Dining out isn’t always just about the food. Sometimes, the perfect night combines great dishes and drinks with fun—all in one spot. Eatertainment restaurants, or places that mash up food and entertainment at a single venue, allow diners to dig into the best of multiple worlds.
From offering the likes of burlesque and ping pong to bocce ball and darts, restaurants all over the U.S. and Canada are enhancing old arcades and putt-putt courses with craft drinks and artisanal plates. Here are 13 spots that execute the food-and-leisure double play exceptionally well.
Ace Eat Serve – Denver, CO
This Denver ping pong hall matches table tennis with excellent pan Asian cuisine from executive chef Thach Tran. Plan ahead and reserve a whole Peking duck to share, served with mu shu crepes, pickled chiles, and apricot chile jam, among other condiments. Then try your luck at one of the ten ping pong tables scattered across this expansive lair; the spot is an office party favorite, doubling as a customizable event space that can be fully or partially booked. The bar program features house-made sodas plus a cocktail menu with large-format drinks to sip with friends, such as the spiced rum volcano bowl. Other cocktails reflect profound craftsmanship while also incorporating Asian flavors, such as the kimchi bloody mary, served at the industrial-chic indoor bar or spacious outdoor patio.
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards– Santa Rosa, CA
This nationally acclaimed winery and vineyard combo in Sonoma County is set against a backdrop of breathtaking mountain views, providing a perfect vantage point for sunsets. In the Tasting Room, sample chef Peter Janiak’s award-winning charcuterie and cheese pairings or his seasonal tasting menu with wine pairings, a five-course fine dining experience that highlights Sonoma County’s diverse agricultural and culinary traditions. Pedal trolley tours and wine tastings are also available for those who want to explore the estate and sip vino among the vines.
Kaiser Tiger – Chicago, IL
Set on Randolph Street in Chicago’s trendy West Loop neighborhood, this bi-level beer hall offers curling in the winter and bocce ball in the summer. The menu is filled with German delicacies, from schnitzel to trout with a Belgian wit sauce and spaetzle, plus 24 craft beers to pair with the Bavarian fare. Named one of America’s best beer halls by Jetsetter, this is a killer late-night spot for great beer and laidback sports.
Here and Now – Los Angeles, CA
Here and Now isn’t just another swanky bar in downtown LA. With drag bingo, complete with prizes, karaoke, and live music, the expertly prepared cocktails go down easy when the chaser is lively entertainment. The gastropub menu is perfect for late-night bites, from slices of homemade pie that go well with the frozen Irish coffee for dessert, to flakey biscuits and an excellent fried chicken sammie. Book drag bingo, karaoke, and seats for live music via OpenTable experiences.
Urban Putt – San Francisco, CA and Denver, CO
With locations in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District and in the historic Denver City Cable Railway Building, this high-tech mini-golf course chain redefines putt putt. Interactive, motorized, and modern courses are adult versions of the childhood favorite. The 14-hole course in San Francisco is modeled after the city’s map, while Denver’s two nine-hole courses are themed around the terrain of downtown and the Red Rocks. Old fashioneds and mules on tap are another adult perk at this mini-golf course. The food menu, which can be enjoyed inside the restaurant, is an ode to childhood favorites with a roster of comforting bar bites, from chicken wings to sliders that guests can enjoy before or after tee time.
Headquarters Beercade – Chicago, IL
This funky barcade and sports bar, with over 50 retro video games and pinball, serves both nerdy and nostalgic fun. The creative cocktails have tongue-in-cheek names, and one—the Apple Jack’d—even comes with cereal. Breaking Bad trivia and emo-themed brunches are just some of the pop culture-flavored events the bar puts on; a neon sign reminds you, “don’t grow up, it’s a trap.” Old-school video games such as Frogger and Street Fighter pair well with reimagined versions of childhood food favorites such as burgers, pizza, and fries.
