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Name: The 1up - LoDo
Address: 1925 Blake St, Denver, CO, 80202
Telephone: (303) 779-6444
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.87

The 1up - LoDo

1925 Blake St, Denver, CO, 80202

(303) 779-6444
Store is closed

The 1up - LoDo Menu

Appetizers

Mac and Cheese Wedges

Fried Mushrooms

Chicken Fingers

French Fries

Fried Pickles

Mozzarella Sticks

Shells and Cheese

Onion Rings

Corn Dogs

Quesadillas

Poppers

Calamari

Spring Rolls

Mac and Cheese Wedges

Fried Mushrooms

Chicken Fingers

French Fries

Fried Pickles

Mozzarella Sticks

Shells and Cheese

Onion Rings

Corn Dogs

Quesadillas

Poppers

Calamari

Spring Rolls
Wings

Wings

Boneless Wings (Breaded)

Wings

Boneless Wings (Breaded)

Healthy Meal suggestions for The 1up - LoDo

Appetizers

Mac and Cheese Wedges [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Fingers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Pickles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mozzarella Sticks [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shells and Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Onion Rings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corn Dogs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quesadillas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Poppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mac and Cheese Wedges [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Fingers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Pickles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mozzarella Sticks [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shells and Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Onion Rings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corn Dogs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quesadillas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Poppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Wings

Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Boneless Wings (Breaded) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Boneless Wings (Breaded) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Sherri K.

So, I think I love this place. I am the Donkey Kong high score holder right now. Don't hate! I also got my ass kicked in Mortal Combat numerous times by Mary Mary, but that's OK, I'd never actually played it before. Ms Pac Man, Tron, 1942, Joust, pinball out the hoohaw and skeeball. There were random tables of lifesized Jenga as well. This is heaven for kids like me, raised in the 80's. I know where I'm having my "hot tub time machine" birthday party. The food seemed overpriced and non-descript, meaning there were burgers and wings and BLT's, but nothing specialty - oriented. If I had a gamer bar, I would have gamer food. Pac Man burgers with tomatoes, guacamole and sloppy joes. You know, shit you can only get at my bar and that's what you love about it. "Out of this Galaga", hot wings with turbo sauce - OWN IT! The patio's are a bit disappointing as neither really catch sun, and are truly too slender to hold the number of people that were wandering about this place, but that's ok. It's a great bar, with a great theme, and cheap beer. Holla! Oh, and Mad Dog shots. What?! yeah
(4)
Anthony N.

Love at first sight. I love retro games. I love giant Jenga. And cheap 40s. So the place sways heavily towards college dudes - and for a reason. The lighting sucks terribly, sofas are sticky, and everything feels a little more run-down than it should be. Perfect for gaming and spilling beer all over the place, but not so much the ladies That said, I have been here a few times, but even though the games do become a bore quickly, since everything eats a mere quarter, you can quickly use up your leftover Denver parking funds and put it towards a good cause. Even if that cause is to save retro gaming and looking like a total moron spilling your 40oz over everyone.
(3)
Alicia G.

Love it here however we had a rude bartender chick and a completely homophobic bouncer which made the place less appealing.
(3)
JJ N.

What's better than old school video games and a 40oz of Old E? Not much that I can think of! Maybe Giant Jenga?
(5)
Darryl P.

Down to party it up with up to 20 guys per 1.5 girls and a collection of games that already weren't cool 20 years ago? This is your place! At least it's in one of the worst parts of town... A small but okay selection of beers... This place is... not cool.
(2)
Braden S.

One of my favorite bars in the city. Very nostalgic and a great vibe! It gets very busy, but never too busy to have fun. Highly recommend. EDIT: I realized that a 5 star rating on this was a little high. The place is not set up well and always seems super crowded and loud. People get sloppy and rude here from time to time. Still a great place to go if you want to have fun with friends.
(3)
Brittany H.

After spending a few hours at Falling Rock, a friend mentioned that she had heard of a new bar with old school video games and pinball machines. The neurons connected in my brain: I had just seen this place. But where? Oh wait, right next door! Perfect! So we finished off our beverages and stumbled a few yards to The 1up. I had remembered seeing this basement bar for ages, but had never ventured in. Now that it was an arcade/bar, how could I resist? You'll first be greeted by Pac-Man and Miss Pac-Man gracing the WC's doors. (By the way, the bathrooms have some pretty sweet decorations and some "French Tickler" novelty condoms. The latter cracked me up.) Find your way to the bar and you'll gaze upon at least a half dozen pin ball machines. On the other side of the bar, you have a dozen or so arcade games, including Tron, Pac-Man, and several different Donkey Kongs. I was really hoping to see Bubble Bobble, but alas, twas not to be. A girl can dream... The great thing about all of these games is that they only cost 25-50 cents each! Now that's what I'm talking about! And if you're feeling really cheap and can't afford a few bucks to play pinball or skee ball, never fear! There are several LARGE Jenga sets that you can play and topple for free. Grab your $1.75 PBR or Natty Ice (seriously, they also have Milwaukee's Best! Yaowzers!) and pick your Jenga table. I think The 1up is on to something here. All of us grown-up kids will be lining up to play the Family Guy pinball machine and knock down some massive Jenga blocks.
(4)
Phil H.

I'm with kelly on this one. It's a great, cool concept that has just been overrun with the "wrong crowd". What should be a haven for nerds and geeks like myself is packed with hipsters. The games are fun and priced right, although as you can imagine in a bar, there are a lot of breakdowns. They seem to be good about getting them back up and running. Not a lot of seating, so plan on standing. And on weekend nights, plan on standing in a crowd. The bar seems understaffed at times, but once you get one of them serving you, they're friendly. I'm curious to see if their colfax location (2up) is suffering from the same issues, or if it's settled down. Oh, and the parking situation sucks with the overnight meters. You go out to feed the meter and have to wait in line to get back in.
(3)
Dominic M.

Let out your inner 80s Nerd! I stopped in here last night and it was just about the best thing ever. Full bar, friendly staff and ...like 40 coin-op, cabinet arcade games from the late 70s - mid 80s. Pac-Man, Joust, Punch-Out, Moon Patrol, Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, TRON (seriously)... and they ALL WORK! Plus Pinball and Skee-ball! They've only been open for 2 days, so they're still working out the menu. I talked to the manager and some of the staff last night, they plan to have lunch deals (something like sandwich, drink and $1 in quarters) and a bigger dinner menu. That's great! But lest we forget, IT'S A G-D 80s ARCADE IN LODO! If you're a child of the 80s that Mom dropped off in the arcade while she shopped, you need to go. I'm really excited about this!
(5)
Deb S.

What a fun place. I love the inside game ambience with the Pac-Man game housing the beer taps. Nice selection of beer, skee-ball, pinball, and other assorted games. Outside there's life-size Jenga (but those wooden slats could use some TLC!) We were there early and it wasn't crowded so that was nice; I bet it could get pretty crowded later in the evening. This is a don't miss place in Denver for sure.
(4)
Chaviva G.

Sweet Skeeball! I had the privilege of experiencing The 1up during an E-3 event in honor of the jazziest Jewish gathering (the The Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly), and I was instantly satisfied with the presence of 40s, arcade games, and ... wait for it ... giant Jenga! I nabbed a hard cider from the bar (which, by the way, came out of an arcade machine turned booze machine) and got my skeeball on while waiting for an open table of giant Jenga, which luckily opened up super quickly. And then, as a shorter Eminem look-alike came over and asked if he could join in the game, my buddy and I got started. If you thought Jenga at home was fun -- even if you have your *own* giant version -- it will never be as fun as it is with a 40 in your hand at a bar full of arcade games. Holy. Pacman. The best thing about this bar? The variety of people. You had the guys who look like they haven't showered in months because of a need to maintain that high pinball score, and then there are the white-rapper lookalikes, and, of course, the groupie girls who just can't get enough of the XBox their boyfriend's playing at home so they're willing to follow him to a schwanky bar for some social time. It's just all around awesome. Go and be blown away by Pacman, Mortal Kombat, skeeball, pinball and ... without a doubt ... giant Jenga.
(5)
Sadie P.

My goodness I think the boys I was with died and went to boy heaven!! They walked in and all three of their eyes got huge!!! They were so excited!!! Plus where else can you find .25 games anymore, I really love this bar!! It's a bar for the little kid in all of us!! Right and the life size Jenga wow that is just amazing!!!! The bartenders were friendly and nice, it was packed but they were still really helpful. It can be kinda hard to find, a little hidden gem but I think that is why it is so cool! It would get one more star from me if there was not so much spilled beer and broken glass all over the floor! Try those plastic beer cups they work great!
(4)
Tara L.

I love this bar. I didn't really play too many video games growing up so this place lets me act like a kid instead. All the old school games your heart could desire but they serve the grown up drinks!!
(4)
Amy M.

Beer, giant Jenga and video games! Great place to start the night. The video games are 25 cents - 50 cents and bring back nostalgia from my youth. Brought my out of town cousins here and we all had a blast!
(4)
Meredith G.

What a fun place! Quarter games including skeeball, pac-man, pin ball and much more. Plus the drinks are affordable. Great crowd- it was like everyone was having 80s flashbacks to the games we played as kids. Can't wait to go back here again.
(4)
Jeff S.

Anywhere that I can hear some real punk rock jams whilst I play Pac-Man is just peachy in my book! I came here for a friends birthday celebration on Friday night, and another friends birthday celebration on Saturday. (Fun fact: they were both named Ryan. Which has absolutely nothing to do with this review, but maybe it will keep the riffraff out.) Decent crowd on a Friday, Saturday morning was very mellow. The bar is stocked with a good variety and they have some excellent beer on tap. Our waitress Jess was awesome, she was very attentive and friendly. 80's video games, skee-ball, pinball machines, and giant Jenga! Looking for something different, this is your place. I'd recommend hitting it up during the day though, weekend nights get a little crowded.
(4)
Joel F.

Good time having a blast from the past. I have been in a few times, and on the last trip all the machinges worked for the first time. I used to think that stealing my quarters was added for an authentic 1989 feel. Decent beer specials. Have not had the food. Giant Jenga looks fun, but it is always taken. On a Friday the line is huge, and as fun as it is, I would not stand in line to get into an arcade anymore.
(4)
Amanda H.

1-up is an example of a dive bar at its finest. They serve 40s, boones farm, and some liquor of questionable quality right along side the yummy stuff. With video games lining every wall, and giant jenga outisde this is a super fun spot. It is always packed and super loud in this joint, but it is definitely a fun time. The crowd is usually mostly 20-somethings, and generally mixed by scene (with a large amount of hipsters drinking ironically crappy beer). You can sink tons of quarters playing all of the classic machines they have. One of my oddly favorite things about this place is that they have little cup-holders on most of the machines, so you can get your pinball wizard on without spilling your drink.
(4)
Jessica J.

Last Friday, we made a stop at 1up while touring LoDo on the Denver Patio Ride. I was reminded of a very important fact: The 1up has skee ball, which is my favorite game, EVER. Follow up fact: it's only a quarter to play. That is worth an extra star, 1up. Congratulations.
(4)
Adam T.

This place is awesome! A big throwback to old school arcade games with 1 or 2 newer ones thrown in (Street Fighter Alpha 3 anyone?). They even had a few tables of life-sized Jenga with foot-long wooden blocks. Full bar, decent amount of taps, and lots of video game variety including Skee-ball and pinball. Very fun LoDo spot, also would be great for a nerdy date night.
(4)
Rob T.

I found the fountain of youth. The recipe is: $5 in quarters Unlimited High Life The 1up It makes me feel like a 12 year old boy everytime....a drunk one. They have a great mix of games old and older, I'll pwn you on the Paperboy machine! Plus the 4 person VS PacMan...which is awesome even though I don't understand how it works. Just be sure to go here at the right times, weekend nights and post-ball games it can get really crowded....and not with the good kind of people. I can't speak to the food because you can't eat when you need both hands for Track and Field! But who needs food when you can just eat the townspeople on the Rampage machine! Game on.
(5)
Robert L.

A great downtown spot near the Rockie's Stadium. There are a lot of things to like about The 1Up, but there is still room for improvement. Like many similar video game bars, The 1Up seems more concerned with driving home the classics than having a balanced selection of the greatest arcade hits of all time. This is hard to call a flaw as nostalgia is likely one of the driving factors behind it's obvious success. If I had one game wish it would be for the fighting classic Soul Calibur. The original was great a sparking impromptu tournaments. That said this is a great hangout any night of the week. It's busy but not uncomfortably so. There is a lot to do and the crowd is fun. Where else can you find a working frogger arcade and buy a 40 of mickey's at the bar.
(4)
Stephen K.

...well...they've got Joust now. and some interesting choices, like Popeye. Sometimes if you roam around, you can also find credits already entered on the machines, I don't know if the owners want to give their machines or their clientele some love, but the machines stand clearly deserted and saying "play me". Good deal. Still waiting for Robotron...one of these days...bar service is adequate but not outstanding, most of the servers seem irked or lost in their own thoughts when they're there...hmmmm... Update to my 6/16 update: was in the neighborhood after the Elite Event this evening and wandered over...*they've got Robotron now*. Apparently management does listen to suggestions. and the atmosphere there is much more cool when it's not a Friday/Saturday night and you're not dealing with wall to wall drunken idiots. *Nice*.
(4)
Ryan J.

I came here at about noon on a Wednesday in early June. I found that the bar was practically deserted and all video games were open. I felt like 180 lbs. of raw, unadulterated id, hell bent on the consumption of resources and the pursuit of sleazy entertainment - much as would Galactus or Marmaduke. You'll be amazed at the wide selection of pinball machines/arcade favorites, awestruck by the hazardous Jenga game, and flabbergasted that you can also drink while you play. I was slightly disappointed that they did not have the greatest game of all time, LETHAL ENFORCERS, but such is life. They apparently rotate games on a regular basis, so there's sure to be some variety. I would definitely come back. I was here for about two hours of ski-ball and pinball wizardry. I regret nothing...
(5)
Kurt J.

I love this spot! What a great idea for a bar, food, beer and old arcade games. I just wish there were even more arcades to choose from! I could literally spend an entire night at this place playing double dragon. Or tapper! Also, be sure to check out the pinball machines! A great evening overall!
(5)
Dawn C.

This place is amazing!! We had about 10 of us hitting this place up after ice skating in downtown Denver. We arrived at happy hour..they had 2.75 drinks! That was awesome. The place is filled with all of the old classic video games and pinball machines. It was so much fun to act like a kid again with my friends. They even had giant Jengas set up on the tables. They were like 3 feet tall! That was my favorite thing to play and that was free. The bartender was quick..the drinks were strong. I cant wait to come back on my next visit to Colorado!
(5)
Lacey M.

I can totally see why this place is so popular. It is super fun, being able to play arcade games and giant Jenga while enjoying tasty adult beverages. The 1up has several of the nostalgic staples of my youth: skee-ball, Paperboy, Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill, and Mad Dog 20/20....wait....that one was more like college. But anyway, it is a little dingy and definitely could use some bleach and elbow grease. The clientele is a little heavy on the 'sup bra' side. That alone frequently prevents my appearance there, especially on a weekend night. But it's definitely nice to take a walk down memory lane every now and then, by passing around the bottle of MD and kicking everyone's ass at Skee-Ball. Maybe I just need to go back on a weekend afternoon, when all those "bra's" are nursing their hangovers from chugging said MD 20/20 and Boone's.
(3)
Abby Q.

I LOVE this place. I found out that I absolutely love pinball after visiting this place. The music is a great punk mix, and puts me in a very fun mischievous mood. I would definitely recommend going on a weeknight, because I can see waiting for a game being a pain in the ass. People like to park themselves in front of their favorite game (which I can understand), so be prepared to wait if it's a busy night.
(4)
Vintage V.

Lodo Douchebags discovered this place. It used to be filled with 20 something rockers, metal heads and punks. Now they won't step foot in the place. Thanks lodo for crapping on everything cool.
(1)
Katie F.

Pricey alcohol. Never had the food. Games are a quarter per play. The bar is always packed but people are genuinely polite there. Old school games are in working order and the wait isn't too long before you can play. Four player pac man tables are pretty fabulous as well.
(4)
Christine C.

This place has a wonderful concept, and could be really fun, but for some reason the women who work here are EXTREMELY rude. My first visit I asked the female bar tender what the specials were that day and she rolled her eyes and slammed down a list of specials then walked off and even though I was one of the three people sitting at the bar continued to ignore me when clearly I was ready to order. Second visit a different girl bar tender made an effort to ignore me and not take my order .I never have issues with girl bartenders anywhere else so even though they want to remain hipster doesn't mean they have to hire rude women. Also the ski ball machine loves to steal my change without a game!
(2)
julie n.

Fun bar with old school video games and giant giant. The place smells pretty bad.
(4)
Amanda H.

Best bar downtown BY FAR. Come on...serves 40's and has galaga/pac man. Doesn't get any better than this. The games are pretty much all .25 and some seem one of a kind in this day and age because they're the old atari games. Ladies--good place to avoid the typical fraternity douchers that lurk downtown. Drinks are moderately priced and bartenders are a 7 on a scale of Nancy Grace to Oprah Winfrey, but with an atmosphere like they have, its no big deal. MUST SEE!!
(5)
Chuck D.

This place is fantastic!!! NO games were out of order, all of them were only 25 cents too! They could totally choose to rip you off here, but they don't (well, not with the games)!! Yeah, we went to a bunch of microbreweries and had samples and tasted and everything earlier that day, but give me a bunch of old school 25 cent arcade games and a PBR - what a great way to end the night!! I also should mention... I had a goal earlier in the day that I really needed to eat a Choco-Taco. Uhm, The 1Up...has Choco-Tacos. Thank you 1Up!!! I don't even care that you charged me 4 bucks for a crappy ice cream novelty not even worth a dollar. Its the fact that you HAD Choco-Tacos in the first place! The only downside?? This isn't in Chicago so that I can go all the time!
(5)
Sara S.

The 1Up is great for getting your game on! Especially with pinball machines galore, Carnevil arcade game, and all the Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pac-Man you could ever ask for! My favorite game is Cruis'n! Brings me back to when we would be dropped off at the mall for a few hours at a time, and I would blow lots of money thinking I could drive a car! I had a few interesting drinks...first one was the CapriSun drink, which tasted just like the drink! Also had the Orange Julius drink which was great too(both with hidden alcohol). I will definitely be back!
(4)
Carol D.

Cool place, It makes you feel like you're at a garage party
(4)
Ken K.

Remember when you were a kid? When the quality of new video games were measured in bits and your lying dorky friend claimed he improved the graphics on his Nintendo by upgrading it from 8 to "9" bits? I had that friend too. I'm probably the only one who had that friend. But I'm not the only one who played video games. And The 1up resurrects the vintage video game and replaces your Mountain Dew with beer and liquor. From skeeball, which I never actually played until adulthood, to Froger, to Street Fighter 2, this place has it. The games are authentic, still just a quarter, and even the food is pretty freaking good. So go, have fun, and don't challenge Ryan to Street Fighter 2.
(5)
Jennifer B.

This place is so much fun! Old school games like Qbert, mortal combat, Simpsons, tmnt, and wall to wall pinball machines ! Drinks are a little expensive but environment is electric!
(5)
Marc H.

Step into the 80's and early 90's. Fun place to hang out with friends.
(5)
Rachel C.

This bar is so much fun! Pros Tons of video games that only cost a quarter each to play, there are things to do other than sit there and drink, the crowd is young and friendly, and giant Jenga. Cons It's really hard to find parking, it gets a little too packed sometimes, and a lot of their drinks are expensive. My friends usually just get a normally $3.50 forty of Mikey's for $10 which is still cheaper than buying individual beers. Yipes. Still a good time though. Overall a great experience and a bar everyone should go to at least once.
(4)
Bruce W.

Arcade + Alcohol = Awesome It's affordable too.
(5)
Alex W.

The concept is great. The staff? Meh. Had a group of friend's come visit from Boulder who were going to a show later that night and they brought their 9 year old. They checked the website in advance and it says under 21 is allowed until 8PM, the same time as their show, so perfect right. We were asked to leave at 6 because we had a minor. Also, a good third of the place (and a portion of the games) is inconveniently jammed full of crowds of people huddled around and trying to use their phones to take pictures of their friends playing giant Jenga. Have you ever been to a tourist destination and thought "Wow, this place would be really great if it wasn't packed full of all these people who just got off that cruise ship to act like simps in between buffet meals"? It's sort of like that.
(2)
Dan T.

This place is awesome if your looking for somewhere to drink cheap and have guaranteed entertainment for the night. Like many others have stated, the 4 player pac man is good for hours of fun, along with other nostalgic greats such as TMNT and the Simpsons. I'm not giving this place 5 stars because the place/crowd is a bit "divey", but some people might say that adds to it's appeal, just not totally my kind of scene.
(4)
Melissa H.

I am a big pinball fan, so that's where I spent my time (and money) when I first visited the 1up. 15 pinball machines... I was partial to The Sopranos :) If video games are more your style, then check out any of the old school games and try to attain the high score for the night - or get your name on the wall for the the "all time high score". The games reset nightly, so there's a chance that you can see your name on the game if you kick ass. In addition to pinball and video games, there is giant Jenga, skee ball, and A BAR. Be prepared to stand though since there is not a lot of seating in the place. Several bar chairs line the bar and around one side are a few booths. Get there early if you want to snag a booth for your group. If you're hungry, the bar serves up some bar food - though I can't comment on that part. There are coin machines that take 1's, 5's, 10's, 20's. All games take QUARTERS so come prepared. Don't worry - if you don't think to bring cash before you arrive, there is also an ATM on site.
(4)
Erik P.

I never pass through Denver without stopping here. My last 2 gfs loved this place and there's always some hotties here. I made a bachelor party stop here and it was their favorite stop. 1up has caused me to stop at other barcades around the country but so far this is the best (drunken moogle has a list of them). 1. They sell 40s! ($10 for the good stuff!) 2. cheeseburger w/ glazed donut for a bun (Paula Deen style!) 3. SUPER JENGA! & 25c ski ball, best pinball machines 4. divey if your into that There's nothing quite as fun as starting a competitive game of super jenga w/ strangers, loser buys a round of PBRs.
(5)
Christopher R.

I went here for the first time last night. Halfway through a three person game of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker I finished my 40 of Mickey's and realized this is the best bar in the entire world. We beat the game and our lives will never be the same.
(5)
Bryan M.

2 stars on a Friday night and 4 stars on a Sunday afternoon would normally average into a 3 star review. But I feel bad for dinging the place for being awesome and attracting people who I don't always love to party with. I haven't eaten much of the food, so my review is mostly as a barcade. The games are great. They quickly replaced the broken Skee-Ball and the 4 player modern Pac-Man is amazing. The nostalgic beverages are fun: Colt 45, Old English 40s, Mad Dog, Boone's Farm. The place could be a little cleaner. Ok.. a lot cleaner. And although I know they can't control their clientele all the time (it does get a little fist-pumping bro'ville), they can control their staff, which seemed to mirror the crowd atmosphere on both visits, in both positive (Sunday) and negative (Friday) ways. Having worked in a bar, I cut them a little slack. Last thing... Steve Wiebe, two-time Donkey Kong world record holder has the high score on the wall of fame. That's never moving. Save your quarters and play Moon Patrol.
(4)
Sonja C.

Before I get into why I like this bar so much let's talk about why it didn't get five stars. I got a huge splinter from the Jenga pieces and so did a few other people. Haha I know how this sounds, but come one we all hate splinters. Other than that this place rocks! Love the Jenga (splinters aside). Love the Pac Man, love love love.
(4)
Richard S.

This place was a blast! I was awfully ADD when I was trying to choose what game to play next, I was all over the place!
(4)
Matt P.

Man I am totally not a band wagoner but you yelpers hit it spot on, LoDo = DOUCHEBAGS!! i'd like to give a special shout out to the group of douches that knocked my date on her ass and didn't even appologize or refresh her beverage. Instead the 4 of you got in my face and wanted to fight. I really love how the 4 of you all backed down when you saw how serious I was about beating down all of you b!tch3s! I do love video games though and got hooked on some jenga but unless this place moves to a cooler part of town, I'll just play my PS3. Yelp, please add douchey to the list of ambience choices in the survey questions.
(2)
Caroline F.

+ they sell 40s + the walls are completely lined with arcade games & pinball machines + all of said games only cost 25/50 cents- hooray! + giant jenga - waaay too crowded, as I expected- it's only been open for a month plus it's one of the only non-douche
(4)
Panda M.

Love this place! get your tall PBR and play some arcade games, don't worry they come with cup holders. Also one of my favorite is giant Jenga... Must visit once.
(5)
Chanh S.

I went here after there was a Rockies game and it was packed earlier in the night but when I went back later, there wasn't a line. It's a retro video game themed bar. Tons of games for 1 or 2 quarters. The most interesting thing there is the huge wooden Jenga games that ppl seem to all stare at. The drinks were reasonable and the 40s are just fun. It's a great place for college kids to drink and play games or for older folk that like the nostalgia.
(4)
Sarah B.

I'll never go back to this place. Unless of course I start smoking massive amounts of weed, quit my job, stop showering, grow a hipster beard, start drinking 40oz beers and I just happen to need a home away from home. Went here last night after hearing about it from a friend. Seemed like a neat idea. I like video games for mindless entertainment as much as the next person. Pair that with an adult beverage? Yes, please. But things quickly went downhill. We ordered food, and drinks. Everything was sub-par. The burritos looked delicious on the menu, but when it came out it looked like a 5 year old threw some stuff in a tortilla, folded it up, and put it in a basket. My boyfriend said it was half-empty. Why would I pay $8 for a half-empty burrito. Maybe the cook had the munchies and couldn't contain himself? THEN... (my favorite part of the night) all of a sudden the music is twice as loud as it was 5 seconds ago. I can't hear the people I'm with. Two feet away from me. I went to the bar and asked the bartender to turn it down (nicely). He replied, "Yea, we will." I thought, "Cool. Nice guy. Thanks." 5 minutes later and it still hadn't changed. So, I went to a different guy and asked again, if it was possible to turn it down. Here's how the conversation went: Me: Do you think it's possible to turn the music down? I can't hear the people I'm sitting with. Hipster: (thinking) Mmmm... no... Me: Really? It's not possible to turn it down at all? Hipster: (won't look at me) Mmmm... Nope. And it's only going to get louder. At which point I realized the huge speaker stacks in the corner had been turned on and I REALLY couldn't hear the people I was with. Those at the booth next to us looked over at me and we laughed. They left rather quickly after that. OH, and might I add it was 6:30p. Not 10p or 11p. Why do you need to blast the music at 6:30p? Ok ok ok. So I didn't come here expecting great food or drinks. But I had hoped it would be a place to come and order cheap drinks (yea, right), play some video games, have a conversation. Instead, it was just like every other douchey LoDo bar with a clever disguse. Add in some crappy hip-hop and a staff of cranky-pants, woke-up-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-bed 20 (maybe 30)-somethings and I think we've covered it. I really enjoyed the girl sitting under the bar scraping gum off the underside. Can't you do that outside of business hours? You stay classy, 1Up.
(1)
Kat D.

Best place ever!!!!! my favorite place in denver. food kind of sucks. Great beer selection but it is so much fun to go and hang out with your friends. Divey for sure though
(5)
Jon S.

This was a very interesting place. I have never seen a bar like this before. They have tons of pinball machines, skee balls, and arcade machines lining the wall. Out on the back porch they have 2x4 Jenga, which is where my group ended up. That kept us occupied the whole time. Our server was very friendly, although a bit too hipster for me. It's also a little dive-y...kind of reminded me of a nicer college bar. I also order the chicken quesadilla, and it was sub-par pub food. Lacked a ton of flavor! It's a good place for a group of friends to relive some childhood gaming memories and throw back a few beers.
(3)
Kate G.

Perfect chicken strips and life-size Jenga, both pleasing my inner 5 year old. All I need to know to be a fan.
(4)
Jason S.

Personally I love this place... the concept, the staff and it's right next to the Falling Rock.... I haven't eaten here and don't plan on it (I'll stop at Falling Rock for that). After reading what people are saying about the food, plus there's no time between all the awesome pinball, Galaga and Ms. Pacman. You come to a place like this to eat??? Me no think so. The games are well maintained considering some are older than I. They have an array of classics not to mention Skee-ball. A decent selection of beers on tap and apparently "Foetees".... Too funny. Not sure why everyone complains about the clientele being "Hipsters" and "Douchebags" (like they can control that)... it's LoDo people, that's par for the course. You can pretty much say that about anywhere you go nowadays (DTC, Belmar, Park Meadows, the Airport, etc). Who gives a shit, live and let live... a great place to go hang out with some friends (or solo) and have a good ol' time. They also have a deal if you can get the high score on 10 games and they stay for a week you are given a $25 a day bar tab for a year. Overall the bartenders are friendly and game selection is awesome.
(5)
Terry B.

You know what's bad ass? The Billy Dee Williams Colt 45 sign near the bar. I actually pondered dropping the $2 grand to own that bad boy, then I decided to do a shot instead. But, that's a bad ass item. This place kind of feels like my college dorm room, except with video games and girls and bartenders. Cheap beer, retro 80's everything, dark and you get to go through a maze to get in. Not bad. And yes, beware the falling jenga...those boards are big!
(4)
Wesley S.

The bouncers are on a bit of a power trip. I used to bring my friends here, but after tonight I refuse to send any of my money to the guys that allow their bouncers to discriminate against the geek/nerd community. Don't put your hard earned money at this bar, its cheaper to drink at a real bar that doesn't kick out people for letting Jenga games fall.
(1)
Josh V.

Been here a few times. This place has the potential to be a great bar. The cheap arcades and giant Jenga is pretty awesome. Too bad management blows and the place is constantly under staffed. If you go here on a crowded night have a lot of small bills otherwise you will increase your wait time to get a drink by double because it already takes 10 minutes to get noticed by a bartender. There is no organization behind bar, the bartenders are constantly crossing paths in a maze of stupidity. You would think if you had a waitress it'd be faster but they have to wait for the slow bartenders too. Like I said this bar can't handle a crowd but besides that it is a fun bar. The drink prices are fine for downtown and its a nice break from the typical Lodo bar. The low rating is due to the terrible service I have received nearly every time I visit.
(2)
Nick A.

It's super-fun to realize how bizarre old arcade games can sometimes be (you should have seen me trying to explain Dig Dug to my girlfriend.) You can for sure read any of the other 150 reviews about this place, but I am just going to tell you - It's awesome. It is the best bar I've been to in Denver, and probably in the top 5 I've been to in my life. It's one of those places that I almost feel like it was made for me when I go in. Cheap beer certainly gets me going, but then you add Skee-ball, and assortment of other types of games, and totally awesome Old-School arcade games, and this place absolutely crushes the competition. I always stop in whenever I catch a show at the Summit or a ballgame; I just wished I lived closer so that I could get here more often.
(5)
Cass D.

The concept of this place is really cool, but that's about where it ends. I was even there during the week at an off time... so I can't really complain about all the "hipsters" and "douche bags" like everyone else. The cost of this place outweighs my desire to go back. Honestly, being that my husband and I are both gamers (it's how we met) I thought his place would be a lot more cool then it really was. The Jenga was actually pretty disappointing and a few of the games I tried you could tell were kind of on their last leg. I mean, I realize some of them were really old but they should find a more pristine replacement where the console actually responds to your commands than leaving something on the floor that is irritating. We ordered a 1 Up burger; since no one was really too sure about it we all decided to split it (4 of us). That was kind of funny... because it was tiny so we each literally got a bite of it. Maybe 2 if we were being conservative on the first. The burger was, I have to admit good... but it was very greasy and I can't see eating an entire one by myself without my stomach giving me a big fuck you. I think there are more fries in a Happy Meal at Mc Donald's then came on our plate.
(2)
Demetrius A.

ok, check it out.. donkey kong, ms. pac-man, skee-ball and boulder canyon jenga! yep, this place is the shiznit! The bar was happening, the crowd and the 12 french fries I had were awesome! I have to go back for sure!
(4)
Jeff V.

The games and beer are amazing. The staff thinks you're scum.
(4)
Shannon C.

This is now my favorite bar downtown! I've always been a video-game nerd, and this takes it to a level that is both coo l and adult-appropriate. They have great cheap beer, 40s, and a doughnut-burger! This burger is definitely a guilty pleasure to only be enjoyed once in awhile on a drunken night out, but was amazingly delicious. See you soon 1up!
(5)
Brooke B.

NEW FAVORITE BAR ALERT!!! I love playing games while drinking. So.. I found heaven. The 1up features over 30 vintage arcade games (1985 and older), Original Skee Ball, pinball, and bar Jenga. I haven't eaten here yet... but they have a full menu. PBR cans are $1.75 (SWEET) as well as a crap-load of beers on tap!!
(5)
Susan H.

I'm torn about this place. It was after a big snow storm, we were looking for some new indoor fun. We met some friends here and had two 7 year old boys with us. The guy at the door? entryway? said, "You can't really have kids in here after 7 pm.....but you guys probably aren't going to stay that long, huh?" It was 3:00. Um, yeah, obviously-childless-young-person, I'm not going to keep my kid in what is essentially a bar until midnight. Thanks for the parenting tip. But, the kids had fun, and we had fun. It was a little like the arcades of my misspent youth, and the games are all the old favorites (what, no Tempest?) and fun for the kids. My friend ordered a hot dog, which they messed up twice, the second time probably on purpose. The bartenders are really kindof assholes. You can stand there, politely waiting for your chance, and they will carry on their conversation while casting you "what the fuck do YOU want" looks. A mockable failure-to-launch, I'm soooo cool because I work in a dank arcade bar attitude. Son, I am so much punker than you, it 's stupid. Way to pour that Mad Dog, buddy. I liked the huge jenga concept but it was alarming. As a long-time service industry worker, crashing noises make me jump! I thought that game would be awesome at a barbeque, outside, not so much inside. But, c'est la guerre when there's a bunch of "yah, bras" around. So; had fun, no thanks to the staff. We'll probably go back but I'm on the lookout for another arcade, like the famous Wunderlands of Portland. Real nickle arcades and real arcade seaminess.
(2)
Ashley B.

You know, I don't like the word "nerd". I'm not a big embracer of "nerd-dome", but well, my husband can be pretty nerdy. Our walls are decorated with space invaders and a homemade Pac-Man made out of post-it's. We don't really hide it, and luckily at 1up our nerdiness is fully embraced. Rather than list all the games this place have, I'll simply say, if you liked it in the 80's, it's probably. here. They have the only freestanding Tapper and Burgertime machines I have ever seen. The machines work, don't eat your money, aren't horribly burned in, and overall seemed well-loved. Wide railings are placed between every game so that you have somewhere to place your drink. Drinks are reasonably priced, and our mixed drinks were pretty translucent, so, strong to boot. The food is pretty straight forward, and I was a little surprised that mozzarella sticks ran me $8.00, but service was fast even just a few days after opening. I agree that they could personalize their menu a bit; they have a bacon cheeseburger on a donut, but how is that nerdy? All that is is a Paula Deen burger. She might eat as badly as a dorm-dwelling nerd, but she can't game like one. Some nearby hipster establishments have "Pac-cakes" and other nerdy food, and that could really go well here. Burgertime burger complete with fried eggs, anyone? Donkey Kong peanut butter and banana sandwich? I hope that will improve over time, but for now I'm over-the-moon that the machines work, the floors aren't too sticky, and there is food if you run out of Skee Ball-fueled adrenaline.
(5)
Sara P.

I had a great time here! I loved the wide array of arcade games, pinball machines, and skee ball. The beer selection was good. I am looking forward to coming back next time I am in Denver.
(5)
Mike B.

Ah, the 1up, a virtual paradox filled with a virtual cornucopia of childhood memories. Ok, so this place is tough to review, many of the other reviews on Yelp are correct that it really does depend on when you decide to come in, because on a Friday or Saturday this place is jam packed. I will say though, that if you're in downtown on the weekend, you should probably expect any bar/club to be full up. With all that nonsense behind me, the games here are awesome (when they aren't busted), giant jenga is a blast, and what other bar lets you buy a 40oz of Mickeys (talk about high school flashbacks)? The bartenders are usually quick to serve in my experience (and no I'm not covered in tattoos), but the support staff, bouncers, and whatnot are usually a little bullheaded. I might be too if I had to deal with a healthy bounty of delta bravos all night. Its a fun time, but the amount of people in here on weekends, and the absolutely disgusting bathrooms (I really mean bad, I'm no snob but the bathroom at around midnight is probably the most rancid smelling place I've ever had the displeasure of entering), mean it's usually cool to spend an hour or so here, and then find somewhere with a little cheaper drinks and a little more elbow room.
(3)
Chloe G.

Loved this bar. In fact, it probably would have been my favorite bar in Denver if the bartender wasn't so incredibly rude. The overall feel of the bar is amazing and the prices were great. I loved the life-sized Jenga, etc. So here's the issue- over the course of about an hour I nursed one beer. One beer, the whole time I was there. The bartender decided to cut me off and insisted that I had had multiple others though my friends all legitimized my story. It was honestly absurd. That being said, I am incredibly disappointed with this bar simply because they hire such hipster douches. Here, the bad service completely eclipses what otherwise would have been an excellent experience.
(3)
Jessica W.

This bar is awesome- such a nice change of pace/scenery from the typical LoDo spots! I went here after a Rockies game recently and really enjoyed myself. The giant Jenga is a blast, and the perfect way to mix and mingle with the other clientele. The place was very busy, but the cocktail servers were very attentive, although the service at the bar was definitely slow (somewhat to be expected since the Rockies game had just ended). I love the innocence and simplicity of this place- it really makes you feel like you're a kid again. Only now you're playing PacMan with a beer in your hand. I will be back.
(4)
Dana R.

In yet another sad sign of aging, because of The 1up, I've realized that my hand-eye coordination is nowhere near what it used to be but thankfully my innate ability to lose at games like Paperboy, Frogger or BurgerTime is made ok by the fact that I can spend endless quarters here without remorse. That, and the fact that I can drown my sorrows in the can of whatever beer I feel like imbibing-while-playing. A couple things: while this space has only been open a short while, I feel like they've outgrown it - i hope they eventually move to a bigger location! Also - giant jenga near a bar and close to skeeball is just tempting fate and finally, I kinda wish the music was quieter so I could hear the video game tunes.
(4)
Ghostfaceknitter W.

To start, I have been to this bar/arcade when it's been packed (opening day for rockies), empty (sunday mid-afternoon), and moderately full (tuesday night). The game selections are pretty great. They seem to have enough types of machines to satisfy the demand so the wait is never that long if all of them are being played- except on a friday when it's difficult to move and stand comfortably let alone play a game. But I have to say the hour or so I spend here is more than enough to satisfy my arcade craving for a few months. Maybe I was just better at playing when I was younger, but $20 disappears in about 5-10 minutes and I'm left holding my novelty beer looking around ... dare I say bored. It's too loud to have a conversation with friends at that point and the frequent crash of the 2X4 jenga sets start to get annoying. Further, the outside area is NOT a smoking area, something that gets annoying for a non-smoker and a smoker. I say this because non-smokers obviously don't appreciate someone lighting up next to them, and the smokers are confused and continually start smoking only to be told by the door guy they cannot - they must go back out the entrance and smoke on the street. I know that may seem 'whinny' on my part but hearing/seeing it happen roughly 30 times in a 10 minute span was incredibly tiresome. I have more fun when it's near empty because it takes seconds to get a drink and to be frank people get really sloppy in here so to avoid that is key. I would say this place would be great for a birthday party or office party, but do everyone a favor and schedule for sunday and monday - it just gets way too busy on friday and saturday to even move around let alone celebrate and play games. I gave it 4 instead what I wanted 3 stars because it is fun - just within certain constraints for me and it wouldn't be far to rate the business because I'm picky and apparently stink at 1942 and pinball.
(4)
Rosie M.

love this place. VIDEO GAMES AND BEER!!!! have i died and gone to heaven?! why doesn't phoenix have one of these?! The best time to go is during the week. On friday and saturday nights it's too packed...plus the crowd makes me feel old. =/
(4)
Andreas H.

After all of the hype I finally made it to 1up on my most recent trip to Denver. The classic games were fun, but the frat-boy atmosphere made me roll my eyes. I tried one of the "dogs" from the menu and it was strictly your average ballpark fare. Nothing special. Although I did have fun, and thus the A-OK rating, I think I'll only check this out during the day before all the d-bags show up.
(3)
Tim S.

What a unique bar. I lived in New York for a year and never saw a place like this (though I'm sure there is one somewhere). Cool games all around to keep you busy for hours. It always seems packed when I go there. The thing that gets me every time. There are usually a fair amount of attractive girls. I guess I thought this place would be more of a nerd hang out. Not the case! You have to try this bar out. Just because it's different than any bar you'll go to in Denver.
(4)
Anna P.

So fun!! This bar is seriously an arcade! You're not going to meet a hot guy here, but if you bring your own friends you'll have a blast! The food is really interesting, I had a hot dog wrapped in a potato with sour cream and chives (really good surprisingly!) Their walls are lined with arcade games and skeeball and outside is human-sized Jenga. I played Ms. Pac Man with my boyfriend and had a good time. Their service is excellent, too. We ordered cheese fries and my boyfriend wanted malt vinegar, they went back to the kitchen and gave us Sherry vinegar (which was even better) and apologized that while they were accommodating us that our fries were getting cold so they gave us fresh ones. It's really nice to find a place that goes above and beyond to make the customer happy!
(5)
Sheri G.

As a new transplant to Denver, I haven't yet been jaded by the whole Lodo ambiance. With that said, I LOVE this freaking bar. I've been a gamer since I was old enough to hold a controller, so the concept of an old school arcade bar made me nearly have to change my pants. Yes, you have to wade through all the douchebags and drunk girls milling around and crowding up the joint, but it's a small price to pay for being able to get drunk while playing old school Street Fighter. Speaking of getting drunk, the bar is usually crowded and it's a pain in the ass to get a drink, but the bartenders are pretty cool and pour tasty drinks. There's a good size smoking patio, but it's always packed at night. The food is only okay, but that's not what you go for anyway. Now, the security/bouncers are cool guys, but they have a hair trigger when it comes to kicking people out. I've been 86'd twice from this place for "being too drunk", which was really annoying, and I've never been kicked out of any bar, ever. Bottom line, you won't get shitfaced here. Still, I can't resist Princess Peach's siren song, and so I come back, quarters burning a hole in my pocket. If you're not into the party scene, come before 8ish and it's a lot more mellow. However, if it's a party you're seeking, come at night and 1up won't disappoint.
(4)
Jamie K.

Yay for 1up! This place is even packed on a Sunday night! I wish I lived closer, I would definitely become a regular! Jumbo jenga, Burger time and any other great 80s game you can think of! Plus they upgraded their skee ball machines, making this a 4 star joint, have 40s makes it 5 stars in my book! can't wait to be back!
(5)
Grace B.

Have to agree with john W. on this one. Great idea, but clientele and service ruins it. I stopped in here after the Rockies game on Sunday because the rest of my crew was pumped for video games and giant jenga. After waiting 20 minutes for my PBR (the only remotely affordable drink) I was beyond over this place. Yes, I get that's it's gonna be crowded after a game but literally 90% of the drinks served were PBR cans, Schlitz and Mickey's 40s. How long does it take to pop open a can or beer? Either schedule more staff or find more efficient bartenders. After finally getting my beer I wandered around looking for an open game, but the only ones unoccupied were pinball machines. No TRON or Ms Pac-Man for me. I was excited to see skee ball but then realized that two out of three were out of order. Epic fail!
(2)
S Q.

A great place to spend $10 in quarters. One of my new favorite bars in d-town. Finally something cool in LoDo. They have pinball, vintage arcade games and giant Jenga. The food is good too and I suggest trying the hamburger on the glazed donut. It is sinful but epic, the way the bacon, cheese and meat soak up the glaze mmmmmmmmm. The only thing they need now are fried Twinkies and oreo's and we are set. We went on Saturday afternoon before the crowds and it was nice, towards the end of our visit it started to get real busy, as to be expected on Saturday. They have a bunch of good beers in cans and 40oz which is sweet. Totally worth a try cause it was fun. Great for out of towner's and anyone who wants more out of a bar then just drinks. I would also like to see them open another location on S. Broadway ;)
(5)
Daniela B.

