night out, guys night out, adult family members, out of towners, and locals. Pics of my favorite games attached read more

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I get the old school arcade games. I get the creative drink combinations. I get the concept and I get why it's fun and popular especially in OTR. I get all of that. BUT I feel as if there is so much more that they could be doing. It gets crowded. I mean very crowded some nights. So crowded that the odds of you playing a game is so slim that you might as well sit at the bar and drink your fill with their amazing drinks. The Hulk Hogan is my go to, because I mean who doesn't want a Popsicle with alcohol, I mean come on. The place is huge but clearly not big enough to keep up with the patrons. If there were more games and more room I'd be all about staying for a few hours or even a full hour, but I always seem to duck out after downing a drink or two since it's so crowded. I highly recommend going for the drinks and depending on the night reliving your childhood by playing your favorite games. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Kevin Bacon...yes that's bacon and maple burbon. I think this can be classified as a balanced breakfast, right? - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Ok, I mean lets be honest, how cool is this place? Booze + video games you played as a kid = one of the best concepts ever! I went to my first arcade bar three years ago in Chicago and wanted so badly to open one here. Instead 16-bit did that for me right across from my apartment! I went there for the first time two weeks ago and we had a blast! Although it was so crowded it was still fun. The space is quite large and is just done so nicely! It's classy inside and they have a good amount/selection of games! I think the total is 50. A few were out of order but that's the breaks. I had the Bill Nye which is a Manhattan with Rye Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, bitters, and a cherry. My girlfriend had the Patrick Swayze which has Gin, simple syrup, lime juice, and mint. Both were delicious and inexpensive! The Bill Nye came in a sweet Beeker glass that looked like it was stolen out of Walter Whites cooking lab. All in all great place! The thing that stuck out to me was the simple fact that the games are just an added bonus. The bar itself is cool enough to hangout at by itself! read more

First off this place is awesome!! Adult drinks and games from my childhood. Aka the bar meets the arcade. Very friendly and casual staff. Barkeeper recommended the Ice T a great drink that is vodka iced tea and lemonade. Only downside to this place is that they do not have a kitchen that serves food. But they have PACMan, Nintendo 64, street fighter, pinball. Will definitely be back!! read more

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16-Bit is better than Arcade Legacy, another Arcade Bar in Northside, Cincinnati. However, it has a bit of an unfair advantage. 1. This place is huge. Overall the game and drink selection is massive. 2. The #1 reason to go here is to burn time while waiting for your table to become available at Bakersfield/Senate/Salazar/insert-OTR-restaurant here. 3. This place is crowded. A major difference in ambiance from Arcade Legacy in Northside, 16-Bit can be packed with bros and wenches tracking down their favorite coin-op. Definitely lacks a laid back feel. 4. Console area sucks. Go check out the awesome set-up that Arcade legacy has - couches and consoles are much more fun than the crowded stools set up here. 5. Major negative here: beer availability. Had a friend try to order 5 (yes FIVE) different advertised beers and was told they were out. This was within the first month of opening so maybe the kinks were not yet worked out. Please respect the beer if you're going to sell it. And yes, shame on you even if you are a "video game bar." Overall, yes 16-Bit is great. But if you want to really relax and chill with friends check out Arcade Legacy: Northside. Oh, and get yourself a Hulk. read more

Took my baby sister to this gem for her 21st birthday, and it didn't disappoint! It's an arcade bar so there are LOADS of old school video games!! Not only that but they are reasonably priced and The drinks are amazing! Definitely worth checking out! read more

Absolutely love this barcade. What could be better than beer and classic video games? Enjoyed everything about this place. read more

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This is a great idea to bring people together of all ages. We were bar hopping in OTR and wanted to try something different that all the ages that would like and they did not disappointing us. With all the different video games and pinball games it was a great night. We grabbed a table and our group went to their favorite games when they opened up. They have a great selection of specially drinks along with a nice selection of draft and can beers. read more

I loveeeee 16-Bit. It is a frequent stop whenever friends come into town to visit and highly demanded. The drinks are great. I recommend the Hulk Hogan if it is your first time there (or if it is a hot summer night and a popsicle just sounds great). We just went last night and they gave us a free cup. The service is usually great with bar tenders recommending drinks whenever someone is unsure. And of course, who doesn't love playing video games inside? Be aware though: it's hard to get to the game you want when it is a packed night so don't have your heart set. read more

