Welcome back, Spacebar! I heard you were closed and recently re-opened, just in time to host the queer meetup at Treefort. Thanks for providing a fun, safe space for people of all types to hang out. This arcade is downstairs and hidden a bit. But once you find it, you'll be surrounded by intergalactic fun by way of neon lights and vintage arcade games. Drinks are tasty and bartenders are attentive. I'm glad to see the return of Spacebar! Cheers! read more

Spacebar Arcade - a crowd of people playing video games - Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

See all

Such a special place. I've been to two other vintage arcades, each designed in their own way. Portland, Oregon's Ground Kontrol and Santa Cruz, California's Beach Boardwalk. Spacebar is quaint in size, however mighty in function. Walking down the stairs into the room of tube TV's just blew my mind. A nice looking bar. I'm pretty sure they must have live bands on certain days? Bathrooms down the hall. You can't ask for more. The way this place works, is you use tokens to run the games. We had some cash on us and converted it into tokens. We played for a while and didn't spend much money. The arcade started to get busy as the evening encroached. Getting there early really makes a difference. Game on my friends. read more

This place is so cool! In the heart of downtown Boise. Underground bar. Loud, but good music. Bring cash unless you want to use the ATM to get tokens to play the games. You can use credit card for drinks, though. Only two unisex bathrooms, so there was always a line, which wasn't ideal. Big drink menu and they even have a budget section, which I was all about! $2 tecates and some $3 tall cans as of May 2021. Great deals! Games are kinda expensive in my opinion, but maybe that's just cuz I suck at arcade games, so they ended quickly. read more

Spacebar Arcade - Drink menu as of May 2021 (pic 1 of 2) - Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

See all

I've been to Boise before~ I loved it then and found myself loving it still. This place added on to that as it's an underground bar with a bunch of arcade games. It's not that big but there are a lot of old school games packed in. Bring cash! You'll need to exchange it for tokens. Price is fair with most games only costing one token (25¢). Everybody looked like they were having fun here and the bartenders were cool and willing to exchange your cash for smaller bills. read more

Spacebar Arcade - Ms. PAC-MAN - Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

See all

Fun, friendly and safe space until the music had wayyy too much profanity. Honestly it's just not necessary. We left. But there were some good video games from the 80s. read more

SpaceBar Arcade is a retro gaming paradise! The friendly staff, incredible selection of retro games, and amazing pinball lineup make it a must-visit spot. The neon lighting adds to the ambiance. Five stars for an unforgettable gaming experience! read more

See all

Had so much fun at this retro bar for a 50th birthday party! We really enjoyed playing all the arcade games from our teenage years and the service was great. read more

See all

Super fun yet funky barcade! The front staff are funny and make you feel welcomed. Colorful and cool lights filled with nostalgic games. Drinks aren't too pricey and would comeback to try others. Had such a blast with my friend! read more

This place has a great vibe, drinks are fairly priced and overall the games are pretty fun. The selection for arcade cabinets is pretty minimal but everything else is great. We were able to win the Spacebar Beanie but not the dildo sadly. We were also told this was the best priced magic cards in all of Boise read more

Spacebar Arcade - a black and white drawing of a man holding a baseball bat - Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Underground bar in downtown. Really good vibes here! Drink prices are not that bad at all! Drinks and arcade games! What could be better? People are nice, it's clean, they have a variety of drinks to enjoy and games too. read more

The vibes are immaculate at this underground Arcade bar in the heart of Downtown, Boise. Happy hours are Monday-Thursday: 4-6 PM Friday- Sunday: 12pm-6pm They serve a variety of beers, seltzers, and pre-mixed cocktails. They have a great selection of imported beers, the Asahi being one of my favorites. Of the pre-mixed cocktails, I really like are the Ginger Citrus Whiskey and the hibiscus lime + Gin. They don't serve any handmade cocktails but they are connected to Devil's Den by their shared unisex bathrooms. So, the lines for the bathrooms can get long but it's there if you need em'! On a few occasions with a large group here, I've gone between both businesses for cocktails or food while others stayed to play games. Spacebar has lots of cool arcade games to choose from- you'll catch me at the Super Mario Bros. or Pinball machines. They host quite a few different events here, I've seen a few local bands and DJs play and it's a really fun environment for live music. Of course, they also have different types of video/ arcade game nights. Such a fun spot - I highly recommend stopping by on your next night out in Downtown, Boise! read more

