Bringing Back Our Inner Child at Barcadia
By Olivia Miller
If there’s one thing that screams childhood nostalgia, it’s gaming. Whether it was playing Frogger in an arcade or Mario Kart in the comfort of your own living room, I’m sure all of us can remember the rush of winning a race or clearing another level. Barcadia is taking the Downtown Pittsburgh bar scene by storm by uniquely combining curated cocktails and arcade games in a way that is sure to bring out everyone’s inner child.
Located in the heart of Downtown at 25 Market Square, Barcadia houses over 85 games including 25 cent skeeball and limited edition pinball machines as well as one of the only 4 player Mario Kart arcade game systems in the country. Owner David Ondik says the “combo of old school and new school games” allows there to be “something for everyone.” Unique to Barcadia is their “Tap to Play” app system which allows for cashless game play.
With its video game inspired wall murals and colorful hexagon shaped lights above the bar, Ondik says the bar was created by pondering the question, “If we were kids and wanted to be over 21, what would we want?” The colorful lights and familiar jingles emanating from the machines add to the “unique vibe and atmosphere [they’ve] created.”
This retro vibe carries its way through both levels of the space. The second level of Barcadia includes a spacious room for their creative pop-up bars with a balcony with a birds eye view of Market Square. The establishment’s last pop up bar was Y2K themed and had CDs hanging from the ceiling and a MySpace photo booth. The theme changes every few months and Pittsburghers can look forward to a Jersey Shore pop up later this spring. There is also a speakeasy-style sports bar in the works on the second floor.
As expansive as the game selection is, the bar also features a “really vast, large drink selection.” They have 20 beers on tap as well as a custom cocktail menu with fitting names such as “Whiskey Smash Bros.” For their official opening on March 30th, they introduced a new cocktail menu, created by bartender Jessica Cavanaugh. This includes the “Bubble Bobble-tini”, which is finished with a passion fruit infused smoky bubble on top. Barcadia also offers several shareable drinks for you and all of your friends including their “Boogie Nights” which is served in a fishbowl and topped with Nerds and Swedish Fish as well as their mimosa which uses nearly a whole bottom of champagne and is served in a comically oversized champagne glass. Barcadia also offers a mocktail menu as well as a food menu perfect to fuel up after a round of skeeball.
Barcadia is open at their Market Square location on Wednesday and Thursday from 4pm to 10 pm, Friday from 4 pm to 2 am, Saturday from 12 pm to 9 pm, and Sunday from 12pm - 9 pm. Patrons under 21 are permitted to game until 8 pm. For more information or to see a complete list of their games, you can visit their website at https://barcadiapgh.com or call them at 412-586-5954. For updates or to vote on the next pop-up bar theme, follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @barcadiapgh.
