16-Bit Bar+Arcade

Super chill vibe! Cincinnati is finally getting cool. Great drinks and good place to start the night and do a bar crawl in OTR

Based on the concept, it’s a phenomenal nostalgic game room and you don’t have to pay!!! It’s like being a kid again with a drink in your hand!
They have signature drinks that are moderates priced but for something stronger, you’re going to pay a pretty penny (a pour of tequila is $ 20). Pretty packed for a Sunday night but an mellow crowd and a great place to go hang with friends.

I keep coming back. A lot of fun even for the not-​so-​big gamer. Even on a packed night there’s a game open for you and your friend to play while you drink. The concept of free gaming as long as you buy a drink is genius. And it’s a fun date night! I got the drink with a Popsicle in it, $ 8 and worth it.

I love 16-​Bit to pieces. That’s all there is to it. It’s easily my favorite bar in Cincinnati and it’s all thanks to the incredible theme and the fantastic bartenders.
As long as you’re drinking you get to play a number of old school arcade games for free, save the pinball machines (so bring some bills and get some change at the quarter dispenser). My personal favorite games are the Centipede stand-​up and GoT pinball. Super fun! There’s posters and sayings, primarily from pop culture powerhouses of the 1980s, decorating the walls. The restrooms are shockingly cool too. There’s chalk when you walk in, so you can doodle on the walls.
They have a pretty extensive list of what’s available at the bar, so you’re guaranteed to like something. They have alcoholic slush puppies, some seriously delicious cocktails, plus a large variety of beer on tap and a whiskey selection that rivals that of your father’s liquor cabinet.
There was one occasion when I felt a small shard of glass on my drink after I had taken a few gulps. I showed the bartender and, having explained my hesitation to drink anymore of it as a result, she remade my drink for me and sincerely apologized. The people working here are seriously professional and personable, which is a huge plus.
It’s always a good time, so if you haven’t made a stop by yet be sure to add it to your OTR to-​do list!

Awesome bar with all the free games could could ever want to play — except pinball. You’ll need quarters for the pinball games. :(
The house cocktail is loaded with fun novelty items. The Game Over comes in a plastic mason jar with a screw on lid which is great when you’re surrounded by enthusiastic gamers!

This place is a playground for adults. I absolutely love the concept. Kinda busy and crowded on the weekends but the drinks were good (not cheap) and the atmosphere was too fun to pass up, don’t miss this bar if you’re in Cincy!

I like 16 bit. The old school video games are fun to play. They rotate them out so don’t get hooked on playing one because the next time you go there it may not be there. There is a wide variety of beverages meaning there is a price point for everyone from $ 2 PBRs to specialty cocktails. Oh and for those people from or who love Chicago you’ll be happy to know they sell Old Style.

Please go away so I can enjoy this place all to myself.
Awesome bar, great drinks, gotta pop in everytime im in otr.

Try the Bill Nye! It comes in a beaker.

Do you like video games? drinking? 80’s and 90’s nostalgia? If so, this is the place for you.
Positives
— As long as you’re drinking, you play for free
— Atmosphere is really cool. It’s a mix between a modern trendy bar and an arcade.
— No kids (except for one Sunday a month I think)
— Good beer selection
— Great whiskey selection
— Inventive cocktails
Things to be aware of
— Gets crowded at night and on weekends
— Game selection is more casual, you probably aren’t going to find the latest competitive arcade games here

This is a super fun bar, that doesn’t take itself too seriously, which can be a breath of fresh air sometimes in OTR. There are tons of free to play old-​school video games and hilarious nostalgia themed cocktails, like the Hulk Hogan (which has a Popsicle in it). If you’re not a big gamer, the people watching is equally fun! It’s so much fun to see how into the games people get — I doubt you’ll find a pack of bros yelling at a Pac Man console at any other bar.
Another unusual and awesome thing about 16-​bit is that the space itself is giant when compared with other OTR bars. There’s plenty of room for TONS of games, some tables for when your thumbs need a break, and a large bar. 16-​bit does fill up on the weekends though, so get ready to have to stalk out the q*bert game console to get to play!

