First the bar tenders are awesome and superfriendly! Second, this is a great place to have some good conversations and also play arcade games while you drink. They have a free game night but I forget which one that it is. This is a much more low-key and expensive experience compared to box car

Nice venue, not huge, non token games ($0.25), good bar, live dj sometimes.

This establishment is an 80s kid dream come true. All the Retro games you grew up spending your allowance money on Plus 80s music and alcohol! What more can you want? They have great game selection and great music crate bar staff and and overall nostalgic feel that gives you the warm and fuzzies!

Love this bar. Has a great chill vibe and free play night is amazing. And they have a disco ball and a pizza phone. A must-visit!

This place is great. I went here with my kiddos recently and we all had a blast. The basement location only adds to the overall cool vibe of the space. While Ive been to some barcades with much bigger selections of games, the selection of pinball and video games here is still pretty freaking good, and the prices for everything is really reasonable. Family hours last until 8pm. I recommend checking it out.

Was looking for something to do after a concert on a Monday night. This was a gem for the dive bar connoseurs. You do have to look for it and id not for Google I probably would of never found it, especially being in a basement. Pinball machines and classic arcade line up from wall to wall. There are movies being played while you indulge in the drink specials all named from old movies. You will be immersed in the nostalgia of 80s and 90s toys behind the bar as well as some of the older pinballs. The sitting is cushy and the drinks are stout.

An awesome barcade that I am truly jealous of Durham for having. Great selection, cool atmosphere.

Great spot! We visited the Pinball Museum in Asheville which was much bigger but man this hit the spot. We were in town for the weekend looking for a chill place to play some games and this was perfect. At times we were the only people there. I spent my time at the bar drinking beer while my husband played the room. I had a go at Crazy Taxi which was...wow since it had been about a decade since I played that. Perfect!

Nice down-to-earth place love the basement, great games. Fun place to go and have a good time!!

I really like the arcade games. Theres a whole wall of pinball machines and some classic games like Frogger and Tetris. Most of the games are reasonably priced too. You can also change the color of some lights over the pinball wall by scanning something.

Great bar lots of old school games for everyone to enjoy but cant lie our favorite is the taxi game takes me back to the dream cast.Also the beer is not over priced like most places and neither are the games.Bring friends and family you wont regret it.

I threw a surprise birthday party here on a Saturday night. The games were on free play all night, the bartenders were friendly and made good drinks, and the venue itself had a very cool vibe. We brought in an outside cake and they stored it for us in their fridge until we cut it. Pie Pushers delivered all the food right on time and it was delicious. Pretty much everyone at the party commented on how great and perfect the place was for the party. I definitely plan to go again, and would also recommend the venue for anyone looking to throw a low-key and fun party.

This bar was so cool! I stopped in when I was passing through Durham on a road trip, and originally planned to go to the bar across the street if Im being honest. Im glad I changed my mind, as this place was way more up my alley!Its a fully stocked bar that can make and serve whatever drink you have in mind. However the real draw is the arrangement of pinball tables and arcade cabinets! They had all sorts of classic and modern tables to play including my favorite; No Good Gofers!Its a shame I was only passing through. Id love if my local town had a similar place!

Always have extra and excellent service hereThis place is on the way home for me and a couple women from workSo we often make an excuse (not very hard to convince me!) to stop by Friday after work.Loves it.Or as they sayNailed it!

I love an arcade bar, and the name and logo had a lot going for it. All the games we tried were broken or ate quarters. We were in and out in under 20 minutes.

Cute little Arcaide a tad to dark 4 my taste. I like a well lit area. But it has a cool pinball game!

Great little bar for some hidden nostalgia, love the throwback movies that are always playing. Plenty of free play opportunities too.

I cant say enough good things about this place. Everything I want in a local dive bar. Literally underground. Chock full of Durham flavor. Consistantly good local DJs on the weekends. Always excellent beer selections and drink specials. Free Play on video games all day Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.

This is such a fun place! Fun old school arcade games. Great drinks. Fun vibe!

Perfect place to end a night out. Small, but good beer and cocktail choices. Some of the games were free, which was awesome. ALSO, the arcade games dont kick you off even if you win the round, unlike some other local bar/arcades.

