Select Start

Very cool spot. Arcade games take cash and card with a decent selection of games to play. The drinks were a bit expensive for the area but worth it for the location. When I was there on the weekend, they had a dj, and the vibe was great. They also have consoles behind the bar you can play on the screens behind the bar but i think that's only for earlier in the night to keep things moving at the bar. Fun game themed cocktails. Bartenders were all very nice, and the service was good. Never had to wait long for a drink even with a packed house

This is a fun spot if you want to hang out and drink with friends and play some games! They had "water pong" set up and there's a bunch of arcade games. We went on a Friday night and they had a live DJ playing who was decent, and there's a dancefloor for those that want to kick it up a notch. They had some fruity drinks in small fish bowls which were delicious. It gets very loud. We had a really good night!

Fun gaming bar. Located in Deep Ellum. It wasn't incredibly busy. The game selection isn't huge, but it's worth going in and killing 30 minutes or so. The games take cards, coins, or bills.

The drinks were medicore, games were overpriced and lacked variety, ontop of getting slapped with an automatic 20% gratuity for 3 people at 9pm. Do not patronize. Let the space return to its roots as a pop up boutique.

this is the first place i ever went ❤️ in my life , my favorite place , i can’t wait to go back again and i wanted to say i had alot of fun it was amazing nice people out dere , they show respect to me ….

Not a ton of game selection here, but the ones they have our fun. All the machines accept credit card, at a minimum $4. Be careful, as it becomes really easy to swipe in the thick of beating a game. I spent way more than I wanted to, but that's because it was so easy. No food or drink is allowed from outside, but there was a place where we could set them aside while we were playing, and pick them back up on our way out.

This bar was pretty cool and had some good games. The games are expensive however and the music was pretty loud as well. The drinks were good and they had some pretty creative ones to go with the theme they had going on. The staff was friendly and they had this weird thing of serving shots in a balloon. I wpild go back to this place. Pretty chill and not to hi maintenance.

Really cool vibe there but the games were expensive. All the drinks had really cool names and all sounded great. I tried the Triforce and the Mega Man and they both tasted good. Also tried the Mist shot which was really cool. (Never even heard of anything like that.) It's fairly small in there so not too many games to play but the selection of games they had was pretty ok. Not sure if I'd go back but it was pretty cool to check out once.

Select Start is a go-to for my best friend and me. With its colorful walls and fun games, it has a lively, nerdy vibe that's perfect for everyone. The drinks are a blast, though we usually stick to seltzers. The staff is also super friendly and efficient.

As someone who loves arcades and has visited many different "barcades", this is the worst I've ever visited. Nearly each game I played had something wrong with it. Pinball machine had a sticky flipper, guitar hero had a broken button and strum bar and the PacMan machine had a faulty joystick. Not to mention, the machines advertise "$1 per play" but using your card charges you for several games. I've seen the business owner's reply to comments like these however it is not clear as you are paying to play and is very misleading. Imagine paying $5 per game and it doesn't even work properly! Additionally, I somehow payed twice ($14 total) for some photo booth pictures that don't even have any special branding of the bar. I've never had such a horrible experience at a barcade and don't plan on recommending this place or returning when I visit Dallas again.

Went to select start on a Sunday afternoon about 230-3pm. Not busy at all. Friendly bartender who made a great old fashioned! Not a huge selection of games to play but still a good number you could find something you like.

For a barcade, this place is the worst. Literally the worst out of 50+ that I've visited around the world. Few games, awful music, lifeless bartender, and an automatic 20% tip added to your bill. If you're looking for a sleazy dive bar with some space to dance to your hip-hop faves, this might be the place for you.

We were Bar Hoping on a Monday Night and stumbled across this arcade bar at the end of Deep Ellum and we got so excited we immediately crossed the street and decided to give it a try. The vibe was amazing, the music was on point and the drinks were delicious! It brought back our inner child out and we played almost each game and if you don't have quarters that's fine bc they take Apple Pay. Like c'mon if I went on a Monday imagine the possibilities on a weekend! (:

I went to check this place out when they were doing a free DJ event and it was a pretty cool venue. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars, which trust me I really wanted to, was because I ordered a well vodka with club soda and it was $17. They also tacked on an auto gratuity, and the bartender was awful. I bartend myself so I felt the service should've matched the tip. The DJ was fantastic, I met a few cool people, and the entire venue has a lot of energy. I would give them another shot my next time in the area.

