Entry No. 55 — the Boulder file — filed under: arcade-play
Lyons Classic Video
Hidden in the basement of the original Oskar Blues, past the pool tables, this free-to-enter black-light arcade is a faithful slice of the 1980s. The collection runs to twenty-plus classic video cabinets including Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man and Tron, glowing under UV light. It keeps the same hours as the bar upstairs, so you can grab a beer and a burger and head down to play.
The story
When Oskar Blues founder Dale Katechis gave up his lower-level office at the original 303 Main Street brewpub, the basement wasn't meant to become a time machine. But Kevin and Carole Carroll—the arcade devotees behind nearby Lyons Classic Pinball—took over the subterranean space to create a dedicated sanctuary for classic 1980s video cabinets. You won't find ticket redemption machines or modern claw games down here; just twenty-plus original arcade units glowing under black light past the downstairs pool tables.
The setup feels intentionally subterranean and unadvertised. You walk through the main dining room of Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, pass the taps, and slip down the stairwell into a room drenched in UV purple. CRT screens flicker with the blocky pixels of Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man, and Tron. Because the arcade is tied directly to the brewpub, you can carry a craft beer downstairs, feed quarters into 1980s coin slots, and trade turns on joystick controls in a space that feels more like a private collector's lair than a commercial establishment.
What it's like
Head down the stairs into the basement level of Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, weave past the pool tables, and step directly into the black-lit room. The arcade is compact, dark, and illuminated almost entirely by black lights and CRT monitor glow. Because it follows the main restaurant's operating schedule, you can drop in for a quiet lunch-hour session or spend an evening down here while live music plays upstairs. Grab drinks at the bar first, bring paper cash for the quarter machine, and expect an unhurried, throwback vibe where you rarely have to wait in line to play.
The move: Order beers and burgers upstairs at Oskar Blues, then disappear into the black-lit basement to trade turns on Ms. Pac-Man and Tron.
📍 Before you go Inside Oskar Blues' downstairs bar; follows restaurant hours. Free to enter. About 17 miles from Boulder.
- 📍 Lyons
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 303 Main St, Lyons, CO 80540 (basement of Oskar Blues Grill & Brew)
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Lyons Classic Pinball — Walk two minutes down Main Street to continue gaming at their sister venue, which houses over 70 vintage pinball machines.
- The Clarifier Project — Swap basement UV lighting for outdoor public art by visiting a converted 1950s cement wastewater tank covered in 60,000 hand-painted tiles.
- WeeCasa Tiny House Resort — Turn a late night of retro arcade gaming into a stay in a riverfront tiny house situated less than half a mile away.
Good to know
Is there an entrance fee for Lyons Classic Video?
No. The arcade is free to enter, though you will need quarters to play the individual video game cabinets.
Where inside Oskar Blues is the arcade located?
It is in the basement level of the original Oskar Blues Grill & Brew at 303 Main St, situated just past the pool tables.
What are the arcade's operating hours?
It shares operating hours with the Oskar Blues restaurant and downstairs bar, making it accessible whenever the main venue upstairs is open.
What games are in the collection?
The room features over twenty classic 1980s video game cabinets, including original titles like Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man, and Tron.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: colorado.com · Official site · Yelp · Westword
last checked: 2026-06-23