Highly disappointed with the “Quarter Horse Arcade”. On October 11, I was visiting my family in Durham and close family members invited to “Quarter Horse Arcade” . Upon arriving, the bouncer at the door told me that I was not allowed to enter the bar after presenting my consular ID card. When asked why, the bouncer stated that it is not a valid ID. I proceeded to tell him that the Consular identification card is indeed considered a government issued I.D. I tried to explain to him that the consular ID is accepted as a form of identification with NC police and by many establishments in the same city. Also, I tried to explain him that it is a valid ID and Chicago where I live. The bouncer rudely replied, “maybe in Chicago but here in NC, the laws are not the same” and continually spoke over me. Not only was I being shamed but he was dismissive towards me whenever I tried to speak. I left feeling disappointed, shamed, and discriminated. Before judging and being rude towards customers, I would highly recommend the staff to be more informed on not only laws of the state but also improving their customer service skills. I will not be recommending this establishment.

Pretty cool barcade.Well maintained pinball machinesFriendly and knowledgeable staff.Check them out!

Lots of fun old arcade games and pinball machines in an unpretentious basement hide out

Cozy 80s feel. Friendly staff that pour good drinks. Nice way to spend an evening and not spend a fortune!

The free play night was fun.

Fun. Quiet. Dark. Less expensive and noisy than Boxcar.

For a fun night out away from the kids and with friends why not. You’ll have a fun time!!

Their alcohol selection was pretty limited, and had to turn away another guest because he brought an international ID instead of his foreign passport. The arcade game selection is good, but that was about it.Edit: I didnt realize that was an issue of ID laws, and not bar policy.

Love this place. Friendly staff great drinks and fun atmosphere. Awesome place to grab a drink and play some dope arcade games.

On the smaller side when compared to Boxcar and the Baxter but still plenty of seating. They do not serve food but you can call for a pizza from Pie Pusher. Wide range of games with an emphasis on pinball. We came on a Saturday during the day and it was dead. I could see folks bringing their kids here during that time. Small but nice selection of beers on tap with prices that are on par with the rest of the area. We chatted up the bartender Hans and swapped travel stories while the boys played games. I could see bringing out of town guests here and interested to see what happens to this place once Boxcar opens up. Not a place I would go out of my way to come to but we enjoyed ourselves and I will return.

Really cool. Underground...literally. A lot of games to choose from. Better bang for your dollar and the staff is nice. And if pinball is your thing than this is it. Better than Boxcar

Fun little venue with a laid-back crowd.It was karaoke night - which wasnt ideal but we went with it. Mic needed to be equalized some kinda bad. But thats neither here nor there.Good variety of pinball tables. A couple of the games were not functioning, but as is such with retro arcades. A few classic games, I didnt see (hello Galactica/Dig Dug/Centipede).Bartender was nice enough, coulda been a little more attentive and conversational. But hey. Takes all kinds behind the bar. He seemed more adept at talking with regulars, fair enough.

Drinks were affordable, low key crowd, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING MUSIC, and fun games! If you make it, check out the car racing mini game in the back!

Had a nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Ill definitely be back.

Had my birthday party here! super pretty games, and nice staff

My cousin and I went here and had a really good time.

We had an event here. The game selection is alright, and we had a good time. Its a good place to hang out with a group.

Havent been in a while but I need to go back. Was a pretty neat place to have a drink especially during the week.

Great place for cheap beers and 80s movies.

If you want to play some classic games this is an awesome spot. It’s not as big as I thought it would be, but they have a great atmosphere and good beer choices.

Love this place. Good pinball machines. Free play on Monday and Tuesday nights.

Great pinball games and some good old time favorite video games (like a Donkey Kong Remix... I didnt know that existed). Worth the time and money to spend some good times there. Totally on my must go list for Durham, NC

Hole in the wall quarter arcade place. Wish it had a variety of games but its mostly pinball.

Arcade games are super cheap! Only 25/50 cents

Decent collection of videos and diverse selection of pinballs, 80s on up. Three stars based on the some of the machines I really wanted to play were down at the time but I get it, their old like me. Easy to find, not to crowded, has that dive bar/college bar feel. Staff was attentive and knowledgeable about the games. Plenty of options on beer and drinks. Definitely a place to check out if you are in the area

Overall....Ok. Beer selection on draft a little limited, but good choices. My evening was spoiled a little at the beginning by another patron who said I was playing a game in a stupid way. I was playing House of the Dead (a light gun game) and using both guns. I asked her if she was going to use both guns she said no, cause Im not stupid. This was after she was watching me play. Just really put a sour taste in my mouth for the evening. Also, if there is a special make sure the bartender is honoring it. I reminded the bartender on my third drink that they were supposed to be 2 dollars off. He said sorry and made no efforts to compensate me for the fact that he had overcharged me for the 2 previous drinks and I walked away. It was fun for a one-off but I dont see a reason to go back. Except for Ice Cold Beer. That game was super fun and involved a marble a physics, no screen. SUPER FUN.