It's a gimmicky bar but the drinks are limited the crowds are hit or miss usually a miss in my opinion. I usually go here when I'm leaving my favorite bar just to pass time while I wait on my Uber

November 2021 - COVID Review: Came here after dinner due to a recommendation from the staff at the restaurant we visited prior. The concept and vibe were definitely cool - because who wouldn't love an arcade bar?! There's also some cool game-themed cocktails on the menu. The music was good too! They have ATMs and coin change machines throughout so that you can play the arcade games, but like others have mentioned, it is pretty expensive per game. So my friend and I opted to just sip on our drinks and people watch.

This is a really cool bar. I did like the music and the atmosphere. However the pricing to play games is way way way overpriced. Each game has an ATM reader and each game is in the range of $3-4 per game. It is also small and gets crowded easily and there isn't a big variety of games. Some shooting games, punching bag, a couple of basketball hoops, skeet ball, pinball. They did have some gaming systems behind the bar and the wall of the bar is full of multiple screens. We played one game, got one drink and left.

Kinda divey and not a lot of arcade games. PlayStations and Sega at the bar which was fun. A few of them were down when we were there. If you like half naked bartenders...then go here? Girls rockin thongs and bras and one chick had on just a T-shirt. Was a bit strange but that's just me.

Select Start is a pretty cool bar to go to if you wanna play some games and drink at the same time. I went with my girlfriend and another one of our friends. We played Mario Kart and a few other games. The games are pretty expensive, in my opinion, so just keep that in mind when visiting. I wouldn't want to spend so much time here at all. We stayed for like 30 min to an hour. It was super loud and definitely super crowded. We ordered some drinks from the bar, and took it with us as we explored the place.

Great bar, good vibes and music. The games were fun, however it was small and not a variety of selection. TIP: be mindful of using your credit card paying for the games bc one swipe pays for 5 games.

Overall a pretty cool place. Tons of games, but a few don't really work. A couple bartenders were really good, but the other bartenders acted like they didn't even want to be there and got almost annoyed they had to serve people. The place really gets going on Friday/Saturday nights. Not the best but not the worst spot to go out to on the weekend

Impeccable vibes, bartenders with great personality and knowledgeable about their drinks. Dj kept the places vibe elevated. Bathrooms were a little sketch on cleanliness though. I loved the games and variety of games available. Enjoyed the photo booths. The only reason I took a star away was because the Batman pinball machine took my quarters but never dropped me a ball. And the bathroom sketchiness. Otherwise the art, decor, game selection, bartenders quality of music etc is on point and I highly recommend this place for a fun stop in Dallas.

If you're looking for a Barcade style place, pass this one by. If you're looking for a semi-crappy bar/club with a few video games, maybe... If you do go for games, just be aware that the DJ overpowers anything you might want to hear, and be prepared for a razing of your wallet. All in all, it's a hybrid concept that just doesn't work. The dual concept elements work against each other for, at best, an underwhelming experience, and at worst, a miserable time, for which you are overcharged. The Metroplex has much better to offer on both sides. $4 for a single game? Criminal... There are a plethora of Barcades in the Metroplex that accept a flat fee at the door for games, plus food and beverages are pay-as-you-order. Seems they're doing pretty well (*cough, cough*... Free Play in Arlington). **An edit for this review** I read through the reviews after posting the preliminary for this one. Unfortunately, the general vibe from "Danny" (who occupies a position with the establishment) seemed to be "If you don't like it, too bad". Sorry, brother, I know you tried to write what might have seemed to you professional and apologetic, but to a third-party reader... it did not. Based on what I am reading, your primary failing isn't your loud music or overpriced amenities. Just a friendly tip: Great customer service can cover a multitude of sins... Just sayin'.

