The Hoboken Guy

Best Bar Games & Rec Rooms: 8th Street Tavern

Posted on 06. May, 2009 in Leisure

We can all admit that there are probably no Hoboken bars that come close to a Dave & Busters. However, I’m proud to say that the Mile Square does have its fair share of adult playgrounds that will keep us both entertained and more importantly, well-intoxicated. Many Hoboken friends offered recommendations for beginning my quest with the most obvious of playful watering holes. With that being said, let’s start this mission for the best bar games and rec rooms with my friend’s local favorite dive bar, 8th Street Tavern.

HOBOKEN GUY’S BREAKDOWN

Huge Space, Enough Beer

If you want to avoid being sandwiched between drunk people, try going to a bar that has space. Enjoy the massive layout of 8th Street Tavern, a bar that’s been known to have one of the longest bars in the mile square. Anytime I need to relax after work and catch a game on TV, I consider hitting up this bar knowing that it’s never really crowded. At this dive bar, it’s never difficult to grab a bar stool on their ginormous U-shaped island bar and catch some sports on a total of 7 TV screens that surround the entire room. They have 15 beers on tap as well some regular sized mixed drinks. Although I didn’t try the food, I’ve heard some great reviews about their buffalo wings and fat, juicy burgers. And be sure to stop by the ATM, this bar takes cash only.

The Bar Games

With the amount of space this bar has, all you competitive peeps out there have enough room to focus on your game as you throw that bulls eye, sink that 8 ball, go for the 3rd strike on shuffleboard bowling, beat the top score on Photo Hunt or kill moose on the Woodlands of Manitoba. Here’s a list of all the bar games that 8th Street Tavern offers to all you playful drunks out there.

William’s Gold Mine (Table Shuffleboard Bowling)
We don’t have bowling alleys in Hoboken, but here’s a game that at least comes close to it. So far, I have never seen a table shuffleboard in a Hoboken bar besides at 8th Street Tavern. Practice your strikes and burn calories while chugging that Bud Light.

Pool
The last thing you want is playing pool in a bar and you’re accidentally poking girls with your pool stick while trying to sink that 8 ball. There’s enough space for you to focus on those your shots. For all you sharp shooters out there, 8th Street Tavern runs a billiards league, so feel free to sign up by asking the bar manager.

Darts
Darts are a big deal in Hoboken, as I’ve noticed many bars will sport their own dart section. Although 8th Street Tavern only has one dart board, they offer enough generous space for you to focus on that bulls eye. They also run their own dart league, so be sure to check that out if you consider yourself an all-star and need some good competition.

Mega Touch 2002
Any bar that has a Megatouch earns extra brownie points for me, as I enjoy gathering up a few friends and dominating a a variety of awesome classic games. But there’s nothing better than being challenged with beer goggles, as you and your friends tackle on one of my favorites, Photo Hunt. There’s a couple of variations of Photo Hunt, from half-naked 80’s female models (Naked Photo Hunt) to just plain ol’ scenic landscapes, the game is basically a test of “Spot The Difference”. You view two images side by side that, at first, appear to be the same image. And after looking closely, you’ll realize that there are slight alterations in the photos that you have to find before the time runs out. Highly recommended if you’re out with a group of friends.

Buck Hunter Pro
Who doesn’t love Buck Hunter around here? Get buzzed, put on your beer goggles and shoot some big fat moose. With that much fun, you wonder why every bar doesn’t have this game.

VITALS

Bar Name: 8th Street Tavern
Location: 800 Washington Street (on 8th Street) View Map >>
Summary: Cash-Only Dive Sports Bar, 15 Beers on Tap, Usual Mixed Drinks, Happy Hour Specials Vary, Decent Bar Food, Packed with Bar Games, 7 TV Screens with a very spacious bar layout

THE HOBOKEN GUY SIDEKICK

I’d like to thank Hudson county resident, Shashi, who reps the neighboring town of Guttenberg but grew up hitting up the streets of the mile square. Shashi recommended 8th Street Taven, among other bars that I’ll be reviewing over the next couple of weeks. So from this point forward, let it be known that I officially dubbed thee a Hoboken Guy Sidekick!

Tags: 8th Street Tavern, Best Bars, Billiards, Buck Hunter, Darts, games, hoboken, Leisure, rec rooms