This is a really fun arcade bar. Pretty crowded on a random Tuesday night, which is probably a sign that arcade bars aren't going anywhere anytime soon. They have a great beer selection. And food options are limited to the essentials: Pizza and salads. As for games, there's plenty to choose from, including vintage favorites, shooters, fighters, beat-em-ups, Skee-Ball and, the crown jewel of arcade bars, Killer Queen. Really excited to try out Killer Queen, as I'd read articles about it and have heard friends rave about it. Guess what, it's really fun! We hopped in on a few rounds with some regulars who showed us the ropes. After a few hiccups, our team won like eight rounds in row. Definitely play this if you get a chance! Up-Down even has league nights and hosts tournaments for this game. Overall, a great arcade bar. Games were in good working oder. They had Killer Queen. And Skee-Ball. Plus lots of beer and pizza. read more

Up-Down - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

Everything you want in an adult arcade. Tons of old-school machines from Ninja Turtles to X-Men along with numerous pinball machines and even older school 8-bit games like dig-dug and frogger. Every machine takes the same token which can be purchased at the bar or from machines, so no worries about how many quarters you have or machines taking different amounts. Pretty much every machine has a place to put down your drink, and plenty of tables and bar area to relax in between games. The bar has an extensive draft list and nightly specials. There is an outdoor space, but its closed in the winter. Overall a great place to hang out, spend an hour or 4 with friends. read more

Let me start it off with how much fun I had, it was great, loved it, it was a tad crowded but that's a givin with a good bar but on the other hand I asked one of their employees for a picture with my girlfriend and he said only if I get a tip... personally I find that disrespectful and makes me sad... a fun venue like this they should never treat someone who spent $160+ on the night. I'm Not sure why they employ someone who would do that.. so long story short venue is great and fun but the staff lacks respect. EMPLOYEES Name is Erik read more

How can anyone NOT like Barcades? You can drink AND play games. The ultimate dream imo. The selection of beer is ridiculous. The amount of pinball machines is nice. The vintage video machine games is awesome. Killer Queen is THE BEST. Some background: "The world's only 10-player strategy game. Two teams, each led by a powerful Queen, face off to be the first to bring the giant snail god home, fill their hive with nectar, or execute a triple assassination of the enemy Queen." Sounds confusing, but after a few games you'll become a pro. Beer AND games. Awesome. Did I mention they have Nintendo on the big screen? read more

See all

Where do i even begin...I used to come here almost every night after work/school, before COVID and moving farther away. I absolutely loved the place. EVERYTHING IN THIS PLACE IS NOW COMPLETELY BROKEN. Both Hydro Thunder cabinets are out of order, the joysticks on almost every single arcade game are totally worn out and sticky/drifty to the point of being unplayable, the ABV on at least one item on their drink menu is incorrect (and when i pointed it out to the not-at-all-busy bartender at like 5 PM i was met with a vaguely passive-aggressive "yeah it probably is" before she walked away), they replaced the N64 with a Gamecube that has maybe 2 working controllers, the already overpriced pizza is even more overpriced now, and i guess the old mix of 80's and 90's pop, rock and hip-hop was too retro or edgy or something, because what finally drove me away was them seemingly playing an entire Fallout Boy album, or maybe it was one FB song and then an hour of identical sounding bands, i don't know or care. This was like the only bar i ever actually enjoyed going to, but i can't imagine coming back any time soon. read more

So your hanging out with your 20 and 30 something guy friends and thinking to yourself...hmmm you know what tonight needs...to see what these guys were like in their childhood! Take them here! This place is where every guy born in the 70s and 80s just goes crazy with their youth represented with all the booze they could imagine. And lets be real here, it is quite comical to watch your friends all start to gloat about how great they were "back in the day" then a few drinks in and something happens...they become more competitive! Anyways, this is the perfect combination for any of the millennial adults to have some great times. Now if only they could have a barber in house to provide the quintessential bowl cut at a moments notice...that would be perfection! read more

