The 1up Arcade Bar - Colfax

There are rooms after rooms after rooms that has original Atari games like the 1980 version which is great and they cost a quarter. They have ski ball basketball pinball galore just about every kind of video game and if you can’t find one you like walk to one of the other sections and surely there’ll be something to play! Free water! There’s a bar also with booth seating.

Great spot for a fun night out in Denver! The 1up has a solid happy hour, including all-day specials on Sundays. The drinks are well-priced, and the energy is always high. It’s a perfect mix of a dive bar and an arcade, and the staff does a great job keeping things moving even when it gets crowded. Definitely a staple of the Colfax nightlife scene.

I love 1up. They have a terrific Happy Hour including all day Happy Hour on Sundays. They have games for literally everyone. They have old games like Froger and Galactica and some new ones too like a highly immersive zombie game. They have dozens of pinball machines as well. The atmosphere is fantastic and trendy and nice. Everyone is friendly and the smoking patio is a great place to meet people. The pizza is good as well.

This establishment encourages and curates a questionable environment. The bathrooms are all gender and one person per stall. Security will follow you into the bathroom to ensure this policy is followed. If security is encouraged to do this, this place has already established a culture of doing inappropriate things in the bathrooms. The last stall has a sharpied note about two individuals taking place in inappropriate activity within that bathroom stall, again, curating that culture and environment as appropriate. Every wall and stall is covered in writting, making their liability sign on the stall doors basically invisible. I was in the stall with my sister when asked by security to leave, not realizing one of us was still using the toilet. I'm not exposing my sister at the request of male security. Having four male security guards "escort" us out for getting upset at this policy is gross to say the least. The security isn't confident or competent if they feel they need 4 males to escort two females out from using a stall together. Again in an all gender bathroom where any reasonable female would feel unsure having to walk down a hallway of urinals before the stalls, it shouldn't be unreasonable to want a bathroom buddy. Unfortunate because I enjoyed this establishment, but will never be back and will encourage everyone to steer clear of their questionable practices taking place here. Also contradicting to encourage profanities to be written on the wall, but when spoken out loud in protest to not comply with security and expose ourselves, we're told to leave.

Loved it there! Went about a year ago after a concert in the Ogden Theater and I can tell is the perfect spot to pre-game or to grab a few beers after, the crowd and staff was super friendly and the setting it’s a whole vibe with lots of arcades and different areas. Looking forward to go back when I visit Denver again.

It's always good to have arcades sticking around. the new games really suck, and 1up keeping the oldies around is a nice treat. They have a lot of pinball machines too. I wish they were 50¢ plays and not $1, but that's my only complaint.

This place is AMAZING! Such a cool vibe and really good drinks that arent too expensive (like $12 for a strong delicious specialty cocktail) I will definitely be here again

Walked in with a family member on a Sunday afternoon (8/27/23) so it wasn’t too crowded. We sat at the bar and ordered draft beers to sit and catch up. After about 3 beers and half an hour of talking we hit the machines! So many nostalgic games to choose from that immediately brought me back to growing up with these games! The one negative drawback was at the pinball machines, two guys added there money to The Mandalorian pinball machine and I was walked up to take a few pics for my review they immediately asked I do not play as they were waiting for a friend to play three players mode. I was respectful and walked away however after 15 minutes their “friend” had not shown up!! 😡 I almost mouthed off to them however I took the high road and moved on! Should be a rule that this is not allowed, in my opinion. This is a fun place to hang out in and I highly recommend. Here’s some more highlights; The Good: Great location Bathrooms were clean Great beer selection and served ice cold Each employee we interacted with were nice, helpful and polite You can add the tokens to your bill and that was convenient A wide selection of arcade games A wide selection of pinball games A wide selection of other games we didn’t have a chance to play Several Skeeball’s with cool colors to liven the mood Brings you back to the good ol’ days(I’m old lol) The Bad: Not much negative to say other than allowing people to add money to a machine without all players being ready to go! Thanks for a good time, we shall return!! 👾🕹️👾🕹️👾🕹️👾🕹️👾🕹️

