This place is great for adults! They offer different and delicious drinks and a bunch of classic arcade games. Not to mention Roxy's Grilled Cheese in the front room, which serves the most decadent grilled cheese sandwiches you will find. I highly recommend this, especially for a date. Enjoy! read more

I was hesitant after reading initial reviews, but I should have known better. Most of the negative reviews complain about wait time, drink prices, etc., but I found both to be pretty standard for Boston area nightlife. Great selection of games and plenty of seating for when you just want to socialize. Two bars makes for faster drink service and thus, a happier me! We came by on a Tuesday night after work around 6. When we first arrived, it was pretty quiet, but by 6:30 the place was filling up. Service was fantastic, no matter where we were bopping around playing games, our server managed to find us and keep us well hydrated and well fed. The Rainbow Road was my favorite cocktail, it tasted just like sour patch watermelon and was a gin base, so basically my two favorite things. The truffle fries were great (Roxy's never disappoints) and overall we had a really fun night. We will definitely be coming back. I recommend arriving early so you can spend your night here having fun! read more

The bouncer confiscated my real US passport by taking it from my hands and putting it in his pocket. I had to call 911 and receive police intervention to get my documents back. I was unlawfully detained by the bouncer and he was not fired, however the manager told me I am banned for making a scene. read more

Such a cool place! The arcade games are great. You have to buy their tokens, and you can buy them by the $5 amount. The only down side is that some of the game automatically time out and make you put more tokens in, even if you're doing well. The grilled cheese - phenomenal and comes out fast and hot. Favorite was the caprese grilled cheese. Would come here again just for the grilled cheese! The tiki drinks are not worth it - aside from the cool jar they come it, there isn't that much actual drink in it. Stick to their beers. Line was long, but I imagine it will cool down eventually. read more

Business in the front, party in the back! In the front is your standard Roxy's Grilled Cheese (which actually has an AMAZING fried chicken sandwich) where the crew cranks out healing comfort mals when you need that hit of grease. In the actual arcade, there are 2 bars that serve game-inspired drinks, as well as Roxy's menu. Classic arcade machines that rotate occasionally, shuffleboard, and skeeball fill the room. Good place to practice Hoop Fever (trick is to have a drink or two first). It does get a little crowded on the weekends, but there are some tables and seated areas if you want to take a break. One can really see the care and attention to detail the staff has put into this place. Much appreciated! read more

So. Much. Fun. Tucked away behind a freezer door at Roxy's, A4cade features arcade classics like Skee Ball, Ms. Pac-Man, and Mortal Kombat. The drinks are super interesting (the Rainbow Road is a sugary and candy-like rollercoaster of fun) and for $5 per 20 tokens, you can relive your childhood while also being appreciative of your adult ability to drink cocktails. Or not. I don't know your life. read more

This place is AWFUL. I came here with three of my friends on a Thursday for a fun chill night. We got our Ids checked at the door, then our IDS checked at the bar and the FOR A THIRD TIME standing next to an arcade game. It was absolutely ridiculous and the guy was so rude about carding us even though all of us were 21. The service here was extremely unprofessional and I felt as if my friends and I were targeted because we didn't fit the "vibe". The guy kicked us out because he thought we were lying then neglected to let us finish our drinks or us our tokens that we had just purchased. With all that said, I will never be coming back here. Not fun and a complete waste of money with asshole staff. read more

Stopped by to check out the new hot spot, have to say very impressed. I had a few cocktails which were yummy , anytime I see Pimm's in a drink makes my English heart happy . Tyler on the bar made me very welcome and the high life's were flowing. Special mention to their GM Jessica who went above and beyond to help me find my coat after someone moved it while I was absorbed in a video game . Cheers all was a blast read more

