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 Williamsburg to Park Slope / Gowanus and Upper West Side. 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.
Mess Hall
4.5(24)Harlem · $
The Hack Shack
4.5(24)Midtown Manhattan
The Richardson
4.5(23)Williamsburg · $$
Barcade Brooklyn
4.5(22)Williamsburg · $
Skylark
4.5(20)Park Slope / Gowanus · $$
High Dive
4.5(18)Park Slope / Gowanus · $
Iona
4.5(17)Williamsburg · $$$$
Monro Pub
4.5(17)Park Slope / Gowanus · $
Brooklyn Bowl
4.4(26)Williamsburg · $$
Uncle Barry's
4.4(25)Fort Greene · $
Full Circle Bar
4.4(23)Williamsburg · $
The Ditty
4.4(23)Astoria / Long Island City · $$
Lawn Club
4.4(21)Lower Manhattan / FiDi · $$
Ray's
4.4(19)East Village / LES · $
Buttermilk Bar
4.4(17)Park Slope / Gowanus · $
The Roxy Bar
4.4(17)SoHo / NoHo / Nolita · $$
Bob's Your Uncle
4.4(12)Upper West Side · $
Nancy Whiskey Pub
4.4(5)Tribeca · $
Alligator Lounge
4.4(5)Williamsburg · $
Amsterdam Billiards
4.3(22)Flatiron / Gramercy · $$
Cellar Dog
4.3(20)West Village / Greenwich Village · $
Lucky Strike Chelsea Piers
4.3(17)Chelsea / Hell's Kitchen
Rocka Rolla
4.3(15)Williamsburg · $
Dive 75
4.3(13)Upper West Side · $
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 Mess Hall in Harlem, rated 4.5 out of 5. The Hack Shack and The Richardson round out the top 3.
- Which New York neighborhoods have the best arcades & games?
- Williamsburg (7), Park Slope / Gowanus (4) and Upper West Side (2) have the most spots in the top 24.
- Are there affordable arcades & games in New York?
- Yes — Mess Hall, The Richardson and Barcade Brooklyn 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.