About Emporium Chicago

Wandering around Emporium Arcade Bar is almost like exploring an incredible sandbox video game. The newer Logan Square venue stretches from its entrance on Milwaukee Avenue all the way north to Fullerton, housing a mix of arcade and table games. The original Wicker Park spot has two large rooms, with one devoted to arcade cabinets and the other to 13 pinball machines, plus a live-music stage. The Fulton Market location is located in the West Loop and has an excellent cocktail selection.

Once you've found your bearings inside the cavernous taverns, you're free to embark on one of several quests.

Seek Out Golden Tokens

Do not drop your quarters into any of Emporium's games. Instead, cash in your coinage for tokens, which you can use to play anything from NBA Jam to Space Invaders. These work on Logan Square's pool, air hockey, and foosball tables as well. (Pro tip: If it's a foosball match you're after, you might want to call ahead—sometimes the tables are reserved for league nights, or press conferences with the tiny players.)

Power Up with Craft Beers

Beer is as much a draw at Emporium as the games, so both locations have a large bar with plenty of seating. There are no drafts at Logan Square, only bottles—they minimize spillage on the table games—but if you hang at Wicker Park long enough, you can watch as microbrews are erased and replaced on the chalkboard draft list.

Take a Cinematic Journey

Thanks to projection screens, all Emporiums often screen '80s and '90s cult classics such as Labyrinth and Wet Hot American Summer. The sound's not usually on, but that's okay—you can recite every line, right?