I had been meaning to try 1 Up for a long time......the giant jenga being played outside seemed fun. We went last night almost at midnight and although the place has so much potential, waiting half an hour for drinks at a neighborhood bar is not cool, didn't really care for the people there either or the bartenders. Will give it another try if there are less people around but no rush to go back
(2)
Christopher C.

Not impressed, the music was horrible and my girlfriend jacket was stolen. After 5 dollars in quarts it gets old. Barcade in Brooklyn is much better.
(2)
Karl B.

Been here twice over the last 6 months. Had a blast both times. In September, I was with a huge crowd of geeks attending a convention. The place was lit up with people hopping from game to game and having a great time. Last night, I went with a friend, and we talked for a long time, then eventually made our way over to X-Men and, finally, the wonderful 2x4 Jenga. Only downside is the somewhat-expensive drinks. Even though the games and prices to play come out of the 1980s, the drink prices are distinctly modern. Met some interesting people both times I've been there - often visiting from outside Denver.
(4)
Ashley H.

Ok so i had heard a ton of wonderful word of mouth about this place so I went there on a Thursday night thinking. Eh it won't be at max capacity. Well I was way off at that. Anymore full and this would have been breaking some fire codes I'm sure. it was Hoppin' the music was pumpin' the drinks were flowin' and the arcade games were ballin' My drink was good my quarters went far and I had a good time overall. It's a great place to get super drunk and play the night away with wonderful 80's games. I will say this though, If you are not/dislike the whole hipster group this may be a place to stay away from. But if you do go in and dislike the people around you just say "Hey STFU you most likely weren't even old enough to walk when this game was made. No one cares that you were the 1st highscore here. Some 9 year old over 25 years ago already owned your ass at it." Then they will part like the red sea and let you be. and on another fun tip...I brought a roll of quarters in. Lasted the whole night.
(4)
Randy B.

What a crazy place. Old video games! Modern music. Giant wooden jenga games! If you are between 25 and 40 and a video game fan you will enjoy this place. Cool, nostalgic, relaxed, friendly. Pretty darn cool place! They must have 50 old video games in the building. Lots of fun and something quite different.
(5)
Alex F.

This place transcends time, perfectly fusing together the coin-slot nostalgia of my childhood with the guilty pleasures of a dive bar in adulthood.
(5)
Marc D.

I love giant jenga JENGA JENGA JENGA Watch your toes. Seriously, there is nothing like a 2x4 to fall on your flip-flopped foot to make you wish you had more of your horrible beer. I know, I am a huge nerd, but I love pinball. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. They have like 6-7 games there. I was in heaven, and then I ate a hot dog that was decorated like a fully loaded baked potato. It was actually quite tasty. Go, drink shitty beer for hours, and find yourself with a tab of $34 for 3 people. Seriously, a good time.
(4)
Steve A.

With nearly the entire library of classic arcade games I obsessed about during my childhood...how could I honestly not like the 1up! Burgertime, Dig Dug, Centipede, Galaga you name a game from the 80's or 90's and most likely 1-up has it!! Skee-ball with slightly oval shaped balls, just like olden times make the memory complete ;-) Mix in $1.75 cheap beer and all you handle super-sized Jenga that's just like getting extra lives / quarters for a few more game. I have no complaints, sure it's gets crowded but I've usually been post-Rockies games so I wouldn't expect it any other way.
(5)
Justin M.

This joint is about as hipster as it gets. Old school arcade machines, 40s, jenga, and graffiti over video game graphics. There's about every game you can think of from your childhood and pinball as well. Unfortunately we went after a Rockies game and the place was so packed we couldn't get near anything. Beer prices were fair. I like this place, but I'm a gaming nerd. I want to come back at a later date when it's not so busy and get the full experience with food and actually getting to play some games. And to the creepy dude standing street level and taking pictures of people playing jenga, wtf? I know you were trying to get shots down girls shirts and whatnot. Not cool.
(4)
Michael H.

At 36, the games brought back soooo many memories. Just loved it. You name a popular 1980's game and it's there. On top of that, oversized Jenga was great fun for all of us. However, when did 40s of Mickey's become $10? Beer was very expensive here especially given the hispter vibe that the place was trying to achieve. I think the staff is encouraged to be snarky, but it's all good.
(4)
Shana L.

Authentic '80s arcade games, Skee Ball, pinball, giant Jenga and...what's this...they serve 40oz Micky's and Old English? You couldn't have kept me away from this place if you tried. Immediately upon seeing that classic Nintendo DOS serif font reading "1Up" I felt a kind of magnetic pull. I then saw the giant Jenga blocks on the basement patio and a gaggle of nerds and hipsters smiling from ear to dorky ear as a player pulls her last block from the tower, causing the massive collapse and familiar clacking sound of Jenga blocks and dreams falling to the ground. The long, winding ramp to the entrance only builds anticipation to this wondrous land. The 1Up is just a lot of fun. The games are only a quarter each - could that be any more awesome? Drink prices are pretty standard for LoDo, but I LOVED that they had Svedka instead of Stoli for their flavored vodkas. Had to knock one star off because of the less-than-friendly service of one of our bartenders. I get the whole "I'm tattooed, and angsty and too-coo-for-school" attitude that staff of "alternative" bars always seem to have to portray, but come on - I promise I won't think you're any less badass if you put a smile on that pretty face once in a while :) Smokers might also be disappointed to learn that the main patio where the Jenga blocks reside is non-smoking - but it is a pretty narrow patio, so I don't think it would comply with the 15ft requirement for smoking areas. We really did have a tons of fun here and can't wait to go back with some friends of the geekier persuasion.
(4)
Shawn C.

Um, awesome! Video games from my childhood, a happy hour that makes you happy because you're getting drunk for less and you have enough money to play said video games. It is really funny when the other drunks come from a Rockies game and stumble around trying to play the giant Jenga, I remember someone falling over as the Jenga tower did. I wish I had a video of it but my reflexes weren't so good that day.
(5)
Diane N.

1up barcade definitely gives all the solid nerdies the freedom to claim they were at the bar, alongside the excuse to not have to dance or engage in small, predictable conversations. Small disclaimer: the restrooms' vintage condom machines don't really dispense condoms... something about "display" only. Shame. But the restrooms were clean.. so that's cool, i guess. Loud music and alcohol- everything you'd expect from an average bar... except there are vintage video games, skeeball, and giant Jengas. I didn't try the food, so my rating doesn't reflect it. But the games were cool- 25 cents (but free at nickel-a-play).
(3)
Michael H.

If you're a child of the 80s, go to this bar. The video games bring you right back to when arcades still dotted the landscape much the same way nail salons do today. My only complaints were over the games they didn't have, not the games they did have. All the ones there are classics. Pac-Man, Defender, tron, Donkey Kong. The list goes on. The games I wished they had out were Super Mario brothers, Sprint Racer, and the original Gauntlet, but I didn' t miss them to the point that it detracted from what was there. I highly recommend and I will be returning!
(5)
Kent T.

I wouldn't call this a "nerd bar" as much as I'd call it a "guy bar". Miller High Life, 25 cent video games, pinball, and a Billy Dee Williams Colt 45 neon sign, all while 80's arena rock plays over the system. Heck, add an animatronic gorilla and you've got ShowBiz Pizza for grown-ups. (okay, early ShowBiz-- before the ball-pits and jungle gyms took over) My only reservations about this place is that their video games might not last the entire baseball season. I hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if I come back in June and find several machines marked as"Out of Order" or covered with beer sneezes thanks to the countless "yeah baby woo" drinkers who haunt LoDo. Should also note that this place is actually located below street level, or on the "basement level". It's located in the place that was formerly known as "The Dugout" (and other ill-fated joints). Oh, and please tell me when/if someone beats my high score on Galaga. I will return and correct that. The Galaga challenge is ON, bitches.
(4)
Eric B.

Love this place. Great bar with plenty of pinball tables and arcade machines, and they let you order in food as well. It's right near the stadium, and it's just an all-around great place to be.
(5)
Scott B.

If you grew up on the original Atari, Galaga, or Pac Man, you will love this place. It features 25 cent classic video games, and 50 cent pinball. The beer selection is ok. If they put the Guinness in a Guinness glass I'd have gone for the 5th star.
(4)
Brian R.

Where else can you grab a beer and play classic Arcade games?! Trendy bar with Arcade games and good drinks, great place to meet friends and spend some quarters! Oh yes and grab some drinks!
(5)
Ian M.

Some friends were going to hang out here for a pre-graduation party, so I headed to 19th & Blake downtown. Pros: -All the games are 25 cents apiece (50 cents for pinball) -Lively, but not overwhelming -AMAZING French fries. -Surprisingly wide beer selection, although I'd steer clear of the cheap stuff unless you want as much money to spend on games as possible. Cons: -Digital jukebox is too loud, but the music selection is pretty good. -Not enough of those giant Jenga games. -The size. I wish there were more room & more games. Still, no matter how geeky you are, you'll have a great time here. I got a couple compliments on my new Daft Punk shirt, so I fit right in. This is going to be one of my new favorite spots downtown!
(4)
Kendall C.

This place is awesome, there are all sorts of old school video games that I haven't seen in years. They have a good variety of beers on tap, as expected in Denver, and also a selection of bar-type food that tastes so good with beer. If it feels too greasy, wash it down with some more beer. Beer and video games, how much better can it get?
(5)
Sean M.

High Gravity Beer and loads of classic arcade games? Yes! Don't mind if I do. Seriously, I don't think I need to say much more than that. Maybe the clientele sucks (I'm not suggesting it does), but what difference does it make if I'm drinking a double IPA and playing Paperboy?
(5)
Kurt M.

Like this place for a bunch of reasons. First old school games! Yes! I mean the classics from my childhood, 6 player X-Men and 4 player The Simpsons, and possibly even from yours, Donky Kong and all manners of pinball. Heck the Donky Kong game even has a score on it from Steve Weibie from King of Kong! Also awesome is the fact that ALL video games are only 25 cents! That is freaking awesome. The pinball is 50 cents but pinballs classy like that. I started pretty much only coming on Sundays as playing some games with $2 trash beers is very much my style. A few downsides. One the weird "kid" rules they have. It is not right to get trashed and then see some kid running around a bar. Even if it is the middle of the day and even if there are so many games. It's just unsettling, like flying a kite at night. Next like anything good that has any nostalgia hipsters have flocked to it leaving you feeling a little more jaded then you should. And last it is 10 bucks for a 40. Know this, that is a a bit high even in chicago, the last place I had a bar charge me that for a 40. Save the time and drink the 12 oz for 2 a pop on Sunday. Still, its awesome and fun. And if you had any childhood and now drink a good amount of beer you should stop by. At least to know if you can still enjoy simple 16 bit things.
(4)
Bonnie F.

Drinks are way overpriced. The staff has such a bad attitude toward anyone not covered in tattoos. You're cool for working at a video game bar, who cares. They can't serve drinks in a timely manner. Maybe if they improved the place, like having friendly bartenders and decent music I would want to hang out there.
(1)
Yanhua P.

Great arcade games for 25 cents, and the beer selections were decent.
(4)
Christa L.

Well this place gets four stars simply due to its' old school arcade games. Only a quarter to play, 50 cents for the pinball machines. They had jumbo Jenga which how fun is that? My all time fav is TRON, curse you tank battle game. I walked the joint wondering what game is worthy enough to spend my 25 cents. I will say this, I thought I was much better at Pac-Man because those ghosts didn't stay blue for long after the 3rd level. So on that note, maybe the machines were set on expert skill level if that's possible. I didn't order any food or drinks but this bar was a great place to kill time. I'm back!!!!!!!!!!! Denver round 2. So this time I brought friends, they seemed to like the place even though they mainly sat at the bar. As I poured my pocket of quarters into the Tron game and down my vodka redbull I could not help but think this place isn't that bad. In response to the people that actually live in Denver I see how it could be a cesspool for douchebags. Lucky for us we went after the GABF was said and done. The service sucks could be due to the previous sentence. The drinks were based on downtown prices, but it does have video games.
(4)
J K.

Oh 1up why did you have to change? You used to be so much fun, so very entertaining. I used to love coming here for nostalgia games, funny people, and an overall fun and unique vibe! You used to have pretty decent food and friendly people everywhere! Now I see LoDo after-college frat boys everywhere, getting hammered and acting like it is their own personal "grown up" frathouse, all at the encouragement of the staff. Don't get me wrong, I like to party still, but seeing twenty dudes in popped collars and flat-bill hats chugging 40oz beers while drunkenly hitting on my girl and her friends no matter how many times they give a look of disgust and say "NO" all while his friend's yell "WOOOOOOOO!" every 10 seconds at that top of their lungs is not a tempting evening of fun. Seriously, this place used to be great. Now the clientele has gone to crap, and the staff right along with it. I avoid 1up at all costs now; if I want to get shoved by jerkoffs who think a bar scene involves getting shitfaced and picking a fight while continuously pulling at their own shirt and telling their friends to "hold me back", I'll come right on back here.
(1)
Matt K.

Love this place Pros: Eclectic, all over the map clientele. The door guys are always very cordial..... does anyone like a douchey doorman?!? The video games and pinball machines are in fantastic shape and well maintained.. The jukebox Cons: Wish they had some better deals other than just the crappy beer. Sometimes smells like you think it would smell like. This place is our generations version of The Emporium in "Dazed & Confused". It even has some Woodersons hanging around.
(4)
Margaret B.

1 up was a fantastic way to spend a Friday afternoon... although I can't even imagine how loud this would be any other time. Really great selection of video games: Paperboy, Qbert, Frogger are my favorites (and good for people who don't play video games because minimum skill level is required). Most games are a quarter and the cup holders next to the games are an incredibly necessary touch. Life sized Jenga was awesome, but beware..when it falls, it is LOUD. And watch out for your toes and splinters! The bartender was kind of a dick, but I'll forgive that because, for us, this was a memorable way to get out of the sun for the afternoon and have some good old fashioned fun!
(4)
Jennifer H.

I really like this place for the arcade! There's a huge selection of amazing retro games! I recommend coming early or on off days because it fills up pretty quickly. What I like: - lots of retro video games games - abundance of pinball machines - sort of cheap* (*depending on what you drink) I got a couple PBRs and played games for a couple of hours and spent under $20 - it was fairly busy (Thursday night, early) and the bartenders were nice and attentive. - the "no patron dancing" signs. Makes sense since it fills up pretty quickly. and if it were really busy that would be annoying while i'm trying to get my pinball on. What I don't like: - the space seems to fill up easily. I've never been here at a peak time, but I can imagine it gets pretty crammed, thus I would be super annoyed. - the clientele. Most people are okay, but unfortunately I have to agree other reviews that being in LoDo, this place can be a Chady DB magnet. I guess it comes with the territory. Overall, fun and different. I definitely recommend checking it out if you appreciate beer, booze and arcades.
(3)
pinche d.

Seriously. Great place and well worth the 45 min drive from Boulder There wasn't a single person who didn't have a smile here and there's an arcade game title for everyone here. Happy Vibes here .. and games are $.25 per play. Can't beat that. Much love 1-Up
(5)
Meghan O.

Eh... I like this bar, but it is just average in my eyes. It's kind of like going to Phat City, formerly Fun Plex, for adults. The games are fun - my friend found Mortal Kombat, and it was hard to get her away from that one. At least two of the skee ball machines are almost always broken though, I would like to thank the gentleman for letting a friend and I work in for a couple of games last time I was there. The drink prices are nothing to brag about... this is place is just average, like I said. the crowd here ranges from hipster to frat boy to juice-head, but the frat boys and juice-heads come with the LoDo scene. I do like the ginormous line of pin ball machines, my favorite arcade game. And I will say that it's nice to have something different to do on a weekend night in LoDo, props for being unique.
(4)
Colin M.

All the machines cost a quarter with the exception of pinball which is fifty cents. The machines were all in pretty good order and the drink prices are reasonable for the area. I did not try the food but many people were having the typical bar finger food so I assume that it is OK. The thing that keeps it from five stars is that the music is oppressively loud. I would bring ear plugs to play tons of old cheap games and drink beer though so I do recommend it.
(4)
James H.

For some of us, this the perfect place. Classic video games, beer and classic bar food. Also, huge Jenga! Awesome!
(5)
Cassandra L.

We went here on a Sunday night, and it was busy but not packed, which probably contributed to my good experience. I feel like it would be annoying if it was super busy, and I can totally see this place being super busy because it's really awesome. This was our last stop of the night and I was really tired, but I still had fun because there were tons of 25 cent arcade games and pinball machines (and skeeball!) I would love to go back, but alas, I was just here on vacation and live a thousand miles away.
(5)
Aaron G.

Pros: retro arcade beer (40s) giant Jenga (2x4s)! Cons: Hipsters easily gets packed
(3)
Luke K.

This place is awesome. There were so many games that I remember playing as a kid. Now you just get to play the with a drink in hand. Pinball, Video games and Skeeball. We were there during the day and it wasn't crowded at all but I've heard it can be packed. Would be a great place to hang out with a bunch of friends.
(5)
Philip Y.

If you're a child of the 80s you will love this Bar. It's like chuckie cheese for adults (minus the ball pits). Make sure you get a 40oz Mickey to drink while you play MKII
(5)
Sierra K.

My friends and I love to game so when we heard about this place opening it up we had to go. It didn't let us down. We walked into a winding maze of ramps that eventually led us downstairs and into the barcade which had a lot of people in it, but there was still enough room to maneuver and there wasn't a wait for any games. I was thrilled with their game selection, mostly with Paper Boy (which I'm 2nd place on, and will return this weekend to get the top spot). I looked for Centipede and didn't find it, but later found out it was by the front and had been turned off. When we walked in most of the games were on with the exception of two or three. By the end of the evening quite a few of the games had been powered down so I hope that this place will be able to keep the maintenance up on them, otherwise this place will fail. I didn't get to play any Giant Jenga but it looked like a blast and is on my "to do next" list when I head back down that way again. The people were fun and respectful, the music wasn't too loud and it was just a great place to be. The only downer would be the food. Eat before you come. Their 1 UP burger (placed on a glazed doughnut) was very yummy, however it was maybe the size of a CD and very thin. It didn't come with fries either. Just the burger and that was $8.00. A friend and me split it and we each got two or three bites out of our side before it was done. I'd like to see them either lower the prices, or give you more for your money (like some damn fries to go with your burger)! All in all I love this place and see this becoming a regular hang out for my crew and I, like I said the only ding for their stars was the food, which was delicious, just overpriced and not enough quantity.
(4)
Patrick L.

As bars go, this place rocks! If you like alcohol and arcade games... then you must check this place out.
(5)
Nick B.

I dug it. I loved the giant Jenga. I went home and made one for the back yard. They also have the new $7500 AC/DC pinball machine! Medievil Madness! I was a kid in a candy store. Happy hour was decent too... $2 PBR's. First Sunday of the month at 6 is the tourneys. I hope to attend one soon.
(5)
Paul P.

Great trashy vibe, Hamms, High Life, and Burgertime.
(5)
Michelle P.

OMG..this place is AWESOME!!!! Pinball machine heaven along with all your classic videa games: Joust, Space invaders, Galaga, Mrs. Packman, Mr. Packman, Jr packman, You name it, they got it. Oh and skee ball! One thing I did notice that took me by surprise, is they sell 40's of Colt 45 how cool is that. I don't personally drink Colt 45 but to have the ability to buy on there is off the wall. Oh I forgot to mention another thing.. I never been a bar that sold Mad Dog 20/20 ..hah it's as god as it gets. I'm so glad I went there last night,,,i've been dying to visit this place! I will definitely recomment this place to anyone. One thing.. I wish they did have was the video game Q-Bert lol.
(5)
Dana S.

What is better than vintage video games, human sized jenga and a great selection of beers!!!
(4)
Jeremy C.

This gets 3 stars based on it being a video game bar, but the location is KILLING this place. Sure, it's turning a profit, sure they have classic video games,, but it's crawling with tool bags. The first time I went into this place, I got subjected to Justin Bieber on the juke box (which they assured me was being removed quickly) and a bunch of female d bags screaming like he was the greatest thing ever. Now when I have been in there, it's been nothing but the normal Lodo tools overrunning it. I look forward to when the 2 up opens in a better location so I don't have to deal with this madness or the terrible parking situation, or the popped collars and drakaar cologne. Thank you Lodo for ruining an amazing concept with the Jersey Shore IQ level patrons.
(3)
Courtney R.

I've heard "fratty" which isn't my scene so I was skeptical but now I get it. With video games and beer pong it has no choice but to be "fratty". The place is cool but it's too bad that no one can take advantage of the gaming because it's too crowded. Lots of barely legal co-eds who don't know their limit. The gigantic Jenga is fun, and with each beer they tumbling planks hurt less and less.
(3)
Kevin R.

Only flaw...? Music's too loud, wish I could hear the video games! But alas, it is a bar downtown...so it's to be expected! Pluses: So many nostalgic video games, it almost sends you into an overload! Even though the music is too loud, it's always a great selection! Beer selection is fun because it includes a multitude of cheap beers in cans and a few 40s to choose from. Fun/lively atmosphere...and if you're lucky enough to grab a table serving up life-sized Jenga, seize it!
(5)
Ryan M.

I was in Denver for a couple of nights on my own while driving my car across the country. I was looking forward to the opportunity to meet people while checking out the Denver nightlife. The 1Up was a pretty cool place with an (interesting) young crowd. I just had one long island while playing through a few dollars of arcade games. The place was somewhat full but not hopping on this Thursday night but I had a good time entertaining myself with the classic games. It would have been great to come here with a group of friends, but in the end it was a fun stop during my night out.
(4)
Ashley G.

This place is awesome if you like 80's games and drinking a beer. half the geeky crowd, half people who don't care about the games. Girls that go in there to pick up guys that aren't the slightest bit interested in anything but street fighter.
(4)
Annie P.

