I stopped by Boxcar with a few friends on a Monday and we had a great time! There was hardly anybody else in there, so we were able to play any of the games we wanted easily. On Mondays their drink special is $5 for any draft, what a steal! We all enjoyed a drink and a few games. I love the decor and vibes in Boxcar, the artwork is really punk and cool looking. My favorite game, The Lucky Duck, was broken (the claw wouldn't extend far enough to reach any ducks). I reported this to a staff member and she let me pick out any 2 ducks I wanted! The Pokemon pinball was fun too, I love the variety of pinball machines. read more

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We came here for the first time last Sunday afternoon. It was a very cool spot and a great value! The arcade is pretty big, with a wide variety of games. Tokens are reasonably priced and older style arcade games only take 1- the more interactive or multi player games (think air hockey, basketball, dance dance etc) take 4. They have free popcorn, daily drink specials, and drinks were very reasonably priced. Despite being fairly busy, service at the bar was friendly and fast- I was impressed! Not much else for food here from what I can tell, so don't plan on having your meal here. I brought two teenage boys and we hung out for almost 2 hours- I think I spent about 40 bucks including tokens and a couple of drinks for myself. I really liked the street art vibe, especially all of the murals and the Instagram wall. They've done a great job with ambiance! The outdoor patio adds a lot of additional chill space. When we were there they didn't have a band playing, but I think they do often. I almost want to give it 5 stars, but several of the games were not working properly and ate our tokens. That say you can grab someone to fix them, but nobody appeared available, and I wouldn't have wanted to bother them multiple times anyhow... Would be great if they were proactively checking and fixing them. More snacks would be great too! Other than that it was a really great experience, I would definitely go back. read more

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Cool spot to hang with friends. Hit the pit before hand then swing by to play some games and get some ducks

Always my go to, never failed me. One time I believe one of the bartenders drugged me and my friends and when I confronted him I didn't see him at work ever again after that.. but that's another story. Still had good times after that ! lol but definitely glad he's gone . Seemed like he showed up drunk anyways. Great daily deals, good strong drinks and you can never beat the 2$ mimosas! read more

Not a bad hangout spot! Came out on a date, the drinks were nice and tasty, not too heavy on the alcohol taste which is what we prefer. The game selection isn't too vast, but there are still a couple of options to choose from, to have fun with an SO or just anybody else in general. I recommend this place for anyone looking to have a drink while playing some chill arcade games. read more

Boxcar is a unique place to unleash your inner child in the triangle. I previously visited their Durham location which is huge in comparison to Downtown Raleigh. This location does not have as much real estate, games or the cool pizza counter, however there is a little bit of something for all gamers and 80's babies alike to enjoy. I visited after 10 p.m. while celebrating a birthday with a friend and he really enjoyed being a big kid for the evening. Mario Kart, Air Hockey, Skeeball, NBA JAM, Pinball, StreetFighter and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are all classics. The staff were very friendly and worked hard. I love the late night hours and parking was seamless when scoring a spot right in front of the building. read more

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

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We had a great time here this week on our visit to Raleigh. This was a great spot to have fun/kill a few hours in the rain, we came back twice after our first visit. IDs are checked at the door because after 8 it's 21+, you can just order drinks at the bar anytime though. You need tokens to play the games, but they definitely give a decent amount worth for the cost. We had lots of fun playing ski ball, basketball, mario cart, pinball, claw machines, golf simulators, etc. There are so many games and some awesome drinks specials. My mimosas were only $2 on Sunday for example and champagne bottles for $12 on NYE. We also really enjoyed their on tap/draft selection. You have to come here if you are local to Raleigh or visiting like us! read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Drinks - Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Boxcar Bar + Arcade is a super fun place to hang out for an afternoon or evening. We asked it my 17-year old stepson could come inside or if it was only 21 and older. The staff said he could come in until 7 pm. Sadly, we only had an hour, but he had the best time in that hour. My husband and I enjoyed all the old-school games like galactica, pac-man, frogger, and so many more. I've been a few other times with friends and had a fun time hanging out for drinks and entertainment. Boxcar is a great option for something different to do. read more

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

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super fun environment and good selection of games. i didn't order any drinks but they have a full fledge bar so im sure you can get anything. staff were super friendly and security ensured the safety of everyone. would come again read more

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Bar is stocked and they had specials on a daily basis The games are good for single and multiplayers This place brings back all the fun you had as a teen but with Drinks. Great place to hangout read more

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This place is a vibe! From the games, the staff, the decor and the showing of quality cartoons. A friend and I decided to try out the onesie party event at this local spot. There weren't many onesies, but the energy was fun and positive. The bar staff was knowledgeable and friendly. I appreciate that some of the staff wore onesies for the event. The drink selection offers various IPAs, hard seltzers and cocktails. I enjoyed the Oh Yeah! drink (the name made me think of Macho Man Randy Savage). I do wish that this location offered some type of snacks for customers. I appreciate the variety of games at Boxcar. The location offers pinball, skeeball, air hockey, arcade games and driving simulation games. I was excited to see a arcade favorite of mine-The Simpson game. I will for sure visit this location again. read more

