Entry No. 48 — the Los Angeles file — filed under: records
Blipsy Bar
An easy-to-miss Western Avenue dive that opened in 2010 as one of LA's first barcades, with original 1980s cabinets and pinball wedged in among a chaotic collection of oversized carnival animals and vintage toys. Live DJs spin most nights and the crowd is unpretentious and local. Pinball titles have included Twilight Zone, Terminator 2, and Stellar Wars alongside the video cabinets.
The story
You don't stroll down Western Avenue looking for polished mixology lounges, and Blipsy Bar has never attempted to be one. Opened in 2010 as one of Los Angeles's early barcades, this Koreatown hideout completely ignores modern tavern trends. Instead, it wedges original 1980s video arcade cabinets and classic pinball tables into a narrow room dominated by oversized, faded carnival plushies and vintage toys watching over you from overhead shelves.
The setup here is wonderfully chaotic. Pinball titles like Twilight Zone, Terminator 2, and Stellar Wars line up beside retro upright video games in a dark space that feels equal parts neighborhood watering hole and attic playden. Most nights, local DJs take over the decks, cranking music while an unpretentious local crowd drinks cheap beer and feeds quarters into forty-year-old hardware.
What it's like
Stepping through the Western Avenue entrance puts you straight into a low-lit, quarter-fueled dive with noise bouncing off classic cabinet glass. Expect a gritty, unpolished atmosphere with cheap drinks, loud beats, and creepy stuffed carnival critters looming overhead. If you want a quiet round of pinball where you can actually hear the game callouts, arrive right at 4:00 PM; later in the evening, the spot packs out with local DJ sets that turn the space into a crowded neighborhood party.
The move: Grab a cheap drink, play Terminator 2 pinball, and people-watch under the creepy stuffed carnival animals while a DJ spins.
📍 Before you go 21+ dive bar that opens in the afternoon/evening; DJ nights get loud and the vibe is gritty, not polished.
- 📍 Koreatown
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 369 N Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Botanica Ochun — Pick up spiritual candles and oils down Western Avenue before ducking into Blipsy for pinball when doors open at 4:00 PM.
- La Descarga — Follow up a gritty, quarter-operated dive night with an over-the-top speakeasy entrance through a bedroom armoire just a mile away.
- Hollywood Forever Cemetery — Pay your respects to old Hollywood icons, then head five minutes east to play 1980s pinball under looming stuffed carnival critters.
- Pan's Apothika (formerly Panpipes Magickal Marketplace) — Browse one of the country's oldest occult shops in East Hollywood before retreating to Blipsy for cheap drinks and vintage arcade play.
Good to know
What kind of games does Blipsy Bar have?
The bar features original 1980s video game cabinets alongside pinball machines such as Twilight Zone, Terminator 2, and Stellar Wars.
What are Blipsy Bar's hours and age limit?
It is a 21+ dive bar operating daily from 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM.
Does Blipsy Bar serve food or fancy cocktails?
No—this is a straightforward, unpretentious dive focused on beer, simple drinks, pinball, and music rather than craft menus or food service.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Yelp · Official site · discoverlosangeles.com · kineticist.com · Time Out · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-23