The Basement Arcade Bar
Historic Downtown Concord, Concord
Bar in Concord, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
The Basement Arcade Bar is the easy Concord pick for arcade games, casual drinks, low-pressure group plans. Book it for a fun date, birthday warm-up, or after-dinner stop, but cross-shop Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar for food, Cabarrus Brewing Company for beer, or The Wine Room at Afton Village Inc. for a quieter wine-led evening.
About The Basement Arcade Bar
The Basement Arcade Bar in Concord is a casual option with a straightforward schedule: closed Monday and open Tuesday through Sunday on the listed hours.
Consider it when a casual Concord plan fits the occasion and the posted hours work for your group. For another option, Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar is worth comparing. Cabarrus Brewing Company is another comparison venue to keep in mind.
Book it for a casual night out, not a formal night out
The venue is casual and open across most evenings of the week. It is closed Monday, open Tuesday through Thursday from 5–10 PM, open Friday from 5 PM–12 AM, open Saturday from 1 PM–12 AM, open Sunday from 1–7 PM.
For a date or group plan, this is a better fit when the goal is casual rather than dressed-up. It is not a formal dining experience, there is no named drinks program, specific food menu, price list, award information, or seating details. The Wine Room at Afton Village Inc. and Afton Pub & Pizza are other comparison venues to consider.
Where it fits in a Concord night out
The strongest use case is a casual stop within a broader Concord itinerary. Start with the full Concord restaurants guide if food is the anchor, then consider The Basement Arcade Bar based on its hours and casual dress code.
Without a defined cuisine, awards, prices, seating count, or named beverage focus, do not overbuild the occasion around specifics that are not part of the venue's presentation. The smarter expectation is simple: a casual Concord venue with weekend hours that run later on Friday and Saturday.
Quick reference: choose The Basement Arcade Bar when its casual dress code and schedule fit the plan; compare other venues when another format is a better match.
Planning details
- Location
- 14 Union St S, Concord, NC 28025
- Website
- thebasementarcadebar.com
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Basement Arcade Bar positions itself as a casual, participatory anchor in Concord’s Union Street evening scene. Rather than offering a passive viewing experience, it blends grown-up drinking culture with hands-on play, encouraging guests to linger without the formality of a reservation. The bar sits among independently operated breweries and pubs, giving it a neighborhood, walkable feel: energetic and sociable but fundamentally informal. Expect a space built for interaction — people rotating through games, swapping tips between rounds, and treating the bar as a social hub rather than a traditional sit-down restaurant.
Best For
This spot is best for casual hangouts and group outings where the activity — not formal dining — drives the night. It works well for date nights that favor low-pressure interaction and for after-work crowds looking to unwind in a lively, downtown corridor. Because the bar emphasizes participation over a plated menu, it’s a natural stop in a multi-venue evening: pair a session here with nearby options on Union Street if you want food or a quieter follow-up. The format is designed for socializing, lingering, and rotating through games with friends.
Ordering Tips
Come prepared to move between games and drinks rather than settle into a long dinner. Stick to easy-to-drink options — beers or straightforward cocktails — so you can return to the arcade floor between rounds. If you need a proper meal, consider combining your visit with neighboring spots on Union Street (the write-up mentions nearby pubs and a pizza place), or plan to arrive after grabbing dinner elsewhere. For groups, rotate play time so everyone gets a turn; the bar is designed for social interaction rather than a formal paced meal service.
Venue details
Ambiance
Nostalgic and fun gaming atmosphere with retro lighting from arcade machines and lively energy from games and patrons.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Pub
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
Planning details
Location
14 Union St S, Concord, NC 28025 · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar, Notable alternative
- High Branch Brewing Co., Notable alternative
- Cabarrus Brewing Company, Notable alternative
- Afton Pub & Pizza, Notable alternative
- The Wine Room at Afton Village Inc., Notable alternative
Bar context
How it compares in Concord
The Basement Arcade Bar is the activity-first choice in this Concord set. Compared with Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar, it is less useful for a full dinner plan but stronger when the group wants something to do between drinks. For a date, pick Havana Carolina when food matters; pick The Basement Arcade Bar when conversation needs a built-in icebreaker.
Against High Branch Brewing Co. and Cabarrus Brewing Company, the tradeoff is clear: the breweries are better for beer-led groups, while The Basement Arcade Bar is better for mixed drinkers who care more about games than a focused tap list. Booking difficulty should be easy across this casual tier, so the decision is more about mood than access.
Afton Pub & Pizza is the safer pick when the group needs food built into the night. The Wine Room at Afton Village Inc. is the better fit for a quieter, wine-focused occasion. The Basement Arcade Bar wins when the plan is casual, social, centered on games rather than dinner or a specific drink category.
Explore Concord
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Basement Arcade Bar guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Basement Arcade Bar
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Basement Arcade Bar | Concord | No published awards |
| Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar | Concord | No published awards |
| High Branch Brewing Co. | Concord | No published awards |
| Cabarrus Brewing Company | Concord | No published awards |
| Afton Pub & Pizza | Concord | No published awards |
| The Wine Room at Afton Village Inc. | Concord | No published awards |
How The Basement Arcade Bar Concord compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Basement Arcade Bar good for a date?
It can be a fit if you want a casual, low-pressure plan in Concord rather than a formal reservation. The dress code is casual, the Friday and Saturday hours run until 12 AM.
Is The Basement Arcade Bar good for groups?
It can make sense for groups looking for a casual stop in Concord. The schedule includes Tuesday through Thursday evening hours, late Friday and Saturday hours, Sunday afternoon-to-evening hours.
What's the crowd like at The Basement Arcade Bar?
The dress code is casual, the hours point to an evening and weekend schedule. Beyond that, specific crowd details are not described.
Does The Basement Arcade Bar have outdoor seating?
Outdoor seating is not listed. Plan around the basics instead: The Basement Arcade Bar is in Concord, has a casual dress code, is closed Monday, is open Tuesday through Sunday on the listed schedule.
