Pop Culture Pop Up Bars Are Here to Stay

Nintendo-themed Level Up is in Market Square for another week, but if you miss it, you can catch the Pokémon-themed bar coming this fall.

Lately, it seems as though there are pop-ups for everything. Boutiques, flower shops — and plenty of themed bars. 

You can currently enjoy a Princess Peach Bellini at Level Up, a pop-up Nintendo-themed bar on Forbes Avenue Downtown. The site was previously a “Game of Thrones”-themed pop up, Bar of Thrones. At Level Up, you can play video games, take in the Donkey Kong ambiance and partake in themed food and drinks. Gaming tournaments benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters Pittsburgh. 

Level Up is set to close July 20, but if you need your fill of pop-culture fun, there are two things to look forward to this fall. 

On Sept. 28, Mushroom Rally, a life-size Super Mario Kart racing center, comes to Pittsburgh. Racers, who are encouraged to dress like the characters, must be at least 14 years old, between 4-feet-7-inches and 6-feet-7-inches tall and weigh under 300 pounds.

More of a Pokemon fan? You’ll have a chance to play a life-size version of that game at its own pop-up bar, PokeBar, when it opens on Oct. 13.

The Tribune-Review reports PokeBar Pittsburgh will be divided into seven regions and each session will include two hours of game time. There will also be Pokemon-themed food and cocktails. 

What’s next? My vote is “Strangers Things.” Let’s get on that, Pittsburgh.