Ah, the sweet feeling of nostalgia. That moment of bliss when you have a bite of your favourite childhood meal, or that fuzzy sensation of reminiscing about the good old days with friends. Well, the good old days have been brought back to NQ64 Edinburgh, an arcade game bar with all the nostalgic feels and more: from classic arcade games to old-school consoles, the neon-lit spot is a true treat.
Located on Lothian Road near Usher Hall, NQ64 Edinburgh takes visitors back in time with its time capsule-like bar concept. The space is dotted with arcade games throughout and even has a separate wee room for Guitar Hero. There’s even Street Fighter in the Ladie’s toilets!
Born in Manchester in 2019, NQ64 has seen tremendous growth and is continuously popular amongst video game enthusiasts. The concept provides neon-splattered otherworldly vibes where guests can enjoy game-themed cocktails and craft beers while playing a range of retro arcade machines, pinball and free classic consoles like SNES, MegaDrive, Gamecube and PlayStation. Expect games such as Mortal Combat, Pac-man, Crazy Taxi, Mario Kart, Virtua Tennis and more.
Guests don’t need to turn up with a bunch of coins for the arcade games, they can simply buy tokens from the bar. You can get 15 tokens for £8, and it generally takes one or two tokens per game.
Moreover, one of the best parts of NQ64 is that you can sip on creative, game-themed cocktails while bashing those buttons in a competitive strike with your mate. The bar has just introduced a brand new cocktail menu, and it has the best names. Our hands-down favourite was Final Fantarita, based on the Final Fantasy game, with tequila and sour cherry, topped with Fanta. Another new concoction that deserved the top spot was Mega Daisy, based on Daisy from Mario Kart, with gin, Aperol, Triple Sec, elderflower, lychee and prosecco.
James Taylor, NQ64 Drinks Development and Training Manager, said: “At NQ64 we are always looking for inspiration when it comes to our venues, whether this is through finding new arcade games or developing our bar menus. With drinks being such a huge part of the NQ64 experience, we always like to keep the menu fresh with new and exciting twists on game-inspired cocktails, using fun and unique ingredients that result in a delicious taste.”
NQ64 Edinburgh is a place where your inner child can roam free, while your adult self is allowed to drink now. It’s the perfect combination of childhood wonder, friendly competitiveness and awesome bar vibes.