Very fun bar with live music and a nice vintage game selection. Lots of cocktail and beer options, a little pricey but there are a couple of more affordable options as well like a $5 beer option. You play the games with quarters/tokens from a machine. Most games are 1-2 tokens per play and pinball is 4. They also have a selection of card and board games. They were busy on a Friday night in February and they had candy out for Valentine's Day. We had a lot of fun and considered going two nights in a row. read more

The Archives - Connect four and trivia games - Arcades Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

The bartender was pretentious and rude. I have never given a review on any platform, so this should speak for itself.

Awesome atmosphere, welcoming service, very clean, all kinds of games lots of pinball and to top it off SpongeBob was playing in the background. Of course the drinks were great too. read more

Cool place to have a few drinks and play some games. Nice pinball machines which change occasionally. Good help, usual dark bar but seems clean. read more

Great cocktail and beer selection. Well drinks cost ~$9-10 so not the cheapest, but good quality wells in my opinion. The bartender was very nice and friendly. Lots of arcade games to play if you're into that but nice ambiance to just chill at the bar as well. read more

Where else can you eat and play pinball to your hearts delight?! Awesome spot to chill. Bring a friend!

My absolute favorite bar in Burlington! They have a wider selection of arcade games (pinball, classic cabinet games, shooters) than most arcades and barcades, but that's not the only thing Archives has to offer. The bar has a sophisticated and chill ambience that gives almost a speakeasy-type vibe and the bartenders are always extremely friendly and attentive. To top it off, they have a vast selection of delicious (and fairly cheap) local beers and exceptional cocktails. My go-to is either a Hill Farmstead Edward or a Tanquerey negroni to sip on while I explore their games and feed my nostalgia. NOTE: they clear the high scores on each game every day so you may get a nice confidence boost seeing your score in the top 3. read more

The Archives - Tanqueray negroni - Arcades Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

The "barcade" has been a stable of "cool" (and even un-cool) lower 48 cities for... a while now. As is custom, we still don't have one in Anchorage, or even Alaska. While this isn't anywhere near as good as my all-time favorite, which would easily be UP-DOWN in Kansas City (KC is a cool city, BTW, if you don't believe me go visit yourself!): https://www.yelp.com/biz/up-down-kansas-city It's still a pretty solid representation of arcade games. The games here are probably most heavily-concentrated from the early 80's to the mid 90's. Gen-X and geriatric Millennials are most likely to have the maximum 'memberberry load, but there really is something for everyone here. My favorite is always the Konami X-MEN game. They have the awesome double-screen, 6-player version here. My only complaint is that the CRT screens don't exactly match so it can create a lot of eye-strain. The other thing that made me sad is that, I dropped in on a team 3 players, to help battle the forces of Magneto and...the other patrons seemed...almost annoyed? Maybe that's more just a Burlington cultural thing though. Definitely no fault of this space! As with just about everywhere else in Burly, beer selection was strong! read more

Arcade bar in downtown Burlington with a super cool vibe. They have a long bar in the center and then arcade games all around. We just went for a drink and they have really great cocktails. I got a vodka drink and it was delicious. Super chill bar and if you like games I would make a stop! read more

The Archives - Inside area - Arcades Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

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We were there on a Sunday afternoon when UVM was not in session. The bar had a nice vibe even though it was not crowded. The bartenders were polite and the games were great. It is a nice way to spend some time with some old school games, some drink and friends. read more

So much fun...bith new and old school video games and PINBALL!!! Woohoo! cant wait to go back. Drinks were ok, and Many to chose from. If you like the nostalgia of arcades as an adult! This is the go to place! ENJOY!!! read more

We have gone here a couple times as they make unique delicious drinks and playing the games is fun! Most games were working which is awesome as they are old and coins to play them are fair. Our bartender Thomas was beyond amazing at making us delicious drinks, laugh and going truly above and beyond to make our friends cold brew coffee something more to her liking! People don't do that these days and it was much appreciated! read more

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Really fun spot, with vintage games and a nice selection of beers. We got 2 delicious local ones- sip of sunshine, and one that was more of a sour beer. It's cool how they have tables in between the games for resting your drink. I think it would be cooler if they added some more games to the selection- such as a basketball one, a Simpson one (a personal favorite), or a Donkey Kong one. It's a little heavy on the pinball games (that being said, they're really cool, fun, machines- like a South Park one), and the fighter games. Who knows, maybe I'm just mad I kept losing to my boyfriend at the fighter games :/. read more