I've been wanting to head out to A4cade ever since it opened and I finally got to go last week. The concept is really cool and the way that they have it set up as a speak-easy is a lot of fun. My friend and I got our IDs checked and headed into the back. Since it was a Monday, there was no line out the door and the arcade wasn't packed, though there were a fair number there. Still, it was pretty loud and though we were sitting in a corner seat next to each other, we still had to talk loudly and repeat things multiple times. I can't imagine it on a Saturday! The food and drinks that we ordered were good, especially for what they were (grilled cheese, a hot dog, long drink, and cocktails). West Coast (veggie) Dog - this was honestly the best veggie dog I've had, and I can't say whether or not that was because it was smothered in all things holy (gouda sauce, justin's sauce, caramelized onions, and pickles + the ketchup I added). Word of warning, this is definitely a knife and fork affair. And to those who are aghast at the thought of eating a hot dog with silverware, I tried without, it's impossible with this dog unless you want cheese sauce down your shirt. For cocktails we had: The Worst Drink Ever - Really refreshing and the addition of the shrub was nice (totally getting onto that bandwagon) and I love cranberry. I typically dislike sweet cocktails and this, though on the sweet side, was balanced out by the citrus and tartness. Bramble On - This cocktail was good, but really hitting my borderline on sweetness (again, not a huge fan of tiki/overly sweet cocktails). There was however a good balance between the citrus and blueberry flavours, plus the presentation was nice with mint and whole blueberries. The Szechuan pepper was subtle, but definitely noticeable and left a pleasant tingling sensation on the lips/tongue (not overpowering at all) One of the main issues we found was with the service. When we tried to order drinks and food, our waitress took our drink order and as we started to put forward our food order she had already turned and walked away. We then tried to catch her attention and order (since we were really hungry), but she said we had to wait for our drink order to come first, which we found to be and odd rule. read more

I enjoyed my time at Roxy's/A4cade. They have a great selection of arcade games, fun and tasty cocktails, friendly staff, plus famous Roxy's grilled cheeses. I am happy that they've opened up in the MIT area neighborhood and are contributing to making it a more active nightlife scene. However, despite the unique concept and menu, they still have several kinks that need to be worked out. First, I had approximately six tokens get eaten by arcade games. Even though it only amounts to a dollar fifty, it's frustrating, and then you have to decide whether to potentially waste another token or wait for a different game, since almost everything is in use. Second, there's no good system for dining vs. stuff storage. After playing and drinking for a while, I wanted to sit and eat. There were several tables where no one was sitting but coats and bags cluttered the table. When I asked a server about it he explained that he believed they had ordered something but gone to play games and he couldn't move their items. While I understand that, tables should be for diners, not coats. Third, when we did find a spot to sit (at the bar) we ordered two sandwiches, fries and a couple of drinks. The sandwiches and drinks arrived promptly but the fries were nowhere to be found. After waiting a few minutes, and the reminding a bartender two times, they finally arrived...after we had finished our food and wanted to go play games again. I don't want to fault A4cade too much as it is a very busy place and it has only just opened. However I hope they can make a few improvements because with them, this place could become an easy favorite for many Cambridge-ites, including myself. As it stands, I'm glad I visited but I think I'll steer clear for a little while. read more

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Really nice and fun place to go! We almost missed it, since it's literally inside Roxy's through another door and you're in. Staff was friendly, wide variety of beers, all the games are paid except for one between the bars that's free! Roxy's Classic and Truffles French fries were my excellent choice of the night! read more

