Arcades can mean different things to different people. An arcade can be an old-school pizza place, a brand new big box video game restaurant, or the introduction of arcade bars. In Boise, there are plenty of options for all these things. Here are our favorite Boise arcades.
Note: For this story, we did not include any Virtual Reality Arcades. We love a good VR arcade, but we will write a separate story about this later.
Click the links below to skip to any of the following sections:
Spacebar Arcade
Big Al’s
Dave & Buster’s
Grinker’s Grand Palace
Wahooz Family Fun Zone
Pojo’s Family Fun Center
Spacebar Arcade
Spacebar Arcade is a fun night out in Boise, because it is a bar that is also an arcade. Spacebar Arcade in Boise is located right in the middle of downtown, in the basement of the Adelmann Building, and has been open for nearly a decade.
Our favorite Boise museums (and other places to spend the day with your kids)
They have plenty of old-school games, and a mix of video games (including Super Mario Bros.) and pinball. You can play from your table, or grab your drink and explore one of the dozens of games.
You can also rent out Spacebar Arcade for groups or you next birthday party.
Address:
200 N Capitol Blvd.
Boise, ID 83702
Visit the Spacebar Arcade website.
Big Al’s
Big Al’s is not exactly in Boise, but is on this list because it really is a great place for an arcade. Big Al’s is located in the Village in Meridian, a fun outdoor mall area with stores, a movie theater, and restaurants.
Big Al’s is not just an arcade — they also have a giant TV to watch the game, a sports bar, restaurant, and bowling alley. They have multiplayer sports and racing games, classic arcades games like air hockey, and a rewards center to bring all your tickets.
Drop your kids off with their tokens and enjoy a drink or watch the game on one of their many big screen TVs.
Address:
1900 N Eagle Road
Meridian, ID 83646
Visit the Big Al’s website.
Dave & Buster’s
Dave & Buster’s is a name most people know, and they are an important addition to Boise arcades. The Dave & Buster’s in Boise opened around seven years ago, and is one of the smaller locations for the chain.
The Boise Dave & Buster’s has a large bar area, with chef-inspired food — not just bar food. It’s actually one of my favorite places to eat in Boise because it’s rare you can get a beer and healthy dinner. They also have a large gaming area, including the Star Wars game (which I am told is very important) and plenty of old-school games and more modern games as well.
Address:
546 N Milwaukee Street
Boise, ID 83704
Visit the Dave & Buster’s website.
Grinker’s Grand Palace
Grinker’s is one of three Boise arcades on this list that are not actually in Boise. Grinker’s is located in Eagle, just a few minutes outside of Boise, but is an ’80s-era arcade featuring games like Pac Man, Donkey Kong, and Centipede, so deserved to be on this list.
The most Haunted places in Boise, Idaho (that you can visit today)
Grinker’s is one of the more old-school Boise arcades on our list, and has plenty of older and newer games, a bar with TVs, as well as food and ice cream. They have more than 300 games in 10,000 square feet.
Address:
228 E Plaza Drive
Eagle, ID 83616
Visit the Grinker’s website.
Wahooz Family Fun Zone
Wahooz is another newer arcade, and is known mostly as the other half of Roaring Springs, a water park located just off the freeway in Meridian, Idaho.
Wahooz has a number of arcade games, both new and old. If you’re not into arcade games, Wahooz also offers a number of other events, including bumper cars, ropes course, go-karts, bowling, and bowling.
Address:
1385 S Blue Marlin Lane
Meridian, ID 83642
Visit the Wahooz website.
Pojo’s Family Fun Center
Pojo’s is a staple of the Boise arcade scene, and has been since they opened in 1974. They moved into their current location on Fairview Avenue in 1992 — and you can ask many natives about the many birthday parties they spent there as kids.
They have many arcade games, as well as indoor bumper cars, an indoor carousel, and a soft play area for younger kids. Their cafe serves food like pizza and sandwiches. Pojo’s is a great place for a birthday party or to drop your teens off on a Friday night.
Address:
7736 W Fairview Avenue
Boise, ID 83704