I dunno, I wanted to like this place. I just don't. There aren't any duplicates of the really fun games, so the majority of them are pretty weak. What really clinched it for me was the snarky (and framed-- really) signs around the bar forbidding you from dancing, ordering complicated drinks, etc. I mean, I get it, but the vibe just put me off. Also, the music was so loud that we couldn't hear each other, let alone the games.
(2)
Anne O.

Had to add a star! I left my id there, and they mailed it back! Thanks a TON!!!!!!
(4)
Greg G.

Went there for a couple of drinks and to play some games (the had a great selection, I'll give you that) and found that, even though it wasn't busy, the bartender stared at me like I had 5 heads. Not only was he slow, but he gave us the wrong drinks. It's pretty seedy inside; maybe I need to be at least 20yrs younger to not give a *$%^ about the decor.
(2)
Katie L.

On a Saturday night in downtown this is the place with the longest line?! I don't understand it-maybe it's because the novelty hasn't worn off yet but I have a feeling it will soon... Going there later (after one) seems to be the best way to beat the line and get in a few games before closing. The drinks are weak. There are hipsters and 21 year old college boys as far as the eye can see. My real problem with this place though is how they treat their patrons at closing time. You know the saying "it's not what you said it's how you said it"? I know bars have to kick people out at closing time, but how you do it is important. First off, they turned up the lights at 1:30. Our stone cold sober friend went outside to make a phone call and they wouldn't let him back in. Then the bouncer rudely put chairs over the jenga so no one else could play. Then they started playing the most obnoxious music (remember the really annoying ones from Mary Poppins? Yes, those ones.) Then the bartender lied about what time it was (he said they started kicking people out at 1:45. My phone said 1:40 and they had been kicking people out by then for a good ten minutes). Bars like this do not have staying power. Cool theme, but probably not cool enough to keep customers coming back if you are rude to them.
(2)
Quin C.

First off, I am from Chicago so LoDo is NOT my territory. With that said, The 1UP was awesome. I was a little turned off at first by the tight security at the front door but soon found that all of Denver cards crazy hard!!! Be sure you have a good valid ID when going out or Denver will ruin you! The 1UP was a cross between Chuck E Cheese and well....any bar! I see people didn't see deals in the beer. Coming from Chicago and being given a can of Coors Light for like $2, sits well with me. Off to work the room and make my plan of attack. Before I could even lay eyes on the first pinball machine I hear a loud crashing and cheers and jeers....a 5-1/2 foot Jenga made with 2x4s had crashed the floor of the bar. YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!! WOW! So there are like 5 or so of these games going on inside and outside. After the awe of that has passed time to take in the room and assess what there is. A row of 50 cent pinballs line one side of the bar. Just as you pass that there are a pair of table top Pac-Man games that you saw a lot in Pizza Hut as a kid. Past that is a trio of Skee-Ball games (note: they have the 2 100Pt in the corners) From there you move around the room to see Street Fighter followed by a pair of Mortal Combats. After that it just gets amazing. Nintendo and Atari to the extreme. Paperboy (with handle bars) Dig Doug, Moon Patrol, Frogger, TRON, Spy Hunter, X-Men, Centipede. Q-Bert, Pole Position, it goes on and on. If you are from Denver and never been, it is great. If you are from out of town, this is a must! All game 25 cents and beer is cheap (in my mind.) Enjoy!
(5)
Dominic A.

Cool place with an interesting concept that they execute well. I went on a Wednesday night and it was Dude-Central. Which is really to be expected considering the video game theme. Still, I was hoping that the novelty of it all would attract a more diverse crowd.
(3)
michael j.

alright, let's not get out of control. we know it's an arcade bar. it has video games and it has liquor. this makes it desirable. we all want exactly this. but let's consider how well this idea is being presented. they're brand new, so they deserve some time to figure things out. every establishment does. people who have been around long enough understand this and give places a bit of time to find something certain to think about them. the entrance is cumbersome and unnecessary. it almost seems like they know this - how can they not - but are working on a solution. the bar is stocked with spirits but offers no wine (not really that expected) and little beer. their website says 14 taps but they opened with 6. deschutes obsidian stout on nitrogen is probably the best offering. two tame taps from bristol suggest they desired affiliation with a craft brewery but low-balled it. it's forgivable given how young the place is. bartenders seem a little too dressed up, as if they're deliberately playing on the neckbeards and forever alones that no doubt will visit. drop the outfits. games are fun, for the most part. they have their share of perfect nostalgia. some games are particularly awful, such as Journey. i paid money to play this game again and i enjoyed the 2 minutes of fun it brought me. jenga is fun but the pieces are 2x4s and un-sanded so they tend to be uneven, leaning the jenga tower prematurely. if you have any mind about physics and are interested in games (this seems like it would be a large subset of 1UP's costomers), this gets annoying. i would be phenomenally excited to see polished, measured giant jenga sets, but i'm a snob like that. so it seems it's time this idea should come along. i really like that they're doing it and i wish them the best. but it sort of seems bare-bones at the moment with little character or warmth. rather it's a space, like your cousin's basement (not the smelly one's).
(3)
Mailou V.

I love this whole barcade thing! It was awesome until it started getting super packed on good weekends to get together. I was glad to see the old school arcade games cause they are still awesome and fun. Drink prices were a lot better than most spots in that area-- for certain drinks on special. First time I'd seen a place sell 40's so that was some overpriced coolness. I liked how you played with quarters, so that didn't cost me a leg to have to buy tokens. The jenga game is awesome and bartenders were outgoing and responsive. Definitely a great place to get your nerd on for a casual weekend out in town!
(5)
Garfunkalow T.

Let's see.... shit canned beer, check. Retro videogames, check. A bunch of hipster douchebags, check. The vibe is fun and fresh. Good mix of women and men.... plus if someone plays craptastic music on the jukebox they will skip it...
(4)
Chris M.

I come here before and after Rockies game, the staff is really nice, the drinks are strong, and what is this, they sell 40's?? 10 bucks but it is kind of fun. My favorite part is the giant jenga, it is a great way to start chatting it up with strangers while having a great time. They have a wide selection of pinball machines, skee ball (score) and all sorts of old school games, my favorites being the fighters.
(4)
Tom I.

Alright seriously? 25 cent retro video games surrounding the entire place. A great crowd. $4 shots (that are at least triple-shots). And occasional free shots of Jameson that you get ONLY IF you also take the free hat they're giving you? This bar was great and I want to come back to Denver just to show people that it exists and I wasn't actually making it up. Wish they had a 1up in Chicago!
(5)
Stephen O.

Lame. They kick you out for laughing. Way too expensive. Terrible staff. Even worse beer.
(1)
Joel T.

This is a pretty cool bar located in a basement off of Blake St. They have a huge collections of pinball and video games, but we came for the huge Jenga. They had a pretty decent selection of beer and I was impressed with their selection of Mad Dog as well.
(4)
Amanda B.

Good idea, nostalgic indeed. Only reason I have to go to LoDo ever...
(5)
Steve G.

This place is okay. Came here with a buddy who had not been before. Ordering drinks was a little tough and on the pricey side, but enjoyed all the games and giant jenga. Didn't order any food. Not sure why there was a line a mile long outside because 20 minutes later when we got in, the place was nowhere near being "at capacity". If you're not full, don't make people wait outside. Would've been 3 stars if not for that. Only stuck around for a couple rounds, then the novelty wore off and we left. Didn't wait in lines outside for any other bar in LoDo that Friday night.
(2)
Nikole T.

So much fun! Love the arcade! Cheap drinks! Sold!
(4)
Luis V.

Nice Arcade bar, way to pack on weekend nights.
(4)
Carl P.

are you kidding me? if you're in to 80's video games, jenga, shots of Mad Dog 20/20 and 40oz beers, you'd best visit this place. the bartenders are always rockin' which makes for a very enjoyable place to visit.
(5)
Chris L.

good concept, poor execution. it might impress for those who have never been to any other barcade (not a new idea). the food was terrible, even for bar food; the PBR's are overpriced by about two bucks, and the militant security is a overkill. And seriously, 40's? i guess if every other bar serves delicious colorado microbrews, this is a good way to distinguish yourself & corner the market on people who want to drink malt liquor at the bar.
(2)
Tina L.

The issue that overshadows the otherwise fun establishment is the fact that we got charged $0.50 for a coke back to a shot and $0.25 for a lime for my tequila shot. Seriously?
(2)
Mike M.

I love this place, but then really what's not to love? The drinks are fairly reasonable and if you're a beer fan they have a decent selection so you don't have to drink Coors all night if that's not your thing. Oh and the fact that there are old school video games all around the place is a huge plus! Admittedly it can get a little bit crowded but at the end of the day it's a place where a lot of fun could be had. I think you would have to make an effort to not have fun there.
(4)
Melissa M.

What could be better than a total dive bar with all the arcade games from your teenage years!? Loved this place. Plopped myself down at the Centipede game and had a wonderful time!
(5)
Sean S.

This place was awesome! Not only did they have all the old school arcade games but they had the best wings I have tasted in town. Service was great and the music was awesome!
(5)
Matthew C.

Liquor, beer, donut hamburgers, potato hot dogs, Justin Bieber and video games. What's not to like?
(5)
Jamie H.

Fun place to be any night of the week! Tons of throw back arcade games so make sure you bring your sack of quarters. Forget saving your quarters for laundry and bring them to 1up!
(4)
Travis B.

oh man, this place is well worth wading through the hipsters. there's nothing better than getting past a level and pausing to take a sip of beer before the next round of pellet chomping, centipede shooting, barrel jumping, or whatever trips your trigger. it totally takes me back to my youth...you know, except for the booze, the adults, and lil' wayne on the speakers. but other than that, it's great for anyone that grew up in the 70s or 80s.
(5)
Joe Y.

Video games, beers, and super size Jenga!
(4)
Mark S.

Took 15 minutes to get a CAN of beer in a pretty empty bar, 1 bartender to at least 5 bouncers is a really dumb ratio. Would be a good stop between bars or after work if you're a gamer who misses the 80s arcade days of Pacman and pinball. Some cute girls, but several arcade cabinets didn't work or ate my quarter.
(3)
Timothy P.

It's perfect for its purpose. Amazingly decadent bar food with tons of old school games and tables with Ã¼ber Jenga.The amazing hotdog offerings coupled with chilli cheese fries and a soda took me back to when tasty junk foods were still cool. Twice I had problems albeit small and twice they were quickly solved and best with peace offerings from the cool staff.
(5)
Trevor M.

The concept of having several arcade and pinball machines in a bar setting is amazing in itself, but once you recognize the cozy charm of 1up, it is even better. I recomend getting some friends together and playing jenga with the 2x4s.
(5)
Leila F.

My friends and I went here today after the gorilla run - totally stoked to continue our fun day of drinking and playing here. The bartender was nothing but rude to us. We tried to place an order at the bar and got a 2 minute lecture about he doesn't have time to have us keep adding drinks to our order....when there was no one else at the bar. If a manager is reading this, we were there on Oct. 27 at noon. This bartender should not be representing your business.
(1)
Eduardo N.

This place is a MUST-SEE place in Denver. I enjoy video games and life-size Jenga blocks makes friendly competition much more interesting. I went with some friends abd had a blast. 40's are a bit over priced but I don't think any other bar will offer them along with the $3 brewski.
(4)
Janice F.

I've been going since the first week they opened. Awesome. I like to get shots of MD20/20 for $.25 just because. They have bottle service....for Boone's Farm. OE and Mickey's come in 40's and well, there are enough canned beers to chose from to bring you back to the eighties for sure. Jenga seems to be the main attraction, but I prefer skeeball, pinball and the old-school arcade games. The price varies from a $.25 to $.50. The weekends can be ridiculous, so I tend to frequent during the week instead. BRING YOUR QUARTERS!!
(4)
Steven S.

The selection of games is pretty good, with fair quality on the controls. Can't count the number of times I have plunked quarters just to find Bart Simpson unable to jump or move left (although Homer's control stick was a little wonky). Ah well. That's the chance of old arcade sets. The atmosphere screamed fun, which was just barely audible over the sound system. Good lord! Whatever happened to walking into a barcade and hearing the chimes and whistles of pinball machines instead of rock music so loud you can't recognize it? The huge "Jenga" sets were plentiful though all taken, and can cause a HUGE crash when it collapses. Otherwise it's a decent place. I will probably be back sometime during the week so as to avoid the massive crowd and enjoy the classics with a brew or 1Up shot.
(3)
Rob B.

Like a lot of reviewers, I am happy that the "Barcade" concept finally made it to Denver. However, if you plan to check this place out, do yourself a favor and go on a weekday before 6 or 7pm. The loud, drunk sports-fan types that Denver is famous for flock to this place once the sun goes down - and if there is a Rockies game at ANY POINT that day, don't even bother. The 40s add to the mayhem - jesus christ douche bags love 40s! Now that I've got the clientele issues out of the way, here's the good news - the bar staff is friendly, the food is surprisingly good and they've gone the extra mile (something that Barcade itself doesn't even do) and loaded the joint with Pinball machines - very smart. I like this place and will continue to frequent it until an alternative in a better neighborhood comes along.
(3)
Lauren K.

If you have a problem with "LoDo douchebags," DON'T COME TO LODO!! I'm allergic to shellfish, but I'm not going to bitch about the menu at Red Lobster. I know what I'm getting into, and I deal with it. Plus the complimentary cheddar bay biscuits are fantastic. 1up is a great bar. If you don't like the neighborhood, stay home. Cheap beer, games, fried food, you can't go wrong.
(4)
Jake B.

The games r sweet! All only a quarter but that doesn't make up for the really high drink prices. Service was decent. The fun factor is thr so check it out. I've walked by on fri, sat nights and thy have a line so I would suggest a weekday and look up thr drink specials before u go 2 make it worth ur while.
(3)
Jim A.

Lots of retro arcade games, pinball, and rollerball. Love this place!
(5)
M A.

Pretty fun place. Vintage games, tons of pinball, gigantic Jenga. Bad location and not so good crowd. Lots of dudebros with too much testosterone. I ended up caught in the middle of a bar fight last time I was there, however the management was effective in kicking out the people involved in the fight but not in time for me to avoid getting trampled and punched a few times.
(3)
Lindsay B.

WOW!!! This place is amazing. It is a breath of fresh air in LoDo, which usually is a place I avoid. The service is very attentive and drinks are made well. I love the 25 cents Skee Ball and the music is always on target. Def a place to check out!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Laura B.

I love this place. All your favorite games, and only a quarter to play. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because the food has got that greasy bar vibe going on. :) Otherwise, this is a sweet little spot to go have fun with your friends! I recommed going here early in the afternoon when the place is almost empty and you can play games without waiting in line.
(4)
Tom L.

Awesome bar setup, as a huge gamer i absolutely love this place. Nothing beats beer and retro arcade games. very fun environment with many different games to keep one entertained such as: giant jenga, air hockey amongst other things. Beer selection is kind of poor and pricing pairs with that as well. $4 for a can of PBR is silly and ludicrous. Gamers and non-gamers check this place out!
(4)
Rick M.

Cheap beer and games. Need I say more?
(5)
Adam D.

Love the bar idea, never seen this before. Although, when we got there I was scratching my head as to why there would be a huge line for an Arcade Bar. Got inside and half the games were being played while a lot of people were just drinking, still don't get why it was so full. Felt like I was being stink-eyed while playing Galaga...guess I ruined some peoples alone time while playing that cocktail cabinet. PBR was pretty cheap though. As for the service, kind of lucked out that my 2 pals knew a bartender, served us well and got us in the door quicker, later told us to come on a Wed. where it wouldn't be packed and I'm thinking would be a better environment for this sort of place. Playing video games in something people are making out to be a "bumpin'" club makes me feel nerdy. I'll come back once the douchebags have become jaded by it.
(3)
CL S.

1up is a vintage arcade bar, and it is an awesome place!! They have all of the old school video games (Ms. Pac-Man, Duck Hunt, Star Wars--just to name a few), skee-ball, jenga, pinball, and more. They have a decent variety of beers and also serve food. Neat spot!
(4)
Brian B.

I'd give it 1 star if I thought it would make it less busy, my favorite hangout in Denver.
(5)
Nicole M.

I've heard a lot of buzz about this place so while we were on our way to a concert across the street we figured we'd pop in and check it out. Went about 7pm on a Saturday and surprisingly it wasn't too busy. We got right in and got a couple drinks from the bar with no wait. They have a lot of tables and booths to sit at but most were reserved that evening for a birthday party - What a fun idea to have your bday shindig here! Great place as it does make you feel like a kid again (minus the actual kids)! The bartenders were friendly and responsive and the drinks decently priced and strong. I didn't notice any sort of happy hour but I did see they sell PBR in the can as well as on tap, MD 20/20, and 40s of Old English which I'm sure they run good specials on. We had our turn at the larger than life Jenga as well as got to enjoy time on the patio while watching other teams go at it. All in all a good time and a great place to kill time. The only gripe I have is that they only had 1 of the 3 skeeball games working and none of the table game machines (which had actual seating around them) were working. This is the ONLY reason I didn't give them 5 stars as I feel it is a work in progress and this bar will only get better!!! Side note: Their menu items seem pretty good as well, we didn't order food but a lot of the tables did and everyone seemed pretty satisfied with the selection and end result. Doubt this will be my last time here!
(4)
Allison R.

arcade games everywhere, skeeball, giant jenga, boone's, MD 20/20...need i say more? this bar is amazing! i love it so and highly recommend it to anyone and everyone!
(5)
D F.

This place is awesome! Arcade games...Schlitz tall boys with a coozie for three bones? Awesome! Drink here...its a bar...Don't eat here. Who goes to a bar, orders food then writes a bad review about the food? IDIOTS!!! Eat at two fisted or wherever but choose to drink here! Awesome drinks at decent prices for Lodo. Great atmosphere with the arcade games. Tip your bartender properly and they'll pay attention to you all night long.
(5)
Virginia D.

good times here for sure!! If you don't want to stand in line to get in for 30 or more minutes, get there before 10PM.
(4)
Kristen J.

i really enjoyed this bar, we went on a monday night when it was not that busy so service was good and it wasnt too crowded. i could see where people might not like it if it is crowded but the games are fun and bartender was nice
(4)
Ted S.

Great fun. Saving up spare change finally has a purpose. Dig through the couches and dresser drawers because you'll want to have all your quarters for 1 Up. If you're a pac man fan they have an awesome four player game that a few friends can spend a few rounds challenging each other. The game is really popular so it might take a few minutes of waiting to get your hands on it. Drinks are standard for a bar. If you're feeling dangerous try the mystery shots!
(4)
Devyn M.

The bar has some SERIOUS potential don't get me wrong, the idea is great and it really is fun. HOWEVER; the customer service is absolutely TERRIBLE. The bartenders are absolute dick heads (excuse my language) and as some previous reviews have stated the bartenders are slow and get drinks wrong. I asked for a red beer (tomato juice and beer) and he looked at me like I was asking way to much of him then proceeded to tell me that he couldn't make that for me. When I asked what the beers on tap were the bartender nudged his head in the direction of the taps instead of verbally telling me all while rolling his eyes; not exactly first class customer service if you ask me. I think the worst part of the night was that there were probably only 10 people in there and the customer service was still terrible. Oh, and the skee ball machines were down. Like I said, neat idea but the bar won't last if they don't hire some more friendly employees.
(2)
Jessica M.

Woo hoo for arcade games in a bar and feeling like a kid! I wouldn't say this is the cleanest or fanciest bar, but hey - that's probably not what you're coming here for. I'd seen this place before and we finally decided to give it a go after a recent Rockies game. They definitely have boatloads of games, and even had a few multi-player Pac-mans which was nice since we were in a group. Personally, I loved Skee Ball...and killed it!
(4)
Chris S.

Really enjoyed my time here. Wouldn't go here a lot but it is a cool different type of place. Played all the good classics like Off Road, TNMT, Contra, XMen, etc. Some of the games need to be cleaned down as some of the buttons or joy stick get stuck. The dude to female ratio is about 5:1 but that would be expected. I'd say you do get bumped a lot in this place and it is like an excuse me bump but more like i'm an uber douche bag bump. Oh well. Sucks for them.
(4)
Antonio O.

Barcade fun right by Coors Field. After a ball game I like heading straight here for some competition of my own. Plenty of head to head games and they even sell 40's if I want to relieve my classic arcade years. It's a little cramped, but all the best arcades were in my day.
(5)
Robert W.

Old-school greatness at its best. Fun variety of arcade and pinball games, a fun staff, and some pretty good food. The only downside is that the bar is consistently full, and some more staffers would make it even better.
(4)
Pamela G.

I Love this place. If you come right when they open on a weekend it is practically empty. The bartenders are always super friendly and are ready to recommend a drink if you are not sure what you want. The patio with the Jenga sets are great as well. My husband and I always have a couple epic battles here!!!!
(5)
Sam M.

Great retro video games and places to chat with friends. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when they had The Addams Family pinball game that I spent way too many quarters on as a kid. I probably could have spent all night playing the turbo Ms Pac Man and Tapper games too.
(5)
Sophie L.

Had such high hopes for this place... I love dive bars and old school video games & they have Mario Brothers and 40s? How cool! But unfortunately, was not impressed by my first experience. Maybe we just went at the wrong time or maybe I'm getting too old for this place. It was PACKED on Saturday night with lines for each game and it was hard to even move around the bar. It felt like a smoky frat party with people pushing their way around and spilling beers on each other. We waited forever for Pac Man and the people playing it just kept on going for rounds and rounds and rounds. We eventually gave up after about 20 minutes. They have bars like this elsewhere where the etiquette/rule is to play a couple of rounds then let the next people play a couple of rounds or get back in line to wait your turn. No such rule here. After making a few rounds on the sticky floor between the herds of drunken people, we left.
(3)
James G.

just got back from denver and this place was really cool. It definitely has the dive vibe, as it's not the cleanest place in the world, but good tap beers and this place is filled wall to wall with classic arcade games. My girlfriend and I played the deer hunting game for what felt like an hour, we even went back the next day with other family members to play other games. I'd recommend this spot if you were visiting denver, plus it's right in the heart of the coors field area, which has cool bars everywhere
(5)
Stephanie S.

Drinks & classic arcade games?! SIGN ME UP! This place was awesome, very friendly staff & strong reasonably priced drinks. Had so much fun here!
(5)
Tim K.

