Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade and Bar

If you're an 80s kid, you will love this giant collection of arcade games and pinball machines. Things have been upgraded with tap cards replacing the need for coins and this place serves beer and wine so you can have some extra fun while trying to resurrect your arcade skills that you've long lost. This is a fun evening. But be warned the neighborhood is a bit rough so be careful where you park and walk.

From this 60 year old San Diegans perspective, this place rocks! First off not only are there 40+ pinball machines (I only played about 8, and every one seemed to be in pristine awesome working condition) and that is far from normal in any establishment I've ever visited. You load a card with credits and imo it was a great value, as i played almost 3 hours and still have credits remaining of my $20 but in, WTF? Awesome!👍🏼😁💯😍🥰💚 Didn't order any food or drinks, but looked to be a great selection and at very reasonable prices. 👍🏼 They are strict upon searching bags and no outside drinks are allowed. They have water stations available and the bartenders/staff were friendly. So many classic arcade games from the 80's forward brought back many nostalgic memories. 😁 Neighborhood is on the edge of some sketchiness, so go with a friend. Close to parking and public transit. I can't wait to return. Wish there were more places like this, in every city. Thanks Portland, thanks Ground Kontrol.👍🏼😁🥰☮️

Great place. Really great selection of new and retro games and *lots* of pinball machines! The people working there are very nice and helpful. I was worried about it being too adult, but it's a great family place during the day and I felt completely comfortable letting my teenager do their own thing while there.

For around $10, an entire group of us were able to play games over and over. From the multiple floors of pinball to group Pac-Man tables, we all found some form of entertainment here. Security does check ID at the door, and we felt safe in this space. There are beverages for sale, and the games have cupholders attached.

This was a great way to spend an hour! It was pouring rain and this place was so fun! We spent $10 for the two of us and played tons of games. We went in the afternoon on a Friday (so I think games were half off). My favorite were the variety of pinball games. I definitely plan on going again with our son next time we are in Portland.

What a great experience my daughter and I had here. There are so many different games to play, especially if you love playing pinball machines. Though some of the 2 person games were out of service, we found new games to try. Like The Walking Dead, we played for nearly 30 minutes. I was also able to enjoy one of my favorite Oregon beers, Sunriver's Fuzztail. The only thing I wish I knew before going is that the Arcade closes the minors at 5. Making our visit shorter than we would have liked. Next time we are in Portland, we will make sure we get there early enough to have a longer game time.

Pretty cool old school arcade with some extra features - like 2 full bars!!! We happened to check it out on a night when they had several DJs playing music which was awesome. NGL, I was there for the music but my 23 yr old daughter had fun playing a few games too.

The amount of games and the atmosphere made for a fun night out. Games were cheap to play and their drinks were fantastic. The 4 star is because we spent several points to play a game just for the game to eat them and not work. The bartender came to reset it which didnt work and then proceeded to tell us they had just fixed it. He walked away and never came back or offered us more points for a game we never played.

This place rocks! Visiting and exploring the PNW from San Diego and found this wonderful place, so many great pinball machines in fantastic working order and classic video games. They have a full bar with a great beer selection, and prices seem crazy decent. You purchase a card and play, this place is like a cool version of corporate feeling Dave and Busters. Wish they would franchise and find this simple platform in every cool city. They have tournaments, clean bathrooms, and water stations too. This 60 year old kid loved his experience on a Wednesday evening. Cheers

Fun atmosphere, adult beverages and the cleanest best operating vintage games in the northwest. (*Sketchy neighborhood. -1 ) Attentive employees and an attempt to separate adult beverages from minors. Countless gameplay and sliding pay scale on different games. Fair Honest Affordable **the games play like they did in 1984. 1986. 1988. No sloppy buttons No whacky joysticks Just original games in mint condition. -

i went here recently for a neopets meetup (yes, the site still exists and yes- it rocks) that GK graciously hosted and it was great! lexi did such an amazing job organizing everything. the space is very clean and surprisingly huge, it was crazy in a good way. it's not a place i would have ever thought to go but i know now that i'll totally be back. honestly seems like a good date idea. i didn't buy any alcohol but getting buzzed and playing one of what felt like 100 arcade games honestly sounds fun haha. thanks for hosting GK! i will happily return.

