Dive bar arcade

Pinball artwork from Brian Allen covers the walls of Maine Silverball Tavern in Saco, ME, where you’ll find a nice collection of craft beer and an even better collection of quarter-player pinball machines. Make your way down the row of Williams machines, including Grand Lizard, Fish Tales, and Taxi, then head to newer Stern machines, including The Mandalorian, complete with a Grogu doll on the playfield, and don’t miss the handful of old electro-mechanical pinball machines like pitch and bat baseball games. All ages are welcome, but a parent must accompany children. Silverball Tavern is also a host of The New England Pinball League and tournaments. 

Young and hip college students in Fort Collins, CO know to head to the heart of Old Town for Pinball Jones – a basement barcade with arcade classics like pinball, skeeball, air hockey, bowlers and claw machines. Machines like Theater of Magic, Tron, Jurassic Park, and Medieval Madness are all set to a reasonable charge. Pinball Jones has a great selection of local craft beers and ciders, but don’t let the bar atmosphere fool you – Pinball Jones is kid-friendly. 

Prepared to be warmly welcomed by the coolest hipsters and artists in Michigan’s state capitol at The Avenue in Lansing, MI. This dive bar and music venue hosts open mics, burlesque shows, goth night, pottery painting, and pinball tournaments. Choose from over 40 of the latest pinball themes and a few retro favorites, a few vintage arcade games, plus three pool tables and darts. Serving up craft brews, ciders, and cocktails, The Avenue is known for its unique take on ramen noodles and vegan dishes. Parking lot is around back off the alley or across the street in the lot behind Strange Matter. 

8 Bit Arcade Bar in Renton, WA, is an awesome 80's vintage throwback arcade with iconic classic arcade games like Ms. Pacman, Galaga, Frogger, and Donkey Kong, as well as modern machines like Minecraft and Luigi’s Haunted Mansion, plus a rotating collection of pinball games. They also serve pizza, milkshakes, and cans of beer. 

EinStein's Pub in Katy, TX, is an old watering hole where the locals enjoy pub grub, drink specials, live bands, pool, and a beautiful rotating collection of pinball machines. Monthly tournaments are on the same night as the $7 burger special. There’s also air hockey, Big Buck Hunter Reloaded, and a multicade. 

North End Pub is a favorite bar in Lafayette, IN, thanks to its old-school bowling alley, live local bands, pizza and pub grub, and great drink specials, but the locals know it as a great spot to play some pinball. Come flip on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, eat some wings, and bowl for just $3. Stay late and be ready to rock with DJs and local musicians. 

Formerly a secret pinball speakeasy, Add A Ball is a hidden gem in the Fremont area of Seattle, WA, located across the street from Brouwers on the alley. Add A Ball is a retro dive bar arcade with two floors of video arcade games and glorious old pinball machines. It’s worth visiting just to scope out the quirky decor, but you’ll also find quirky pins like Badcats, Party Animal, and Radical! For an adults-only bar serving up strong drinks, cheap beer, and pizza by the slice, these machines are beautifully maintained. Even the locals will tell you this place is very Seattle.

No Quarter in Music City is one of Nashville's premier pinball destinations. No Quarter offers over 20 classic and new pinball machines for your enjoyment, along with a carefully curated craft beer selection, wine, and cocktails. No Quarter was recently reopened after having closed for a year due to tornado damage, and they're now better than ever. No Quarter provides an opportunity for competitive play with tournaments every Wednesday night at 7pm as well as month-long league play. No Quarter is 21+ only every day except for Sunday, so plan on leaving the kids at home. No Quarter should be one of your go-to locations when looking for exciting Pinball action in Nashville!

Admiral Pub is a neighborhood sports bar in West Seattle, WA with darts, skeeball, ping pong, board games, and an awesome lineup of pinball machines. Local pinball enthusiasts regularly host tournaments and leagues here. This dive bar is LGBTQ+ friendly and hosts the occasional drag show, plus trivia, bingo, and karaoke. Admiral serves great burgers and wings, too!