What a neat place. First, have to say spent a lot of time, in my younger days playing many of these classic machines. We went there today and really enjoyed playing the games. Actually wound up putting my name on the centipede machine for a good score. Great drink selection, especially what is on tap. Also, really like the high top tables that they have by the machines. These are bolted in place so your drink will not be going anywhere.
Only game 4 stars because:
— Why charge to play pinball? Everything else is free
— No food /​snacks available. Even just selling some bags of chips or pretzels would have been good. Actually, would have stayed longer, but needed to take in some food to absorb the alcohol.
Fun place … Check it out

I’m in love with this concept. I can honestly say I’ve never been past level 2 in the 6-​player X-​Men arcade game because I always ran out of quarters and patience. Enter 16 Bit Bar+Arcade, keeping the game going for free as long as there’s a drink in your hand. Whoever came up with this idea was nothing short of brilliant. I’ve visited another 16-​Bit location in Columbus, OH, but the layout of the Cincy bar makes so much more sense and gives you a little more breathing room.
I also love the addition of retro consoles to add a little Crash Bandicoot and Sonic the Hedgehog to the vintage arcade mix. If this place sold BBQ, I’d move in.

This is such a cool concept. I wish we had a spot like this in Louisville.
16-​Bit Bar+Arcade is exactly what is sounds like– a bar with a bunch of cool games to play. It is 80’s pop-​culture themed so they have all of the old, fun games like Pac-​Man, Punch-​Out, Mortal-​Combat, etc. It is free to play everything, with the exception of pinball, as long as you are ordering drinks.
The drink list and craft beer selection are pretty sweet too. The cocktails are all named after actors or musicians from the 80’s. My boyfriend had the Pam Anderson, a tropical drink and I had the Patrick Swayze, a refreshing gin cocktail with mint. ($ 8 each)

There seems to be this new breed of bars popping up now, Barcades. Bars where adults can go and relive their youth, usually without a fist full of quarters. Some are just meh, with mostly games that were not relevant. These games are usually I’m sad repair, and titles that no one cared about. But this bar in Cincinnati is different.
The owners and staff have found some of the best games, in the finest condition I’ve seen. The games span generations, from Space Invaders, Tempest and Defender (my gen) to the newer Mortal Kombats and shooting games.
All are set on freeplay, except for pinball. There is also an area for console games. The crowd was very diverse, but one thing was true for all. Everyone was having fun, laughing, watching and playing video games.
The beer selection was mostly craft beers, and reasonably priced.

What a great concept!
Let me lay it down for you: Old school arcade games (for FREE) and a great beer, wine, and cocktail list. What is not to like?! I’ll admit, it was pretty darn crowded the night that I came here, but we still had a blast. They have everything from Frogger to The Simpsons game to Donkey Kong to Pinball (Pinball costs extra). Although it was crowded the night I came in, we were promptly served drinks whenever we ordered. I would certainly come back and would love to try it on a less crowded night so that I could play games to my heart’s content!

With a three hour wait for dinner, my boyfriend and I headed over to 16-​Bit Bar and Arcade to blow off some of the time. Inside, they have dozens of various arcade games (for free with drink purchase), a few pay to play options, and four video game systems (again, free for customers). All of the games are really entertaining to play — especially with a few of their signature cocktails in hand!
I took off one star due to how messy this place sometimes gets when busy. A lot of people leave their empty glasses or beer cans all over the tables /​games, making it rather uncomfortable for the next person to try to play. Then the bartenders cannot get around fast enough to clean everything up. It’s super easy to drop off your empty glasses at the bar and creates a continuously clean environment for everyone!
They also have great apparel available to buy! A Princess Bride t-​shirt was only $ 20!