Roxy's Arcade - My favorite wall near the bar :) - Arcades Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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You know a place is worth it when you're willing to stand outside in ballet flats without socks in single digit weather without gloves, a proper beanie, a Canada Goose coat, or a flask of Fireball waiting for some faux punk MIT undergraduates to filter out because it's 9:00 at night and past their bedtime. You know a place is worth it when while you're in line, craving something warm, like a fireplace, or a your mom's crockpot chicken and dumplings, someone from the Roxy's comes around with small cups of pipping tomato soup - tomato soup as velvety, and rich as a Cambell's tomato soup with a dollop or more of heavy cream. You know a place is worth it when once you're inside, you're greeted by 6 functioning pinball machines and myriad other arcade games with cupholders on the side so you have somewhere to put your beer, wine, or hard liquor concoction while you play PacMan or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Donkey Kong (speaking of...does anyone actually know how to play the arcade version of Donkey Kong? Anyone?) You know a place is worth it when you go back a few weeks later, and you go back with a sack of tokens you got during your first (or second?) go round and plunk them into Revolution X - the Aerosmith game- just to experience the Sweet Emotion (see what I did there!?!?) of blasting away those New Order twerps. You know a place is worth it when you can order fries sopping in some sort of silky, gouda sauce and covered with a bucketful of crispy, crunch, crackling bacon bits, and which releases just a hint of truffle upon contact with your tongue; and a triple cheese grilled cheese that seductively oozes with expertly blended tangy Vermont cheddar, rich munster, and smooth fontina trapped between two perfectly buttered, perfectly crips, perfectly golden triangles of toast. You know a place is worth it when blowing bubbles in your cocktail (while doling out coquettish glances) is a perfectly acceptable way to show your appreciation for the bartenders' hard work, and giddiness at the strikingly handsome gentleman occupying the barstool immediately to your right. read more

Came here last Saturday around 9PM-- what a cool bar. Not exactly the most secret speakeasy in town (given away by the 30 person line out front), but I do love the Roxy's front. Line moved fairly quickly and we were inside within 20 minutes. Once inside, I really appreciated that the bouncers kept the place from becoming too crowded. We were served quickly and ordered cocktails and tequila shots. I got "The Worst Drink Ever" which was sufficiently strong yet tasted like a fruit punch. Loved that all the drinks are served with some sort of colorful straw or heart-shaped swizzle stick. The bartenders were friendly and prompt, even though it was a bit tough to flag one down while at the standing tables. A definite five stars for the decor-- the entire place is bright and colorful without looking too juvenile or flashy. I love that they place animated kids movies on the large TVs above the bar. Can't comment much on the arcade games as we didn't play any but I love the option and that this place feels like a welcome alternative to traditional Boston bars. I'll be back! read more

I just left the establishment after my friend was told that his Pakistani passport was an unacceptable form of ID. When asked if an American passport would suffice, the bouncer said yes. He then said "He doesn't even have a valid visa" before stating that because of that it had to be fake. His vast experience with passports was questioned and no response was given except for a wonderful stutter. I've lived in Boston for 6 years and have never seen anyone question the validity of his passport. I cannot accuse the shift manager of anything but listening to his security guard, but it was clear from the moment my friend identified himself, he was nothing but appalled at the idea that he could let someone like my friend in. The establishment could only accuse us of getting "loud" after reacting to the clearly discriminatory behavior of their security guard. read more

Roxy's Arcade - The security guy on the left. - Arcades Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Went here for my birthday and had a blast. I parked a little down the street and walked there. When you walk into the grilled cheese place there was someone there who asked for our ID. Then you walk through the doors and go through a freezer door. When you walk in there's games everywhere and the bar is located in the back. The drinks are kind of expensive, but one of the guys working there made my drink really well. They have an Xbox at the bar which I love. I got an order of poutine which was SO GOOD. I didn't get to play many games, but their selection of games is awesome. read more

The inside is full of good cocktails, beer that isn't too expensive, and plenty of fun games. Pros: Good crowd of people. It's not your typical bro-bar. This is where the nerds go. Awesome games. Cons: You need to buy tokens to play the arcade games from the bar, along with everyone trying to get their drinks. That line. I waited 30 minutes to get in on a Friday night. read more

Had heard about this place from other friends on Yelp. Usually go to Dave and Busters for arcade games, however, this place beat every standard. Reasonable drinks and food from Roxy's Grilled Cheese! A4cade offers old school gaming using tokens rather than quarters and cards. Loved seeing the old school and new pinball machines and being able to Cruise Exotica while taking some time for old school skee ball. Will definitely take the T ride back out for this secret freezer gem! read more