Great hangout spot for nerds and casuals alike! I've been a regular at Up-Down for a few weeks now. They have such a great community surrounding their arcade game Killer Queen. Every Monday is draft night where around 20-30 people show up and pick teams to face off against each other. Everyone couldn't be more inviting and open to newbies. Up-Down has dozens of local tap beers available too, so there isn't any shortage on selection. Every day they have some sort of special going on too, such as dollar of taps on Mondays, and 10 cent tokens every Thursday (normally 25 per token). Each game is only a single token to play too, so your money really goes far here. The bar gets pretty packed with all groups of people too. There's really a good mix of arcade nerds showing up to go for high scores as well as causal players just looking to play a little Yard Jenga or Connect 4. Overall, it would be pretty difficult for someone to not find something they enjoy at Up-Down. read more

Up-Down - Killer Queen draft night - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

It's pretty cool. Lots to do, and entertained me and my friends. Also the drinks and food was good

Okay so I'm a little old for this place, but everyone seemed to be having a good time, so I'm upping my original three stars to four. I've been here before and it's all right. My friends really liked the mac and cheese pizza. The staff seemed nice and organized. A busy place for a Thursday night! I do have to say that it has a very positive vibe and the customers and staff seem pretty upbeat and happy. I don't like the parking situation but again, I think that is generational. It is Uptown, after all, on a Thursday night. We sat outside last night for my SIL's birthday. They let us bring the cake in which is kind of a cool move. A lot of places are jerks about brining in outside food but not this place. It was warm outside with the heaters and fire even though a little colder than expected. The bathrooms are clean. I know, I'm reaching, but I do know a lot of people who like this place so I'm trying to be objective. I am not a gamer. I doubt I'll return unless my bro wants to have his birthday party there as well. At least it won't be in the middle of the woods in winter (that's another story for another day!) read more

Pizza and barcade. You had me at pizza. If you're looking for a good, unique, cheap place to be in the afternoons or evenings, consider this a front runner. They have a wide selection of beers for your drinking pleasure and free water. They also sell pizza by the slice (and whole) as well as walking tacos for $6. They have a plethora of arcade video games, pinball machines, Skee-ball, and an N64 with Mario Kart and Smash. We went on a Thursday afternoon, and they had a special going on for $0.10 per token, and each game takes 1-2 tokens, with a few requiring 4 tokens. Even at the regular price of $0.25 per token, it's a great deal. It also wasn't very busy, but I could imagine it gets crowded during the weekends. When you go, be sure to bring cash, leave your coat at home/car, and be ready to game! Best enjoyed with 2-4 people. read more

See all

This place is awesome! I've been a couple of times now, and each experience has been super fun. Very extensive selection at the bar, and from what I remember it seems to change on occasion or at least seasonally. I had a few ciders from Sociable Ciderwerks and they were great and so reasonably priced. Games are super fun, and I can see the allure to going when their coins are on special/happy hour (though for the price and the level of entertainment, regular price is cool too). I'm proud to report that I set a record on the Fix it Felix, Jr. game so be sure to check that out. Outdoor games are great too and on a nice night, the patio is packed. We will definitely be back! read more

I have been to a couple barcades in my time and this one is the best. I liked the general layout of the games compared to the bar. The game selection was good my favorites being the Michael Jackson game and Jurassic Park. They played old school movies like JAWS on in the background which I loved. Bathrooms super clean. The price of the games was really super reasonable and the beer selection was vast. I really feel in love with the pineapple cider from CA. I would come back in a heart beat if I lived around here. read more

Up-Down - Indeed Mexican honey. - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

I took some out of town guests to Up-Down for a fun evening, and was not disappointed! It was a bit crowded, but the novelty of drinking while playing old school video games and skeeball was wonderful. The service was fast, the prices were decent, and the atmosphere was fun. PRO TIP - the change machine does NOT give you quarters, only game tokens. Which seems obviously, but hilariously we said "if we have any money left over we can just use it for laundry..." nope. read more