Please don't have your "bar" pull in the list of things to do with kids! I get you are a bar...however you might want to state 21 and over on your website as well as have a bouncer at the door then. I wish you would have at least reimbursed us for the tokens we bought (which we can't use now) So with economy so tight we wasted $7.00 in tokens.... read more

What a fun bar!!! If you like classic arcade games and alcohol this place is for you. One piece of advice though is but tokens sparingly because if you buy the buckets and don't end up using them all they will not credit your tab and let you return them. read more

We are from out of town and just walked in to check it out and have our newborn baby strapped to us and the guy at the bar was super rude. It's fine if you have a 21 and up policy but you don't have to be rude about it. He said oh you can take a look on your way out And then snickered with the people at the bar about us as we were walking out. Completely rude and will not be coming back when we have a babysitter. read more

Drinks are so cheap here. The atmosphere looks super cool. A bunch of old arcade games. It's a very cozy environment with lots of things going on. The entrance to the bar is pretty neat, you walk downstairs and on your way in, you're greeted with a bunch of lights and decor. read more

It's a cool place with some beers on tap nothing crazy wild and a bunch of retro games and pinball

I kind of love this spot. Great selection of pinball games. Free to play consoles. Reasonable drink prices. Hilarious claw machine (3 wins in 3 days). Definitely on my go to spots when I visit. read more

Spacebar Arcade - a row of slot machines - Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

This is such a fun spot! They have several pinball machines, arcade games, game consoles/games, and board games to choose from. A dj was playing great music, and trivia was going on when we arrived. The place was packed, but not too overwhelming. The drink menu consists of beer and cider, wine, and a couple cocktails. This an excellent spot for groups, friends, and couples. read more

See all

If you go to Yelp's home page on desktop/laptop and click on "bars," you'll find that (as of the date of this review, anyway) Spacebar Arcade is one of the top rated bars in Boise. So, upon noticing this one Saturday afternoon, I decided to investigate. You might find yourself wondering, what is an "arcade" bar? Can an arcade really be for adults? Well, let me ask you this: Are you the sort of adult who likes beer? (Postmodern Brewers Berliner Weiss on tap, yo!) Are you the sort of adult who enjoys vintage arcade games (preferably while drinking the aforementioned beer)? I'm talkin' Pac-man, Donkey Kong, Tron, Mario Bros, Frogger (yes! freakin' frogger!)? Are you the sort of adult who might like to play old school Star Wars pin-ball? Or Terminator? Or Spiderman? How about lounging on a sofa and playing a little classic NES (the original Nintendo Entertainment System for those not in the know)? Or hanging at a bar with big boxy TV's playing Pretty in Pink AND The Breakfast Club while the speakers rock what one patron (me) lovingly described as 80's roller rink jams? If any of the above remotely refers to you--come and geek the heck out! With me! Now! Let's go! Seriously, so vintage in every way, you'll feel just the tiniest bit rebellious swigging beer. Make the beer Pabst (which is also on tap) coupled with the fact that the Spacebar is located basement level and you may begin to feel all Nirvana Come as You Are and Smells Like Teen Spirit. What? Nevermind. Totally vintage and yet fresher than the Prince of Bel Air. Grab yourself $10 dollars in quarters, a beer, and a game. A cheap night of fun will ensue. High fives all around! (no fist bumps...they weren't invented yet) Get to it! read more

See all

Spacebar Arcade is a cool place to go to kill some time and do something a little fun late at night in downtown Boise. At 1 in the morning there isn't much to do except maybe wander around Walmart or go to Sheri's. The one thing that you probably want to be careful about is how many quarters you put into the video games. We made the mistake of popping a few quarters into Guantlet and ended up with infinity lives. This bar is really fun and has way more games to play than any other bar in Idaho. read more

Not open, were supposed to have opened in May, that didn't happen, then June, July, etc... They don't even know when they'll open up. Such a shame as this was a great place! Don't make the drive to downtown Boise if you were looking just to come to this place. read more

