When I think of the ‘80s, I see glowing neon lights and boxy windbreakers. I smell sugary soda pop and a lot of hairspray, and I hear trebly dance music with heavy reverb on the drums.
The ‘90s bring images to my mind of slick leather jackets and shiny CDs. I smell cigarette smoke; I hear heavy electric guitar and Chicago house beats.
The 2000s conjure up the sight of low-cut jeans, the smell of bubblegum and a good, greasy pizza; the sounds of over-compressed electro pop.
These decades flew right by us. The vibe of 2025 is its own thing; a little bit of everything from the past is mixed in, but we’ll never get back the distinct aesthetics of those times that once were. That is, unless we curate them. Lucky for NoVa residence, there are a few places in the area that do just that— create the ambience and feel of the ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, and 2010s. Before we jump into 2026 and whatever unique vibe it will hold, you should let yourself get a little nostalgic at these blast-from-the-past spots.
Big Tony’s Pizzeria & Dive Bar
(staff photo by James Jarvis)
Who doesn’t love a good dive bar? Most dive bars sport dingy beer signs, rustic bar stools, and mellow low lighting. But Big Tony’s is different; it’s eighties and nineties-fied. There is so much brightness and color.
The back wall is lined with comic-book-like art. On it, there’s a reference to all things ‘80s and ‘90s: Star Wars, The Simpsons, Sonic the Hedgehog, Garfield, Michael Jordan, Scooby Doo— plenty of other references thrown in too. There’s a whole shelf dedicated just to box TVs. A disco ball hangs from the ceiling.
The menu reminds me of well-made versions of birthday party food. Wood-fired pizza, handcrafted mozzarella sticks, tossed wings, fries, the works. The bar plays a curated list of ‘90s grunge and hip-hop and ‘80s rock— but they sneak in some more modern hits too.
State Theatre
Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer
Maybe it’s not intentional, but State Theatre channels the ‘80s like no other venue in NoVa. I mean, the last movie it ever played before turning into a concert venue was Die Hard. Can you even get more ‘80s than that? The atmosphere is very Art Deco, which (like the ‘50s) saw a big resurgence in the ‘80s. State Theatre has a bit of a modern twist in neon colors and more geometric touches. They usually hang decor or string lights from the balcony ledges in a very ‘80s fashion. The boxy balconies are on skinny pole stilts, and somehow capture that time period, especially with the bar-like seats that are flat, square, and only have an inch or two of a back rest.
Besides its visual allure, State Theatre also focuses its current programming on the Decade of Decadence. Most acts they book have that ‘80s nostalgia to them. A lot of tribute bands come to the State Theatre, like Journey and Pearl Jam cover artists, or Rush (showing off more of their ‘80s stuff). For New Year’s Eve, they always host The Legwarmers, D.C’s most famed ‘80s tribute band.
Fats Fairfax
Fats opened in 1982, which is probably why it feels so nostalgic. They just never really got rid of their original idea and design, and a lot of regulars say that it looks the same as it always has. It’s a relaxed, mellow place where you can throw your peanut shells on the floor. Nothing fancy.
It’s also not trying to be retro, unlike many of the modern (still awesome) bars on this list. There isn’t any effort; it just is what it is, and what it is is naturally nostalgic. Since Fats has been around before the 2000s, there’s no high-tech equipment around besides a few flat screens and some nice speakers for the music acts.
The food is fresh and homemade, and though not every item on the menu is a fan favorite, people love their wings. The menu and vibe is leaning towards New Orleans funk and Louisiana swag.
Reclaim Arcade
Ah, arcades. A pinnacle of the ‘80s. Reclaim has moody purple lighting, which makes the room dark, besides a few glowy neon signs and the light-up front surfaces of the arcade games and pinball machines. There’s groovy music playing overhead, and you can hear the pings and beep-boops from the games. Pure nostalgia.
They have all the classics: Defender, Attack on Mars, Pac-Man (of course), Tapper, Time Crisis, etc., but also a lot of modern additions too. People log their high scores on various QR codes in the room for added fun and conviviality.
It’s a beautiful place, really, akin to a work of art. The machines are in pristine condition. They are visually stunning with original-looking artwork, but they also operate perfectly— no sticky flippers in the pinball machines like back in the day.
In addition to the arcade, there’s a retro-styled living room. The walls are lined with records and VHS tapes. There’s a big box TV, and the furniture is all snazzy, handcrafted wood pieces. The carpet really reminds me of the flair of the ‘70s. It’s personable and cozy, and a very unique addition that I’ve yet to see anywhere else.
The price is only $15 for unlimited play, which is quite the deal.
Decades DC
Not technically in NoVa, but it's still a great dive bar that’s infused with ‘80s and ‘90s aesthetics and culture.
D.C’s Decades is the only multiple-floor retro club in the area— which is a pretty niche category, but still, it counts for something, right? There are four main floors, each themed with a different decade. The second floor represents the ‘90s; the third is all about the 2000s, and the fourth is decked out in 2010s decor. These floors are accompanied by music of the era too, and let me tell you, the place is uber accurate and reflective of the time periods to a tee.
Some highlights: When you walk onto the ‘90s floor, you’re met with thick, dusty, black wooden floors. The color scheme is very red, silver, and black. The front bar is made up of paneled squares that are shiny and metallic.
The 2000s level has liquor shelves that float above a wall painted in graffiti-style art. Parts of the ceiling have names of musicians of the time sprawled across. There are blue and pink spotlights shining down everywhere.
The 2010s floor has the most identifiable sign of the times: wooden planks alternating with faux plant vines as backboards to every booth. The floor is wooden and marbled pale fawn-grey. There are a lot of white wooden panels on the walls.
It’s only natural to want to take the best parts of a decade forward, but alas, for some reason, when we move on past a 10-year period, all of the cultural value is put to rest, so new aesthetics can emerge. But everyone gets a little nostalgic every now and then, so before you make those New Year’s resolutions, check out these spots that feel like taking a step back in time.
Posted by Lauren Weiner on
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