Tired of overcrowded dance clubs? Want to be entertained and boozed at once and play some nostalgic arcade games, all at once? Well, you've found the spot! The only complaint I have is that there isn't one closer to me in Atlanta! Great drinks and decent bar food, but the diamond in the rough of this dicey spot is the vast selection of every arcade game I've ever played, and possibly a good chunk of any ever created! What more can you ask for!? We played a few games of Jenga out back and that was mildly entertaining. The service is decent, a bit dry but we found that everywhere in Denver--no biggie! If you want cool nostalgic vibes and incredibly entertaining games and tasty drinks, I highly recommend this spot--we went 3 different nights and not once was it overcrowded, just busy!

Pretty cool arcade with a bar! Drinks were fun and named after video games. I got The Frogger which was really good and game with a gummy frog. I like that you can run a tab and pay for your arcade tokens on your tab. Nice since you don't have to feed money into a machine to get tokens. We had a lot of fun playing the games including a giant pac man game that we could play together. Really fun. Great pinball games and games I haven't seen in years like The Simpsons game. No food here but they do sell pizza from nearby that they keep in a warmer. There wasn't much in there when we were there and I didn't know how long it had been sitting there so I decided to pass. Bathrooms are unisex so you could have someone of the opposite sex in the stall right next to you. If that bothers you, hold it! Fun place, I would go again!

The 1Up was good. Most games are 25 cents but pinball is a dollar which blows. They have VS Packman which is fun. Bathrooms are all gender which is a plus

Large selection or arcade games and tons of pinball! I had a great time at 1 up. There were options to use coins or get a $20 coin bag from the bar if you did not have cash. I was able to play every game that I ever wanted coming to an arcade. The selection was very big. Most games were about 25cents and pinball was $1. They also had skee ball and many different racing games. I saw posters for a couple different tournaments that sounded awesome. The drinks were all on theme as well and they had daily deals. Saturdays they had $3 mystery shots. I tried one and it tasted like a strawberry jolly rancher.

Some of the best priced drinks in all of Denver. This is our go-to date night spot. We've never encountered any rude patrons or staff. Love it. Back patio in the summer is the best!

After our dinner date bae wanted to come here. The location was a distance from where we ate. There is parking on the street. But do be careful it's a sketchy area. And they do check id at the door. This was a first visit for me so bae showed me around and a few of this favorite old school games. They have a bar in the frost but we didn't partake this time. We went to the shooting games first, pinballs, skew all area. This was a separate area from the rest and there are gender neutral bathrooms. Ad another bar back there; although I didn't see any bartenders. Also there is an outside patio with outside games as well. Not too much seating outside I think I saw a bench. We be sure to check it out again.

Ok, this place is so fun! All the best games (classic ones like pinball, pacman, super mario, tetris...) will only run you $0.25-0.50 per game. The drinks are strong and the menu is long! One gripe -- some of the game controllers don't function optimally (not just the older games, some of the newer ones too) and that can take away from the experience. The vibe is really fun, and the place is designed so there was minimal elbow jostling on a Friday night. I saw people of all ages (21+) out there. Friendly bar service (you don't have to fight to get attention and eye contact). Really fun date night :)

Sketchy in general bc it's on colfax but much easier to park than the lodo location. Also much bigger so more games. 4 pop a shot and 4 skeeball stations. Even two areas with bathrooms. It's fun coming here!

Game prices range from $.25 for skee-ball to $1 for pinball. Also for $.50 you can try to win a White Claw!

Very VERY clickey; if you dont frequent here dont EVER expect to get a drink everytime i've tried we wait until we watch while the bartenders pick and choose who they serve; familiar faves to the front even if you are there prior; BS BARTENDERS