So ... this place is very cool. I great selection of retro video games and a nice, if small, pinball collection. I will start with that and I will visit it again. Reasonable beer selection and I love that it doesn't feel like Dave & Busters. Lol .... That said, there are a couple of issues that prevent a five star rating. Quite a few of the arcade and pinball games need to be on a more regular service and maintenance schedule. It does get frustrating to have controllers not respond appropriately. So, if you are looking for an old school game to set the all time high score on, it may be a bit of a let down. However, it's still a very fun bar to visit and I recommend it. read more

I don't drink but I love my classic arcade games. being able to come to a place to just relax and not be almost propagated to drink is very nice. The ambiance and decor is off the charts and the games are great classics collection with a few fun oddities in the mix. If I get the chance again, I would 100% come back. read more

There are a ton of differing opinions about Spacebar. So I guess I will throw my humble opinion out there as well. The location is great. Located in the best downtown ever. Its not hard to find but its downstairs and the setting is unique and quirky. We went to celebrate a birthday and the bartender was cool and gave us free stickers. The drink selection is OK. and the games were fun to play. Its a bunch of old school arcade games. I guess I can see how some people might not like the scene but for us it was perfect. good atmosphere good drinks good games. It was a really fun evening. read more

This place is pretty great! Sometimes you just want to get your game/gaming on and this is the place to do that. If you want to play scrabble with your nerdy, smart friend or maybe kick some butt at Mario Cart you sure are in luck. Maybe you feel like spending some serious quarters to hip check a pin ball machine and get a tilt error, you are for sure in luck! Come here!! This is a unique place to bring a friend to play some games!!!!!! Stacks and stacks of board games are available or videos games (new and old) are singing and dancing around the bar for you to play. The layout is sometimes a bit hard to navigate when it is packed and the drinks are pretty spendy but sometimes you have to just be a kid again and put up with it. It is always worth it and it will leave with a kid grin and fond childhood memories. No amount of crowding or over priced beer can ruin that! read more

After finishing your dinner downtown and before you embark on the ever frustrating game of "What should we do now?" "I don't know. What do YOU want to do", save yourself some time and just go to Spacebar. It is cool. Very retro, unpretentious and just. so. nostalgic. Not only can you play a wide array of stand up arcade games (HELLO Michael Jackson's Moonwalker!), you can also play board games or several types of console games. I always go for the N64 and Mario Kart, because it was the only game growing up where I could beat my brother. It gives me cheap thrills to beat my husband at it now. They only have beer and wine on tap, so beware of that if you're a liquor drinker. But the real reason to come here is the entertainment value. read more

Didn't like it at all. Can't see anything due to how dark it is Got kicked out for beating a guy's butt at Street Fighter. Place is full of Boomers who never picked up a Controller, Place is advertising Games that are Rated E and T for teen but don't let you in unless you're 21 which is stupid because Dave and Busters will let anyone in the Arcade. Lack of games how do you have an Arcade and have the Worst possible version of Street Fighter II (Championship Edition) *Vomits* and don't even have Marvel VS Capcom? Not Even House of The dead? Or even Time Crisis?? I understand they're on a "Budget" but at this point they look exactly like the Xbox side of gaming... which is they have no games or any that's even remotely interesting! P.S. fix your f*cking Mortal Kombat 3 machine you can't even move left or right wtf! Worst Arcade Ever! read more

This place is dope but half the name is Spacebar and the Bar is terrible. I had to pay almost 10 bucks for a canned drink and the receipt had "tip" the dude literally brought me a can. The Arcade is nostalgic and dope though, drink somewhere else but check this out while plastered read more

A really fun atmosphere! I haven't been to a bar where you were underground either so that was really fun! The games are great and the bartender was really friendly! read more

Do not go here if you want to have any fun. Female bartenders are so completely rude they feel free to call names and cuss at customers. Can you believe that's what they believe is customer service? Crazy Rude! Wish I could zero stars but I will give one star for games not the service. read more

This place is just so stinking awesome. Prior to Spacebar, I'd been to Insert Coins in Las Vegas, a really exemplary barcade. In some ways, I wish Spacebar would up their game (liquor license, cooler lighting [not necessarily brighter, mind you], food, some updated arcade games, etc.), but in some ways, the quaintness of this bar and its use of solely classic arcade games makes it almost more rad than any big-shot Vegas-type place. Here's what you get: dim lighting (necessary for any good bar or pizza joint, in my opinion); some cardboard cut-outs of Luke Skywalker; classic arcade games, including some excellent pinball, Rampage and Burger Time; a decent selection of beer (local and otherwise; on tap and in bottles / cans); the ability to have delivery food brought to you; booths for sitting with a group and checking out classic consoles, so you can play Mario Kart with your four best friends; a small comic book stand for purchasing fine literature. If you've never been, it's a freakin' hoot! Check it out! read more

