Stranger Things may be ending with its next season, but the wave of 80s nostalgia it has helped bring back isn’t going anywhere. From Kate Bush to Dungeons & Dragons, there’s plenty of ways to feel like you’re in Hawkins’ heyday. All around Los Angeles, there’s Stranger Things-like barcades, roller rinks, haunted spots, and ice cream parlors that are worth running up that hill for. So put on your best 80s playlist and let’s dive in!
1. Skate to the beat at Moonlight Rollerway
Season four of Stranger Things had some great (if traumatizing) scenes at a roller rink, and who doesn’t love a good retro disco on wheels? Moonlight Rollerway is a great spot to bust out your moves, because it’s been around even way before the 80s. First opened as a roller rink in 1956, Moonlight Rollerway knows a thing or two about making sure skaters have a good time.
Location: 5110 San Fernando Rd. Glendale
2. Sip your way to a highscore at Barcade
Barcade has an incredible beer selection (they even have Abita Purple Haze, my personal favorite) and over 75 video games and pinball machines that are mostly from the 80s. You can see a complete list of their games here. And for the younger crowd, Barcade hosts a Family Night on the first Sunday of every month!
Location: 5684 York Blvd., LA
3. Channel powers you never knew you had and save Hawkins at Stranger Things: The Experience
Of course, how could we talk about Stranger Things vibes without talking about the experience that literally puts you inside of Hawkins? In this immersive experience, you’ll step into the 80s for a “sleep experiment” that quickly turns into something quite different. Can you tap into your supernatural abilities, travel into the Upside Down, and save Hawkins? Grab your tickets to find out!
Location:1345 N Montebello Blvd, Montebello
4. See if you can venture into the Upside Down for real at the haunted Silent Movie Theatre (now Brain Dead Studios)
The venue has been known by many names. Today, it’s Brain Dead Studios. It used to be Fairfax Cinema, and before that (and most famously) Cinefamily. But this arthouse venue in Fairfax was originally the Silent Movie Theater. Opened in 1942, the theater is said to be haunted by one of the venue’s original owners and his successor, who was killed by a hitman hired by his lover (aka the film projectionist).
Their ghosts reportedly still haunt the venue to this day. Read more about this and other haunted spots in LA here!
Location: 611 N Fairfax Ave., LA
5. For fans of video games or just beer, Eighty Two LA is the best of both worlds
A lot of arcade bars go with a neon or vaporwave aesthetic, but EightyTwo has managed to balance the vibes of a modern hipster bar while still throwing in 55 vintage pinball and arcade machines. The spacious venue even boats a 3,000 square foot patio. So if you or your friends are into games or just want a chill bar, EightyTwo has something for everyone.
Location: 707 E 4th Pl, LA
6. The Old LA Zoo has to have at least a couple Demogorgons lurking around
If you want to feel like you’re traveling into the Upside Down, go from the currently up-and-running Los Angeles Zoo, and then pop over to the abandoned zoo nearby right after. It’ll feel like you stepped out of the real world and into a haunted space that everyone forgot about. Complete with cages, caves, and stairwells that even Eleven wouldn’t dare walk through, this spot is only for the brave.
Location: 4801 Griffith Park Dr, LA
7. See menacingly beautiful buildings Vecna would be proud to call home at Carroll Avenue (Angelino Heights)
Remember the creepy house Vecna hides out in in Stranger Things season four? You can see houses that look exactly like it on Carroll Avenue in Angelino Heights. The late 19th-century Victorian homes are stunningly beautiful and insanely creepy at the same time. Some of the houses in the area were even used for shows like Charmed and music videos like “Thriller.”
Location: 1345 Carroll Ave, LA
8. It’s never too chilly for a retro scoop at Bennett’s Ice Cream
Reminiscent of Stranger Things’ Scoops Ahoy!, Bennett’s ice cream is keeping the old fashioned methods of ice creamery alive at the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles. The ice cream is made from fresh ingredients on the spot at the delightful throwback shop, and the result is mind-blowingly delicious.
Location: 6333 W. 3rd St. LA (in the Farmers Market @ The Grove)
If you want more Stranger Things vibes—or just to travel back to the 80s and beyond—check out this list for more spots in Los Angeles that will send you make you feel like you’ve ventured into the past!