Pin Up Arcade Bar in Kitchener

What an amazing place! The ambiance is awesome and vintage, great selection of games to keep you busy for hours. The staff are so kind and helpful. Looking forward to many more awesome nights!

Great place to take your friends for just a night out or on a date. They have their liquor license and a good selection to choose from. The people who work there are very friendly and helpful I will definitely be going back!

The best Arcade bar for the entry price charged!

For $5 to free play, it will be hard to beat. Tons of pinball machines. A decent selection of other games from 80s classics to about mid 2000s from what I saw. The place was decently clean. Saw staff wiping down machines periodically which was very much appreciated.I was expecting some pretty absurd pricing on drinks and food, but was surprised to see that it was no more than most other bars Ive been to.My only complaint is that some games dont work well with nonfunctioning buttons, and bad joysticks. Some games are so bad they are completely unplayable. When I was there a cabinet didnt have free mode enabled and staff did not know how to get it working. Id be willing to pay $15+ if everything was properly maintained. Will go again in the future to see if there will be improvements.

This place has an AMAZING selection of modern/classic pinball and arcade machines which are all on free play for an $8 entry fee! For pinball I noticed Metallica, AC/DC, Deadpool, Game of Thrones, & for arcade machines they have classics like Burger Time, NBA Jam, Ice Cold Beer, Rampage, Pac-Man, etc. They also have shuffleboard, 3-player Skee-ball (you get the idea, they really filled this place with a lot of variety!). I also noticed that Pin-Up had something that competitors dont which is a digital jukebox so you can pick the music for the evening. The bar has a lot of variety of canned beers and they share a menu with the burger place upstairs if youre hungry. Pin-Up would be 5-stars but it looks quite drab in the basement and the whole place could use a deep clean and/or a reorganization of the interior (maybe remove dance floor space out the games?). Also, several machines required maintenance but Im guessing the University crowd isnt gentle on them. I will definitely be back and its a welcome addition to the retro barcade community!

Absolutely ADORE this place I come here all the time, Im very familiar with the place and have been for a few years now. The bartender there is an utter sweetheart, I love the 80s garage feel to it as well.

We love bartender Kate! She suggested the best drinks and has the best attitude to be around! Definitely my new hangout spot ;)

The premise is fantastic. The execution is subpar. A flat fee for unlimited games is a great idea, but many of the games were just broken.The games are all old and they bring me back down memory lane when I was a kid and I used to frequent arcades, trying to decide how to ration out my quarters amongst my favourite arcade games. The games are still fun, even if they pale in comparison to todays modern games, but when the controls only let you move in one direction, or you can only target enemies on one half of the screen, games turn into more frustration than fun. Not all games are broken, but certainly enough of them that it should be addressed.In addition to the old arcade games, there are also skee ball machines and lots of pin ball ball machines. Theres a lounge area with tables and seating to have food and drinks, as well as a couple of booths, one of which has an emulator that lets you play a bunch of old Nintendo games (Super Mario World, Star Fox, and many others).This is, as the name implies, also a bar and food and drink is available for order. Food is provided by Philthy Phillys upstairs/next door, which I highly recommend.This is NOT an accessible place as the business is located down a flight of narrow stairs to the basement of the building. Free parking is available on site, though it can get packed at peak times as there are many business in the plaza. Spots are narrow and there is also lots of pedestrian traffic both in the parking lot and just outside as the plaza is located very close to both universities.In the end, our group had a pretty good time here, but it could have been better. Your mileage may vary, as I understand that the games may be secondary for some.

Nice spot, decent prices. Good range of games and chilling space. Went around 6pm on a Friday and it was deadd

Such a fun little find! Soany pinball and arcade games! Cant wait to go back again!

Absolutely the worst place I’ve ever had the misfortune of coming to.I went here with my friend in the evening to play dance dance revolution which was broken, along with many of the other machines. Shocking.After less than 10 minutes, we were being harassed by another customer, making threats to us. We asked the security guard to remove the man or intervene to some extent but instead, he did the exact opposite. The customer continued to threaten us, calling us racial slurs & the security guard began laughing & enjoying the ‘show’.We later found out that security guard is the owner of the establishment. I was absolutely shocked that he laughed at racial slurs & threats.I decided to read the reviews later on & read many reviews about employees who were drunk & making inappropriate comments/actions to the customer, so I guess I should have read the reviews before coming.I hope this guy gets the karma coming to him, if he’s lucky, he’ll only have all the machines broken by customers spilling beers on them.Do. Not. Come. Here.

