Akihabara Arcade and Bar

What a cool arcade bar! If you’re a huge arcade bar fan like I am, you’ve been to the standard places in Denver. They all have a similar concept of pinball, shooting games, etc. You know the drill. Akihabara is different because they focus on a lot of games you don’t typically find in US arcade bars. They have a lot of Japanese games and none of them cost more than $1 per play! The drink selection is decent. They have most drinks that are standard at bars plus some unique Japanese style drinks like hot sake (very cool). The real drawing factor for me here is that they have cup ramen. What?! So cool to have that at an arcade bar. Service was really good. The bartender made sure to explain everything to me in a very patient manner and was pleasant to make conversation with. They do also host tournaments for games like Tekken, Street Fighter, etc. I was hoping for Super Smash Bros but apparently the TO that organized it before left. Hopefully they make that available soon and you’ll be seeing me there very often!

I went during a $10 free play night expecting the ppace to be packed. It was, but in a good way. There were plenty of machines to play on, and a good selection of cocktails. Many of the machines were on Japanese which added to the authenticity, but some games were hard to understand. I loved it.

Amazing and unique experience. About the only arcade within an hour radius with almost strictly imported machines. Makes for a very novel experience and you just might find your new favorite game here (try Chunithm you won't be disappointed) From a unique bar hopping night out with your friends, to taking the kids out for a fun day at the arcades, to going on your own for a personal hyper fixation on a single game, Aki has something for everyone to enjoy. Akihabara has a vast and diverse selection of imported titles ranging from rhythm games, to fighting games, to JDM racing, all the way to your tried and true arcade shooter. The games are payed for using plain old quarters, as all arcades should be. No $10 spending minimum every time you want to refill some sort of overpriced card to spend on overpriced games. The quarter machines take 1s, 5s and 10s and games cost anywhere between 25¢ to $1. I have yet to see a game cost more than $1. ATM machine present within the arcade and employees will happily break your 20 without requiring you to spend anything for it. For the die hard arcade people, Aki sells profile cards at the bar for $10 a piece to be able to create a profile and track your progress within select games. Be aware, if you find yourself buying this, you're pretty much trapped into coming regularly at this point as the progression within the games becomes exponentially more enjoyable once it becomes tracked and saved by an easy to access account. Aki has many different choices of Ramen, Ramune and name brand soft drinks to choose from for eats and drinks, as well as alcoholic choices including but not limited to Sake. All in all, going to Akihabara is a wonderful and unique arcade experience with extremely consumer friendly practices, reasonable food, drink and game prices, amazing and kind employees, and a diverse community of people attending regularly. No matter who you are, you're bound to find something here you'll find worth your time and money.

The finest arcade in the central US (probably the entire US) if you are looking for Japanese Candy Cabinets. Unbelievable selection. What a hidden gem Denver has here! Well worth a visit. Plan on a couple hours tho. SOO many fun games to play and the machines are in immaculate condition!

11/28/25 Update: The games are updated on a regular basis. I cannot recommend this place enough. Gamers, this is the place for you. I have never been to a Japanese arcade, but this is the closest experience I have ever had! Every fighting game you can think of is here (Tekken Tag, Tekken 7, SF3, SF6, KOF, DBZ, Skullgirls, MK3, and many others...). What really sets this place apart is the collection of rare and hard-to-find games (Ghosts 'n Ghouls, Luigi's Mansion, Typing of the Dead, Initial D, Monkey Ball, and so much more**!**). The service was great. I was immediately welcomed by the bartender, who clearly explained all of the pricing, the game locations, and the menu. They also have an excellent selection of themed and imported drinks. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and vibe. Did I mention all the arcade machines take quarters? They even have DDR! You absolutely have to experience Akihabara—it's a special environment. I found my happy place. 😁

OMG talk about walking into a whole other world! The lights and sounds bring me back to when I was a kid! All the best retro games and they have best racing sim Intial D! Spent about $40 and was there for over 2 hours and $20 was for two of racing cards. Wish we had something like this in California!

First time there for a quick drink- Lively place with plenty of games and space. Thoroughly Japanese themed with fun and unique drink options. I cannot speak to the food since I did not eat here. I cannot highlight Francisco enough- fabulous energy, bartender, and game fixer- HE IS A VIBE. Overall excellent first impression, I can’t wait to go back!

