1Up ARCADE BAR

33316 Grand River Ave, Farmington
(248) 919-2197

Recent Reviews

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A 2

Victoria was insanely nice & on top of it. Norman was the cook & it was absolutely perfect, the seasoning, the overall flavor & bite of the final product was on point. Best flavors in town from an experienced chef & food lover!

Valerie D

Always a good time here! My friends and I love trying the different specialty cocktails and the vibes are nice even if you don't play arcade games. It's also a great place to pass the time if there is a wait for the basement burger bar downstairs.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Richard Rider Jr

Nice arcade bar with good food and drinks. It’s a smaller place with not a lot of arcades but i enjoyed it.

Food: 4

Service: 5

Vic Morrow

Great place with drinks and Games

Danielle Hawkins

My friend and I decided to check out this bar because we love arcade games. Even though they have a full bar, this place is family friendly and it's for everyone! They don't have a lot of games, but they do have pinball, and that's enough for me! They also have a few classics like guitar hero and basketball, plus some new stuff I've never seen.

I especially love the video game themed drinks! They were really great! And the Pac-Man setup behind the bar is so cute! We definitely coming back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Colleen M McLean

What’s up with the slow bartender? This place used to move a lot quicker. Why are there 10 year olds at a bar at 9:45? Isn’t over 21 after a certain time? This place used to be way better.

Throckmorton Jay

They had a disappointingly small selection of vintage arcade video games. If they had the same abundance of retro games they had in older review photos then it would have been worth buying one of the points cards to play them.
I can't say anything about their food or drink as I didn't stay long enough to try any of that.

Stephen

I hadn't been here since the remodel and management change. And...wow. what a change for the worse. There's about 15-20% less games. No option to pay with quarters. Games are more expensive. Whereas before this place very much felt like an arcade, now it feels like a bar with some games in it.

Patrick Gamaliel

From Retro Bliss to Corporate Miss – 1Up’s New Management Hits Rock Bottom

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. 1Up Arcade Bar, once my go-to haven for arcade nostalgia and friendly vibes, has devolved into a shell of its former self. Under the new management, the experience has gone from retro joy to something resembling a garish corporate money pit. If you’re looking to relive the good old days of arcade glory, consider this your neon-lit warning sign to stay far, far away.

First off, the bartenders. Remember last year when 1Up's bartenders were warm, cheerful, and chatty, making you feel like you were part of the family? Well, those days are deader than my high score on Pac-Man. The new bartenders treat you with the exact enthusiasm you’d expect from someone waiting at the DMV. Ordering a drink here feels like you’ve personally interrupted their day—and heaven forbid you ask any questions about the menu. Smiles? Gone. Friendly banter? Vanished. You're left standing there with your overpriced, uninspired drink wondering if you've wandered into a soulless high-end cocktail bar by mistake.

Ah, the drinks. Once playful and creative masterpieces that added to 1Up’s charm, they’ve been replaced with pretentious, unimaginative concoctions that scream, “We’re fancy now; please empty your wallet.” No fun, no spirit (pun intended), just overpriced disappointments. At their current price point, I half expected the drink to come with complimentary resentment from the staff.

And don’t get me started on the arcade machines. Gone are the iconic retro classics that made me feel like I’d stepped back into the golden age of arcades. Instead, the place is now stuffed with bright, flashy, wallet-draining horrors you’d find at a Dave and Buster’s. What happened to the charm? The authenticity? Now it’s just a playground for toddlers with no attention spans and those who value flashing lights over actual gameplay. Speaking of, if you’re a Gen Z-er armed with your parents’ credit card and an inability to go three seconds without dopamine overload, this place might actually be a dream come true for you. The rest of us? Not so much.

Look, 1Up Arcade Bar used to be a gem, but now it feels like a soulless cash grab. Don’t come here hoping for a genuine arcade bar experience because you’ll leave disappointed—and poorer. Save your time, save your money, and spare yourself the heartbreak of seeing what this place has become. RIP, old 1Up. You are sorely missed.

Robert Quigley

I'll start this with DO NOT USE CASH WHEN FILLING UP YOUR ARCADE CARD. The machine does not give change and will apply the entire deposited bill onto your card even if you selected a smaller amount on the screen. That said, after this unfortunate debacle, we went to the bar in hopes of finding a way to take the money back off the card. While it turned out this was not possible, we were greeted by the nicest person I've ever encountered in the service industry. After hearing our story, this kind soul took the difference from his own tip jar to repay us. I am in awe of this wonderful act of kindness. Highly recommend supporting the staff at 1Up Arcade Bar!! They are incredible people!!

Charles Weber

No food ao no rating. They share the building with a burger joint, which has good food.

tatoes raden

Used to have a ton of fun games. Now it feels like a walmart game room... probably won't be back

Eric P

Had an awesome time in here playing games. You can rent consoles on their TV by the hour too! Wife and I were playing basketball, beer pong, and guitar hero. 5-6 pinball tables as well.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Manoj Krishnan

Great little cocktail/arcade bar in Farmington. The cocktails are very good and there is a good amount of variety on the menu. I will be coming back for the delicious cocktails!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Anjali B

I came here with my husband for drinks. I was surprised at the quality of drinks. I had an Old Fashioned and it was excellent. I will be coming back here

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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