Entry No. 68 — the Des Moines file — filed under: arcade-play
Up-Down Des Moines
An 80s/90s-themed arcade bar in the East Village where 60-plus classic cabinets, six skee-ball alleys and pinball machines all run on quarters. Console stations let you drop onto a couch for old Nintendo while a 20-tap craft beer list and house-made pizza by the slice keep things going. It is a strictly 21+ room, so it skews toward a night out rather than a family stop.
The story
Most bars treat nostalgia like cheap wallpaper, but Up-Down at 500 East Locust Street keeps the original arcade rules intact. Inside this East Village spot, you won't find digital game cards or mark-up tokens. Every single machine among the 60-plus classic arcade cabinets, pinball rigs, and skee-ball alleys operates on genuine 25-cent quarters.
The room leans hard into 80s and 90s gaming culture, right down to living-room style couch stations where you can drop onto a sofa to play retro Nintendo titles. Between cabinet runs, you can grab house-made pizza by the slice and choose from a beverage lineup focused on craft beer and cocktails. Because the venue is strictly 21+ at all times and stays open daily until 2 AM, it operates strictly as an adult night out.
What it's like
Expect a dark, neon-lit floor filled with the chime of mechanical coin drops and retro game audio. Grab a roll of quarters from the change machines, pick up a slice of house-made pizza, and work your way through the cabinet stacks, pinball row, or the six skee-ball lanes. Couch stations for console play fill up fast on busy nights, so grab a couch early if you want to lounge with a Nintendo controller.
The move: Make a roll of quarters last all night, racing each other on skee-ball and the classic cabinets between pizza slices.
📍 Before you go 21+ only. Games are 25 cents per play.
- 📍 East Village, Des Moines
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 500 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Alleged Lee's — Trade quarter-fed arcade buttons for cocktails at a hidden speakeasy tucked right in the East Village.
- Ken's - a not so secret speakeasy — Head two blocks away to swap 80s arcade neon for a basement speakeasy underneath the Iowa Taproom.
- The Dust Collective — Pair arcade gaming with a visit to an artist-run vintage and goods clubhouse nearby on Locust Street.
- Rook Room Game Lounge & Cafe — Shift from quarter-fed arcade cabinets to sitting down over a massive tabletop board game library downtown.
Good to know
How much does it cost to play games at Up-Down?
All arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and skee-ball lanes operate on quarters and cost 25 cents per play.
Are kids allowed at Up-Down Des Moines?
No. Up-Down is strictly a 21-and-over venue at all times.
What food and drinks are available?
They serve house-made pizza by the slice along with a drink selection featuring craft beer on tap, bottles, cans, and cocktails.
What are Up-Down's hours?
The venue is open daily in the East Village until 2 AM.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: updownarcadebar.com · Yelp · Official site · businessrecord.com · Instagram · beermenus.com
last checked: 2026-06-23