Barcade

At Barcade, the local favorite for drinks and light bites, you can lose track of time while flipping through bar games. Among the flickering screens and buzz of conversation, you’ll find fast service behind the counter, ensuring you don’t wait long for your next round. All the familiar pours are on tap, alongside a rotating list of craft beers chosen for depth rather than volume alone. If cocktails are more your pace, the list stretches from classics worth revisiting to inventively balanced concoctions. Daytime visitors will notice a short menu of bar-friendly food meant to soak up the night’s excess, while happy-hour specials sweeten the deal on both food and drinks after sundown.

Between 163 Newark Avenue—just a short walk from the Grove Street PATH—this Jersey City fixture keeps its doors open for spontaneous visits and deliberate hangouts alike. To place a call or confirm last-minute plans, dial (201) 332-4555. GPS leads the way via the map, so directions to Barcade are always within reach. Hours aside, the route itself is straightforward once you factor in Grove Street’s off-peak traffic.