What a cool arcade for not only the younger crowd but also for adults. I knew I wanted to try this place out because my son is a huge gamer. I knew he would think it was a hit. We stopped by on a Saturday and it wasn't too busy. The water pipes busted, so they could not serve water and were possibly going to shut down but they didn't so that was perfect. The arcade has so many different games to choose from. They have classics and newer aged games for the younger crowd. I definitely enjoyed Ms. Pac Man, Street Fighter, and the vintage pinball machines. The whole arcade looks like something out of the movie TRON mixed with a bit of Stranger Things (80s nostalgia). There is an adult area towards the back that has a bar. The beers are ice cold and they have some cocktails that are themed. In the back and upstairs, you will find many different vintage pinball machines. Take your pick from Addams Family to Marvel to Walking Dead to Foo Fighters, there were too many to name. In the main lobby has another bar but it is not too private. It is right in front of the party area. Overall, if you are in Chinatown and want to do something fun while having a couple of beers, this is a must do. You will be taken back in time while enjoying your time and passing time gaming. Games do not cost too much so you will not be pinching those pennies. So go buy your gamer card and enjoy your blast from the past!!! Happy gaming!!!

I liked this place it's a bit dark and not in the best part of town but it has the older classic games I liked like Centipede and PAC man. Big place and I enjoyed my brief time there. Having a bad hip I would have appreciated a stool but that's ok. I'd go back!

Small $4 cover charge, but they have tons of pinball games and other video games to choose from. Dri,nks are available and $20 goes a long way.

So much fun! When you walk in someone checks ID and there is a small cover (at least on Saturday when we went). After passing the obligatory checks, you might want to immediately turn in on your right, but instead go straight through and grab a game card first so you can add credits to play each game. Note: this truly is a classic arcade, with a few newer games peppered in. There's tons of classic games like PacMan, Frogger, Tetris, Time Crisis, and more. A sizeable quantity of machines center around pinball, but they have plenty of other game types so you can't be bored. The bar is well stocked and the food seemed pretty decent. We grabbed the pretzel sticks with cheese and I recommend if you are a pretzel fan. They weren't out of this world, but hit the spot and were nice and hot. The whole time you are hanging out, you feel like you're in a classic arcade, which really takes you back, BUT you get the added bonus of enjoying tasty beverages while you do. The best part is that it is incredibly reasonably priced. We spent about $20 and it lasted us about 2 hours with a snack break and several tandem games. TLDR: if you're a classic arcade fan, you enjoy the occasional tasty beverage, and you don't want to break the bank for a date or night out with friends - highly recommend.

This arcade bar has a great vibe and plenty of games to choose from. However, it does have a limited selection of two-player or couple-friendly games--only about six that really stand out. If you're there with a partner or on a date, you might find yourselves cycling through the same few options. I'm also not a fan of the pay-to-enter and pay-to-play model; I'd prefer a reasonable cover charge that allows for unlimited play. That said, it's still a fun place to hang out, and the drinks are pretty good too!

