8 Bit Arcade Bar is one of Peoria’s most unique bars. It’s hard to believe, but they’ve been in operation for eleven years now! It seems like only yesterday I went there to do a blog on them when they first opened up in 2015, when they were if their first location on State Street.

Tonight, we’re headed to the location they moved to on Water Street back in 2023 for our 17th stop on this 365 bar crawl. Come on, let’s get crawling to Downtown Peoria!

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Bar Number 17: 8 Bit Arcade Bar, Monday, January 26, 2026

Here we are at 8 Bit Arcade Bar and it is absolutely freezing out here! The sign says, “OPEN” so let’s get in there and warm up!

It’s nice and warm in here and there’s a seat just waiting for me at the end of the bar. Let’s get settled in and start our 17th night on the 365 bar crawl, mach II!

Noah was the friendly bartender on duty and we figured out that our paths have crossed at other bars in the past.

Noah told me that owner Jason was off for the evening and that he has just become a father! Congratulations, Jason!

Great to see Noah and while they have a huge selection of can, bottles and draft beer in here, I went for an old school can of Old Style! Cheers!

As I said, the beer selection in here is giganzo, there’s some of it in this cooler and there’s the long line of beers on tap in here behind the bar.

There’s a long trail of the canned beer selection at the bar and there’s also a good supply of alcohol lined up on this ledge on the wall behind the bar.

The bar is called “*8 Bit Arcade” and they have lots of old school 8 bit video games to play in here. And as long as you’ve purchased a drink, you can play these games for free!

This is truly the only bar in Peoria that offers this old school video fun to customers for free!

Here’s some more of the many arcade games available up in the front of the building.

The bar has large wooden tables extending from it, giving it a unique look and inviting feel to it.

Lots more games line the back wall with festive lights hanging overhead.

There’s even more games back here and in this far corner. If you’re a fan of old school arcade games you definitely need to check this place out!

The high wooden beam ceiling adds a nice rustic feel to the bar and there’s a jukebox in the corner next to a fancy “toilet” sign! Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go!

This now concludes our 17th night out and about, thanks to Noah for the great service and congratulations again to Jason on the future heir to the 8 Bit Arcade Bar!

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