The Archives - Game - Arcades Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

When asking about a beer on tap we were offered samples. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. Had such a great time Friday night, we visited again on Saturday. read more

This was a fun place to play some retro games and enjoy some artfully created cocktails! I had the F'in Vodka Drink and it was delightful- I could've put back three or four of those if I wasn't careful! We got $15 of tokens (each token is slightly less than a quarter) and we ended up spending almost 2 hours there playing games! Some favorites were pinball, Tetris, marble madness, and Galaga. We'll look forward to coming back here next time we're in Burlington! read more

So lemme guess: you're not feeling upscale tonight, and even though the craft brewery scene in Burlington is rather awesome sauce, that whole vibe doesn't appeal, either. Something about drinking more than a couple cold ones surrounded by college kids, nah, you're more about darker spaces, complex cocktails served by unpretentious mixologists, and some old school games and pinball. There's a bar like that in every decent size metro, and around here, it's The Archives. We weren't too worried about budget so the bill was hefty, but so were my drinks, and my honey had a couple lighter, fruitier concoctions, just perfect on a night when we were really swooning over this city. This is that local spot that, should the rest of town be smothered, you can still anticipate finding a seat somewhere. Oh, and the beer selection looked promising. And no food, but you can bring your own. read more

Great bar! Was here last weekend for a bachelorette party. Drinks are affordable and worth it! Definitely worth playing the games for something different. Nice service friendly staff! Would go again! It could have been cleaner but it is a bar and it only appeared to have 2-3 staff members on the floor. read more

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Cute little bar that's packed with a bunch of fun arcade games. We came here one night to grab a quick drink before going out in the area. The location of this is perfect, and it's pretty cool that they have so many games. It was busy since it was a Friday night, but we all had fun! read more

What a great spot! In town visiting and I went here twice. Great craft beer selection, and well made cocktails and good price. Great people and good vibe and nice pinball selection read more

Cool spot, the games take yah back to your arcade days, love it. Service is always good and the vibe is good.

Old school videos surround the amazing bar. Great cocktail menu and good beer selection. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. Cool vibe! read more

Best Cocktails in Burlington!!! Fresh and creative cocktails that are absolutely delicious!!! The arcade is just the added bonus. If you are looking for amazing craft cocktails this is the place to go!! Loved every cocktail they made for us. read more

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Really cool vibe! Love the ambiance and interior design with wood, concrete and brick. They have a bunch of beer choices and a full liquor bar. The have several tables seated outside in the shade. And the best part, plethora of cabinet arcade games and pinball. read more

The Archives - Bar - Arcades Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

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The Archives was hands down one of my favorite places on this trip. Located right in downtown Burlington, it's an arcade bar but with a classy twist as their cocktail menu is extensive and upscale. The bartender mixing our drinks was super attentive even when the place got busy, happy to suggest drinks and answered all of our questions. They have an extensive tap list as well. I had a frose since that seemed to be my drink of choice on this trip (see: Misuta Chow's). I also got a recommendation from the bartender to try the Peach emoji - I was worried it would be too sweet or too peachy, and it was neither. Instead, it was fruity without being cloying, and sophisticated. Watching the bartenders was so much fun - you can really tell they care about the craft of cocktails and put a lot of heart into making them. Note that the machines all take tokens so you'll need cash to exchange for tokens. We had fun playing a bunch of different games. One of the absolute best things about this arcade bar is that they have designated spots in between every single game to set drinks - genius. At the previous arcade bar, we had to switch off holding each other's drinks while the other person played. Small thing, but really well thought out. They don't have food besides one cheese plate so keep it in mind as these cocktails can pack a punch! Next time I'm in Burlington I'm definitely going back to The Archives. read more

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There were a lot of beverages to choose from, some comfortable and familiar, some crafty and new. Bartender was amazing!