A fair ode to the classics, and a fun concept if you ask me! We discovered this place after stuffing our faces with bbq over at Pecan Lodge. It was a late Tuesday afternoon, and we had time to kill, so why not check it out. From the outside, they've got a couple of picnic tables prior to entering. Inside to the left up above is a cool wall of spray painted video game characters, with an entire row of old and new video games. They had everything from Galaga, Donkey Kong, Pac-man, a few shooter games, a couple of pinball, basketball, a few other sports classics like Blitz, a mini Super NES at the bar, and my favorite a dome foosball hockey table. They even had ZOLTAR!!! At the bar, you can simply get a beer on tap or any mixed drink. But I believe their specialty in what also sets this bar apart from any ordinary bar are their floats and shots. I hooked up an Orange Cream float ($10) and totally enjoyed it! It was basically made with gin and an orange Red Bull. I wanted to try another, but it was the perfect dessert to put my stomach over the top. My brother seemed to like his Crown Royal Root Beer float as well. For the most part, the place was clean as we chilled at the end of the bar. The bartender was also nice to us, but also seemed busy cleaning. No issue really. This place totally reminded me of a typical arcade from back-in-tha-days, only with a bar. Would I go back? Probably. But minus a couple stars for not having Centipede, Burgertime, or Defender. Tron would've been cool to see too, oh well!

Cute little video game bar, has some games for everyone. Ive only been here for a short time while waiting for dinner reservations but I have always enjoyed my time here. The peaches revenge drink comes in a fish bowl and is sweet without being too sugary. You can sit at the bar and play Nintendo on the many screens behind the bar. I need to go back to try some more drinks and games.

Me and my guy friend stopped at this bar that has cool video games. I played Ms. PAC-MAN I won!! Jeremy is a very awesome bartender. He treated us with great customer service and hospitality. I will definitely come back here again.

Stumbled across this bar on a Saturday night in Deep Ellum while we were waiting for our food from another restaurant & it did not disappoint. The drinks were tasty, the names were cute, & cheaper for the area. The jello shots were also flavorful I loved the way they were served. The alcohol balloon was also fun. Lots of cool games except they're not too accessible because it's so busy, but that's expected. Hoping to come back with friends soon!

Loved it here! Deep Ellum is a super fun area and this bar really adds to the fun! There's tons of games there, ballon shots (which is something I had never seen before). A lot of super cute fish bowl drinks too, and very nice staff! The space is a little small, but they pack a lot in. At the bar you can sit and play video games like COD which my boyfriend really enjoyed. They also have games like Mario Cart which I liked. This is really a great spot for a fun night out with friends or a date night. I will be back!

I had a blast here! Enjoyed the drinks and all the games were of interest to me. Sometimes I go to arcade bars and the games are outdated and don't work properly. This was not the case here! Very clean and the atmosphere of the place is very fun. Loved skee ball. In addition, the bartenders were really nice and very attentive.

This night started off great, we spent around 90-100 dollars, we took a step out to smoke and went back in to use the restroom BUT we were told by the security and the manager (who was vaping lol) that we weren't allowed in anymore because they were at capacity and there was no public restrooms. (when in reality I used the restroom just 10 min prior when I spent all that money!) Rude security, and even more rude front "manager", just disrespectful. Never felt more worse. I never write bad reviews but tbh even if you spend money here they won't give a F*** about you!

Visiting from out of town, where we have a very cool barcade, so we wanted to check this one out. Overall I was disappointed, primarily because you have to pay to play the games! We were not used to that; at the barcades and board game bars I've been to you only have to buy your drinks or food in order to play the machines. The place was very small and not very busy on a Tuesday night. The bartender was friendly and attentive. Prices were average. Good variety of arcade games and console games. They also sell balloon shots here, the first place I've seen so so. Would not return.

