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Add-a-Ball

4.1 (214 reviews)
InexpensiveArcades, Bars
Open 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

Add-a-Ball Photos

ADD-A-BALL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Divey
Loud
Good for groups

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Autumn d.

Came in on a Friday night. The bar has a classic dive bar feel. Pretty limited bar, they had a few beers ciders and seltzers on tap. They had two bottles of natural wine that night. Drinks are very reasonably priced, wine was $8. Bar tenders were friendly and quick. All machines take quarters and their is an atm machine and a coin dispenser. Not too many bathrooms and a few tables. So many fun older and newer machines! Definitely going to be a place we frequent.

Playing one of their older games, Paragon.
Will L.

I hadn't been back to Add-a-Ball in a few years. We decided to pop by after a nice dinner in Fremont. Add-a-Ball is tucked away in an alleyway just off Phinney, between 35th and 36th. Signage is poor, and you wouldn't even know it was a pinball establishment. (This ended up being good because I was able to surprise my date, who loves pinball. She had no idea that we were going to be playing pinball until after we had already entered the place!) The place is pretty funky, with many rooms, some small and difficult to pass through, and machines littered throughout. There's also an upstairs with even more machines. Machines very widely in age, with some vintage machines (including my childhood favorite, Eight Ball Deluxe). There are also some great vintage video games too. Service is hit or miss. When one of our machines ate our quarters due to a stuck ball, one of the staff came up to help us with the machine, spending several minutes playing the machine and giving us some pointers on how to win. Another staff member gave us a small stack of quarters, and we ended up playing that machine for nearly an hour. Great service! On the other hand, if you want a beer or a drink, you need to order at the bar, which is just inside the entrance. It can sometimes take quite a while to get a drink since the line at the bar can get quite long. At one point while we were there, when we went to get a couple of more drinks, the line was super long, and the waitperson at the counter, oblivious to the line, proceeded to stand and gab with a friend at the counter for nearly 10 minutes, taking no orders for that entire period. Of course, the line only got longer, and people were getting really frustrated. All-in-all, however, we had a great time at Add-a-Ball. If you're lowkey and chill and really like pinball (and vintage arcade), plus don't mind occasionally waiting for a drink, you'll love this place. We'll certainly be back. , and we'll certainly be back again.

Pinball machines
Nathan Z.

Maybe it was just our lucky day but there was heavy metal soundtrack to the place when we were there on a random rainy Monday in November. The selection of beer, cider, and wine was solid nothing fancy but something for everyone. Hooks for coats and seating are all over. The selection of pinball machines was great. Most were at least $0.50 a play but some of the newer ones were more. All worth it. BYOQ or they have change machines. It is decorated in punk bar/skate park chic. There was an ATM onsite. The gentleman pouring that day gave us a good rundown of the place. If you have a few hours to kill in the Fremont neighborhood this is great option.

Pinball machines
Emili A.

Ever since my college days, I've always loved this place. Quirky decor, eclectic games, friendly staff, cheap drinks, and fun customers: what's not to love? Around the corner through a very scary doorway you will walk into what seems to be a portal to another era. The beers and most drinks are about $6 which is pretty rare for seattle prices. The game prices do range depending on the type of game but $20 for three people took us very far; about 2+ hours of gameplay before heading back home for the night. They have a lot of options for games but mostly a lot of the machines are for pinball of various themes. Along with pinball, there is jenga (with dares written on them), pac man, air hockey, fighting games, etc. Parking: Be careful because the parking lot outside is actually one where you have to pay. Somehow we missed the sign and did get a parking ticket on a random thursday night. Very fun place and worth visiting, definitely won't be disappointed.

Bodhi Vibes
Tammie W.

