This place is amazing. Everyone working there is friendly as hell and what's better than beer and an old-school arcade? My only complaint would be that they have a handful of machines that are busted (yet, I have no idea who you would even call about that, some of those machines are near 30 years old).
Review Source:When my friends and I first heard that an 80's bar would be opening in Tulsa, we were pretty excited. Â As soon as The Max opened, however, it almost immediately started going downhill. Â The video games started breaking down and it seemed like nobody cared to have them fixed. Â I wondered why they even bothered opening an expansion room full of even more broken video games and pinball machines.
Sure this bar LOOKS cool, but the crowd is nothing but douchy college kids and elitist snobs from South Tulsa. Â At least, it was the last several times I was there. Â When I walk into an 80's theme bar, I expect to see a bunch of hipsters, nerds, and all-around regular people; instead I get the cast of an MTV reality show. Â No thanks. Â
The last straw with this place was when I went for karaoke night. Â There was literally maybe 30 or 40 songs to pick from (what a joke), and the guy could never get the karaoke machine to work. Â I left after about an hour and a half of just sitting around, waiting for this guy to do his job. Â No more Max for me.
This bar had so much potential, and was something that Tulsa needed. Â I don't know anyone who goes there anymore, and I know a lot of social butterflies who are tapped into the downtown bar scene. Â I'm honestly surprised it's still in business, but whatever.... I guess they've found their crowd.
Fun bar in T-Town. Â 80s theme to the Max(Headroom?). Â They have a menu of 80s theme specialty drinks, that are always cloyingly sweet, yet somehow satisfying. Â Try the Magic Johnson or the Ninja Turtle. Â Both sour drinks with pixy stick around the rim. Â Looking for more excitement, the Richard Simmons has Pop Rock. Â POP ROCKS!
Besides the drinks they also have regular beer service.
Oh also, this place is a functioning arcade. Â $1=5 tokens and I think the majority of the games only costs 1. Â Freeplay Tuesday is also fun.
The only really cons are:
1)Ski-ball doesn't give you tickets. Â Where's the fun in that. Â Ticket's should be had and should be allowed for trade ins like spider rings or maybe even a free drink?
2)Place can get crazy loud and crowded, especially on Saturdays and when they have a DJ/Band.
I came here with some girlfriends who were trying to impress me with a cool spot in Tulsa, and they succeeded! I am  quite impressed.. fun, colorful, adorable little bartenders that are midwestern-style sweethearts and cheapo drinks.
I went on a Sunday evening so it was slow but , but the d-bag quotient was still a bit high.. and in case your wondering: I'm talking hillbilly sounding, tucked in polo shirt wearing cell phone holder on the belt style d-bag.. Not your NYC wall street greased back hair eurotrash style d-bag. I have no preference between the two, apples and oranges.
fun spot in a great location.
the blue dome district has loads of options that are all different and great, but if you're over 21 and looking to unleash your inner 13yr old self this is the place to go. it's like your local video arcade circa1988 decided to start serving the kids alcohol.
fun spot to relax with friends for sure.
A nice spot for a quick afternoon beer. A handful of free tokens comes with a can of PBR. We played skeeball for about 20 minutes and had to head out. This seems like it would be a really fun place at night, but during the day it's a little lame. I love the idea of this place because it gives you something fun to do with your friends while out drinking.
Review Source:This is a really fun bar downtown. Service is good but can get a little congested. Nice bathrooms though which is a plus at any bar. There is really cool decor and arcade games to play with coins you purchase there, just don't overbuy the coins because they are not refundable. I think they should have prizes, but maybe someday they will. Also this is the only bar I have ever seen carry 40s which is pretty entertaining.
Review Source:The Max Retropub is like if Howard the Duck got into a slap-boxing fight with Chuck Norris, and Chuck roundhouse kicked the 80's in the face... The Max would be the only thing left standing in the ashes of the post-apocalyptic retro-goodness, and of course the skeeball.
All that to say, this place is pretty sweet and has slap bracelets. Great games and drinks. An awesome place to just hang. I wish there was a franchise of this in Austin, TX.
$2 dollar Rolling Rocks and NBA JAM - do I even need to finish this review? Â Reggie Miller heated up and drained threes all night. In between games there's a decent crowd you could talk to, but who cares. Max's has two NBA Jam's! Â Get your butt here and come get some. Â Reggie's out - HOF baby!
