The arcade conveys nostalgia. It’s hot, the floor is carpeted, the game bulbs are flashing, the top 50 games are playing on a loop through the speakers. We sip a soda through a long straw, the kind served at the fountain with lots of ice. Life is good.
Montreal’s underground city includes several arcades where you can spend an afternoon playing games from the 80s to today’s virtual reality. We’ve found the best ones for you!
1 PlayBox Center
We start with the city’s largest arcade, the PlayBox. It’s in the Eaton Centre, and the room is 18,000 square feet. It’s a good place to start because there are over 80 machines and attractions to try out, starting at $2.50/game.
2 North Star
The North Star bar on the Plateau is the ultimate sanctuary for pinball lovers! This Montreal institution is a love letter to pinball machines of all eras. Featuring a rotating collection of meticulously restored vintage pinball machines dating from the 1920s to the present day, the bar offers cocktails and an old-fashioned gaming experience.
3 Arcade MTL
Starting out as a weekly pop-up between friends, Arcade MTL has evolved into a Montreal gaming institution. Now a mainstay for the city’s gamer community, the venue features a vast collection of retro classics such as Mortal Kombat II, Ms. Pac-Man, Street Fighter II and Tetris. For just $7, admission includes coins to play with, as well as a selection of microbrewery beers and special geek cocktails.
4.apt. 200
This is Montreal’s coolest arcade, because it’s not. It’s a bar with music, cocktails and partying, but it’s also the unsuspected haunt of arcade fans. In addition to the classic pool, you can play classic fighting games like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, as well as timeless racing simulators, even when the bar is transformed into a dance club.
5 Putting Edge
A change of pace with Putting Edge, where indoor mini-golf becomes a unique experience under black light. In addition to glow-in-the-dark courses, this destination offers a range of arcade games, from table field hockey to racing simulators, all lit up in fluorescent colors. It’s also for family outings, and for those who tell anyone who will listen that they could have had a career as a golfer if only…
6 Taverne Cobra
Taverne Cobra is a throwback to the early ’90s, skate culture and the beginnings of hip-hop – with beer and video games thrown in. Indestructible classics like Mortal Kombat II and Street Fighter II await you for a trip back in time.
7.BoulZeye
Lazer tag, bowling, escape rooms, VR games, arcade, restaurant, for groups of friends who want to return to adolescence – with pitchers of beer to boot.
8. Funtropolis
While most arcades are aimed at adults, Funtropolis is the exception for kids. With a colossal play structure, mini-golf, a “4D” virtual reality simulator and a full arcade section, it’s the ideal place to tire out the kids and maybe, just maybe, give the parents a rest.
9.20/20 Fun
A pillar of Montreal’s arcade scene, Amusement 20/20 has stood the test of time. It’s renovated but still retro, and it’s still a great classic that’s affordable for small or large groups.
10.M2 Marché-Montréal
Located inside the Bell Centre, this arcade is the brainchild of North Star (see above). Between Mexican bites or upgraded hotdogs, test your skills on pinball machines and arcade games. It’s the perfect place to kill time before a show – or a game if it’s during field hockey season.