Neat arcade in the Fremont district of Seattle which had the hubby and I playing PacMan for hours and failing hard on Pong. I showed the AC/DC pinball machine who was boss though. The location is tucked around the corner in a parking lot, so don't give up because it's worth checking out. You can get your drink on if you'd like and munch on the snacks they sell. Make sure to check out every corner and wander upstairs to play the games as well. Take a picture with the awesome Bodhi mural downstairs which will have you wanting to go out and catch the big wave.

Godzilla
Eddie G.

Very nostalgic place. Had lots of fun using all my laundry quarters. Lots of pinball machines. Got lost playing Simpson old arcade game and time crises 2. Not many of these places exist anymore it was fun playing played for over an hour on about $8. Beers were $6 and had a good selection. Definitely recommend this place might be 21 and over since they sell alcohol.

Katy C.

Add-a-Ball wasn't on my extensive list of places I wanted to check out while visiting Seattle, but I'm so glad we ended up there because it was one of my favorite bars! I really like checking out arcade bars and this one has so many unique games that I've never seen before, including "Bad Cats" which goes with the theme of the bar. There are cat pictures everywhere! As a cat lover, I was endlessly amused by this. I asked the bartender about it and he told me that the owner just really loves cats. Cool. Me too. The vibe inside Add-a-Ball is like being in someone's basement in the 70s. It's super funky with so much to look at! I loved the Star Wars wall over by the Pong table. When we were there on a Friday afternoon, Add-a-Ball wasn't busy at all, which was really nice as our local friend told us that it can get packed. We were able to check out all the different games, try Bad Cats, and have a couple beers. There is an upstairs level that has a tiny cash only bar which I'm sure is popular on busy nights. I loved this cool retro bar and would definitely go back to snap more photos and play some pinball during the day.

Pinball
Sarah L.

I visited Add-a-Ball a Friday night with some friends. We actually ended up stopping by twice - first we checked out the location after dinner and it was too crowded to enjoy ourselves. The one bar serving drinks had a line that looped around a couple times, and most of the arcade games were occupied. We left for another bar and returned later in the night, and had much more fun the second time around. All the games we tried were enjoyable and even found a table to chill at in the back.

Linda K.

Dude. Just go. This was the best pinball we've ever played! The machines are very well maintained, and there's such a large selection! The pong was super fun as well! Could've stayed here all night!

Brian F.

This place is a fan favorite among my friend group and I finally got the chance to see what it was all about. It's not a huge place and is actually hidden away and not easily seen. There are tons of pinball machines everywhere and has a small upstairs as well with a couple more games. You might have to wait to play during the busier times because it was really crowded on a Saturday night. Some games that we wanted to play had queues for up to about five people. We played this Pac-Man game that was $2 for four players and seven rounds. It was just really fun to be competitive with friends while still having fun and laughing. We played that for most of our time there. Rainiers were $3 and well drinks were $5 which is really cheap. I always love places with cheap drinks and cheap entertainment!

VHS Tapes and decor!

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8 months ago

good vibes, good games, good people, good music, good bartender, good jenga, best time of my life

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3 years ago

The corn is fantastic pop corn is sublime. You come here.........AND YOU FEEL FANCY. Plus a band of furry guys play in the mens room.

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2 years ago

Literally my favorite place to hang. And they have Fernet, what?! Bring cash so you can exchange for quarters! 10/10!

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Add-a-Ball Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Add-a-Ball

Do they allow outside food?

Are they still closed?

They're open now!

I think I left my phone here - how do I get into contact with their office? The listed number rings once and hangs up.

Honestly, I don't think they use their phone. I'd try just going in yourself and speaking with the bartender on shift or maybe DM-ing them on Instagram.

Anybody know the age restriction to this place?

21+

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Review Highlights - Add-a-Ball

Difficult to find but a fun dive with a decent beer selection and tons of pinball and old style arcade games.

