Where to Play Pinball in Houston: Arcades, Bars, and Breweries with Machines
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Houston's pinball scene spreads across a metro that covers more than 600 square miles. You'll find machines in free play arcades in the suburbs, neighborhood bars in Katy and Richmond, a craft brewery in the Heights, dive bars in Montrose and downtown, and a barcade in EaDo. The city also hosts an active competitive pinball community through the Space City Pinball League, which organizes tournaments and weekly leagues at venues throughout the area.
Whether you're looking for a dedicated arcade experience with dozens of games on free play, a casual drink with a few machines nearby, or a brewery where you can chase a high score between pints, Houston has options across the region. Here's where to find pinball across the Houston metro.
| Venue | Area | Machines | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Game Preserve | Spring | 30+ | Arcade |
| EinStein's Pub | Katy | 30+ | Bar |
| The Game Preserve NASA | Webster | 20+ | Arcade |
| Gandalf's Arcade | Northwest Houston | 20+ | Private arcade |
| Eureka Heights Brew Co | The Heights | 20+ | Brewery |
| Cidercade Houston | EaDo | 15+ | Barcade |
| EinStein's Pub & Arcade | Richmond | 15+ | Bar & arcade |
| Little Dipper Lounge | Downtown | 10+ | Bar |
| Poison Girl | Montrose | A few | Bar |
Arcade · Spring
The Game Preserve operates as a free play arcade in Spring with a pay-one-price admission model. Day passes run $15, with monthly memberships available for individuals ($35) and families ($70). The arcade allows BYOB and BYOF, and features the Adaptive Flipper Control system that allows one-handed play on equipped machines.
Arcade · Webster
The Game Preserve NASA is the second Game Preserve location, opened in 2019 near NASA's Johnson Space Center. The 11,000-square-foot space-themed arcade uses the same pay-one-price admission model as the Spring location, with all games set to free play.
Private arcade · Northwest Houston
Gandalf's Arcade operates by appointment only as a private venue for rentals and tournament play. The collection spans classic and modern titles and regularly hosts local competitive events. The arcade also appears at regional events including the Houston Arcade Expo.
Bar · Katy
EinStein's Pub has operated in Katy since 1996, building a reputation for well-maintained machines. Games run $0.50-$0.75 per play via PayRange, and the bar hosts monthly tournaments through the Space City Pinball League (EinStein's Drainiacs, second Sunday at 1pm).
Bar & arcade · Richmond
EinStein's Pub & Arcade is the second EinStein's location, with a collection spanning machines from the 1970s to current releases. The venue is family-friendly until 9pm, then 21+. Monthly tournaments run through the Space City Pinball League (EinStein's E=mc², fourth Sunday at 1pm).
Barcade · EaDo
Cidercade Houston houses over 275 arcade and pinball games with a $12 admission for unlimited play. The barcade serves house-made hard ciders and craft beers alongside pizza from the on-site kitchen. Family-friendly during the day, 18+ at 9pm.
Bar · Downtown
Little Dipper Lounge sits on Main Street in downtown Houston with a retro-styled interior featuring vintage books, neon signage, and a photo booth. The bar hosts monthly pinball tournaments (third Sunday at 1pm) and shares ownership with Poison Girl.
Bar · Montrose
Poison Girl occupies a corner of Montrose with an extensive whiskey collection (100+ bourbons), eclectic décor, and a back patio. The machines rotate periodically. Open 3pm-2am daily with happy hour 3pm-7pm.
Brewery · The Heights
Eureka Heights Brew Co occupies an open manufacturing space with picnic tables and a lineup of machines maintained by former Wormhole pinball operators. The collection leans heavily toward newer Stern titles. The brewery hosts Space City Pinball League play on Wednesday nights and has rotating food trucks.
Houston's pinball options span the full range—from dedicated free play arcades where you can spend an entire day to neighborhood bars with a handful of machines near the pool tables. If you're looking for competitive play, the Space City Pinball League runs tournaments and leagues at venues across the metro and hosts the annual Space City Open at the Houston Arcade Expo each November.
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Last updated: January 2026
Colin is the chief pixel pusher at Kineticist. He's a lifetime gamer who became enamored with pinball after taking in a family copy of the 1979 classic Joker Poker (the EM version). Since then he's bought, sold and repaired many machines, competed in all kinds of tournaments, and contributes to This Week in Pinball, the New England Pinball League, and Pin-Masters of New England. Previously, Colin spent over a decade working in marketing for agencies and tech startups. He also started and ran a music blog, happy hour website, and wrote a regular craft beer review column for Central Track in Dallas. Once aspired to be an artsy film director.
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