2014 is the now officially the year of the revamped sports bar. Gone are days of simple darts and big flat screen TVs– instead, places like Oakland’s Plank offer alcohol and actual ways to engage with sports by playing bowling and other active games.

Arcade games can hardly be viewed as sports, but nevertheless, San Francisco’s new bar Brewcade, 2200 Market St in Duboce Triangle,
offers plenty of opportunities to get playful and childish. This new project by the group behind Blackbird can be confusing at first glance—but 10 minutes in noisy arcade games and creative drinks feels natural and cozy.

Aside from the variety of Californian beers, artisanal soda pop, ‘Sparkling Slushie’ cocktails and gourmet snacks, the bar’s most coveted attraction is its vintage arcade machines, with everything from nostalgic gems like Pacman and Mario Bros. reside next to the iconic Donkey Kong and Tetris.

The undeniable likability and back-in-time feel of arcade games seems to affect every aspect of the bar. The design is fittingly retro and easygoing, and bubbly low-alcohol cocktails, crafted by the Blackbird crew, are offered to those determined to keep a cool head and break their 1995 record.

Even the food offerings are seemingly simple and old-school. Drinkers can order anything from the neighboring Hi Tops and receive their order at the bar. Looks like the it-spot for what promises to be a stormy winter.

• Tag: bars-in-san-francisco, Brewcade