I've never been to a place that serves 40s, 1UP does and that's ghetto fabulous! Went on a Friday night and this place was packed, packed to the point where there was no where to sit and you'd have to wait to play games. It was pretty loud too, our group didn't stay long. All the old school games you'd ever want to play, even some I'd never heard of before. I'd like to come back at an off-time, just to kick back and play some games.
(3)
Sven E.

This place is the best time you'll have in Denver short of going to a dance club or a Gane. It has a every ol'school arcade game you want and a bar full of any drink you can ask for ; and I mean that, any alcohol you want. It gets packed. It's a NERD club! The shit to get your nerd on! And Eric is the solid, dude supreme, of bar tenders! Come. It's worth it! Asked him for shots!
(5)
Shane H.

Do not bring your kids here unless they have JUST opened and the adults have not arrived -- or you're an awesome parent and your kids are as awesome as you. As an adult person looking to relive the "old school," this is your jam. Drop ten bucks in the machine, get quarters. Live happy hour and play every pinball you want; play 4-player pacman at a table. Play TMNT or Street Fighter or MK2/3/4, or Galaga. 25c. They sell 40oz beers, or draft CO beers. They feature happy hour. You can play skeeball with your wife. It's right across from Argonaut and adjacent to a lot of LGBTQ establishments. This is not the same as the ballpark (LoDo) 1up, but it's just as fun and worth your quarters. Dock star because the drinks are expensive. That's not why you're there, right? But it's a point either way.
(4)
Matthew M.

This place is absolutely amazing how can you not like an arcade bar with games from the 80s and 90s. I have been here a few times years ago but I never expected it to still be around! I am actually surprised there are not more places like this in California. They had all of the old favorite arcade games like Double Dragon, Simpsons, Xmen, donkey kong, super Mario bros and many many more. The drink specials are pretty amazing as well we only had one drink but for a PBR and kettle one on the rocks it was less than $10. I had the Kettle One in case anyone reading this is judging the selection ; ). I wish we were able to spend more time playing games but having grown up dinner plans was more important that night. Can't wait to come back to Denver and spend some of my hard earned quarters playing old memories!!
(4)
Jade S.

This place is absolutely amazing! Came here with my boyfriend while visiting in Denver and I can definitely say this was one of our favorite places we came to. When you walk inside your inner child is instantly released! EVERY game you could imagine is here!All your favorite old school games too! And guess what the best part is?!?THEY ARE ALL 25 cents!I kid you not, you and your man could go on a date come here and spend $20 and have the time of your life! They have a bar located in the middle of the room and there is great (current) music playing. It is 21 and up of course so you have all these people of age having a great time playing badass games. There are a few tables located around the room, and they're were people eating so I'm assuming they have food. We will be back here, so fun for adults!
(5)
Melanie G.

I find myself coming to The 1up more and more lately, and for some very good reasons. For the first few months, it was Papi's go-to that I begrudgingly tagged along to, getting myself drunk enough to forget that my boyfriend favors Street Fighter to me. Somewhere along the way though, things changed. I discovered Buck Hunter, 4 Player Pac Man, life-sized Jenga, Tapper, Pinball, Skeeball, all (except for Pinball) for 25 CENTS. Now I am the one constantly suggesting we go to 1up, and not only because the games are fun but because the drinks are fairly priced, which in Lodo is amazing, and the staff is ALWAYS friendly. We have been here probably 20 times and every single time we receive amazing and friendly service, no matter how busy the place is. Not to mention, doing things while you're drinking allows you to take your mind off of feeling drunk, which makes for a much more fun night than sitting around a table and starting to feel that uncomfortable buzz. And let me be the one to say it, finally a place you can dispose of your singles without receiving a lap dance. I might just head over there a bit later tonight, because writing this review has me itching to play some classic games. It is so nice to have a place downtown where it isn't a gamble on what kind of night you're going to have, at 1up I aways feel confident I'm going to have a great time!
(5)
Tira S.

Good drink prices, awesome service, decent selection. A lot of awesome games, however some of the machines had buttons that would stick and 2 of the 3 skee ball machines were out of order. So hot in there, like really freaking hot. It almost felt cooler on the patio due to the breeze. They have giant Jenga, it's out on the patio and obvious it stays outside during inclement weather. The pieces were warn and warped which in many ways made the game more fun. Hood Jenga if you will. Didn't eat the food but a friend in my party did and said it was good, she has the fish and chips. 3 beers and 2 shots for $25 bucks and the arcade games only take .50 cents a game. Would give more stars if not so hot and more games were working
(3)
Rachel Z.

When your friends dare you to take shots of Ectoplasm, they are not your friends. However, the stuff was delicious, and packs one hell of a hit. I didn't get a chance to try the giant jenga, since it tends to get taken up for a while. Love all the old fighter games, and the big back wall/corner of pinball. I appreciate the drink holders on the sides, makes it easy to watch your stuff and also not waste your money. The tenders were super fast and attentive to us all night.
(4)
Jenny P.

This place is fun, hard to not have fun with all the games but man does it get crowded. Definitely nice to come by on a weekday or a little earlier on the weekends. Drink prices are fair though service can be pretty slow. Definitely worth checking out at least once.
(3)
Tom C.

It's a cool atmosphere with good drink specials. But if they are such experts in video games then get the right ones, get them serviced when needed, and switch the games every often if you have more in storage for pete sakes. The 1 star goes to the games and the conditions they're in. No one likes MK 3 because most people don't know how to play it, but the original Mortal Kombat is ok. Instead of the super street fighter game that barely works and no one gives a rats ass about, get the original street fighter 2, or street fighter 3 or 4 that actually functions. Have video games that most game lovers can relate to. I would say half of the video games in 1up suck, (except the pinball, the ball game, pacman with the other old school games, and the shooting games) somethings need to change really bad...
(1)
Monica L.

This bar is kind of like a dive bar in that it's grimy, smelly and has affordable drinks, unless you decide to get a 24oz. can of beer, which is about $10, when you can get that at a liquor store or gas station. The cool thing about this bar is that it's full of arcade games and pinball machines. Not only that, but their well drinks are affordable. I recommend bringing cash if you want to play the games bc it only accepts tokens, which you can get from the token machine. Or you can use the ATM and waste $4 for the transaction fee. It's definitely a busy bar!
(3)
Jayme T.

Never in my life have I ever been 86'ed from a bar....ever. I am 37 years old. So what would bring someone to get kicked out of a bar that specializes in pinball games whom has never been 86'ed from a bar? A royal insensitive asshole. I went in with my girlfriend and a few friends, two of which are Irish. I got a drink for my girlfriend and I and as I went to the change machine to breaka $1, the machine was out of change so naturally I went to the bar. Guy breaks my $1. Low and behold I find my game, Medieval Madness!!!! The game my friends Eddie and Alex and I used to jam on at Pinball Petes in East Lansing. Eddie died from two forms of cancer and Alex committed suicide less than a year later. So I saw the pinball machine and became so beside myself with excitement that I smacked the glass with the palm of my hand and was so happy. Because I haven't seen that game in years. The bartender who was a total asshole yelled at me and kicked me out. As I held my hands up in the air I tried to innocently plead my case to him. I tried to plead my case and tell him I meant no malice whatsoever. I tried to explain to the bouncers what happened and they just didn't care. I guess the moral here is, the guy with the beard at 1-up downtown is a dick. I smacked a pinball machine twice with the palm of my hand because I was overzealous with joy that i found the same game my deceased buddies and i used to play together. That's all it was. That guy totally destroyed a personal moment for me. All he had to do was say, that's not cool. Please do not smack the machines.....what a dick. People like him shouldn't have any place serving the public. Even at a pinball arcade. What a sad lowly person. All he had to do was listen for 5 seconds......it'll take a lot to get me back in there. I hope the manager or owner sees this. Update: After reading a ton of negative reviews about their horrible staff and how roid-rage aggro the security staff are, I'm half tempted to contact BBB and Osha. Places like this don't deserve to serve the public. Especially doped out looking bearded bartenders that have a vendetta against the world. You work in a bar that caters to people drinking while playing arcade games. And you positioned your place of business in an area I rarely ever frequent because of the exact type of clientele I can't stand. You might as well put another location in cherry creek and hire more of the same d.bags to run it. I've been in biker bars in DETROIT that showed more respect than this place. I was this close to going back in there today to try to talk to the manager or owner or the guy who kicked me out but I didn't because after reading a lot of reviews I realized it would've been a waste of my own oxygen. the staff there are a joke.
(1)
Nadia M.

Super slammed, drinks were bad, the bouncers were ridiculously out of line rude. I like the concept but didn't get to enjoy it to its full capacity because of all the crowd. Went on a saturday night, maybe a different time of day would be a little better. If you're going on a weekend night expect to just hang out and stand there.
(2)
Kendyl W.

This little bar was a lot of fun to go to. First bar I've been to since moving to Colorado, so far. The games are wicked cheap and totally worth going to play, but I wish there were a few more slightly newer games around. But lots of fun vintage games, a few that I've never heard of, and whole row of pinball machines. Also, skii ball! I will be going back sometime. Just make sure you bring cash beforehand cuz the ATM fee is high.
(4)
Cody Y.

As someone who grew up with old arcade style video games, I absolutely love this bar. My group of friends swung by here at 9PM on a Friday, and the place was already packed to capacity. It's a retro basement bar with a large bar in the middle and tens of arcade machines along the wall. Oh the arcade machines...the glorious old arcade machines. Each one only took a quarter, and pinball was fifty cents (no tokens). They have some classics here - Time Crisis, House of Dead, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mortal Kombat (I, II, and III), Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and a whole list of others I can't remember. They had some great pinball machines too, such as Indiana Jones, South Park, and even The Creature from the Black Lagoon. It was heaven. It should be noted the drinks were really cheap too. I ordered two Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shots (Fireball + Rumchata for the women in our group) and a PBR and it only cost $17. They had a fantastic drink menu and some groovy drink specials. This will be your new favorite bar, but try to come early since this plays fills up fast. Note: Paying with a credit card - If you look at your credit card pending it may seem like you are being charged more than what you paid, but this is just a hold to allow for a tip. This is pretty common in bars/restaurants.
(5)
Maggie R.

Well that was really fun...the kids,husband and I spent more time than we intended there.
(5)
Lee F.

Great place to play old school arcade games. Have a big selection. Games from Super Mario to Donkey Kong. All games .25 or.50.
(5)
Napp D.

Went up some stairs outside to leave and the security guard made me turn around and go out another way. Fuck that guy.
(3)
Paul V.

A little dirty. But good vibes and great people. Haven't tried the food but the beer is definitely overpriced. But understand Le being they don't have a cover charge and the games are literally dirt cheap. Cool lounges in the back and nice retro games! Love the pinball variety! Awesome idea, thanks for looking out for the older people and making an bar/full arcade!
(4)
Kristina G.

Great idea for a bar! Arcade style games line the walls. Super fun! The drinks were mixed really well. Even as busy as it was, it didn't take along to get our drinks.The staff was very knowledgeable and great bartenders. The only downside is the small size. They get very very busy and there is hardly any room to walk through the bar. I had to squeeze up against people through half the bar before finally finding a spot where I could stand that my body wasn't completely pressed against someone else. If it's not busy it can be a fun place to kick back, have some drinks and play some nostalgic video games! I will continue to go but only during non-peak hours!
(3)
Johnny E.

While the 1up LoDo may have been the first, it's definitely not the best of the 1ups. Mainly, this is due to the crowds. I love ya Denver, but I hate dealing with the folk who attend this fantastic bar.
(4)
Michael T.

Barcade is the best mashup of words in the history of the English language. And when barcades are done right, they are something to behold. Tons of craft beer on tap and in bottle, good cocktails, shots, high energy music, and enough amazing cabinet arcade and pinball machines to go around add up to one fun evening of drunken button mashing. 1 Up is an excellent example of a barcade, and we had a blast hanging out here. It was like being back in elementary school seeing TMNT, Simpsons, and X-Men arcade games there, accepting quarters, begging to be played. Fortunately, now that I'm a bit older, I've got my own quarters and I don't need to be Mom or the parents of the birthday kid for more tokens, so I can play until my heart's content! The only drawback to 1 Up was that this concept is so popular, the place was packed and it was kind of warm in there! That said, the bar was really fast at getting drinks out, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Fortunately for me, there was more drinking than playing going on, leaving the games open and available. I must've ripped through $20 in quarters in no time, but it was worth every last one. I felt like I was a kid again, and that feeling is priceless. I hope a strong barcade concept comes to my city soon. I know when it does, I won't have much left for the bank account each month!
(4)
Spencer C.

Great place to play all your childhood games. Where else can you go to an arcade drink 40's and play video games. Always a good time here.
(4)
Steve P.

This is one of my favorite bars in Denver. 1up is a quarter arcade with a wide variety of games all for a $0.25 plus a wide variety of pinball games for $0.50. The 4 player Pacman is one of my favorite games and can be hard to find these days. They also have some "classic" pinball games for my generation like South Park, the Simpsons, etc. They swap out the pinball games with the location on Colfax, so the selection changes frequently. As for the bar, they have a pretty good tap selection of Colorado micro-brews. The taps are all located in what looks like an old Atari arcade game shell. They also sell classics like Boone's Farm, Mad Dog 20/20, and 40s of Mickey's and Colt 45. I bet you can see why I love this place!
(5)
Jewels L.

This place is so much fun! How can you not love a Barcade! Drinks and games, super hip place, a must Denver visit! Drink specials are on point. Awesome 90's music, $2 PBR's and the food is not bad for how cheap It is!
(4)
Andrew M.

I was in Denver for a bachelor party, and a couple of us ducked in here when it started raining. Being a big fan of arcade games, I thought this would be a great place to kill some time. This place is the definition of a dive bar. It is dark and small enough to feel cozy without being claustrophobic. The place was pretty busy considering it was late afternoon on a Saturday. We had to wait a little while for a few games, but most of the games were either available or available shortly after we stepped up to play. We only had a couple of beers and played some games before the rain stopped. When it isn't raining they also have giant jenga games outside. Overall, we had a good time. Definitely worth checking this place out.
(4)
Pilar D.

Talk about a blast from the past! First of all, it's located in the basement! It really felt like my parents' house back in the 80s/90s but with a big, ol' bar! Second, the prices were from the past! Quarters! My games only cost a quarter! I met up with high school friends the night before the official 20th high school reunion (gulp!). My bf wanted to go to this bar so my friend was nice enough to change the gathering location to 1Up. This ended up being the perfect location. Heads up: You don't need to exchange your bills for tokens. I was about to put $10 in the machine but was convinced to only put in $2 worth, and out came quarters! Anyway, they have skeeball, Pac Man, and pretty much all the games from back in the day. The bar is located right smack in the middle. There are not a lot of seats or tables and you won't see them right away. The few tables and chairs are in the back. There were not a lot of people when we arrived around 6:00 pm. We left around 9:00 pm and it was starting to get packed. This is a great place to kick it with a group of friends.
(5)
Natalie Q.

When this place first opened it was like heaven for nerds. The place was so full of geeky people playing games that I actually found and made new friends. Due to its location it quickly fell into a bro central bar. I stopped going just because 90% of the crowd was rude and in the way and no one was ever playing games. I started going on weekdays like Tuesday after work so I could actually play some games and they had great beer prices at this time. The food is pretty good but not a reason to go here. The drinks are hit and miss but mixed drinks are usually super overpriced. CO beers are priced well and they have other drink options. Games are cheap but some of them don't work that well.
(3)
Robert S.

I brought my 5 & 9 year old here for some old school fun. We had a blast but the food was pretty expensive. After 2 hours of fun we had spent 60 bucks. I understand you have to pay rent in a prime location but family fun has many options and I more likely to take the kids somewhere less expensive. If costs weren't a factor we'd go every week.
(4)
James E.

Stopped by after dinner in Lodo. This place is perfect for anyone ages 21-45. If you love the bar scene and old video games this is the spot to be in Denver. They have all the old classic games and many different pinball games. The beer and drinks are priced in the range of any other bar in the vicinity. Some newer games for the younger crowd. Also outside in the smoking area you can play life size Jenga if you can get on the table . Overall fun place and great experience. Four out of five because the clean factor and prices.
(4)
Veronica B.

Cool spot, tons of fun games but all the best ones were crowded. Tough to get into play buck hunter or skeeball! Overall a cool spot to spend a night.
(4)
Ryan G.

It's a freaking barcade! If you don't think that's awesome then get out of our car!! The place is pretty hipster / divey feeling with a slight speakeasy feeling as you head down stairs and through a short alley to get to the entrance. The bar is in the center of the place with a handful of beer options, and plenty of liquor. Everything is priced relatively cheap which includes the games. The games! Old school cool is one every wall from pinball to Galaga; classic ninja turtles side scroller; original street fighter; air hockey and time crisis. Everything is about 25 - 50 cents to play also which is a nice change of pace from other arcades. Outside is lower level patio with people walking along the street able to stop and look down to watch you play giant jenga. Depending on the night it can be a wait to get a set that is free to play with, but it is generally entertaining to watch as groups end up on their toes to reach the towering monstrosity they have constructed. Probably not the place you want to stay all night long, but an absolute must-do for a couple hours of fun.
(4)
Imani B.

This place is awesome. I went here on a Friday night and I had a blast. The giant jenga is a great way to meet new people. I'll definitely visit this place again.
(5)
Chaz S.

Good bar. Fun. Security is extremely aggressive though. They try to start fights... Get very physical with people just trying to have a good time. Owners should probably have a talk with their guys before they end up with a law suit. Usually just asking single but to do something works better than grabbing someone by the neck.
(3)
Scott P.

Fun place to go, great maintained older video games. Nice selection on tap. Good variety of pins and standup games (skiball too). Large age range, as well. Board games and giant Jenga too if you get bored of the vids! Will be back.
(4)
Kim K.

Really liked this barcade! We've been to a few across the country and this really stacks up. Awesome 90's music, throwback video games, $2 PBRs, dank basement atmosphere - all exactly what it should be. Very cool, Denver!
(4)
Chad N.

So much awesome here! -games -drinks -food -atmosphere -outdoor area -great staff I have been here a hand full of times and always enjoy myself. They have great drinks, decent food oh.. and all the games! A good mix of classic and new. All around good place to hand out for a few hours.
(5)
John J.

Great place to go with a few friends to play some games you grew up with. No tickets or prizes but very affordable most games are only 25 cents. It stinks when there are lots of people or kids there but still a great time and worth checking out for an hour or two. Bartenders are friendly and games are classic and fun. I wish there was more ski ball but their shooting games make up for it! Pros: Awesome beer selection Laid back Great old school arcade games and tons of pinball Great service Great prices Cons: Sometimes there are children present Smoking area has no entertainment Tetris is not as responsive as I would like it to be :). But how old is it? Bathrooms are kinda gross This is an awesome place! You should stop by if your ever in the area at least to say you were there.
(4)
Nick B.

It doesn't surprise me that most of the 3 or less star reviews come from girls...since they probably didn't spend their days after school playing these very video games. First thing's first - Many other raters are rating this place based on something this place is NOT. This place is not meant to be an upscale arcade with new games or an upscale bar. It's a bar with 1980's arcade games and pinball...with cheap drinks. Based on what it is - They NAILED IT! It's super affordable. $10 in quarters can last you two hours easy (less if you stink at arcade games...) and the drinks are cheap too. For $10 you can thoroughly have an amazing time for 2 hours. All games are a quarter to play. They don't use tokens (which is amazing that some reviewers have stated they do...how drunk were you?). Everything is a quarter except the pinball that is 50 cents. The giant Jinga is great as well and free to play. It gets pretty busy during the nights and the crowd is a lot of hipsters, so don't go after 9p if this isn't your crowd. During the day and evening though, this place is great. It's a great first date spot that will give you something to do on a Saturday afternoon that isn't too stuffy or expensive. In short, this place is fantastic if you are looking for a cool bar with an arcade theme. IF you're looking for a place to sit down and enjoy your friend's company while in a non-crowded place with games - Go to Chuck-E-Cheese. .. that's more your speed sport.
(5)
Anthony N.

Old school arcade games laced with booze. What a wonderful combo. Although I was only here for an hour, I definitely plan on returning. If only my 20 year old nephew didn't get caught with a fake ID... oh well! They were just doing their job, and at least they returned the ID in exchange for a donation.
(4)
Brianna B.

I really love this bar. It's a great place to take a date or a big group of friends. I think the drinks are on the pricier side for what they are - but if you stick to the draft specials you'll be happier. Games are still 25c which is amazing. I love the variety of pinball machines but they also carry classics like Ataris, Galaga, Mortal Kombat, Quark, and Pacman. I also love the strange one off games like BurgerTime and DDR. I'm glad that the hipster draw has died down a bit here and the clientele is a little more mixed up. Make sure to check this place out if you're in the LoDo area. Sneak out back and see if a giant Jenga table opens up.
(4)
Holly C.

I need to find a bar like this in NYC asap. There's beer, old school arcade games, life size Jenga - what's not to love? If this place was in NY, I would definitely be coming often.
(5)
Carrie K.

This is where gamers go when they have a power outage at their house. Yet, I'm still giving it a 4 star review because if that's your thing you are going to love it... Gamer-Dive-Central with a great beer selection. Want a quadruple IPA your-brains-out? Yep. Check, they've got ya covered. Feel like a forty of OE? Ok cool. I'll pick one up at the bar for you... And then meet you at the TRON game. What? Not feeling up to 80's pixelated arcade games tonight? Then let's go out to their patio and play some 2x4 Jenga. This place is an old school gamers dream. I don't really like video games and I still like this place. Too much character not to!
(4)
Christina E.

I loved arcades as a kid, and whaddayaknow I still love them as a grown up, too! The 1up is downstairs in a dimly lit dive of a place, with video games, pinball machines, ski ball and even a photo booth lining the walls in all directions. Turn your cash to quarters and you're in heaven with classics like Ms. Pac Man, Frogger, Tron, Joust, Dig Dug, Paperboy... you get the picture. Most games are older classics so it's like revisiting the past to play them today. They have a full bar that specializes in cheap drinks - and I mean cheap as in the price as well as some cheap selections (think Schlitz and PBR). If you want some fresh air or sunshine you can step out on their patio for giant jenga and a smoke break. I guess there is also food, but I haven't dared - I stick to the games and drinks. Personally, I love the 1up. It's a bit dirty and the bathroom is always kinda stanky, but when I want to flashback to my Pac Man days while drinking a cold, cheap beer - this is where I want to be.
(4)
Brett S.