I've been here quite a few times, and its always such a positive experience, but this most recent visit took the cake. I feel awful because I did not get the bartenders names, but the guy and gal working close on November 24th were some of the coolest folks I've ever had the pleasure to work with. I accidentally spilled a drink my wife put down, without question they help me clean it and get me a new one. I later on hurt my hand (totally my own fault, my wedding ring caught on one of the controllers and I was too tipsy to notice) the gal stopped everything to grab me a bandaid and help apply it. They were kind, patient and so welcoming to all my friends who came to celebrate my birthday. It was a really awesome time and the bartenders made it all the better. Also! They fixed the gacha machines and now have the cutest vocaloid figurines that im in love with! I wish that the gacha could take quarters and was maybe a bit cheaper, but everything else is super well priced and, once again, service is always so amazing and welcoming ❤️❤️❤️

I can't say this place matches the real Akihabara but it tries to - hitting some key components First some great drinks and not over prices. Plus they have Street Fighter 6 and plenty of other games. A must-visit for gamers and drink lovers alike!

A fun vibe. A neon wonderland of Japanese arcade games with great drinks at their bar. They have beer, japanese whiskey, shots, and anime themed cocktails from $6-$8. They also serve instant ramen if you get hungry. Classics such as tekken, street fighter; DDR, and air hockey side by side with new game releases are available to play. They also host tournaments on occasion. Open til midnight, check it out for your next hang out.

Man.. I really want to like this place. Last night was my second time there and it was a blood bath to say the least. There was a handful of tournaments happening which my husband and a few friends entered in. The organization of these tournaments was absolutely atrocious. Every admin in charge of this event had no idea what they were doing, what time things were starting and how to handle literally anything about it. They had megaphones which you could not understand a damn thing through even if you were right there, people were being disqualified just for not hearing their name right. One of the female admins was literally yelling at people disrespectfully right in front of her through the damn megaphone. The entire venue was shoulder to shoulder the entire time and I had to essentially mosh to just see my husband play his rounds. Half of the TVs that are meant for streaming the fights were not on/working, and some shit that made absolutely no sense to me was the giant screen they had up on the stage where they could have very clearly displayed guidance or names being called. This could have been organized a million times better and it was wildly disappointing. Only go to this arcade if nothing is happening that demands any sense of organization because you will be disappointed. We were there for 6 hours last night just waiting for one persons rounds to finish. The only good thing about this place is the drinks and the cabinets (even though trying to access any of the cabinets last night was a joke). "Stay Fresh"- do better.

Fun experience This arcade and bar was a fun hangout for myself and a bunch of friends. They offer cup of ramen for sale ($5) and beers. You can bring in outside food but all beverages must be purchased there. Most games cost one quarter to play. More popular/bigger games cost $1 (in quarters). They have a change machine that only accepts $1 bills or $5 bills. If you have anything larger you have to got the bartender and get them to break it for you. This place shares a parking lot with several other businesses so plenty of parking. The bartender was not the nicest. She seemed to be in a bad mood. We kept telling her thank you every time we ordered something but she didn't seem to care so we moved on. Besides her attitude, the atmosphere was fun and engaging! Everyone had a blast and we hope to go back soon!

Fun place! Lots of Japanese arcade games that would be hard to find elsewhere. A good fix if you're itching for various rhythm games. It was fun trying out their drinks that had anime themed names and boy are they strong drinks!

This place is a blast! So many unique Japanese games you won't find at other arcades. The price per game is good too. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Staff was friendly and attentive. We will definitely return when in town.

An arcade with plenty of cabinets and quarter-operated games. Many options to choose from, ranging from new and modern games, to vintage games from the 90s, to things like DDR and Taiko drumming. The crowd was all male 20-30 somethings when my friends and I arrived on a Friday night. The bartender seemed to be the only person working, but he was kind. The hygiene of the one bathroom was questionable, with an empty soap dispenser and litter all over the floor. There doesn't seem to be much else going on here aside from the bar, sort of an odd energy here overall. It's a good time with friends and rolls of quarters but I probably wouldn't come here alone.

It was clean. Not a place I would visit more than once since it seems to be very anime themed, which isn't something I'm huge on.

