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Boxcar Bar + Arcade Durham is a lively arcade bar in downtown Durham featuring dozens of classic and modern arcade games, a full bar, scratch pizza kitchen, and private event space. Enjoy craft cocktails, liquor, wine, and 24 rotating craft beers on draft while playing arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and patio games. Our huge year-round patio bar features covered and open-air seating, fire pits, outdoor games, and live music. Grab fresh, house-made pizza, soft pretzels, noodles, and salads, compete in tournaments, and enjoy daily drink and food specials. Boxcar is 21+ (except minors with a parent before 7pm daily), dog-friendly, and open seven days a week—one of the most fun things to do in downtown Durham.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 621 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (984) 377-2791
Website: https://theboxcarbar.com/durham/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
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Reviews
Dain Vossar (Galaxy Wanderer)
The Force is strong here — but a wise Jedi always knows the rules before entering the arena.
Boxcar Bar + Arcade delivers a high-energy mix of classic arcade nostalgia, pinball, pizza, and drinks that immediately pulls you back to your Padawan days. The glow of the machines, the familiar sounds of flippers and joysticks, and the lively crowd create an atmosphere that’s fun without feeling chaotic.
One key thing to know going in: everything is tokens only. A few games run 1–2 tokens, but most of the popular arcade games and pinball machines cost 4 tokens per play. The machines still show “4 quarters / $1,” but the math works differently here. Tokens are priced at 5 for $5 or 10 for $10 (no bonus for buying more), which puts most of those games at about $1.33 per play. Not a dealbreaker — just something worth knowing before you start a long pinball run.
The pizza menu is better than you might expect for an arcade bar, with solid options that actually hold up as a meal, not just fuel. The bar is equally strong, offering a good tap list and cocktails that are well executed without trying too hard.
The outdoor area is a great bonus — string lights, picnic tables, and space to step away from the noise and regroup between games. Inside, the artwork and murals add personality and keep the space feeling intentional rather than cluttered.
If you’re here for pinball, classic games, good pizza, and a fun night out with friends, this place absolutely delivers. Just remember — tokens are the only currency, most games cost more than a dollar per play, and knowing when to go “one last game” is the true test of Jedi discipline.
… moreBoxcar Bar + Arcade delivers a high-energy mix of classic arcade nostalgia, pinball, pizza, and drinks that immediately pulls you back to your Padawan days. The glow of the machines, the familiar sounds of flippers and joysticks, and the lively crowd create an atmosphere that’s fun without feeling chaotic.
One key thing to know going in: everything is tokens only. A few games run 1–2 tokens, but most of the popular arcade games and pinball machines cost 4 tokens per play. The machines still show “4 quarters / $1,” but the math works differently here. Tokens are priced at 5 for $5 or 10 for $10 (no bonus for buying more), which puts most of those games at about $1.33 per play. Not a dealbreaker — just something worth knowing before you start a long pinball run.
The pizza menu is better than you might expect for an arcade bar, with solid options that actually hold up as a meal, not just fuel. The bar is equally strong, offering a good tap list and cocktails that are well executed without trying too hard.
The outdoor area is a great bonus — string lights, picnic tables, and space to step away from the noise and regroup between games. Inside, the artwork and murals add personality and keep the space feeling intentional rather than cluttered.
If you’re here for pinball, classic games, good pizza, and a fun night out with friends, this place absolutely delivers. Just remember — tokens are the only currency, most games cost more than a dollar per play, and knowing when to go “one last game” is the true test of Jedi discipline.
Misty R
First time going Saturday night. It was an amazing place mix of classic arcade games and arcade food with a grown up feel. The menus have me so wanting to go back and try more things soon.
Ms. Tyler was on register when ordering my pizza and her interactions were amazing. Her vibe made the experience from order to eat amazing. She went way above on customer service and I appreciated it a lot. A+ customer service bar and pizza side.
We got the 2 pair pizza and pasta combo and it turned out to be really cool in a new modern way that I wasn’t expecting. Got the hot honey sauce on cheese, and for one who don’t like spicy at all it was good.
… moreMs. Tyler was on register when ordering my pizza and her interactions were amazing. Her vibe made the experience from order to eat amazing. She went way above on customer service and I appreciated it a lot. A+ customer service bar and pizza side.