When The 1up first opened it was pretty much my dream bar. 25 cent cabinets? Awesome. Video game iconography all over the walls? Boss. Boss HOG, even. Giant jenga? Okay, whoa, come on; give the other bars a chance. Unfortunately, what would otherwise be a downtown paradise has been sullied by the human element. First, the patrons. The very first few 1up faithful were a decidedly nerdy subset, a group I'd readily identify as "my people." It was a crowd that was serious about games but also laid back enough to enjoy a few pints while playing them. Awesome. As 1up's popularity ballooned, however, it became something of a brofest. I'm not unilaterally judging all bros - some of my best friends are bros! - but it's tough to get your game on when the guy waiting in line at the quarter machine in front of you literally upends his entire beer onto and into the machine. On purpose. And walks away laughing. So what do you do? Notify the staff, of course! ...who will stare at you, shrug, and walk away. When you sign away your soul in exchange for owning an offbeat, popular bar, there seems to be smallprint in the contract that requires you to hire aloof, tattooed jerks to run the place. It's just too damn bad. I still love the games, the concept, and the location strongly enough to push this thing to four stars. Beer and food are both serviceable and don't really push the score either way. If you've never been, you should definitely go. If you're looking for somewhere a bit more relaxing where you can sit around and talk with your friends, maybe find another venue.
(4)
Micah A.

Came in as part of a group, and was kinda disappointed. The drinks were reasonably priced, and the servers friendly. That said, while I love the retro style games(mostly jamma boards and clones), many of them were broken. The controls would stick or not respond at all. The games are advertised at 25Â¢ each, but time crisis was $1. The place wasn't very clean and the bathrooms beyond disgusting, poverty much a dice bar, Check it out if you are near by, but don't expect much.
(2)
Phil H.

Huge dive bar arcade! Booze! Beer! Pinball! Video games! Full bar set right in the middle and surrounded by the newest video games, old school 80's retro video games, skee ball, and a boatload of pinball machines. Small front patio area where people play giant Jenga too. Decent craft beer selection to choose from. Good prices. This place is crowded, loud, and the music is pumping! Think frathouse basement beer party with all kinds of games to play. I had a great time pumping quarters into the South Park pinball machine and killed Kenny over and over! Multiball! Sure, it's full of fratty bro's and sorostitutes. If you are bothered by this kind of scene then you are too old of a mindset to be here. I pay them no mind and focus on my beer and game I'm pumping quarters into. I'm Peter Pan forever beeyotch!
(4)
Marty D.

I loved this place, bring some friends and a handful of quarters and part ways or hang out and play a bunch of two player games to see how your scores match up! There are games for everybody here! Whether you're into the classics like Galaga, Centipede, and Pac man or if you're looking to play something that's newer. They have games for people of every skill level here as well. Track and field and a Tapper were some of my girlfriends and my favorites and they were so easy and fun. Do not leave without playing at least one round of pinball! It is so much fun and you will really get a kick out of it.
(4)
Andrew W.

I absolutely love this bar in every way!! I think it's hilarious that you can get 40's here! But in general awesome to play ski all or big Jenga and drink!! Awesome
(5)
Andrew B.

1up has a bunch of thug bouncers with hot heads. I'm a passive person with no reason to quarrel with anyone else, and I was VIOLENTLY escorted out of the establishment for blocking the walk way while playing a game. Absolutely ridiculous.
(1)
Lisa R.

This brings back lots of fun memories of childhood video games, flashing lights and amusement parks. The beers are cool, but then again you're in Denver. The bouncer outside for a Sunday afternoon was a little off-putting, but to relive your childhood with games and a solid local craft beer is pretty fun. Plus, I do love their simple yet creative "Jenga" blocks outside.
(3)
Conner G.

I love this bar!!! This place is one of the most unique places I have ever been to in Denver. I love the atmosphere there is tons of entertainment and great live music on the weekend I strongly recommend this place to anyone..
(5)
Katie H.

I like coming here because it's not a typical bar experience. The crowd is usually pretty good and I love all the games. The only downsides are that it's way too small and when it's busy it's nearly impossible to get around people. Additionally, and this reason is why I'm only giving 3 stars instead of 4, the bartender raised his tip. I ordered 3 shots but the bartender said to try different ones instead so I went with it. The shots were terrible and it was $40 for 3 shots. Annoyed, I gave him a 10% tip (which in my opinion was still generous) and when I got home I found out he added an extra $4 to give himself an $8 tip. Extremely unprofessional and dishonest. I would recommend tipping in cash here.
(3)
Mark H.

Nostalgic...is probably the best word to describe coming here. It brings me back to the dying breed of arcade I grew up in during the early 90s. They've updated a classic and brought it to the heart of LoDo, which couldn't have pleased me more. They have everything from pinball, to pac-man, to action shooter games, to gigantic Jenga (for a little alteration) The type of crowd that ends up there is anywhere from hipster to the occasional frat guy type, so you will absolutely fit in regardless of who you are and what group you go with. Drinks are reasonably priced and the games are pretty much always a quarter (I suspect they are basically using that money to maintain the game cabinets). If you go earlier in the night before it starts getting really crowded, you can take your pick of which game you'd like to play. The only reason that I gave 1up a 4 star review instead of 5 might be a really nit-picky reason. The floors there always seem disgustingly sticky and I get this vague sense of unsanitary conditions. I'm pretty sure it has to do with people bumping into one another spilling sugary drinks all over the floor every night. But when I want to play a game, the last thing I want to think about is shuffling and not being able to unstick myself from the floor. Otherwise, this is typically the first stop of the night when I go out on the weekends.
(4)
Nathan D.

Holy crap what a hipster mess! It gets two stars for one reason and one reason only... the games. I can imagine the daytime is much better, but for ***'s sake the handlebar mustache and skinny jeans quotient at night is annoying. And worse, the bartenders were more interested in chatting up their friends than serving you a drink. I'll find Galaga somewhere else, thank you.
(2)
Alex L.

This used to be my favorite bar downtown. All the arcade games for a quarter, giant jenga, and very reasonable priced drinks. Then I tried to go in while bar hopping for a bachelor party. There were 5 of us. 4 extremely intoxicated , stumbling, slurred speech white guys, and one african american guy who had showed up an hour earlier and was only on his 2nd drink by the time we went to 1 up. He would have been legally able to drive without a DUI. The bouncers let the 4 drunk white guys in no problem, held our African American friend at the door for a few minutes while they looked him up and down. They then decided he was "too drunk" and wouldn't let him in. I call BS and racism. I am extremely disgusted that one of my favorite bars would do this, and do not plan on returning again...EVER! If you aren't white, or have friends or loved ones who aren't white, I would avoid this place at all costs. I personally don't want to support such a backwards establishment.
(1)
Kyle F.

Very rude workers and games aren't taken very good care of compared to like Insert Coins in the cities or Headquarters in Chicago. My friend got kicked out after he had two drinks, meanwhile there was someone sprawled out on the four player Pac Man machine and they did nothing to that guy.
(2)
Adam J.

I love the 1-up from the time it opens until about 8pm, at which point it undergoes a magical transformation and becomes just another downtown bar. But before that, this place is awesome. They have a solid number and variety of tap beers (Old Chub on tap? Cool.), a simple food menu (which I have not sampled, partly because rubbing my hands on those germy videogames does not make me hungry at all), and a good selection of classic arcade games. The prices for drinks are very competitive for a downtown bar, and the games are all a quarter (pinball is $.50). I remember going to arcades when I was younger and there came a point where it was prohibitively expensive to play anything, so it's great to be able to spend $5 on games and play for a long time. The games seem to rotate out every so often, so this last trip marked the sad absence of Off Road. And the skee-ball... machines (tables? ramps?), two of the three of them were out of order. This place is like heaven for a gamer since the 80s like me. As long as it's before 8pm, you can play pretty much anything you want (those awesome 4 player pac man tables fill up quick, but you can kill time waiting on basically anything else) without waiting, have some good drinks with friends, and basically relive all kinds of memories. Get out of there before too late though because before you know it, you'll go to leave a machine and find that the clientele has changed and you can't move around, let alone play anything.
(4)
Steve B.

Great place filled with loud annoying braying idiots. I love pinball and NBA Jam and am more than happy to part with my quarters to play, so when in Denver I tend to hit up 2up for at least a beer any night I'm out in that area of town. The beer options are pretty decent, nothing amazing. There are many douchebag-level bottles available for people who think it's cool to drink a 40oz of malt liquor and the requisite Billy Dee Williams sign to go along with it. Frathouse best liquors and beer options abound. As does a floor that feels like it should be sticky but isn't that sticky. I love the games and am happy to play for 30 minutes and burn through a few games of NBA Jam or pinball. It's good good stuff. But the crowd. . . wow. Sorority girls yelling as loud as possible about getting a 10 on the Skee Ball (not a 100, a 10 on a ball) or whatever else they feel like yammering on about. Bros bumping into you because that's what bros do. People who you feel have to be under 21 except for the hard carding and cop sitting outside, but they act like they're 16. The fear of giant Jenga pieces falling and hitting you when outside. Drunk retards at 10pm. It's all here. If you can deal with the crowd and/or block them out, you can have a great time as a responsimible adult. But if not, it's a 1-beer stop, a few games, and move on to quieter pastures.
(3)
Jeffrey C.

I can't ever really complain about arcade bars, and so The 1up gets a plus one from me, especially for the name. I think we played the classic X-Men here for about 30 minutes (Dazzler FTW!), and since I can't hardly remember the state of affairs at some other bars, I'd said memory recall is a good indicator of fun level.
(4)
Jaromir B.

This place would be cool if it hadn't become such a douche magnet. It's always far too crowded and certainly isn't conducive to conversation. The games are cool but I really wish this wasn't located in LoDo.
(3)
Alicia K.

I will ALWAYS make this a mandatory stop when I'm in the Blake area. I don't come here for the drinks... After getting carded, I walk down the stairs and into a dark basement-like room, filled with every game from my childhood memories (and then some). It's loud and crowded, just like the after-school arcades. Awakening the wide-eyed kid in me, I run to every machine and greedily beg my friends for quarters! Thankfully, my adult side and can also appreciate the custom beverage holders craftily attached to every machine. The perfect fit for whatever is the cheapest beer they happen to have. My personal favorites: 4-person pac-man and life size jenga.
(5)
Shiloh P.

The 1 up is ok ... Like its a cool bar for sure if you want to drink and play arcade games all night ... But I personally want to drink and socialize so I'm a little bias on this one .... Nerd bar cough cough
(3)
Zorin D.

I am usually a fan of classic beercades, but this one was kind of a letdown. It was so small and really lacked all of the games that I usually love to play. I'm a big fan of left to right scrolling action fighting games like The Simpsons and X-Men arcade games. Of course I can't complain too much because they did have a lot of the classics you expect like Galaga, Centipede and Donkey Kong. Problem is those games are incredibly hard and incredibly simple. I also wasn't a big fan of their no refund policy as it relates to pinball machines, because I lost 50 cents when one of the balls got stuck in the Metallica pinball machine.
(2)
Jeff S.

Love it. Great pins and video games. Good place to get lost for an afternoon or evening. The men's room could use a redesign and a visit from Mr. Clean, but let's just say it adds character to the experience.
(5)
Veronica C.

Terrible experience. I waited 20 minutes for a drink. Then two days later I was over charged by $14. I called and asked to speak to a manager the next day, but the man that answered the phone said I could not speak to a manager. I told him it was regarding an overcharge on my card and he said "how do I even know you were at me bar?" He so said, "if you wanna be refunded, you might reconsider talking to me as an adult." He told me to calm down, and used a terrible tone with me when I called both times. Ive never been more offended and treated more poorly by an employee. The first time I called I was told I couldn't speak to a manager, the second time I called he said he was the manager, and the third time he said he was the owner.... MIND YOU, IT WAS THE SAME EMPLOYEE. My card was never refunded and I'm completely apalled.
(1)
Riley Q.

1up Lodo is a great venue. It's exactly as advertised, an old school arcade with a bar. All of the games are .25 as they should be, and all of the games are classics. My buddy and I relived our childhood by playing Streetfighter for a good hour or so. The music is a bit loud, but the place promotes a punk type atmosphere so I suppose it's warranted. The beers usually run around $5 for a 16oz. Staff was friendly.
(4)
Jessica T.

Great beer selection. Good pricing. And games! What else do you need!!?! Milk Stout on tap! Good service. Vintage video games! What else do you want!? Super fun place, especially on a Wednesday night when it's dead and you have your pick of games. Definitely a favorite stop when barhopping downtown.
(4)
Patrick B.

This is the place!! Go there before a concert have some drinks and play some games and off to the concert Highly recommended Priced right !!!
(5)
Jessica M.

This is my favorite place in the whole world. If they let me sleep over I would. Being a huge pinball fan this place keeps up on the machines you will never see a pinball or arcade machine have issues on more than one visit even if it is as simple as a broken light or missing figure. Best happy hour in Denver $3 mystery shots are my favorite deal. If you don't have a heart condition you have to at least try the doughnut burger once sounds weird but is fat kid heaven also the fried pickle spears yum! EVERY member of the staff is above amazing I couldn't pick a favorite if I wanted. Being a geek and a gamer I am happy to call this place my Cheers. If I could I would give this place all of the stars forever!
(5)
Cindy F.

This was one of my favorite finds over a quick weekend! Absolutely LOVE the fact that its a barcade. It was a busy place but everyone was super cool and shared games nicely. The music was on point also and the fact that there is an outdoor patio to hang in is awesome. The service was excellent, also. Only took a minute or so to place a drink order. To make the night even better- the bartender got my drink order wrong (which wasnt a big deal for me) but she immediately served up what I originally ordered and comped it. I will most definitely be back (with friends!!!)
(5)
KElly E.

How fun is this place! Games, classic arcade games and alcohol. Plus it had giant Jenga on the little outside patio. This place was cool. 25 cent game play! It's really loud, and the drinks are crazy. And they won't let you take other food or drink in, which doesnt seem like a big thing but if you're walking around town and carrying things dont be surprised if you have to show what you have and be asked to get rid f them or not come in. Very little seating.
(3)
Jason M.

Games food and drinks are top notch. A little slice of heaven! Try there crazy donut burger once and don't feel guilty. Just remember it was all a game and what a fun time you made.
(5)
Tuan M.

Giant jenga. Drinking 40 oz. beers like a G by pouring some of your drink out for the "homies". Beating people at 4 way Pacman. I cried like a little girl when they took Galaga away. But this is the place to be at. Most of the arcade games you played back in the 80s and 90s can be found here. A little crowded on the weekends. Good luck trying to find parking.
(4)
Allison F.

My husband and I met a friend who lives in Denver here for some games and drinks. We had a great time! The guys said the drinks were decently priced for the neighborhood, around $4-5 a pint. We didn't order food but they had a decent small menu for eats. I'm pretty sure we spent $50 between the three of us on games. We played this amazing (up to)4-player PacMan game like 30 times. It was so much fun and you really got your money's worth (5 rounds for each quarter). The other games at the place were cool, some way harder than I remember... who knew Frogger was the game to beat? They also have a TouchTunes-enabled jukebox, which means you can download the TouchTunes app on your smartphone and buy song plays from your phone. I kept playing really embarrassing rap songs (Baby Got Back, Ice, Ice, Baby, etc) in between someone else playing legit rap songs, haha. It was great and added to the fun of the night. I recommend this place. There's nothing like it in Michigan so I was possibly over-awed by the concept. If you're from out of town, you should check it out.
(5)
Aggie S.

Is there anything better than old school arcade games and skee-ball?! I think not!! This place is awesome, drinks are good price and the games are cheap. My only complaint is that the photo booth didn't work. :( super fun place!
(5)
Becca R.

Well this place sure lived up to it's hype. The selection of games is AWESOME. And they're cheap too! There are only a few that are 50 cents and everything else is a quarter. Drinks were cheap from $3-5. My only complaints were the fact that there weren't any coat hangers and a place to stash stuff and we had to all keep hanging on to our heavy winter jackets while trying to beat each other sufficiently on old school 4-player pac man. And it was super loud..but it's a bar, so I probably shouldn't' complain about that one, but the music was up there a bit too high for my old ears. I"ll definitely be back as the games are so great!
(4)
Sara B.

Well, hello there hipsters! This place is a great concept...that's where it ends for me. It must have been a bad night when I went. It was so crowded that I got to know some fellow bar-goers VERY well...personal space? Forget about it! Some of the games don't work and my companions wasted quite a bit of money trying to get a game to work. As far as the alcohol goes...I don't know where these people learned to mix drinks but they just need to stop. Everything tasted like ass...not a flavor that I look forward to when going out. I say skip it.
(2)
Jennifer M.

I feel that if you do not have a good time at the 1up you are incapable of experiencing fun. Maybe beer and video games aren't your thing, I don't know. Maybe you're just an inherently joyless person. I guess I shouldn't judge, you may have been scarred by many lost allowances to Paperboy. If that's the case, now is the time to take that big grown up paycheck in for a rematch. You have beer on your side this time. You can do it!
(4)
Jackie R.

You know that scene in Clueless where Cher, Dionne, and the crew head out to a party the Valley? You know the part when Tai gets hit in the head with a shoe and Eldon ices her back to health? I don't know if it was the dark lighting, the number of plaid shirts and beanies I saw, or if the fact that "Rolling with the Homies" was one of the many amazing 90s jams we heard that night, but I felt like I could have been in that scene when I was at The 1-Up...if that scene had TONS of video games lining the walls. All this nonsense aside - it's a great space - exactly what I would expect of an adult arcade. I loved the game selection - Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, Track & Field, & NBA Jams...yes please! All the digital games were a quarter, pinball was $0.50 - way cheaper than I thought. Overall a fun night. It started getting crowded between 10 and 11 and when some weird guys were being judgmental toward those playing Skee Ball, that was our cue to leave. I think happy hour or up until 9pm would be the best time for me to visit in the future as to avoid said judgment and general crowdedness.
(4)
Vanessa C.

Whenever my friends are in town, I make sure to bring the to the 1up. I always mention that Billy Mitchell aka THE PacMan champion came here to play. It gives the location more street cred. I've never eaten the food here, but I have played a ton of games. I have/had the high score on one of the pinball machines. I love the 1up, because it's dark and dingy. It gives it an air of creepy. I mean this guy used the best pickup line ever on me at this location.... "Hey, you wanna get in on this Mortal Kombat tournament with me?" Why, yes good sir... Yes I would!
(5)
Richard R.

The cheese fries are awesome. But I was sad to see that on a Saturday night a handful of games were out of order including two out of the three Skee-Ball machines. So, I really didn't get the chance to play much. I really do like the basement bars - dark and dingy. Plus, it wasn't overly crowded which is always a good thing. I enjoyed the upstairs patio as well. Very nice for when you need some fresh air or just can't stand the people anymore. Employees were quick and courteous and I found most patrons to be fairly chill and just going about their drinking binges. I'm sure at times this place can become douche central but that's when you use your intuition and leave. In all honesty I'm a much bigger fan of the 2up - plus you get double the amount of lives. I would visit the 1up again but I won't be going out of my way. Cheese Fries.
(3)
Russ D.

The 1Up is like a 1980s "Dave and Busters." Located in historic Lower Downtown (LoDo), down some steps into a little nook of an entrance, The 1Up offers food, classic video games and spirits. I tried the 1Up Burger! It was a hamburger with bacon, cheese and served on a glazed donut. That's right: the burger was served on a toasted and sweet donut! You could taste the buttery, glazed sweetness with each bite. Sweet mixed with grease mixed with cheese mixed with bacon mixed with meat is a surprisingly good combination! Then there are the games. Skeeball, pinball and a whole bunch of others make this environment a blast from the past. Most games take a quarter to play, just like the days of old. I received the high score on Tron and was disappointed I got no fanfare or a pat on the back. I plan on going here again. If you desire a hamburger served on a donut and to be surrounded by old video games, I suggest going to The 1Up. You'll be glad you did.
(4)
Daimi M.

I'm a fan. Tons of games and cheap drinks, decent choices of alcohol. Pretty loud, though, as it's packed on the weekend. They have an awesome selection of games to play: pacman, galaga, pinball, huge jenga. Really good place to go on the weekends, relax with friends and unwind.
(4)
paul r.

TERRIBLESTAFF. Terrible service. High drink prices. Don't bother coming here, me and a friend didn't tip much then our next drinks had NO alcohol in them and costed twice as much. Fuck this place
(1)
Phung L.

Tons of old arcade games that will surely evoke some childhood nostalgia from the 90's when arcades were some prominent! And then you're suddenly stricken with such sadness because it makes you feel really old...beer and arcade games what more can you ask for? It's like being a kid again except this time around you can legally consume alcohol and actually can afford an endless amount of quarters to squander on these machines. They also have a ginormous Jenga here too that can seemingly bury you whole should the blocks ever topple over you. 1 Up is a fun place that differs from other bars that one should check out whenever you grow weary of the club scene and just looking for a chill night simply just to hang out.
(4)
Januari A.

Cool place, I like the beer selection and the video games. They have food so it is like chucky cheese for adults...can't beat that anywhere. I love the big jenga out on the patio. I don't like that it is so crowded, or at least it was when I visited. Unlike Colfax, I think this one has more of a college kid, coming to pick up the opposite sex vibe. A lot of big group seem to come together and I don't think the hard core old school game addicts come here often. Still cool...if Colfax had food and was a little more room I'd probably like it more than here.
(4)
Victoria W.

Fun underground bar/arcade. I went here with my husband who loves old video games! We had a lot of fun. They have quite a few games and it's something a little different than the normal bar. Fun place to go. The only downside is that there are not a lot of tables to sit at when you want to take a break from playing. Also, you may want to consider going a little early, so that you can snag a classic before it gets crowded. Then it's off to another bar.
(3)
Michelle P.