I’ve heard a lot about this place and it is definitely a cool concept. I came here on a Wednesday around 8 to avoid big weekend crowds. The place was busy but the games weren’t anywhere near full. Go during the week if it’s your first time here.
They had a good beer selection and the bartender let us try a new beer from a local brewery and it was delicious, so that’s what we had (forgot the name). I also tried one of the $ 3 tall cans of some Chicago beer that is like a PBR. Those were pretty good as well even though I don’t really like PBR. If you’re on a budget — get this. Next time I would probably get a specialty cocktail just to try it out.
They had a great selection of games. Some of my absolute favorites since my parents own a skating rink with an arcade. I grew up playing Area 51, Galaga, and Centipede, all of which they had. Great for a date night with your boo or just hanging with friends. I couldn’t help but thinking that if you were on a bad first date here, you could just pretend you were super competitive and needed silence to play… kidding (kinda).
I wouldn’t come back every week or anything but this is an awesome place to switch it up and try something different. If I had friends in from out of town, I’d definitely bring them here! Well deserved 4 stars.

Just when I thought our city could not get ANY cooler along comes 16-​Bit.
16-​Bit Bar + Arcade is located in the heart of Over-​the-​Rhine and is a breath of fresh air. What is 16 bit you ask?
«With a name coined from the computer architecture that several of our 50+ vintage arcade games were built on, 16-​Bit appeals to those looking for an alternative to the monotonous. From bar-​going veterans to young open-​minded, beer-​centric types, to arcade game novices and enthusiasts, the nostalgic and playful vibe is for players of all types. The time has come to relive your childhood and party like it’s 1999, or 1989 for that matter.» — From website.
I don’t know if I could have said it any better than that. So what I will say is this — this place is awesome in so many ways. No matter who you are you will have some personal connection to this place and I think that is my favorite thing about it. Whether it’s the music, a game, a pop-​culture moment– it reaches a deep place inside you and regurgitates memories that you haven’t thought about in years. And, hey the booze isn’t bad either ;)
Memorable Cocktails:
* KEVIN BACON —
JIM BEAM MAPLE BOURBON + GINGER ALE + REAL BACON JERKY
* HULK HOGAN —
VODKA + LEMONADE + ORIGINAL BOMB POP POPSICLE
They also have around 20 different rotating drafts, some pretty sweet cans, your classic favs like PBR, and a pretty legit bourbon selection. There is pretty much something for everyone, and as a cocktail lover myself I was super pumped to see such a creative list! I was also pleased to see that they actually have a server come up to you no matter where you are in the room. Heck yes! Totally unexpected and greatly appreciated.
Their ordering system is all on the i-​pad too. So you can swipe your card there to open a tab and actually see the beer’s logo you want to drink right there on the screen. I’ve never seen anything like this before. So bad ass and extremely efficient. Hats off for great service.
Pro Tips:
— Bring change to play pinball. It is the only game that cost money.
— Don’t hog the games. Everyone wants to play! Sharing is caring folks.
— If you want to play the consoles: nintendo, sega, atari etc. come at off peak times right when they open and avoid on the weekends.
Hours:
Mon-​Fri: 4 PM — 2:30 AM
Sat/​Sun: NOON — 2:30 AM
They usually have a food truck outside on the weekends too which is AMAZING. This is one of my go-​to places right now and I love the fact that I can bring a date here, my brother, my mom, or my boss. It is a great time all around. Bookmark 16bit and #GETOVERHERE

When I’m in 16-​Bit, I feel like i’m reliving the coolest parts of my adolescence, but now with BOOZE.
First off, the space is beautiful. It’s bigger than your average OTR bar, and the décor is super cool… Ohio references all over the place, plus a rustic industrial, 1980s vibe but in a «classy» way (or at least as classy as a bar arcade can be).
The games were free with the purchase of a drink. My friends and I were attached to Area 51 and Rampage for like an hour last Saturday (games are so much more fun with unlimited lives!). If you’re interested in pinball, make sure you bring your quarters because it’s 50 cents per play.
Their craft beer list is extensive, covering the usual local beers, and then some. They also have a unique cocktail list. Most people seemed to be ordering the Hulk Hogan, which is a cocktail with one of those red white and blue popsicles in it that you used to eat when you were 8 years old. The nostalgia factor alone makes it worth ordering!
I love this place, and I will be sure to come back for happy hour when it is a little less crowded. Saturday night it was packed, and you had to wait for a game every now and then, so I’m hoping during the week it will be less busy. This is a great addition to my usual OTR bar rotation!