The boys and I have been coming to Colorado yearly around Spring- Summer time since 2017 (2020 was the only year we couldn't go) This year (2022) the trip started off with weird energy due to mercury being in retrograde. Our Tesla that we rented needed a charge badly so we found some random charging station and needed to pass some time. We looked around and Akihabara was there. It was like a sign from up above. As soon as you enter you can feel the good vibes. The staff is really friendly and down to earth. Really attentive to whatever you need and are really fun and easy to talk to. The game selection! Can we talk about the game selection?? Third Strike, House of the Dead 2, Dead or Alive 2, Street Fighter 2, MK3.. they have so much variety. Fighting games, beat em ups, cabinet shooters. This place is the definition of "time flies when you're having fun" The sake they have on tap had me so confident that I was beating games and DM'ing my hs crushes on Insta. 10/10, 5/5 stars, top 2 and it ain't 2! This is my favorite place in Colorado and I will be coming here every time I visit.

Rad. Hidden in this shopping area but with the adjacent brewery and movie theater this spot will see a ton of foot traffic in the upcoming years. Lots of parking directly outside the building as well in the parking lots adjacent. Some current construction but Westminster requests that you pardon their dust for a brighter future. Several drink options and lesser food variety. The menu rotates but as more people visit I'm sure they'll flesh that out more. The primary attraction includes the arcade and this spot delivers on that. Sure it's not 1 up or Portland's Ground Kontrol but they have the niche games you want! It's less crowded, the games work, aren't "under repair" , and the staff is friendly. A great pace to meet friends for a birthday or just grab a quiet beer mid day and play Metal Slug.

It's not just another arcade bar. It's a arcade bar that has games from Japan. Which is really cool. Been there twice and it's always busy. Good selection of games and good selection of drinks. It's a great place to just hang out. Will definitely recommend. Cheers!

Super fun Japanese arcade. Awesome selection of games, entertaining crowd, and it has a full bar!

This is a really fun place to hang with friends or to have a fun date night. They have a bar with specialty cocktails they've created, three different sparking sakes on tap made by local brewery Colorado Sake Co, and yummy Japanese beers. The arcade has a lot of fun Japanese games including a few new favorites, (thanks to Akihabara) Cho Chabudai Gaeshi - flip the table, Taiko no Tatsujin - a rhythm game where players simulate playing a taiko drum, and Maimai - another rhythmic game where the players interact with objects and buttons on a touch screen. Some of the Japanese games can be tricky to navigate because they are in Japanese, but that's kind of the fun of it. Though it would be nice to have some instructions in English for us non-Japanese speakers. They have a DDR machine, and many of our favorite classics such as The Simpsons, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They have racers, shooter games, and a room full of 2-player classics. All the games take quarters, and they have a change machine in the back for exchanging bills for quarters. Go check out Akihabara and support your community's local small business! You won't be disappointed!

It's been a while since I've been able to go back to Japan (thank you C19), and I've always hoped to find an arcade bar that reminded me of the sounds of the pachinko / arcades when walking around little "towns" in Tokyo near the train stations. I've also been craving a decent high ball, some shochu, and good japanese beer not named Kirin or Sapporo (I'll even take Yebisu at this point!). I didn't know what the deal with the place was, I sort of pegged it as a weeb hangout, and instead would just enjoy the beers and pizza at Kokopelli next door, until my sister was in town and really wanted to play some Dance Dance Revolution and saw this place had it. We decided to check it out and it only disappointed in a few ways. Otherwise, decent drinks (a little pricey), great beer, sake, and mixed drink options, but the weeb-ness was on max display. Its a bar / arcade cosplaying / otaku'ing a Japanese arcade. And you know what? Once you come to terms with that, that it's less cultural appropriation and more just fanning out to Japanese culture, it's not that bad. The game prices weren't terrible, the crowd was friendly and kept to themselves on various games. It was loud, it was dark, it brought me back to Japan, just for an hour or so ;)

Came for DDR, was a bit disappointed to only find one cabinet but shoulda looked beforehand lol. Was easily able to trade off with others while we played other rhythm games and claw machines! Do wish they had more rhythm games but it's a dope little arcade if you're up that way. Will be back

The game selection was awesome. I'm really glad I found this place. Will definitely make many return visits

Perfect little bar and arcade with awesome Japanese cabinets! It's small but even on a Friday there's room to mingle freely and have room to move around. The decorations are anime themed and it makes sense. It's a Japanese themed place. You can get ramen, it's just in the cup - but still. They have Ramune too and some other little snacks. The cabinet games are twenty five cents, the rhythm games are fifty, and I forget what the Nintendo stuff was. All priced perfectly. I'll be back for sure - and you should come too.

This place was sweet. Been meaning to go for a while. All the games I played had working controls, which is really hard for a lot of arcades to pull off. Friendly staff. Chill vibes. Great selection of different games/genres. Awesome.

