Iowa City is best known as the home of the University of Iowa, and its downtown grid carries the unmistakable energy of a college town. Tucked into that grid is Double Tap (Tap Tap), a dedicated video arcade that has built a following among local players and visitors looking to put in a few hours at the controls.
Double Tap operates as a focused video arcade rather than a sprawling family entertainment complex. The venue’s identity is centered squarely on play — visitors show up, plug in, and put time on the machines. Late-evening hours on weekdays (3 PM to midnight) make it convenient for students and working adults who want to game after the day is done, while a noon opening on weekends gives Saturday and Sunday visitors a longer stretch to settle in.
The arcade sits in a walkable part of Iowa City, easy to reach from campus, downtown, or surrounding neighborhoods. The straightforward setup means a visit here is more about what is on the screens than what is on the walls — a focused room where the games take center stage. Anyone planning to explore the broader local arcade scene will find Double Tap an easy anchor point in the city’s small but active gaming community.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | Iowa City, IA |
| Phone | +1 319-855-5230 |
| Hours | Mon–Thu: 3 PM – 12 AM Fri: 3 PM – 12 AM Sat: 12 PM – 12 AM Sun: 12 PM – 12 AM |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 from 155 Google reviews |
| Best For | Video arcade gaming and late-evening play |
The Scene
Double Tap carries a 4.6 out of 5 average across 155 Google reviews — a strong mark for a standalone video arcade. While a full review breakdown has not yet been synthesized for this listing, the rating points to consistent satisfaction among the players who have walked through the doors. The venue presents itself as a no-frills arcade space, and that focused identity tends to read well with visitors who know exactly what they are looking for from a video arcade.
Players exploring the broader Iowa City arcade scene can browse the arcade finder directory or open the interactive arcade map to see what else is in the area. Two nearby venues worth noting are PixelJoy Arcade and Pizza Ranch FunZone Arcade, both of which round out Iowa City’s small but active roster of gaming spots.
Games & Machines
As a dedicated video arcade, Double Tap is built around coin-operated and modern video game cabinets rather than broader entertainment-center offerings. The lineup centers on screen-based play — the kind of setup where button-mashers, puzzle solvers, and fighting-game fans all have something to reach for. Because the listing does not include a published machine list, specific titles are not documented here. Visitors heading in for the first time should plan on a classic-arcade-style experience centered on video games rather than a themed or ride-heavy venue.
Visiting
Double Tap is located in Iowa City, IA, situated in the city’s downtown grid area. The phone line for the venue is +1 319-855-5230, and the venue’s own website at doubletapic.com is the best place to check the latest on hours, special programming, or any upcoming events before heading over.
The hours split neatly between weekdays and weekends. Sunday through Thursday the arcade opens at 3 PM and runs to midnight, and Friday follows the same 3 PM to midnight window — a natural fit for after-work or after-class play. Saturday and Sunday both open earlier at noon and close at midnight, giving weekend visitors a longer stretch to settle in. The Saturday and Sunday noon opening is the earliest the doors open all week, so anyone planning a daytime session should aim for the weekend.
For players who want to compare options before committing to a single stop, the arcade finder lists several Iowa City venues and a much wider set across the country. The interactive arcade map offers a geographic view of nearby alternatives, including PixelJoy Arcade and Pizza Ranch FunZone Arcade, both worth a look for anyone building a multi-stop gaming itinerary in town.
If you run Double Tap (Tap Tap) and want to keep this listing current, you can claim your listing to update hours, add machine details, and post events directly to the directory.