Good for a trip back to the 80s with pinball machines and old Atari and Nintendo video games. The machines take actual quarters too. Drinks were mixed between really tasty green tea shots and some gnarly concoctions. There is 80s music and movies playing with a DJ twice a month. The DJ was hit or miss.

The Anti-Boxcar

Ever wanted to play a bunch of old arcade games in a basement? Who hasnt? This place is awesome, and its one of my favorite places in Durham right now.Great staff, a lot of fun old games, the best of which is Ice Cold Beer. Ive spent too much on Ice Cold Beer, and the game has become an office right of passage for new and old. Chanting ICE COLD BEER as loud as possible over and over never gets old.Theres a small draft selection but they always have a good mix of styles. No kitchen, but you wouldnt want greasy fingers all over the Smash TV controls anyways.Pro-tip: Mondays are free play night. All you can play games which is fun on a bun.

Love this place. Cool retro and a lot of fun. Where else in town can you get a beer while playing Frogger?

When I went some of the games were set for free play. Drinks arent real cheap but you cant beat free video games and pinball

Fun and nostalgic. Bring your quarters!

A really fun basement barcade. Kind of a hole in the wall but with character and a friendly staff with people out for a good time.

Not much of a crowd Friday night after midnight.....Clean environment, good mucic !

Old school arcade for adults. It features a rotation of pinball machines and original arcade games. There was Rampage, Crazy Taxi, Donkey Kong, Ms. Pacman and some classic shoot em ups with zombies and dinosaurs. Theres TVs, an important pizza phone and bar. They also feature family hours and free play times.

Quarter horse has a great selection of quality games and pinball machines and the staff is very friendly.

A little slice of absolute heaven in downtown Durham. Super nice staff. The atmosphere is exactly what you want in a bar-cade. Its dark, theres great music playing, and the sounds of the pinball machines and games fill the room and envelop you in a womb of happiness. Oh, and theres draft, can and bottled beer and liquor too. Game selection is really great. 80s classics as well as some deep cuts. Membership is simple, fast and free. Im a dad, so I have the right to say that its rad that this place is 21 and up. Change machines available for quarters. If youve got no cash, bar staff will do a $5 minimum on your tab and give you five ones. So stoked on this place!!

My family loves this place! Prices for games are TOTALLY reasonable and so are the prices for drinks and snacks. The environment is fab! The staff is ace (high quality). Weve run into nothing but friendly people there. Its, also, a trip down memory lane. Nostalgic! I totally recommend this place for fun gaming, good brews, and vibes with or without family!

I got beat at Mrs Pac man but it was a fun time!

Dig the vibe here. Very chill. Service is pretty good at the bar. A bit pricey in my opinon, but otherwise the kids love it and the location is cool. Kids allowed until 8 on at least Sat, not sure of other days.

Very cool little bar

A very cool barcade! Great place to spend a few hours.

We found this place while killing time before a show at DPAC. We had a blast playing through House of the dead and a few other classic games. A fantastic arcade with none of the carnival ticket nonsense.

About the closest thing to a true Hole in the wall bar. Vintage arcade machines, friendly service, and my favorite part they were one on Christmas Eve (well I dont if will be like that every year but I hope so). If you are a Regan baby like me who remembers what it felt like to actually go put and play games in the arcade first before buying it on console or like drinking in close quarters. This place is for you.

Sick little bar with some cool games, both modern and not. They have traditional arcade games up front and then a couch with Steam in the back I like. Also, they occasionally have swing dances. Thats rad.

Its got geek bar cred for days. The first true Barcade in the city and you can tell the owner has his heart and soul in it. The DJ booth is a bit awkward. There is not a lot of room for dancing between the bar, tables, games, and posts. Ice Cold Beer is the standout game for me--give it a try for sure.

Cool with arcade games. Had a couple drinks.with friends while visiting them here. Enjoyed the variety of arcade games I could choose from. Some with 1 to 2 players. Can order food from.thr pizza place around the corner as an option.

I went to Quarter Horse Arcade with my coworkers recently and we had a great time. There is a good selection of vintage arcade games and pinball machines, including a Dirty Harry pinball game that Ive never seen before but is a lot of fun. The space is somewhat on the smaller side, which limits the amount of room at the bar and the number of machines they have. However, quality trumps quantity in my book and with games like Spy Hunter, Pole Position, and Donkey Kong, who needs anything else?Their beer selection is also decent with a good number of drafts available that seem to change regularly. In terms of the atmosphere, if you come at around 5-6pm youll see people coming off work looking to relax with a few games and a beer. Later on the evening, the crowd gets trendier. It has the chill feel of Baxter in Chapel Hill. Boxcar in Raleigh is a little bit more intense, with people waiting for their turn at machines and isnt my cup of tea. So all in all, Quarter Horse is good, if but a little on the small side, and I hope to come back soon.

