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    Musee Mecanique

    4.7 (1.2k reviews)
    Open • 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Dan R.

    "If you want to follow me You've got to play pinball" (The Who) Just hand your kiddies a fistful of quarters and stand back, because they'll run you over as they make a beeline for Musée Mécanique's over300 vintage coin operated machines. This unbelievable collection spans everything from early 20th century fortune tellers and piano players to pinball tables and animatronic dioramas. Mechanical arcade games of every description, coin operated pianos, antique slot machines, animations, arm wrestling machines, my sweet Lord... they have everything. Did I play anything. Well, or course I did. I stuck to the old-time pinball machines and relived the satisfaction of using a flipper to perfectly smack that little silver ball way up into the guts of the machine to release a tsunami of bings and bongs and flashing lights. My grandkids (and this big kid) had a great time. PRO TIP You'll find the Musée Mécanique on Fisherman's Wharf at Pier 45 at the end of Taylor Street It's open 365 days a year with free admission And if you're a collector of those squished souvenir pennies, you're in luck because they must have six different machines here.

    Fun foosball
    Gia M.

    A place for kids and adults alike! A must see in San Francisco... it's history, it's fun, it's nostalgic, it's an experience like no other! We love this place. There are dozens of coin operated (quarter) machines ranging from the early 1900s to games like PacMan and Harry Potter Pinball. My son had an absolute blast on our recent trip. Some games are a quarter, most are 50 cents, others cost 1 dollar. The place is clean and well maintained. It's less crowded in the mornings. There's a public restroom right outside that is clean (it's actually in one of the pier fisherman areas- cool to see the lobster/crab traps!). All the machines we tried worked, as did the machines that dispense quarters. Check it out- you won't be disappointed.

    Mutoscope
    Dell K.

    Musee Mecanique is located at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. The layout inside can make it feel like closed space when it's very busy. There are so many old and unique arcade machines from the turn of the century. There were lots of Mutoscopes . They were an early form of entertainment that captivated audiences. The Mutoscope was invented by W. K. L. Dickson and Herman Casler in 1895. It used a series of cards to create the illusion of motion, viewed through a lens. Mutoscopes were widely used in penny arcades and amusement parks during the early 1900s. There were change machines that you could put your paper money in to get quarters. I loved how the machines were in working order and taken care of on my visit. Of course kids were banging on them and not taking care of the historical nature of these machines. That's on the adults though. I liked that there were information boards all around about old boardwalks, arcades, and carnivals from decades past. I just wish they weren't blocked by some of the games. If you have sound sensitivities, know that you will hear ringing of bells and such on some of the machines. Overall this was a very interesting experience that is free to walk around and if you read the boards, play the machines , take photos, ect you can spend an hour here.

    Sonali K.

    Musée Mécanique ended up being one of the most unexpectedly fun afternoons of our trip. We stopped in thinking we'd spend maybe 30 minutes looking around before moving on, and we couldn't have been more wrong. Between the vintage arcade games, mechanical exhibits, and wonderfully strange collections, we ended up staying for hours. The kids had an absolute blast. Air hockey was the clear favorite, but they also loved the boxing machines, basketball games, and trying out all the quirky old arcade attractions. As adults, we enjoyed exploring the history and craftsmanship behind so many of the antique machines. A fair warning: some of the exhibits are delightfully bizarre and a few are downright creepy--in the best possible way. That's part of what makes the place so memorable. Bring plenty of quarters, or at least cash so you can get quarters once you're there. If you're traveling with kids, I'd plan for at least a couple of hours. We thought we'd be in and out and instead found ourselves completely absorbed. This is one of those classic San Francisco attractions that appeals to both kids and adults and is absolutely worth a visit.

    Veronica B.

    My daughter found this place on TikTok because of the photo booth and decided she wanted to visit for her 17th birthday. We came out and spent a couple of hours here, and it ended up being such a fun experience. She got her photo booth pictures, and we spent the rest of our time exploring the museum. There were so many cool vintage games and interesting exhibits to check out. It was fun to see all the old games. We had a great time together and made some wonderful birthday memories. I would definitely recommend visiting if you're looking for something unique and fun to do. It's also cheap which was pretty cool. Can't beat that.

    Cady D.

    I was absolutely obsessed with this place I had to go twice during our trip in SF. As someone who loves strange and antique collectibles, this was amazing. I'm always fascinated by the time period from 1880s-1920s and the history of how people lived and were entertained back then--this is definitely the place to learn more about it and immerse yourself into history. This collection has over 200 working antique coin operated machines to play with (some even older than my grandparents). I had so much fun using them, taking tons of videos, and feeling like I stepped back in time. It's free to enter and most machines cost 25¢-50¢, but some still cost only 10¢. There's machines that will convert your bills to quarters. This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip!

    Kevin C.

    "These machines are older than you'll ever be." A quote I found walking the amazing coin operated machines at Musee Mecanique. Cryptic but true. There are many machines well over 100 years old and in amazing condition. The novelty holds up, the machines are all fascinating and charming of a time hopefully not lost to us. Well worth stopping by, grabbing a fistful of quarters, and exploring the past in all its mechanical splendor!

    Denise C.

    3 years going to musee mecanique ..my favorite now ..10 minutes and 5 dollars in quarters..old time ..like 1990

    Lisa D.

    10/10 must stop here if you love vintage arcade you will not be disappointed. Lots of nostalgia and memories seeing some of these restored machines and history behind them

    Opium Den arcade - weird and creepy AF
    Vivian H.

    I randomly wandered in here and I am so glad I did. They say curiosity killed the cat but for this cat, she found such a treasure tonight that delighted her and gave her more life and not death. I love when you find something unplanned and it wqs cool to stumble on this place. This is the mechanical museum and its the largest privately owned collection of arcade games, with over 300 games available spanning 2 to 3 hundred years! It was a peek into the past and truly mesmerizing to see all the different arcades available! I spent a good 45 min in here and enjoyed every minute of it. Its like part museum, part interactive arcade and most of the games work. I played one arcade called the Opium Den and it was pretty weird and I wandered about the machine and how the people depicted in them all tended to look of Asiatic origin. Was good to see this piece of history but definitely got me thinking. And of course I found my cocktail Ms Pac Man and could not resist but play a game and someone left 1 credit so I had a free game on the house! I really enjoyed this place and totally worth a visit when visiting SF. So glad I found this place totally by accident!!

    Lili M.

    I had never been here before but my family and I decided to come in because it was free admission. It is full of tons of games you can play and is a great spot to kill time. We didn't play games but used their ATM to get cash for the photo booth. The photo booth prints three photos that you tear away from each other. Would come again!

    Amber L.

    What a GEM! We stumbled upon Musee Mecanique after visiting the U.S.S. Pampinito. Despite being Bay Area locals, we'd never been to either attraction. And Musee Mecanique was by far our favorite! The collection of (predominantly) antique and vintage arcade games is really impressive. Most cost 25 cents - 75 cents to play (meaning $5-$10 will take you pretty far here!) And they are each unique, quirky, and interesting. I'm looking forward to visiting again with my Dad and son...it's a great multigenerational activity. There are some newer games, too, if the vintage games don't catch your attention. Thanks for restoring, and sharing, this fun history with the masses. So special!

    Candace T.

    Located right next to Fisherman's Wharf, this place is a gem for tourists and locals alike. My friend had always wanted to go after seeing it in The Princess Diaries (although the museum was located at Cliff House back then), and we took a long walk from the Ferry Building all the way down to Pier 45 to check it out. Vintage games were as cheap as a quarter where you can play an old pinball machine, have a mechanical fortune teller spell out your future, or just watch some cute little carnival scenes. It was quite busy on a Saturday afternoon, and I enjoyed the energy of kids and adults alike running around from machine to machine. Go check it out!

    Vintage game

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    7 months ago

    A great ending spot after walking around Fisherman's Wharf, they have something for everyone to do and enjoy!

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    Musee Mecanique Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Musee Mecanique

    Are dogs allowed?

    Definitely saw several dogs with us, so I'd say so! But, never hurts to ask.

    Is the museum open since we're on orange tier now?

    We are not yet open. We have slightly different guidelines since we are more hands on than most museums.

    Are there any plans for reopening this year?

    As of right now, we do not have any timeline for reopening. Still waiting to hear from the city and other officials.

    Does this place still exist after the fire on the pier over the Memorial Day Weekend?

    Yes, we do! The fire was close but the Musée was not damaged. We are, however, closed for Covid-19.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Musee Mecanique

    “Admission is completely free and many of the older machines you can watch as someone else puts a quarter in.”

    Mentioned in 190 reviews

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    Exploratorium - After Dark Thursday Nights - dog friendly and full bar!

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    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    1.1 mi•Embarcadero, North Beach/Telegraph Hill

    Still hands down our favorite science museum in the country. There is just so much to see. We used…read moreour ASTC reciprocal and needed to come back over two days and still only saw about a third of the museum. (ASTC allows 2 people to enter regardless of the home membership) Our favorite discovery this visit was the space exhibit (lots of interesting hands exhibits) and the AI portion - very cool live generated AI images based on found objects and generated music and artwork based on your own drawings.

    While visiting the Bay Area this summer, we were told that this is some place we HAD to visit. Like…read morethe Bay Area Discovery Museum (which was ADORED), we could have gotten in with a reciprocal membership we have from LA, but I wasn't aware. I was just dropping money left and right for kids museums that were free for us. Sigh. Lesson of the trip: check your memberships! A lot of the exhibits were broken or not working, which was a bummer, but there was plenty of stuff for us to look at, and we didn't even see it all. Some highlights for the kids were the interactive laser table, the room where everything has no color unless you use a white light flashlight (they were in there FOREVER), and the cow eye dissection (which also left us all a little queasy...). We took too long getting brunch at the Ferry Building, so we didn't have enough time to explore it all, but I'm sure we'll return when we come up again.

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    Pitcher plant

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    Fun with optics!

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    Palace Of Fine Arts - At Sunset

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    4.7(1.2k reviews)
    1.9 mi•Marina/Cow Hollow

    "You ain't nothin' but fine, fine, fine And I wish you were…read moremine, mine, mine You ain't nothin' but fine, fine, fine" (Rockpile) I just read that San Francisco ranks #2 among the most expensive U.S. cities to live. But that doesn't mean there aren't some bargains to be had if you know where to look. As a case in point, look no further than the jaw dropping outdoor grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts. You can see this magnificence for free. It was built for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition with a Greco-Roman soaring rotunda, looping colonnades, and 17 acres of parks, walking paths, and wetlands make it one of San Francisco's most photogenic spots. The architecture reminds me of what you see in the Gladiator movies, or in photos of ancient ruins, with Corinthian columns, sculpted figures, and grand arches. We spent an hour or so just strolling around and enjoying the beauty of what surrounded us. And it was all free of charge.

    The Palace of Fine Arts is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in San Francisco. Whether…read moreyou're a visitor or a local, it's the perfect spot to slow down and take in the scenery. The views are stunning from every angle, with the iconic rotunda reflected in the lagoon and surrounded by beautiful architecture and lush vegetation. The lake is full of life, and it's common to see swans, ducks, geese, and other birds enjoying the water, making it feel like a hidden oasis in the middle of the city. The lagoon is known for attracting a variety of bird species throughout the year. There are plenty of grassy areas to spread out a blanket, relax with a book, enjoy a picnic, or simply soak in the atmosphere. The walking paths are easy to explore, and every turn offers another great photo opportunity. On busy days, you'll often find vendors nearby adding to the lively and welcoming environment. Whether you're looking for a peaceful morning walk, a romantic setting, or just a place to sit and enjoy nature, the Palace of Fine Arts delivers. A true San Francisco treasure that never disappoints.

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    Palace Of Fine Arts - Harmonious

    Harmonious

    Palace Of Fine Arts - Evening view

    Evening view

    Palace Of Fine Arts

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    Asian Art Museum - Japanese pottery

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    4.4(865 reviews)
    2.0 mi•Civic Center

    The opening is strong because the recommendation from strangers on the cable car explains why you…read morewent, and then you immediately stumbled into something you couldn't have planned: the matcha seminar. I'd also keep your reaction to Writing in the Rain toward the end because it gives the review more substance than simply listing the museum's collections. I met a mother and daughter on a San Francisco cable car who told me the Asian Art Museum was their favorite thing they had seen in the city. Based on their enthusiastic recommendation, I decided to go. Admission was included with my Go City pass. I happened to arrive just in time for the final seminar in a series about tea. This one was presented by Constance Tea & Matcha, a San Francisco company, and focused on matcha. We learned how differences in shade, processing, and the time-consuming grinding process affect matcha, and watched a demonstration before receiving a sample. The matcha was a beautiful, vibrant green and had none of the bitterness that I sometimes associate with green tea. It was an unexpected bonus to my museum visit and one of those experiences I never would have known to plan in advance. The museum covers the art and cultures of many parts of Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, India and Tibet. There is a great deal to see, so you could easily spend several hours here depending upon your level of interest. One of the most memorable works for me was FX Harsono's Writing in the Rain, part of a current exhibition scheduled through September 7, 2026. Understanding the symbolism behind the work gave it a depth that stayed with me after I left. The bottom level also had an arts-and-crafts area, and there were tables in the atrium where visitors could learn and play mahjong. I liked that the museum provided opportunities to participate in Asian culture rather than only viewing objects behind glass. There is also a gift shop and a restaurant with reasonably priced and interesting choices, including chicken, pork and beef dishes. I'm glad I listened to two strangers on a cable car. Between the matcha demonstration, the extensive Asian art collections, the cultural activities and the thought-provoking contemporary art, the Asian Art Museum offered much more than I had expected. Sometimes the best travel recommendations come from the people you happen to meet along the way.

    I revisited the Asian Art Museum recently for its community day on the first Sunday of the month…read more I'm not sure if there was a special exhibit, but there were many events happening at the museum - sip & sketch and a children's activity. I also saw signage for weekly mahjong happy hours and performances - it's so cool how the museum has become a community gathering place. I spent about an hour exploring the permanent collection and never fail to discover new treasures. I'm always amazed by the expansive collection of pottery and statues across cultures. If you time it right, joining one of the docent-guides tours would be a neat way to experience the collection.

    Photos
    Asian Art Museum - Video where artist talks about her work

    Video where artist talks about her work

    Asian Art Museum - Sundays at the Asian Art Museum {3/15/2026}

    Sundays at the Asian Art Museum {3/15/2026}

    Asian Art Museum - This was a some beautiful art! 2/1/2026

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    This was a some beautiful art! 2/1/2026

    Musee Mecanique - museums - Updated October 2026

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