Hey Ashley!!! This tiny game inspired bar is fun. PARENTS, although this bar looks kid friendly, it isn't. Please keep them out.‍ gee whiz!! The space is a long hallway. On the left, there are several games to SELECT START on, including guitar hero, boom a rang, beer pong, the punching bag, etc. On the right, there is a bar with all types of drinks and quite a few fun drinks made to order. Our Bartender Ashley is very nice and was pleasant to chat with during our visit. Drink Review: Vanilla Rootbeer Float - made with vanilla ice cream and crown royal. It is sweet, delicious and has the perfect balance of crown royal Tea Bag - a select start Long Island ice tea served in a super cute pouch with Super Mario on the front. It was ok. Balloon Alcohol Mist - a ballon filled with alcohol mist. Is very interesting. You inhale the contents in small puffs until the balloon is deflated.

I recently came across Select Start while I was in Deep Ellum and was surprised we had an arcade bar in this area. I thought it was a nice and open space with a variety of games. You do have to pay for each game but the games accept cash and card. The photo booths were not worth it so don't waste your money on those. Overall, a cute, fun bar in the heart of Deep Ellum.

A fairly new arcade bar has made its way to Deep Ellum. The bartender informed me they have been there about 8 months or so. After leaving the Christmas pop-up @ Hide bar, Select Start had a nice calming vibe and plenty of seats at the bar so it was a winner for me. I have read from other reviews that you have to pay to play the arcade games themselves. Different from other establishments who may charge a cover fee and then have the games free so keep that in mind when you go. I did not play any of the arcade games but instead opted for a seat at the bar where they have a number of different video game consoles for you to play. They have a fun drink menu with some tasty cocktails. I am uncertain if they have food or not. I would return again if in the area.

Hey Ashley!!! This tiny game inspired bar is fun. PARENTS, although this bar looks kid friendly, it isn't. Please keep them out.‍ gee whiz!! The space is a long hallway. On the left, there are several games to SELECT START on, including guitar hero, boom a rang, beer pong, the punching bag, etc. On the right, there is a bar with all types of drinks and quite a few fun drinks made to order. Our Bartender Ashley is very nice and was pleasant to chat with during our visit. Drink Review: Vanilla Root-beer Float - made with vanilla ice cream and crown royal. It is sweet, delicious and has the perfect balance of crown royal Tea Bag - a select start Long Island ice tea served in a super cute pouch with Super Mario on the front. It was OK. Balloon Alcohol Mist - a balloon filled with alcohol mist. Is very interesting. You inhale the contents in small puffs until the balloon is deflated.

We had fun! Several games: Mortal Combat, pac Man, and other old school games. Street Fighter machine was out of order. Beer pong etc...Simple concept, it's a good "start" . There was a machine to get quarters to play the games, and an Xbox and PS4 for those who couldn't wait till they would get home.

Nice theme but the workers are horrible. A lot of the machines just take your money. Glasses are dirty and I watched the bartender "clean" them all he did was run them under water no soap!!!!! No running water in the restroom to wash your hands. Bar tender was a douche when it came to playing the games at the bar he told me I wasn't allowed to switch games. Won't be coming back.

Way overpriced games..... They wanted a dollar per quarter game on NFL Blitz. That means you $8 deep to play with a friend. Most other machines cost $.25 per quarter, a far more reasonable price. Not to mention, they wired the button wrong. So we spent the entire first quarter of the game, cause that's what we got when we were trying to buy an entire football game, trying to figure out the mis-wired buttons. The 4 man pack man is $1 each. The "shoot as many basket balls in a certain time" game was $1 each. And one of the machines quarter slots was all jammed up. Everything was overpriced. I would have stayed around, spent money on beer, and enjoyed myself if the games were more reasonable.

Really amazing upgrade from the last venue. Creative drinks, great live dj's and friendly staff. I always feel welcome and enjoy my time there. Plus there bottles are competitively priced.

DO NOT GO HERE!!!! The meat head bartender is too cool for school and only serves the regulars. We sat down at the bar ready to eat some hot pockets and play games but this guy sat in his phone and didn't serve anyone. Everyone at the bar had an empty drink. When I tried to get his attention he looked at me and then back at his phone. Terrible service. Horrible staff. His tattoos were ugly too.