$8 for all the games you can play! Really great deal. Drinks are fairly priced and really good.

Without a doubt my favourite Waterloo bar. Ive been coming here for a few years.The cover is cheap (I think $7-8 last time I was there), pretty amazing considering it includes unlimited games.Theres soo many games, and alll different kinds. Fighting games, racing, pinball, jenga, foosball, skeeball, basketball, classic arcade games, the list goes on.The drinks are also reasonably priced and they have a decent selection of beers and cocktails.The staff is also more friendly than at any other bar youll come across in Waterloo.Ive always had a great time at Pin Up and it would be my first recommendation to anyone wanting to go to a Waterloo bar.

It’s a nice place to go with friends, but most of the games get old super quick and a lot of the games are actually broken LOL! I also cut my hand on one of the coin inserts which I didn’t love. But they have good drinks and good food and enough seating and the giant Jenga is very fun haha! There is a cover fee just fyi

Great place w lots of COLD Craft Beer. Always friendly service! Glad to see a place like this in Waterloo. Many new & vintage Pinball machines to choose from! CHEERS

Lots of fun! Great and kind staff! Just genuinely a great experience overall! The owner Alexis was very welcoming, and caring to his customers. Thank you Alexis and the team! :D

My absolute favourite place in KW. $5 cover for unlimited games! Locally owned! There is a great pinball league as well.

I love coming to Pin Up, for only $8 I can play nostalgic video games that I grew up with and have a ball doing it. The staff are always inviting and know what I like to drink so there is minimal wait times. It almost has a hanging out at your friends feel to it. Just brings me back to when my friends and I would play video games for hours. If you want to grab some friends and have a great time I’d suggest coming here. Ps try the creature drink it’s my favourite so far.

One of my favorite spots to visit in KW especially on a Helles Fire Friday!! Im terrible at video games and this spot has games I can play! What a fun spot for a team building event or just to get a workout shooting basketballs!I cant say enough positive words about the staff and owners of this place.🔥🔥🔥 PinUp has something for everyone. Check it out!

Pin Up Arcade Bar is a great spot in Kitchener Waterloo. As soon as you walk in your inner kid comes out. They also allow you to book the entire place for private events. Definitely a good spot for all ages!

This is one of the best barcades in Ontario, let alone Canada. The owners are caring, enthusiast, and well-knowledgeable about the arcade/games/pinball within their business. The arcade/games/pinball even rotate, so often you can see or play something youve never seen before! And the best part, everything is free to play with entry!The prices are fair, the areas are clean/well managed, and I have never encountered an issue with the 20+ times I have attended this establishment whether if it was for concerts, going with friends or private functions. It is one of the few places I know that not only an adult can enjoy, but kids of all ages. I wish there were more places like Pin Up Arcade in Kitchener/Waterloo, but I am glad we have this place as not only do they support anyone who loves video games, but the Arts community and our Region.I just wish I never had to leave! But its always great to come back because it just feels like home.

This was the perfect place for our party! Super fun atmosphere, friendly, accommodating staff, and amazing games. I will be back soon to set a few more high scores!

What a deal - dont have to fuss with tokens or quarters, drink prices are super reasonable, and the food portions are huge! Staff is really friendly and attentive as well - best bar in KW!

Recently learned that an employee has been really rude and inappropriate while drunk. This issue was brought up to management but nothing was done about it. The employee still works at the bar, and it seems that there is no action taken against them. It does not seem like a safe place for people to enjoy their time when issues like this are pretty much disregarded.Will not be recommending this bar...

Had a blast and Im not even good at pinball! Great staff, knew the games. If you and your friends like to compete, one up and trash talk each other its the place for you! Before we knew it wed spent 5 hours there. Definitely no place like it around.