This has been my go-to place since moving to Durham. The decked out basement brings a great vibe to the location with great selection of music/movies playing in the background. Drinks are priced well, and the partnership w/ Pie Pusher pizza slice delivery makes this an awesome hang-out spot. Bring your quarters!

It definitely gives you those 80s lowkey in the cut arcade vibes. They played some good music and the cabinets ( arcade machines) were pretty varied. Alot of old classics that brought me back. Only one gripe, Bring your own quarters.

Cozy little bar with a retro gaming theme, and retro arcade games. Great prices on beer, friendly staff. Free game play on Mondays and Wednesdays. Would recommend!

I was frustrated by the experience I had this weekend. Many of the games coin slots were messed up, the joysticks were loose or not working and some of the flippers stuck on the pinball games. If this is your only option while youre downtown its probably fine, but if you can drive 20 minutes into Chapel Hill or Raleigh, youll find much nicer options.

Expensive drinks and most of the games were broken.Updated response - I got this placed mixed up with an Level Up in Raleigh when completing reviews (my bad). Very cool place. We definitely want to check this out again. Thanks.

An amazing barcade! The staff is pretty laid back but attentive and the selection, while small, is pretty top notch. Plus to top it off a great beer selection with some of the areas microbrews. Definitely going back!

Ohhhh a 4. Im pretty generous with my stars though.

Great games, good beer, whst more you want

Underground bar with fantastic selection of classic arcade and pinball machines

Tons of fun! Check out this bar on Mondays for free-play games. They added a lot of pinball, which isnt my style. Still a lot of fun arcade games to make it worthwhile.

Fairly quiet/intimate for an arcade bar, which is good. Could use some better specials or promotions, though

Was also much fun playing my favorite games....the mixed drinks were also good....

Nice place...more arcade than bar...bartender was friendly,knowledgable...got sucked into watching Stranger Things...a good spot to play pinball,and spend an afternoon...one suggestion:need a bigger beer selection,got a LOT of local beer around...wouldve been 5 stars,but for that

Really cool place for some serious nostalgia.

Best place for retro games. From Qbert. To vintage pinball. The best!!??

Awesome 80s and 90s era video games. Cool atmosphere. Took my 11 year old neice for family hours. She loved it.

Nice placeOpen for children before 8pmFree arcade games on Mondays and TuesdaysYou can order a quick pizza on-site

A wide selection of arcade games in the basement with free play pinball on Monday nights. While some other barcades in the area are more kid and family frindly (see Beer Study), Quarter Horse is not. Beer is plentiful and its sold at dive bar prices. Some pinball machines need maintenance, but there are enough working classics (Theater of Magic and Mideval Madness, to name a few) that it justifies a trip for some games and a beer or two.

This is the best place in the area for a relaxed atmosphere, classic arcade games, and great drinks. Somewhat limited selection for the size of the joint but still great. Membership is free and easy, theres a movie collection in the back spanning a few hundred dvds, and usually a DJ.This is a newly opened baracade but theyve made it feel like one thats been here forever, with all the quirks, inside jokes and traditions you find at the rare long-established non-chain. This makes everyone feel at home and part of a special clique even if it is your first time. I overheard something about Charleston but couldnt stick around, so someone ask the bartender or manager.

Great spot for a drink and some games. Be sure to check their schedule so you dont show up on a specialty night (they do swing dancing and other events)

This place is like hanging out in a friends basement. They play movies from your childhood, they sell fruit by the foot and gushers. Plus beer! Great way to spend an afternoon.

Cool old school arcade games - pinball, video games and stuff! Nice stop after a meal in downtown DURM with the family!

Super awesome!

Love the atmosphere. X-files is my favorite, and the newly added mortal combat look awesome.

Awesome vibe, amazing music, diverse crowd, good drinks, great craft beers. What more could one want?! Oh, and all the throwback arcade games. Amazing new space in Durm.

Cool barcade

A lot of pinball and arcade games. A few rotating drafts and a tall cooler stuffed with bottles and cans. Being underground keeps it a little cooler in the summer as well.

Finally a good place to play arcade games.

Great game selection and the atmosphere is more chill than going to a franchised arcade

GrimmPrairie TwistSpongeBob Drunkypants

Good barcade/dive in downtown Durham. There are quite a few games that are out of order which is disappointing, but also quite a few good ones. They have a very kitchsy selection of drinks and snacks that you dont find much in this area!

Nice 80s place.