Admittedly was pretty excited to check out this unique establishment that stands out from its strip mall counterparts. Venue and clientele were great, but the staff were unexpectedly the most disappointing part of the the visit. I assumed the poor customer service was a fluke confined to only me, but after leaving I learned three of my friends also received the same passively aggressive service. Recommendation to management: swap out your bartenders for new staff that understand the importance and value of basic and reliable customer service.

This place was so fun! All the games were in really good condition and were fairly priced!! The mixed drinks were all themed and super cheap. Everyone was so nice and respectful and I'll definitely be going back soon!

Nice range of different arcade games a lot being Co op. They have dance dance and some dj game. Only one shooter that being house of the dead 2. The drinks are decently priced for a bar arcade. There are little tables next to every arcade and you are allowed to bring your drink which is neat. They also have stations with consoles there like the Snes classic and nes classic. The music can be a little overwhelming but it's still fun.

What a great idea Brandon had to open a Japanese themed, nerdy heaven, fast paced, booze loving social club. It's literally every adult child's dream. Anime literally is spot on and spotted everywhere. The restrooms are sooo squeaky clean and very cute, small and comfortable. It is a mighty privilege having bath and body works in the girls restroom so I'm praying no one else will ruin that for us ladies. Anyways the big hall is filled with thousands of games to play from old, classic to basic and challenging computer gaming systems and Nintendo. Main brands like Namco is an example. The owner himself even plans out special occasions and get togethers for his game show nights. Definitely going places.

Do you ever find yourself really wanting to go to an arcade but NOT Dave and Busters? No, just me? Okay. Well then I'll just write this review for myself! I loved this place! The games! The lights! The sounds! It was the perfect escape for hubs and I on several occasions - from family visiting to friends looking to kill some time after Koko. The vibe is different depending on the night. We've been in on relatively slow days and busy-ish nights. But it's always good service. Just wish they're start brewing Anime IPA with Koko again!

Alright, I've never been to an adult arcade but much less an adult Japanese one so I had no idea what to expect. Coincidentally enough, my husband and I were planning our honeymoon to Japan when a friend of ours invited us here so we HAD to go. It's located in a random strip mall, like one I would never think a Japanese arcade would be in. They have tons of drink options including mixed drinks, craft beer and energy drinks (this just made me giggle) plus some food options. This is definitely a sausage fest so if you're looking for a man, come here. Games are $.25 a play which can give you entertainment for a long time if you're a baller with your budget. They have a change machine or you can bring your own quarters. I just wish they have DDR because I wore my comfortable boots and was ready to boogie. All in all, a fun night when you're looking for something different!

It's a cool place but the bar service is a joke the bartenders are slow and only focus on one part of the bar honestly they need better bartenders

This place was the magical end to a glorious day of stormy weather, a lovely movie, and great company. We stumbled upon it completely by accident and my friend immediately lit up like a Christmas tree. Apparently he collected Japanese video games as a child so he quickly got lost in a fevered delirium of nostalgia. I was pretty pumped, too, because I, ahem, have a bit of a gaming... compulsion? Despite my comfort and love for video games, I still constantly feel out of place at arcades being not-a-dude. It only took a few moments for me to ease in to this place. A comforting mix of gamers and employees helped break up the usual "white guy" atmosphere. There's a good range of game types at reasonable prices. Some are a little hard to figure out because the instructions are all in Japanese. Maybe some English signage would help with that. Or I should have just sucked up my social anxiety and asked someone working there. A great place to play some of the classics or discover games you've never heard of before. I'm glad I don't live closer otherwise this place would be getting most of my paycheck.

This Japanese inspired arcade is the place to be if you ever found yourself as a kid poppin quarters in your local arcade's street fighter or metal slug cabinets. That feeling of nostalgia paired with the great beer selection available, not to mention a very friendly staff, made for the great environment that the arcade provides. Also, they hold street fighter tournaments on Thursdays and those can get quite "hype", however, that is just the scene im looking for.

A no frills arcade with Japanese style game cabinets. Unfinished concrete floors, white ceiling, sparse decor. It's loud. Games are mostly arcade fighters. Beer selection is good. They have Japanese imports for about $8-$12.

Decided to up my review to 4 stars because they have reassessed their drink prices and have some much more affordable selections. Had a blast here on the last stop of a birthday party bus bar tour. Yay!

