Entry No. 57 — the New Orleans file — filed under: arcade-play
Emporium Arcade Bar
An adults-only barcade set inside an old industrial garage on St. Claude, with the exterior wrapped in local graffiti murals. The floor mixes pool tables, skee-ball, foosball, hoops, and a wall of classic video cabinets with modern pinball tables like Simpsons Pinball Party, The Mandalorian, and Godzilla. There's a full bar leaning on local craft beer and a cocktail program, so you can keep a drink in hand between games.
The story
St. Claude Avenue doesn't do sterile, polished nightlife; it prefers grease, street art, and loud bass. Emporium Arcade Bar leans directly into that grain, setting up shop inside a massive converted industrial garage wrapped in local graffiti murals. Instead of mechanics and auto lifts, the concrete floor now holds row after row of glowing CRTs, four pool tables, and a heavy line of silverball machines echoing off the high ceilings.
Because it operates on a strict 21-and-over rule at all hours, you won't be dodging stray children while attempting a high score on Simpsons Pinball Party or timing a shot on Godzilla. The floor plan balances pure retro cabinets with physical bar games—skee-ball lanes, foosball, and hoops sit right alongside modern pinball setups like The Mandalorian.
The bar program skips the cheap well syrups you might expect from a neighborhood arcade and delivers a solid draft lineup focused on local craft beer and a real cocktail menu. Grab a cup of tokens, set your pint in a cup holder between games, and let the arcade sound chips drown out the rest of St. Claude.
What it's like
Look for the heavy mural-draped exterior on St. Claude Avenue. Inside, it's cavernous, dark, and humming with arcade noise, with enough space that you rarely feel jammed in. Grab a drink at the central bar, hit the token machines, and claim a pinball table or a skee-ball lane. Weeknights offer easy access to the four pool tables and top pinballs, while weekend nights pack in a lively crowd fueled by parade energy and late-night drinks. Don't leave your ID at home—the 21+ door policy is non-negotiable.
The move: Buy a stack of tokens, claim a pinball table and a skee-ball lane, and play a best-of-three for who buys the next round.
📍 Before you go Adults-only (21+); opens at 5pm on weekdays, earlier on weekends.
- 📍 Marigny
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2231 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Bywater Museum of Unnatural History — Examine taxidermy and oddities just two blocks away before grabbing a craft beer and hitting the token machines.
- Island of Salvation Botanica — Browse the working Vodou botanica up the block on St. Claude before testing your luck on the pinball tables.
- Frenchmen Art Bazaar Night Market — Trade the glowing CRTs and pool tables for an open-air stroll through night-market art vendors just down the street.
Good to know
Is Emporium Arcade Bar strictly 21 and over?
Yes. It is an adults-only venue at all times, so you must present a valid 21+ ID at the door regardless of what time you arrive.
How do the games work?
The video cabinets, pinball machines, skee-ball, and arcade games operate on tokens, which you can purchase from the token machines inside using cash or card.
What games can I expect to find?
The mix includes classic video arcade cabinets, four pool tables, foosball, basketball hoops, skee-ball lanes, and modern pinball tables like Godzilla, The Mandalorian, and Simpsons Pinball Party.
When does it open?
Doors open at 5:00 PM on weekdays and earlier on weekend days.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · kineticist.com
last checked: 2026-06-23