Great service , great games, music is not terribly loud and they do take song requests.
Hannah V
games are a bit expensive but it's always a fun atmosphere at i/o. lots of fun themed drinks and wide selection of games!
Atmosphere: 5
Maca Lara
Very good ambiance, fun to play around
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Franklin Lake Improvement Association
Great space and location. Not crowded at all and diverse areas to socialize along with a ton of wall to wall arcade games. Also has an area for playing provided table games for free. Bartenders were super nice and polite when I asked for a non-alcoholic beverage. Definitely will be returning to burn some quarters!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Camp Grover
Super friendly staff. A lot of great games.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Kristine Gallagher
Had just heard of I/O ARCADE yesterday. Servers Molly & Zoe were total dolls! They anticipated my every need! Karaoke with Katie was real fun and packed the house! Super-comfy barstool and uber-friendly patrons. Enjoyed a Sal’s pizza too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angela Pulvermacher
Fun night or! Great variety of games. Fun staff. Clean.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
LswaN 1
Vibes are great. They've got a nice drink selection, and some fun house cocktails. It's also far enough from campus to not be overflowing on weekends. Note, there's two types of arcade bars. Some charge an entry fee and then games are unlimited, others are classic arcades where you pay quarters at every machine. I/O is the second kind. They've got an ATM on site, but it's a good idea to bring some cash when you go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Isabel O
I visited a few days ago and had a very disappointing experience with one of the bartenders. Since l'm not currently drinking alcohol, I asked about their non-alcoholic options. She asked for my ID, then claimed it was expired - even though it clearly doesn't expire until November. When I pointed that out, she kept insisting it was expired until I reminded her that it's only August. Her attitude throughout the interaction was dismissive and snarky. The experience left me feeling disrespected and racially profiled, as I am not white.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Bryan Cerro
Games are too expensive, I would recommend free games with a $10 cover
I/O Arcade Bar in Madison is a neon-lit haven for grown-up gamers—with an extensive, well-maintained lineup of arcade and pinball machines that feel like they’ve just been waxed. The pinball variety alone is worth the trip—from vintage classics to modern premiums, there’s a perfect table for every pinball junkie. Add in a creative drink menu, board-game nook, and retro-cool atmosphere, and you’ve got the ideal spot for friends to compete, reminisce, or unwind—just be prepared for the weekend buzz.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Mary Peska
Our favorite barcade in Dane County! A little weak on food options, but that's understandable because of all the expensive games risking drink spills is enough. They have really fun event nights, Drag Bingo wad our favorite this year!
Steve Shoyer
I went to I/O to play pinball. They have a great selection of games, all in excellent condition. Good time!
tony tyre
Easy to deal with
Al eksel
Cool games, horrible service. Been there on a few occasions and each experience at the bar was not pleasant. The bar staff have no sense of urgency. It’s as if they operate in slow motion. They’re either looking at absolutely nothing or chatting away with individuals who’ve already been served.
Great service , great games, music is not terribly loud and they do take song requests.
games are a bit expensive but it's always a fun atmosphere at i/o. lots of fun themed drinks and wide selection of games!
Atmosphere: 5
Very good ambiance, fun to play around
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great space and location. Not crowded at all and diverse areas to socialize along with a ton of wall to wall arcade games. Also has an area for playing provided table games for free. Bartenders were super nice and polite when I asked for a non-alcoholic beverage. Definitely will be returning to burn some quarters!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Super friendly staff. A lot of great games.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Had just heard of I/O ARCADE yesterday. Servers Molly & Zoe were total dolls! They anticipated my every need! Karaoke with Katie was real fun and packed the house! Super-comfy barstool and uber-friendly patrons. Enjoyed a Sal’s pizza too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fun night or! Great variety of games. Fun staff. Clean.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Vibes are great. They've got a nice drink selection, and some fun house cocktails. It's also far enough from campus to not be overflowing on weekends. Note, there's two types of arcade bars. Some charge an entry fee and then games are unlimited, others are classic arcades where you pay quarters at every machine. I/O is the second kind. They've got an ATM on site, but it's a good idea to bring some cash when you go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
I visited a few days ago and had a very disappointing experience with one of the bartenders. Since l'm not currently drinking alcohol, I asked about their non-alcoholic options.
She asked for my ID, then claimed it was expired
- even though it clearly doesn't expire until November. When I pointed that out, she kept insisting it was expired until I reminded her that it's only August. Her attitude throughout the interaction was dismissive and snarky. The experience left me feeling disrespected and racially profiled, as I am not white.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Games are too expensive, I would recommend free games with a $10 cover
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
I/O Arcade Bar in Madison is a neon-lit haven for grown-up gamers—with an extensive, well-maintained lineup of arcade and pinball machines that feel like they’ve just been waxed. The pinball variety alone is worth the trip—from vintage classics to modern premiums, there’s a perfect table for every pinball junkie. Add in a creative drink menu, board-game nook, and retro-cool atmosphere, and you’ve got the ideal spot for friends to compete, reminisce, or unwind—just be prepared for the weekend buzz.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Our favorite barcade in Dane County! A little weak on food options, but that's understandable because of all the expensive games risking drink spills is enough. They have really fun event nights, Drag Bingo wad our favorite this year!
I went to I/O to play pinball. They have a great selection of games, all in excellent condition. Good time!
Easy to deal with
Cool games, horrible service. Been there on a few occasions and each experience at the bar was not pleasant. The bar staff have no sense of urgency. It’s as if they operate in slow motion. They’re either looking at absolutely nothing or chatting away with individuals who’ve already been served.
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