On a previous visit, I had a drink and played a few games. On our latest visit, we were there for dinner since we had a deal with a local discount dining company. We ordered a veggie pizza and spinach salad since they said they were out of romaine lettuce. We got our buzzer, found an outdoor table, and got two beers at the bar (you pay separately). After waiting a little while, our buzzer went off and we collected our pizza. I have to say for something that supposedly just got out of a piping hot pizza oven, our pizza was kind of lukewarm. We did enjoy the outdoor tables, and while we were there, they turned on the fir pits for others to enjoy. Several parties, some with dogs, seemed to be enjoying their Tuesday night out. Our pizza was just the right size for the two us, just too bad it wasn't a tad hotter. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Arugula salad, veggie pizza - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This is a super fun spot. The pizza was great and they have a decent drink selection. Seating can be hard to find indoors, especially if you have a large group. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Caprese pizza - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Our first experience here was a year ago and was great with delicious pizzas. Today, however, was NOT good. My gluten free pizza was obviously a frozen pizza they barely heated, my husband's pizza was undercooked, and my kid's pickle pizza was dripping so much olive oil that it was nearly inedible. Not sure if it was an off day or what, but I am not sure we want to try again. Which is really sad after our great first time. As far as atmosphere, it's way too loud inside. read more

Pizza had hair in it. Really foul things wrote in the bathroom stalls. Over priced games. Would never bring kids/family here-people smoking weed on their patio in broad daylight. Parking is a joke. Bartenders seem to be more worried about talking to themselves than taking a beer order. Green Tea shots were disgusting. Our group of friends wasted $100 bucks each on this poor choice for an afternoon outing! All the thumbs down! read more

Always fun. Can't beat $2 mimosa sundays! Bartenders are always a delight. The place is a typical arcade minus the stinky cheese smell like the ones I went to in high-school. Love the basketball hoops. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Went on Sunday for pizza and mimosas! Pizza was super good and hot, it's made to order. Mimosa was strong enough and pretty yummy. There's plenty of games to play and they're dog friendly! I will say there were some teens there that were playing with basketballs outside of the arcade game and it was quite disruptive. I would recommend coming when it's 21+z read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Double Mimosa - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Boxcar is a Durham gem. It's wholesome, cheap and nostalgic fun - great for the whole family. There are tons of great arcade games, pinball games, basketball and skeeball. Additionally, there is an outdoor space for eating/drinking and playing garden games. The venue is dog-friendly... Indoors and outdoors! The games range in price, and more expensive ones cost around $2. Some machines accept credit card and others only accept tokens. The bar has a wide selection of beers and mixed drinks. We visited on a Sunday, and there was a $1 mimosa special ($2 for doubles). We tried the fresca (strawberry) flavor and we highly recommend it. There is also pizza and other food available for purchase. Note that masks are no longer required. When we stopped by, no one was wearing masks - including bar staff. read more

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Fun vibes with love music. Games are expensive but overall fun experience. I didn't try the food but the drinks were great with a lot of specials each day read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Live music - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Boxcar is a descent arcade bar. They have plenty of pinball machines which were my favorite, and a lot of other games as well. They seem to be doing pretty well since it was so packed when we went. They were doing some Christmas in July specials but none of the drinks looked good enough to order to me. One of the pinball machines ate my tokens, and we got a few tokens out of some other machines leading me to believe they glitch often. Fun place would return if I lived here read more

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What fucking shit show. Been here a bunch of times and never have I been turned away. Whom ever was at the check in tonight was a complete asshole. Here with my kid who are all 18 +. Never again read more

The food was good and great service. I will go again, with my man next time. I love the arcade games.

Tl;dr: Fun spot for a night out! Something to do for everyone. Tight on food option, but what they have is good and there are other options nearby if needed. Went here on a friday evening. We planned to meet some friends from school and decided that around 7pm would be a good time to meet. It was a perfect time! Boxcar had some people in it without being too loud yet. This was our first time and we wanted some time to explore the games before anyone came and we were able to do just that. The drink selection is awesome. Beer lover? They've got multiple types and do a good job of rotating their taps based on the season. They also do mixed drinks and on Fridays they tout a Fireball special which helped guide our decisions later on in the evening. The food pretty much looked like pizza and pretzels (which isnt a problem for me, but could be an issue with people who don't want that). The quality was good and the turnout wasn't that bad! The patio outside was huge and dog-friendly. A covered fireplace is adorned with seats along side of it, and the other covered area connected to the actual building has heaters running along the length of the tables. In the uncovered area, there are more tables and seats next to the ping pong tables (ping pong balls can be bought inside for $1). There is gravel in the non-covered area which could be trouble for those in flimsy footware. The arcade games inside are fun and are all working! Overall a good time in a good space. read more

