This weekend I did something I haven’t done since I was a child. I entered a dimmed room filled with colorful, electronic machines bringing fantasy to reality through clicking buttons, pushing, pulling, steering and shooting levers and fake throttles into interactive screens. Consuls, rhythm games, pinball machines, air hockey and Pac Man tables were just a few of the systems in this two-story arcade. All the machines were different in size and age, making sounds that molded into one cohesive white noise resembling enjoyment.

Unlike most arcades that charge you an arm and leg or require 10 coins per use, Arcade Monsters only required you to purchase a $20 bracelet that gave you full-day access to all the games you wanted to play. There wasn’t a prize bar for cheaply made stuffed animals, Tootsie Rolls, Slinkies or disco balls; however, there was a bar with several adult beverages, all-natural slushies and street food options, making it a fun spot for not only kids and teenagers but also adults.

I was glad my friends convinced me into trying out something new. I laughed more than I have in a long time, especially when I realized that the Dance Dance Revolution game only had Japanese songs with step patterns that were very hard to accomplish. I wasn’t as good as I remembered myself to be back when I had the dance pad attached to my brother’s PS1. My favorite game was the hoops game where it counted my shots as I competed against the person next to me. Arcade Monsters in Lido Key, Florida, was a fun way to spend a chill weekend night away from sports bars and cocktail lounges. This was a breath of fresh air. This is a good spot to bring friends and family together, located in St. Armands Circle, making it easy to shop, eat, watch a beach sunset and play arcade games. I will be back.

— Christyn Pek, business development executive