What a fun spot. Nice to be able to play some games, trivia, have a drink or two. I do suggest earplugs, though. I couldn't even play the pinball because the speakers by them were so loud... and I spend a good portion of my time in clubs throwing events. It was still too loud for even my deaf ass. Definitely recommend this spot, though. I'll be back! read more

Fun but hoping to be able to hear the games. Dont get me wrong that's not the main focus of the place but would have loved to hear the new rush pinball i was very excited to play. But this is a really cool arcade bar! Will def go back as my wife really like this place and she hates games haha. read more

I've heard about this bar, and when the opprotunity came to check it out, I was very excited! I love game bars! I love old/new video games and watching Wreck-it-Raplh! We came in on a Tuesday night (so obviously no crowds) and got a real good feel for the place. My thoughts.... I love the fact that the games were not expensive. $10 in quarters can basically get you throuh the night of playing! Which is WAYYYYY cheaper than Dave&Busters. I love the fact that they have an awesome beer and wine menu. (NO food. So go when you're full) I love all the old games!! What else I thought... I didn't like how dark it was. Yes, I get that it's an arcade bar. But arcades are brighter an have decent lighting. I went to a Game Bar in Phoenix, and it was VERY bright. (Walls were yellow/red. Colored lights on the ceiling showcasing posters. Floor was Pacman themed. Lots of TVS with Consoles hooked up to them. Etc etc) The lighting in there is just...Blah. The concept of the bar hasn't gone far enough. The owner needs to step it up and take a bigger leap to "Level Up" the bar. I'd love to give him/he my ideas. Also, if there are is no food available, then at least they could have more beer on tap. Lastly, the "board game wall" looks like something a Preschool would have. It's just....there......It should at least extend the length of the wall to give the players (guests) a sense of connecting with the seating area. Overall, I'm going back and would like to make that place a regular stop. Staff was excellent, and we had a blast! I'm only doing four stars because of the theme. I'd give it five if the owner "levels up" his/her place. It can be done with not a lot of cost. read more

Spacebar Arcade - Love the menu. Especially Taps :) - Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Clean Barcade staff was very friendly, games all seemed in good shape, wish I could have stayed all day! read more

See all

Roadtripping down to California qe came across this gem. This is one of the best arcade bars I have been to! Some of the games were from my childhood and some were new games I hadn't even heard of (ahem... Harambe). The day I went I lucked out because they were celebrating their anniversary so all the games were free. Drink selection is good, but as a person who prefers ciders over beer I wish they had more cider options. read more

I went here last night and played a few games and had a beer. The beer selection was pretty good and the bartender was great. The venue is in a cool lower part of a building and has stone walls. They have a DJ and they have old school video consoles you can rent. Overall, a cool place to play a game and drink a beer. Also, it seems like the music here could be pretty good. read more

Can guarantee you won't come across anything like it anywhere else. Under new ownership by a long-time employee, the Spacebar is only getting better. Stop on in for a quick beverage or stick around for an evening with friends...plenty of beverages to choose from and a cool atmosphere. read more

Spacebar Arcade - If you like way back 80's arcade games, great beer and cider or just a cool place to hang out...try the space bar! - Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Stopped in on a Thursday night at 10:30pm. I was surprised that it was live in there! They had a DJ playing and everyone was having a great time. Definitely good vibes. I got a Park City draft American Ale and played some pac man. I genuinely had a good time. The only reason I gave it 4 stars were these reasons: One, the place itself was too small to withstand the amount of people in the small areas, I hope they move to a bigger place in the future because it's actually a very cool place that I definitely see growth and potential. Two, the games were a little slow, they maybe need to be maintained a little better. Third, adding craft cocktails to their menu would be amazing; currently they only have wine and beer. Other than that, cool little spot to grab a beer, listen to some music and play some old school arcade games. read more

Spacebar Arcade - Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Back again! Actually living in Boise these days & Space Bar wins again. I just really dig this place & what it offers. It does get buys but it's always a great crowd. I can't wait for more nights here. read more