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Last Updated on September 29, 2022 by Jeremy
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We love good pinball and vintage arcade games, and we have been pleased that so many bars, cafes, breweries, and other event spaces in Pittsburgh have been adding machines for customers more and more over the years.
While we could list out every single spot in the city that has a few machines for enjoyment, we thought we’d take a different look at this activity and showcase spots that we think are the best of the best.
In this instance, the places featured here have some of the largest collections of pinball and/or arcade machines near the city plus other unique amenities you really should know about be it featuring great coffee, beer, or free play options!
Kickback Pinball Cafe
Have you ever wanted to play pinball with a cup of coffee in hand? At Kickback Pinball Cafe in Lawrenceville, you can do just that!
This one hosts roughly two dozen pinball machines with a traditional cafe experience. So whether you are visiting for a quick round or two with your morning coffee or arriving late for a pick-me-up and several rounds during their late-night hours, this one is worth a stop if you need a pinball fix in the neighborhood!
Kickback Pinball Cafe is located at 4326 Butler Street in Lawrenceville.
Helicon Brewing Oakdale
Want a beer to enjoy with a game of pinball instead of a coffee? While many breweries offer pinball machines for guests to enjoy alongside a brew, none does it better than Helicon Brewing in Oakdale. The large space within the brewery is home to over 40 pinball machines and we almost always take in a game or three when visiting (typically for a post-bike-ride victory beer as The Panhandle Trail passes the brewery).
Helicon’s second brewery location in McDonald, PA, also is getting into the pinball fun, but if variety is what you seek, it is hard to beat the selection at the Oakdale location.
Be on the lookout to check Helicon’s social media pages as well as they periodically host “Free Play Pinball” events on Mondays where for a set fee you can get two beers and unlimited play on the games for an evening all at a rather respectable price point. Not a bad way to spend a Monday at all!
Helicon Brewing is located at 102 Union Avenue in Oakdale, PA. The McDonald location is at 104 East Lincoln Avenue. Lists of available games can be found at the links on the Pinball section of Helicon’s website.
Barcadia
You may not think of Market Square as a hub for all things pinball and retro arcade machines, but the 2nd-floor barcade, aptly named Barcadia (above Market Exchange), features nearly 40 machines with a roughly equal split between the game types.
While the bar program at Barcadia itself was rather lacking to our tastes during our visit, this spot boasts a back room Speakeasy for craft cocktails, late night hours on weekends, and is family-friendly during the day (switching to 21+ at roughly 8 pm, but re-verify before visiting).
Suffice it to say, whether you visit this one to play a couple of quick rounds of pinball or to make a night of it when out downtown, you have some great options here!
Barcadia is located at 25 Market Square. The bar is located on the 2nd floor and is accessible via a private entry and stairs next to Market Exchange.
Pinball Perfection
Would you rather visit a spot that is home to hundreds of pinball machines all set to free play mode? Pinball Perfection in West View is for you. This one calls itself the region’s largest pinball museum, and with 300+ machines we can certainly see their claim!
When visiting Pinball Perfection, it is worth noting that their prices are variable with rates per hour or, for just a few dollars more, 3-5 hours of access depending on the day. As such, if you go the latter route, you may want to plan your arrival time accordingly as hours are often limited- arriving close to opening will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Still, as far as free play options are concerned, Pinball Perfection has some of the best rates in the city!
Pinball Perfection is located at 231 Perry Highway in West View.
Pinball PA
Like the concept of a one-time fee to access hundreds of pinball machines, but also want some vintage arcade machines thrown into the mix? You’ll want to head to Pinball PA in Aliquippa.
This spot boasts over 400 machines with a roughly equal split between pinball and arcade options as well as new and old machines alike. Much like Pinball Perfection, entry to Pinball PA requires a one-time fee, and once you enter you can enjoy all the games set in free play mode.
Pricing at this one is a bit more complex than Pinball Perfection, with rates including two hours of access, full-day passes, family entry discounts, group rates, and season passes as well. Suffice it to say, you should take some friends to save a bit of money when visiting here if you are able!
Pinball PA is located at 2284 Brodhead Road in Aliquippa, PA.
Do you know of a place with an epic selection of arcade or pinball in Pittsburgh? Comment below to share!
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