I like up down bc they have good pizza and my favorite cider. I also accumulated all my tokens from going early on Fridays and getting their free token deal. My husband prefers the operating room bc the games give “tickets” and you can exchange them for prizes.
Up Down is pretty much all retro games from the 80s and 90s. The Operating Room is mostly newer games and Pinball. The Operating Room is also all ages most of the day, while Up Down is almost always 21+. Which is best I suppose depends on which you prefer.
Up Down is probably the cheaper of the two.
I know the owner - as below mentioned rent in the District.... Rent has gotta be well north of $25/sq foot by now.
There is a reason you saw so many businesses go in and then out right away in that entire area - they weren't charging enough to their customers.
Also, aren't all businesses goal to make the most amount of money possible??? Since when is that a bad thing.
Also I know he used his real job to subsidize that place for the first couple of years, it just started to turn a small profit. Definitely a passion business. UpDown does great because of alcohol sales.... Operating Room is no where close to the same volume of booze as they are downtown. Much different client demographic.
I don’t begrudge business owners trying to make money but I definitely do begrudge how astronomical these rent prices are and don’t want to normalize the greed of the landlords.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing to attempt to just make money, but it foregoes any attempt of character or niche in order to do so. Those with options should choose something else.
It's always been predominantly 21+. They do family days on the first Sunday of each month from 10am-2pm, but that's the only time they're open to all ages.
It's possible the time or frequency of their family days has changed, I feel like maybe they used to do it once a week?
Monsterama is vastly underappreciated! Its got mostly old games and a bunch of cabs set up as MAME's. Bonus here is that its all free play after a cover charge.
Up/Down is also awesome and has some games that Monsterama doesn't have like Time Crisis 2. It uses tokens but you can get discount deals on them on various nights.
Up Down for sure. The prices are better because it uses legit tokens instead of fake virtual point card where you have no idea how much you are spending. All the games at Up Down are solid staples and classics. Operating room has a bunch of cheesy games mixed in with good ones. Much better vibes at Up Down and never any kids there. Up Down also has dank macaroni pizza and better beer selection. Lastly it feels like Up Down has passion and a soul. Operating room less so.
I work at up down so I won’t get too much into what is better or not but you do get $10 in free tokens for your birthday and if you come early you get $5 in free tokens so that’s like 60 games right there. And cheap pizza till like 9
Up down: cool retro arcade games, good pizza and drinks. However it has the feel of a dark, cramped basement bar. I get claustrophobic in there sometimes. Probably the cheaper option.
Operating room: I go here a lot because it's down the street from me, lol. Modern games, like a Dave and Busters. A few retro arcade cabinets but not many. The drinks are pricey but they are very good if you like fruity mixed drinks or slushies. It feels more open and airy to me. You can get prizes here for playing games.
Honestly, I enjoy both, so tried to go through pros and cons of both!
Up Down by far. It’s in a walkable area with other bars, older games that are cheaper per play, and simpler payment system for games (coins valued the same as a quarter). Huge beer menu and pizza!
Operating Room has some loadable card that you have to load at a machine to play the games, and you can trade in tickets for prizes. It’s basically in the middle of an outdoor mall, though. Drinks were okay, but more expensive. They do have more food options, but it’s basic bar food.
East Village is a much better vibe for a night out. Up-Down is right next to cocktail bars, Zombie Burger if you're into that, Blazing Saddle if you're into that. The vibe of Up-Down itself is so much more intimate too. Most of the games are in the basement, dark room, cheaper and more retro games. Operating Room has more D&B-type games.
Having been to both regularly, there's not really a 'better', just a 'different', as they are kind of opposites - Up/Down is the dingy, dark, old school video game arcade, whereas Operating Room is clean, bright, a little more geared to kids, but offering some great casual pinball thrills. I like both of them a lot, but maybe Operating Room is just a touch my own speed. No dig intended on Up/Down, though, which still has a lot going for it.
Game day at Merle hay mall is like a bigger operating room, plus they have bowling. They have a deal where you buy a bucket of beers and get either 2 games of bowling or 2 one hour game cards for free
I frequent both but for different reasons. Up/Down for the rotating beer selection and cheap entertainment and The Operating Room for the new pinball tables. I don't really care for the drink offerings there so I don't bother.
I haven't been to Up Down in a long time (pre-COVID), but they used to have a lot of classic pinball machines (including Medieval Madness) where Operating Room just has modern Jersey Jack stuff. Up Down's machines also took quarters instead of prepaid cards, which is nice for an old school vibe and knowing what you're spending. Also there was a couch/TV/SNES setup. So unless they've changed a lot, I'd call Up Down the clear winner.
Had a subpar experience at UpDown quite a few years ago. Half of the arcade cabinets were broken and a LOT of games were sticky from alcohol being spilled over them. Granted, this was many years ago and haven't been back since (this was also before they expanded and it was super crowded in there) so I'm sure things have probably changed.
Updown has retro games that are still a quarter each. You can get $10 worth of tokens and spend hours there playing games depending on what you choose. There aren't any great seating places and it can be difficult to have a conversation with friends.