We got the 2 pair pizza and pasta combo and it turned out to be really cool in a new modern way that I wasn’t expecting. Got the hot honey sauce on cheese, and for one who don’t like spicy at all it was good.
Rob Slough
Pinball lovers paradise. All machines we were top of the line. Main reason we traveled a couple hours to get there. Definitely will be returning.
… moreBecca Turner
I love Boxcar! It’s such a fun night out. They have a great selection of drinks and games and the outdoor seating is expansive when it is nice outside. They sometimes have live entertainment too – accidentally showed up during a drag show which was a fun surprise! One of the Guitar Hero guitars doesn’t really work well though… so might want to put up a sign so people don’t get frustrated
… moreNoelia Bautista
I’ve been here several times, and the vibe is always super fun. I recommend paying in cash because the card machines tend to glitch. The pizza is good, so I’d recommend that. The drinks, not so much when I ordered an Old Fashioned, the bartender didn’t know what it had, and it didn’t taste good. The beer, however, is great!
Keep in mind that while there’s no time limit for using the games, other people are waiting, so it’s best to rotate and share. The outdoor area is awesome, and despite the cold weather, the heating works perfectly. There’s also free parking nearby!
… moreKeep in mind that while there’s no time limit for using the games, other people are waiting, so it’s best to rotate and share. The outdoor area is awesome, and despite the cold weather, the heating works perfectly. There’s also free parking nearby!
Melissa De Yoe (Meli55a)
I loved this spot. The pickle pizza was amazing as was the mushroom truffle. $5 dollar drafts on Mondays? Yes, please! I like that they have different things going on each night of the week – I may have to go back to the singles night events on Thursdays. What a great place/way to meet someone. They had a ton of games, though I’d say some of their older games could use some servicing (sticky buttons or wouldn’t take our coins). I had a blast. I’ll be back for sure.
… moreJennifer Smith
This was a really fun bar. The pickle pizza is to die for and there’s no shortage of arcade games. The only downside was that it’s a very young crowd, and we’re in our 50’s, so we felt a little out of place. It’s definitely a great place for a college crowd.
… moreMea van Osch
Fun place! Cool pin ball machines and a few good arcade style games plus claw machines. Wish they had more selection though. Draft beer list was good and I liked the open space.
… moreLucy Barber
We hosted an after party here during our wedding weekend, and it was an absolute blast! We reserved their event space, which is super spacious and easily accommodated our ~100 guests. The private bar was a great touch, and the event crew did an awesome job communicating with us to allocate our budget across the bar, food, and tokens.
Boxcar also catered the event, providing pizzas and platters that were perfect for our guests to enjoy while gaming. It was the ideal spot to unwind after a more formal rehearsal dinner, and we loved being able to show off one of our favorite fun spots in Durham to our out-of-town guests.
If you’re looking for a fun and casual venue to host an event, I highly recommend Boxcar. Their prices are reasonable, and they go out of their way to make sure everything runs smoothly and stays within your budget. They also allow outside catering (as long as it doesn’t conflict with their own kitchen), which gives you even more flexibility.
We’ll definitely be reserving this space again for future parties and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a similar, laid-back vibe!
… moreBoxcar also catered the event, providing pizzas and platters that were perfect for our guests to enjoy while gaming. It was the ideal spot to unwind after a more formal rehearsal dinner, and we loved being able to show off one of our favorite fun spots in Durham to our out-of-town guests.
If you’re looking for a fun and casual venue to host an event, I highly recommend Boxcar. Their prices are reasonable, and they go out of their way to make sure everything runs smoothly and stays within your budget. They also allow outside catering (as long as it doesn’t conflict with their own kitchen), which gives you even more flexibility.
We’ll definitely be reserving this space again for future parties and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a similar, laid-back vibe!
Krista Copeland
I enjoy coming here with my family for something to do. The place is full of nostalgia and chill vibes. Children are allowed here before 8 PM. After 8, it turns into a 21 and over establishment which I love for the safety and security of families as well as the preservation of adult only time. I haven’t visited the Boxcar in Raleigh yet, but this one seems to have much less games than the location in Greensboro. Also, they’re token machine gives us issues everytime we have been here so far. However, friendly staff members and good times to just get out of the house.
… more