Love this throwback-to-the-90's place! The walls are lined up with old video games like Pac-Man, Mortal Combat and pinball. There is also Giant Jenga tables. They have a full service bar and the drinks are good. If you chose, you can order a deuce deuce or 40 oz! Fun! The lighting is dark and it is always packed when I go but not so packed that you can't find a game to play. If the Jenga tables are full, which they always are, people are always willing to let your group join in and play against theirs. This is completely casual, laid back place that is perfect for socializing and meeting new people. It reminds me of a place back home called, Jerry's I used to frequent back in the 90's.
(4)
Danny H.

I found out about 1up by simply finding it on Google Maps while looking for things to see/do around Coors Field. When I checked out their website and saw that they were inspired by gaming bars like Ground Kontrol in Portland, I realized that 1up was a _must_ for when my baseball travels brought me to Denver. I actually biffed on my first shot at visiting, because it was right after a Rockies game, and the line was stretched out the door, and a glance down in the patio pit was packed with people trying to play 2x4 Jenga. Disappointingly, I walked away because it was 42 degrees and I didn't want to wait in line to go to a bar. I came back for another Rockies game two days later, and since I'm not actually a Rockies fan, I left the park and headed over to 1up, where it was pleasantly less crowded, and didn't have a wait. After getting ID'd and hand stamped, I walked into the door, and was overwhelmed by that nerdy feeling that I had found a comfort zone. A sea of arcade cabinets, thumping bass and nostalgic sounds. Pinball machines neatly arranged, ending in a line next to skeeball. A centralized, very well stocked bar accessible from three sides, containing the low end stuff like PBR and High Life, to the hard stuff, and even the scary stuff like rows of MD 20/20, the champipple of bum wines. And people actually playing the games, instead of thinking they're too hip to play "juvenile" video games. I was 1,400 miles away from home, yet I felt like I was kind of there, walking into 1up. Now I've been to Ground Kontrol in Portland, and I have to say that 1up isn't really like them - they're better than them. For starters, every single game in 1up was operational, and worked like a charm for the most part (Area 51 light gun was off a little), and they had an extremely good selection of exclusively old school games. Seriously, I think the newest thing they had was one of those Buck Commander redneck gun games, because frankly the redneck in all of us sometimes gets curious. But to see stuff like old Street Fighter II, a functional 6-player X-Men cabinet where the Dazzler _wasn't_ for left-handed players, and even super old stuff like Dig Dug, original Mario Bros and Burger Time was pretty surreal. And they were all just a quarter, at least the games I played. It's small too, but I like that their actually ran on quarters, and not lame house tokens. It's like 1up is secure enough with themselves to trust you with actual useable currency outside of their walls, instead of handcuffing you into using them on site. But the atmosphere was spacious and festive. Lots of people were still there, enjoying old school games or watching their friends play old school games. And there's a good amount of space to where you don't feel like you have to pinball your way from point A to point B. The patio outside isn't very large, but one of their unique features were the four stations where people could play Jenga, but not with the little three-inch wood blocks, but actual 2x4s. I didn't play myself, because I didn't want to be some tourist loser playing Jenga by myself, but I did catch the perfect moment where some bros blew it, and a massive pile of 2x4s comes crashing down, silencing everyone on the patio, and making onlookers quickly look down into the patio pit to see what had happened. I wonder how many people hurt their feet and toes when they inevitably lose? Anyway, I loved 1up, and as far as I'm concerned, is one of the best arcade bars in the country. Even the people that worked there were polite and not condescending hipsters, and the bartender I spoke to seemed to genuinely take pride in their business, and appreciate their collection of games. I could only wish a place like this would sprout in Atlanta, but until it does I know one of the places that I'd make a beeline for the next time I'm out in Denver.
(5)
Chris R.

This is a bar with arcade games, not an arcade with a bar. I'm gamer nerd parent, so I always wondered. I finally went and now I know. My son's pretty young, but we tried it out on an afternoon and it was fun. The staff was friendly. The games were a great change of pace from playing at home. But it is, first and foremost, a dingy basement bar. It smelled like bleach and clumsy beer. And as other people filed in, it became harder to ignore the weed stink. Which, for this kind of place, I can accept, just not with a kid in tow. I could see coming back again in the afternoon with my son. But if there were another place in town that was less bar and more arcade, I wouldn't.
(3)
Melissa D.

This place is a nerd's dream. You get to look cool cause you're in a bar, but you get to play all the video games that you want. But, it's socially acceptable simply by adding the beer to the equation. Well, personally, I had a great time. The games were fun, especially skeeball and 4-way pacman. The drinks were good, definitely strong. The food was delicious. All day happy hour on sunday...is it pathetic that i was at a bar during the day on a sunday? Well, whatever, I'm not ashamed.
(5)
Nick S.

Weak drinks, but great games. Not a bad spot to blow some quarters on some sweet games.
(4)
Chucky B.

This place takes me back to my childhood where I used to spend countless hours playing arcade games. They're still just as fun as I remember them. They also have other games like skee ball and giant jenga. Another great twist is they serve 40oz of old English, mickeys and schlitlz. For some reason, arcade games and 40's just go super well together. Pretty much the only downside is it can get really crowded and hard to maneuver. I've had beer spilled on me a few times while playing games and that always sucks. Overall though, this is a great place to relive your arcade days popping in quarter after quarter. Definitely check this place out!
(4)
Chelsea L.

This is my go to bar! Anytime I'm jumping around to bars I always end up spending most of my time here. Awesome bar tenders and the arcade games keep you entertained. A must place to go to!
(5)
Sarah H.

Walking into The 1up is vaguely reminiscent of walking into the frat house that I lived next door to my freshman year of college. It's dark and a little loud. TVs and music are playing 24/7. The floor is a bit sticky, and the place has a slightly peculiar smell. But, for all of that, The 1up definitely has its good points. There are far more video games to choose from than there ever were at the frat, and the games themselves are much more fun (I'll go for classic Frogger or Space Invaders over Halo any day). Plus, the beer selection is infinitely better. I've never counted the taps, but there are many--certainly enough to make it easy to find something tasty. The people who come here also remind me of that frat--they're eclectic. I know The 1up has acquired a bit of a reputation for attracting d-bags, and while I've run into a few people who fit this description to a T, more often than not, I've had conversations with completely random, but pretty cool people. No, this isn't where I want to be every weekend, but it's a fun change from the usual routine, and I highly recommend that everyone check it out at least once.
(3)
Shana H.

$.50 Mad Dog shots! Nothing like playing drunk ass Galaga or Mortal Kombat. Since this is a one of a kind place in Denver, the downfall for me is being able to take my 12 year old during the day but not my 18 year old due to the ban on 15-20 year olds primarily based on an attempt to avoid selling alcohol to a minor. I get and respect the effort but it's still inconvenient.
(3)
Travis J.

Beer+Video Games= a Slice Of Heaven. This bar has everything in it. From giant jinga to ski ball for the guys and nerds and beer for the ladies. For downtown Denver, drinks are about as cheap as they come and the video games are always a bonus. This bar is always a treat, never any drama going on, friendly staff, and friendly crowd. If your looking for a good time, and a drama free environment this is the place to go. The video games and fairly cheap drinks are just a plus.
(5)
Meghan M.

Fun place to go with friends. It's a good place to go if you want to do something different.
(4)
Camila M.

FUN -- that's the word here... Its awesome go to a bar where the options are much more than sit and drink... It's really nice outside, playing Jenga with strangers. Great chance to make friends! It's my favorite bar in LoDo so far. But be aware: if you really wanna drink, the service is bad. The bartenders are nice and all, but in a Saturday night you will see two or three bartenders for a huge crowd! So my advice is: order more than one drink at once, or just go for the the fun games.
(5)
Craig E.

This place is fantastic! Great beer list and amazing selection of games, all $.25 or $.50 games, you can play for hours with $20. Dave and Busters can suck it!
(5)
Gena U.

I feel like I got another life at 1up. Another child/teenager life where I had the opportunity to play video games for the low low price of a quarter. Yes, that's right. Unless you pick pinball which seemed to be 0.50. They had everything you'd ever want in your flashback to the past - pacman, Qbert, skeeball, pinball machines galore, fighting games (this was not my forte, so excuse that I don't remember the names). Plenty of two player games, a few 4 player games (go 4 way PacMan go!); and human sized Jenga outside. Beware the Jenga splinters, it's dangerous. Yes, it was a bit packed on Saturday night, but the girls and I had fun.
(4)
M A.

1-star: Starting off, our tab was $140 and we were rushed out saying we were allowed to finish our drinks... Come to find out everyone just wanted to take out the trash and turn off the lights. If your attending a conference DO NOT COME HERE!!! Now i have a pocket full of quarters, FML
(1)
Arthur I.

1up is awesome because of the games. I've never had food there, only at night for the games, so I cannot judge on that. Games are cheap, and the giant jenga outside is fun. I'm not giving four stars, because actually I have had every single friend of mine that went to 1up kicked out. In one of the times, in my case, I was the DD that night, and left the bathroom looking right, to the bar, while gently bumped with someone. Politely said "I am sorry". It was just a random person. Bouncer saw it, got kicked out. Go figure. It eventually became a joke - "who's getting kicked out tonight?".
(3)
Kelsie B.

I love it here! Drinks i feel are a bit pricey, but that doesnt stop me from coming back nearly twice a week. 4 player pac man is where its at!!! and the giant jenga in the back is awesome as well. just start at the entrance and play every game!! I've never had the food, but my girl firend has had the fried mac & cheese and she said it was delectable. And the fact that they serve 40's makes me smile!
(4)
Jessica W.

So, here's the thing. I don't drink. No, I'm not Morman, a recovering addict, boring or pregnant. I used to but don't anymore. While it makes me feel better, it makes it hard to socialize with all my friends because they are a load of lushes if I have ever seen one. I still want to be involved so I go and sit at tables in bars for countless hours while they get drunk. But, we aren't DOING anything. Drunkards don't notice the lack of doing anything because their neurons aren't firing normally. But I notice. And I get bored. Real bored. Enter I Up. At one up, you can be sober, hang out with your drunk friends and not want to blow your brains out because you are otherwise occupied with pinball, adult sized Jenga, violent video games. Whatever you want to do. And they can stay happy with a multitude of drinks that people imbibed at my high school parties (Read: 40's of malt liquor! HA!). Fun times.
(4)
Spencer S.

I was visiting Denver to look at schools and needed something to do on Sunday night. I was by myself and didn't know anyone in the city, but I heard someone mention 1up. Having no idea what, or where, it was, I googled their website and thought it'd be a place I'd enjoy. I left my hotel (4 Seasons Downtown) at 9:15 and walked there in about 15 minutes. I must've walked in when the doorman was away from the door, because I was not carded at all, not even by the bartender (not that I'm complaining, just thought it was odd). Speaking of the bartender, I was greeted and ordered my drink within 30 seconds. My only complaint about the bar? They didn't have my top 2 choices of liquor, which I believe are fairly popular, Crown Royal Maple and Disaronno. But nothing to knock their rating for. Since it was Sunday night, there were no more than 30 people there. I was left to my own devices which I didn't mind at all. I didn't realize how much I loved pinball until I came here! They had a very wide selection of games to play at a very reasonable price point. I wasn't too happy that the door men "reserved" machines for themselves by starting games and leaving plays on the machine to play in the down time. I would've liked to play Family Guy pinball, but they had already started a game on it and I wasn't about to play their balls. If I had been there with people I knew and the employees didn't bogart the pinball machines, I would've given them 5 stars. I definitely plan to frequent 1up when I move to Denver.
(4)
Joseph C.

I finally got the chance to go here last night and I wasnt sure what to expect to be honest. But lets just say what turned out to be maybe staying an hour, turned into 4 hours. Who can resist video games anyway? Lots of video games, old and newer ones, but let's be real, it's the older games, that do it for me! Pole Position, Pac Man, Galaga, Donkey Kong, etc! Throw in a pinball machine or Skee ball and it gets even better! .25 cents for the video games and .50 cents for pinball machines! Sure the place is crowded, but thats part of the fun, unless youre the idiot shoving your way through without a regard for your own life. The bar is hopping and not overpriced. After a few drinks, trying to play any game is a challenge I will gladly accept! Thanks for a good time 1UP! See you again soon!
(5)
Katie R.

I don't know if it was the.... -awesome amount of arcade games [old school pac man anyone?] OR -LIFE size jenga board on the patio [so much fun!] OR -huge jukebox full of tunes and the underground grunge feel [slightly hipster but still cool!] OR - fact that you can buy 40's at the bar, along with 7 shots for $3.50. [boom!] OR -staff, in general. all around awesome. [and scruffy...mmmm] OR -that this is one of the hottest new bars, that fills up fast. [the line was out the door!] BUT... I LOVE this bar and everything is has to offer :)
(5)
Russ S.

Fun place, I'll give it that, but on the evening we were in for a pre-dinner drink or two, just waaaayy too many bearded, knit-capped hipsters chug-a-lugging 40 oz. bottles of malt liquor for my taste. The 1up has a lot of classic Atari games, pinball machines, skeeball, etc, with a lot of TVs above the games on the wall, displaying cheesy FX/WGN-style commercial-laden movies. It's in a basement level of an old LODO building, and has good prices for dive-bar fare (20 oz. canned beer and shot specials) along with a classic fried bar food menu. Staff is nice, and the games are cheap, and take quarters. As we were leaving, I noticed the vibe was slightly changing to more of an obnoxious fratboy kind of thing, with some suburban moms and dads thrown into the mix.
(3)
Gretchen G.

Great for the 20s and early 30s crowd who want beer and something to do other than pool and shuffle board. Let's be clear, I wasn't thrilled to wait in a line to get in because I thought it would be insanely packed but they did a good job of making sure you could still move once you got inside. Once inside, gotta love a place where everyone is drinking cheap beer, including out of 40s. You might think you're going to drop a ton of money given that its in Lodo and an arcade but as long as you stick to beer and don't go overboard with the games, you'll be ok. Most of the games are .25 or maybe .50 but ski-ball for .25 is pretty awesome. Giant Jenga outside is free and a good way to be social with a bigger group. It's dark, my flip flops stuck to the floor and it isn't somewhere I'd want to go to if I'm hoping for a classy night out but it is a lot of fun to see how bad I've gotten at games like Frogger and Mortal Kombat.
(4)
Jeremy G.

I love the concept of this place. Take your favorite 80s video games, insert them into a random basement in Denver, add beer. What could go wrong? Unfortunately, the staff... This place has amazing potential, but is in dire need of a personnel reboot. I'll be looking for my pinball fix elsewhere in the meantime...
(2)
Kevin D.

I did many cool things while visiting Denver, and this was an absolute highlight. I'd say the night went from excellent to unforgettable when I roasted some punk in Mortal Kombat II or III (I was shattered). Love this place and would definitely go back.
(5)
Aaron F.

You'd think with all the gold coins Mario could quit his job as a PLUMBER. But he's here, along with Qbert, Paper Boy, Tron, Track and Field, Donkey Kong, Galaga and every iteration of the PacMan genre. Whether you're 40 or 14 you can take that time machine ride back to the 80s and live the arcade life for only 25 cents a play - 50 for pinball. Plus you can get your drink on. The beers are a little expensive and the bar gets crowded after 7 so make it your pre-game spot and enjoy the splendor that is the 1-Up
(5)
Rhi G.

I reaaaaaaaally wanted to be able to give 1up at least 4 stars because the games are awesome, the food is pretty good and the beer selection is decent as well. However, it's pretty grimy and they BLAST the music. Including the metal songs that are in their rotation. Really unnecessary for a bar where you have plenty to do and probably would like to be able to hear the people you came with.
(3)
Scott C.

This was my 2nd trip to the 1up. I have to say, walking into this place always makes me think of a dive in New Orleans. Something about the smell, and sound, and cheap beer. Did I mention cheap beer? They have it, and then some. All the classic shitty domestics that you just have to have sometimes, as well as a couple of craft brews if you can't step off of your high horse for long enough to enjoy a natty light, or pbr, or shlitz... They have video games, also. Classic ones (think qbert, frogger). I'm not a huge game guy, but I went with folks that are. I dropped a few quarters in pinball and track and field. Good stuff. All in all, I like the place. Not an all day/night type place for me, but a great stop for some games and beer.
(3)
Lindsay A.

Pacman, the Simpsons, jenga, oh so much fun. We went in around 8 on a Thursday night(because we are old). The place had people in it but definitely not packed to brim like weekend nights. That was just the way we wanted it too. We were able to walk around without dodging people all night or waiting in line for games. The price was right too for playing the games. Just quarters!
(5)
Demitri R.

Go for the beer specials. The mixed drinks are pricey. 10 Dollars for a long inland iced tea ouch. Great selection of Pinball games and coin op games which go back to the years you remember if you were born in 1980s. They have food as well, but i was there for the drinking and games. Plus supersize Jenga is spread out on a few tables, and on 2 tables outside as well. All in all this is a fun experience, just bring your pocket book.
(4)
Josh T.

1up is my favorite bar in Denver. The whole vibe of the place is just custom-tailored for me. The vibe is low-key, they've always got goofy movies and stuff playing on the TVs, they have an excellent selection of drafts on tap, and the arcades... Don't get me started on the arcades. These are the games I grew up playing, when I went to the arcade with a couple of hours to kill and a fistful of quarters to burn. This isn't Dave & Busters, you aren't going to pay $3 for one stinking game. All the arcades are 25 cents. And they take actual quarters, no tokens here. I think pinball is 50 cents, but that still seems like a bargain to me. The bartenders are all very nice, and everyone is there to have a good time and chill. My regular haunt ever since it opened.
(5)
Becca I.

Christmas lights at the bar, quarter games, beer, and food that we didn't have but smelled like delicious wings. I'd frequent this place, if I live in Denver. Do it.
(4)
Patrick T.

Easily the coolest bar I've been to on tour with my band. We had a day off of tour last summer and stopped in here after catching a Rockies game. Tons of fun games, and great beer. I wish I could get Old Chub in Vegas.
(5)
Kelly T.

I'm sorry I'm doing this to you, 1Up, but I think you knew what you were getting into when you put your location in the heart of LoDo. The concept here is fantastic. Adult arcade, giant Jenga, comfort food and 40s available at the bar. Unfortunately, the Chads have overrun it, making what could have been a chilled out place to play some video games and enjoy a beer, yet one more meat market in LoDo. I've been here twice now and I do not love video games enough to deal with the drunken idiots stumbling over themselves in some sort of weird hook up mating ritual. Last time, I went, there was literally a one in, one out waiting line for an hour. FOR AN ARCADE BAR. By the time I went in, only about half the games were being played. Everyone was milling around in the "cool new bar." For me, an arcade bar should be low key and chill. Not some place to hook up with a drunken hottie (or whatever the 22 year olds that populate this bar call it these days).
(2)
Nicole K.

I was in Denver for the day to see my friend who was in town, and have lunch with the friends he was staying with. After a tasty lunch at B.D.'s Mongolian Grill (and talking a little bit of gaming), we head over to 1up looking for some TMNT (though when we were there it appeared that only Leonardo was playable) and a few more drinks. All the games are $.25 a play and most of the classics are here (though no Metal Slug...sad face). The controls are a little wonky on the fighters, or maybe we just don't remember how slow the response time was on Mortal Kombat 2... I did have a blast beating Golden Ax though. For pinball enthusiasts, there is an entire wall of machines, as well as a few Skee Ball machines. The beer selection is decent, but the liquor selection looked more extensive. Definitely a fun place to spend a few hours, and look back at how far video games have come.
(4)
Amy D.

I loved that the 1up has at least four types of Pac Man, tons of 80's classics, pinball machines and giant Jenga outside. What I didn't love were the hipsters dominating several of the Pac Man machines. They wanted no one on "their machine" while they watched someone else play another Pac Man machine. Um really?! Granted it was a game night (the Rockies whooped the LA Dodgers!) but spilled beer and empty glasses were not uncommon. I stopped in for a drink and to play some games. I did have fun playing a round of Pac Man, getting annihilated at Frogger (whoa I'm out of practice), and wrapping up the night with some skeeball but I have been to similar bars and had better experiences. It's cool to see that Denver has an arcade bringing out the inner geek in all of us.
(2)
Jimmy M.

Absolutely love this place. Video games are a quarter each and they have some good ones. Really fun, great idea for a bar. Pretty good beer selection too.
(5)
Christian D.

CHEAP DRINKS & VIDEO GAMES!!!!!!! We always end up stopping by on our way back home for a quick drink. Plenty of old school video games and pinball machines to play. AND THEY ARE ONLY $0.25! I do wish they would install the first Super Mario Brothers that came out on NES. Not the old school version prior to that system. None the less they have plenty of games to play.
(5)
Diana W.

Okay. Love the games here. The Simpsons, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat? Walking through this bar gave me goosebumps cause of all the childhood memories flooding back. The place is downstairs and we came on a Saturday night at around 10. The place was already packed. The bartenders are quick though so getting a drink isn't a problem if you stand on a nonpacked part of the bar. A few of the arcade games weren't working so that was a bummer. I was excited to see what the fuss of the big Jenga pieces was but was vastly disappointed when i saw them. Big, yes...but they are set on such small tables that have so much traffic flow near them that concentrating on playing is hard when people are bumping into you or the table constantly! By 12 I wanted to get out of their because it was getting so packed I couldn't even watch my friends play their games and it was getting so stuffy. The place was also getting packed with college "bros" who were constantly yelling and bumping into our group... When we walked out there was a line WAITING to get in....so this place does get packed! I would love to come back here on a week DAY and just have a great time with some friends but on the weekends it is way too packed and the people there are way too young and immature for my liking.
(3)
Dylan L.

Well, like people have said-it's all about when you decide to go to the 1 Up. If you go during the week or early enough in the evening on a weekend, you'll likely have a really good time. There's a great array of games, including pinball, fighters, side scrollers, and my favorite--the table top "Pac Man Battle Royale", where you battle your friends as pac men and try to be the last one standing. Games range from just a quarter to 50-75 cents. The bar's got a great variety-you can go for hard stuff, PBR (a very popular choice in the place), a 40, or just some great local brews on tap. The bartenders are super chill. It's a $5 minimum on a card, but that's not too bad (2 beers will get you there). The last time I was there, I got three beers but when the bartender brought me my receipt, I was only charged for two. I let him know I had one more and he said he only found two. "I guess it's your lucky day." He said, and I got a beer on the house. Score! I've been lucky in that the times I've been, it wasn't too crowded. I've left to a HUGE line at the door though, full of bros, which makes me glad I didn't have to deal with them. I think you can have a great time at the 1 Up...just go at the right time.
(4)
Carly B.

