Hiding Behind This New England Restaurant’s Freezer Door is an Awesome 21+ Arcade Bar

Do you know that scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory where Wonka opens the tiny little door? The Gene Wilder version from the '70s, not that awful Johnny Depp version. It opens into a wonderland of candy that you never would have expected to see behind that door.

Well, there's a place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that does something similar. On the other side of this freezer door at Roxy's Grilled Cheese at Central Square, you won't see boxes of frozen goods used to make Roxy's delicious grilled cheese, burgers, fries, or chicken sandwiches. That stuff is pretty much fresh. Instead of a freezer behind the freezer door, you walk into the wonderland of an amazing classic arcade.

Originally known as A4cade, Roxy's took over at the start of 2023 and rebranded it as Roxy's Arcade. There's no indication whatsoever that there's a hidden arcade at the back of Roxy's, but if you know, you know.

I've been to this wonder of an arcade several times, and it's worth the trip. It's an arcade and bar by day, and nightclub at night. You'll find all kinds of classic and modern arcade and pinball machines behind the freezer door.

Even some celebrities have found this hidden arcade, like Joe Keery, who of course plays Steve Harrington on the smash Netflix series Stranger Things. Keery was born in  Newburyport, Massachusetts, so this is practically home for him.

Want to check out Roxy's Arcade for yourself? Just find the freezer door at 301 Massachusetts Ave in Cambridge and prepare to be wowed.