EightyTwo has carved out a distinctive corner of Los Angeles’s barcade map since opening in 2014. The venue bills itself as a vintage gaming den that happens to run a serious bar program, and the layout makes that case immediately: rows of glowing pinball and arcade cabinets line the floor while a back-wall bar anchors the room and a full-time DJ turns the listening bar into an ongoing soundtrack. It is dim, industrial, and deliberately clubby, with craft cocktails, ten draft beers, and a 3,000-square-foot outdoor green patio that opens up the otherwise dark, warehouse-style interior.
The venue’s promise to visitors is simple: show up, walk in, play. Entry is free at all times, no reservations are accepted, and the focus stays tightly on the more than fifty-five vintage pinball and arcade machines, the bar, and the patio. EightyTwo is strictly 21 and older, food is not allowed on the premises, and the closest same-city neighbors in the RetroArcade directory include Barcade, Blipsy Bar, Arcade Vintage, and Family Arcade LA, each offering a different take on LA’s gaming-bar landscape.
At a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Los Angeles, CA |
| Hours | Monday: Closed; Tuesday–Friday: 5 PM–2 AM; Saturday–Sunday: 2 PM–2 AM |
| Rating | 4.5 out of 5 from 2,700 Google reviews |
| Best For | Date night, casual drinkers, large groups, solo visitors |
What Players Say
Across 2,700 Google reviews, EightyTwo’s strongest praise goes to the combination of atmosphere and game selection. Reviewers call out the vibe as a clear favorite — “Love the vibe of this place” — Google review — and they consistently single out the depth of the floor: “one whole section dedicated to pinball machines and another area filled with throwback arcade games,” — Google review. Machine upkeep earns frequent nods as well, with one reviewer noting that “The machines are well cared for,” — Google review.
Drink quality draws a more mixed response. Some visitors cite “amazing drinks and amazing prices,” — Google review, while service at the bar is the source of the most polarized feedback, ranging from attentive to “the bartender was whatever like he didn’t care really to act nice or fun,” — Google review. Crowds and noise are the consistent downsides: “Gets packed so you’ll be waiting to play pinball or arcade games,” — Google review, and “The music was extremely loud, making it difficult to hear the bartenders,” — Google review. Entry security is also worth flagging — “security will search you and maybe pat you down/wand you before you enter,” — Google review — and the no-food policy is a frequent complaint, summed up neatly as “There’s no food here. Full bar plus a few arcade games to choose from,” — Google review. On the value side, repeat visitors appreciate that “they still charge you less per play and have amazing drinks and amazing prices,” — Google review.
Games & Machines
EightyTwo runs more than 55 vintage pinball and arcade machines on a free-entry floor. The collection leans heavily on classic pinball, with a dedicated section of machines and a separate zone of throwback arcade cabinets filling out the rest of the room. Two specific cabinets are called out on the venue’s homepage — a Street Fighter II arcade cabinet and a The Who-themed pinball machine — alongside an unspecified roster of additional vintage pinball and arcade machines. Per-play or card-system pricing is not disclosed on the site, so the practical takeaway is that everything on the floor is available on a first-come, first-served walk-up basis, with tokens or plays priced individually at the machines themselves.
Visiting
EightyTwo is located in Los Angeles, California, with the full street address not listed on the homepage. Doors open Tuesday through Friday from 5 PM to 2 AM, and Saturday and Sunday from 2 PM to 2 AM, with Mondays dark. The venue is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. The age policy is strict — 21 and older at all times — and the no-food rule means visitors should plan to eat before or after their stop. No reservations are accepted for any group size, balloons, decorations, and outside food are not permitted on-site, and entry is always free.
Drink-wise, the bar leans into craft cocktails, ten rotating draft beers, bottled beers, seltzers, and wine, with seasonal cocktail specials rounding out the program. A small retail space inside the venue adds a little extra browsing between rounds. For travelers comparing options, the RetroArcade arcade map is the fastest way to plot EightyTwo against other Los Angeles stops, while the arcade finder lets readers filter by city, venue type, and amenities. Venue operators who manage EightyTwo’s listing can update hours, machines, and photos through the claim your listing page.