Pretend You’re a Kid Again on These Play Dates in San Francisco
Written by Shelley D. FargoPublished May 13, 2023 • 8:29am
Arts & Culture
Gamers face vintage challenges at Musée Mécanique. | Courtesy Musée Mécanique
Why should kids get to have all the fun? San Francisco is filled with unique opportunities to socialize while playing ping-pong, vintage pinball machines, miniature golf—or even battling virtual zombies.
Whether you’re looking for a new place to play with your friends or trying to escape Karl the Fog’s grasp, check out The Standard's guide to arcades, bowling alleys, billiard halls, gaming studios and other indoor play dates around San Francisco.
Places To Play Around San Francisco
Lower Nob Hill
With 10,000 square feet of climbing terrain and a 50-degree overhang to practice steep bouldering techniques, San Francisco's newest climbing facility has become a social magnet on upper Van Ness Avenue.
Lower Nob Hill
Billiard Palacade has three carambola tables, 13 pool tables and two bar tables. The room offers a menu of hearty apps and snacks and a variety of beers. Happy hour starts at noon and ends at 6 p.m. daily. There is a tournament on Saturdays, and membership is available.
Civic Center
By gamifying workouts, the founders of Black Box Virtual Reality Gym on Market Street say they can help more people get and stay fit. Its routine includes navigating a weight resistance machine with automatic weight settings that can go from 0 to 110 pounds to adjust to your abilities. It's an addictive workout that has caught on with all age groups and genders.
Lower Haight
Grow up but not old! Open until 2 a.m. seven nights a week, Emporium SF caters to a more mature crowd looking for an assortment of fun. Listen to music and buy drinks at the full bar while trying out the arcade games, billiards, foosball and air hockey.
Financial District
Time is of the essence! Escape from Alcatraz, the Blind Tiger Bar, Gingerbread Cottage or King Arthur's Legacy at Escape SF. Book online, where you can check out each room and find available times.
Laurel Heights
Chalk up that cue stick because Family Billiards is the real deal. It has 18 regulation Brunswick Gold Crown tables in first-rate condition and provides players with Super Aramith balls made in Belgium. It has a weekly tournament schedule, and private events can be booked.
Union Square
Did you know a cocktail, dining and bowling experience is hiding in Union Square? Fifth Arrow is an "industrial-chic” elevated game night not to be missed. And the menu features a full bar plus sliders, pizzas and Mexican and Italian dishes. No wonder it’s popular for corporate gigs and parties.
Inner Sunset
For $7, you can hang out with your friends at this lively cafe on Irving Street and play board games to your heart’s content. A big bonus? Waffles! Try 'em in sweet, savory and fried forms.
Lower Haight
Looking for a fun, sober and social activity? Find engaging nightly games offered at this SF game shop. Check out the calendar of events and make reservations here.
Presidio
Catch some air in the Presidio at San Francisco's original trampoline mecca, House of Air. Whether you want to bounce, perfect a flip or play dodgeball, you’re guaranteed to break a sweat. Buy tickets and gift cards, book an event or sign up for a special program online.
Sunset
Be among the first to try out the brand new social-gaming experience that opened in April at the Stonestown Galleria. At Immersive Gamebox, you can select from nine video game options with experiences including surround sound, touch screens, motion tracking and projection mapping to enhance the full-immersion effect.
Mission Bay
A great place to pop in before or after catching a Giants or Warriors game, Lucky Strike has a full bar, tasty eats, bowling and billiards.
Mission
A six-lane bowling alley, bar and restaurant, Mission Bowling Club is dedicated to supporting the community, hosting and fundraising for nonprofits and embracing the diversity of its staff and guests. Come out on the third Monday of the month for its Queer Bowling Night.
Mission
Featuring a 50-foot-high lead wall, 23,000 square feet of climbing terrain and 2,000 square feet of bouldering, Mission Cliffs has a challenge waiting for climbers of all capabilities. Top roping, bouldering, lead climbing and youth options are available. Check out the website for membership details and calendar events.
Presidio
Combining climbing terrain, yoga studios and fitness equipment in one expansive space, Movement (formerly Planet Granite) attracts a wide variety of hip SF fitness folk to its picturesque Crissy Field location. The gym features 25,000 square feet for climbing challenges to meet the needs of everyone from beginners to expert climbers. Check out all the classes and the climbing experiences on the website, including youth programs and private coaching, as well as advice on route setting and finding a partner.
