New Soho arcade bar NQ64 is a neon dream with cocktails, video games and DJs
OPINION: I swapped boring bar chat for dance mats, tasty cocktails and banging tunes at Soho’s new NQ64 – and found the perfect spot for date nights, mate meet-ups and pre-drinks
The renowned retro arcade and cocktail bar NQ64, as it opens its biggest new venue in Soho, London.(Image: Simon Jacobs/PinPep)
If you’re looking for somewhere to kick off a Saturday night in Soho, I may have found your new go-to.
NQ64 has just opened its biggest arcade bar yet at Orange Yard on Manette Street – and after giving it a proper test drive, I can confirm it’s dangerously easy to lose a few hours in there.
The whole place is basically one giant neon playground, packed with 90s and 00s nostalgia, UV artwork, graffiti-covered walls and banging tunes blasting out from the DJ.
But the real star of the show? The games. I absolutely loved the dance mats – although my dignity took a serious battering once the music got going. There are more than 60 arcade games to choose from, including Guitar Hero, PAC-MAN Battle Royale and Mario Kart Arcade GP, plus retro consoles.
Daily Star’s Carly Hacon checked out the new venue
And then there are the brand-new UV pool tables and augmented-reality darts, which give you plenty of excuses to get competitive with whoever you’ve dragged along.
It’s the kind of place that works whether you’re on a date, meeting up with mates or looking for somewhere to start a big night out.
I’d particularly recommend it for a date night because there’s none of that awkward sitting opposite each other desperately trying to think of conversation. Give someone a cocktail, put them on a dance mat and suddenly you’ve got plenty to talk about.
Speaking of cocktails, the drinks menu is just as fun as the games, with gaming-inspired creations including the Call of Duty-inspired Quick Revive No.5, plus Hellboy Marg and GTA Spice City.
The cocktail menu is wildly extensive(Image: Simon Jacobs/PinPep)
We tried a few and they were seriously tasty – the sort of drinks that make you think, “Right, just one more,” before remembering you’ve actually got somewhere else to be.
The two-floor venue is also perfectly placed for a Saturday night in Soho, making it an ideal pit stop before heading off into the madness.
With loud music, colourful surroundings, competitive games and plenty of cocktails, NQ64 feels less like a traditional bar and more like the start of a memorable night. Go check it out!
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