21+, Beer, 80s-90s Arcade Games? How can you give this place less that 5 stars!? This place is my type of nostalgia for sure. I love that the games still take the same amount of coins/tokens like they did originally and its just completely transports me back to childhood. I also really appreciate that it is 21+ so no kids of today are ruining the 80-90s kid childhoods/enjoyment. I like kids and all, but there is no way they would appreciate these classics! The beer list is fantastic with almost 60 beers on tap, and they even had a few sour beers (my fav!). I've never eaten here but I ended up coming here on a rainy Sunday during their 2 for 1 tokens, the place was packed but I could still play the games I wanted to play. I also have been here on a Monday and did their $35 6 pack and a pound, which included 6 beers, and 80 coins to use in a blue fanny pack that I could take home. ( well I'm assuming I could take home since 1 employee said I had to give it back, and when I went to give it back the other employee said to keep it) This might be my favorite spot in the city to relax, forget about the real world and just dive into some classic games that take skill and bravado instead of the modern games of today. A must stop for any one who enjoys the classic arcade game or two. read more

See all

I was way more impressed than I thought I'd be. It was my idea to check this place out today. I was up to seeing what it was all about since I abhor anything to do outside in the winter. I refuse to waste time in a dark bar in the summer. I am 42 years of age and also refuse to spend time and money with the 21+ hipster crowd when at all possible. So we (the husband, a buddy and myself) found ourselves here today at noon. They opened at eleven. We purchased the 6 pack and a pound special for 25 bucks. The cost is 35 bucks any other day of the week. You get a punch card for 6 tall boys and a fanny pack filled with 80 tokens. You get to keep the fanny pack. I do not drink beer so opted for a Long Island at the full bar they provide. Long Islands are 9 bucks a pop and poured with a strong hand so no complaints on my part. The boys were instantly brought back to the days of their youth and we scattered to our own particular favorites. Mine were skee ball, Tetris and Q bert. Ahh, memories. We all had an excellent experience and by the time we left at 2PM that place was packed! The next time I go I will try to get there before noon as I do not like to wait for my turn at Tetris. No lot. Street parking only. Go early to avoid 21 year old hipsters. Full bar and they serve pizza which looked tasty and I will have to try next time. Photo booth that takes exact change only. Must have ID ready at the door. Coat rack in the front. Upstairs bar open in the summer months. Check it out, you will find yourself acting like a 15 year old dingbat again. In a good way. read more

See all

Fun games and great beer selection. We were visiting our daughter in MSP and this is as one of the many places we went. Go early if you don't want a crowd - It wasn't busy when we first arrived but quickly began to fill up. Took me back to my teens dropping quarters in all those classic arcade games - don't remember the last time I played Dig Dug and Joust read more

What a great way to spend a night! Amazing drink selection (they carry a blood orange cider that I'd happily drink forever) and lots of fun games to ramp up your nostalgia or rediscover. My food complaint is that they don't have gluten free pizza options. This'd really push my experience over the top. I'll have to "settle" for a walking taco, oh darn. My game complaint is that they don't have any shooting games! I was hoping for some Area 51, or Big Buck Hunter, or even Duck Hunt! Alas, nothing present. Still a great night out, great place to meet friends or just spend some time. read more

Extensive beer list and even more games to play! If there was an arcade game you liked as a kid, they probably have it - including N64 Mario Kart. The machines can get busy, so don't be afraid to ask if you can cut in on a game of Mario Kart or play multi-player. You're there to socialize after all, right? The machines take tokens or quarters - every play is 25 cents, so you won't have to worry about spending more than you want to. If you want faster service and drink beer, bring cash and go to the tubs of drinks on either end of the bar. read more

Needs more pirate-based video games tbh. Otherwise would be a 4*. I notice they have a wide variety of punchy games. Why no games focused on the seven seas? They used to have cowboy game. Not anymore. read more

Fun but crowded bar. Went on Saturday night by myself and had a good time.no entrance fee, but the games require tokens to play. You get plenty per dollar, so so 5$ should be enough for the night. The bar has four main sections - entrance skee ball, main bar, backside, and outside/upstairs. The entrance skee ball has 4 units, a small can beer stand, an N64 on a projector and some pinball games. People tend to huddle around here not sure what's going on or checking who's cueing for the games. The main bar has the major games, pizza, 40 beers on tap. Getting access to these games is hard, and a couple of them are broken. The backside has minor games and some new ones - Killer Queen, Death Ball, and a faux Japanese racing game. Killer Queen was the main attraction with its 5v5 snail soccer / berry harvesting madness. The outside / upstairs was mostly oversized jenga and connect four. Even though it was November, a good number of people were having fun in the cold. Overall a good time, but almost too popular for it's own good. After 11:30, it felt more like a nightclub than a bar. read more

