Pictured: A Star Wars game at Arcade Monsters, a destination perfect for guests of all ages. Photo Courtesy of Arcade Monsters.

At St. Armands Circle, Arcade Monsters brings all the fun of nostalgic arcades to tourists and locals alike. Adrian Ravello is the owner and founder of Arcade Monsters, which has locations in Oviedo, Melbourne and Lake Mary. “I’ve been gaming since the 1980s, and I made a lot of lifelong friends in arcades. There are no real arcades anymore; mostly people go to kiddie casino ticket redemption places,” he says. “I wanted to bring back the arcades of my day in the 1980s and 1990s.”

About 150 different games fill the space at Arcade Monsters, appealing to various gaming tastes. “I provide the greatest lineup of arcade games on the planet,” Ravello adds. “I pick the top 20 games of all time from each category, such as the 20 best pinball games, fighting, co-op, and shooting, then I compile them. We have things that no one else has, like Japanese rhythm dance and anime-based games.” Classic Frogger, air hockey and Dance Dance Revolution are a sampling of the options offered. He describes the arcade itself as an immersive space decked out in glow-in-the-dark paint. “All ages are welcome, but after 9:30pm it takes on a more adult vibe,” he says. Unlimited gameplay costs $19.99 per person, making the arcade especially appealing for affordable rainy-day family fun.

A hidden gem at Arcade Monsters is the food and drink options. Alcoholic slushies put a grown-up twist on a familiar treat. The food is scratch made and celebrates Cuban flavors in the form of empanadas, Cuban-style tacos and the famous Cuban sandwich. “People from Miami tell us we have the best version of the sandwich they’ve ever tasted,” Ravello adds.

For anyone with a competitive streak looking for an alternative to a day at the beach, Arcade Monsters is an ideal option, striking a balance between nostalgia and modern-day fun.

Arcade Monsters, 326 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, arcademonsters.com.

Pictured: A Star Wars game at Arcade Monsters, a destination perfect for guests of all ages. Photo Courtesy of Arcade Monsters.

Arcade Monsters