A two-level retro arcade, bar and restaurant called Level Up Arcade+Bar is gearing up to open at 212 Mill St. in Bristol Borough, packing in more than 30 pinball machines and arcade games, a full kitchen, and a menu built around smashburgers and family recipes. Owner Chris Kinsey has been working to combine classic coin-op gaming with food and cocktails under one roof, giving the small Bucks County town a new destination for date nights, birthday parties and family outings alike.
A Nostalgic First Floor Built Around Quarters and Classics
According to WhatNow, the first floor will include 12 pinball machines alongside vintage arcade games like Tron, Spy Hunter, Cruis'n World, Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Fruit Ninja. Guests will play using actual coins rather than swipe cards, a choice Kinsey said is intentional: he told the outlet that using quarters evokes memories for longtime arcade-goers. The first floor also features a living-room-themed hangout space complete with couches, a CRT television and a Nintendo console for guests who want a more laid-back corner between rounds.
Kinsey said he wanted to combine food and cocktail-making in one space, and the layout backs that up. The venue is described as a two-level retro arcade, bar and restaurant, per phillyburbs.com, which also reports that the venue features more than 30 pinball machines and arcade games across the building. The outlet further notes the location has a patio space for outdoor seating, giving visitors a spot to spill outside once the weather cooperates.
Downstairs Hosts Parties, Movie Nights and PS5 Tournaments
Downstairs at Level Up is set up to host private parties and celebrations, with an 85-inch TV earmarked for family and adult movie nights and theme nights. When no parties are scheduled, that same downstairs space will have a PS5 available for tournaments, giving regulars a reason to swing by even on quieter nights. amusementsandattractions.com reports that a private room will also be included for special occasions, rounding out the venue's event-hosting ambitions.
Kinsey said a family-friendly barcade could give his children and other families a shared destination, a sentiment that threads through the venue's design. With the living-room nook, movie nights, and a kids menu labeled “For Little Gamers,” the space seems built to keep both parents and kids entertained under one roof rather than splitting the night between separate outings.
Smashburgers, Mac and Cheese, and a Bucket 'O Balls
Food is anchored by a full kitchen serving appetizers, smashburgers, salads and vegan options, with sections of the menu playfully labeled Sharables as “Multiplayer,” entrees as “The Next Level,” and sides as “Power-Up.” Among the dishes are Chris Kinsey's mother's mac and cheese and meatball recipes, alongside a planned Bucket 'O Balls — a 32-ounce serving of meatballs with rolls. amusementsandattractions.com adds that burgers, hot dogs, tacos and wings will all be included on the new venue's menu as well.
The bar side of the operation leans into the theme too, serving Pac-Man Power-Up, Donkey Kong Smash and Sonic Boom cocktails alongside 21 beers on tap, including selections from Conshohocken Brewing Company. An espresso martini made with espresso from Calm Waters Coffee in Bristol gives the drink menu a local touch, and a milkshake bar will offer classic options for children alongside alcoholic versions for adults. The kitchen is set to close one hour before the venue itself shuts down each night.
Hours, Age Limits and a Still-Unsettled Opening Date
Once open, Level Up plans to admit all ages until 9 p.m. daily, switching to guests 21 and older after that cutoff. Planned hours run Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 to 10 p.m., Thursday from 3 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to midnight, and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m., according to WhatNow's reporting.
Exactly when the doors will open remains unsettled. WhatNow's seed reporting says Level Up plans to open by mid-November 2026, while phillyburbs.com reported the venue was scheduled to open Nov. 20 on Mill Street in Bristol Borough. amusementsandattractions.com, meanwhile, reports that the business aims to welcome its first guests by late November in time for Thanksgiving. Whichever timeline holds, Bristol's newest barcade is shaping up to be a full-sensory mashup of pinball nostalgia and smashburger comfort food for the holidays.
