Emporium

Sometimes “You got next?” is all the icebreaker you need. At Emporium, an attractive stranger is more likely to challenge you to a game of Skee-Ball than attempt a cheesy pick-up line. Set in the sprawling former space of the historic 1926 Harding Theater—vacant for nearly three decades before this incarnation—the four-story, 12,000-square-foot space is packed with diversions like pinball, air hockey, arcade games, pool, foosball, and more. The appeal is in the high-low balance: The spot retains scattered touches of its original ‘20s glamour, from the crown molding to the intricate carved ceilings, but it’s slinging craft beers and arcade tokens.