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I was in Raleigh on a business trip. Me and some of my colleagues went there in the evening. It has a lot of the "old school" arcade games and play games (ski ball, basketball, air hockey). You purchase tokens which I think were equivalent to quarters. There was a little nostalgia seeing Street Fighter, Pac Man, Galaga, Simpsons and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the 4 player one). There were also a lot of pinball machines and TVs to watch sports. They also had a full bar and while I didn't pay for any drinks (lucky me) it sounded like they were decent prices. I'd go again next time I'm in town. We went on a "Singles Night" where apparently you could get a name tag and free tokens, so my friends and I signed up whether we were single or not. read more

Cool spot. I've visited the one in Greensboro before but I felt like this one was cozier and more of an arcade bar but not super overwhelming on the bar vibe. Service was quick and helpful. read more

Now a Raleigh staple, Boxcar is great for everyone: friends, family, kids, dogs, whomever. It is a fun space where you can hang out if you just want to grab a drink but it's also a great place to go if you want to actually do something while you drink. They have arcade games, ski ball, pinball, air hockey (my favorite), and others. Daily drink specials with my favorite being their Sunday mimosas. This is a great place to come for a Sunday boozy afternoon with friends because there is also likely to be live music. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade is a busy, busy bar that also happens to have some great vintage arcade games. We were shocked at how packed BB+A was this early on a Saturday. We've been to a few vintage arcades in other cities and have never seen one so packed with younger people who are (maybe) playing these games for the very first time. Without missing a beat, we grabbed some quick drinks from the center bar and made the rounds to play some classics, favorites, and long-forgotten games. Yes, we're those Gen-X'ers that fondly remember playing Street Fighter, NBA Jam, Ms. Pac-Man, and Frogger "back in the day." We also saw a few sweet games that we forgot about, like Jurassic Park. What we enjoyed most about BB+A was that the entire crowd was cool and level headed. We played a few games of NBA Jam with a group of much younger guys, talked a LOT of trash, and ended the game with high fives and props. Our only feedback would be to lower the front pinball section from $1 to .50. When the back gets packed, the pinball section is the only place you have some elbow room, enjoy your drink, and continue the fun. We look forward to our next BB+A outing, cold drinks, and Jam session. read more

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Two reasons for the one-star review. Either one of these things would have resulted in a one-star review, so I'll call it a double-one-star review. 1. Their pinball machines are setup really poorly. They're setup far steeper than manufacturers recommendations -- they're just trying to get more quarters out of you. Ironically, it makes new people hate pinball, so in reality they're just making the barrier of entry into pinball that much more difficult, resulting in worse long-term profits. 2. Major privacy violation upon entry. They photograph you and store your picture. Not cool. read more

We love box car!! This was a fun night out, we will definitely be back. Good music, no issues with fighting or people being over served. It's definitely a young crowd but we fit in at ages 30-45. There is no food, but you are more than welcome to order from local spots and have it delivered. They have holiday drink specials that are pretty good. The bartenders stay very busy but keep a great flow. No long hold ups. Tip you'd bar staff, they keep the night going. read more

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There was a wide variety of games and they were very entertaining. They also offered free popcorn and it was super delicious! Would definitely recommend for a fun place to go with your friends and family! read more

This is a great spot to have a drink, catch the game, or play a ton of different games! They have pinball, skiball, air hockey, basketball, Pac-Man, etc. So many different games to choose from, there's something for everyone! The service is quick and the space is HUGE! Great spot to meet up with friends or a fun date night! read more

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Great atmosphere fun for all ages.. Drinks were all great and lady behind the bar friendly. Only thing missing is food. But not a deal breaker read more

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

I love this bar! The atmosphere is awesome, there's a nice selection of arcade games, both modern and classic, and the drinks are alway good. Definitely recommend! read more

We walked in and were unsure about how everything worked. The bartender was sooo nice and helped us get up to speed! The overall ambiance was fantastic! So fun and exciting! Got to be a kid again! And honestly, who doesn't love a hot pretzel for dinner?? Such a fun date night!! read more

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

I very rarely ever go Downtown Raleigh, but when I do im choosing Boxcar everytime! The staff is always friendly and provides quick service at the bar. They always have fun events and live music on their schedule, but even on regular nights they have so many new and nostalgic arcade games to choose from! read more

Absolutely great spot for a Saturday night! Lots of fun games to play and I really liked the outside area to enjoy a cool breezy night. The pizza was good but I would've liked something else to eat as well. Beers were plentiful, cheap, and super easy to get even with a full house! Fully recommend. read more

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

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DDR machine pads are not responsive. Bartenders have an attitude and only took 1 order of drink at a time. Way too loud to have a good conversation and food is non existent. Boxcar Durham is way better. Don't waste your time coming here read more

I ordered a brisket sandwich and fries for about $25. The sandwich was very good and fries plentiful. The challenge was finding a table to eat at and the wait was about 25 minutes. The live music was good but very loud. Fun spot if you're prepared for the lines and challenges for seating. One additional note, we ate here during the summer 85 degrees while there was a band playing. read more

