Entry No. 56 — the Chicago file — filed under: arcade-play
Replay Lincoln Park
Replay is a free-play barcade with 60-plus vintage cabinets, pinball, skeeball, and bubble hockey, all included once you are in. What sets it apart is its rotating, fully themed pop-up takeovers, where staff transform a section of the bar into elaborate immersive sets riffing on shows like Squid Game or Always Sunny's Paddy's Pub. The result feels less like a generic chain barcade and more like a constantly mutating themed playground.
The story
Most barcades dump a few sticky arcade cabinets in a dark corner, mark up their IPAs, and call it a night. Replay Lincoln Park operates more like a rogue backlot set that happens to hold a liquor license. Run by local venue owner Mark Kwiatkowski, the Sheffield Avenue space splits itself between a massive free-play gaming floor and an obsessive, mutating series of full-scale pop-culture set conversions.
Every few months, the crew strips down the interior to hand-build hyper-specific fictional universes. They've constructed Paddy's Pub from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a full-scale Squid Game gauntlet, a Star Wars cantina, and Middle-earth complete with custom props and themed drink counters. They even use their upstairs space—the Level Up Bar—for deep-cut takeovers like a Simpsons Treehouse of Horror installation. You aren't just looking at themed posters; you're drinking thematic cocktails under custom set builds.
Underneath the theatrical pop-ups, the arcade hardware remains legitimate. You step past the photo ops to find over 60 vintage arcade cabinets, pinball machines, skeeball lanes, and bubble hockey tables. There are no coin slots, card swipes, or token dispensers in sight—every machine is set to free-play, so you only pay for what you order at the bar.
What it's like
Expect a loud, high-energy crowd navigating a cavernous, wood-beamed venue right off Sheffield Avenue. On Friday and Saturday nights, the main floor turns into a jammed photo line for whatever pop-up set is currently installed, complete with costumed drinkers and packed bars. If you want actual screen time on the cabinets, slip in on a Tuesday or Wednesday night: you'll skip the door line, grab a craft draft without waiting, and bounce straight between skeeball and vintage arcade games without waiting behind a crowd taking selfies.
The move: Time your visit to a current themed pop-up, dress to match if you dare, and bounce between the costumed set and a free-play skeeball showdown.
- 📍 Lincoln Park
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2833 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Red Lion Pub — Walk half a mile south to trade Replay's hyperactive pop-up sets for a dim pint in a notoriously haunted British pub.
- The Wiener's Circle — Head six blocks east after your skeeball showdown to grab char-grilled hot dogs and absorb a side of relentless late-night verbal abuse.
- Logan Arcade — If you want serious restored cabinet purism and deep-cut pinball without the TV-show set pieces, travel two miles west to this 21-and-up gaming tavern.
Good to know
Do I need quarters or tokens to play the games?
No. All 60-plus vintage arcade games, pinball machines, skeeball lanes, and bubble hockey setups are set to free-play once you enter.
Is there a cover charge or ticket required for the pop-ups?
General entry to Replay Lincoln Park and its themed pop-ups is free with open walk-in access, though special ticketed events like themed trivia nights or VIP previews may occasionally require advance passes.
Does Replay Lincoln Park serve food?
The venue focuses primarily on drinks, craft beers, and pop-up cocktail menus, though specific themed installations occasionally feature special food pop-ups or catering partners.
How do I get to Replay Lincoln Park via public transit?
It sits at 2833 N Sheffield Ave in Lincoln Park, just a short walk from both the Diversey and Belmont CTA train stations.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Yelp · Official site · nbcchicago.com · blockclubchicago.org · ticketbud.com
last checked: 2026-06-23