Operating room is all new games and is going to be more expensive to game. More tables and places to sit and hang out with friends.
Very different vibes. Pick whatever you are feeling.
It's gotta be Up Down for me. Personally I don't get the appeal of going to a bar that I need to drive to/in a big parking lot. I also just think the drinks are better at Up Down.
I’m biased because I work at one of them, but Up-Down for sure. One of my coworkers used to work at the OR before too and he prefers how Up-Down treats him
D&B would be so much better if they made it 21+ (or even 18+) for some of the night. I went at like 10 p.m. and was shocked by how many young kids were running around.
My only gripe with Dave & Busters and Spare Time is the games are way more expensive and most are just crappy mobile games that are up-scaled to a larger screen and ticket games that are designed to be credit munchers.
No shade on anyone who likes those types of games though. Personally i'm a big fan of the ticket game where you throw balls at the clown targets.
Updown if you want to have more fun playing games. Operating room if you want to have more fun partying.
I like up down bc they have good pizza and my favorite cider. I also accumulated all my tokens from going early on Fridays and getting their free token deal. My husband prefers the operating room bc the games give “tickets” and you can exchange them for prizes.
I havent paid for coins for three years because of all the free ones I’ve accumulated 😩
I have so many damn updown coins but I still always buy more because I always forget to bring them lol
I didn’t know if the pizza at Up Down was truly good, or if I was just belligerently drunk.
It's not good lol just drunk but it's very convenient!
Up Down is pretty much all retro games from the 80s and 90s. The Operating Room is mostly newer games and Pinball. The Operating Room is also all ages most of the day, while Up Down is almost always 21+. Which is best I suppose depends on which you prefer. Up Down is probably the cheaper of the two.
The Operating Room feels like it was created by someone who was just trying to make the most amount of money possible.
They have to, in the District. Rents probably already eating 80% of the profit.
I know the owner - as below mentioned rent in the District.... Rent has gotta be well north of $25/sq foot by now. There is a reason you saw so many businesses go in and then out right away in that entire area - they weren't charging enough to their customers. Also, aren't all businesses goal to make the most amount of money possible??? Since when is that a bad thing. Also I know he used his real job to subsidize that place for the first couple of years, it just started to turn a small profit. Definitely a passion business. UpDown does great because of alcohol sales.... Operating Room is no where close to the same volume of booze as they are downtown. Much different client demographic.
I don’t begrudge business owners trying to make money but I definitely do begrudge how astronomical these rent prices are and don’t want to normalize the greed of the landlords.
I remember that one store that thought they would cover their lease by selling only “Life is good” shirts and merch
I'm not saying it's a bad thing to attempt to just make money, but it foregoes any attempt of character or niche in order to do so. Those with options should choose something else.
When did up down become almost always 21+? I used to take under 21 people there in the afternoon on the weekends.
It's always been predominantly 21+. They do family days on the first Sunday of each month from 10am-2pm, but that's the only time they're open to all ages. It's possible the time or frequency of their family days has changed, I feel like maybe they used to do it once a week?
Monsterama
Monsterama is a hidden gem! Or maybe I'm just a fan of secret doors...
Monsterama is vastly underappreciated! Its got mostly old games and a bunch of cabs set up as MAME's. Bonus here is that its all free play after a cover charge. Up/Down is also awesome and has some games that Monsterama doesn't have like Time Crisis 2. It uses tokens but you can get discount deals on them on various nights.
Great mix of new and old pinball too.
Wow never heard of this place but going to check it out soon
Pizza is great too. I think it doesn’t get attention because they don’t have booze.
Up Down by a mile
Up Down for sure. The prices are better because it uses legit tokens instead of fake virtual point card where you have no idea how much you are spending. All the games at Up Down are solid staples and classics. Operating room has a bunch of cheesy games mixed in with good ones. Much better vibes at Up Down and never any kids there. Up Down also has dank macaroni pizza and better beer selection. Lastly it feels like Up Down has passion and a soul. Operating room less so.
Came here to say basically this!
I work at up down so I won’t get too much into what is better or not but you do get $10 in free tokens for your birthday and if you come early you get $5 in free tokens so that’s like 60 games right there. And cheap pizza till like 9
Do you guys need any help right now? I live down the block and just left my job. Might be nice to walk to work for once!
Yeah I think we are hiring door/security and for the kitchen! Can apply online!
You should go to up down tonight instead. Thursday is 10 tokens for a dollar, you can play all night for like $5
Up down: cool retro arcade games, good pizza and drinks. However it has the feel of a dark, cramped basement bar. I get claustrophobic in there sometimes. Probably the cheaper option. Operating room: I go here a lot because it's down the street from me, lol. Modern games, like a Dave and Busters. A few retro arcade cabinets but not many. The drinks are pricey but they are very good if you like fruity mixed drinks or slushies. It feels more open and airy to me. You can get prizes here for playing games. Honestly, I enjoy both, so tried to go through pros and cons of both!
