Today we were checking out the new Rec Room location in downtown Vancouver. We thought we knew what to expect having frequented their Burnaby Brentwood one, closer to home. However this was more than triple the size, and included more amenities plus more user friendly features.
Located on the Granville strip it offers those looking for a late night some levity amongst the night club and rowdy bar crowds.
You start at the main counter purchasing your experience whether it be a specific game or match, or a bracelet with credits for their free for all arcade. Here, I suggest taking advantage of their coat check program that allows you to check in multiple articles and log them in under your phone number and photo. This allows you to enjoy all the activities hands free and un-encumbered.
There are multiple food options; either concession, bar, and/or restaurant on each floor. Each with their own menu. We only got a taste of the bar menu located on the bottom floor as apart of “The Palms”. This is their indoor mini golf experience themed like an “Endless Summer escape in the heart of Downtown Vancouver” (as taken from the press release). It is named after the hotel that once stood at this location with neon signage, wicker lamp shades, and parrot shaped light fixtures.
There was even a pink printed golf cart on display and for photo ops.
We enjoyed a couple of their speciality tropical cocktails. A few of them are even available in a tower for group dispensing. You are able to bring your drink around the nine-hole mini golf course, but not food.
The Palms Punch is Captain Morgan spiced rum, Captain Morgan dark rum, orgeat, orange juice, cranberry juice. pineapple juice, Angostura bitters, and nutmeg.
A fun non-alcoholic option is the Hibiscus Berry Boba with blueberry popping pearls, hibiscus syrup, lemonade, and tonic.
We nibbled on chorizo and pork tacos and grabbed a few kernels of pineapple popcorn chicken from their speedy service bar before heading on to the artificial green.
Once again nine rounds of mini golf with your choice of coloured club and ball. Numbered courses with marked pars for your to keep score of. This is a course that has you putting over hills, through tunnels, and ricocheting off barriers.
What seems like a pretty cut and paste course was fairly challenging for a novice putter with little patience, such as myself. The last hole a chipper like skee ball.
I was most excited for axe throwing, something you don’t often find available as an after dinner activity. As a popular exhibition be prepared for a wait. It is first come first served with set games times and play slots with reservations. A dedicated attendant walks you through the process, how to play, tips on how to throw, and keep score via the machine.
The trick is to step forward with your non-dominant foot and to breathe out as you throw over head. Be sure to follow through to allow the axe to spin and pierce the wooden bullseye in the distance. Although don’t take my word for it, I did score the lowest of our group.
There is also pool tables and augmented reality darts. However, we weren’t able to locate the former after a couple of rounds walking the floor, and the latter was closed and out of order during our visit.
So we contended ourselves with the over 75 amusement games. Games were pay to play, and you did so via reusable bands that you wear. You scan them at any machine to start. The bands keep track of your remaining credits and accrued points. The latter of which you cash in for prizes from their Trophy Case. Prizes vary based on points, the more you have the higher the level of prizes you can redeem them for. From plastic dice and spinning tops to branded merchandise and character plushes. The more you play, the better you do, the larger the prize you can claim.
We weren’t able to try all the games, but there were a few standouts that caught my attention. My favourite was an arcade shoot out, but instead of laser guns you shoot cartoon raccoons with actual water from a pistol.
There was a test of strength with limits. You are asked to strike a button with a fuzzy foam baton, but just right to hit the buzzer and not go over or under.
There was agmented reality arcade games that had you equipping an oculus and a Ray gun to fight of Godzilla.
There were tests of physical skills like throwing a football though rings, striking bullseyes with a rubber ball like in dodgeball, skee ball, and my favourite basketball free throw.
There are even claw games for those who like the thrill of winning a large plush prize with one push of a button. Games vary in credits and they do go fast, so be warn to watch where you scan.
In short, there is plenty to do and various ways to spend your time at this new location of Rec Room.
The Rec Room Granville
855 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K7
(778) 374-1500
therecroom.com