I visited 1 Up Arcade on April 5th, 2024, and was deeply disappointed by the discriminatory and unprofessional behavior of the staff. As a long-time resident of Capitol Hill and a frequent patron, I was shocked by the treatment my companion and I received. Upon arrival, we ordered two canned beers, a Guinness Stout, and a Montucky Cold Snack. The bartender, an older lady with black/brown hair, quoted each beer at $10. My companion paid $12 for his beer, while I paid $10 for mine, believing it to be the correct price. However, after waiting for approximately 20 minutes, I became suspicious of the pricing, as I have never paid such high prices for canned beers at 1 Up Arcade. I inquired with another bartender, a gentleman with spikey blonde hair, and was informed that the true prices were $4 for a Montucky Cold Snack and $6 for a Guinness Stout. Feeling deceived, we confronted the bartender, requesting a refund for the overcharged amount. However, instead of addressing the issue professionally, the bartender and a barback, described as a very skinny buzz cut individual, became hostile towards us. They accused us of lying and refused to refund the difference. After a brief argument, the bartender begrudgingly returned $10, claiming that was the total amount we had given her. Subsequently, the barback informed us that we were cut off and asked us to leave, despite having consumed only one beer each. This experience was unacceptable and unprofessional. We were simply seeking redress for being overcharged and were met with hostility and discrimination. I believe that action must be taken to address this issue and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Came here on a weekday afternoon because we had to kill some time before dinner. Street parking was easy to find on the side streets. I've been to a few arcade bars before, but mostly the all you can play ones for $10 or so. It's not unlimited play here, so we didn't want to start any games that we knew would eat up a lot of lives. Case in point, we tried Contra and died within minutes. We stuck to basketball and skeeball. These only cost 1 or 2 quarters, which is a steal considering Dave and Busters probably charges $1+ now. The place was really empty which was nice so we didn't have to wait for the games. They serve alcohol, but we had just come from a happy hour. They don't have a big selection of games, but since it is pay to play, all the games we tried had no issues.

I love coming here for the ambiance and games but I've had too many bad experiences with the staff. Last night for example, I came in with my girlfriend and we got some drinks and started playing some pinball. When we came up for the second round the dude that was at the door (big African American fella) was now behind the bar just kinda standing there not really doing anything. The bartender asked us what I wanted and when I ordered my girlfriends drink the doorman seemed passed off about my choice and said some offhanded sarcastic remarc and walked away. It wasn't a huge deal, but combined with the times I've come here to be blatantly disrespected for no reason it honestly just makes me sad. I'd rather go to a corporately owned arcade like Round 1 because at least they treat their guests with respect. As someone who has worked in the service industry for years I would never treat a customer like they aren't welcome, especially when they come to spend their hard earned money.

This place is so fun for a group hangout or a date night! It takes you back to the arcade days of when you were younger except.. now there's booze! Arcade games and drinks there's not much more you could ask for. I've been to the downtown location as well and they are both a great time! This one is just a little closer to for me to get to. Bonus tip make sure to bring tons of quarters so you don't have to hit up the atm.

We have been here at least 5 times and we always keep on coming back! The concept of a bar with old fashioned games is amazing! Every time go we have such a great time! The drinks are always good, the games are fair priced, and everyone is here to have a good time! I recommend for a great date night or a night out with your friends! Dan & Lexi

I love 1up on genera principle. Alcohol and arcade games? Yes, please! Great idea for a date- and this location is within walking distance of both the Fillmore and the Ogden, so you could get bonus points by visiting before or after a show. Many of the skee ball games were out of order, and only one of the two bars was open on a Saturday night. Also, I try to track my water to stay hydrated, and they wouldn't let me bring my hydroflask in (like I get why, but it still sucks!) Drinks were reasonable priced, and service was quick and friendly, despite how busy they were. They take tokens now instead of doing coins, so be sure to bring some cash to exchange for tokens. $10 will last two people about an hour of heavy game play- even a couple games on the pinball machines, which cost $1 per credit or $2 for three credits. Everything else was between 1-2 tokens. They had skee balls, multiple large multi player pac man games, arcade games galore, an entire wall of pinball machines... definitely something for every arcade taste (except air hockey- I would be there daily if they added air hockey). Always fun and a great spot to visit before or after a show!