A pretty awesome Barcade that's along Church Street. The Archives is a good mix between cheap, retro arcade games and craft cocktails, beers and food. The games a relatively cheap, which makes sense since they're pretty dated (although that's part of the fun), running about 25-50¢ per credit. Think of games like Pac-Man, The Simpsons or X-Men arcade. The beer list there was pretty extensive and included lots of local craft beers. I didn't order a cocktail or anything off of their unique drink menu, but some of my friends did and they were pretty happy. The selection of liquors behind the bar is pretty extensive so I bet that have whatever you're looking for. Would love to come back in the future to get some food along with my games. Definitely recommend anyone in town checking out, it's a great balance between trendy craft drinks and old school games. read more

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This is my first time here. I'm coming from VA. I cannot say I've tried the food, but I will say the service has been nothing but wonderful. The bartender named Skipper has made me feel welcomed and was very attentive. This place was clean and tidy (including the bathrooms). The GM was also welcoming and kind. read more

Cool arcade bar, great variety of rotating drafts and cocktails. Staff is always really helpful/nice -no food read more

This bar is so fun! They have an extensive tap/drink list. I have never been to an arcade bar, but this one seems better priced and more local than most commercial "barcades." Many of the games are super retro too read more

Been here a few times, great beer selection and even more creative cocktails. Play old school video games like Pac-Man & Galaha, or be a Pinball wizard. read more

The Archives - a triangular wooden structure on a brick wall - Arcades Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Stopped in to this bar for a quick drink while in town for an evening. We stopped in because the 'chill arcade bar' concept sounded like just what we needed for the night. Not only was it fun to play old arcade games but this was a top notch cocktail bar. We chatted with the bartender (can't recall his name, sadly) and he prepared us a ton of great drinks from their menu and a couple off menu items as well. I'd heard great things about swapping in Bar Hill Barrel Aged Gin for bourbon (not a bourbon fan. I know, I know.) and I was not disappointed. Overall great place to stop in. The atmosphere is laid back and the bartenders are extremely knowledgeable. read more

The Archives - Old Fashioned made with Bar Hill Tom Cat Barrel aged Gin - Arcades Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

It looked cool from the outside. I brought my covid vaccine proof on the EXCELSIOR app (App approved by places in nyc and elsewhere as proof of vaccination) because I don't just carry my vax card everywhere I travel. The bouncer said not good enough, I need the physical card, even with photo ID to go with it. When asked if this is a Vermont law he said yes and cautioned I wouldn't be able to get into any bar in VT without it. I walked 150 ft down the road and got in to fin Evan's with no issue, and the bouncer was far nicer. Not sure where bouncers get off on being unreasonable, but hey.. read more

Fun place for awesome cocktails and a great selection of arcade games. A fun way to spend a few hours if you are in Burlington.

Really cute little bar just a short walk off Church St. Tasty and creative cocktails along with some fun arcade games!! Friendly bar tender too :). read more

The Archives - Lonely Hearts Club - Arcades Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

An awesome bar nestled in the heart of downtown BTV. Great cocktails and beer list, quick service, great ambience, and the arcade games are extremely fun. I always try to go here at least once whenever I visit home. The only downside is the lack of food, but there are so many great restaurant choices downtown that this is a moot point. Great place to start or end your night bar hopping. read more

Whats not to like? - ARCADE GAMES. They work. They are fun. - DRINKS, big selection of beer. - COIN MACHINE, you can use your credit or debit card. If you don't like games, then the Archives is not for you. read more

Cool place. Great vibe. Good selection of games. Some machines broken as inebriated button mashers attempt to dominate childhood dreams. The biggest downfall here is the bar. 2 bartenders struggle to keep up with the mixed drinks. If the added another full bartender it would prob make their life easier and for a nicer experience. read more

A quirky arcade and beer bar which offers a wide selection of craft beers. My husband had the Society & Solitude #5 IPA, which was beautifully fruity, with hints of grapefruit. Would definitely recommend! read more

The Archives - Society & Solitude #5 IPA - Arcades Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

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It's very cool to have a barcade in downtown Burlington. They have a full bar, pinball and a ton of classic arcade games. Drinks are not cheap but if your living frugal they have your classic PBR. For those who like to indulge in fine spirits and mixtures they can surly accommodate. This is a great place to bring friends/family from out of town for something a little different. Currently, since they have just recently opened, nights have been super busy. The upside is during they day, it's pretty calm and you will have a better chance to get on that game you love and get better service at the bar. All in all, I'm happy this place opened. Come down and play a few games! read more

The Archives - Pinball - Arcades Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

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Great spot, tasty cocktails! We stopped in for a few drinks before a dinner reservation nearby. Bartenders were great and had good recommendations. We ordered 3 drinks each and enjoyed them outside. My favorite was the Lonely Hearts Club. No table service but it wasn't an issue going inside to order. We did not try them but they have arcade games and we'd definitely like to play them on a future visit. read more