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Subpar Miniature Golf

4.2 (267 reviews)
Open • 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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Michele T.

Rainy day and trying to find something to do with the kiddos. Easy to make online reservations. Glow in the dark putt starts at 7pm - $19/person. Arrive just a little earlier and it's $17/person. There are snacks and drinks available for purchase. Love the SF landmarks. We had fun. Took us about an hour to get through the 18 holes.

View of the course
Omayra O.

I had a subpar experience at subpar where we held a little boys birthday party. It all started out OK. We arrived and the young people running the place hosted our group the best they could. Most eye incredibly kind and the mini golf course looked really cool with all of the San Francisco landmarks built in. We had reserved a small narrow room with a lovely view of the bay. The room has one long table with chairs and nothing else in it. There was no place for gifts or for the cake, which was odd to me. We met with the host (who we later learned was the manager) and reviewed the schedule for our group. We had originally reserved the space from 2-4pm but paid for an additional half hour to extend the pay until 4:30pm. We planned to play mini golf first, then eat, then play in the arcade for the last half hour. We went over this schedule with our host when we first arrived and they confirmed our plan. The boys enjoyed the competition of mini golf and the food (chicken tenders, fries, veggie egg rolls, wings and mozzarella sticks) was perfect for that age group. Where everything went horribly wrong is when the boys tried to use their unlimited arcade play cards. We actually went to the arcade ahead of schedule just after 3:45 and their cards already didn't work. They read "low balance" and wouldn't operate games. We started collecting them and asking the staff for help to get them fixed. None of the staff understood what was wrong or how to fix it. After about 10 minutes of confusion someone got the manager, a young woman named Diana. She took the stack of non- working cards and said that she would fix it . She disappeared into a back room for about 15 minutes. We waited with the gaggle of impatient little boys surrounding us, wanting to get back to play. When she came back we were excited and hopeful that she had fixed the problem so we could get the last 10 minutes (at this point) of arcade play, but instead she came out with a print out of the email thread from a week prior showing where it said, in fine print, that game play would end at 4pm even though we had paid extra for the additional half hour. I was livid that this manager would rather waste more of our time -- that should have been a celebration -- waiting for her to print out and highlight the single line we should've remembered that our arcade play time would end at 4pm. Yes, we didn't read the fine print, but what really makes me angry about this situation is that we went over the schedule together at the start of the party and told her that we wouldn't even head towards the arcade until 4pm. That would've been the best time to remind someone that the arcade play ended at 4pm! Not when there is an rambunctious pack of 11 year old bouncing around the arcade and waiting for their arcade play cards. It blows my mind that she chose to print out the multi page email thread rather than just giving us another 15-20 minutes of game play. We all knew we had to leave at 4:30pm. It was a really awful way to end what should have been a fun party and left a really bitter taste in our mouths. I mentioned to the manager that she should consider updating the training so that all hosts understood they should review the schedule AND give reminders if there are any hard stops, and she rolled her eyes at me. That really showed me how much she did not care about customer service. Maybe she was having a hard day and we were the last straw, but it was a really awful experience and an awful way to end a day that should have been fun.

Andrew M.

A super cute date night spot that should be talked about more. It's a small course but the architecture is all based on San Francisco icons. It can definitely be a little hard to focus on playing the game because everything is so aesthetically pleasing that you want a picture or video of everything. Not only is there mini golf but there is also a boba shop that isn't half bad. Staff is also super friendly when explaining the rules and pricing. An extra bonus is that it's in the middle of ghiradelli square so there's plenty of things to do before or after your round of mini golf.

The painted ladies
Rebekah T.

We had a team building event at Subpar Miniature Golf in Ghirardelli Square and we all had a blast. Everything about this place seemed to go perfectly. We had a room set up for our event, but everyone was playing mini golf, laughing and screaming at the great fun. There was a mini bar area set up, which had a pretty good draft beer selection. We ordered a bunch of appetizers and sharable plates that everyone seemed to enjoy. The view from the private room was incredible, welcome to SF and our postcard views. Service was attentive and everyone was really nice and accommodating. And last but certainly not the least impressive thing was the SF city landmarks and buildings as each hole design - It's so cool. I highly recommend Subpar Mini Golf, especially on a cold and rainy day like today in SF. Have some fun!

Alcatraz from Window
Ila D.

