Born in Brooklyn in 2004, the original Barcade was built by a group of four friends who shared a passion for American craft beer and classic video games of the 1980's and 90's. A bar and arcade amalgam, Barcade’s popularity among adults looking for a little nostalgic fun continues to grow, as this ever-expanding brand has opened locations in Manhattan, Jersey City, Philly and soon, New Haven. New York's Chelsea location was the franchise's first Manhattan outpost, and while it does not have the DIY charm of the original Brooklyn Barcade, it will certainly satisfy any beer buff and classic arcade aficionado, with 25 craft beers on tap and tons of vintage video games priced at just 25¢ per play (quarter equivalent tokens are used).

Barcade is a throwback to the days when games weren't pocket sized and playable on a mobile device, but instead required a pocket full of quarters and a trip to a brick and mortar site (thanks, Mom). There is something supremely satisfying about the agency that comes with adulthood to change a crisp $20 bill at the token machine and have the coins come tumbling out like a jackpot on a Vegas slot. It's the realization of the glorious fantasy that every arcade playing kid coming of age in the 80's and 90's dreamed about, but likely never experienced.

Like many other New York bars, Barcade can turn into quite the sh*t show on weekend nights, but the key to having a splendid Saturday playing old school video games is to go during the afternoon, when the bar is pleasantly less packed.

Of all the New York Barcades, the Chelsea location is the most spacious and supplies the best overall selection of games to engage a wide range of customers. Solo players can easily spend hours feeding quarters to Q*bert, the frustratingly difficult, but undeniably addictive 8-bit masterpiece of old-school gaming, while social competitors can talk trash and try their hands at NBA Jam and Daytona USA. Larger groups collaborate on the multiplayer games like The Simpons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the massive 6-person X-Men cabinet, scoring points and downing pints of celebratory beers as each board is completed.

ESSENTIAL INFO:

-Total Cost: About $40 per person for a couple hours of games and beer, depending upon the drinker. Tax and tip included.

-The best time to go for ample access to all the games is between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

-Barcade also serves some above average to pretty tasty bar grub.

NEARBY: Grab a quick lunch before heading to Barcade at Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop, the legendary lunch counter famously "raising New York's cholesterol since 1929."