Up-Down - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Such a fun spot to get drinks, pizza & play games. They have a full bar with an extensive list of beers on tap, many being local MN favorites! They have some great games such as Killer Bee, PAC Man, and Skee-Ball. Very friendly staff as well! Not all games were working, but still had a great variety to offer read more

Overly hype for a broken machine. When I first heard that Up-Down had Dance Dance Revolution Extreme in the summer, I got really excited. The game brings back many memories of my childhood. I was so excited that I told my friends and even shared it on social media. Truth to be told, It turns outs that the machine's right pad, right arrow does not work all, roughly only 15 songs when there suppose to be 50 +, the volume setting is so low you can barley hear the music during a Thursday night and sometimes the machine just takes your coins not giving you credit (5 months ago). I showed the issue to a staff member and request an on site technician. The technician told me, "We will get this fixed, but unfortunately not tonight." August 15th, I decided to give Up-Down another shot, but it seems like nothing was fixed. Very disappointing, I was hoping this would have been fixed after two months. November 16th, It's been months since I've been to Up-Down. I played one game of DDR and nothing changed from the very first experience (Right pad, right arrow still not fixed, volume, and songs selection). It's not often I would write a review, but this issue hasn't been fixed since June 2018. read more

This place is great, but what happened to Frogger!?!! This is the only reason I came here! Did it break? Did it not get replaced? I need to know. Frogger is a classic arcade game and if an up down is going to he open, it NEEDS to have a Frogger. PLEASE fix Frogger!!!! read more

This is the perfect place for millennials to come for throwback arcade games, HUGE slices of pizza, and lots of alcohol - in other words, a great time! It's absolutely crazy on weekend nights but any other day and time is a lot less overwhelming. I've come here on a Tuesday evening, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday night. All three times were a different experience but all incredibly fun! It's definitely much more interesting in the evening (thank you alcohol). However, if you're looking to have a peaceful time playing games and not have to push your way through crowds, I would suggest going in the daytime or on a weekday. The place is huge but can seem small if it's crowded. They have two patios, one in the back and one in the front. There are TV screens that are constantly playing old movies and music videos. There's everything from throwback & modern arcade games to pinball machines and Skee Ball, life-sized Jenga and Connect 4 (on the patios) to Mario Kart on Nintendo 64! You could spend hours there and not get bored. There are both single and multi-player games so definitely bring your friends! Each game takes 1 token or 25 cents (Jenga, Connect 4, and Mario Kart are free). You can get 20 tokens for $5 but there are daily deals which I'm not entirely familiar with but on the Saturday afternoon that I went, it was 40 tokens for $5. You also get 40 free tokens if it's your birthday! Service is fantastic! Everyone is always in a great mood but how can you not be when you're in such a fun environment?! There's a full bar with plenty of beer on tap. They sell whole pizzas as well as by the slice for about $4-6. The Bacon Mac & Cheese Pizza is delicious! Safe to say, I'll be back again! read more

See all

Amazing! All types of people come here. One of the busiest places on the row. They have cup holders at some of the machines. There is a roof top patio and and a back patio. read more

Wow!! I came here on a busy Saturday night. Heads up! The bar has a $10 minimum which isn't hard to do. Just buy a beer and the tokens and you're good to go! Warning: you should come early otherwise you'll end up waiting to play a game you really want to... But you'll wait for only so long that you end up using your tokens on a game you didn't even want to play. Fun games? Yes! Play Mario kart if you can, or super smash brothers on the Nintendo. Their pinball machines were probably my favorite. Some of them are easier than others so choose wisely because you'll end up playing longer if you pick the right one. They have a 4 player pac man and a wreck it Ralph! They have lots of drink options and also pizza to order. Overall, I didn't spend much here and I had a ton of coins to use! read more