Fisherman's Wharf
Family-owned since 1933, Musée Mécanique is an authentic SF treasure. Once part of Playland at the Beach, the vintage arcade now provides a worthy destination for locals and tourists at Fisherman’s Wharf that’s open 365 days a year and is always free to enter. Bring some cash for the change machine so you can try out all the vintage pinball and other coin-op games—and be sure to say hi to Laffing Sal for us.
Excelsior
The Outward Bound Ropes Course in John McLaren Park was created in conjunction with SF Recreation & Parks. It consists of both challenging high elements, as well as team-building elements closer to the ground. On one Saturday each month between February an October, the course is free to the community. To sign up for a free community day, add your name to the ropes course community day email list.
Marina
"Escape to play and play to escape" at Palace Games, located in the Palace of Fine Arts. It offers four in-person and three online escape experiences for the escape room expert who’s done it all.
Mission
Pan IQ Escape Room SF features three mind-tingling escape experiences—Medieval Madness, Wizard Trials and the Red Wire—in which groups of up to seven players try to escape in 60 minutes or less.
Pier 39
Located in Pier 39 and featuring the Luau Lounge, the Club House, the Arcade and the Patio, Players is the place to take your out-of-town guests who insist on going to see the sea lions.
Presidio
Grab your friends and book a lane at Presidio Bowl, a charming 12-lane bowling center with its own bar and grill located in now-hopping Main Post. Walk over to Tunnel Tops afterward to see how fabulous a paved-over freeway can become.
SoMa
Combining technology with the escape room concept, Reason aims to offer friends and companies a unique team-building experience with its sci-fi escape rooms. Race against the clock to survive in one of three immersive experiences, Glitch, Lola 2 Mars and Sonar.
Union Square/Financial District
Find your inner warrior at Sandbox VR as you battle aboard Davy Jones' pirate ship, fight off space aliens in Amber Sky or blast through zombies at Dead Wood Mansion and Dead Wood Valley. Book advance reservations in groups of up to six players at a time for a thrilling experience you can never have in the real world.
SoMa
A ping-pong aficionado's paradise, Spin San Francisco boasts 18 ping-pong tables, a full kitchen and bar, outdoor patio space and a VIP room with a private bar. Make sure to book table reservations and check out the weekend packages and private event options.
Mission Bay
Try for a hole-in-one at San Francisco's only outdoor mini-golf spot. Located within walking distance from Chase Center, Stagecoach Greens has 18 holes with an SF history lesson tied to each one, covering topics like earthquakes, the Gold Rush and the Emigrant Trail. The greens are surrounded by a very festive scene—especially before a Warriors game or other Chase Center event—with lots of food-and-drink trucks and places to hang out before, during and after you putt 18. Book your tee time in advance online.
Russian Hill
Located in the Ghirardelli Square Marketplace, Subpar Miniature Golf's indoor Bay Area-themed course is a crowd-pleaser for birthday parties of all ages. It's open seven days a week, and reservations are strongly recommended given its location in the heart of the tourist zone. Enjoy hearty snacks and beverages at its Tea Square Boba and be sure to hit the arcade right before or after playing 18 holes. The Ghirardelli Parking structure below the marketplace offers convenient access for visitors passing through town.
Duboce Triangle
The Detour offers game events every night of the week and offers up food, music and drinks for the 21-and-over crowd. Late-night eats featuring a Pan Pacific menu Monday to Thursday until 11:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 12:30 a.m. will keep customers satiated. On Saturdays 2-6 p.m., all ages are welcome. Free play every first Tuesday with a purchase from the bar.
Financial District
With five unique escape experiences, The Escape Game SF lets you get caught up in the thrill of the Heist, a Prison Break, the Gold Rush, the Playground or Special Ops: Mystery Market. Groups of 8 to 10 players must employ teamwork and clues to escape. Pre-book your escape online.
Mission
This unique 14-hole indoor mini-golf course offers informal American grub and beverages in the Mission for adults and kids. You can make reservations for upstairs dining, but golf is on a first-come, first-served basis.
SoMa/Financial District
Ever wanted to ice skate and bowl on the same day? If so, Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center is the spot for you! The long-standing Yerba Buena attraction is open to the public nearly every day and has a summer camp for kids, too. Check the website for hours and details on ice hockey, parties and private skating lessons.
Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly identified the only ropes course in San Francisco that is open to the public.
Shelley D. Fargo can be reached at [email protected]