If you’re not afraid of clowns, you’ll love Shorty’s in Seattle, WA. Shorty’s is a whimsical, circus-themed pinball arcade featuring old school arcade games like Joust and Galaga, and a rotating lineup of pinball machines. Shorty’s is probably the only place in the world where it is acceptable to set a drink on a pinball table – the booth’s table, not the cabinet tables. Shorty’s serves a great hot dog and a full bar to anyone who’s over 21.

Olaf’s is a dive bar and live music venue in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, WA. Ballard is a hip waterfront neighborhood, and Olaf’s is one of the joints making it so trendy. Nordic and maritime roots run deep, so these sailors literally sculpted a vagina room in which to play classic and modern pinball machines – the entranceway births your game. You’ll see. Also, the food is excellent, the rotating beers always please, and the staff is as charming as the artwork. 

Located in the heart of Brooklyn, Jackbar is a hidden gem for any fan of pinball. This unpretentious dive bar offers a great array of new and classic pinball machines from the recently released Toy Story 4 table from Jersey jack to classic releases like Fish Tales from Williams. Along with their diverse selection of machines, Jackbar also has a large assortment of 18 beers on tap and other alcoholic drinks that act as a perfect lubricant for flippin' some silverball. Whether you're looking for somewhere to chill out or seek a good old-fashioned friendly competition, Jackbar provides it all in relaxed surrounding free of non-pinball distractions perfect to keep you flipping all night. Offering up titular jackpots with its well maintained machines, Jackbar stands amongst Brooklyn's most unique hidden gems.

Murphy's on 21 is a dive bar located in St. Louis that features a lineup of 13 pinball machines. They also have a selection of arcade games and darts, plus host a local pinball league. Murphy's used to have a kitchen that served bar food classics but post Covid they are a bring your own food establishment. They often have sports on TV, so you don't have to worry about missing the game when going out to play pins. Murphy's is the perfect place to go if you're looking for a fun and casual pinball night out in St. Louis, MO.

How do you like your grilled cheese? If you said with mango and avocado, you’ll love Sarbez in St. Augustine. This funky dive bar designs gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches or you can create your own masterpiece. Sarbez is a live music venue with a couple of rooms full of classic video arcade games plus air hockey, skeeball, pool, darts, and pinball games like Dr. No, Stranger Things and Guardians of the Galaxy. Sarbez is family friendly until 10pm and serves craft beer, ciders, sours, meads, wines, sodas, kombuchas and iced coffees. Outside seating is smoke and dog friendly. 

The Monkey Barrel in Denver is a hidden gem that draws locals and travelers alike. This small neighborhood bar and restaurant has something for everyone, with 11 pinball machines (like Lord of the Rings and The Simpsons Pinball Party), console games (including an N64 setup at every booth!), craft beer, cocktails, burgers and wings. The patio is spacious and dog-friendly for the hangs in the warmer months. The food menu is small but curated, featuring remarkable burgers, tasty wings, and sensational Nashville hot chicken sandwiches.

403 Club in Kansas City is an amazing barcade and dive bar for pinball lovers. With a rotating selection of eleven machines on-site, 403 Club has something for everyone, from classic favorites to the latest offerings. And if you're looking to test your skills against others, 403 Club hosts frequent IFPA certified tournaments too! But 403 Club isn't just about the pins—they offer a range of great local craft beers on tap - perfect for quenching your thirst while playing a casual game or watching a sporting event. Whether you're a hardcore pinball fan, or just someone looking for some old-fashioned pub fun, 403 Club has you covered!

Imbibe in Indianapolis, IN is a dive bar with an upstairs gameroom that includes pool tables, darts, shuffleboard, air hockey, foosball and ping pong. Did we mention the pinball? Newer Sterns like Black Knight Sword of Rage, Deadpool and Iron Maiden, and a couple gems from Bally and Williams, too.  Imbibe is 21+ and serves Gatsby themed cocktails and surprisingly good pizza. 

