Up-Down Birmingham is a retro barcade that brings the sights, sounds, and quarter-munching fun of an ’80s and ’90s game room into an adult bar setting in Birmingham, Alabama. The venue blends a full craft beer and cocktail program with more than 60 classic arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and Skee-Ball alleys, all operating on a flat 25-cent-per-play pricing model that has become something of a signature for the brand.
The barcade concept here leans hard into nostalgia without skimping on grown-up amenities. House-made pizza by the slice, an extensive craft beer menu, and rotating cocktail specials give the venue a legitimate nightlife identity, while wall-to-wall classics like Pac-Man, Galaga, Mortal Kombat II, and Street Fighter II: Champion Edition anchor the playful atmosphere. Five Skee-Ball alleys, life-size Jenga, life-size Connect Four, and console stations running Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Sega hardware round out a floor designed for groups and lingering sessions.
For readers comparing arcades in the region, this entry sits alongside other Birmingham-area options such as Activate Games, Lucky Strike Birmingham, and Great Big Game Show Birmingham — each offering a different flavor of game-room entertainment in the same metro.
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Birmingham, AL |
| Phone | +1 659-272-4144 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday: 3:00PM–2:00AM | Saturday–Sunday: 11:00AM–2:00AM |
| Rating | 4.5 out of 5 from 200 reviews |
| Best For | Adult retro gaming nights, group outings, craft beer paired with classic arcade play |
The Scene
The vibe at Up-Down Birmingham is a self-described nostalgic, playful space that leans hard into its retro identity. Guests walk into a venue that has prioritized the classic arcade experience — original upright cabinets, Skee-Ball lanes, and pinball machines rather than modern ticket-redemption games — with five Skee-Ball alleys anchoring the floor alongside the more than 60 arcade machines.
The bar side is treated as seriously as the games. House-made pizza, available by the slice with unique toppings or as 18-inch made-to-order pies built from in-house dough, pairs with an extensive craft beer list (bottles and cans), a cocktail program, and a house brew called Alabama Frogger Lager. The setting skews adult, with a strict 21-and-over entry policy for standard hours, but the venue softens that with scheduled Family Hours on a dozen select dates throughout 2026.
Notable extras include life-size Jenga and Connect Four, rotating Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Sega console stations, Nintendo 64 and GameCube console gaming displayed on a giant projector screen, a merchandise shop, and a VIP program for regulars. A Birmingham-exclusive package called Six-Pack and A Pound bundles a six-pack of domestic tallboys, 80 tokens, and a branded fanny pack for $30.
Games & Machines
The cabinet lineup reads like a greatest-hits tour of the arcade era. Classic uprights and cocktail cabinets include Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Centipede, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong Jr., BurgerTime, Food Fight, Frogger, Moon Patrol, Mario Bros., Tapper, Ikari Warriors, Karate Champ, Championship Sprint, Area 51 / Maximum Force, Hydro Thunder, NBA Hangtime, RBI Baseball, Rush the Rock, and Sunset Riders. Pac-Man Battle Royale: Chompionship is set up for head-to-head competitive play.
Fighting and beat-’em-up fans find a deep roster: Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 4, Killer Instinct, Marvel Super Heroes, Time Crisis 2, House of the Dead, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Other standouts on the floor include Gauntlet Legends, Ghostbusters, Crystal Castles, Dance Dance Revolution, Ice Cold Beer, Vs. Super Mario Bros., Vs. Ice Climber, War: Final Assault, X-Men (6-Player), Carnevil, Punch-Out!!, Rampage, and Ninja Baseball Bat Man.
The pinball collection is also substantial, with Cactus Canyon, Deadpool, Elvira: House of Horrors, Foo Fighters, Godzilla, Iron Maiden, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Star Wars (pinball), Stranger Things, Venom, and Avengers: Infinity Quest all represented.
Pricing is uniform across the floor: every game costs 25 cents per play. Multiple token and food specials run throughout the week, including a 777 Happy Hour (seven specials for $7 until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday), a Late Night Happy Hour from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. with 2-for-1 tokens, half-price pizza slices, and $3.50 Alabama Frogger Lager, 10-cent tokens all night Sunday through Thursday, 2-for-1 tokens on Fridays from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., and a Thursday deal where the first 100 guests receive 20 free tokens and $2 slices until 8 p.m.
Visiting
Up-Down Birmingham is located in Birmingham, Alabama. The address line is listed as Birmingham, AL, and exact street details should be confirmed directly with the venue. Standard operating hours run 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Entry is 21+ for regular hours. Family Hours, which welcome all ages, are scheduled for the following dates in 2026: January 4, February 1, March 1, April 12, May 17, June 14, July 12, August 2, September 13, October 4, November 8, and December 6.
Food and drink run the gamut from house-made pizza by the slice to 18-inch made-to-order pies feeding 3–5 people, plus craft beer, cocktails, and Alabama Frogger Lager. Group and private event bookings are available through the venue’s “Plan an Event” option, and party groups can order pizza by the slice or whole pie. Contact is available by phone at 659-272-4144 or through the venue’s website.
To compare this venue against other Birmingham-area game rooms, browse the interactive arcade map or use the arcade finder to filter by city, type, and amenities. Same-city neighbors include Up-Down Birmingham, Activate Games, Lucky Strike Birmingham, and Great Big Game Show Birmingham. Venue owners can claim this listing to keep details current.