Roxy's Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Awesome spot. Got there a few minutes before it opened on a Sunday, and there was a line. However, the manager (who seemed like a cool guy) came out, spoke a few words about the arcade, and then we were quickly escorted in. Inside a magical 90s world exists, complete with 90s arcade games (Ninja Turtles, Ms. PacMan, Tetris, Mario, Simpsons, NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, pinball machines, skeeball, and basketball to name a few...). They had music & movies playing in the background. You can purchase tokens, food, and drinks with any of the staff members... even while playing games. Which is super convenient when Leonardo is kicking Shredder's... anyway, the only downside to that is when you are ready to check out, you need to find the person who you gave your credit card to. Also, the place can get congested. People may hog machines, and it may be hard to get around in some places due to the crowd, but is to be expected, especially opening week. One specific thing I would suggest is fixing some of the machines (NFL Blitz comes to mind), as a couple times my coins were eaten without play. In terms of the food, the Rosemary fries that we got were great, but they offer so much more (grilled cheeses, sandwiches), and beers and fun cocktails. They have tables to sit at, as well as seats at 2 different bars. Overall, this place is absolutely amazing. I love Area Four the restaurant, and I think this is an exciting and fun concept that they have created with Roxy's. Will certainly be back. read more

Speakeasy entry, classic video games and pinball, killer chicken sandwiches and tater tots, and classic pop culture decor. I'm hooked! (Crowded at night, so come earlier in the day if you want your space.) read more

Arrived at 6:30 on a Friday and had to wait about 30 minutes to get in. You have to buy your tokens from a bartender or server. I got my drink no problem but the bartender forgot to bring me my tokens like I asked and then gave me a dirty look when I reminded him I had paid for them. They have a wide selection of games from skeeball to Pacman. Despite the crowd I was able to play every game I wanted to since a lot of people seem to just choose to drink. You're better off eating beforehand unless you don't mind standing since seating is pretty limited. Despite the limited seating and the unfriendly bartender, I will eventually be back. read more

Absolutely love this place! Truly a hidden gem. To get to this location you have to go through Roxy's. There are two bars in this arcade location and the staff is nothing but friendly. The food was really good and fresh. They have a total of 6 pinball machines and my husband and I were hooked. They have some old school games as well as some recent games you can play in at the bar. read more

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DUDE on the street, to me, as I walk pass the short line at Roxy's/A4cade at 7pm on a Saturday: "Hey-- do you know what Roxy's is?" ME, one bottle of wine deep: "Why, yes, I do, sir! In the front, it is a humble grilled cheese eatery. In the back, it is a speakeasy arcade, offering not one, but TWO bars, serving an assortment of interesting cocktails, beer, wine, and snacks, in a setting surrounded by vintage arcade games, including that one where you (*motions, poorly, at how one might shoot a basketball*) throw the ball into the thing!" DUDE AND LADY, in unison: "Wow, do you work there or something?" ME, still one bottle of wine deep: "Nope! Just a local who hangs out in bars too much. And if you're thinking of going, you should check it out sooner rather than later, because the line is only going to get longer. It's kind of a scene. Worst comes to worst, you can get some good grilled cheese out of it.." DUDE, as I'm walking away and he thinks I'm out of earshot: "Wow. I could NOT have picked a better person to ask." Not all heroes wear capes. That eavesdropped snippet, my friend, is all the thanks I need. read more

We came here on a rainy Friday night at 8:30 and there were about 10-15 people ahead of us. The line was pretty slow and it took about 45 mins for us to get in. It was a cool place behind Roxy's Grilled cheese. The arcade machines were oldfashioned and crowded with people. For 5 dollars you get 20 coins. The wine is about $9-11 for a small glass so more economical to stick with beer. I love metal slugs!! read more

Really cool concept/bar although they lack variety with their beer selection. Overall a really fun place to be read more

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super cool spot with good drinks! there's a $5 cover (you can use cash or card) and a token machine to play the games, which are pretty affordable! read more