Place is what it says it is. Lots of arcade and pinball games. Football, Ski-ball, air hocky. Good selection. Full bar. Was there on a weekday during Christmas holiday. The place was full of kids burning through their parents cash while they had a drink or two or.... I played some pinball. A buck a game. Games seemed to be well maintained. read more

I love going boxcar!!!!! I love going on a date here or with a bunch of friends or with my whole family! The drinks are an added bonus but I really enjoy just playing all the games. They got a good section of games and each machine has a cup holder near by so you can easily game and drink. The best place to hangout! read more

Great drinks and super affordable! The bartender helping us was sooo nice and attentive, I didn't catch her name but she was great!! I wish I lived closer so I could go more often. Great selection on games and the place is clean and tidy. Definitely a more chill and casual place but it would be great for a date night. read more

Cool vibes and a fun place to go out for a night to do something other than only drink. Not the cheapest place ever but it's an experience. Typical arcade games you'd hope to see. read more

Pinball machines in good condition and decent selection. It is extremely loud in the back of this establishment

First - location is downtown Raleigh, perfect place for this! Lots of fun arcade games and old school games like skee ball. I was victorious in two games against my husband. Second - they have Kona Lager on draft, liquid Aloha - love it! The bathrooms were clean and the service was on point. They card everyone on the way in since it is a family friendly place. Excellent way to spend an afternoon out of the heat and humidity. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Kona Lager and Narragansett - Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Was walking around looking for the parking lot to my car and ran across this place. Seen a crowd outside and heard the music so decided to check it out. Staff - They have someone checking id's at front, and a good amount of bar tenders, but looks like short on staff having people walk around cleaning up the arcade. Other than that it was kinda crowded to see how friendly staff could be. Venue - Place is a decent size with a good size bar, a good amount of games at the arcade, and a patio with a dj outside. Location - Great location in downtown Raleigh. Prices - Drinks are cheap and good pours. Overall it's a great place to come to if you have a group of friends and want to have drinks and play games. read more

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

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Service is fine, beer selection is fine. Before I left NC for the free republic of Texas, I used to go here all the time. Like twice a week after work, at least. It was super fun, and they always had plenty of machines. I'm back visiting for the week and stopped by. It's nothing like it used to be. They've reduced their cabinet selection by what looks like 80%. The entire point of coming here was that selection. No reason to come back again. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Complete lack of cabinets - Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Cool bar! Nice outdoor seating. When we where there they where setting up for live music. Boxcar is the only place I've seen in Raleigh with pinball game. read more

If you need a place to hangout with friends, this is your place. There is a wide range of classic arcade games for one to choose from, with a very efficient bar that serves generous shots for their customers. If you're young and need a place to take a date, this is the place for you. read more

Disneyland for adults! I came to Boxcar twice last weekend and I wasn't sure what to expect when I first came in, but everything ended up blowing me out of the water. Parking can be a little tricky here since it is a popular area, but we found a nice free spot close by. Score! We came on Saturday night, but there was no line to get in. We just showed our ID and we were in. Pro Tip: If you Check In using the Yelp app they will give you four free tokens. I got my friends to check in to get some free tokens and then we went to exchange some cash for more tokens. I exchanged ten dollars worth of tokens and I was off. I went up to the bar with my group and I was pleasantly surprised by the prices. They had some good specials going on. It looks like these change from night to night, but it looked reasonable the next day when I came back too. Boxcar can get packed, but it does make for some fun. I went off with my friends to play some games and was overwhelmed by all the fun choices. We played Turtles in Time (harder than I remember), X-Men, Tekken, The Simpsons, Aliens, Terminator, and Area 51 to name a few. We put in quite a few tokens beating some of these games, but it was worth it. They also have a Dance Dance Revolution unit that looks straight from Japan. I played my friend head to head for three songs and just edged her out. My score was a little lower than I expected and that brings me to my only real gripe at Boxcar. Some of the buttons on certain consoles are non-responsive. For example, when playing The Simpsons I struggled because Homers buttons don't always work. I had to switch characters. When playing X-Men one of the buttons didn't work so I couldn't do much my first go around until I switched spots. Now I have no idea how easy or hard it is to fix these units, but that was a bit annoying. There are tons of other fun aspects here though. They have old school Nintendo 64 in the back and I played some Mario Kart 64. I still got my mojo as I got my first place finishes. I think you can ask an employee to switch out the games. They also had a Super Nintendo, but we were all set with Mario Kart. It can get pretty loud and crowded, but people are friendly and you will have tons of opportunities to join or get joined. Playing video games with others really is a great way of making friends. Tons of strangers jumped in while trying to defeat Magneto or when I tried to kill some evil aliens in Area 51. This place is dog friendly, which is cool, I like dogs. It can get a bit hot, but you can dress low key. This place is a must visit spot. I cannot wait to return. read more

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Cool place to hang out with friends on a weekend. It can get packed but it's still fun. I like the variety of drinks and it's a nice spot to take someone on a date. read more

Went to Boxcar while waiting out the rain for a concert. Great time of games and drinks!!

Fun place to play some arcade games and skee ball in a bar environment. Lots of college kids and very loud. read more

Boxcar Bar + Arcade - Games! - Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina