This place should be great, but the tables are in disrepair. The vibe fine - charming almost. Not much to it beyond pool and that's all it needs to be. The owner is either grumpy or friendly, depends on his mood or whether it not he knows you. Hard to blame him, as too many people do stupid things in there (don't put your drink near the table!) But what makes this place so poor is the table quality. It could be great. It should be great. He goes through the work to clean the felt every night, but can't bother to re-felt or re-level the tables? Every rail is dead, the felt is warn and cheap cloth to begin with, none of the tables are level, and most of the pockets are busted or taped together. Experienced players will find these tables are unplayable. If you're used to running racks in 2-3 turns, prepare to do it in 4-5 instead. Good luck shaping your shots when the bounce off the rail is a guess. Good luck with speed control when the ball dies instantly when it touches the rail. It's sad - because this place should be great. They have 5 8-ball tables and 3 3 cushion tables. The 3 cushion tables are rarely used. If he swapped one or two of those out for 8 ball, he'd make more money. Then use that money to level the tables, re-felt and get new rails. Seriously, a bit of re-investment into this place would do wonders for business. No serious pool player can go there now, you're better off at Amazin in Malden. Take care of the tables just a bit and you'd end up with more serious players tehre more regularly. not just more business, but better business, cuz the better players won't be ruining the tables. Right now it's a bad spiral, the only players that come are those that don't know any better, and they're exactly the type to spill drinks on the felt and generally perpetuate the owner's grumpy mood. He can be nice too - just don't be an idiot! read more

Do NOT go here. I was told the rate was $18/hour, but I was charged $22. When I asked why, the owner said, "It's an extra $2 for using a debit card." That still doesn't explain the full $4 difference--shouldn't it be $20, not $22? He added another $2 after the card fee, which makes no sense. It was my first time, so I didn't know whether or not we were supposed to press the timer--but I did. I admitted it was my mistake, but the owner kept making a big deal about it instead of simply explaining the policy. Terrible customer service. Won't be coming back. read more

Decent tables and rates. Bare bones place but only one in area. Has snooker. Good sticks.

No frills, super low-key pool hall in a small building with your classic 6-pocket pool tables as well as Carom billiards tables (no pockets tables). The rate is affordable, but the space can feel tight if the players at the next table are standing in the shared space or trying to shoot a ball too so just be cautious. The place is well lite and perfect for people trying to practice their game or just have fun. Waits are not as long as bars or other night time joints around. No outside drink/food is allowed, but they sell beer, drinks and snacks. We did notice that the pool table we were on was slightly off so that the ball would occasionally curve towards one side of the table.. a lot of times to my favor haha. Since I am still learning and just trying to get better, it didn't bother me, but I can see this as a potential problem for more experienced players. Overall, I really enjoy this family-owned establishment. It's super chill and layback and a great place to play pool. read more

Great pool hall. Super low-key place to play pool at an affordable for the area (~$15/hr) rate. It's upstairs in a small building, one room with multiple 6-pocket pro-size regulation pool tables. There's no alcohol sold here, just some snacks like candy/chips for sale up front. Overall great atmosphere for those who just want to play the game, it doesn't get loud or rowdy, and it's not a long time to wait for a table. It's clearly a family-run small business type of establishment which is another plus. One very minor negative is that the tables are of varying age, and we were on a table with plates that were just a little slanted to one side such that balls would curve towards one of the walls especially if traveling slow. It didn't interfere with our experience much because we my wife and I were just practicing/getting better, but I can see how if you're really good this would be a hindrance. But given there are a lot of tables to choose from, maybe we'll know which ones are the good ones in the future. read more

Me and a group of friends went to the business well before closing. Upon arrival we were met with what I assume was a manager working the front desk. We asked the rates for a table, yet the worker brushed us off and told us to leave, telling us that they closed soon, even though they were open for several hours after our arrival. This felt somewhat racist, as there were many people playing that were the race of the manager. This is less of a place for you to play billiards, and more of a hangout for the worker's friends to come hang out and play. Anyone seeking to play should avoid this spot, as the service is more than subpar and outright unacceptable. read more

Owner was extremely rude. Came off as racist. He did not want to give us service, with no explanation. He waved us off and began yelling. Extremely unfriendly and unprofessional. Do not recommend!!! read more

Small place, parking is very tough. Tables are pretty run down. Pockets are held in place with duct tape and the felt is badly worn. Worse, it seems to have a big impact on how the tables play. The big problem I had with this place is that the tables are unbelievably slow. A ball that should bounce off a rail, mostly just stops when it gets to the rail. read more

This is a nice enough place, but the owner actually yelled at my 8-year-old son for not hitting the cue ball properly. He frightened my son, and made the entire experience unpleasant. We will not return. read more

Fun bar and atmosphere. Had to wait about a hour to get on a table but that was expected due to choosing a Saturday evening to attend. The one thing that needs improvement is the music playlist, wasn't the best but overall a fun place to shoot some pool! read more

Allston Billiards is run by a Korean family, and their target customers are the Korean-American population. The pool hall contains only two pocket-billards tables, 4.5'x9' ball-return-style. Table 7 has unshimmed pockets, Table 8 is single-shimmed, meaning the pockets are slightly tighter. The tables are kept in excellent condition. The owner, Kun, will regularly brush and vacuum tables after each use. The upkeep of the entire establishment is flawless. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. There are a few sports drinks, juices, and Korean beverages available for purchase in a refrigerator, and the staff will also occasionally brew tea. Typical patrons include groups of young Koreans, older Korean men, and sometimes young Latinos. The room is fairly well insulated for sound, and there are no obnoxious echoes. It rarely gets loud. Although the establishment is situated above a mechanic, there is little to no ambient noise when the room is empty, with the perhaps notable exception of the staff's movies or Korean pop music. Rates are comparable to most pool halls ($12-$14/hour). Overall it's an excellent choice for Allston/Brighton natives looking for a fun, low-key place to play pool and enjoy being surrounded by a different culture. read more

So, this is not your average pool hall. They only have two 6-pocket pool tables, but they are pro-size. The rest of the pool tables have no pockets and they play a type of billiard game that I have never seen the likes of. Apparently it is a popular game in an Asian country, and I heard that it was once popular in the United States as well but had fallen to the dominant 6-pocket-pool games now ubiquitous. Nonetheless, the tables are immaculate and the cues are in perfect condition. It is a great place to partake in the sport of pool. However, you will pay $14 an hour, no p/person restriction though, and listen to Korean pop-hits. I love this place. Right, no booze. read more

This pool hall is a hidden gem on top of a mechanic shop. Affordable rate (~14/hr/table for up to 4 players). Balls are polished, chalks and baby powder (to remove moisture from hands for smooth strokes) are provided. A wide selection of Asian ramen and beverages are available. Not sure if it's BYOB but I've seen people brought their own beers. Tables are well-maintained (no smoke stain and running cloth). For serious pool players, all you need is your own cue stick. Great place to hang out with friends. Highly recommended! read more

This place is so great. Above a car garage took us awhile to find it. Really laid back cool old guy who owns the place, I don't think they sell booze but if you ask nicely he will throw you a couple of ice cold coors lights. Unpretentious and cheap old school place to shoot pool- read more