Best Places to Play Pinball in New Orleans; Secret Spots in The Big Easy
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Let the trumpets call you to New Orleans, Louisiana, a mythic place down on the bayou where people strut in parades to music you’d have to hear to believe. Get your Bourbon Street debauchery done early to truly experience the endless adventures in New Orleans.
Discovering street musicians on par with Professor Longhair or Sidney Bechet and encountering local krewes boiling crawfish on their front porch as they prepare costumes and floats for next year’s Mardi Gras – that’s the real allure of The Big Easy.
Keep Groove City’s culture alive by tipping musicians you encounter. Some of the nation’s best musicians spent their whole lives mastering the craft of stringing a few notes together just for you to be able to hear this moment in N’Awlins. Whether you find them in a bar or on the street, if you love what these musicians do and you listen for a while, it is customary to tip an equivalent to the price your party would have paid for a ticket per person.
People here have their own cuisines, so bad restaurants do not survive in New Orleans – you'll find amazing food everywhere. Still, there are a few staples you must try: beignets from Cafe Du Monde, Creole gumbo at Dooky Chase and fresh oysters from Casamento’s.
Searching New Orleans for a pinball experience is a pretty sure way to get off the bead-strewn path and onto some funny-named streets where you and your friends can try to save that last silver ball and laissez les bon temps rouler!
Mystic Krewe Pinball Parlor (Broad Theater)
- Address: 636 North Broad St. New Orleans, LA 70119
- Pinball machines on location: 5
As one of the few independent theaters in New Orleans, LA, The Broad Theater attracts locals from Treme to Slidell. Step back in time inside this small theater to enjoy real butter on your popcorn and fresh lemonade, a few bar offerings, and the Mystic Krewe Pinball Parlor with nostalgic arcade games like Galaga and Ms. Pac-Man and a rotating line-up of pinball machines belonging to the Mystic Krewe. Now, lean in, and we’ll whisper a local legend: Mystic Krewe actually does operate the best pinball parlor in New Orleans. It’s just not in this spot, and it isn’t open to the public. However, if you’re a serious pinhead and a regular around these parts, you may be extended an exclusive invitation.
Emporium New Orleans
- Address: 2231 St. Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
- Pinball machines on location: 8
Down in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans, LA, inside an old industrial garage covered by local artists in graffiti murals is Emporium New Orleans. This adults-only barcade is filled with pool tables, retro arcade games, skee ball, foosball, and a killer selection of modern pinball tables like Simpsons Pinball Party, Mandalorian, and Godzilla. Emporium’s New Orleans location serves craft beer, and innovative cocktails and hosts live DJs and dancing.
Zony Mash Beer Project
- Address: 3940 Thalia St. New Orleans, LA 70125
- Pinball machines on location: 5
Step back into New Orleans history in The Gem Theater – historically the last segregated theater serving Black patrons – where Zony Mash Beer Project is a unique brewery experience and one of NOLA's coolest music venues. Zony Mash honors the building’s past with occasional movie screenings. If there’s no band playing, you can select your favorite tunes played by local musicians on vinyl from the jukebox, flip on vintage pinball machines, or play some ping pong. With an adjoining beer garden and food trucks, Zony Mash is kid-friendly, dog friendly, and just all-around super friendly. The beer rocks, too!
Old Town Slidell Soda Shop
- Address: 301 Cousin St. Slidell, LA 70458
- Pinball machines on location: 4
Old Town Slidell Soda Shop is easily the most adorable, nostalgic ice cream parlor on Lake Pontchartrain, right across the bridge from New Orleans in Slidell, LA. This soda shop is right out of the ’50s with ice cream, candy, sundaes, banana splits, video games, pinball, and miniature golf.
Très Bon Cajun Meats
- Address: 10316 Jefferson Highway, River Ridge, LA 70123
- Pinball machines on location: 12
Got an envie for spicey, smokey Cajun BBQ and risqué pinball themes? Head over to Très Bon Cajun Meats in River Ridge, LA. Not only is the BBQ hot and fresh, but Très Bon also carries beer, wine, a variety of hand-picked pantry items made by local artisans, and a small gallery featuring charming artwork and crafts from Louisiana artists. These pinball games may not be intended for Ti-Billy (that's Cajun for junior) with themes like Playboy (both Bally and Data East), Big Indian, and The Sopranos, but grown Billy also just added Godzilla to the floor. Allons!
New Orleans pinball players - did we miss anything good? Drop us a line and let us know!