I was in town for a conference and looking for something to do near my hotel. I was so happy to stumble upon Ground Kontrol. I looked at the website and saw that they had a cover charge, a bar, and even food options. It seemed that much of the food offered was vegan, so I opted to eat elsewhere. I went up to the front door and was carded. I'm in my 50s, so this surprised me. I was directed to go in to "the guy at the desk." I walked in to the "guy at the desk." He just looked at me. I said that I was just there to play. "There's a cover charge." Yes, I knew that. He didn't say how much it was or even made eye contact with me. I pulled out a $20 and waited for my change. He gave me my change and gave me a plastic card to tap on the machines. Not the best customer service I've seen. To the right there is a small room with a few pinball machines and some arcade games, including some new ones that I've never seen before, like a modern Asteroids and this Blob game. I was mostly interested in playing my favorite, Theatre of Magic. In this room, there were also Indiana Jones pinball, a Stern Star Wars, Twilight Zone, and Monsters of Rock (which I did not play.) After a few games, I decided to explore. Around the corner, there is a vending machine with branded merchandise, like beanies. There was a cool looking bar that had embedded lights like the WOPR computer from the movie War Games. I had to stop and take some video, as it looked amazing. This was in a larger room that had some gun-based games, several arcade games from the 80s and some new Stern pinball machines, including the Sopranos, Ghostbusters, Jaws, and a few others. I played the Sopranos and Ghostbusters before going to play Asteroids and Star Wars. I saw that there was a bathroom, but the sign indicated to use the bathroom, in the hallway. So, I went to explore. The hallway was incredibly cool. The wall has a light display with changing patterns and even large format recreation of space shooting games, reminiscent of Galaga. Bathrooms are in the hallway. Through the hallway, there is a second bar. To the left, there are more classic arcade games. I played QBert and Tron. There is an illuminated staircase to a second floor that I didn't know existed. This place is huge. Upstairs was heaven for me. There are several small areas, filled with pinball machines. I played Black Knight, Black Knight 2000, Whitewater, Tales of the Arabian Nights, Addams Family, Doctor Who, Baby PacMan, Pabst Can Crusher, Terminator 2, and a new favorite, Total Nuclear Annihilation. I went at a time when it wasn't too crowded. I didn't care for the music that was playing. In some parts of the arcade, you can't really hear it, but where the speakers are, it is deafening. Bathroom was clean. I loved the pixel art in the tiles. On my way out, I tried to return the game card to the "guy at the desk." He waved at me to "put it in the thing by the door," as he was doing something on his phone. Again, great customers service.

Sick spot and the ambiance was dope 90's and gamer theme drinks were really good as well

It's more like a Dave and Busters now. I have such fond memories of this funky place with tons of pinball and arcade. Now each of the arcade machines have a brightly lit card reader. They have added the step of using a prepaid card. The vibe is gone. This is now where you bring your kids. I'm sure it makes sense to make as much money as possible so I hope they are really successful. We didn't even bother to play when we stopped by, it was so depressing.

Had the NYC'ish hotdog & it was delicious! They have a ton of games here & I loved my experience here- staff there was super friendly bartenders; shout out to Daniel for engaging in delightful conversation! Only thing I don't particularly like about this arcade is, that you have to use a prepaid card to play indoors. It's the only think keeping it away from 5stars.

Fun bar/arcade! Paid a $4 cover charge on a Saturday night, definitely a fun date or friend hangout place. There is plenty of games everywhere here and upstairs, purchase a card (minimum $10) for points to use on the games.

My partner and I had such a good time wandering around trying different games. We aren't drinkers and just shared a soda (free refill!) but there were a lot of beers on tap and drink specials. Buying a game card was really easy and we were able to lock our coats in a free locker by the entrance. It was a bit loud with a game competition happening and I wish there was a little more seating for when you want to take a break or eat something. We had to go to the very back room to find a seat and from there couldn't see the competition happening out front. Not a huge deal though. My partner and I were able to play classics we loved as kids and had a great time!

Here's your final Yelp review: --- **Ground Control Barcade - Portland, OR** My experience at Ground Control Barcade was downright infuriating, all thanks to the rude, power-tripping bouncer who seemed determined to ruin my night. As a 52-year-old with a valid California ID, I've never had any issue getting into a bar--until I tried to enter this place. When I approached the door, I presented my legitimate California ID, which clearly shows my age. The doorman, however, dismissed it outright, treating me like some underage kid trying to sneak in. I even offered to show him my work ID, which also has my date of birth, photo, and full name, but this guy was on such a power trip that he refused to even consider it. I mentioned to him that I used to be a bouncer in my twenties--30 years ago! I'm not underage; I just wanted to play some vintage arcade games and pinball from my youth. While trying to rationalize with him, I watched as he let several younger people in without even scrutinizing their IDs. Even they could see how ridiculous the situation was--one of them even said, "Just let him in, he's obviously over 21 by a lot!" Trying to be reasonable, I offered to return with an additional photo ID that was in my hotel room. He agreed, so I went back to my hotel, retrieved the ID, and returned, only to be met with a complete change of attitude. The bouncer, in a blatant display of arrogance, told me that I wasn't getting in no matter what. It was clear he had no intention of letting me in from the start--he just wanted to waste my time. What makes this even more infuriating is that I had no problem getting into any of the other bars downtown that night because, again, I'm 52 years old and my IDs are valid! In the end, I went to Retro Game Bar, where they actually welcome people like me, and spent my evening there. I had a great time, unlike the frustrating experience at Ground Control. If you're looking for a fun night out in Portland, save yourself the hassle and skip Ground Control. There are plenty of other bars in the area where you'll be treated with the respect and decency that paying customers deserve--Retro Game Bar being one of them. Unfortunately, this place is not worth your time or money.

