NightLife: Arcade Jozi rolls back years

Arcade Jozi is all mirrors and wood panelling and chessboard tiles.

It's one of those hangouts where Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt would be sitting at the bar, waiting for a contact to slip him an envelope. She would obviously be attractive and he would be on the lookout for whoever is after him.

Hunt or Bourne would need the contents of that envelope because Braamfontein's latest pop-up bar takes cash only. Or you could pay with SnapScan, but there was an issue with it when this spy tried to pay for craft beer.

The bar had been open for about two weeks when we were there, enough time to iron out growing pains.

To not have fruit for your cocktails on a Friday evening is a pretty big miss.

Make no mistake, Arcade Jozi is cool.

You enter via Alex Theatre, from where you descend into the belly of Braamfontein, down a staircase that holds the promise of something from another era.

You expect to be beamed 100 years into the past, but it takes you back only 30. One wall is lined with 1980s arcade games. They are in mint condition. You play for free.

The menu is all-American bar snacks - think pulled pork sandwiches, chicken fried waffles and corn dogs and a few vegetarian options.

If you like 1980s and 1990s hip-hop, you'll enjoy the vibe.

• Book online to avoid the R50 cover. Arcade is located under the Alex Theatre, 36 Stiemens Street