It is unfortunate that I have to write this, but:A worker at this place committed a very rude and unacceptable act while intoxicated. Upon follow up with management, nothing was done and even worse, they were dismissive and the best they could offer in return was a couple free passes.Why would anyone want to go back there and risk their safety? After you specifically said that the person that did, and has a history of doing, those things is still there and no action has been taken?Again, I do not want to write this, but all of the fun that we have had there is irrelevant if this most basic problem is not addressed.

Had a member of the staff interact with me in a way that was extremely inappropriate and grab me in front of a group of people. Management did not respond to our concerns until we texted multiple times and seems to be taking minimal action.Super disappointed that they are okay with employees violating boundaries and perpetuating an unsafe environment.

AMAZING time for $8 ... If your a silver ball fan , this is definitely the place in K/W.. fantastic selection of machines, as well lots of older retro video games of which 99% work. Staff very nice , friendly welcoming , especially a Young lady bar tender , who actually took the time to talk to me about what arcade was my favorite in my youth ( she was super nice young lady )come support this fine local business and have some fun ...

I bought 2 beers and it was $19, I was amazed by this. They so charge and admission fee ( nothing wrong with that.Aswell the staff is super intense and hostile making you feel uncomfortable. The bar tender came up to us every 5 minutes to let us know that we were 5 min closer to last call.Half of the machines do not work.

My daughter was invited to a birthday party here, and it was our first time going. We were amazed!!! Hours of entertainment for $5, and so many games that brought us right back to our childhood. Our youngest (6loved it too! We will absolutely be returning.

Wow nostalgia! True hole in the wall type bar. Great games for the experienced and inexperienced. Kids can come in from 4pm-9pm, then the bigger kids (19+can stick around til 2am. They have their own signature drinks, regular bar fare, and a basic menu of food. Clean place, friendly staff. $5 play all you like.

Such a great little spot!! Great drink selection, and variety of games with space to just lounge as well! Price point is bang on and affordable! Also great that if you want to eat, you can order off the Frat Burger menu! Some games could use a little TLC.

Great price! Loved being able to go back to enjoy these retro games. Only gripe was that some of the machines have seen better days.

The idea itself is fun and I like that the cover means you get to play all the machines for free. Unfortunately, the setup of the music is just speakers on the side of the sitting area so it’s painfully loud and not enjoyable. The place itself would benefit from being organized a little more nicely. But definitely worth visiting for a few drinks and a good time!

I was blown away when they said the cost was $5 for unlimited play. They have lots of the newer Stern video pinball tables including Star Wars, Deadpool and Munster. They also have lots of classic arcades including lots of my favourites. Having such an old inventory I was quite surprised how very little wear out of order.

So Id love to give this 5 stars, but I cant, I want to but I cant, allow me to explain whyFirstly the nostalgia is amazing, the games, the beers, the noises. Its awesome and its small so you get to take in the atmosphere very fast. 5$ entry and unlimited play time, cant go wrong, right?But there is "something" missing. I cant quite out my finger in it but its lacking a few things specifically that make it lose that elusive 5th star, a lot of the games were out of order which took away from the element, and there was definitely some games that made extremely more noise than others, some games had no sound at all, which takes away a little bit of the games immersion, secondly whilst small and located in a basement, I know there isnt a lot of space, but the layout could have been a tad bit better, there are some machines that just didnt make sense being where they were, which adds to the noise issue.Dont get me wrong I love the games they are still amazing and fun to play, but it would be nice to see some more multi-player games(like 3+ player).All in all a great place brings back nostalgia but remember this is a bar first and foremost, not an arcade, but still captures that essence of awesome 80-90-(and 00snostalgia. great little place to end a date, or start one!Ill definitely go back and maybe when I do Ill hopefully change the 4 stars to a 5!

Most all gaming machines are retro, every fourth is not working. The staff could be more nice and friendly.

This place is awesome! Classic pinball machines, vintage arcade games, skeeball, and more for just a small cover charge... Unlimited Free Play!!! Also, decent beer selection and good food. $20 goes pretty far here. The guys and I have found ourselves a new go-to spot. See you there soon!