RAD! The 80's arcade theme is in the DNA of this place. They offer plenty of 80's, 90's, pinball, and modern games. I didn't try the food this time, but it looked good and I noticed a lot of people enjoying the grub. They have a bar as well and you're allowed to have a beer while playing the games. I was really impressed with the selection of games and I would highly suggest you check it out if you're an 80's guy like me.

Food was very good and not expensive. Service was great, employees were friendly and helpful. My wife and I bought a $20 game card and we were there for almost 3 hours, so your dollar goes a long way here! Will be back for sure!

What an awesome place! We wanted to check out a fun and relaxed bar near Downtown Portland, and Ground Kontrol had it all. There was a $3 cover on a Friday night, and drinks were ONLY $7! (Yes, $7 for a beer or mixed drink.) It was very easy to get a card to reload credits, and these credits lasted way longer than a kid's arcade. We spent over two hours playing games with just $10 each. There are mostly one-player games, but also a handful of multiplayer games. Be prepared for A LOT of pinball. My favorites were the Tetris (old and new versions) and Mario Kart. If I could improve anything, I'd maybe have more cup holders throughout the arcade. There were a few here and there, but otherwise it was difficult to play and hold your drink.

Dope games, great burger, really have nothing to complain about. Even the game choices are top notch, all machines work well and are good condition, and game prices are modest.

Ground Kontrol is super fun for all ages - except by the time that you decide your finished playing the arcade, you might find yourself sticking to the ground because of the spilled beer from the bar. We came during one of their "happy hour" times. I can't quite remember how it works, but there is a discounted unlimited free play on certain days and times of the week. It's actually super worth it because I remember it being pretty affordable and there's enough games to play for quite a few hours. We bounced around from game to game - there are wait times for some of the more popular ones so we adopted the practice of playing nearby and then snagging a spot once the controller was open. They have quite a variety - from classics to newer games. There was definitely a bit of nostalgia associated with it and a great place to hang out with friends.

My friend and I came here on a Friday evening for some food and some games. I ordered the vegetarian tacos and my friend ordered the chicken quesadilla sliders. Both of our items were really good. My friend contemplated ordering another plate even. The bartenders were pretty nice when we ordered, and our food came to our table quickly. You order at the bar and are given a number to put on the table for the food to come. After eating, we spent the rest of our night playing some arcade games. The variety of games here was nice. Plenty of pinball machines scattered throughout and fan favorites like Mortal Kombat. The ambience was pretty nerdy gamer vibe with well-chosen light decor. You can get an arcade card near the front to load with money to play games. They have a container at the bar to recycle your cards when you're done playing. They don't charge you to get a card to play.

This place is childhood in a shot glass. Everything you wished was true is. Mattttt!!!! Mat is the best person ever made, maybe. Thank you Portland for being as awesome as I remember. Mat!!! You are not as lame as they say you are. I can't wait to see you again in like a year or so. Mat is the best dude ever. RESPECT!!!!!!!!!!

Great arcade with tons of classic games, plenty of pinball machines and many new machines. They have drinks and snacks that aren't a rip-off at all, which is unique, TBH. The service was fast and easy. They also have alcoholic bar drinks if you want. The space is really well done and it is way bigger than expected! We really enjoyed it!

Looking for something fun to do? This is a fun place to grab a drink and play some retro arcade games. I really like that they have lockers available, first come basis. They have a wide variety of games and beers. No wine, unfortunately. Easy $3 cover charge then you can load up a card for game play. Each game is .30-$1 so you get your moneys worth.

To ensure it doesn't get crowded and you are not waiting for game play, they made you wait outside, you have to pay for a card, but you can keep it with you for next time and you charge it to play all the games instead of getting tokens. Food was basic, and it had all your typical classic arcade games, but only adults were there, it was pretty cool. Definitely enjoyed visiting for a onetime trip.