I always chill here for a couple beers after church. The games are sick. They change them all the time and the all day happy hour on Sundays is awesome. The music's usually sick and I find a lot of new songs through them. If you're cool with them, they're cool with you. If you're coming to an arcade bar expecting to be treated like royalty... fix your vibe or move back to california haha

It was fun coming here when I visited CO. I will say parking was harder to find in the area, so just be prepared for that. They have a ton of games! We went mainly to play, and not to drink, so it wasn't crazy expensive. For two people we cashed in about $15 for tokens (you can also use quarters there) and we're able to play for a few hours. The games ranged in tokens used, but a lot only took 1-2 tokens. Since we came on a Saturday it was pretty busy, and we had to wait for some of the more popular games, but it was never overwhelmingly busy. Also some of the games do steal your tokens so beware

Not as good as the other locations but I can't complain, it was still a great time! Parking is impossible as it's off Colfax but you have Sancho's and Slice works next door so a perfect night of fun

Excellent experience at 1up- the service/staff were great, the bar had an excellent variety of games, and this was just a fun time. The arcade bar still maintained a divey atmosphere while still having very clean bathrooms and mix of new school/old school games. I'm likely biased due to enjoying games in general, but still a 5 star experience.

Cool atmosphere, tons and tons of arcade games, cheap tokens, CHEAP drinks, mystery shots, 40's, pizza, you name it. Outdoor patio with giant jenga and Connect four, some seating. Definitely fun to stop by for a couple hours on a night out to the bars.

The staff is only polite if they know you. Half the games need a repair of some kind. If the joystick isn't broken a button probably doesn't or vice versa. The vibe is great if you're into amphetamines and butt rock. The places just oozes irony.

Game selection is legit. Had so many awesome old school games including plenty I'd never even heard of. They also have some fun new stuff like the TMNT co-op game - just like the original but with sick graphics (huge money suck but fun as hell). Plenty of fighting games as well (believe I even saw two versions of Mortal Kombat). I'm not particularly into pinball but I do like looking at the different machines. Their selection was excellent - they had a Sopranos one which I found wildly entertaining. I didn't drink during my last visit but my interaction with the door person (ID checker) was very pleasant. She was really friendly.

With the caveat that I haven't been here during late night hours, nor have I paid with a credit card here, this is a pretty cool spot if you were a kid in the 90s. Even if you're not going to drink, the game selection here takes you down memory lane in the best possible way. They have classics like Paperboy, but the best nostalgia comes in with the multiplayer games like The Simpsons, X-Men, Double Dragon, and House of the Dead. They also have a pretty amazing selection of new and old pinball games. I can't imagine what the electricity bill is for The 1up, but whatever it is, it's worth it. This is one of the most amazing spreads of arcade games that I've seen anywhere, so it makes for a really fun experience. I wasn't overly impressed with the alcohol selection here during happy hour, but the games more than made up for it. If you got some cash to burn and a cool group of friends that don't mind some of the characters that you'll occasionally find here, the 1up is a great spot to take a trip down memory lane and have some old school fun.

As a person who doesn't play video games, this place was actually really fun to visit! There is a little something there for everyone to enjoy. 1UP has a photo booth, ski ball, pin ball, and tons of nostalgic video games (PACMan, MarioKart, etc.). The space is very large and open which is nice when it gets busy... you never feel overcrowded. There are two bars, but the night we visited only one was open. While it was busy, the bartenders (all female which is awesome) were friendly, prompt, and made us excellent margaritas. One thing that I wish 1UP had more of was drink stands or places to set your drink. I'd hate to set my drink on an arcade machine and have it spill or leave my drink at a table while playing a game and have a stranger mess with it.

1st time and stopped by this place to kill some time before my concert. When you get there they check your ID to get in. They've got 2 bars. Pinball machines in one area and lots of other games all over. Games are reasonably priced for sure. Great and fun place to come to for a cheap date. I spent about an hour and a half playing pinball machines which I love. I had a fun and awesome time. Never laughed so much and felt like I was 12 years old. I would definitely come back.

Wonderful!!!!! My husband and I had a beautiful night!!!!!!!!! I won on connect 4!!!!!!!! First time doing a photo booth!!!!!!!!

The staff is not friendly at all. Mid drinks and mid atmosphere. Do your self a favor and don't go here. Denver has plenty of awesome bars, minus this one.

