11 Fabulous Places to Play Pinball in Los Angeles
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Los Angeles. City of Angels. City of Stars. City of… Pinball? Sure, why not. Millions of people flock to LA with big dreams of making it in the entertainment industry, but there are also plenty of people who dream a bit smaller. To those who dream of finding a good place to play pinball in LA, here are 11 spots in La-La-Land for you to find some pin fulfillment.
AYCE Gogi Korean BBQ & Pinball
Address: 7128 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91405
Pinball Machines: 23
Why You Should Play at AYCE Gogi
Come for some of the best KBBQ in the Valley and stay for the pinball machines. Or, more realistically, put your name on the waitlist and turn your attention to the almost two dozen pinball machines this restaurant houses. A few machines welcome you at the entrance, but the bar in the back room is where the bulk of the machines live. In 2022, AYCE Gogi landed both Jersey Jack’s Toy Story 4 Limited Edition and Collector’s Edition, and Stern’s James Bond 007 Limited Edition. AYCE even hosted a launch party and tournament for James Bond 007. In addition to a large selection of pinball machines, the actual restaurant offers their own large selection of tasty and affordable meats, veggies, sides, and dipping sauces.
EightyTwo
Address: 707 E 4th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Pinball Machines: 22
Why You Should Play at EightyTwo
Home of the Los Angeles Pinball League (every Tuesday night! Sign in by 8pm), EightyTwo is a barcade in the Arts District of Downtown LA. With an outdoor patio area separating them, one building is filled with old-school arcade games, while the other is strictly for pinball. With a more chill and laid back vibe, EightyTwo is a great casual spot to grab a drink at night and play some pinball favorites like TRON (Pro), KISS, Jurassic Park (Pro), and Godzilla (Premium), to name a few. A live DJ and food trucks out front really bring the ambiance together. It’s a great spot for a date night!
Revenge Of
Address: 3420 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Pinball Machines: 18
Why You Should Play at Revenge Of
Is there anything more nostalgic than comic books, soda pops, and pinball machines? Revenge Of offers all of these things and also sells toys and other cool collectibles. Parents can share some of their favorite childhood pastimes with their own kids, and pinball fans can enjoy the self-proclaimed “best pinball room in LA.” Revenge Of had a James Bond 007 launch party in 2022 and weeks ago they hosted a Groundhog Day Pingolf Tournament, complete with a golf attire dress code. This immersive environment is sure to make anyone feel like a kid again.
Player One
Address: 5126 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Pinball Machines: 13
Why You Should Play at Player One
Player One welcomes visitors with an exterior reminiscent of TRON and Blade Runner. The bold purple, pink, and blue gives off a retro-future feel when players pull up to this barcade located in a hoppin’ part of the Valley. It’s adults only here since the bar whips up tasty gaming-inspired drinks like the Pinkie Paloma and the Q-Bert. Test your knowledge at weekly trivia, listen to live bands or sing your heart out at karaoke, and, most importantly, build out your pinball community on Tuesday nights with the Average Joe Pinball Club (starts at 9:30!). Half newer tables and half older ones (pre-2000s) offer something for everyone.
Barcade LA
Address: 5684 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Pinball Machines: 12
Why You Should Play at Barcade LA
Barcade is the reason the arcade bar concept exists and they run nine arcade bars across the U.S. The eighth one to open was in LA’s Highland Park back in 2019, and it quickly became a go-to spot for gamers. Barcade LA offers a surplus of arcade games and pinball machines, an impressive bar food menu (with veggie and vegan options, too) and beer selection, and one thing that gives any establishment a leg-up in a busy city: decent parking. A cute and cozy patio awaits when players need to take a break from the popular Addams Family pinball machine.
Walt’s Bar
Address: 4680 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Pinball Machines: 10
Why You Should Play at Walt’s Bar
With a neon sign and a multicolored “PINBALL!” exclamation below it, Walt’s Bar is a throwback bar that offers jumbo German pretzels, hot dogs, and pinball. A peculiarly curated decor includes wood-paneled walls, mannequin heads, and furniture from the ‘80s. Pinball players fight for a spot on the high scores bulletin board, and the bar with an eye-grabbing orange top serves local beers and California wines. The brothers who own Walt’s show off with pride a few EM pinball machines from their childhood in the ‘60s and ‘70s. They recently hosted a Women’s Tournament and they host other tournaments often. And, hey, they are dog friendly!
Button Mash
Address: 1391 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Pinball Machines: 10
Why You Should Play at Button Mash
Nestled at the bottom of the hill below Dodger Stadium in Echo park is Button Mash, a barcade known for both its arcade games and its food and drink menu. Iconic gamer Billy Mitchell has been spotted here enjoying Donkey Kong and Pac-Man, and on the other side of the bar is where you can set your own high scores on pinball machines like Baywatch, The Shadow, Jurassic Park, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Lawless Brewing Company
Address: 5275 Craner Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Pinball Machines: 9
Why You Should Play at Lawless
Tucked away in an unsuspecting part of North Hollywood is Lawless Brewing, the city’s oldest brewery. A family & dog friendly taproom, a snug loft, and a spacious outdoor patio makes this a great spot to enjoy an afternoon beverage and a bite from a specialty food truck out back, complete with a round or two of pinball in their pinball room. Come by on Wednesday nights for their game night deal: four pinball tokens with full pours.
Family Arcade LA
Address: 876 North Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Pinball Machines: 8
Why You Should Play at Family Arcade LA
$25 for free play on all games? It would be hard to find a deal better than that in LA, so already Family Arcade LA deserves your attention. It also deserves some longevity recognition for being in business for over 50 years. They know how to take care of their machines! Ghostbusters, Street Fighter II, Elvira, The Mandalorian, Iron Maiden, and The Munsters are just a few pinball machines they offer, alongside shooting and racing games, DDR, and air hockey and billiards.
Blipsy Bar
Address: 369 N Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Pinball Machines: 4
Why You Should Play at Blipsy Bar
A little dive bar tucked into Koreatown, Blipsy Bar offers a homey and casual vibe with delicious drinks and an arcade. Playboy, Terminator 2, and The Twilight Zone are among their small but mighty collection of pinball machines. Daily drink specials, live DJs, a vintage jukebox, and a happy hour until 8pm make this local watering hole a fun spot to hang around.
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