This place was out of the park awesome!!! There was so much to do here and was so reasonably priced! It costs $5 to get in or $7 if there is live music the night you go but that is totally worth it!!! Once you pay to get in, all the amazing classic arcade games are totally free to play however much and however long you want to play them! Them have Donkey Kong, Mario, Dance Dance Revolution, Hockey, Shuffleboard, atleast over 25 retro pinball machines from the 60s/70s to present day super modern machines! Way too cool! No other place like it in the entire province that I have come across atleast! Very enjoyable and happy night out! Cheers guys!

Very cool and unique place!For $5 a head you get unlimited play of original arcade games from your childhood. It has a throw back feel, playing music from the 1980s and is fully licensed. You can also order from Fat Burger upstairs and eat it in the arcade. They have a wide selection of likely 50 different arcade, pinball, and carnival games (like basketball tossas well as table shuffle board.Everyone should give this place a try at least once.

Very unique bar! I really like how you pay cover once and get to play as many games as you’d like. retro arcades like this usually make you buy a bunch of tokens which just ruins the experience in my opinion. My only suggestion would be for them to start serving their own food. Currently they have a partnership with Frat Burger (located above themso you can order from that menu. It would be nice if they eventually move to serving their own grub though. Great place!

This is the best hidden gem in Waterloo. $5 for unlimited play is the best deal Ive ever seen. So many fun games, a great variety of drinks and food, and just such a great chill atmosphere. I cant believe it took me this long to go. Will be coming back at every opportunity!

Hidden downstairs in a strip mall. Lots of old school games, lots of pinball. Great place to just hangout and relive the good ole days. $5 for unlimited games... Cant beat that#thortrips

This place is great! Its $5 entry and then free games for as long as you want. Reasonably priced drinks. Capacity is decent, Ive never found myself waiting because absolutely every game is full. They get new game machines in every so often. Would recommend for sure!

What a surprise to find this place! My husband and I took our children (5 and 8here during March Break and it was fantastic. Took me right back to the hours I spent in arcades as a kid, and I got to enjoy seeing the kids play the games I loved back then. So nice to be able to be able to hang out as a family for an affordable price, and expose the kids to the tangible pleasures of playing a real pinball machine while listening to good music. Will absolutely be back!

Amazing place! Best new bar in town for sure. The owner, Che is super nice and helped me plan an event for our team at work and everyone had a blast. The jukebox is super cool, the games are all fun, and people started pouring in at 4:00! Awesome.

Have had a great night every time we’ve been to pinup. Owners are super chill. Games are free play. Drinks are cheap. They did a great job with the Reno and signage. Really a fun atmosphere to go on a date, with friends or coworkers. Whatever occasion. Looking forward to another visit soon.

Pin Up Arcade and Bar is exsctlynad the name implies - it is a bar and an arcade all in one.Located near Laurier, this bar has become a popular hangout for students and families alike, with the appeal of retro arcade cabinets.The cabinets themselves consist of many popular old titles, such as Donkey Kong, Burger Time, Ms. Pac Man, Q-Bert, and more.Along with the cabinets they have a few racing games, skiball, foosball, a couple of shooters, a couple novelty games, and around a dozen pinball cabinets, including several newer ones.Food and drinks are available on site, with the food coming from the Frat Burger next door.Children are allowed in till a certain time, unsure when, but families are free to bring their kids to experience some of the classic games in their original glory.There is a five dollar cover at the door, plus two dollars if you want to check your coat, but for unlimited play, as the machined are all set to free play, this is well worth it.Downsides, with the popularity of the machines, the place is often crowded and busy, so if you are looking to play a particular machine you may have to wait a bit.As well, with people waiting to use machines, it can sometimes feel crowded.Lastly, if I can nitpick, some of the games are not in the best shape. A loose joystick here, stuck button, or non working button....to be fair, they are older and take some upkeep.Overall, a fun location that brings a little bit nostalgia to your life. Definitely worth a drop in and a look around. If in the area, it would be worth your time to drop in.I apologize for lack of pictures, but I found myself caught up in the games. The only one I have is of the bar area. Then I discovered they had Time Pilot and lost myself in relearning the game.

This is a great idea. Pay $5 and get unlimited play. They have a bar and a really good selection of craft beers. Lots of old school games and some pinball machine, including new ones like Game of The, Etc. They also have a coat check. Enjoy your time!

Been here recently and had a great time! Good selection of games, play till you drop for $5!! Haven’t tried the drinks or food yet though!