What? I've NEVER reviewed Boxcar! How can this be? Boxcar is a wonderful place to grab a pizza, drink, and play some games. My favorites are Skee Ball, Pop-A-Shot, and The House of the Dead. I've visited this location countless times and it's great with just one person or a large group. The food and drinks are all affordable, and the best day to visit IMO is Sunday, when they have $10 bottles of sparkling wine with orange juice. The pizzas are great, with my favorite being the bacon chicken ranch, and they just added some HEAVENLY pretzels to the menu. Another wonderful thing about Boxcar is the fenced in outdoor space, which is dog friendly. We love to humiliate our friend Brian who is TERRIBLE at Jenga by forcing him to play Giant Jenga in public. All in all, this is a great place and one of my absolute favorites. There is plenty of space and there are plenty of options as far as food, drink, and games. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Gotta love those $1 mimosas - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Love boxcar, especially on Mimosa Sundays. Always my favorite time to go and get a 10$ bottle of champagne and hang out with with good people. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Outside seating - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

If you like Boxcar in downtown Raleigh then you will love this new location. It is so spacious and has a nice sized outdoor area. We had a blast drinking and playing games. If you are hungry you can order a pizza from their pizza kitchen. My only complaint is that there was a staff member that was a tad rude. read more

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I absolutely love Boxcar! The atmosphere is great, the pizza is pretty good and the staff is so nice. Its spacious on the inside and they always have really nice events going on. My favorite was around Halloween. They had a tarot reader, which was really fun. I never have a bad experience here. read more

This is a really cool place to go, the games are pretty fun, and there is a great view of the old baseball field! They also have pizza and a full bar. The pizza isn't great, it's on par with frozen pizza, but it's not super expensive. I did find it strange that you had to order the pizza from one place in the drinks at another. The beer here seems a little overpriced as well. But I guess that goes hand in hand with it being more of an entertainment place than a bar. The biggest downside to this place is parking, if you're lucky you might find some street parking around it but I don't think there is a parking garage anywhere near, however I could be wrong. Luckily I found a spot in about a block away. Also keep in mind that all the street parking is paid by phone, and you have to install an app on your phone, which can be an inconvenience. Especially if you've never used it before and have to set up an account. read more

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I went to Boxcar with a large group a few nights ago. The space is huge and doesn't feel crowded at all. There's lot of space and seating both inside and out. When you check in on yelp you get four free tokens per person! I tried several of the pizzas and some of the soft pretzels and enjoyed them so much! Specifically, the fried green tomato and pimento cheese pizza was amazing! I can't wait to go back and have more of that. They have a ton of arcade games. I enjoyed the ski ball the most. They also have corn hole outside. Fun space, fun time! read more

This was a fun and great place to go to. I do drink a little, but I have mild vertigo, so I can't overindulge. My last experience was buying a drink for my two friends (women) and I'm a cis man. They drank, we played and had a great night.... until I went to the restroom while they waited for our Uber. I slipped and stumbled where somebody spilled their drink, and immediately a tall employee with a ponytail asked me to leave, while on my way out. This was a Wednesday night. No kids around. I've gone on the weekends and seen others get "wasted" with no repercussions. After three tours, I didn't want to engage in an altercation, but I haven't been back since. If you see an orange-ish dog and a white guy named Charlie, they're cool. read more

We've always enjoyed the Raleigh location so we decided to check out Durham. The space is large and well used. They've got a great bar, a pizza oven, a great selection of games, and an outstanding view of Durham Athletic Park. It's far better than the Raleigh location. We stayed for hours. The kids loved it. We'll definitely be heading back. read more