Review Source:How did this place end up in Tulsa?
This is the 1980s retro bar/ video arcade that was so perfectly predicted by the movie "Back To The Future 2". Â Â Right down to the giant Max Headroom mural on the wall.
At first glance it looks awesome. Â The decor is fabulous, Â the authenticity is wonderful and the bartenders are all in on the joke.
But their use of non-refundable tokens is kind of weak. Â Also, the night we were there there was a hardcore band playing 'music' that basically consisted of screaming obscenities and layering feedback.
Definitely different. Â Not what you'd expect in Oklahoma.
I am largely unsure how to review this place because I had lots of fun there, and the theming is well done and the games are great, but the bottom line is that it's a bar and the drinks were just not that good!
In the end, I will give it four stars because it was lots of fun and very well-themed and I probably should have just had beer or something. I did appreciate being able to drink a cherry slushie with booze made from what appeared to be a legit vintage Slush Puppie machine but it almost put me in a sugar coma and the cocktail I had after that tasted kind of like soap... but then I got to go play some Pac-Man (as well as a variety of other more unusual vintage games). It was crowded but the atmosphere was laid-back and largely friendly. AND SKEE-BALL! I would go back just for the skee-ball.
Reasonably priced drinks, great bartenders, a unique atmosphere, and fun retro gaming. The Max Retropub is one of the best bars in Tulsa. It does get really, really packed, but every time I've gone there I've had an incredible time and met really interesting people. Definitely recommend!
Review Source:If you're looking for a whimsical place to visit that has an 80s theme and skeeball, this is it. Â Play for free on Tuesdays or live trivia night on Wednesdays. Â It's a great place to for "Saved By The Bell" era young adults that don't take themselves too seriously and want a fun night out any given day of the week.
Review Source:The Max is a great addition to the bar scene in Tulsa. From the owners and bar manager to the bartenders and bar backs, everyone here is friendly. They pour a great drink and have a unique selection of "retro drinks" made from the ingredients of our childhood (Yoohoo! anyone?). Pretty great selection of old school video games to choose from and you can't forget the awesomeness of skee ball.
If you come in during happy hour you get free tokens to play the games and on Tuesdays they're all free. Pretty rad if you ask me. Wednesday nights they usually have retro trivia and have had a skee ball league one night of the week in the past.
The thing that I find to be really cool about the bar is that all types of people are there. Anyone feels welcome.
It's definitely my favorite bar in Tulsa.
i'll give you the good bartenders and classic videogames give it an edge, but overall i see it as a hollow attempt at cashing in on the continuing endless fascination of all things retro. Â at some point we as patrons should demand more of ourselves than trying to relive our "glorious" youth. Â time will tell, as the irony unfolds into an infinite loop of mediocrity.
the future will still be there waiting for you to catch up.
How am I the first person to write a review for this place?
So if you appreciate pop culture from the 80's or early 90's you will immediately love this bar just seconds after walking in the door. Â Although I hate to say it, it's hipster heaven.. TVs everywhere playing episodes of Thundercats, Who's the Boss, Punky Brewster etc.. On the left is a terrific bar with a great selection of imports and domestics. Marshall's on tap. Served by very friendly bartenders and staff who work with smiles on their faces and are obviously thrilled to be working there. They now have a food menu featuring 'gourmet' junk food. The chili dog was the best hot dog I can remember having. Loaded with goodness. Also, this place is smoke-free, which is nice.
The arcade-bar also features a very decent collection of 'classic' arcade games, including The Simpsons, Tron, Mortal Kombat 3, Marvel VS Capcom, Asteroids, Pacman, Tecmo Bowl etc... Very impressed with what they were able to put together, and apparently they will be switching these cabinets out every once in a while.
Overall, it is hard NOT to love this place. Downtown Tulsa needed a new bar for people to get excited about, and this place definitely delivers on that. Just drive by on almost any night and you will see for yourself by the number of people inside and out.
My one complaint? There are no ashtrays outside for people to put out their cigarettes. If you are going to draw in all the hipsters from the street and tell them they can't smoke inside (completely understandably), then please provide some kind of ashtray so I don't have to litter at the front door of my favorite new bar.
Great work! Cheers!