Mentioned in 77 reviews

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Shorty's

Shorty's

(714 reviews)

$

Belltown

Stopped into Shorty's across the street from Bangrak after lunch and WOW... this place was a blast…read more It's quirky as hell and I mean that as a compliment. They've got tons of pinball machines, but the thing I absolutely LOVED were the booths with the pinball machines built right into the tables. I've never seen that before and immediately thought it was such a cool idea. Definitely the kind of spot you stop into for a drink and then end up hanging out way longer than you planned. Overall just a really fun little bar with a lot of character. I'd absolutely come back.

Love this bar. We have been here countless times and it's great vibes every time…read more Lots of regulars. Smoking area in front of the bar. They have games, an ATM to get quarters to play the games, free condoms box above the quarter ATM. And my favorite part a Photo Booth! A great bar to me has a Photo Booth, street fighter, and private booths. This has it all. Love how we can have fun playing games, taking pics, choosing a song, and having great conversations in the comfy booths. Service is helpful. One night one of the games ate our quarters up and never worked so we let the bartender know and a few minutes later he gave us our quarters back. Staff is efficient and keeps the bar clean picking up any left behind glasses quickly. The bar is quirky and fun. Private and comfy booths, and lots of clowns everywhere. Sad clowns, happy clowns, creepy clowns, and more clowns than you can count! The bathrooms are unisex with plenty of stickers to look at. Always hand soap and toilet paper available even when busy. Hard working staff! Some areas of the bar like near the bathrooms have flashy lights and makes it feel like you're at the circus. The vibe is laid back and care free. Have yet to try the food so no words on that quite yet! Always a great time at Shorty's. Literally one of my favorite bars! Highly recommend!

GameWorks - Mocha-Spresso milkshake. Love that presentation!

GameWorks

(619 reviews)

$$

Downtown

Came here for a date after passing it numerous times bumping around downtown…read more I've always pegged this place as sort of a more local Dave & Busters and it sort of is on a smaller scale. Food, drinks and of course a bunch of games to play. Difference here is they seem to host ESports and other games beyond arcade games which is cool. This particular visit was kind of like a Classic play some games and laugh along the way rather than expect to find gem games of days gone by or even present. There is a good assortment of light gun, classic fighters and of course DDR which they were real generous with - 6 credits on a swipe which is like 9 song/sets! There is a bar but it's kind of basic compared to the afformentioned Dave & Busters, which makes that part of their identity. Also the person selling me the game card was fast on talk, and slow on the explanation of how things work which could've been better. It was nearing close so I wasn't going go through the whole rundown. Fun time here if you're looking for something to do in the area, but a Barcade or Dave & Busters will do the job all the same.

Whether you're a casual gamer or a hardcore arcade fan, this place has something for everyone. From…read moreclassic pinball and air hockey to the latest racing, Japanese rhythm game, and VR games. My fav was dance dance revolution. The atmosphere is lively, with bright lights, great music, and plenty of space to move around. I booked my session using GetOutPass, where I get access to multiple local venues similar to GoCity. Use coupon code: sale1 for an extra $5 discount on top of existing promotions, if you end up getting the pass to explore more of Seattle. The Woodland Zoo and Underground tour is also included in the pass and not far from here

Penny Arcade Expo: PAX Prime - Faefarm in Expo Hall.

Penny Arcade Expo: PAX Prime

(39 reviews)

Downtown

Late review. Went to Pax Prime 2023 after attending Pax East a number of times so I was quite…read moreinterested in the West coast version and after many years not going. Breaking up the events into buildings in the surrounding area was a bit confusing, even with the map and the event staff giving direction. Pax East everything is under one roof, so this took some getting used to. The check in process was very organized and impressive, hats off and thanks to the staff who process a few thousand people, some of whom I know volunteer. Went to panel, played some games in free play and of course hit the main floor to try out some up and coming AAA games as well some indie games. Bought and picked up some swag, you know, the usual at these conventions. After years of not going, it was nice get back into it and would definitely consider going again next year. If you're into games even in a small capacity, get a day pass and have some fun!