A very cool vintage arcade with classics such as Donkey Kong, Ms. Pacman, etc, as well as a couple rows of pinball machines. All the games are maintained in working condition. The atmosphere is a cool cyberpunk vibe. Bathrooms were very clean. The place serves alcohol, but is open to kids up until 5:00PM when it becomes adults only. You don't use quarters here, but rather cards that you can put money on and scan at each game. It's in the Chinatown area so the area can get dicey at night, but I'd say still relatively safe. Worth the visit to get your retro game fix if you're bar hopping/eating in the area

A few days ago, my Son and I returned to Ground Kontrol after a multi-year absence (at least for me). That day was a $10 cover charge which allowed unlimited play. We took several turns at various pinball machines and had a great time together. However, with the dark rooms, noise, and multiple game lights, things can get a bit overwhelming.

This place was so cool! I took my little dudes with me since they allowed them before a certain time. I can imagine this place would be awesome with friends and drinks! Didn't really try the food this time around but I hope to next time. I just loved how there were games everywhere! Pinball upstairs and a good amount of different ones too. Classic games all over and way easy to pass the time in here! Wasn't too expensive either.

It would be fun if the people working there weren't so grumpy and rude. I don't know why, but I definitely treated badly by the bitter older guys working there

Great drinks and fun games! This place is a great time with friends or on a date. They have a variety of beers on tap and a couple of CBD beverages too. They do also have a full bar if you are a cocktail-type person. They also have two bar areas, They have a variety of games. You can definitely play a lot of games for $10. There are multiple rooms with tons of games. The upstairs is mostly pinball machines. Overall, this is a fun place to go for a night out!

Fun barcade that's worth stopping by while in Portland, especially if you're forced to stay indoors due to weather. Decor and ambiance highlights the arcade theme, with an extremely wide variety of retro arcade games available to choose from. All are reasonably priced as well in terms of credits, so you'll definitely be getting your money's worth! If you happen to come with a large group, be sure to check out Killer Queen! It's best played with 10 players and it instantly became my new favorite arcade game.

Awesome arcade in downtown. Right off the max line in Chinatown. They have all of your favorites old and new and a great pinball selection. They do free play for 10 bucks a few times a month and also pinball tournaments several times a month (5 dollar entry and free play card for another 5 so effectively 10 dollar free play). Games are in great shape and vibe is cool

Love love love! A retro dream. Incredible fun for the family delicious tacos and beverages. My favorite arcade

My first time at Ground Kontrol was an absolute blast ! There's something for everyone here . You don't have to be a huge gamer to have an awesome time . The atmosphere it self was fantastic , I went mid day and observed people of all ages . Not only were the drinks epic but the food was as well . Game cards are cheap and grant you a generous amount of play time . Be prepared for a crowd at times as it is a popular establishment but totally worth the experience.

We came here on a Tuesday night; so it was relatively slow. My friends and I, had a few drinks from their draught menu. I really liked they had a variety of drinks to choose from. We didn't really get to stay long as we were tired from our day but I really liked the variety of arcade games they had. They even had a second floor to check out, which we didn't really get to do but I thought it was a cool spot! There's plenty of room to get around which is a bonus compare to other barcades this place didn't feel clutter or too tight. Definitely worth checking out if your into arcade games! We plan on coming back again on our next trip and spending more time as I'm sure there was some stuff we missed checking out!

First off, the location is easy to find but the folks around the street it's located at is a bit sketch. Nothing like walking by a drug deal lol. We were a group of 9 with our 9 year old nephew so the arcade was a great place for all of us. Adults can get drinks and he could play video games. It was great seeing and playing some old school games. After about an hour the staff provide our nephew with an unlimited game card. We all had a blast and enjoyed about 2 hours of gaming.

It is always a treat at ground control. They have delicious drinks and I love the pretzel sticks. There are tons of fun games to play and lots to do. The food comes out very quickly too which is nice. The atmosphere is a super old school fun vibe. They have games for every body. I really do enjoy myself when I come.

