Get your gaming on at the 10 best arcades in Milwaukee

Discover the best arcades in Milwaukee, offering fun games, tasty food, and great drinks.

Nothing captures nostalgia quite like stepping into an arcade, where Milwaukee’s finest gaming establishments preserve the magic of the 80s and 90s. Revisiting these childhood haunts as adults brings a special kind of joy—the same flashing lights and electronic sounds, but now with the freedom to enjoy a cocktail alongside unlimited gameplay. With our own money to spend and no parents checking watches, we’re free to indulge in both classic games and delicious food for as long as we please.

So, if you’re looking for a fun time where you can enjoy games (old and new), look no further. Many of these venues also have extensive food and drink menus and even live entertainment. From classic arcade games to more modern twists like a virtual reality arcade, check out these 10 cool and interesting arcades in Milwaukee. 

1. Up-Down Milwaukee

Location: 615 E Brady Street

Hours: Open Monday through Sunday (hours vary on the day of the week—must be 21+)

Looking for fun on Brady Street? Find a guaranteed fabulous time with arcade games, pinball machines, skee ball alleys, and more at Up-Down Milwaukee. It’s an adults-only joint with two floors that includes an outdoor patio (and, of course, an incredibly wide variety of craft beer). Up-Down Milwaukee runs drink, game, and pizza specials the entire week and is great for bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, and more. 

“Be Excellent To Each Other” sign at Up-Down Milwaukee. (Up-Down Milwaukee/Facebook)

2. Landmark Lanes (and Arcade)

Location: 2220 N Farwell Avenue

Hours: Monday through Friday (5 p.m. to 2 a.m) and Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m. to 2 a.m)

Not only can you find over 20 classic arcade games at Landmark Arcade, but you’ll also find bowling, three different bar areas, and the Moon Room—Milwaukee’s East Side live music venue. While it hasn’t always been Landmark Lanes, the building has hosted entertainment since 1927. The arcade is open to everyone until 9 p.m., but after that, it’s adults-only. 

3. RSVR Milwaukee

Location: 2210 S Kinnickinnic Avenue

Hours: Friday (5 p.m. to  11 p.m.), Saturday ( 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.), Sunday (12 p.m. to 5 p.m.), and Monday through Thursday (5 p.m. to 10 p.m. *reservation only)

Enjoy this modern twist on arcade games with a location that features virtual reality games. RSVR Milwaukee has been open since 2020 and has over 80 different game options. They accept reservations all week long, but you can also walk in on the weekends. Participants under 17 years old require an adult (18+) to participate, and after 9 p.m., this arcade becomes adults-only. 

Gamers playing a virtual reality boxing game at RSVR. (RSVR Milwaukee/Facebook)

4. Dead Bird Brewing

Location: 1726 Dr. William Finlayson Street

Hours: Thursday and Friday (3:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.), Saturday (12 p.m. to 9 p.m.), and Sunday (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

Get ready to have a blast at Dead Bird Brewing, Milwaukee’s only arcade brewery. Here, you can find more than 50 arcade and board games, so there is something for everyone! This brewery arcade is committed to sustainable living, and bonus, it’s also the only all-vegan brewery in the city. In addition to the arcade games and brews, there are also delicious homemade pizzas, soft pretzels, famous nachos, and more.

Dead Bird Brewery’s row of classic arcade games. Photo Link (Seclusive Nature/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

5. Holey Mackerel

Location: 5401 W Layton Avenue

Hours: Thursday (4 p.m. to 12 a.m.) and Friday and Saturday (4 p.m. to 1 a.m.)

As the name implies, arcades aren’t the only fun thing to do at Holey Mackerel—there is also mini-golf! More than that, Holey Mackerel has batting cages and a bar for a guaranteed good time for the whole family. For tasty treats and delicious food, the Shortfin Food Truck is available from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

6. Happy Dough Lucky and Arcade

Location: 2691 S Kinnickinnic Avenue

Hours: Wednesday through Thursday (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Friday through Saturday (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

There is nothing better than donuts and games! Stop by Happy Dough Lucky and Arcade for a few sweet treats and a flashback from the past with classic arcade games. Choose from 26 daily donut flavors while you stay and play, or take a few to go when you’re done with your game day. 

Pac-Man and other classic games at Happy Dough Lucky and Arcade. Photo Link (Happy Dough Lucky and Arcade Facebook)

7. X-Ray Arcade

Location: 5036 S Packard Avenue

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday (5 p.m. to 11 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

Spend an evening at X-Ray Arcade in Cudahy (South Milwaukee) and enjoy a rotation of 10 different games on the floor (make sure to bring quarters or get some at the bar). Of course, you can also enjoy a full bar and delicious snacks, described as a menu of food designed for the overgrown child that you are, with vegan and vegetarian options, too. Check out the calendar and catch live entertainment from local bands while you’re there. 

8. Round1

Location: Southridge Mall

Hours: Monday through Sunday (10 a.m. to 2 a.m.)

This arcade is so much more than just fun and games (well, a lot of games). Here, you can also find bowling, billiards, karaoke, ping pon, and more. The atmosphere is great for adults who want to hang out and enjoy lots of activities. At the same time, Round1 is a family-friendly arcade with games for people of all ages. 

9. Game Show Battle Rooms

Location: 12565 W Feerick Street, Suite B

Hours: Depends on booking availability

This unique gaming opportunity in Milwaukee isn’t exactly an arcade, but it is a blast! Booking a team game at Game Show Battle Rooms is an unforgettable experience that will create lasting memories. You can choose from six different games (which are often rotated), which last about an hour each, and while you play, you can enjoy beer, white claws, and some pop.

10. Dave & Busters

Location: 2201 N Mayfair Road

Hours: Monday through Thursday (11 a.m. to 12 a.m.), Friday (11 a.m. to 1 a.m.), Saturday (10 a.m. to 1 a.m.), and Sunday (10 a.m. to 12 a.m.)

Dave & Busters is like Chuck E Cheese for grownups but with better food, better games, and a better time. With a full restaurant and bar, plus arcade games and VR options, you’ll play the night away and have tons of fun on your visit. As of February 13th, this arcade location was updated to feature a 40-foot-screen television to watch sports, high-tech and immersive games, and suites for private parties.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.