There is something just unfriendly and dare I say creepy about this place. It could be the bartender's terrible attitude, the bouncer screaming his head off at me that I can't take the free water cups with me as I walked out the door, or when we entered, the bouncer wanting to check inside my 4x4 inch purse. It creates a really weird vibe that is deeply uncomfortable. So much so that the last time after I dealt with the weird bouncer, I promptly turned around and walked back out.

It's fun for being the adult version of the arcade you *may have grown up with. The staff was a bit aloof, and seems they get real tired of having to explain the process with getting change for the games which comes across borderline rude to patrons. Which plays...yep..plays....;) to them having to keep your card for a tab if you need to start a tab. Seems like they need to find a way for ppl to get change off of cards without having to hit the atm and then the change machine...somewhat ironic to ask for current technology for a room full of older arcade games! It's a tricky situation across the board for them and customers. I love the concept of this place but it fell to 3 stars with the touch of 'tude and from some of the maintenance. Most of the skeeball games were shut down, ones working were without balls (who really needs to take these ppl!!! Stop clowning), etc. this spot is on COLFAX so it has that touch and feel...the games feel grimey. But then again it kind of adds to the REAL arcade feel! Honestly...I like it. But think this particular one might not be for everyone. AND for the love of GOD. Someone needs to get the message out that the majority of DENVER doesn't take verticals IDs. It's not just this place. Taking it out on them doesn't change the fact that this is the rule that most bars in Denver follow.

I've been to 1Up when visiting friends who live in the area. Good - the machines are maintained, they have a wide variety, and it's fun. Bad - the staff were not just impolite, they were downright rude. (We were not drunk, and had really come to just play the games.) Drinks were served with disdain, eye rolling for no reason was standard, and the drinks were sub par. I'd probably go back because it's convenient, but am looking for other places in the area that are friendlier to their paying customers.

This place is awesome! They have so many retro games and it's only a quarter or two to play. The drinks here are also super cheap which is great! I really enjoyed my time here and I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area!

Absolutely LOVED this spot! What a fun place to hangout with friends, go on a date or just have some fun no matter the circumstances. They have so many fun arcade games - my favorites were the basketball, skiball and guitar hero... so fun! They have a nice bar area considering this is more of a dive-ish spot with arcade games and the prices are definitely reasonable. I would totally come back here!

I've always loved the 1up. I was a fan when the first one opened in LoDo, but loved the vibe of the 2up (this former location's name) a bit more. This weekend, husband and I were trying to force ourselves to do something out of our wheelhouse for date night. We tend to be so tired on Friday that we eat some carbs, have two drinks and head home. This weekend, however, we decided to come make a trip across town to the arcade. It had been quite a while since either of us had been in. We had no idea that the arcade expanded! Where it was a 3-star whole in the wall before, The 1up is a freaking amazing experience now. SO so impressed with the game selection. Husband was walking around like a giddy child commenting on every game. We loved the selection of two-person games they had. My favorite was the Guitar Hero game and hubs loved Tekken. We will honestly be back soon and often. The layout is wonderful, roomy for a legit arcade. The drinks were small but very mighty. The bartenders were nice enough and made our drinks the perfect strength. They also have a PHOTOBOOTH! YASSSS. We were stoked to see this in here. One small complaint is the cost of the games. They felt very pricy to me. But honestly, given how clean everything was, how much space there was, meh. This is a little complaint from me. Although if they made the premium songs on guitar hero free, I'd probably never leave ;)

Paid a 40 - 50 dollar tab. Pretty cheap night, not much but it's something. Anyways, the doorman was pretty aggressive over a beer can that the band Wolfmother gave me as a souvenir. Started escalating the situation more than it needed to be. Started yelling and getting in our faces. Threw the can away and walked out calmly. Came back cause a buddy was still inside hanging out with the lead singer of Wolfmother just to be told that I was "kicked out" even though I walked out. Serious racist undertones as my other buddy who he was getting in a spat with was able to go back in. Relax dude, I'm a native. Working Colfax doesn't make you badass or hard. Swear he wanted to put hands on us. One of those "give me a reason" dudes who is lacking de escalation training. No need to worry about the "dangers" of Colfax when you have violent people working the door. Still was pretty cool to hangout with Wolfmother. If they come back, I recommend seeing them. This bar though? Y'all can keep this one star. Veterans should avoid this area, they treat military members poorly.