Foreign Cinema – San Francisco, CA
Foreign Cinema is one of San Francisco’s most iconic restaurants and chic outdoor movie venues. An open-air patio strung with twinkling lights is the setting for an original 35-millimeter camera to project movies onto a back wall while moviegoers munch on Californian- Mediterranean food. Inside, enjoy the same menu in an intimate dining room set around a fireplace. Movie buffs will love the film-themed cocktails, which can also be sipped at Foreign Cinema’s sibling bar, the Laszlo, alongside live music, vinyl DJs, or trivia, depending on the night.
Lula Lounge – Toronto
Lula Lounge is both a Cuban-inspired music venue with assorted local and international acts for salsa, jazz, and world music, as well as a bustling Latin American restaurant. The restaurant hosts many events such as drag brunches and salsa nights on Fridays and Saturdays, complete with private Latin dance lessons. Before hitting the dance floor, you can enjoy chef Javier Romero’s Mexican and Latin American-inspired menu. Dining options include a three-course prix fixe menu and a la carte offerings, with dishes such as chicken mole poblano and birria.
Havana – Vancouver
Inspired by the colors and culture of Cuba, this restaurant and theater combines Latin American cuisine with performances from local talent. Shows range from standup comedy to live music, and productions by the area’s theater companies. Inside the pastel-colored dining room, ceviche, Cubanos, tostones, and flan are served with Caribbean rum cocktails such as the Cuban old fashioned with brown butter rum, cacao-coffee bitters, and honey.
The Dressing Room: Bistro and Bar by Can Can – Seattle, WA
This cabaret and burlesque venue in Seattle’s Pike Place Market is easy to walk by, but venture down the stairs below the historic market for world-class dinner theater—the intimate venue seats 120 and presents original productions, which recently included “Zombie Cheerleaders Return,” a delightfully campy horror show—and top-notch bistro fare. The restaurant, known as the Dressing Room, is evocative of turn-of-the-20th-century Paris and features indoor and outdoor seating, with dishes and cocktails highlighting seasonal produce from the market. It’s also an excellent spot for a Sunday brunch— the fried chicken and beignets are not to be missed.
Da Boccery – Livermore, CA
Though you’ll definitely find Italian lawn bowling at this sprawling Tri-Valley venue, its activities roster also features ax-throwing, cornhole, shuffleboard, and the lesser-known footpool—a soccer and pool hybrid. A vast selection of finger foods—charcuterie boards, build-your-own pizza, and a Bavarian pretzel with chipotle beer cheese—means you can focus firmly on your game while fueling up, though more substantial sit-down meals are also available (as is a kids’ menu). Toast your victory with one of the playful cocktails, such as the Coconut Job, a tequila, citrus, and coconut cream liqueur concoction. Reservations include a 15-minute coaching session.
Flight Club – Chicago/Houston/Boston
This venue is dedicated to darts. No, not just one lonely board at the back of the bar, but a lively social gathering spot with a 26-foot bar, a dozen electronic dart boards with exciting multi-player games, and delicious bites such as truffle fries, yuzu guacamole, and al pastor skewers. Novices can get real-time dart lessons on monitors above the dartboards while experts can learn to level up their game. The playful cocktail and bar program is led by award-winning bartender Peter Vestinos and specializes in botanical cocktails such as the Lynx, a gin and tonic infused with lavender.
Paint ‘N Pour – New York, NY
There are plenty of places that host the sip-and-paint concept, but none quite like Paint ‘N Pour. With locations in Harlem and the Lower East Side, this adults-only experience includes professional painting instruction, art supplies, and an open bar with top-shelf signature cocktails such as the Picasso Punch or the Mona Lisa Margarita. A playlist of certified hits helps the creativity flow, while bites like chicken and waffle sliders and wonton tacos fuel the imagination. Up the ante on your next weekend brunch with Paint ‘N Pour’s special package, featuring two hours of painting, bottomless drinks, and brunch food favorites such as French toast and frittatas.
Alana Al-Hatlani is a baker by morning and food writer by night in Seattle.