Level Up Arcade — Restaurant in Eugene

UPDATE 7/20/25 - DO BETTER! As an industry worker and bartender y'all need to work on updating your systems. Nobody takes cards & keeps them anymore, . . . for the simple reason of my experience. Which honestly wouldn't have gone so bad, except for the gentleman bartender on the night of Sunday 7/20/25. First off when I called to verify y'all had my credit card, he answered with "Hello". No, he did NOT answer "Thank you for calling Level Up", I HAD TO verify Level Up was where I had called. Upon arriving and expressing my disappointment in not receiving my card back on a VERY slow Saturday afternoon (which 2 bartenders were working) I was instead INSULTED by the male bartender who said, "As a grown woman you should remember your card". He continued to insult me further, only ESCALATING an already sour situation (This was a moment to de-escalate and KEEP a customer, NOT guarantee they NEVER return and share a BAD Google review) He had EVERY opportunity to make a customer for life, but insisted on poor performance and his TERRIBLE customer service which permanently lost customers and a good word of mouth. All of which is CRUCIAL in this industry! I then needed to use the restroom at which point he blocked my way, and then threw me out of the establishment. Disappointed is the least of how I felt. Not only did I NOT leave drunk on Saturday but my bill, which was $7.50, Yes, I tipped $5.00 after being INSULTED (No, they do not charge a 20% card leave fee). NO, NO ONE should leave a place like Level Up feeling this dejected. GET GOOD Y'ALL! DO BETTER! Also reconsider your choice...

Level Up is a good place to step in out of the rain and chill out with a fine collection of retro arcade games, pinball machines and other amusements.

Open to families from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., the ‘barcade’ has a relaxed, family-friendly vibe, a pleasant alternative to the garish Chuck-E-Cheesesque scene found at most ticket redemption arcades.

Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. daily and, as though drifting on high tide, a collection of hipsters moor to the u-shaped bar draws, throwing back well drinks, chavelas, and microbrews.

Solid well drinks are the Greyhound (2 oz vodka and grapefruit juice), Sea Breeze (2 oz gin, vodka or tequila with grapefruit and cranberry juice), or Tequila Sunrise (2 oz. tequila, orange juice and a splash of grenadine). Dabble as you will. The bartenders deftly manage being attentive and laid back at the same time.

A little bad comes with the good during Happy Hour. Nearly the entire row of pinball games are rendered unplayable as afternoon sunlight cuts through high windows along the south wall. Players are left to hunch over the machines to duck under the blinding light.

Level Up offers good value. Many retro arcade games are still a quarter a play and most of the pinball machines offer five...

Arrived to the always interesting downtown Eugene and had to drive around the block to park as a methamphetamine enthusiast was doing some landscaping on the sidewalk and veered out into 13th Street. This may have been a sign to not visit, but I wanted to give it a chance.

The first thing I noticed is that there are definitely plenty of pinball games, but the pinball to arcade game ratio is not good. I played Dig Dug and noticed the dipswitches are set so you cannot earn extra lives. How chincy. Left coin slot was broken, but dude at the bar immediately replaced my quarters.

Bathroom is still the same from when it was the Indigo District: a hellhole.

We did not eat or drink during this visit. Just gamed and people watched.

I'm not sure if I would use the term "bad vibe" but anyplace that is basically a bar with video games, you're going to have problems trying to balance the families with the drinkers. This was a Sunday and the self-embalming NFL crowd was in full effect. Not sure that I would return. Coin Jam in Salem is still my...