Being apart of something secretive makes everybody feel special in some sort of way, which is part of the appeal of walking into the bar/arcade in the back of Roxy's in Central Square. Though it may not be technically hidden, to enter you go through a double set of doors then a pseudo commercial fridge door to end up in ever 80's and 90's kid dream. It is, however, possible that you just waited in a line going down the sidewalk for this not so secret entrance. More amusement does come when the door opens, and you enter a room filled with old school arcade games, cartoon network and MTV classic on tv screens, and toxic by Britney spears playing in the background. To add to this feeling of being a kid once handed a menu it's filled with grilled cheeses, hamburgers and fries. Admittedly different is if you flip to the back of the menu it probably is not quite what you drank as a kid as it is 10-14 dollar cocktails and a limited beer option. I was happy to see they had two beers on tap, each coming from well-known local breweries, lamplighter and night shift. One of the more interesting of the drinks, by concept not flavor, is what I had. It was an American lager, made in Japan, and 100% malt. I have no idea how that works but it was $6. But drinks aside, let's go back to feeling like a kid, I ordered the grilled cheese, which was an instant throwback because it was of the same quality I made when I was a kid. Given, I didn't like avocado till I was 16 and my sandwich did include that. Also on my sandwich, was some overcooked bacon that provides a little more crunch than I wanted, but it was well combated by the gooey cheese and creamy avocado spread that was probably the highlight of the sandwich as it had a surprising amount of flavor and just the right amount of seasoning. The food was mediocre at best, but honestly, the food isn't what draws one to go to this hidden barcade but rather it is the atmosphere. All in all, it was well worth the experience, and I would go back, but if grilled cheese is what I am craving I am making it at home before and saving $7. Well maybe more like $6 as the avocado was an admittedly good touch. read more

If I could give this place zero stars I would. Bouncer checked my ID and claimed it was faulty I asked if he could call the officials to run my Social Security and he didn't like my tone so he kicked me and my friend out... what a waste of time don't come to this bar. It's empty anyways ... I'm from out of town and just wanted a good time and a place to spend my good hard cash... sucks I had to endure this disrespect. He also refused to give me his name because of how embarrassed he was This was on 6-Nov-2019 so if corporate is reading this fire that low life read more

So much fun!!! Excellent drinks and great time! Walking in through the freezer was so fun!

The Good: Fun drinks Fun games Finally a place to go for more than just drinking and watching people drunkenly break it down on the dance floor. The Bad: You'll wait in line Drinks are overpriced ($10 for a hard cider...really??) Games are pricey too (have to buy certain numbers of tokens, but games require 3-4 tokens per go, so it adds up quickly). read more

Literally the best place on earth, such a fun concept. An arcade/bar downstairs and a grilled cheese place upstairs (gf bread and vegan options ). Not to mention, the drinks were amazing and reasonably priced. They had good and fun music, and I can't wait to come back here. read more

Great place for a friends night or or date night, it's something for every occasion! They drinks are strong (watch out for the frozen ones!) and the beer selection has something for everyone. The price for tokens isn't outrageous making your night both fun and cost effective! read more

Came here for games and drinks one night. Definitely would not come back if not for the drinks. arcade is small and the games are not special. Some of the games are used as tables for seating so our food was taken away and stored elsewhere while we were taking a break from eating and playing games. While sitting back down and catching up, we were asked to move again by a group who wanted to play the same game. Not a major thing as we probably should've sat somewhere else, but not the most ideal situation. I'd just say be mindful if you're going to drink/eat there! Extra star for the bartender. He was fun, kind and the drinks were good! Definitely recommend going for an adult night out! read more

Really fun place to go. They have all the classics such as skeeball, pop a shot, TMNT, pinball and a huge bonus is free shuffleboard. The bar is really accessible and the grilled cheese are all pretty solid. Only downside here is that the line can get long during prime hours and their 'max capacity' is a little crowded however everyone is typically courteous and don't stay on a game for too long. read more

