Fun speaks for itself
1 / 10

Bit Bar Salem

4.6
·491k reviews·,

Experience Salem's best arcade bar with vintage games, craft brews, and a menu of playful eats in a historic jailhouse setting.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Fun speaks for itself

Bit Bar Salem

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Experience Salem's best arcade bar with vintage games, craft brews, and a menu of playful eats in a historic jailhouse setting.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"The best chicken sandwich I've had in my life to be from an arcade bar."

TIP

Visit During Off-Peak Times

Avoid October for a less crowded experience. Weekdays or earlier in the day are ideal.

Try Smoked Wings & Chili

The brisket chili and smoked wings are highly recommended for a tasty treat.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 4PM

Cuisine

Bar Food

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(978) 594-4838

Address

278 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970, USA

Website

bit.bar/

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Retro Arcade and Pinball Haven

Retro Arcade and Pinball Haven

Step back in time with a massive collection of classic arcade games and pinball machines. Fun for all ages!

25+ Best Restaurants In Salem MA For Every Vibe |So, you want to go to Salem, MassachusettsGoogle Review+1
Playful and Delicious Eats

Playful and Delicious Eats

Enjoy surprisingly good food with unique twists, from loaded Tetris tots to amazing chicken sandwiches.

Best Salem Restaurants for Brunch and Dinner in October?Google Review+1
Nostalgic Atmosphere

Nostalgic Atmosphere

Immerse yourself in a vibrant, nostalgic vibe, complete with retro decor and a killer soundtrack.

25+ Best Restaurants In Salem MA For Every Vibe |Google Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

@BitBarSalem bathroom vibes #swiftie #taylorswift #opalite #salem #salemmassachusetts
@thatsalemgirl
88 likes • 1.2K views

Visit During Off-Peak Times

Avoid October for a less crowded experience. Weekdays or earlier in the day are ideal.

Try Smoked Wings & Chili

The brisket chili and smoked wings are highly recommended for a tasty treat.

@BitBarSalem karaoke HATES to see us coming @Matthew K. we were fully sober in this btw lol #karaoke #salem #salemma #karaokenight #friends
@thatsalemgirl
112 likes • 1.7K views
when I was in Salem, a friend/fan took me to Bit Bar in Salem! But the food and the games was fun! This is definitely a date night or a friend night place with a full bar as well!#mystupidroadtrip #arcades #salemmassachusetts #foodtok #traveltok
@siddi_felix
7 likes • 269 views

Embrace Vintage Charm

Some game machines may be worn, but they add to the unique vintage charm.

Karaoke Nights

Join in on Thursday nights for karaoke and have a blast singing your heart out.

Mario pinball machine at BitBar in Salem! • • #pinball #mario #retrogaming #arcade #retrogaming
@yenkthetank
17 likes • 1.1K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Visit During Off-Peak Times

Avoid October for a less crowded experience. Weekdays or earlier in the day are ideal.

Try Smoked Wings & Chili

The brisket chili and smoked wings are highly recommended for a tasty treat.

Embrace Vintage Charm

Some game machines may be worn, but they add to the unique vintage charm.

Karaoke Nights

Join in on Thursday nights for karaoke and have a blast singing your heart out.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Bit Bar Salem offers a unique blend of retro arcade fun, a lively atmosphere, and surprisingly solid food. Diners rave about the nostalgic games, creative cocktails, and standout dishes like the chicken sandwich and brisket chili. While most reviews are glowing, some mention occasional issues with game maintenance or slower service during peak times.

"Food is really good for a bar, mock tails are pretty good but i recommend the “tails” mock tail is better then the “sonic” one in my opinion, both are pretty sweet but the “sonic” one is insanely sweet. The brisket chili is absolutely amazing! 10/10 recommend. The wide range of games are great too! And made the wait so much fun! An experience you can’t get in many places. It was a great vibe and an added bonus whoever is in charge of the music has great taste 🎶👾🎮"

Kitsuna Art

"I would have never expected the best chicken sandwich I've had in my life to be from an arcade bar. Server was awesome as well. The place was packed but it didn't take away from the quality or service. I'm not a big drinker either but I will try almost anything with the word "Ecto" in it. It was also amazing."

Matt Ferree

"Being a child of the 90s, this place was awesome. Great food and drink selection. We got the wings, which are smoked not fried. I’m a big fan of smoked food so that right up my ally, and it wasn’t greasy. The games brought such a nostalgic feeling. Service was good considering how busy it is in October (people don’t give enough credit where it’s due!) Will definitely be going back!"

Kim Jessop

What People Like

Classic arcade and pinball games
Delicious and unique food options
Fun, energetic atmosphere

What People Dislike

Occasional game malfunctions
Service can be slow when busy

Frequently Asked Questions

Bit Bar features a wide variety of classic arcade games, pinball machines, skeeball, and even Dance Dance Revolution.

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Yes, families can enjoy the games during the day. They even provide earplugs if the noise level is too high.

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Reservations are not typically required, but it can get very busy, especially on weekends and in October.

Google Review+1

Highly recommended are the loaded Tetris tots, brisket chili, and the chicken sandwich.

Google Review+1

Yes, gluten-free options are marked on the menu, including dedicated fryers and GF buns/pizza.

The 11 Best Gluten-Free Dinner Spots in SalemGoogle Review

The atmosphere is nostalgic, energetic, and fun, with a great soundtrack and retro decor.

25+ Best Restaurants In Salem MA For Every Vibe |Google Review

Bit Bar hosts karaoke every Thursday night and has featured other events like Silent Disco.

TikTok+1

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Bit Bar would be a fun spot to visit this season for bites like “Tetris Tots,” chicken wings, and mac and cheese “bytes,” paired with vintage arcade games that are sure to inspire a last-minute Halloween costume. The Roof opened this summer at Salem’s boutique hotel; the city’s first rooftop bar has oysters, guacamole flights, and tacos, plus rotating cocktails on draft and made to order—not to mention its unmatched views of Salem Harbor and bustling Essex Street.

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At the Bit Bar, you can enjoy cold drinks while playing the best classic arcade games. The barcade’s extensive games list include favorites, such as air hockey, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Pac-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Donkey Kong, Crazy Taxi, and many more. For adult beverages, you’ll find a great craft beer selection, video game and popular culture-themed cocktails (butterbeer, anyone?), and various wines.

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I wanted to like this place but the service was really terrible. It took us an hour to receive an order of chicken fingers and they still messed up the order fairly seriously (we ordered gluten free chicken fingers and stated that it was due to an allergy multiple times). When our order finally came out (45 minutes after the couple that were were with received their food), it was definitely not gluten free.

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Now, you can play games while you drink and eat at the Bit Bar. It’s located in the old jail in Salem and is said to be haunted, but even without the spooky thrill, the Bit Bar is a really cool place to spend a night. This really fun, hip sports bar has a bunch of video games from the 80s and 90s – they have Pacman, Donkey Kong, Street Fighter 2 or Mortal Kombat, for example.

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An arcade/video game bar and restaurant with gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options - complete with their own Tetris Tots (Tetris tater tots)!

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