Editors’ Choice
Bit Bar, Salem
Standout Qualities: From trivia nights to hip-hop parties and silent discos, there’s always something going on at this bar-arcade.
Fun Fact: Bit Bar features more than 30 arcade games from the ’80s and ’90s, including staples like Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Tetris.
50 St. Peter St., Salem, 978-594-4838, bit.bar
Readers’ Choice
Brick & Ash, Newburyport
Standout Qualities: Pub favorites like generous portions of nachos or wings along with a roster of local beers on tap and barrel-aged cocktails pair well with an evening of billiards or darts in this rustic and warm yet modern Newburyport spot.
Fun Fact: Barbecued meats, which are served without sauce, come with a selection of four sauces—sweet, spicy, vinegary, or earthy—so patrons can decide what topping (or toppings) they might want.
10 Center St., Newburyport, 978-255-2642, brickandash.com