So much fun! I fist visited Up Down on a dead Tuesday night. My friend and I met up for some excellent tap brews (they have a huge list of local and national microbrews) and classic video games. It was nice to have the place mostly to ourselves. I dreaded heading back on a busy night, but my recent trip in the thick of Uptown Saturday night was fantastic, even with a packed bar. Up Down's selection is unprecedented in modern retro arcades, thankfully surpassing its predecessor The Rusty Nickel (RIP). I was elated to see such classics as X-men, Revolution X, Street Fighter II, TMNT: Turtles in Time, Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, Skee Ball, Mario Kart 64, Donkey Kong and loads of pinball machines. On top of that, they have so much more, including classics I never got to play: Crystal Castles, the strangely addictive Ice Cold Beer, Fix-it Felix Jr., that monster truck racing game and so much more. They even have Killer Queen, a 10-player team-based game, of which there are only 10 machines in the US. SO MUCH FUN. The adult-sized Connect Four and Jenga are kitsch, though they're standard in so many bars now. The food smells great, but I haven't dug in yet. Good beer and video games will keep me coming back, but cheap games (25 cents a play) has me telling my friends. read more

Up-Down - Weirdest and arguably coolest game in the joint. - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

My brother and I met up for a couple of beers on Labor Day in Uptown, Minneapolis and he introduced me to The Up-Down Bar. We had a BLAST! It has been open 2 months now. They have a great beer list and lots of cool old age video games. Lots of pinball, which I love, and they had dollar of beers this day. I had a couple Stone IPAs (Solid beer) and we caught up after 8 months of not seeing each other. We played some Off Road together and R.B.I., which was my favorite game in 1990. Loved it so much. We played some huge Jenga on the back porch too. We had a blast together. Cool people and servers make this place a big win! I should have tried a piece of pizza, but will have to get one next time. The mac and cheese one looks awesome! read more

I attended a Yelp event here and was ecstatic! My mind was boggled by the numerous pinball machines and arcade consoles. There is a new multiplayer arcade game that they host competitions for (Killer Queen). She even has cup holders for your beer... There's an N64 for Mario Kart! They thought of everything The bathrooms are a little strange in that the toilets are separate for the sexes but the sinks and mirrors are communal. A little awkward The bar is central and has so many options for beer. They offer pizza for $5, it is a huge slice and equals about two pieces. I tried the veggie slice and nothing too much to say but I will eat before hand next time. The games require tokens and they have specials for some days They have two patio areas. One front and one back. They also have giant Jenga and Connect-Four. I can't recommend going on a weekend! A weekday you can actually move and play the games you want read more

For people like me that don't understand the hype around Pokemon Go, I have a solution for you - a 21+ only arcade that serves pizza and beer. The nostalgia runs deep here, from the decorating to Ren and Stimpy playing on the TVs. Each token is 25 cents, and each game is only one token to play. $5 worth of tokens lasted me a couple of hours. These games are all in pretty great shape. Some examples of games - Moonwalker, Skeeball, Mortal Combat, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SuperMario Brothers, Ghostbusters Pinball, Star Trek Pinball, not to mention their jumbo Jenga and ConnectFour games outside. The slices of pizza are huuuuuge. One was certaintly enough to fill me up, the macaroni/bacon pizza slice was enough to tempt my taste buds and then some. Tried a bite of my friend's pepperoni, and it was anything but plain with just the right amount of garlic. Per usual, parking can be a premium around the area, it is Lake/Lyndale after all. This place is packed on the weekends. Hoping to return during the week or once it dies down. read more

I went here with my girlfriend and a group of her friends for her birthday and it did not disappoint. It was a little crowded and there were some more popular games that we didn't get a chance to play but as a person that doesn't enjoy things like video games or games in general (I know), this place was actually really fun. When we got tired of the crowd, we hung out on the back patio and played Connect Four. My only tip: get less tokens than you think you need. Most of the games only required 1 and I was left with a big cup to take home. Guess I'll be returning again to use them all up! read more

