Arcade Review: Eighty Two, LA
In the on going quest to hunt for the ultimate arcade, we stick closer to home with LA’s own Eighty Two Arcade and Bar. Just last week, this reviewer drove a little over 700 miles to Phoenix, which felt like a shorter drive than the one into LA. Was it worth it though? Decidedly, yes.
Nestled within the Arts District and Little Tokyo, covered in vivid and brilliant graffiti is a corner building. Graffiti-eyes covering the exterior of the building peer out at you, daring you to take a closer look. Challenge accepted.
Arriving early enough, you’ll be spared waiting in line which tends to form after eight. There’s no cover fee. Plenty of security. Immediately entering the building, you’ll notice that you’re right back outside again. The design of Eighty Two makes the most of its space to give a refreshing non-claustrophobic feel to the arcade and bar scene.
Once in the serene open courtyard complete with wooden benches, tables, and plenty of greenery you may choose to head into the right wing. There you’ll find at least a dozen pinball machines ranging from classic to modern. Restrooms are also here in case you need them.
After you’ve sunk a few quarters hitting the flippers and bumpers, cross through the courtyard again and into the left wing. Take a moment to notice that nearly all of your classic cabinets are present, of which Street Fighter II Championship Edition is front and center.
If you’re gonna test your strength at Street Fighter II, bring your A-game. You’ll find that at any given time your game may be projected on the wall over the bar. A Pretty cool feature that emphasizes what Eighty Two is really about; showcasing the games. At times you may mistake the sleek minimalist design and overall cleanliness of the arcade for an interactive art installation.
It’s clear that there is a very intentional choice in design that serves not just to encourage ease of flow for the crowd between the rooms, but show off the love the owners have for the golden age of the arcade era.
Once you walk through the collection of Arcade favorites, you may notice that the room opens up like a ‘V’ with the bar and space near the DJ station to either sit back or dance. It’s hard not to do the later when the rotating guest DJ’s know what the hell is up. Seriously good atmosphere.
If you wander over to the bar, you’ll find a slew of custom cocktails. Among the popular drinks of the night was the Princess Peach. There’s plenty of brew on tap as well, along with bottles and cans if you want to keep it simple. Hungry? There’s a separate outside area behind the courtyard where the food truck, or BBQ pit will be set up after 7:00 PM-ish.
Overall, it’s an impressive space. A spacious space. It was refreshing to be among a lively crowd and never get the sensation of being too crowded. Among the best features of Eighty Two, it has to be the openness that the combination of in-and-outdoors does to maintain a comfortable and entertaining environment: you forget that you’re in a bar or an arcade. It’s just another night at your friend’s home who has all the games you love, the music to mash buttons to, and drinks to keep you refreshed in between rounds of clobbering Magneto or blasting Space Invaders.
Other than the obligatory hassle of wading through Southern California traffic, the journey is certainly worth the reward to visit an unquestionably cool arcade.