Cool place. As found at a few OTR bars, your experience will vary tremendously depending on the time and day of your visit. For example, go to 16-Bit on a Saturday night and you will be shoulder to shoulder with a few hundred of your closest "friends" waiting for a game to play and a spot at the bar to grab a drink. Whereas if you go on a lazy Sunday afternoon, like we recently did, you'll feel as if you're in a laid back neighborhood locals only spot. Each experience is fine so long as you're prepared and rest assured that the bartenders do their best to take care of the many or few at this spot. I've never had bad service here. The game selection will be a walk down memory lane for some and a complete time warp for others. They do seem to rotate the arcade games periodically with a few anchor games that will leave over my dead body, I'm looking at you PacMan. Please respect these vintage beauties, spilled beer does tend to break the controls and a few games were out of commission while we visited. The alcoholic drinks are creative (popsicles in alcohol are always yummy) and the beer list contains many local and domestic craft options. No wine??! I wish they had a few food options on the menu. They are cool with you bringing in outside food to be enjoyed at the tables. I actually had my bachelor party here and we ordered pizza from Goodfellas. ALWAYS bring your ID as they are strict about carding everyone. There are days when you can bring someone 12 years or older though. Check their facebook page or http://www.16-bitbar.com/cincy#calendar for a listing of events during the week. In closing, technically this is a "chain" but it's one that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. I dig that and respect the retro vibe this place and the other locations bring to their respective neighborhoods. Game NOT over, go visit 16-Bit. read more

Four dozen retro video games all set up for free play = five stars. Getting the high score on Donkey Kong = five stars. Full bar with too many local brews to count = five stars. Four pinball machines, two of them top notch (Aerosmith and Metallica) = five stars. No food other than if you bring in your own snacks = one star. Overall a good experience but you burn some major calories playing games, food would make this barcade five stars. read more

Kinda upset I discovered this bar on the last night of my short stay in Cincinnati. Great place to enjoy with friends and a great way to spend the night. The games kept me busy and before I knew it I lost track of time. Great layout along with a fully stocked bar they had my favorite whiskey which made the night even more enjoyable. Will surely be back if ever in town again. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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How fun is this place? We hosted a happy hour here for a group of about 10. They reserved tables for us and let us bring in our own food, they couldn't have been nicer. The night we were there, West 6th brewery was giving away glasses if you bought a pint, along with some other goodies. So fun. Of course they have every video game known to man, as well as pinball. Great place, friendly staff. Perfect place to kill some time. read more

Came here for a birthday party and I have to say it's a pretty cool place especially for anyone who loves video games. I didn't realize at first that all of the games were free and once I figured that out I played more games and drank less. I can't comment on the food but the alcohol prices seemed reasonable. When I got there around 630-7 on a Friday it wasn't super busy but the crowd did start to pick up and the weather outside was fantastic (65-70) so they opened all of the garage door windows which made the atmosphere even better. I'd gladly come back again when looking for a place to go to in OTR. read more

What a jack bar tender - said his name is "Smitten". Called our party an unpleasant name. Then he gave the bouncer some lame excuse to get us kicked out. I can't believe that someone would treat their customers with such disdain. I will never give this place another dime. read more

this place was really fun. you can play arcade games for free as long as you drink which seems a fair exchange. you have to use real money to play pinball, which I guess is okay because otherwise you'd never get a turn. they had some great pinball machines and all the old classics like Pac Man and Asteroids. a great place to stop while bar-hopping in OTR read more

Great place! Awesome selection of games, all of them working, as well as a solid wall of console games. Free play on all arcades was a huge bonus. Beer priced right. Great pinball machines as well. 5 stars all the way on this place! read more

Went here for a reception for a conference I was in town for. Had a good time and ended up coming back the next night. Love that most of the games are free if you are buying drinks. We got to try a variety of the games. Drink were well priced and I got a koozie with one of them. The Patrick Swayze was delicious! read more

New Spot , Great Drinks , Oldschool Games , Definitely Going Back To This Spot ! If Your In Cincinnati Must Recommend This Place !

This was my first visit here. Most games are free with the exception of pinball. There honestly wasn't as many places to put my drink down as I would have liked so I could fully partake in gaming. The crowd was really good about keeping it moving so I was able to try some games. I visited with a little larger group and we had a hard tome staying close together as space was limited on a crowded Saturday night. I would love to visit back during off hours. Overall, props on the creative concept well executed. read more

How have I not been here earlier?! This place is a blast! I could not imagine a better way to hang out with some friends on a cold day than playing old school arcade games. I popped in on a Thursday before exam week so it wasn't terribly busy, but was it ever the best stress relief possible. So glad there was a little side table tucked between machines to sit your drink. I love the open layout and tables for breaks or for just chatting. They have a great supply of beers and house mixed drinks. If it is your first time in, you must try the hulk hogan. It does not dissapoint! read more

