Before we get started, let’s just stop. Stop and take a moment to appreciate one of the best-named venues in Glasgow – nay, the whole country. As puns go, naming your arcade bar Super Bario is a truly peerless bit of whimsy, and whilst there are many fine things to like about this smashing little spot, the name has to be lauded first of all. So, with that out of the way, let’s find out what’s so super about Super Bario…
Three things make Super Bario a cracking spot for your Friday night: beers, games, and vibes. We’ll tackle them in order, so starting with a mention of the bar’s top-notch rotating guestlist of beers is a wise choice – as is ordering anything off the menu here, especially if there’s a sour on tap. The likes of Tiny Rebel, Siren, Magic Rock, and Beavertown frequently feature here, along with a strong lineup of Belgian beers and even Berliner, which I love for no other reason than that it powered a memorable trip to Berlin once. Sehr gut!
The bar’s Instagram feed is pretty handy at keeping you in the loop on the latest arrivals, but I’d advise you take a break from the beers to indulge in Super Bario’s cocktail menu. Like the bar’s name, it’s extremely on-trend, with concoctions like the Crash Bandicoot, Sega Swally, and Tonic the Hedgehog (made with Buckfast Tonic Wine, and… forget the rest, I’m already sold on it TBH). Oh, and this is Glasgow, so of course there’s Tennents on tap.
Drink in hand, it’s time to tackle the arcade games here at Super Bario. Pinball machines are a common sight here, themed around everything from The Simpsons to Star Wars to Pirates of the Caribbean, and the bar has even hosted UK Pinball League events in the past. Elsewhere, bar favourites include Crazy Taxi, Mortal Kombat II, Street Fighter, and SEGA Rally, which they note is “the only acceptable form of drink driving”. It’s a veritable treasure trove of classic games, and even if you’ve long traded in the Dreamcast for a PS5, you’re going to be in gaming heaven here.
Finally, the vibes. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll notice that the combination of top drinks and throwback games is a winning one, so all you’ve got to do to sort a cracking night out is round up the gang, raid your sofa cushions for coins, and head on down! Ready player one?