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Okay how have I not been here before. This place literally has all my favorite things- pizza, brews and air hockey. In addition to multiple other excellent arcade games. I've always like barcades but outside of Pac-Man and mortal kombat i haven't been a huge fan of classic arcade games. This place adds more competitive games to the mix including - air hockey (it must be mentioned twice as there are two!), skee ball, basketball, racing, DDR, cornhole and competitive Pac-Man. The tokens can be purchased with credit card or cash - not cheap but also not outrageous. After a few drinks tho it's easy to forget the tokens aren't play money. It is silly that they charge for the giant connect 4 and the corn hole but I'll forgive it. Both indoor and outdoor space. The pizzas are also addicting and reasonably priced - half off between 4 and 7! Overall one of the funnest places in Durham great for groups or even a fun interactive date! read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I have been to Boxcar Durham a couple of times and while I haven't had a chance to try the pizza yet I really dig the new space and game selection! It's very similar to Raleigh in terms of games, though with some fun editions (basketball and a newer version of DDR). They obviously still have quite a bit of space to fill (there are some awkward gaps in games and a few empty spaces), but I feel like the game additions have been coming in steadily since opening. The bar is just as large as the Raleigh location, and offers a very similar drink list- all of which is a great value! Seriously Boxcar has always been known for great selection and cheap drinks- that's not changing here! I also really enjoy the idea of a dedicated party room- which is something Raleigh DESPERATELY needs. The space is just overall very cool, it's a no-brainer for the area! Anytime i'm in Durham I will definitely be stopping by for a couple of games! read more

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I keep coming back for the great draft beers and obviously for the arcade, however, I finally tried the pizza today and it was very underwhelming. I ordered the buffalo chicken pizza and my boyfriend got the cheese pizza. The buffalo chicken pizza was extremely salty and the crust was mushy. The chicken was also very dry. The cheese pizza was lacking in flavor, cheese tasted almost fake. Will be coming back for the great vibes and atmosphere but will not be eating here again. read more

In the world of bar arcades in the Triangle, I'd have to say Boxcar Durham is probably the best. It's easily the biggest space with a large interior, private room and patio overlooking the old Durham Bulls ballpark. Up front you'll find about 20 pinball tables with the middle section showing off old school and retro video games. In the back you'll find the bigger games like pop-a-shot, skee-ball, Big Buck Hunter, DDR, racing games and more. There's plenty of space to move around in compared to the original Boxcar Raleigh. Boxcar Durham has a good selection of craft beers but what's really fun is their pizza oven offering a menu of Neapolitan style pies for not much money. So great space, great games, good beers and food, what more could you ask for?! read more

This place has good games, good food and drinks, and good music. The music is loud, so you won't be able to hear alot, but there is outdoor seating. So that could be an options. The staff is friendly and helpful, and I will be going back. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Skeeball - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I had come here multiple times before and loved it. Went here with my friend and his girlfriend maybe 3 weeks ago. We were going to hang out at boxcar and have a few drinks and play games. I had walked in and I guess I was quite when I pulled out my ID. They scanned it, but the bouncer looked at me and said "No, you're too drunk to come in". I looked at him and thought he was joking because I didn't even have a drink that day. My friend asked him are you serious, and the bouncer replied and said "does it look like I'm joking?". He was very rude; if he thought I was drunk wouldn't he do a test and at least see? It ruined my night and I felt guilty because we weren't able to go in and have fun. We then went to Motorco which is right up the street. A much better bar and you don't spend an obscene amount of money on drinks. That one experience tarnished every good memory I had at boxcar. The first bar I went to when I moved to Durham. read more

I went during Offline Premium Sneak Peak event. I've been to the Raleigh location and so happy the Durham location finally opened! First things first, parking can get a little crazy on foster street even on week nights sometimes. When I went, I had to park by the Central Park almost by the YMCA. But, it's still only a few minutes walk so it's nothing too terrible. My favorite part about Durham Boxcar was their layout. Unlike the Raleigh one, it's pretty spacious and you can take a loop around the games instead of going to a dead end and trying to make it back to the front alive. There were a lot of people but it was still fairly easy to navigate. Like Scott F said, quite a few machines were eating out coins but the staff was very accommodating- fixing the machines and giving our coins back! There are pretty much similar games as the Raleigh one. I didn't notice many games Raleigh one didn't have. They have the original Super Smash Bros on N64! I did notice a few games Durham doesn't have that Raleigh had. But still there are plenty of games for you to play. They do have a full bar and have a great selection of drafts. I noticed their prices are quite fair compared to other bars around. Not only do they serve alcohol, they also serve pizza! They do have a separate space for you to rent for events! read more

