Two Bit Circus

Two Bit Circus—now part and parcel of Santa Monica’s slowly dying Third Street Promenade—wants to be your weekend arcade hangout. This “micro-amusement park” combines virtual reality, escape rooms, motion-sensing carnival-esque attractions, old-school-inspired arcade games and trivia with exactly the kind of food and colorful, sprinkle-flecked drinks we would have designed when we were children. Sip your way through Ring-Pop–garnished cocktails, boozy watermelon lemonade and even the bar’s own house-made beers as you nosh on pizza, chicken wings and fries in between rounds of air hockey and pinball. The price of admission ($20) nets you unlimited gameplay, a four-player “elevator ride to space,” an interactive game show, a VR-assisted two-player wizard battle and access to a full bar.