I love it, but then it reminds me of my 10th birthday party when my parents took me and all my best friends to an arcade, and set us up with a sack of tokens so we could play to our hearts' content. This location is bigger and more open than the one in Columbus, which is nice. It's a bit more up-scale which seems fitting for the OTR crowd. They also have a larger selection of games. Because it's open to the street, you really do feel like you are part of the neighborhood, which adds to the atmosphere and makes it a versatile place to hang out, even if you don't plan to spend most of your time playing games. I like that they have a row of TVs, gaming consoles, and a stack of games you can play with your friends if the arcade style grows old. I think it's a good all-around option because of the touch of childish wonder promised by the free game play. As a result, I think it's a place equally good for groups and for first dates if you need a little something to break the ice. The drink options are kitschy, reasonably priced, and pretty good. read more

Gotta be one of the coolest spots in Cincinnati! And judging from the crowds I've seen here, a lot of people agree. I mean, what's not to love? -Free retro video games that let you relive your glory days and pee your pants with laughter. -Quite an extensive collection of brews. -A chalkboard wall to share your #hashtags -Close to unique boutiques and restaurants to round out your visit to OTR Anyone can fit in here. Love the 16 Bit Bar and Arcade! Centipede....I'll be back! read more

What a great concept! Let me lay it down for you: Old school arcade games (for FREE) and a great beer, wine, and cocktail list. What is not to like!? I'll admit, it was pretty darn crowded the night that I came here, but we still had a blast. They have everything from Frogger to The Simpsons game to Donkey Kong to Pinball (Pinball costs extra). Although it was crowded the night I came in, we were promptly served drinks whenever we ordered. I would certainly come back and would love to try it on a less crowded night so that I could play games to my heart's content! read more

I like it. I like it a lot. *passes out* *micturates on self* Went there a good ways back. Three weeks ago, maybe. And it was super packed with thirty year olds with crusty beards, male pattern baldness, and beer bellies. And boy, all I can say is that I felt right at home. Heck Yeah! Super Mario Bros...X-Men...Mike.Tyson's.Punch-Out...Donkey Kong...Space Invaders. I was in my happy place, my teenage dreamland, reliving my adolescents as a snot-nosed brat who hadn't showered in a week. All I needed was pop rocks, fun-dip, candy cigarettes, and Madonna. But now that I think about it, I think they played a bunch of 80s music, too. They had a great drink selection. Not too pricey. Now, the only two issues I had with 16-bit is that Mike Tyson's Punch-Out wasn't working, and why have patrons pay for the pinball when everything else is free? Not that I would play pinball because I always lose. But still. Yes, I know, quit being a big baby. I'm done. Other than that, awesome. Loved it. read more

Amazing spot in OTR! I was really excited to see a place like this open up in Cincinnati, since I frequently travel there to see my boyfriend, we definitely had to check it out. We went on July 4th, late in the afternoon and it wasn't so packed. I was impressed by how big, clean and modern looking the place is. As long as you purchase a beverage you can play for FREE! Awesome classic arcade games for everyone! The drink prices were really good too. We started off with the sherbet shot and then got the Burt Reynolds...5 stars! Then I tried the Molly Ringwald cocktail...5 stars! It was delicious and refreshing...felt healthy with the cucumber garnish. My boyfriend got the Kevin Bacon...3 stars. For me this tasted a lot like maple syrup, so it was a lot on the sweet side. Overall my experience was great and I hope this place lasts so I have a spot to frequent every time I visit. read more

This is such a cool concept. I wish we had a spot like this in Louisville. 16-Bit Bar+Arcade is exactly what is sounds like- a bar with a bunch of cool games to play. It is 80's pop-culture themed so they have all of the old, fun games like Pac-Man, Punch-Out, Mortal-Combat, etc. It is free to play everything, with the exception of pinball, as long as you are ordering drinks. The drink list and craft beer selection are pretty sweet too. The cocktails are all named after actors or musicians from the 80's. My boyfriend had the Pam Anderson, a tropical drink and I had the Patrick Swayze, a refreshing gin cocktail with mint. ($8 each) read more

So many games! Awesome retro music to be your soundtrack while you kick ass. Also great icon inspired drinks and beers on tap. I had a hulk hogan. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Hulk hogan - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

16-Bit Bar + Arcade even has a name that is over my head. I am not much of a game player but this is definitely a fun environment. There is a full bar here and an excellent selection of bourbon. We stopped for a drink here on Halloween and enjoyed excellent beers and bourbon. Prices are very reasonable here and the service was great. This place draws a fun crowd. If you enjoy people watching this is prime place as well. Trust me on this; pull up a stool at the bar, order a drink, and look around. We definitely plan on returning (and maybe we will play a game or two). read more