We took a little weekend trip to Colorado last weekend and my girlfriend found this place on Yelp. Every time we travel, we try to hit up local arcades. And although this was a little bit of a drive from Denver, we had a blast. The drinks were good and reasonably priced. This was probably one of the better arcades we've been to in the States. Most barcades seems to have pinball machines and like 3 fighting games from the 90s, but this had variety and modern games. It actually really hit the nail on the head for a Japanese arcade. And I say this as a person who has actually been to Japan. My only gripe about the place is the lack of decent food around here, but that has nothing to do with the establishment so its whatever. We'll be returning when we go back to Denver.

Love the homage to the arcades in Japan! Akihabara has a lot of different games - from fighting to shooting, and of course, my all-time favorite - Puzzle Fighters. Games are reasonably priced at a quarter a play. Drink selection is varied and the ambiance is fun. Don't miss out on the giant NES controller table!

Not a bad time here, this is a little different than a normal bar cade, more focused on tournaments and the Akihabara experience. I enjoyed the beer options here and played a lot of the games. The other bonus is that it's right next door to Kokopelli beer co

Great place to grab a drink and play a good selection of arcade titles for both casual and competitive players. Friendly staff and fun atmosphere all around.

the website says 18+ after 9pm but they denied us and had a poster that said 21+ we wasted gas's arranging a meet up here with me and my friend's thatre 18+ and it was a waste of time if you guys change the rules maybe you should apply that to the website too for people that are traveling and can't immediately look at the posters on the door. i suggest summit its way better:)

An absolute gem of a place. Great games, good drinks, amazing atmosphere, definitely an extremely stimulating environment to go to after over a year of isolating/distancing. We went on a Saturday night and the place was crowded, but both the back area and the 2-player game room were mostly empty. I only wish there were more Dance Dance Revolution machines!

Very fun place to chill , play asian video games. Prices on games are decent, drinks are super over priced. Being a brewery next door can serve a $6 pint, and you charge $8 for a can...ehh.

My expectations for this place were completely blown away! I've always wanted to go to a Japanese Arcade bar and this place delivered. Plenty of games to choose from in the 25¢ range and a good selection of games in the 50¢ range. My friend and I had so much fun here and their video game themed drinks were delicious! We will definitely be back!

Owner Brandon is super nice. Nice variety of arcade games and beer. Definitely a cool hangout spot if you want to chill, play some games and have a drink. Multiple classic Capcom games at your disposal

This Japanese style arcade/bar is a fantastic place to spend time if you grew up loving arcade fighters like Street Fighter, Marvel vs Capcom 2 and many others. But there are also other great games for everybody to enjoy! Plus all the games are only 25 cents so you can try them all and not break the bank. Staff is very friendly and the selection on tap is very good. The environment is extremely fun, with a mix of hardcore players being very competitive with each other (in a fun friendly manner) and more casual people just out having a good time. Plus there is giant Nintendo. What more do you need?

What a cool place to hangout in Westminster (of all places)! I profess I am not a gamer, nor can I read a lick of Japanese, so I was pretty much just randomly pushing buttons. Nevertheless, it was very entertaining, and a fun Friday hangout venue in Westminster. Far better than just lounging around at home indeed. I'm hoping they get more games in the future (-cough- more claw machines please).

Akihabara Arcade is one of the best barcades I have ever been too. The beer selection is awesome and they keep the tap list fresh and new almost every time I have been in. I especially enjoy the Fighting Game events there and how much the community for games such as Street Fighter and Marvel vs Capcom have grown because of this place! There is a lot of variety in game selection and there is a giant NES controller to play some of the NES classics. This place is awesome and I wish I could give it more stars!

Cool concept-- Beer + video games. Awesome to have this kind of bar outside of Denver. Wandered in one Friday night with a large group of friends. Under different circumstances it would have been a good time, but just wasn't the atmosphere we were looking for that night. We left after 30mins. The place was spacious, tons of games, staff was friendly.

Best place to kick it and have fun. So many cool games and great drinks and amazing bartender.

Great import beer! Amazing arcade games, gotta love the old school Japanese cabinets! Great selection of games for all ages to enjoy. Spent several days here with a coworker and we both enjoyed the single and 1vs1 games. Great to see a place like this exists. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience! Will be here again when I'm in town!

Great arcade, cheap drinks and games. Owner is really nice and it's awesome to try out all the variety of Japanese beers and spirits they offer. We can't wait to go back

Love this place! The staff and games are amazing! A very cool vibe to hangout with friends and let loose. Great crowd and the beer selection is TITS!!