Poison Girl in Houston, TX is a feminist, provocative dive bar with an impressive whiskey collection, red walls adorned with erotic art, life sized paper mache cowgirl statues, and a great pinball collection including Creatures of the Black Lagoon, Monster Bash, Deadpool and Scared Stiff. Don’t let the Kool-aid man scare you away from the patio. Poison Girl is definitely adults only, but you’re welcome to bring your dog. 

Like many other pinball bars and arcades these days, Gebhard's Beer Culture combines craft beer and pinball for a delicious and fun combination. Gebhard's has a good sized collection for pinball in NYC with 9 games as of publishing that appear to be well maintained according to Pinball Map comments. The games are a mix of old and new, including what one user described as the "best playing/looking Congo I've ever seen" and the recently released Pulp Fiction pinball machine from Chicago Gaming. 

Jumpin' Janet's features an impressive selection of nine pinball machines, and no matter your skill level you're sure to find something suited to your needs. 

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The collection consists of mostly newer Stern games but Jumpin' Janet's also boasts a couple of the latest Jersey Jack and Spooky pinball machines. But it doesn't just stop there; Jumpin' Janet's also has several pool tables for those who prefer billiards, a full bar and some classic sports bar style food such as nachos and sandwiches on offer too. 

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If you'd rather watch the game than participate Jumpin' Janet's have all you covered with plenty of TVs scattered throughout the venue. They even host regular pinball league and tournament events so competitive players can put their skills to the test!

Keg and Coin is a barcade in Jacksonville, FL  serving only beer – a killer selection – and coin-operated arcade games. This retro 90’s dive is packed with cabinets like Pacman and The Simpsons, plus shooters like Big Buck HD and Area 51, Mortal Kombat II and III, skee ball, foosball, darts and a rotating lineup of the latest pro pinball tables. Keg and Coin is kid-friendly up until 9pm. Sign up for Deathball or Killer Queen tournaments.

Brooklyn’s Buttermilk Bar is the definition of a neighborhood dive bar, but it sure packs a lot of entertaining possibilities. Whether you’re into pinball machines, air hockey, pool or darts, this place has all of that and more. Plus the beer prices are incredibly cheap for New York City standards so there’s always something to appreciate about this amazing spot! It’s great for a few hours of fun but you can hang out here all day if that’s what you choose to do. The charm of this place is undeniable; the friendly relaxed atmosphere invites everyone in and makes Buttermilk Bar one of those spots that you can't miss out on while in Brooklyn! So gather up your friends, pick up some beers from the bar and let the fun begin at Buttermilk Bar.

Blackbird Bar in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood is the dive bar of your dreams. Featuring five lovingly curated pinball machines—including modern Sterns and some classic Bally/Williams like Congo and World Cup Soccer—it’s more of a bar that offers pinball as an additional activity than a dedicated gaming arcade.

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Blackbird Bar also has a photo booth to capture memory-making moments forever, along with an eclectic atmosphere that guests love. To top it all off, Blackbird Bar serves up craft beers, ciders, cocktails, wine and more to satisfy your thirst! So if you're looking for fun things to do in Milwaukee and you love pinball machines and a dive-bar atmosphere, then Blackbird Bar is the perfect hangout spot for you.

Come get lost playing vintage games like Galaga, Centipede or the classic Ms. Pacman at Lost Weekend in West Palm Beach, FL. This pool hall features darts, skee ball, pinball and vintage bowling, skeet and shuffleboard games, too. Lost Weekend has an amazing modern Mexican taco menu with killer elote and a full bar with classic cocktails. Lost Weekend is kid friendly during daytime and becomes a hip and popular spot for adults only at night.

The restaurant at Johansson's Dining House in Westminster, MD is a lovely restaurant with something for everyone, from escargot to onion rings, filet mignon to burgers, rockfish to reubens. The adults-only Down Under Sports Bar and Grill attached is known as a dive bar with DJs, dancing, pool tables, and a pinball lineup including games like No Good Gofers, Ghostbusters, and Deadpool.