The drink was pretty good! They have special drinks every day. The green one is called "liquid marijuana". It has four alcohols. The arcade has many games and the older ones is $0.25/ person. The newer one usually costs $1 per person per time. The pizza here is also really good! We got roasted garlic and bacon. It's very good! read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Menu - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I have been to the one in Raleigh and I have loved it especially after work. Now they have opened one in Durham and it's a lot more spacious with tons of arcade games to try. They have a great beer list and pizza to go with it. Definitely a place to come hang out after work or just hang out with your friends. Parking is a little tricky and you have to drive around to find a parking space. Overall, a fun place to hang out. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - The bar. - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Grab a friend or two and $5 for a bunch of tokens and fun, old school games! I loved the concept of a spacious arcade bar with drinks and pizza available. I went with a few friends and had so much fun with air hockey, basketball hoops, pacman, DDR, and more. This is definitely one of the top places on my list now for where to go for a night out! It's also a great place to go if you or your friends don't drink -- just get drunk on endorphins from friendly competition instead. Location-wise, it's also located near Fullsteam, Motorco, and more, so really great if you want to bar hop and are looking for something fun. Parking can be difficult since it's in that crowded area. Also, important to note - their token machine DOES takes credit cards! read more

One of my favorite spots in Durham to hang out with friends. I haven't been to the Raleigh location, or any other barcade for that matter, so I can't offer comparisons. Games: Buy tokens first (cash or credit), $5 will get you enough tokens for 2 people. Most games require 2-4. There are tons of games to choose from, with my favorites being skeeball, air hockey, DDR, and mario kart. Outdoor space: there's giant jenga, cornhole and ping pong. Lots of tables if you're looking for a quieter place to hang out and talk. Drinks: great selection of draft beers, and awesome daily drink specials for the people not trying to shell out for boujee drinks. Food: dank Neapolitan style pizza for ~$10-12 (they also have 1/2 off specials from 4-7 on certain days of the week), and FREE POPCORN from this random popcorn maker that I didn't notice my first few visits. Location/parking: next to the axe throwing place, and close to fullsteam, motorco, and geer street garden. About a 15 min walk from downtown. Parking is tough. You'll likely have to circle around a bunch and walk a block or two. Fun place to bring friends who are visiting. It does get crowded on weekends, so you might have to wait for games to open up, but it never gets too bad. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Skeeball - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This location is not inclusive to family dynamics. My sister is 17 and I am her legal guardian. They denied us entry because my husband and I aren't her "parents". But if we would have brought my 5 year old niece, it would have been no questions asked about who her parents are. Very disappointing. read more

Very fun amped up arcade atmosphere to get your old school game on. From Pac man to pinball and everything in betweeb that you may or may not have grown up with, there's a lot of bang for your buck here. The staff is friendly and helpful and on two visits I never saw a game go down! The pizza choices and quality are pretty good, there's free water if you don't want to purchase soda or some type of alcoholic beverage, and it's very clean, even the bathrooms. What's not to like. Nothing. Now go have some fun! read more

I came here as an option for the offline subscription. There was a bit of confusion with some of the employees surrounding the offline subscription but it was resolved very quickly! Otherwise the experience was great - good food and great games!! There's not a ton of seating options (inside - but there's some outside) but still a good space for playing games and connecting with others. I'll definitely come back and play more games! read more

I cannot recommend this place enough! Shelby, Lorenzo, and Stephen are the best! It was amazing to be in such an accepting place. I came from TN and being part of the alphabet mafia I was so unsure of being me. I didn't have to worry about it here. I was accepted and felt safe! read more

Good food nice staff good service games are fun they have very good atmosphere and fun people

This place has so much potential, but their pinball games are setup terrible. Among other things, some of them are much steeper than the standard. I don't know if they're intentionally trying to cheat their customers, or if the person who's setting them up just needs to invest $30 into a digital level. I don't think they realize that it just makes people dislike pinball when the games are setup like that. Pinball is already very hard for newcomers, and doing stuff like this just keeps them from coming back. read more

Fun spot with lots of pinball and classic video games. After 7 is 21 and up only, which is nice.

Terrible service and rude staff. It was very loud and just not the vibe I thought it was gonna be.

Boxcar is an extremely fun arcade bar!! Highly recommended for groups and couples. They have a wide variety of games and beer. They also have a very nice outside area with outdoor lights. Cool place to sit outside and chat. read more

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