Inside NQ JPN, London’s new arcade bar – insert coin, order a cocktail

Arcades are not dead (Picture: Myles Goode) From futuristic cocktails and Japanese bubble tea to imported arcade machines and nostalgic gaming, NQ JPN offers a playful new alternative to the traditional night out in London. Soho has welcomed a new addition to its nightlife scene and it is one that promises considerably more than a few drinks at the bar. NQ JPN, the latest concept from the team behind popular arcade bar NQ64, has opened on Berwick Street, bringing Japanese arcade culture, inventive cocktails, and electronic music together under one roof. Taking over NQ64’s former site at 53–54 Berwick Street, following the arcade bar’s move to its larger new home at Orange Yard, NQ JPN is an entirely different proposition. With specialist gaming machines imported directly from Japan, a futuristic cocktail bar, and a colourful build-your-own-drink counter, it offers a fresh take on the familiar after work drinks and late night club experience.Stepping inside, the first thing that strikes you is the atmosphere. Black, red, and chrome dominate the main bar, with saturated lighting, street art influences, and a distinctly futuristic aesthetic that feels closer to Neo Tokyo than traditional Soho. It is darker and more grown-up than the world of NQ64, but retains the playful spirit that made its predecessor popular. Sip on masterfully created cocktails with ingredients chosen by you (Picture: Simon Jacobs/PinPep) The drinks offering is equally imaginative. 12 signature cocktails incorporate flavours including dragon fruit, matcha, and cherry blossom, with options ranging from a Melon and Cucumber Daiquiri to a Frozen Dragon Fruit Colada and Chilli Pepper Margarita. Japanese highballs, whisky, an assortment of beers, including Asahi, and a considered alcohol free selection ensure there is something for all tastes. One of the most enjoyable touches is the Konbini 7-Eleven bar, where guests can build their own cocktails by choosing a spirit, soft drink, and flavoured syrup or foam. With more than 2,000 possible combinations, the concept makes ordering a drink part of the experience itself. It is a fun, interactive addition that fits perfectly with the venue’s energetic atmosphere. You’ve entered a neon-soaked arcade where the only plan is to lose track of time(Picture: myles.psd) I also tried a cocktail containing boba for the first time. While the novelty of combining bubble tea with an alcoholic drink was appealing, the experience was slightly let down by the tapioca pearls repeatedly getting stuck in the straw. Staff assured me that wider straws were available, although they were temporarily out of stock during my visit. A small practical issue, perhaps, but one worth addressing to make the most of an otherwise inventive idea. NQ JPN stays open until 3am from Monday to Saturday, with a soundtrack built around bass-heavy tech house and related electronic sounds. On Fridays and Saturdays, DJs introduce a harder-edged selection, gradually transforming the bar into a late night dance floor. This combination of drinks, music, and gaming makes it feel less like a conventional arcade bar and more like a destination designed for an entire evening out. However, the real adventure begins beyond a translucent red butcher’s curtain. Passing through it reveals a dedicated arcade, where the atmosphere shifts and the walls are lined with an impressive variety of gaming cabinets. The collection includes rhythm, action, driving and competitive games, with Japanese imports such as Maimai, Jubeat, Wacca, Dance Rush, Groove Coaster, and Taiko Drum Master. Other highlights include racing game Initial D 7 Twin, Guitadora, Japanese Dance Dance Revolution, Panic Park, Bishi Bashi, and reusable Astro City and Namco Noir cabinets. These generic cabinets housed more familiar favourites, including Mortal Kombat 3, Time Crisis 2, Mario Kart Arcade GP, and OutRun 2. There was also a PlayStation 2 running the likes of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Resident Evil 4. Latest London news My order: Havana rum, cherry cola, vanilla… clearly I am no connoisseur on cocktails (Picture: myles.psd) For anyone who grew up visiting arcades in the 1990s, the experience is an invitation to revisit a particularly nostalgic era. I certainly found myself transported back to my late teens, when I discovered a PlayStation 2 running Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. It was a welcome reminder of the hours once spent playing games in seaside amusement arcades and shopping centre gaming zones, although NQ JPN feels like a considerably more ambitious evolution of those childhood haunts. I particularly enjoyed button-mashing my way through Blade Strangers and was quickly reminded of my lack of basketball skills on Sonic Basketball. I was also keen to try Guitadora, the rhythm-based percussion game, but struggled to hear the music I had selected over the venue’s loud soundtrack and the competing sounds of neighbouring machines. With so many games relying on timing and musical cues, headphones could be a worthwhile addition. (Credits: Simon Jacobs/PinPep) That minor frustration aside, the sheer variety of cabinets is a major draw. These are not simply familiar games dressed up for a themed bar; many of the specialist Japanese machines offer experiences that cannot easily be replicated on a home console. The arcade draws inspiration from late 1990s and early 2000s gaming, manga and anime, reinterpreted through a darker, more futuristic visual identity. Adding another layer of personality is NQ Mart, a deliberately brighter, hyper-coloured counter inspired by Asian convenience stores. Alongside its customisable drinks it stocks more than 20 unusual soft drinks sourced from Japan, America, Thailand and beyond, making it an ideal stop between games. Ultimately, NQ JPN succeeds in offering something beyond the usual pub visit. The combination of exciting cocktails, bottled and draught beers, electronic music and an extensive arcade creates a social experience that encourages guests to do more than simply sit around a table. It is an especially appealing option for a date night, offering plenty of opportunities for friendly competition, shared discoveries and the occasional embarrassing display of gaming ineptitude. Equally, it makes an excellent after work destination for colleagues or friends looking to unwind with a drink and a few rounds of their favourite games. NQ JPN feels like a natural fit for Soho’s lively nightlife, but its blend of Japanese gaming culture and inventive hospitality gives it a distinctive identity of its own. For those seeking an alternative to the traditional evening of pints and conversation, it offers a compelling reason to put down the phone, pick up a joystick, and rediscover the joy of playing. And if, like me, you happen to leave having lost spectacularly at Sonic Basketball, at least the cocktails provide some consolation. Will you become king of the claw machine? (Picture: myles.psd) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. 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