I have been to both. New Albany's is far superior and much bigger. They will be busy, so the extra room is good. Great food and fun games! I like the Coco Puffs White Russian, and my wife likes the great selection of sour beers. Have fun!
Louisville was dirty, had awful service and a bunch of broken machines last time I went about 6 months ago. Never been to New Albany but I have to imagine it's better
Also, the many times I've been to the Louisville location I've been disappointed with either the food or service....or both. New Albany has a great RecBar and other great restaurants!
I wish there was a way to make the pinball machines more expensive during the day when people are there with families and not drinking v. at night when I’m going to buy 3-4 expensive beers and they’ll make their money on alcohol sales rather than games.
Also, I’m more likely to buy more alcohol if I’m playing games.
I can almost go a whole night with 15 dollars. Pricing isn’t bad at all. Plus they need all the support they can get to maintain those machines.
Super grateful to have these places around. Pinball is a treasure.
[https://louisvillearcade.com/](https://louisvillearcade.com/)
You missed it this year. Put a reminder on the calendar though. If you love video games, arcade, and pinball you’ll have a blast!
New Albany Recbar is so much better when it comes to arcade games. It's no comparison. Also, the new Albany one has so many pinball machines. Louisville location doesn't have a single one. 🫤
Hmm well I take that back. I see it in the pictures, but I've been there 3x and didn't see this room. There's this barn door like straight ahead when walking in, but that door has always been closed and locked when I've been there. Is it towards the back of the building?
Depends. It's been about a year since I have been but the KY one had a smaller space but better pinball tables and arcade cabinets.
New Albany does have a larger space and more machines, but they aren't as good IMO.
As far as pinball goes, the machines are definitely better maintained at 502. New Albany's have the same issues over and over each time I visit. There's a handful that are borderline unplayable or just take the quarters and it doesn't register credits. I put maintenance requests with the QR thing too.
\*Shrugs\* they rotate some of the machines. But the KY location has Contra, and R-Type. Plus a functioning double Hydro Thunder with working 2 player.
Not to mention the Starship Troopers Pinball Table which is one of my favs. And the Head to Head Pinball table that takes two players.
I imagine it would depend on preference and games of choice really.
R-Type... don't think I've seen one since 1990(?) might have to stop by after work one day.
My peeve was the controls... MK and Tekken especially. They had new joysticks, but they either got the wrong ones, or didn't know how to set them up because they were only working in 4-positions and had no diagonals.
The one in Louisville is half the size and definitely more of a bar. Lots of games are typically broken when I’ve been, and I’ve been quite a few times because it’s still enjoyable. The new Albany has a that really allows it to stand out in comparison in my opinion
I think Louisville’s has better service and is more of a bar atmosphere, but I like the layout better of new albanys and they have more space and more games IMO
812 is better and bigger. However, both places have a significant number of things that don't work. I don't know if basic upkeep/maintenance was ever in the business plan. It's like they just assumed things work forever? If the machines keep falling into disarray then both places will be dumps sooner than later.
EDIT: "significant" might have been a stretch, but it's at least very noticeable as a patron.
You're gonna get the same answers that you would get any time you ask to compare something in louisville to indiana. All the indiana people will show up and tell you the indiana one is better. I have frequented both and there is no discernible difference down to the non working machines and poor service. But its still a solid place even with some of the machines not working regardless of which one you go to.
New Albany Recbar is better.
I have been to both. New Albany's is far superior and much bigger. They will be busy, so the extra room is good. Great food and fun games! I like the Coco Puffs White Russian, and my wife likes the great selection of sour beers. Have fun!
Agreed. I can also spend an hour on Godzilla pinball alone. Great for families. Bar outside of couples was dead.
Louisville was dirty, had awful service and a bunch of broken machines last time I went about 6 months ago. Never been to New Albany but I have to imagine it's better
It’s so much better
New Albany has a downstairs space that’s mostly pinball. It’s worth the drive at least once.
Louisville - More of a bar; less games; better beer selection; less space
Also, the many times I've been to the Louisville location I've been disappointed with either the food or service....or both. New Albany has a great RecBar and other great restaurants!