So fun! Great views. We came to Subpar after a layover in San Francisco and wanted to check out Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf; we didn't have enough time to explore everything but we were able to see everything from the windows of Subpar located in Ghirardelli square which has great restaurants, breweries, and Ghirardelli store. You can book online. We had chicken nuggets and a beer and it was great! Service was great very busy though they favor customers that book slot online, then walk ins are allowed but only if the holes are moving.

Jazmine C.

If you're in San Francisco and planning to visit Ghirardelli Square, set aside an extra 45 minutes to check out this mini golf spot--it's such a fun experience! My boyfriend and I haven't done the classic mini-golf date, so I really wanted to come here when I saw a TikTok video of it. For under $50 we played all 18 mini holes AND we each enjoyed a beer. The course itself isn't anything extravagant, but the experience was so cute, fun, and totally worth it. Highly recommend for a fun break in the middle of sightseeing!

Tracy B.

Played some golf. Had so much fun!! Eli was great!!! So friendly and very sweet!! First time coming here, I'll keep coming back too.

Sarah J.

Neat little spot in Ghirardelli square. Surprisingly not too packed on a Sunday afternoon, but still good crowd. Cool San Francisco theming on each hole.

Nina Z.

This place is located inside Ghirardelli Square and I've been meaning to check out it out for some time. Definitely worth checking out at least once. 18-hole miniature golf place highlighting iconic landmarks in SF. And for only $14! Reservations recommended, but we got lucky and were able to snag a reservation. They also serve food, beer, wine, and some non-alcoholic refreshments, including boba! I think my only safety concern was that there should be some protective barrier at the end of the Sutro Tower course. One other group and ours ended up with the ball flying off course and into the walkway area. Aside from that, we had a lot of fun and what a great way to go sightseeing in miniature golf form!

Lam B.

Although the holes weren't the most innovative or extravagantly designed, the $14 price tag was extremely reasonable for the 1.5 hour fun my party had. A reservation was required and my time slot unfortunately didn't qualify for the glow in the dark option. There were complementary lockers near the entrance. Upon checking in, we were able to purchase boba, beer and fried appetizers. Strangely we didn't receive a receipt so we awkwardly stood near the boba stand until we saw something that resembled our order. Each hole had a cup holder and stand for the beverages and food. Each hole included a recreation of a famous SF attraction. Some paths were creative but I wished more of the routes weren't so straight forward and similar to each other. We were still playing when they shifted to the glow in the dark format. While the neon lights and music created a fun ambiance, it was difficult to play with the standard golf set up. Players with darker golf balls had difficulty tracking their ball as a result. I hope Subpar will revamp their courses and introduce more glow in the dark elements in the future. Besides the occasionally colorful light, it would be cooler to outline the attraction with glow in the dark paint. Although not perfect, Subpar was appropriately priced and my party left content.

Veronica P.

This was my second visit, and I returned because I had such a great experience back in 2021. The location is fantastic--right in Ghirardelli Square with beautiful views of the ocean and Alcatraz. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, which adds to the appeal. Each mini golf hole is well-designed with seating, stands for drinks, and space to write on your scorecard, making the experience really convenient. What really stands out is that each course showcases different SF landmarks. The pricing is also reasonable at $14 per person (for all ages), which is a great deal compared to many other mini golf spots. For two people, $28 for 18 holes was worth it. Some of the courses were challenging, while others felt a bit too easy, with straightforward shots. They also offer a range of drinks, including boba and alcoholic beverages . Last time, I tried their boba, which was just okay. This time, I opted for the Fog City Hazy IPA, and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not usually an IPA fan because of the bitterness, but this one was lighter and more enjoyable--one of the best IPAs I've had. I've seen some reviews mention service issues, but I've had nothing but positive interactions. The staff has always been friendly and welcoming. We came on a weekday around 2:30 p.m., and it wasn't busy at all, so there was no need to book ahead or make reservations. I loved seeing the local attractions reflected in the mini golf courses. It's a fun experience with great photo opportunities!

Coit Tower hole with Halloween decorations

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Stella K.

Happy to hear you and your 5 year old had a great time!

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9 months ago

Nice spot for mini golf in Ghirardelli Square. The setup gives you a basic tour of SF as your play through the well known spots of SF.

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Ask the Community - Subpar Miniature Golf

It says all ages for mini golf is $14 but are they gonna charge a 3 year old and 5 year old?