Super fun! Lots of gaming options, mostly old school but there are a bunch of new games too. Great selection of pinball machines, you are sure to find one you like. There is multiplayer options for the pinball games. Competitive fun, a nice way to pass time and hang out with friends. There is a four player Pac-Man battle game that is great for groups. There are a couple of skee-ball games, basketball hoops (arcade style), and lots of other games. Make sure to bring your ID with you, everyone gets checked. Outside they have a smoking area and two tables with large wood pieces to play Jenga. Be careful of the wooden pieces when they fall, usually one person in the group manages to get a small cut trying to catch this suckers. Splints everywhere.

Although the pinball is a bit overpriced, this arcade bar is a total blast! We had a small group of four and found plenty to do as a whole group, pairs, or individually. I rarely have a malfunction with the games. They have two bars, but I haven't seen the secondary bar serve drinks since the pandemic has been winding down. Still, super quick and friendly service at the bar that they do have open!

*based on One Sunday afternoon visit* $1 mimosas and $2 doubles on Sunday's! BEST DEAL IN TOWN. And they're essentially all champagne. Tons of games to choose from, both single and multi player. Great place to spend a lazy Sunday and to bring visitors who can't experience adult beverages and video games in public elsewhere. Bathrooms (on a Sunday at 1pm) were also very clean and welcoming. Most games are $0.25 or $0.50 and worth their value.

This place takes me so far back. I am so glad it is walking distance from where I live. Without the alcohol it's actually a wholesome place to spend a few bucks on Pac Man or pinball games. I wish this location were bigger :)

good and nice environment, tons of good games, & good priced drinks for downtown area

While on vacation we went to two locations. Had a great time playing games of our childhood and drinking old school drinks such as mad dog 20/20. Rates on games and drinks very reaaonable. We spent about 2 hours both times. Only downside was some of the shotting games were broken.

So are y'all gonna take my ID when I'm 26 and show up bc I'm from out of town? This place seems like a fun spot like we have in st Louis but not going if that's going to happen. Please lmk thanks

Super fun experience! Great games and fun atmosphere! Bring your quarters! Cocktails are all very very sweet just so you know but great selection of beers on tap. A bit unclean but it is a bar. If you are worried about covid I would not go here. The games are not very clean nor did I see them cleaning the machines regularly but cool place overall.

My friend and I had so much fun playing the games. We had no issues with machines taking money. There was great mix of music. Only 4 stars as I wish it had sanitation stations around the facility.

Fun place overall but they use the actual glass to scoop ice for their drinks, so, maybe stick to beer, but overall fun place

I love this place! It really brings me back to a better time... :) You will find all your old favorite games here and they still run on quarters. No need to buy a card where the prices of each game become unclear. They have a full bar complete with drink specials and all your favorite beers and booze. The prices are fantastic as well. I see all sorts of younger people here getting their game on as well as some old schoolers too. Plenty of pinball Lots of multiplayer games Fun old school games Great coin-op fun You will find me playing Castlevania or Shinobi...

Been to a few though this one was so chill and down to earth. Just good people looking to drink, eat and play games.

Such a fun spot. I've been here with friends a few times and I always see people on dates and double dates. It feels like you're on the set of Stranger Things mixed with Back to the Future. It takes me back to my teen years at Nickel-A-Play; all it's missing are the tickets and prize counter. The Pinball room is impressive, but in a crowd, I prefer Skeeball and Guitar Hero any day. Some of the machines are a bit run down, but that comes with the territory of a vintage arcade. Pac-man, Paper Boy, Donkey Kong, Cruisin' World. The crowd is there for a good time. You really can't help but laugh all night when you have a pocket full of change, a drink in your hand, and dozens of machines to choose from.

A really high quality arcade with new and old machines alike. My problem is that the pinball machines are $1 a play. This discourages newbies to play since you can drain all three balls in under a minute. They'd make more money per machine at 50cent plays.