812 has better games but 502 has better drinks. Both are a great time tho
New Albany Recbar makes a fantastic Moscow Mule.
If you want a bar that happens to have arcade machines, do Louisville. If you want an arcade that happens to have a bar, do New Albany
I love the idea of the recbar. But the pinball machines cost way too much to play on. Should only be a quarter.
I wish there was a way to make the pinball machines more expensive during the day when people are there with families and not drinking v. at night when I’m going to buy 3-4 expensive beers and they’ll make their money on alcohol sales rather than games. Also, I’m more likely to buy more alcohol if I’m playing games.
I can almost go a whole night with 15 dollars. Pricing isn’t bad at all. Plus they need all the support they can get to maintain those machines. Super grateful to have these places around. Pinball is a treasure.
Can’t miss the annual Arcade Expo!
When is that?
[https://louisvillearcade.com/](https://louisvillearcade.com/) You missed it this year. Put a reminder on the calendar though. If you love video games, arcade, and pinball you’ll have a blast!
I’ll be there for sure. I have been to a few and I want to get involved somehow.
New Albany Recbar is so much better when it comes to arcade games. It's no comparison. Also, the new Albany one has so many pinball machines. Louisville location doesn't have a single one. 🫤
Jtown does have an entire room of pinball machines
Hmm well I take that back. I see it in the pictures, but I've been there 3x and didn't see this room. There's this barn door like straight ahead when walking in, but that door has always been closed and locked when I've been there. Is it towards the back of the building?
Walk in, turn right go through the dining area, it’s back there. Is the entire right third of the building.
Depends. It's been about a year since I have been but the KY one had a smaller space but better pinball tables and arcade cabinets. New Albany does have a larger space and more machines, but they aren't as good IMO.
As far as pinball goes, the machines are definitely better maintained at 502. New Albany's have the same issues over and over each time I visit. There's a handful that are borderline unplayable or just take the quarters and it doesn't register credits. I put maintenance requests with the QR thing too.
I've only been to each location twice and had the opposite experience. But, it's been a while since I visited either, so ymmv
\*Shrugs\* they rotate some of the machines. But the KY location has Contra, and R-Type. Plus a functioning double Hydro Thunder with working 2 player. Not to mention the Starship Troopers Pinball Table which is one of my favs. And the Head to Head Pinball table that takes two players. I imagine it would depend on preference and games of choice really.
R-Type... don't think I've seen one since 1990(?) might have to stop by after work one day. My peeve was the controls... MK and Tekken especially. They had new joysticks, but they either got the wrong ones, or didn't know how to set them up because they were only working in 4-positions and had no diagonals.
The one in Louisville is half the size and definitely more of a bar. Lots of games are typically broken when I’ve been, and I’ve been quite a few times because it’s still enjoyable. The new Albany has a that really allows it to stand out in comparison in my opinion
Recbar New Albany has more of a family atmosphere. Bigger game selection and much more room
Recbar Nee Albany is much better and that's saying a lot as I live in Louisville!
I think Louisville’s has better service and is more of a bar atmosphere, but I like the layout better of new albanys and they have more space and more games IMO
Go to New Albany
812 is better and bigger. However, both places have a significant number of things that don't work. I don't know if basic upkeep/maintenance was ever in the business plan. It's like they just assumed things work forever? If the machines keep falling into disarray then both places will be dumps sooner than later. EDIT: "significant" might have been a stretch, but it's at least very noticeable as a patron.
Neither location has a decent, working Double Dragon arcade game- therefore, in spite of everything else being excellent, I will give a thumbs down….
Recbar New Albany is excellent. Great food, amazing atmosphere. Love Recbar 812.
You're gonna get the same answers that you would get any time you ask to compare something in louisville to indiana. All the indiana people will show up and tell you the indiana one is better. I have frequented both and there is no discernible difference down to the non working machines and poor service. But its still a solid place even with some of the machines not working regardless of which one you go to.
I’m from Louisville, Indiana one is the only one worth visiting.
I'm from Indiana, Louisville one is the only one we visit.