Best Old School Arcades In Pittsburgh
No matter how old you get, there's something that's still appealing about playing games -- and is there a better place for games than an arcade? We may be able to carry games in our pockets on our cellphones now, but there's nothing quite like a good, old-fashioned arcade. And Pittsburgh's got a few. Whether you're a pinball wizard or want to hit a BYOB spot with some friends, Pittsburgh has a few arcades with plenty of games just waiting to be played. Here are five of the best.
Victory Pointe
1113 East Carson St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 251-51510
www.victorypointe.com
Pittsburgh's South Side may be known for its large number of bars, but it's also home to Victory Pointe, which bills itself as the city's "first and finest gaming lounge." They have games for just about everyone, with a wide selection of arcade games, console games, tabletop miniature games, board games and more. Victory Pointe also welcomes just about everyone, with a family-friendly environment and a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination of any kind. And if you're looking for something to eat, check out their menu of food and drinks inspired by games. If you want a beer, it's BYOB, but no liquor is allowed.
Games N'At
2010 Josephine St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 481-2002
Games N'At has just about any game you can imagine -- pool, ping pong, pinball, old-school arcade games, air hockey, computer games, consoles such as XBox 360, and more. They even have skill games like skeeball if you're looking to win some prizes. Games N'At charges for play, starting at $5 per person for an hour and going up to $14 for four hours, but deals like One-Price Thursday will let you play from 4 p.m. until midnight for just $10, while college students can get in on Fridays with an I.D. for $10. They're also BYOB and have a special party room if you'd like to host an event.
Kickback
4326 Butler St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
(412) 682-3200
www.kickbackpgh.com
Lawrenceville's Kickback Cafe doesn't just serve sandwiches and espresso -- their second floor houses a pinball arcade, plus the establishment is BYOB. Their newest addition is a Ghostbusters machine, but other pinball machines also include Kiss, Indiana Jones, The Walking Dead, Tommy, Star Trek and more. Kickback also offers party packages for both kids and adults, with an added fee for BYOB.
Pinball PA
2284 Brodhead Rd.
Aliquippa, PA 15001
(412) 423-8532
www.coinophof.com
Don't be fooled by the title -- Pinball PA has plenty more to offer than just pinball. They also have a number of traditional arcade games, as well as a museum showcasing notable video games and pinball machines. Machines are free to play, as Pinball PA simple charges an individual rate of $20 for two hours of play or $40 for a day pass. They also offer special rates for families, military personnel and senior citizens. And of course, Pinball PA also has multiple options for hosting parties.
Pinball Perfection
231 Perry Highway
Westview, PA 15229
(412) 931-4425
www.pinballperfection.com
Pinball Perfection is a pinball lover's dream. If you're looking to buy your own pinball machine, try here -- and if you already have one, turn to Pinball Perfection for service and restoration. If you merely want to enjoy their collection of machines, visit the museum and showroom, or turn to Pinball Perfection for your next party.
Janelle Sheetz is a 20-something closed-captioner by day, writer by night, just outside of Pittsburgh. She also regularly contributes to AXS.com and Examiner.com, and her writing has also been featured on The Billfold and Neutrons Protons.