When we were kids, nothing was as fun as going to an arcade. And now, it’s an experience we love sharing with our kids.
And the good news is that you don’t have to drive into San Antonio to find an arcade. Boerne actually has several places where you can play everything from old-school pinball and Pac-Man to racing games, claw machines and modern ticket games.
The fun part is that most of them aren’t traditional arcades. They’re tucked inside pizza places, burger joints and even Mexican restaurants, which makes them easy to work into a family lunch or dinner.
With that in mind, here are some of our favorite places to find arcade games around Boerne.
Carmella’s Pizza Parlor
110 Market Avenue, Suite 103, Boerne, TX 78006
Boerne’s newest kid-friendly restaurant feels like a place our parents would have taken us back in the early 90s, so it’s only fitting that there are some retro games to play while you’re there.
Carmella’s has vintage arcade games like Super Mario Bros., Double Dragon, Excite Bike, and more… along with a claw machine for anyone willing to test their stuffed-animal-grabbing skills.
Grab a New York-style pizza, let the kids play a few games and enjoy the old-school pizza parlor atmosphere. And this isn’t throw away pizza either – it’s from the former chef of Z’s, and any local can tell you he’s known for making some of the best pizza anywhere around.
Cooper’s Kingdom
129 Old San Antonio Road, Boerne, TX 78006
If the arcade is the main reason you’re heading out, Cooper’s Kingdom is the place for you.
This locally owned entertainment center has a two-story arcade filled with games for both kids and adults. You’ll find driving games, shooting games, ticket games and plenty of other options, with prizes available for the tickets you rack up.
There’s more than just an arcade here, too. Cooper’s Kingdom is also home to a 3D blacklight mini golf course, making it an easy spot to turn an hour of gaming into a full outing, whether you’re looking to escape the weather with the kids or take your significant other on a fun date night.
Hamby’s
437 S. Main Street, Boerne, TX 78006
The vintage theme continues at Hamby’s, the old-school burger joint on Main Street.
Along with smash burgers, fries and shakes, Hamby’s has several pinball machines, a Galaga/Ms. Pac-Man arcade game and a claw machine. That makes this a particularly fun stop if you’re introducing the kids to some of the games you grew up playing.
And there’s something satisfying about eating a burger, grabbing a house-brewed beer, and then trying to beat your kid’s score on Galaga!
Darkside Brick Oven Pizza Co.
25 Truss Drive, Boerne, TX 78006
If you grew up in the ’80s, Darkside might be as entertaining for you as it is for the kids.
The brick-oven pizza restaurant is packed with ’80s movie memorabilia, and tucked toward the back you’ll find a small retro arcade.
It’s not a giant game room, but that’s part of the fun. You can grab some pizza, check out all the memorabilia, and squeeze in a few old-school games along the way.
This is another spot where the arcade feels like part of the restaurant experience rather than the entire reason for visiting. And similar to Carmella’s, the pizza is not an afterthought.
El Chaparral
36 Old San Antonio Road, Boerne, TX 78006
Here’s one you could easily eat at several times without realizing there’s an arcade hiding outside around the corner.
El Chaparral has a small claw machine arcade tucked away in a separate room off the patio. So after the chips and queso arrive, don’t be surprised if the kids suddenly disappear to see if they can bring a prize back to the table.
Between the arcade and the restaurant’s outdoor playground, El Chaparral has become one of the easier Boerne dining options when you’re eating out with kids.
Longhorn Cafe
369 S Esser Rd Ste 100
Longhorn Cafe is a staple Boerne family spot. Good burgers, killer chicken fried steak sandwich. They have plenty of room for the kids to run around at, and a few arcade games in the corner as well! These include a couple claw games, a car riding one, and a quarter pusher prize game.
Bonus: Pinchy’s Lobster & Raw Bar
250 River Road, Boerne, TX 78006
Technically, Pinchy’s doesn’t have an arcade. But they’ve come up with a pretty clever alternative.
Ask at the hostess stand and they have several handheld mini arcade games that kids can take to the table and play while you eat.
It’s a small touch, but parents know exactly how valuable something like that can be when you’re waiting for food to arrive. Meanwhile, the adults can concentrate on the lobster rolls, sushi, and cocktails.
More Things to Do With Kids in Boerne
Arcades are just one option when you’re looking for things to do with the kids around town. From parks and trails to indoor activities, restaurants with playgrounds and plenty of seasonal events, there’s a lot more family fun around Boerne than you might realize.
And if we missed an arcade machine hiding somewhere around town, let us know. We’re always willing to conduct further research in the name of Pac-Man.