It's an arcade bar. Let's think about the concept of an arcade bar for a second. Is it a good arcade? Well, no. Both pinball machines were broken in one way or another. The arcade machines weren't in good nick either, with faded screens and sticky buttons. Games were way overpriced, even for arcade bar standards. Some of the card readers for those overpriced machines didn't work. Is it a good bar? Well, not really. Pours were okay, selection was okay, but there are at least ten better within 100 yards. Staff weren't that great. Go to Cidercade, Barcadia, anywhere else. This place is some rich kid's joke.

Went in there yesterday afternoon after the outdoor market. The bartender was not very attentive. She was just talking to some guy the whole time. I asked about the vodka mist they had. I thought it was a drink didn't even know it was a really vodka mist. She wasn't really selling it.. Didn't think I got a buzz out of it and I was already feeling pretty good. But it was cool to had tried something new.

This place is awesome! I came here on a Wednesday after 12 midnight since they don't close till 2 cause it was my birthday and I didn't want to go home... lots of available FREE meter parking after midnight, and only a few people playing the games. It's free to enter and most games are either $1 - $2 up to $6 but $1 can get you up to 8 credits (8 tries on the game). But most of the games already had money/credits on them from the previous players, I played for at least an hour and only spent $1. plus the staff came around cleaning and swiping their game card making sure I wasn't bored for a single second! Not sure if it's because I came so late on a weekday, but it helps if you buy a drink at the bar. The drinks are a little expensive, $14 - $18 for something like Hennessy but I got a soda for $3. 21+ on weekdays and after 8pm on sat/sun. the games are so cool and fun. And the music selection is fireee !! I really enjoyed it!

Cool bar, great drinks and they don't price gouge you for them like other bars in the area seem to do. Fun atmosphere and super friendly staff. They do have quite a few games as well, only complaint is how sticky the Xbox controllers were (go figure).

extremely loud and distateful edm is too loud to hear the ddr or guitar hero, and its $9 for a shot of well tequila. we asked them to turn down the insanely loud music so we could hear the ddr machine (we were literally the only people there on a wednesday) and they said they couldn't change the volume. this place is empty for a reason

My friend and I decided to come visit on a Saturday night at around 7:30pm. The place was crowded and had a pretty nice atmosphere. Like all bars and night life, the music were blasted extremely loud where you can't hear your mate. The games were all priced pretty expensively, like the $5/play ice hockey game, so you can't stay for too long without spending too much. The whole time we were there, there was only 1 personnel working. To have 1 person service about 30 people at the bar and arcade was a bit ridiculous. I couldn't get his attention to service a game that took my money, never the less to even get a drink. This place needs more staff for sure.

This spot sucks haha point blank period, 2nd time coming here, I'm from out of town & the security booted me out of the bar. I didn't do anything wrong. Very weird place

Whoa, this place is expensive. Two drinks cost almost $30 and they weren't anything special. All games are $1. It's VERY loud and bright. Will not be back

Really fun spot! The paid games are pricey, but there is plenty of free stuff as well! Drinks are reasonably priced though not super strong. A great time with a few friends!

Arcade bar in deep Ellum which at first sounded like a fun concept, but once we went in it was clear it's more for kids. The girls behind the bar were taking selfies and snapchats and weren't concerned about serving anyone. Once we finally got a beer, it was complete foam and wouldn't go down after 10 mins. As a former bartender, I went up and asked if they wouldn't mind repouring and the bartender acted completely unprofessional and was yelling "beer has foam! Do you not know that?!" I guess if you are a teenager and want a place to go in deep Ellum it's fine, but if you are an adult looking to have drinks and a good time I'd steer clear, plenty of much better bars in the area.

Love this spot. Tons of arcade games combined with a bar is a wonderful idea. Playing PlayStation at the bar top with random people was a ton of fun. Shoutout to Jeremy & Ashley for making our night out memorable.

Vibes are great the games are overlay priced and they are not at all black friendly... me and some friends came in and literally bought mad drinks and played sooo many games but the bar guy was very rude treated us like we were not at all welcomed... but we continue to stay and play games because we was not going to let some races guy make us feel uncomfortable....