Attended once in 2018 and concluded that I would never return due to all the insane lines to demo…read moreany video game. This year I came as a PAX Enforcer for all four days of the convention. During the hours I was not working my five-hour shifts, I was permitted to freely roam. PAX has definitely changed since the pandemic. Tickets no longer sell out and the exhibitions are not as grand, but lines are much more reasonable. Plus with the completion of the new Summit building, the event was split between the two convention buildings instead of across multiple hotels in Downtown Seattle. Dividing the Expo Hall between Arch and Summit did cause participants inconvenience though. The Summit hosted the majority of the activities like console and tabletop freeplay, panels, and tournaments. The Annex also held a couple of sections. When not wandering around the Expo Halls, I spent the rest of the time in tabletop trying out board games. All in all, PAX is still a good opportunity for folks of shared interests to mingle, demo newly and to-be released games, and partake in trading or purchasing merchandise.

HUB Games

HUB Games

(6 reviews)

$

University District

When I was looking for some indoor activities to get away from the rain I was pleasantly surprised…read moreto see that UW has bowling alleys on their campus! Not only do they have bowling but they also have board games, arcade games, and pool tables all for the enjoyment of students. I came here just for their bowling but it looked so fun I might just come back for their other activities. For bowling they allow you to play by the game or by the hour. They also allow you to book all 12 lanes for a private event. All of the prices are on their website and they were all pretty reasonable. They also have discounts for faculty, staff, and students. We played three games with two pairs of shoe rentals and the total came out to be about $30 with a UW staff discount. Our lane malfunctioned once but one of the workers was swift in helping us resolve the problem so we could continue having our fun. The facilities were pretty clean and overall we both had a great time. Most people were students but even as a visitor I still felt welcomed. It made me feel old being in the college atmosphere around all these youngins but at the same time I felt like I looked like them and probably could've fit right in. One thing that made me feel old though: the worker at the front asked for my ID and my mind defaulted to my driver's license and the worker replied, "Oh, I meant your student ID." Ouch.

This place is amazing! Went on a Saturday afternoon , the crowd was perfect. We were able to bowl…read moreand play arcade games all evening.

Flatstick Pub - Pioneer Square

Flatstick Pub - Pioneer Square

(448 reviews)

$$

Pioneer Square

It was my first time here, and it definitely won't be my last. I love that this pub focuses on…read morelocal breweries rather than carrying corporate beers. As a cider fan, I was especially happy to see a solid variety of options. Although I had a frustrating experience with the kitchen, but I'd still come back. It was an especially hectic day with multiple events and a soccer game, so it seemed like everyone arrived at once. I ended up waiting about an hour for my food, which was disappointing. That said, the staff handled the situation really well, there was consistent communication, and they took the time to engage with us, which I appreciated. Still, the kitchen delays and order issues shouldn't be overlooked. On the bright side, the drinks were excellent and reasonably priced. They also have a great selection of games, which I'm looking forward to trying next time. The location is another plus, just a few minutes' walk from the T-Link, making it very convenient.

Came here for pizza and mini golf and had a fun time overall!…read moreThe pizza was good, but not great. It was a little on the dry side, so it could've used a bit more sauce or cheese. Still decent, just not something I'd rave about. The mini golf is definitely the highlight. It's really cute how the course spells out "SEATTLE," and I loved the little Space Needle to end the last of the mini golf holes. That said, there are only 9 holes and they're pretty small, so it goes by quickly. Drinks are all on tap and feature local/Washington breweries, which I really appreciated. I love supporting local! We came during their February deal and it was such a great value -- $45 for a pizza, two pint glasses to take home, two drinks, and unlimited games. Honestly, that made the experience feel totally worth it. Duffleboard was fun, though it looked a little outdated. They also had cornhole and a ping pong table, which made it feel like like there variety of things to do. Loved the vibes/ambiance (fun art and murals) and music. Overall, a fun spot for a casual hangout -- especially if you catch one of their deals!

Add-a-Ball - arcades - Updated May 2026

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