Up-Down Minneapolis sits in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, operating as a 21+ arcade bar that blends classic coin-op entertainment with a full bar and a packed daily schedule. The venue has earned a 4.6-star rating across roughly 6,000 reviews, making it one of the more established barcades in the Twin Cities. Visitors approach it less as a quiet retro museum and more as a high-energy night out where vintage cabinets, pinball, and skee-ball share floor space with cocktails and rotating specials.
Minneapolis has long embraced independent and retro gaming venues, and the Lyn-Lake area in particular has become a hub for casual nightlife that mixes food, drink, and play. The neighborhood’s walkable streets and dense residential catchment help explain why spots like Up-Down draw consistent weeknight crowds alongside busier weekend rushes. For visitors planning a broader arcade crawl, the city’s interactive arcade map makes it easy to line Up-Down up with nearby stops.
At a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Minneapolis, MN |
| Phone | +1 612-823-3487 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri: 3 PM – 2 AM; Sat–Sun: 11 AM – 2 AM |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 from 6,000 Google reviews |
| Best For | Adults seeking a barcade night with retro arcades, pinball, skee-ball, and daily drink specials |
What Players Say
Up-Down Minneapolis is a lively 21+ barcade in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood offering an impressive lineup of retro arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and skee-ball alongside a well-stocked bar with frequent daily specials that make for an affordable outing. The atmosphere earns consistent praise, and game maintenance has improved notably, though weekend crowds can make it hard to actually get on a machine — weekday visits are strongly recommended. Pizza and food quality receive mixed marks, and a handful of reviewers flagged inconsistent service experiences, so it’s worth setting expectations accordingly.
Several themes surface repeatedly in the feedback. On the positive side, reviewers describe a “gritty and energetic atmosphere” (Google review) and praise the depth of the game lineup, with one visitor tallying “30 to 40 arcade games and 10 pinball machines, a few skee ball Machines” (Google review). The bar itself draws strong marks for variety, with one reviewer calling the beer selection “simply nuts” (Google review), and value gets called out too: “We (2 people) played 2.5-3 hours worth of games on $20” (Google review). That said, opinions aren’t uniformly glowing. Food gets a shrug — “Pizza was very average, but no one should really expect more, it’s a barcade not pizzacade” (Google review) — and service has produced some friction, including reports of overzealous cutoffs such as one reviewer who said “they refused to serve our friend who only had 2 drinks” (Google review).
The most honest caveats are about timing and parking. Weekends are described as packed, with one reviewer noting “it’s very crowded on the weekends. There is usually a wait for most games. Midweek is the best time to go” (Google review). Parking gets similar treatment: “Parking was a nightmare – we had to park several blocks away” (Google review). On machine condition, sentiment is mixed rather than negative, with reviewers acknowledging “the ongoing work to keep the games in shape makes this more than a rickety nostalgia visit” (Google review). The 21+ policy draws its own mix of reactions: “21+ to enter which was nice, esp not having children running around!!” (Google review).
Games & Machines
The venue bills itself as an arcade bar, and reviewers consistently describe a floor anchored by retro cabinets, a sizable pinball lineup, and a handful of skee-ball lanes. Exact game titles aren’t listed in the available data, but the consistent mention of 30 to 40 arcade games alongside roughly 10 pinball machines suggests a curated mix that leans into the classic coin-op era rather than modern rhythm or redemption titles. The skee-ball presence adds a low-pressure option for groups who want to play without getting in line for a cabinet, and the broad machine variety keeps repeat visits from feeling repetitive.
Visiting
Up-Down Minneapolis is located in Minneapolis, MN, and can be reached at +1 612-823-3487, with more information at http://www.updownarcadebar.com/minneapolis. The hours pattern runs late: Monday through Friday the doors open at 3 PM and run to 2 AM, while Saturday and Sunday shift earlier with an 11 AM opening and the same 2 AM close. As a 21+ venue, the space is aimed squarely at adult visitors; under-21 patrons are not admitted.
Food and drink are central to the experience. The bar program is widely praised for its beer selection, and daily drink specials are a major draw for value-conscious visitors. Pizza and bar snacks are available, though reviews suggest treating the kitchen as a complement to the drinks and games rather than the main attraction. The venue leans into a high-energy, social atmosphere on weekends and a more relaxed vibe midweek, which most reviewers recommend. Plan to arrive early on Saturdays if you want guaranteed access to specific cabinets, and budget extra time for parking in the surrounding blocks. For visitors planning a wider sweep of Minneapolis gaming venues, the arcade finder directory and the arcade map are useful starting points. Venue operators who want to update the listing details can use the claim your listing page.