Best arcades & games for a date in New York
Bowling, arcades and escape rooms, then dinner to settle the score.
60 spots · Jump to the list
A little competition gets you past first-date small talk faster than anything. Bowling, arcades, escape rooms and mini golf give you something to do with your hands and something to laugh about over dinner afterwards. Most are walk-in; escape rooms need booking.
This guide ranks 60 arcades & games in New York, from Midtown Manhattan to Park Slope / Gowanus and Williamsburg. Editors' picks come first, then the rest by rating, and the plans below build a whole evening around the best of them.
The list
Editors' picks first, then by rating.
Gaming City
4.6(15)Astoria / Long Island City · $$
NY Axe Throwing - Williamsburg
4.6(9)Williamsburg · $$
Wild East Brewing Co.
4.6(7)Park Slope / Gowanus · $
Bowlmor
4.6(7)Midtown Manhattan · $$
Brooklyn Crab’s Reed Park
4.5(23)Carroll Gardens / Cobble Hill · $$
Gutter Bar
4.5(13)Williamsburg · $$
SingleCut Beersmiths QNS
4.5(11)Astoria / Long Island City · $
Kingston Hall
4.5(11)East Village / LES · $$
sourmouse
4.4(8)East Village / LES · $$
Beer Culture
4.3(17)Midtown Manhattan · $$
Talon Bar
4.3(14)Bushwick / Ridgewood
Break Bar
4.3(14)Midtown Manhattan · $$
Young Ethel's
4.3(13)Park Slope / Gowanus · $
Kick Axe Throwing Brooklyn
4.3(12)Park Slope / Gowanus · $$
Bobbi’s Italian Beef
4.3(10)Carroll Gardens / Cobble Hill · $
Brooklyn Beer Garden, Bushwick
4.2(25)Bushwick / Ridgewood · $$
Abe's Pagoda
4.2(24)Bushwick / Ridgewood
Bar Great Harry
4.2(24)Carroll Gardens / Cobble Hill
The Hack Shack
4.2(24)Midtown Manhattan
The Richardson
4.2(23)Williamsburg · $$
High Dive
4.2(18)Park Slope / Gowanus · $
Full Circle Bar
4.1(23)Williamsburg · $
The Ditty
4.1(23)Astoria / Long Island City · $$
Lawn Club
4.1(21)Lower Manhattan / FiDi · $$
Showing 25–48 of 60 spots
Good to know
- What's the best arcade or game spot in New York for a date?
- Our top pick is Gaming City in Astoria / Long Island City, rated 4.6 out of 5. NY Axe Throwing - Williamsburg and Wild East Brewing Co. round out the top 3.
- Which New York neighborhoods have the best arcades & games?
- Midtown Manhattan (4), Park Slope / Gowanus (4) and Williamsburg (4) have the most spots in the top 24.
- Are there affordable arcades & games in New York?
- Yes — Gaming City, NY Axe Throwing - Williamsburg and Wild East Brewing Co. are all $$ or under.
- What should we do before or after?
- Make it a game night out: friendly competition, then dinner. The plans on this page pair each top spot with the best-rated places within about a 20-minute walk.