Date: March 2018, updated May 2018
Location: 2777 Irving Blvd #200, Dallas, TX 75207, USA

We were in Dallas for the Texas Pinball Festival, but before the drive up to Frisco we spent a couple of days in the Market Center area of Dallas.

One of the principal reasons was to visit Bishop Cider and their new-ish arcade, called Cidercade, and to check out their collection of games (and ciders).  After a 30-minute walk through hotel loading bays, past various car repairers and furniture warehouses, we arrived.

Bishop Cidercade at The Cidery
Bishop Cidercade at The Cidery

Cidercade is a little tricky to spot from the road.  It’s on the corner of a row of light industrial units and is referred to as Bishop Cider Co. on the street-facing side and The Cidery on the unit front.

Cidercade is called The Cidery on the signage above the entrance
Cidercade is called The Cidery on the signage above the entrance

Once through the doors you find a minimalist industrial look to the building, with exposed air conditioning ducting and bare walls.

The decor inside Cidercade
The decor inside Cidercade

Entry to the arcade for a day costs $10 + tax after which all the games are set on free play. Monthly passes are also available and are good value at $20.  Payment can be in cash or with a credit card using one of the Square card readers.

Entry pricing
Entry pricing

The entry desk is also the bar, from which twenty-four varieties of cider are sold.  They are unapologetic about selling only cider and no beer or wine.  They are a cider-maker, after all.  They do sell soft drinks for younger guests, drivers or for anyone not looking for some alcoholic apple juice.

The cider taps
The cider taps

Not all ciders were available during our visit, but most were.  They appeared to be priced according to their strength, and the prices shown were before tax was added.

The cider list
The cider list

They don’t serve any food, but you are welcome to bring your own or they are happy to hand you a folder of menus from local restaurants which will deliver to Cidercade.  You can’t bring in your own beverages though.

So, what about the games?  Well, Cidercade has an impressive selection of all kinds of arcade games.

Sit-down driving games
Sit-down driving games
Upright video games
Upright video games
Gun games and classic videos
Gun games and classic videos
More video games
More video games

But of course, we were mainly there for the pinballs, and the selection of these was just as impressive.

The pinballs
The pinballs

Many of the modern classics are here, and they are kept in great shape.  While we were there a technician was fixing a couple of issues with stuck balls and a weak flipper.

Modern classics
Modern classics

All the games are DMDs, so no classic solid-states or electromechanicals.

American Pinball's Houdini is here
American Pinball’s Houdini is here
So is Chicago Gaming's Attack from Mars Remake Limited Edition
So is Chicago Gaming’s Attack from Mars Remake Limited Edition and Stern’s latest titles

The pinball area is kept reasonably dark, which helps show off the games’ lighting effects and reduces any reflections or glare.

The pinball line-up
The pinball line-up

Cidercade extends into a second room where some of the larger games are located along with seating and sport on TVs.

The second room
The second room
Skeeball and basketball games
Skeeball and basketball games
Sports on TV
Sports on TV

At the end of the room is a large window where you can view the fermentation tanks and canning equipment in the cidery.

The cider-making equipment
The cider-making equipment

at the side of the second room is a covered outdoor seating area with some swing chairs for the younger visitors.

The exterior seating area
The exterior seating area

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  The games all looked attractive and played well.  The only thing we noticed was how the flippers seemed to be set slightly too low which made some of the shots trickier than they should be.  Of course, with all games on free play some people would walk up to a game a hit the start button over and over to begin a four-player game by themselves and then leave it part-way through – something which doesn’t happen if you are paying for the games.

Cidercade is a great addition to the Dallas pinball scene and an excellent place to try out the latest games as well as many modern classic DMD titles too.  At $10 for unlimited play, it’s also good value if you have the time to take full advantage.

Before you leave, you can pick up a pack of cider to take home.

Leaving? Take some cider with you
Leaving? Take some cider with you

Cidercade is located at 2777 Irving Blvd in Dallas and is open:

  • Monday-Thursday: 5pm-12am
  • Friday: 5pm-1am
  • Saturday: 10am-1am
  • Sunday: 12pm-12am

Note that you have to be twenty-one or older to be there after 8pm.

UPDATE

Bishop Cidercade has now added a second row of pinballs, facing the one shown in this report.  That brings the number of pinballs up to 43 – a truly impressive collection.

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