Best Old School Arcades In San Francisco
(credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
If you've forgotten what it's like to have your fortune told by a mechanical gypsy, eating dots on a video screen maze while being chased by colorful ghosts, or nailing a high-score replay on a classic pinball game, then San Francisco can rekindle your youth. The city offers an impressive variety of places where penny-arcade machines, old-school video games, or classic pinball tables can be found, sometimes for only the cost of a quarter to play. Some of these games are in pubs or bars so the venue may not always be best for children. But you can be sure that these arcades offer a rare place where no one will complain if adults act like kids again.
1767 Waller St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 876-4444
www.freegoldwatch.com
This is actually a working silk screen print shop and arcade combined in an unassuming location in the Haight District of San Francisco. About three years ago, the owners decided to convert a long hallway leading to their workshop into an arcade by adding a few vintage pinball machines, and the rest is history. Free Gold Watch now includes over 30 classic pinball machines and is the site of regular tournaments which draw avid players from around the Bay Area. This popular arcade also includes a number of video games.
1737 Post St., Suite 323
San Francisco, CA 94115
(510) 501-6546
www.japancentersf.com
Home computers have largely put video game arcades out of business, but there are still a few places that keep the spirit of video gaming in a public space alive. The games at the Playland Japan arcade were all produced solely for the Japanese market, which might be a problem if you don't know the language, but the arcade has staff to help. The games in this family-friendly arcade are highly interactive, featuring drums and furniture that can be slapped or flipped. Some games also reward players with candy or toys and a snack-bar onsite sells authentic Japanese drinks and food.
2200 Market St., Suite 102
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 872-5310
www.brewcadesf.com
The venue is new, but the arcade games are classic oldies. Brewcade has only been open for a little over eighteen months, but this Castro-area pub has rapidly gained a reputation for its large collection of vintage machines. Old favorites like Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders and Tetris are on full display. They are reputed to be the only bar in California with the hard-to-find Killer Queen ten-player game. Another selling point is a craft beer menu that is one of the best in the city.
Pier 45 at the end of Taylor St.
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 346-2000
www.museemecaniquesf.com
Located at Pier 45 in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, Musée Mécanique is a throwback experience in the classic world of the penny arcade. Some of the games in this arcade really do cost a penny, but most are in the 25 cents to 50 cents range. Coin operated pianos, a fortune teller, antique slot machines and even an arm wrestling game are among the nearly 300 items on display in this unusual venue. This arcade is open 365 days a year and admission is free.
449 Powell St., 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 677-9999
www.ggtaproom.com
This Union Square bar has a surprisingly extensive set of games for customers to play. In addition to vintage pinball games, patrons can burn a few calories playing old-school favorites such as skeeball, air hockey, foosball, and shuffleboard. They also have NBA Jam, the classic basketball arcade game developed more than two decades ago that has since generated more than $1 billion in revenue, all from quarters. Two floors of TV sets make this an especially popular locale for watching sporting events in between tallying your score for Big Buck Hunter.
