Up-Down Minneapolis sits in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 3012 Lyndale Ave S — a stretch of the city known for its walkable nightlife. The venue operates as a 21+ retro barcade, layering a deep bench of classic arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and skee-ball behind a full bar with a heavyweight beer selection. With an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 6,000 Google reviews, it ranks among the more established retro-gaming hangouts in the Twin Cities.
The Lyn-Lake corner gives the barcade an easy draw from surrounding Minneapolis neighborhoods, and the venue leans into that identity with daily drink and token specials that most visitors call out as genuinely affordable. It is built for groups who want to graze between the games and the bar, rather than a quiet, family-oriented arcade. For travelers planning a Twin Cities gaming trip, Up-Down is one of the more frequently bookmarked stops on any Minneapolis arcade itinerary.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 3012 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Phone | +1 612-823-3487 |
| Hours | Mon–Thu 3 PM–2 AM; Fri 3 PM–2 AM; Sat 11 AM–2 AM; Sun 11 AM–2 AM |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 from 6,000 Google reviews |
| Best For | Adults and groups looking for a 21+ retro barcade with classic cabinets, pinball, and skee-ball |
What Players Say
The review base is large and largely enthusiastic. The single most consistent theme is game selection and variety — 28 pieces of evidence back a quote describing “30 to 40 arcade games and 10 pinball machines, a few skee ball Machines” (Google review). Close behind is pricing and token value, where 22 reviewers say they “played 2.5-3 hours worth of games on $20” (Google review), a level of affordability that keeps the barcade in the affordable-night-out column for most visitors.
Drink quality is another major positive: 20 reviewers note that “the beer selection is simply nuts” (Google review), and the atmosphere gets its own 24-evidence chorus calling the vibes “impeccable” (Google review). Food — primarily pizza and bar snacks — draws a more mixed 30-evidence response, with one reviewer summing it up as “Pizza was very average, but no one should really expect more, it’s a barcade not pizzacade” (Google review).
The honest caveat is crowds. The same Crowds & wait times theme flagged by 14 reviewers shows up in both the summary and the dedicated review caveat: “it’s difficult to play a lot of their games anyway… Try to come on a week day” (Google review). Several visitors also flag street parking as a hassle on busy nights. Staff and service draws a mixed 18-evidence response, including rare but notable complaints about service refusals — “they refused to serve our friend who only had 2 drinks… Super unprofessional and frustrating” (Google review). Machine maintenance is similarly mixed across 12 reviews, with feedback on “the quality of games and the speed in which they get repaired” (Google review). The 21+ policy splits reviewers — some love the adult-only rule, as in “21+ to enter which was nice, esp not having children running around!!” (Google review).
Games & Machines
Up-Down Minneapolis is built around a rotating floor of classic arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and skee-ball lanes, alongside a full bar. While the venue does not publish a full machine list on its homepage, visitor reports consistently point to a lineup of roughly 30 to 40 arcade games and around 10 pinball machines, with a few skee-ball lanes rounding out the floor. The mix is aimed squarely at adult retro-gaming fans rather than families with young kids, and the token system pairs with daily specials to keep play costs low.
Visiting
Up-Down Minneapolis is located at 3012 Lyndale Ave S in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood of Minneapolis, on a stretch that is easy to reach by car or transit. The barcade is open 3 PM to 2 AM Monday through Friday and 11 AM to 2 AM on Saturday and Sunday, with the weekend daytime opening making it a workable stop on a Twin Cities day trip. The venue is 21+ to enter, which is a feature for adults seeking a kid-free night and a non-factor for under-21 travelers who will need to look elsewhere.
Street parking is the main logistical challenge — several visitors describe having to park several blocks away on busy nights, so a rideshare or a short walk from nearby transit is worth considering. Food and drink run the usual barcade playbook: a strong beer list, daily drink specials, token specials, and a small pizza-and-snacks menu. For anyone comparing options across the metro, the arcade finder and the interactive arcade map are the quickest ways to weigh Up-Down against nearby spots like LITT Pinball Bar, Gametime Sports Bar & Arcade, Hometowne Pizza Minneapolis Bar and Arcade, Smash Park Roseville, and Can Can Wonderland in St. Paul. Venue owners can update hours, machine lists, and photos through claim your listing.