Entry No. 202 — the Denver file — filed under: arcade-play
Secret Level Arcade & Bar
Secret Level is an 80s-soaked arcade bar in walkable Olde Town Arvada, mixing pinball and retro cabinets with neon-era decor and a full bar. It stays all-ages with a rotating pinball lineup and a weekday happy hour (2-5pm), then ramps up the cocktails, craft beer, and DJ and tournament nights after dark. The Olde Town setting lets you pair gaming with a stroll past the district's shops and restaurants.
The story
Before it took over the entire floor plan, Secret Level was literally secret—a quiet, back-room speakeasy tucked behind the plant-based restaurant So Radish at 5711 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard. When So Radish shuttered in late 2023, the owners stopped hiding the play zone behind a curtain and let the neon-soaked 80s aesthetic consume the entire footprint of the Olde Town Arvada space.
Instead of forcing digital game cards or RFID wristbands on you, Secret Level keeps game day old-school with real quarters. You can feed cash into the change machine or ask the bartender to add a roll of quarters straight onto your tab. The perimeter is packed with classic upright cabinets like Area 51, Killer Instinct 2, NBA Jam, and Mario Kart, while the back room holds a glowing, rotating fleet of pinball tables ranging from modern Stern machines to fan-favorite remakes.
What it's like
Drop in before sundown if you're bringing younger gamers, or wait until nightfall when the space flips to 21+ with frozen cocktails, craft beers, and local pinball leagues. The atmosphere is loud, bathed in local artist murals, and heavy on neon nostalgia. If you get hungry between rounds on the flippers, order a basket of fried avocado, waffle fries, or chicken chunks right at the bar without losing your turn.
The move: Hit the weekday happy hour, work through the rotating pinball lineup, then wander out into Olde Town for dinner.
📍 Before you go All-ages during the day, 21+ later; in Olde Town Arvada, roughly 20 min northwest of downtown.
- 📍 Olde Town Arvada
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 5711 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Bernard's Tiki Room — Follow up your neon quarter-banging session with a secret staircase trip into a rum-soaked Polynesian lounge right around the corner in Olde Town.
- SomePlace Else Brewery — Keep the flippers flying just a mile away at a dog-friendly microbrewery focused on house beers and cheap vintage pinball plays.
- RitualCravt — Trade glowing CRT screens for a 200-herb apothecary and folk-magic school less than two miles down the road in Wheat Ridge.
Good to know
How do I pay for arcade and pinball games?
All machines run on physical quarters. You can use cash at the change machine or ask the bartender to bill a roll of quarters directly to your card tab.
Is Secret Level all-ages or adults-only?
It operates as an all-ages space during the day, then transitions into a 21+ venue later in the evening.
What food and drinks are served?
The bar serves craft beers, cocktails, and frozen drinks alongside a fryer-focused menu featuring chicken chunks, waffle fries, fried avocado, and fried pickles with dipping sauces.
How do I get there using public transit?
Secret Level is located in walkable Olde Town Arvada, less than three blocks from the RTD G-Line light rail station.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · pinballmap.com · coloradocommunitymedia.com · Reddit · kineticist.co
last checked: 2026-06-23