Back in the day, auto-save did not exist in video games. You were lucky to reach the halfway marker in a Super Mario World level, let alone the end-of-world save point. This scarcity of time and disk space taught you to be resourceful, ready to improvise at a moment’s notice. What with work and running a business and raising a family, sometimes it feels like you’re trying to beat Bowser when all you’ve got is green shells. It’s worth it when you finally take a time out — a mental save point, if you will — perhaps at a local oasis or watering hole.

If you can understand the metaphor above, then the Playhouse // Swillburger is a perfect spot for you. This combination burger joint/cocktail bar/arcade occupies a former church on South Clinton Ave, right in the heart of its namesake, the Swillburg neighborhood of Rochester. On one side you can order hamburgers served in the ubiquitous Di Paolo roll, while the other side houses a wide bar with towering, honeycombed boxes displaying video game consoles through history. But the main attraction is the massive arcade spanning both floors, on homage to a form of interactive entertainment that influenced an entire generation. The Playhouse // Swillburger is open year-round, making it a perfect destination come wintertime when the little travel companion comes down with cabin fever. Read about this and other local and regional points of interest in the attractions section of Explore Conesus Lake — after all, it’s another achievement to unlock.