I was considering giving the 1up two stars as I have a natural inclination to do at any place in the LoDo/Ballpark area, but I'll give them three for trying to do something different. First of all, I probably would have thought this place was cooler if I hadn't been to a barcade in Seattle the week before that was everything I hoped for in a barcade (cheap cans, fun games, a speakeasy style backroom with chairs and thoughtfully crafted cocktails, etc). 1up definitely has the LoDo twist on it complete with a bouncer checking IDs outside, quasi-douchey crowd (for a Wednesday, at least) and overpriced canned beers (no, $2.75 is not a "deal" for PBR), and lots of "rules" posted everywhere. I did dig the variety of games and the size of the place made it easy to get around. Word to the wise: make sure to scope out the pinball machines before you play. On one machine I got three balls for $2. LAME. On another I got five balls for 50 cents. AWESOME. They should seriously all cost the same. Oh well.
(3)
Leah A.

I'm with some of the other reviewers in that I give it 4 stars for going there during the day and 2 stars for a Friday or Saturday night. Weekend nights are far too packed to play the games I want, plus the music is ridiculously loud. But it's really fun to go on a weekend afternoon. I'm also with some of the other reviewers who say bartenders seem to have quite an attitude. But as I go there more and more frequently I've noticed I get better, more friendly service. And they have a couple of pretty good beers on tap too, which always helps. It's just a fun place for someone who loves pinball, arcade games, and skee ball. It's great they keep the prices reasonable: 25 cents for video games, 50 cents for pinball. The giant Jenga I could do without. It gets pretty obnoxious and loud, and I hate it when the stack falls onto my feet while I'm playing a video game nearby. But whatever--it's not that big a deal. I live just a few blocks away, so it's a place I walk to frequently. And I see myself going there as long as it stays open, which I hope is for years.
(4)
Sara T.

Great variety at the bar and tons of games. No cover.
(4)
Rachel S.

If you want a blast from the past, I totally suggest you check this place out. Not only are there a shit ton of games, but you can get shots of Mad Dog 20/20 and drink up a 40. If that doesn't remind you of college, you obviously just turned 21. Or you went to a classy college. Or not at all. Anyways, once you get past the smell of teenagers and booze, you can spend your quarters on 4 player pac-man (what!), tekkon tag, tetris, giant jenga, you name it, they might have it. I mean, it's still a bar, so they can only fit so many games in there. But, it is pretty awesome. If you want to win bonus points, bring your dude here. And if you are like me, beat them at any and all video games.
(4)
Angela A.

A 30 something's dream....all the games are here, right along with some super loud grunge on the jukebox. Burger Time, Joust, Paperboy and so many more. There is a wall lined with pin-ball and skee-ball. I love the trophy case full of the classic consoles and games. It's great to reminisce over. Nintendo, Atari, and even my console of choice, the ancient Intellivision! Great bar tenders and beer. They have local brews, and on tap Bull & Bush Stout, which is a favorite of mine. There are 2 outside seating areas if your thumbs get too sore and need a break. I just wish the 1Up wasn't right in Lodo. I went on a Thursday late night and it was packed with Lodo specials, so we kinda left. But weekend daytime and happy hour is not bad at all.
(4)
Darcy L.

Loved it! We went on a Friday night so I expected to have to wait in long lines for the games but we didn't. A few times we had to wait just a minute or two but there's always something open to hold you over until your favorite becomes free. They have everything from the orfinal Donkey Kong, to all the Mortal Kombats, and a whole row of pinball machines. My favorite though was the group pacman. I think we played that for over an hour. Most games are just a quarter and they bar sells PBR's and 40 oz beers. We were there for over 5 hours and spent less than $20. This is definately the place for a cheap night out.
(5)
Tiffany N.

I am in love with this bar. I came by on a Sunday in the early evening (around 7) when there was no Rockies game and perhaps that helped my experience for it was neither overcrowded nor was there a long wait for any drinks or food. In any case, if a bar has fast Ms. Pac-Man I'm pretty much guaranteed to be a fan of the bar so The 1Up wins for me. I appreciate the fact that you can get classic cans of beer here, too, but I went with vodka drinks and a grilled cheese. The sandwich was on think bread and simple, but good. Nick went the other way and ordered the cheeseburger on a glazed donut - a novelty to be tried for sure if you like cheeseburgers, donuts, and a mix of sweet and savory. And eating a gut bomb of course. I also love the small details here like the fact that the ladies room is marked with Ms. Pac-Man and the men's room has regular Pac-Man. I'd probably never head to this bar on a weekend night, but let's be honest - I'm never in any bar downtown on a weekend night. I'm not a fan of huge crowds and that's pretty much what you're guaranteed to get down there at that time.
(4)
Kristen N.

I like the idea of having more to do at a bar then just drink and people-watch. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy doing both of those things, but add in a little PacMan or giant Jenga and you've got yourself a fun night out. The scene on Saturday night (was there for a friend's bday outing a few weeks ago) was MUCH different from the scene this past Friday (TGIF outing after work). It's much more low-key earlier in the evening. That Saturday night outing proved to be much more "lodo-y" than I really prefer. It's fun to drink cheap beer and play video games that came out when I was still drinking capri suns. Also, their grilled cheese...pretty dang good.
(4)
Erin N.

Beer. Liquor. Burger-Time. Skeeball. Dark. Sweaty. Pinball. Pac-Man. Sure there are wait times for some games, but who gives a shit. Go get another quarter and play Paperboy for a few minutes. Then come back to whatever you wanted to play.
(5)
Matthew C.

This place draws a very... eclectic crowd. And I never saw so many white folks drinking 40s of Colt 45 in my entire life. The bar also serves OE800, Mickeys, and MD 20/20. There is even a Billy D Williams light up ad at the bar. Add the giant Jenga-esque games and all the arcades and this place feels like a dream I would have had after drinking too much Wild Irish Rose. (which I think they also serve). There aren't many places you can still play Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for just a quarter. Or MK2. Or Duck Hunt. Or 4 player Pac-Man. This place feels like Dave and Busters for hipsters. Even so, the barstaff is prompt, the clientele is friendly - and it is really easy to lose yourself and have a good time... as long as you have plenty of quarters.
(3)
Kristine D.

The super old school arcade games made this place pretty damn rad. The Michael Jackson video arcade game, Moonwalkers. The pinball machines and the old school arcades: Paperboy, Mario, Pacman, Mortal Kombat, Street fighter, Donkey Kong, Bubble Bubble, and way more.. I was in nostalgia at this place. The happy hour drinks definitely enhanced the nostalgia along with loads of fun. This place is definitely 1UP!
(5)
Julio T.

I was afraid this might happen, and unfortunately it looks like it did. 1-up has been overrun by LoDo douchiness. It should have been expected. 1-up is located right in the thick of Douche-ville and this place's potent combination of cheap beer and diversions was too much of a lure for all the bros and bras out there. In many ways, 1-up simply couldn't avoid the onslaught of former CU and CSU fratboys and girls who were bound to flock here en masse. So much so that there is often lines for this place after Rockies games when the bar is "at capacity." Which means the douchinistas who smoke have decided to not leave the bar and instead smoke on the semi-enclosed ramps and stairs that lead to the entrance. Like a stream of water through a Summer's Eve bottle, you feel much dirtier after traversing this douchy gauntlet. And although 1-up can hardly control their clientele (though what should we expect from a LoDo location), they can and should control this wall of smoke and suck that all their patrons must unavoidably encounter at their entrance.
(3)
Natalia K.

This place seemed really fun at first -- and in some ways, it is. There's cheap beer, 40s aplenty, tons of games and guys everywhere. I would say this place is great for a group, and when everyone in that group enjoys old-school arcade games. However, I wish they'd compromised a bit and added some newer stuff to the classics. I would so come back here over and over if I could shoot some zombies while I drink. The old stuff gets a bit boring after your first couple of visits. Also, it's great that they have 40s, but not so great when you run into tons of people who can't hold their liquor and are determined to finish a 40. Just sayin...
(3)
Lo O.

UPDATE - We have gone 2 more times and the doorman and bartenders and so rude, no personality. They all need to take a class is customer service. I think they are used to young, drunk idiots therefore they treat everyone like crap. They should try to be more friendly. We are not all drunk 20 somethings. So bummed because we love to play games but the rest of the joint we can live without. So sad.
(2)
john W.

Uh yeah, hipsters, and d-bags drinking colt-45 with popped collars, no thanks. I'll pass. Love the idea, hate the clientele. I was worried it'd happen and it did. I love living in lodo, and take the d-bags as part of it, but won't be frequenting their new favorite watering hole. Hey kid with the colt-45, do you even know who Billy Dee is?
(1)
Kimberly B.

1 Up has a fun atmosphere with an ok beer selection. There are several pinball machines and classic games to choose from and they are all reasonably priced. When you run out of money Jenga is available on the back patio.
(3)
Pamela D.

I found this little jewel on a sightseeing walk in LoDo while my boyfriend was in a work conference. I told him about it and we ventured over after dinner out. He LOVED this place!!! They have skeeball, a ton of pinball machines, 30+ arcade games. I think I won the "Girlfriend of the Year" award for picking this place for our night out!! All games are a quarter.
(4)
Bone R.

Love playing the cheap games but if you're going to play and try to get your name on the board for high score, don't bother! They haven't changed it since 2011. What's the fucking point of having it up there if they refuse to put your high score up. How hard is it to get a piece of chalk and write in the new high score. That's part of the reason why so many of us started going there. Not any more. Might as well take it down if you're not gonna use it. Plus all the games get unplugged every night so having your name up on the board is the only way for others to know who killed it recently. Lazy bartenders are the worst.
(1)
Cole H.

I'm not gonna lie, being an avid gamer and an enthusiast of bars in the Denver area, I wasn't sure how I would react when I entered the 1up in Lodo. I had a couple beers at Falling Rock and some friends talked me into going to 1up, which was one of the better decisions I've made in a while. The door staff greeted me with a big smile and promptly asked me for me ID, which is unlike a lot of snooty bars with a mean faced security guard, and a lot of bars that haven't even asked for my ID! I was in love with the selection of games that they had to offer and the price (only 25 cents a piece!). My friend and myself were pretty overwhelmed with the beer/drink menu but Lauren and Nicki guided us through the menu with ease. I wanted a good IPA, Lauren gave me Modus Hoperandi by a local company named Ska which I fell in love with. Nicki gave my friend a new vodka called dripping springs which he fell in love with. All and all the game selection was a good choice (lord of the rings pinball my favorite!!), and the staff guided me towards a beer other then PBR. Nicely done 1up!!
(5)
Tres B.

As a true pinball fanatic, my first entry into this dungeon-like bar was much like what I envision my inevitable walk past St Peter and through the gates to heaven. There before me were gleaming electro-mechanical angels ,lit and ready for the insertion of my ...quarters. And the machines they have here are not just the new titles from Stern (the only manufacturer left in the USA making pinball machines) Here you'll find older title like Addams Family and Terminator. Williams and Bally's are both represented. And the machines were in prefect repair, immaculate and clean. No small feat for complicated machines of this age. My only complaint is a lack of superstar titles like Sacred Stiff and Cirqus Voltaire. As one transgresses to other parts of this pulsating chasm, you'll find thirty or so games from the early age of video games. Frogger, Tron and Centipede along with the original PacMan. The clientele is an odd mix. Buff DB's with military cropped hair and burlier-than-thou attitudes. One can smell the 'roids in the air mixed with cheap cologne, natural musk and faint talcumed body order. There was also a preponderance of beer bellied 50 somethings. What a mix. The women were delightful. A bevy of cacklers, high on PBR and peach schnapps, no doubt. Some short-short hotties perched on high wedges displaying their derriÃ¨res in a pleasingly provocative welcome . And faux biker chicks with their aging boyfriends, obviously investing in that guy with blue collar sensibilities (and mullet) and a white collar income. And here and there the lost doe eyed Lodo deer, with gazelle like legs and a 22 inch waist. The food is hack bar. What else would you expect? But anyone who knows Jon Taffer would understand my advice: Call the "Deep fried mushrooms" , "Tempura ' You can add a buck to the price and sell to more women. While I enjoy a woman eating a hot dog as much as any guy, sell some more finger foods so ladies can look cute eating. And speaking of ladies, the bartender I had was pretty, attentive and kind. And to the asshole who played Little River Band on the juke box six times, (and I know who you are ) NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! It's not time for a "COOL CHANGE" you son of a bitch! " Lastly, If you're a serious gamer, get here between 11am and 8pm. Otherwise, its too crowded to enjoy.
(5)
Alex B.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLACE TO HANG OUT DOWNTOWN!! Forget the big sausage factories and dance floors of the clubs, grab some friends and cheese up the 4-person PAC-MAN game! Grab a few drinks, maye some shots, and play some giant jenga! Don't get me wrong, it can get just as packed as anyplace else in LoDo's on a Friday or Saturday, but if you just want to go out, play a few games (best pinball selection around!), or even stop in solo and make a friend, you'll never have a bad time at the 1-Up.
(5)
Melissa T.

Eeenteresting. I didn't know it was "The 1Up" until I came here to write a review. I thought it was just "1Up." Anyways, this bar is just cool. I'm not gonna lie, the paper boy game took me waaay back because it was the video game machine at the roller rink I loved to go to when I was 8. Good drinks, good service, tasty bar food, and I'm a huge fan of bar activities (as opposed to just sitting around drinking) so the giant jenga (play in teams) is a bonus. Like all bars near the stadium, beware crowds on game days.
(4)
Kyle W.

For nostalgia's sake alone, this place deserves five stars. I've often wondered why no one ever had the bright idea to make a video game themed bar, and then I walked into the 1up. At first, I thought all those years of eating bacon- wrapped, cheese-stuffed, deep fried meat had caught up to me as this place is pretty much how I envision Heaven. But since I didn't see Rosario Dawson seductively feeding Eva Mendes oreos, I quickly realized I was still on the terrestrial plane. We walked through a pretty impressive layer of security and bouncers for 2 in the afternoon on a Monday, and were soon adjusting our eyes to the dark ambiance of the basement. (There must be something psychological about gamers that we feel the almost pathological need to play our games in a dark basement. I wonder what Freud would think?) Against the wall closest to the entrance are a series of pinball machines and ski ball machines that produce the blips and blops and bleeps that gamers find incredibly erotic. (The Mario theme song is a nerd substitute for an R. Kelly pantie-roll anthem. True Story.) The other walls are covered in every classic arcade game you could ever possibly want to play- Xmen, Ninja Turtles, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Offroad - the list goes on. There are even classic games like Joust and Donkey Kong. The bar is situated in the middle of the room and slings food and beverages to all who desire. The beer is the (apparently Denver standard) micro brew variety and the waitress was kind enough to allow me to have a few samples. My buddy and I, still hungover from our week in Vegas, struggled through one beer and then spent about 30 dollars in quarters beating Ninja Turtles and Xmen and the Simpsons and Offroad. This place is a blast and any gamer over 25 will immediately be transported to the golden age of mall arcades and street fighter tournaments that made you leave your house. (1up also does its own pinball tournaments.) Make sure you bring your Konami code and a whole butt load of quarters!
(5)
Chris T.

Went to a going away party here on a Friday night after a Rockies game. The place was packed to capacity and some extra. They seemed fully staffed but getting food or drinks was ridiculous. With five bartenders they still struggle to compete simple beer orders. Besides being a low end full price bar they have a large collection or broken arcade games. The ones that work are obvious because they are the ones with lines that never end. This place might be fun if it was empty but a complete waste of time when busy. Most downtown bars are only fun when full, this ones only fun when it is empty.
(1)
Terry L.

Best Bar Idea Ever As a "seasoned" 80's child- I can honestly say this place ROCKS! Imagine an "Old Skool" Aladdin's Castle Video Arcade on an original TRON Light cycle collision course with a dive bar...now you get it! But wait-- there's more!! Pinball, Skee Ball and GIANT JENGA to be enjoyed!! tip= when GIANT JENGA towers fall= EVERYONE knows!! fun stuff A younger "Hipster" generation is enjoying very simple video games, shots and canned beer-- I'd say the future is in good hands. Bring your $10 Quarter rolls -- and get your Retro Geek on Denver!
(5)
Hannah I.

Everyone else already said it all. So I'll try to say something different. Are you the kind of person who feels awkward at bars or in big groups? Introverted? Don't like to just drink? If any of these are you, this is your kind of place. All the games are so short and cheap you don't feel like you're neglecting your friends if you just peace out and do your own thing for awhile. Then, you can meet up for one of many 2P games, or there is even 4P Pac Man. I plan to have my birthday shindig here since my friends don't really know each other, and this would be a perfect spot to have a come-and-go party. We like it. Husband and I might even just go back ourselves sometime. We had lots of carefree laughs here. Oh, and pretty good drink selection and bar food.
(5)
Amanda R.

Honestly they had everything I had dreamed of seeing from my childhood. I played almost every game in the place. They were not shy with the drinks and very on top of things. My only suggestion would be to add another ninja turtle game hahaha!
(5)
kai m.

Got a much nicer bartender this time. Still crowded, still loud, but I haven't had any nasty run-ins with people there, so it is still a nice place to hang out in my book. But seriously guys. Fix the third skee-ball machine.
(3)
Amanda M.

It's hot, it smells like a frat house, and the drinks are weak. But they have .25 cent tetris and ski ball. I was most excited to play giant jenga, but that shit is tore up from the floor up. The blocks have pretty much disintegrated into splinters. Every time I touched one I was afraid I was going to get stabbed. When the tower was about to fall I would jump onto a chair for fear my feet would get harpooned with giant pieces of wood. I ordered two vodka sodas and could not taste the alcohol in either of them. A well vodka costs $4.75 and I upgraded to Grey Goose (I didn't pay) and couldn't taste anything but lime. I'm sure it was about $7. I did not have the slightest buzz after 2 drinks which is odd because that's usually my hard liquor maximum. I did find 50 cents on the floor which was an added bonus.
(3)
Kate O.

This was a great spot to start the night....I have heard it is a huge hang out for drunk college boys but it must have been because it was early but we did not see any of that. A bunch of other people on dates, having a beer enjoying the games of their childhood. The bartenders are super nice and friendly too. I challenged my hubby in a game of burger time and pac man...so much fun!!!
(4)
Food C.

The security guards are high on steroids. One of them just grabbed my friend from behind, out of the blue, for no reason at all, dragged him and pushed him into a corner where the cameras can't see (this we learned later from the police themselves) and attacked him viciously. This place will not last long. Somebody will sue the hell out of them. It is dirty, smells like vomit, the food looks suspiciously undercooked, dishes are greasy. Underpaid & overworked servers.
(1)
Melony F.

I have had a strong fondness for 1 up for years now. When I first walked into this place I was blown away. 25 cent arcade games...the ORIGINAL games...PacMAN - Galaga - Paperboy - Donkey Kong... A full bar with some awesome green vodka stuff...and the FOOD. DAMN. The food is AWESOME. This place looks like a dive bar version of Dave & Busters. But that is so far from the truth. This place trumps Dave & Busters. Why? Ambiance. No children. Cheap games. Free Jenga. They make great drinks. Their food - like I said - trumps Dave & Busters by a long shot. All the way down to the simple grilled cheese sandwich...which is awesome here by the way. The downside? Just because the games are cheap doesn't mean the food and drinks are. The food is not so pricey but the drinks can be. Especially my favorite green stuff, lol. Sorry..cannot remember the name. Regardless...awesome place. I think this is where Hipsters go to procreate. And that is fine. I love Hipsters. Bring more of them into the world! I love 1 UP. Oh wait wait. One bad thing. They don't allow dancing. That sucks. Otherwise AWESOME.
(5)
Sany N.

Reminds me of an old school, underground, geeked up version of Dave and Busters. It was a cool spot to start our night. The drinks were cheap, it wasn't too crowded and it keeps people busy while others getting juiced for the night. Not much you can review about the spot. Its cool.
(3)
Maggie R.

This place is amazing! I went on a weeknight and we basically had the place to ourselves! The drinks are well priced and they have ALL the great games. It was a flash from the past inside this bar-cade! I had a great time with the huge JENGA blocks and skeeball, BUT THEY HAVE PAPERBOY! Almost every game you can think of is here. It's wonderful. Oh, and SO MUCH PINBALL!
(5)
Roy H.

Cheap beer, 25 cent classic arcade games, and giant Jenga? Hell yes! There really isnt too much else to say...you probably already want to go here!! But just in case you still arent convinced: The food is pretty damn good too! I have had a couple appetizers and a sammy. All yummy. Be warned: A line forms after 10ish usually and it can be a bit of a wait. Oh, and they have 40's!
(5)
Dale Z.

I went here the first week during the soft open, and have been back twice since then. First, full disclosure on my part, any place that offers alcohol and vintage arcade games in the same location is likely to get a positive review from me. The beer selection is solid and the service is pretty good. The food menu is more of an appetizer menu (even though 1up promotes it as a "full menu"). The first time I went, they had these amazing onion rings. They were big, perfectly cooked, and the onion did not pull completely out of the breading when you took a bite (my pet peeve). The dipping sauce, a homemade remoulade (or equivalent) was zingy and a perfect ring companion. Sadly, on subsequent visits, the onions rings were off the menu. The manager said they could not longer get them from the supplier, and were not happy with the substitutes. The other food here is "C" quality. Basic wings, very basic burgers, BLT's etc. Beer and Tron, good times . . .
(4)

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Address : 1925 Blake St
Denver, CO, 80202
Phone (303) 779-6444
Website https://the-1up.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :3:00 pm - 2:00pm
Mon : 3:00 pm - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Very Loud
Music : Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Tue, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No

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The 1up - LoDo

1925 Blake St, Denver, CO, 80202

The 1up - LoDo Menu

Appetizers

Wings

Healthy Meal suggestions for The 1up - LoDo

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