Kids under 4 years old are free with a paid adult.

How long does it take to finish the game?

It depends on how many people you have in your game, how many people ahead of you, and how fast you play. I'd say it usually takes about 45 mins to 1 hour to finish all the holes!

Do you have to be 21?

To play, no. But to drink, yes.

Do you need to make a reservation before hand?

no, its a pretty big place...maybe for a party

Is there a bar?

No a bar.

What choices are there for parking?

Street parking (4 hours free at the end of Beach street, or at the end of Van Ness Ave), or paid parking meters on nearby streets, or a paid parking garage under Ghirardelli Square (entrance on Beach Street, no tall vehicles)

How many holes are there?

There are 18 holes.

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Review Highlights - Subpar Miniature Golf

“I was expecting it to be more expensive given it's in Ghirardelli Square but one round is 14 bucks a person.”

Mentioned in 37 reviews

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Emporium Arcade Bar - Emporium SF Interior View (from stage)

Emporium Arcade Bar

4.0(747 reviews)
2.3 mi•Alamo Square
•$$

My coworker was looking for a place to go out where there would be games and drinks and came upon…read morethis place. It was definitely a great find. DRINKS Thai iced tea slushie tasted like desert in drink form and was delicious. Nick the bartender was so accommodating and did a great job helping me decide what to order since there were a couple of options I was eyeing. The drinks were average price. SERVICE Great, the games were self service and the bar tops were manned so you just head over when you want to get a drink. AMBIANCE It was a very chill and free flowing environment. The place is a vintage theater turned into a barcade, and I love what they did. It's so spacious, has multiple floors, and the high ceilings make the space even more open. They have huge games on the top floor next to the bar which were so much fun! They had movies being projected onto a huge wall visible from every floor. There's music playing but you can still hear well enough to have a conversation. They had classic to new games. Some of them were free. I was unsure of how I'd like it before going but SO GLAD I went. Great for a fun date or just hanging out with your friends. I could also see it being a fun place to have a bday party. I'll be visiting again the next time I'm in San Francisco. Check this place out! Trust me it's worth a visit.

I've been here a handful of times, and it's generally been a good experience with each visit. It's…read morea casual barcade. I love that it's multi-leveled and has high ceilings as it makes it feel more spacious, because it can get crowded. There is a wide variety of arcade games and pinball machines with various wait times depending on the crowd. They also have plenty of large screens all around that run games, movies, and or music videos. Drinks at the bar aren't bad and like others have mentioned, the bartenders can be a hit or miss. I've encountered several chill bartenders, others not so much. Same goes for the security at the entrance. Overall, Emporium is a fun venue to check out if you are in the area.

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Emporium Arcade Bar
Emporium Arcade Bar
Emporium Arcade Bar

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Free Gold Watch - Dino egg drop machine. I got this cute mushroom.

Free Gold Watch

4.8(201 reviews)
3.1 mi•Cole Valley

This is a charming arcade and print shop near the Haight and Golden Gate Park. They pack a lot into…read morea small space, though it's not claustrophobic, and there's actually a main room, plus a couple smaller rooms at the venue. It didn't feel crowded on a Saturday afternoon, even with a handful of visitors in and out while we were there. The old mini Tetris arcade game ate my 50 cents. But the plethora of pinball machines we played were all in working order. This included Stranger Things, Alien, Fish Tales, Indiana Jones, Theatre of Magic, Beetlejuice, Monster Bash, and Lord of the Rings. Most costed 75 cents or a dollar to play (3 balls). And there was at least one change machine available on site. I also enjoyed playing nba hoops. Skipped the skeeball since it only accepts bills (not quarters). The place also offers shirts for sale, a pool table in the back, and vending machines for snacks and drinks. Parking sucks around here, so keep that in mind if planning to stop by. But at least it's free admission.

CHEAP! GAMES! forget your local round 1, if you are in the area, I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend checking…read morethis place out! was riding the Google Gemini bikes and needed to stop at a bike station to park, and stumbled upon this gem that was nearby!!! This place brings back so much nostalgia with the old school pinball machines, and even old school arcade games... it was actually a time capsule of a place!! the pinball machines range from $0.50-$1.00 per play, and that's actually not too bad!! Each pinball has 3 balls per play which is a lot if you can keep the ball in play. It's fun to walk around the cute arcade spot and find super old school games to try out. They even have some newer games like Mario kart, and this awesome Pokémon pinball machine which I thought was super fun where you try to capture and fight Pokémon! I had $5 and was there for a good minute playing a bunch of games, it really doesn't cost much!