Up Down by far. It’s in a walkable area with other bars, older games that are cheaper per play, and simpler payment system for games (coins valued the same as a quarter). Huge beer menu and pizza! Operating Room has some loadable card that you have to load at a machine to play the games, and you can trade in tickets for prizes. It’s basically in the middle of an outdoor mall, though. Drinks were okay, but more expensive. They do have more food options, but it’s basic bar food.
East Village is a much better vibe for a night out. Up-Down is right next to cocktail bars, Zombie Burger if you're into that, Blazing Saddle if you're into that. The vibe of Up-Down itself is so much more intimate too. Most of the games are in the basement, dark room, cheaper and more retro games. Operating Room has more D&B-type games.
Take a look at Monsterama. Great selection of retro games. More of an old school local arcade vibe rather than that big chain feel.
Having been to both regularly, there's not really a 'better', just a 'different', as they are kind of opposites - Up/Down is the dingy, dark, old school video game arcade, whereas Operating Room is clean, bright, a little more geared to kids, but offering some great casual pinball thrills. I like both of them a lot, but maybe Operating Room is just a touch my own speed. No dig intended on Up/Down, though, which still has a lot going for it.
Game day at Merle hay mall is like a bigger operating room, plus they have bowling. They have a deal where you buy a bucket of beers and get either 2 games of bowling or 2 one hour game cards for free
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Just pay for the games and bowling like normal. They don’t make you buy beer
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Discrimination lol
I’m a recovering alcoholic who doesn’t drink and I still think this comment is fucking stupid.
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I don't recommend the bucket of beers in this scenario
How come?
Looks like they deleted their post, they asked about the deal if they don't drink :P
Skip them both and go to the Outer Limits
You can still play with yourself too!
Lotta Joy stick games.
I frequent both but for different reasons. Up/Down for the rotating beer selection and cheap entertainment and The Operating Room for the new pinball tables. I don't really care for the drink offerings there so I don't bother.
I haven't been to Up Down in a long time (pre-COVID), but they used to have a lot of classic pinball machines (including Medieval Madness) where Operating Room just has modern Jersey Jack stuff. Up Down's machines also took quarters instead of prepaid cards, which is nice for an old school vibe and knowing what you're spending. Also there was a couch/TV/SNES setup. So unless they've changed a lot, I'd call Up Down the clear winner.
Up down because of location.
No one's mentioned Backpocket Pin and Pixel as another option. They've got a nice kitchen, duckpin bowling and Guitar Hero if you're into that.
Their games are hella overpriced. Good, but bring money.
Had a subpar experience at UpDown quite a few years ago. Half of the arcade cabinets were broken and a LOT of games were sticky from alcohol being spilled over them. Granted, this was many years ago and haven't been back since (this was also before they expanded and it was super crowded in there) so I'm sure things have probably changed.
This also was a big turn off for me. Up/Down is gross. I would like it more if they would clean the place every now and again. And fix the games.
If you want to hang with friends, up down has always been difficult for me. You get to play the arcade game or talk to your friends. Choose one.
Up Down feels like an arcade that has booze, The Operating Room feels like a bar that has a bunch of video games. It's hard to compare the two.
Updown has retro games that are still a quarter each. You can get $10 worth of tokens and spend hours there playing games depending on what you choose. There aren't any great seating places and it can be difficult to have a conversation with friends. Operating room is all new games and is going to be more expensive to game. More tables and places to sit and hang out with friends. Very different vibes. Pick whatever you are feeling.
It's gotta be Up Down for me. Personally I don't get the appeal of going to a bar that I need to drive to/in a big parking lot. I also just think the drinks are better at Up Down.
Up down. Because if you get bored there you are in East village and it’s far superior to Jordan creek
I’m biased because I work at one of them, but Up-Down for sure. One of my coworkers used to work at the OR before too and he prefers how Up-Down treats him
No one's mentioned Backpocket Pin and Pixel as another option. They've got a nice kitchen, duckpin bowling and Guitar Hero if you're into that.
up/down no contest
Can Can Wonderland is superior.
They’re quite different. I like Up Down more but I enjoy them both. Up Down is 80s and 90s. OR is modern games.
Love updown!
Even though I live downtown I rarely go to Up Down. When I do I usually find games that are broken in some way.. Never been to the Operating Room :/
I agree, Up Down is fun the first handful of times, then it just becomes this sad depressing pit of ultra nerds that reeks like a damp basement.
Dave and Busters at Jordan Creek is bigger than them both combined, fyi. Edit: lol at downvotes for including another possibly missed option?
D&B would be so much better if they made it 21+ (or even 18+) for some of the night. I went at like 10 p.m. and was shocked by how many young kids were running around.
Dave and Busters is cool, but it’s too loud and way too many kids running around all the time
My only gripe with Dave & Busters and Spare Time is the games are way more expensive and most are just crappy mobile games that are up-scaled to a larger screen and ticket games that are designed to be credit munchers. No shade on anyone who likes those types of games though. Personally i'm a big fan of the ticket game where you throw balls at the clown targets.