NQ JPN: London’s new arcade bar where you can play and sip cocktails

Arcades are not dead. From futuristic cocktails and Japanese bubble tea to imported arcade machines and a dose of nostalgia, NQ JPN offers a playful alternative to the usual night out in London. Soho has gained a fresh new nightlife spot, and it promises much more than a few drinks at the bar.

NQ JPN, the latest concept from the team behind the popular arcade bar NQ64, has opened on Berwick Street, blending Japanese arcade culture, inventive cocktails, and electronic music all under one roof. The venue has taken over NQ64’s former space at 53–54 Berwick Street after the arcade bar moved to its larger new location at Orange Yard. But NQ JPN is a very different experience.

With specialist gaming machines brought in directly from Japan, a futuristic cocktail bar, and a bright build-your-own-drink counter, it puts a new spin on the familiar after-work drinks and late-night club scene. As soon as you step inside, the atmosphere stands out. Black, red, and chrome dominate the main bar, while bold lighting, street art touches, and a futuristic design give the space a feel that is closer to Neo Tokyo than classic Soho.

It feels darker and more grown-up than NQ64, but it still keeps the playful energy that made the original so popular. The drinks list is just as creative. Twelve signature cocktails feature ingredients such as dragon fruit, matcha, and cherry blossom, with choices ranging from a Melon and Cucumber Daiquiri to a Frozen Dragon Fruit Colada and a Chilli Pepper Margarita.

Japanese highballs, whisky, a selection of beers including Asahi, and a thoughtful alcohol-free menu mean there is something for everyone. One especially fun feature is the Konbini 7-Eleven bar, where guests can create their own cocktails by picking a spirit, a soft drink, and a flavoured syrup or foam. With more than 2,000 possible combinations, ordering a drink becomes part of the experience itself.

It is an interactive touch that suits the venue’s lively atmosphere perfectly. I also tried a cocktail with boba for the first time. While the idea of mixing bubble tea with alcohol sounded appealing, the experience was slightly spoiled by the tapioca pearls repeatedly blocking the straw.

The staff said wider straws were available, though they were temporarily out of stock during my visit. It is a small practical issue, but one that should be easy to fix for an otherwise imaginative idea. NQ JPN stays open until 3am from Monday to Saturday, with a soundtrack built around bass-heavy tech house and similar electronic styles.

On Fridays and Saturdays, DJs bring in a harder-edged selection, gradually turning the bar into a late-night dance floor. With drinks, music, and gaming all in one place, it feels less like a standard arcade bar and more like a full evening destination. Arcades are not dead.

From futuristic cocktails and Japanese bubble tea to imported arcade machines and a hit of nostalgia, NQ JPN offers a fun new alternative to the usual night out in London. Soho has gained a fresh addition to its nightlife scene, and it promises much more than just a few drinks at the bar. NQ JPN, the latest concept from the team behind the popular arcade bar NQ64, has opened on Berwick Street, combining Japanese arcade culture, creative cocktails, and electronic music under one roof.

The venue has taken over NQ64’s former space at 53–54 Berwick Street, after the arcade bar moved to its larger new home at Orange Yard. But NQ JPN is something entirely different. With specialist gaming machines brought in directly from Japan, a futuristic cocktail bar, and a colourful build-your-own-drink station, it puts a fresh spin on the familiar after-work drinks and late-night club experience.

As soon as you step inside, the atmosphere stands out. Black, red, and chrome dominate the main bar, while bold lighting, street art touches, and a sleek futuristic look make it feel more like Neo Tokyo than classic Soho. It is darker and more grown-up than the world of NQ64, but it still keeps the playful energy that made the original so popular.

The drinks menu is just as inventive. Twelve signature cocktails feature flavours such as dragon fruit, matcha, and cherry blossom, with options including a Melon and Cucumber Daiquiri, a Frozen Dragon Fruit Colada, and a Chilli Pepper Margarita. Japanese highballs, whisky, a range of beers including Asahi, and a thoughtful alcohol-free selection mean there is something for everyone.

One of the best features is the Konbini 7-Eleven bar, where guests can create their own cocktails by choosing a spirit, a soft drink, and a flavoured syrup or foam. With more than 2,000 possible combinations, ordering a drink becomes part of the experience. It is a playful, interactive idea that suits the venue’s lively atmosphere perfectly.

I also tried a cocktail with boba for the first time. The idea of mixing bubble tea with alcohol was appealing, but the tapioca pearls kept getting stuck in the straw, which made the drink a little frustrating to enjoy. The staff said wider straws were available, though they were temporarily out of stock during my visit.

It is a minor issue, but one that would help make the most of an otherwise clever concept. NQ JPN stays open until 3am from Monday to Saturday, with a soundtrack built around bass-heavy tech house and similar electronic sounds. On Fridays and Saturdays, DJs bring in a harder-edged selection, gradually turning the bar into a late-night dance floor.

With drinks, music, and gaming all in one place, it feels less like a standard arcade bar and more like a full night out in itself.