Cape Town’s first arcade bar (it's free)

Barcadia is a boozy playground with arcade games & drinks

Last updated: 26 October 2023

There are tons of bars in Cape Town, but how many of them have an arcade? Barcadia is Cape Town’s first retro bar and arcade, and you don’t have to worry about digging for loose change; all the games are free to play and it’s free to enter.

Barcadia can be found on 62 Hout Street. Image: Barcadia

JOL IN A RETRO BAR

Barcadia has a nostalgic theme to it, with a checkered pattern floor and custom-made neon signs. The recognisable character statues from Super Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog are hard to miss as you walk into the bar. You’ll find retro gaming consoles on display (that can be played), and for modern gamers, a PlayStation 5 is available via the TV behind the bar.

The neon signs are made of steel. Image: Barcadia

PLAY CLASSIC ARCADE GAMES

At Barcadia, you’ll find a small collection of original arcade game machines, some going back to 30 years. There are classics like Rave Racer, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Terminator 2, and Tekken 3. Of course, no arcade is complete without Pac-Man. The games will be rotated so that new games can be played often, with a bunch more options in storage. The main attraction, a Stern KISS Pinball machine will remain.

Play games like Virtua Striker and Super Mario Bros. Image: Barcadia

THERE’S DRINKS AND COOL DRINKS FROM R10 

While there’s no menu for food available yet, freshly made popcorn is served. There are also 1L beer jugs, along with other draught beers on tap. For those who would like non-alcoholic options, you can try various cool drink flavours such as lemonade, coke, diet coke or tonic from a soda gun for only R10. No under-21s allowed.

There are a variety of games to choose from. Image: Barcadia

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BARCADIA 

Barcadia is open: Tuesdays to Saturdays, 6pm to 2am
Find it: 62 Hout Street | Cape Town
Price range: Between R10 to R65
Contact on: hello@barcadia.co.za, @barcadiaza

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By Khadeeja Adams 

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