Had so much fun at this bar. It's hidden behind a grilled cheese shop. There was a short line outside when we went on a Saturday night, but the wait was not long at all. I would say 10 minutes tops. Once inside, you make your way to the back of the restaurant through what looks like cooler/freezer doors and it opens up into a huge bar/arcade. You buy packs of gold tokens from the bartender that you then use to play the games. I was so impressed with the cocktails here. Since it is a kitschy, 90s themed bar, they would be able to get away with well drinks and beers, and fall back on the fact that people will come for the arcade games, but they have done the exact opposite. Not only are the bartenders mixologists creating delicious and unique drinks (all with fun, 90s inspired names), but the presentation takes it to another level. From fun garnishes to cool cups based on the drink you order, the cocktails in and of themselves are an experience. The crowd was a mix, but definitely skewed younger since it is in a college town. However, I would recommend this to groups of friends (of any age), or a couple looking for a fun date night activity. read more

Roxy's Arcade - Bar area on a Sunday night - Arcades Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Definitely a fun place to hang out. The food and drinks are good, but probably not the reason you'd come here. The best part of the drinks are the fun cups, decorations they arrive with. They have a good selection of arcade games, but you're likely to quickly run out of coins ($5 for a cup of around 25?). Each game can cost anywhere from 2-4 tokens. Not the most cost efficient for a night out. It can also be very crowded when at full capacity. Entrance line is usually a 10-15 minute wait on weekend nights. read more

Enter through Roxy's for a gateway to a time suck (in a good way!). You enter through the door and are greeted by lights, sounds, and nostalgic images, all vying for your attention. You can easily spend hours in here playing the various arcade games and drinking their delicious cocktails. And if you're feeling nippy, they're paired up with Roxy's so you can get some grilled cheese in between games of pinball. I can also recommend the poutine tatertots which are to die for. Games range from classics like Donkey Kong, to racing Mario Kart, to an XBox hooked up to Fortnite. They have a little something for everyone. This becomes obvious on a Saturday afternoon when they get packed to the max and you have to elbow your way to the 4-man Pacman table. A4cade makes a great afternoon of enjoyment and also a great date idea for those who are looking for something other than run of the mill dates. read more

My friends and I were in the area on a Sunday and we decided to check out this arcade, which is located through Roxy's. There was no line, though there were a fair amount of people inside the arcade. We grabbed a few beers from the nice selection that they have and bought some tokens, which were on the expensive side considering how many tokens the games gobbled up per play. Overall, the atmosphere is great to hang out and have some fun, but the drinks and tokens can run you a couple bills for sure. read more

Roxy's Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

So much fun!! I discovered this place on the Off The Beaten Path Food Tours Central Square Food & Mural Arts Tour... wow! I mean, really! The guide was cool in that he explained all the details from the place -- look up and you'll see a Pac-man ceiling, the bar has a Tetris shelving unit, and there's Mario all around the walls. I love skee ball (wish there were more) -- so that was awesome as well. I can't wait to come back. The only pet peeve is it's not for under 21 guests so I can't bring my cousins who are at MIT nearby, but I really enjoyed it and also the Roxy's grilled cheese which was phenomenal. Cannot wait to come back. read more

Just copying my review from Facebook: I don't write reviews unless I absolutely loved a place or completely loathed a place, unfortunately this one was the latter. We had a party of 20 or so for a birthday party. All of us were waiting in line waiting to get in (30 minute wait on Friday at 9:15pm) when we were told none of us were allowed in. This was due to one member of our party having half a nip (of alcohol) on them. Once we were told we were not allowed entry, the person with said nip and their significant other parted ways as to not cause issues and left for the nigh to go home. I then told security the perpetrator in this scenario had left for the night and we were still not allowed entry due to "it looks bad on the rest of your group". I want to make it clear NO ONE was rude, loud, or creating a scene. The nip was found and given over immediately with no hassle, and everyone kept to themselves. I also want to make it clear I understand public drinking laws, and what this person did was against the law. However, when called out, this person admitted guilt, handed over the drink, and left accordingly. For the rest of us to be not allowed entry is asinine. I could understand if there wasn't a bar inside and it was meant for children, but not allowing entry for having already drank when there is a bar inside is ludicrous. TLDR: if you are drinking ahead of time make sure the bouncer can't tell at all, or you will not be permitted inside. The behavior conducted by security /management at this establishment was by far some of the worst I have ever seen. read more

Enjoy it for what it is. Drinks and games for the nostalgic masses.