Awesome place!!! I love the outdoor rooftop with console games. Super cool and cheap arcades downstairs, tons of games, table games like giant Jenga! Fun and casual atmosphere. The only bad thing is it's so popular that there's tons of people and it was hard to walk around the Saturday night I came for a birthday outing. The games are cheap, the drinks are good, also weird and house concoctions! :) The layout is done well and there's distinct sections in the front, sides (raised area), back (pinball/foosball?), and rooftop. Also two large or long bars, one downstairs and one upstairs, a good barstaff that's attentive. Cool crowd, old and young.!! !!! I'll be back. read more

I've been to a few arcade bars now, and most pretty much follow the same format and have lotsa similar games. This one has a pretty good lineup, all the staples were included. You did have to pay for tokens, which is a bummer when there are some don't charge you to pay (though maybe that's just in Chicago) I will say the beer list is very good, possibly the best of any barcade I've been to. And also they have a little pizza stand inside and that came in clutch, $5 for a pretty big meaty slice. Pretty easy to get to and easy to park nearby. Overall in the top half of bar arcades I've been to read more

One of the coolest spots I've ever been to. Everything in here is retro, from the video games to even the movies. Up-down was recommended to me by a local. Turned out to be one of the better nights I had while in town. Not sure how the weekends are , but for a Monday night, it was a pretty decent crowd hanging out . read more

See all

Super fun spot to bring back nostalgia if you're in you're 30s or older! We had a blast drinking beer and playing old school games like frogger and paperboy as well as enjoyed pinball machines and skeball. It was a great place for a change of pace on a date night! read more

See all

Really cool place! Theres so many games from old school pinball machines to mario kart and tetris. There's also a giant jenga/ connect 4 thing outside on the patio. The jenga is a little intense though... The pizza is amazing and the best part is on wednesdays they have 3 dollar beers.. It doesnt get better than this in uptown! read more

Up-Down - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

I am a big kid and this spot was perfect. This is like a combination of the old new York city arcades at times Square meets a dive bar, without the sketchy charact ers. read more

See all

I love this place. Service is great, the prices are great, and the games are varied (some are greater than others). I was excited when I heard about the concept and my hopes have definitely been realized. They have a large number of old school games from the 80's and 90's (think original Super Mario Bros., Frogger, Donkey Kong, TMNT). In addition they have a few ski-ball machines and 8 or so pinball machines. All games play at a single token (25 cents) and many games have cup holders for your drinks. There is a small outdoor patio area with giant land versions of jenga and connect-4. I love the idea but the few times I've been it has been taken over by smokers, diminishing my enjoyment. The beer list is fantastic. They have domestic tall boys for the people that are interested in such things, but the tap list is high quality craft beer and really reasonably priced. Whoever put it together clearly has a personal love for the topic. Food is limited to pizza; sold by the slice or whole. It's made in house and they a number of varieties to choose from. The pizza is good, not great. I wouldn't go there for the food but I would certainly grab a slice so I could keep playing. Onto the bad. As another reviewer mentioned, they are currently victims of their own success. All the times I've been I've walked back out at the end of the night with tokens in my pocket because there weren't any free games. I'm hoping that the hype will die down slightly as the weeks go on. Also, some of the games (older than some of the patrons) don't have the most responsive joysticks and there are always a couple that are out of order. I don't think there is much to be done about that though. The bar seems to fix the games that they can pretty quickly. Suggestions that I have for improvement: 1) I would love to see more beer lists printed or at least available more prominently. They are few and far between (think 3 for the entire bar). Also, I would suggest reordering the beer list by type of beer rather than the brewer. Most people ordering would look for an IPA or stout, they don't look for a Founders. 2) Recycling bins for the tall boys. It pains me to see them in the trash Tl; Dr version; I have been twice in two days and seriously thinking of going again today. Its busy, but there's a reason for that. When you can't find a game free, grab a slice and a beer and watch some Rocko's Modern Life till it's your turn. read more

Up-Down - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

We love this place. But tonight skrrt ball took $6.00 of coins and did snot work, very did upping Ted Bc we love this plane !! read more

Up-Down - a row of arcade games - Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Get super smashed while playing Super Smash at this cool arcade bar! I've been here a couple times with friends from out of town and they always love it here. It's pretty much always full of people, especially during the warmer months. read more