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Free Gold Watch - Jon's Caribbean

Jon's Caribbean

Free Gold Watch
Free Gold Watch

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Musee Mecanique - November 2023

Musee Mecanique

4.7(1.2k reviews)
0.4 mi•Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach/Telegraph Hill

I'm so surprised I didn't know about this place until just last weekend! I've been in the Bay Area…read moresince I was five, and I've visited San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf countless times, but this was my first time here. It's such a cute little arcade with all sorts of games and vintage arcade machines. My friends and I had a blast playing the games, getting our fortunes told, or watching the displays with music and dancing. I also really appreciate that everything uses quarters instead of tokens. There are currency exchange machines everywhere, so you can easily get quarters wherever you are. I think there's also an ATM because it's cash only. It might have been a last-minute decision to go in, but I had such a great time and found it to be such a charming little activity!

This place is so special. Recently in San Francisco for the day we took the Ferry to Fishermen's…read moreWharf. There's a newly developed area by the open-air chowder bowl restaurants that is now Woods Brewery. While hanging outside with the family, a parent shared with us there is a free museum around the corner that the kiddos fell in love with..the Musee Mecanique. It's so amazing. Free admission, and if you want to play the antique games, you can convert your bills to quarters. You will definitely want to! There's all sorts of unique mechanical amusements ~ from fortune telling, to claw machines, pin ball, to diorama style shows, old school movies, and more. There really is something for everyone here. The area is huge! If you are waiting for a reservation on the Pier, want to kill some time, or really just want an enjoyable and different experience with the family, this is it. So much laughter and joy here, as you could see the wonder and excitement from families alike. What I think is so cool about this place is understanding that most of the machines in there are how people kept themselves entertained before television, Broadway, movies, and mainstream. Hand-crafted puppetry and other entertainment! I can't speak to parking, although I do think there are lots that far down (that may come with a price, so do some homework ahead of time). There is a free, public bathroom kitty-corner to the museum. Worth the adventure!

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Musee Mecanique
Musee Mecanique - Wurlitzer mechanical band

Wurlitzer mechanical band

Musee Mecanique

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Flyer Thrill Zone & 7D Experience

Flyer Thrill Zone & 7D Experience

4.1(280 reviews)
0.7 mi•Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach/Telegraph Hill

We stumbled upon this simulator ride while walking around Pier 39 and decided to give it a try. It…read moreactually reminded us a lot of Disneyland's Soarin' Over California, but without the lines, we had the whole theater to ourselves, which is pretty amazing considering amount of tourists in SF. ​We ended up doing two rides over two days. The San Francisco flight was a bit dizzying but great and the T-Rex dinosaur experience was fully computer-generated but still a lot of fun. Each ride lasts about 10 minutes and features immersive details like tilting seats and wind effects from fans. It would be nice if they also added mists when you fly over the ocean. It's wasn't too expensive I believe it was $15 for adults and $13 for kids. Its something different to do if the weather is not great.

This is one of the many attractions at Pier 39. They have the flyer ride, they have a "7D…read moreexperience" which is like a "shooter" game on a giant screen, and then they also have two "escape rooms." Everybody here was very friendly. I did the flyer ride. It is about a seven or eight minute ride, It was a lot of fun. It's one of those where you sit in the seats, and then the floor drops out from under you, and it is like you are flying over the city. The wind blows in your face, and when you were going over the water, you feel just a little bit of a spray. I don't want to give anything away, but it does take you all over the city. It was really a lot of fun. The only reason I'm taking off a star, is because the flyer ride is a bit expensive. It's $14 per person, adult or child. That wasn't too bad for myself, but if you are more than two or three people, it can add up. Regardless, it was well worth the money for myself to do. I wouldn't come back to see the same movie, but if they changed it, I would ride it again.. This ride is also part of the "San Francisco city pass. I had fun.. Thanks!

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Flyer Thrill Zone & 7D Experience
Flyer Thrill Zone & 7D Experience
Flyer Thrill Zone & 7D Experience

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Subpar Miniature Golf - mini_golf - Updated October 2026

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