In case you haven’t noticed, one of the hottest trends in craft beer as of late has nothing to do with what’s in your glass, but rather, what’s under it. And in case you missed that poorly executed pun, I’m talking about pinball, the sport of kings. Alright, that’s not true, but still. Any watering hole worth its salt nowadays is home to at least one pinball machine, and the beer scene is better off because of it.
From breweries and bars to brewpubs and everything in-between, pinball and craft beer are quite the perfect marriage of craftsmanship and skill. Each piece of the puzzle accentuates the other, effectively working to enhance the experience most often that not. And if you’ve yet to drink a cold pint of locally crafted beer while watching a small metal ball bang and clang off of brightly colored bumpers and rails, then you really are missing out.
With help from our friends at Buffalo Pinball (@buffalopinball, buffalopinball.com), we’ve compiled a list of the best spots to grab a beer and play pinball. ***Note: All of these locations have multiple machines.
Did we miss one? Did one of these places close? Send us a note!
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1. Misuta Chows
521 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14203 / More Info
Not only does Misuta Chows offer a number of options in terms of gaming as you sip on an adult libation, they have nearly half a dozen pinball machines to keep you stimulated. Head down to Main, head right upstairs, grab a beer (or grab a fresh pint downstairs first), then hit gaming alley. The best part is, after you’ve had your fill of pinball, you can enjoy a few rounds of Double Dragon and Spyhunter. Damn that sounds nice.
Games: Kiss, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Walking Dead
2. Community Beer Works
520 7th St, Buffalo, NY 14201 / More Info
As part of their gaming room, CBW added a slate of new pinball machines, which is pretty much just the cherry on top of the icing that is the game room on top of the sundae that is CBW itself. Grab a pint of Frank or Whale straight from the source then walk like 10 feet to play some pinball.
Games: Jurassic Park, Munsters, The Mandalorian
3. Other Half Brewing
1 Seneca St, Buffalo, NY 14203 / More Info
Other Half Brewing is fairly new to downtown Buffalo but they are doing everything right by the beer community with their indoor/outdoor beer garden which is fully equipped with yard games and a few pinball machines. Grab a pack of beers and stick around for some gaming fun.
Games: Star Wars Trilogy, Monopoly
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4. Caputi’s Sheridan Pub
2351 Sheridan Dr Tonawanda New York 14150 / More Info
Looking for more than just a beer? Head to Caputi’s Sheridan Pub for wings and things as well as the new Candyman Pizza located within Caputi’s. Once you’re filled up on food and drinks, head over to their game are where you’ll find a billiard table and a few pinball machines.
Games: Game of Thrones, Addams Family, The Machine
5. Buffalo Riverworks
359 Ganson St, Buffalo, NY 14203 / More Info
Like Misuta Chows, Riverworks’ pinball machines are just one piece of the puzzle. First, you should hit the bar and grab a beer, preferably one brewed in the silos right on site at Riverworks, then get a few rounds of pinball in, before you head over to play some darts and then hit one of the many arcade machines scattered throughout the sprawling Riverworks complex.
Games: Stranger Things, Star Trek (Reboot cast), Ghostbusters, Jurassic Park, Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast
6. Lafayette Brewing
391 Washington St Buffalo NY 14203 / More Info
Located inside Hotel Lafayette is two important things that pertain to this article: 1. a brewery and 2. an arcade room. What better match made in heaven than a round of drinks and some gaming? In their arcade you’ll find a bunch of old school games, shuffleboard, and pinball machines.
Games: Metallica, Ghost Busters, Avatar
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7. Rapids Bowling Center
9524 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 / Website
Rapids Bowling Center may be a bowling destination but it also has a variety of rotating pinball machines. In addition, they have 24 different draft beers/ciders, even more can/bottle drink options, and a full service restaurant; Waves Gastropub.
Games: Spiderman, Star Trek, Nascar, Aerosmith, Wrestle Mania, Waterworld
8. Pocketeer Billiards
2444 Clinton St, Buffalo, NY 14224 / More Info
You see all of those pinball machines, right? It’s pretty simple why they made this list. They have 80 machines nestled in what they call Pinball Alley and even have their own Pinball Club, so including Pocketeer here was a literal no-brainer. In addition, can you grab a beer, wine or mixed drink and hit the pool tables or the dartboards when you’ve had your fill of pinball action. Seems like an easy destination to me.
Games:
- The big lebowski
- Guns n roses (Jersey jack)
- Elviras house of horrors
- Ripleys believe it or not
- Attack from mars
- Pirates of the Caribbean (jersey jack)
- The lord of the rings
- No good golfers
- Independence day (sega)
- The shadow
- Twilight zone
- Medieval madness
- Whirlwind
- Banzai run
- Transformers Spider-Man Iron Man Batman Jurassic Park
- Black Knight Sword of Rage
- Star Wars
- Tron
- Meteor
- Stargate
- Break shot
- Demolition man
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Game of Thrones
- The machine bride of pin bot
- AC/DC
- Terminator ³ rise of the machines
- Dialed in
- Mandalorian
- The Avengers Infinity Quest
- the hobbit motion picture trilogy
- Teterminator 2 judgment day
- The Addams Family
- Full throttle
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Star Trek
- The Beatles
- Eight ball deluxe
- The pabst can Crusher
- Trident
- Shrek
- Hot Wheels
- Elvira and the party monsters
- Metallica
- Alien
- Indiana Jones
- Fun house
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
- Stranger things
- Godzilla
- Legends of Valhalla
- Led Zeppelin
- Black Night 2000
- Theatre of Magic
- Creature from the Black Lagoon
- Houdini
- Monster Bash
- pistol poker
- Gilligan’s Island
- Iron maiden
- Centaur
- Dr. Dude and his excellent ray
- Apollo 13
- Radical
- The Who’s Tommy
- Diner
- Embryon
- Deadpool
- 0O7 golden eye
- Kiss
- The Flintstones
- World Cup soccer
- Star Trek the next generation
- Guns n’ roses
- The Walking Dead
- Pirates of the Caribbean (Stern)
- The munsters
- Bram Stokers Dracula
- OctoberFest pinball on tap
- Transformers
- Spider-Man
- Iron Man
- Batman
- Jurassic Park