This was a Fun low key arcade and bar. I was rolling solo and enjoyed a drink and played a few games. Would definitely recommend

This is a fun place to stop in Portland. Free to get in. Seemed like our game card worked FOREVER. They have a full bar. I think good as well. Old school games for those 90's kids. I personally put the high-score on the Ms. Pac-Man. Good luck beating that. Def visit this place if you're looking for something different to do.

As an occasional visitor to Ground Kontrol, I have to say that this is my absolute favorite barcade. Every time I'm in the city, I try to convince someone to come with me because it's just that good. Coming from Southern California, where barcades can be either small and dingy or super expensive with only a few old cabinets, I really appreciate the authentic experience that Ground Kontrol offers. In addition to a great selection of games, both old and new, Ground Kontrol has some of the best decor I've seen in a barcade. The bathroom alone is worth checking out! And the rotating taps ensure that there's always a great selection of beer to choose from. Even on a weekday, the vibes at Ground Kontrol are always fun and welcoming. It's the perfect place to stop in for a break from work or just to have a good time. I'm such a fan that I even picked up a cool shirt on my latest visit. If you're a fan of barcades, or just looking for a unique and fun spot to grab a drink, you can't go wrong with Ground Kontrol. Highly recommended!

fun place to go to! I like the game selection they have, and the fact that I could be busy here for hours. They also have good drinks and food. This game bar is also in walking distance of other bars, so if you get bored, you can walk somewhere else. The atmosphere is cozy. Highly recommend this place for a night out with friends or loved ones!

Adults only after 5!! Stop being a pinball pacifist! GAME OVER? Not until midnight. Old school New school Middle School..

This was such an awesome arcade and I can't wait to go back. My husband and I played for about an hour on just $20. Super fun retro games as well as new games like DDR and Mario kart. I spent a lot of tokens on Dr. Mario and Frogger myself. Really cool aesthetic in there!

Wish I could give 0 stars. My friend put his food box on a machine for a few seconds and this "regular" flips out on us. Cussing and yelling at my friend for putting a Togo container on a pinball machine. We tell the girl to be polite and just calm down about it and apologize. She gets the manager who comes and yells at my friend he needs to leave and gets in our faces. We tell the guy the story, he says he doesn't believe us and that he believe his regular over us. Hostile and weird environment. Our Uber driver said this place always has weird people and vibes. And to go to quarter world instead. Don't recommend, they should be ashamed and disappointed in themselves.

Great place for play your favorite video or pinball games regardless if you are by yourself or in a group. I will definitely come back!

The most fun date night ever! Pro tip: check those plastic containers above the pay machine and at the bar for recycled cards. We ended up hitting the jackpot with a card that had over $25 left on it.

Was looking for a fun activity to do while in Portland and stopped by on a Thursday evening. For $20 you can get quite a bit of tokens. The bar prices are also reasonable as well. We had a good time but the game options are somewhat limited if you aren't a pinball lover. I'm also not an avid gamer so maybe I needed something more simple. We returned on Friday night when our friends arrived in town, but just like some of the other reviews we were not admitted because our friend was showing signs of intoxication. He had only had 2 drinks prior to coming here. It can be upsetting to be turned away from a place based on a subjective decision the bouncer. I also want to respect their decision because they are trying to create a safe environment for people to enjoy. I just wonder if they wouldn't serve people here more than 2 drinks at their bar. I would likely return here as it was fun but just be mindful that you may want to plan to start your evening here as you could be turned away if you have had drinks prior.

This place is novelty for sure, but I feel like it's a one and done. There's a cash cover for entry, then you have to purchase a gaming card to play the games, the drinks are expensive and not that good (and everything you'd expect). It's dark and feels dirty. I came for a birthday party and having lots of people there that I knew helped with the experience but if you strip that away it's nothing incredibly impressive. The food is pub-style which is great for a large audience. There are some cool looking games, especially in the pinball area upstairs. But everything, on top of worrying about my car parked in chinatown at night just wasn't that great. I hope they do well, though,

This was on my short list while in Portland. I arrived the day of snowmagedon 2/22/23 and while zig zagging around on the snow covered streets I found this location and ran in to be told "we are closing"... what a bummer cause I used the restroom real quick and seen some games that would have put a huge smile on my face. Sadly I probably will not make it back again...