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

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Bit Bar Salem

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

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Bar Food
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

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

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

Nostalgic Atmosphere
Immerse yourself in a vibrant, nostalgic vibe, complete with retro decor and a killer soundtrack.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
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.
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
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
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Bit Bar features a wide variety of classic arcade games, pinball machines, skeeball, and even Dance Dance Revolution.
Yes, families can enjoy the games during the day. They even provide earplugs if the noise level is too high.
Reservations are not typically required, but it can get very busy, especially on weekends and in October.
Highly recommended are the loaded Tetris tots, brisket chili, and the chicken sandwich.
Yes, gluten-free options are marked on the menu, including dedicated fryers and GF buns/pizza.
The atmosphere is nostalgic, energetic, and fun, with a great soundtrack and retro decor.
Bit Bar hosts karaoke every Thursday night and has featured other events like Silent Disco.
Mentioned in
Featured in these publications
17 Best Bars & Breweries in Salem MA: Where to Drink in Salem
If you’re looking for Salem bars with entertainment of all kinds, you’ve got to check out Bit Bar Salem!. With a retro arcade vibe, you’ll find that not only are there classic arcade games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Street Fighter, but there’s also skeeball, Dance Dance Revolution, and so much more!. Not only is this a full bar in Salem with just about anything you might want to imbibe, but it also has a great food menu containing all kinds of delicious options from appetizers to full size entrees.
Best Salem Restaurants for Brunch and Dinner in October?
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.
7 Best Beer & Cocktail Spots In Salem, MA
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.
The 11 Best Gluten-Free Dinner Spots in Salem
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.
25+ Best Restaurants In Salem MA For Every Vibe |
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.
So, you want to go to Salem, Massachusetts
You absolutely have to visit Bit Bar—it’s the ultimate bar and arcade combo!. Step into a world of nostalgia with classic games like Donkey Kong, Street Fighter, TMNT, and Mario Kart on the N64. Their pinball selection is chef’s kiss 🤌🏼 featuring gems like Elvira & the Party Monsters, Addams Family (gold), and The Simpsons.
Gluten-Free Salem Dining Guide
Bit Bar - step back in time to this 80's arcade slash bar slash restaurant!. Dylan and I have been coming to Bit Bar since they first opened, but in the last year or so, they recently expanded and moved to a larger location (Formerly, Salem Beer Works). Now they have even more space, more games, and an air hockey table too!.
Salem, Massachusetts LGBTQ City Guide
Though not exclusively an LGBTQ bar, Bit Bar is a very friendly and popular nightspot in Salem that should be on everyone's list of must-try spots for a night out. The bar features classic arcade and pinball games, delicious food, and a full bar offering craft cocktails and local beer in a fun, historic setting.
Kid-friendly things to do in Salem, MA - The Samantha Show
Bit Bar: We kicked off our first night with a visit to Bit Bar!. Bit Bar is a restaurant and bar featuring a plethora of vintage games; from N64 to Pac Man to skee-ball and so much more!. Get ready for the waves of nostalgia; from the games themselves to memorabilia, the memories will come flooding back!.
Salem Massachusetts Travel Guide
For a night cab, pop into Bit Bar for their video game-themed craft cocktails and arcade games. Bit Bar is a celebration of nerd culture and seems to host a good mix of tourists and locals. You’ll spot patrons wearing video game and anime fan tees, Lolita and Kawaii fashions, even costumes.
Salem Mass - Rick Steves Travel Forum
Bit Bar has a retro feel with nostalgic aracade games (Pac-Man, etc.) and bar food but the food is just meh. We love Turners Seafood and brunch at Ledger is amazing. If you want burgers Boston Burger is great and their milkshakes are out of this world, seriously they are a work of art!.
24 Best Things To Do in Salem, Massachusetts
Bit Bar: This arcade bar is massive and has so many great, well-known arcade games. Plus they have a whole pinball section, if that's your cup of tea. Plus, their bar has such a great selection of beer along with some pretty yummy food options.
Wedding Venues in Salem, MA - 180 Venues | Pricing
First Parish in Framingham has a historic New England church that seats 200, available for weddings, funerals, memorial services or concerts. In an adjacent building, the Parish House, there is a large reception hall that seats up to 125.
The Perfect Spooky Getaway
Your new heaven is located in a former Salem jail: Arcade games with a particular focus on the 1980s and 1990s. Elk burgers served on black garlic-glazed doughnut/croissant hybrids. Cocktails named after arcade game characters.
15 Best Restaurants in Salem, MA for 2024 (Top Eats!)
278 Derby StSalem, MA 01970(978) 594-4838 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. This game restaurant in downtown Salem serves snack favorites ranging from burgers to salads in a fun and bustling environment.
Salem Restaurants - Where To Eat and Drink in Salem
278 Derby St. 978-594-4838 Arcade games with a particular focus on the 1980s and 1990s. Elk burgers served on black garlic-glazed doughnut/croissant hybrids. Cocktails named after arcade game characters.
10 Kid friendly activities in Salem, MA – Things To Do In Salem
However, it’s also an arcade and restaurant and accompanied minors are welcome before 8PM. After that, it’s 21+. So depending on how old the kiddos are exactly, this could be fun.
4 Best Cool Bars in Salem [2025 June Update]
Bit Bar is a bar that offers old-school arcade games, craft beer & playful eats like donut burgers. 50+ classic arcade and pinball games. Local craft beer and specialty cocktails.
What to eat in Salem Massachusetts
❌ Bit Bar: This is the one and only place in Salem that I tell people NOT to eat. (Well, besides Red’s now. 😢 ) Their food is awful. It’s always cold and too salty.
The heart of the internet
I definitely will be taking them to All Souls, Bit Bar, and Mercy Tavern, but suggestions beyond that?. Also any specific food/drinks that are a must try?
The Hocus Pocus Lover's Guide To Salem, Massachusetts
An arcade/video game bar and restaurant with gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options - complete with their own Tetris Tots (Tetris tater tots)!
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit