Arcade Games, Pinball Machines and Retro Fun in Haight Ashbury

In 1989, Universal Pictures produced Back to the Future Part II, which became the third highest-grossing film that year. Twenty-six years later, the film is still popular. One memorable scene, set in 2015, features Michael J. Fox’s character, Marty McFly, entering “Cafe 80’s.” There, he encounters two young boys plugging in an old video arcade game from McFly’s timeline, likely older Gen Z kids or late Millennials. Marty brags about being a “crack shot” at the game, Wild Gunman, but the boys dismiss it, saying, “You mean you have to use your hands?!” and “That’s like a baby’s toy!” The screenplay writers misjudged future interest in retro arcade games. In the 2020s, retro arcades and games, including pinball machines dating back to the 1930s, have experienced a resurgence.

In San Francisco, vintage arcade games have made a significant comeback. This revival may be partly due to the popularity of the Netflix series Stranger Things or the repeal of a law passed by the Board of Supervisors during Dianne Feinstein’s days as Mayor. Regardless, retro arcade games are now appearing across the city, offering a nostalgic experience for late Boomers, Generation X-ers, and early Millennials. Younger generations are also discovering these games for the first time and seem to be taken by their retro charm.

San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, in particular, has become a hub for this retro entertainment. It is not that surprising. Arcade games, are often associated with rebellion, youth, and counterculture, which fits right into the neighborhood’s vibe. In the 1980s, arcades were controversial in San Francisco, with coin-operated machines sparking debates. In 2025, with iPhones providing teens 24-hour access to gaming and streaming, it’s hard to believe that something as mundane as coin-operated arcade games once sparked widespread controversy.

In 1982, some of the Bay Area high schools still had smoking lounges for students. Arcade games, however, became public enemy number one. They were thought of as the gateway to addiction. Parents in the Inner Richmond protested against a local entrepreneur, with plans to open a coin operated arcade, on Clement Street. A 14-year-old San Francisco native was made the poster boy for the dangers of arcades by Dianne Feinstein and the Board of Supervisors to push a new law they were trying to pass. The law did pass. It banned arcade games during school hours and arcades from opening within 300 yards of any school, playground, or park. The dreams of the Clement Street entrepreneur were crushed that day.

The 14-year-old poster boy was none other than Tommy Guerrero. Yep, that Tommy Guerrero, you know, the professional skateboarder, musician, and entrepreneur who co-founded Real Skateboards and 40’s Clothing?! When he was 14, he was interviewed by the SF Chronicle for his high score on a popular game of the era. In the interview, he stated that he was willing to bum quarters to keep playing, implying that is how he eventually achieved the high score. This fun human-interest story soon became the fuel needed to build the fire of regulation. Forty-three years later, it is pretty obvious that Tommy’s love of playing arcade games and habit of bumming quarters did not lead to a life of addiction and mayhem. Instead, he went on to be a great success. Ironically, his music is featured on several modern-day video games, including Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland, which was released in 2005.

By 2014, attitudes about coin operated arcade games were very different. Society looked at these games as forms of artistic expression and considered them cultural touchstones. Heck, the Bay Area became an annual destination for gamer’s conventions. Children, teens and young adults of the 1980’s grew up, got jobs and started raising their own kids. These games were something they could share with their kids, while looking back nostalgically on their youth. The Haight’s Supervisor, Scott Wiener sponsored legislation to modify restrictions on arcade games and pinball machines. The bill was co-sponsored by Supervisor London Breed, who would go on to become Mayor of San Francisco. Breed stated, “Times have changed. So it’s time to deal with outdated legislation in a way that positively impacts our businesses, instead of adding unnecessary layers of bureaucracy.” This paved the way for public businesses to offer up to 4 arcade games legally or more than 4 with a permit from the city. Free Gold Watch was the business that triggered this change in the law and paved the way for the Haight to become a retro gaming destination.

The Haight is the ultimate destination to experience retro pinball and arcade games. They can be found at boutiques, bars, and at the neighborhood’s awesome screen-printing shop/arcade, Free Gold Watch. Retro fun is so in vogue right now that many boutiques have functioning retro photo booths for customers to enjoy, as well. And, another fan favorite (from the 1988 movie Big, starring Bay Area native Tom Hanks), “Zoltar Says,” can be found in a couple spots around the city, too. Here is our guide to the games and where to find ’em.

Arcade Games

Free Gold Watch:

This quirky, “only in Haight Ashbury” style business, located on the neighborhood’s residential street, Waller, opened in 2006. Initially it was just a screen printing shop. The business expanded several years later, bringing in a few retro pinball machines, which were for sale and available to play with quarters. They made the shop a social hub in the neighborhood. Soon the SF Pinball Department, a social club was formed, bringing the community together over a common love of retro arcade games. Eventually the place had 50 retro games to enjoy in the space. Unfortunately, the outdated laws, from Feinsteins reign as San Francisco Mayor, were still officially on the books and an anonymous NIMBY (not in my backyard) type neighbor, who would become known as, “the dirty little rat”, filed a complaint with the city. The owner, along with Mayor London Breed and the 2014 Supervisors Board, managed to have the antiquated law overturned and this quirky small business was saved. The changing of the outdated law, sparked by this bump in the road for Free Gold Watch, paved the way for the resurgence of retro gaming venues throughout the Bay Area. Free Gold Watch is a great place to take a stroll down memory lane. The old games are a fun thing for older and younger generations to bond over. You can catch the SF Pinball Department tournaments, every other Wednesday evening, if you’d rather be a spectator than a player. And for history buffs and pop-culture enthusiasts, this quirky shop offers a glimpse into Mid-2oth Century youth entertainment.

Free Gold Watch
1767 Waller St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 876-4444

Molotov’s:

This quirky, no-frills bar is the quintessential dive, with strong, cheap drinks, dim lighting, a jukebox, a pool table in the back, and vintage pinball machines in the front. It attracts a crowd of locals, especially punk and metal heads. You will find many of the city’s bartenders gathering there too. The jukebox has a wide array of classic punk, metal, rock, and hip-hop selections. The place has many regulars and is among the many old-school San Francisco bars that allow you to bring your dog. I feel like every time I walk through the door of an old-school SF bar, there is at least one dog, sitting on a barstool like it owns the place. It’s part of the charm that these local watering holes offer. Prominently displayed, in the front, are several rotating pinball machines that add to Molotov’s retro, counterculture vibe. When you walk in and see the row of pinball machines, you know it’s not a modern, mainstream kind of bar. They add to its gritty, unpretentious appeal. Over time, the pinball machines, along with the pool table and jukebox, have become an important part of the bar’s identity. They foster a sense of camaraderie among the regulars and give them something to bond over, instead of just sitting there sipping trendy cocktails and scrolling on their iPhones. That’s something you can do all over town, but pinball machines are only inside select spots. The beers are dirt cheap, only 3 or 4 bucks. And that’s regular pricing, not even happy hour!! I opted for Hamm’s Lager last time I was there. Hamm’s once brewed beer in San Francisco and the Hamm’s billboard was a part of the city’s iconic images in the mid-20th Century time line.

Molotov’s
582 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 558-8019

Murio’s Trophy Room:

This quirky dive bar was opened in 1959, by Canadian Tennis Champion, John Murio. He was the winner of the 1933 Canadian Open. John Murio initially opened a sports shop in the space that occupies the bar today. At some point, Murio converted the shop to a sports bar, displaying his tennis trophies in a case behind the bar. The place has all the dive bar essentials, stiff drinks at fair prices, a Wurlitzer Juke Box, a pool table, and, of course, a selection of retro arcade games. John Murio passed away long ago, but the bar still bears his name and displays his tennis trophies, keeping his memory alive. It was a much smaller space in his day. A number of years ago the place was expanded. There is a comfortable back area with banquet seating and a few tables. There is a DJ booth and a small stage, perfect for live entertainment. Currently they host a comedy night weekly. It is open in the afternoons, so it is a great spot to participate in San Francisco’s long lived tradition of day drinking. Nobody in this town ever worried about the time of day before downing a shot of Fernet Branca or Jameson, chased with their favorite brew. Hell, in the pre-covid years, many dives opened at 6:00 am. New Yorkers often complained about how early San Francisco bars close. Both cities have an excellent selection of watering holes with long hours. The only difference is, New York is a town of a late night life and San Francisco is a town of day drinking.The bar is just a couple blocks from the east end of Golden Gate Park, so it is a great spot to warm up when the fog rolls in.

Murio’s Trophy Room
1811 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 752-2971

Mad Dog in the Fog

At first glance, Mad Dog in the Fog looks like any other Irish Pub, but it is definitely not. This quirky pub is part modern sports bar and part vintage arcade. As you walk in the door, it looks like a traditional pub. They have a good selection of Irish Whiskey, Guinness on tap and all the kitschy Irish tchotchkes hanging on the walls. San Francisco has a large Irish community and you will definitely come across a good number of people speaking with an Irish Brogue, both guests and employees. There are many tv’s, tuned into local and European sports. On game days the place will be packed. If you venture further back, the place is expansive. The second room has more seating and tv’s but also has several pool tables and many retro arcade games. There is a small stair case, to a third room, in the back. The room has rows and rows of vintage pinball machines. They offfer a wide array of traditional pub foods, like Fish and Chips, “Hippie Hill” Nachos, Buffalo Wings and other so good, yet so bad items to soak up the booze. They still do trivia nights, as well. This is another great spot for the San Francisco tradition of day drinking. The staff is excellent and provides great service too. They are a sister location to the Kezar Pub, known for serving the best wings in San Francisco.

Mad Dog in the Fog Pub
1568 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 626-7279.

Ms. Pac Man at Aviator Nation

Aviator Nation, a woman owned, California original clothing business has a location on Haight Street. The clothing has a retro, surfer/raver vibe. The interior offers nostalgic vibes of the 70’s and 80’s. Decorated with vintage motorcycles, acoustic guitars and a vintage Ms. Pac Man Arcade game, it is a super fun place to shop. The clothing is cool and comfortable. If you really want to dress the part, while bar hopping and playing retro arcade games, Aviator Nation offers just the right gear.

Aviator Nation
1501 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 654-5182.

Vintage Photo Booths

710 Collective

The 710 Collective is one of those awesome, “only in Haight Ashbury” type of businesses. The space is occupied by a number of local small business operators, who sell an eclectic mix of wares including vintage clothing and records, house plants, local art, locally made housewares and even a pop-up coffee bar on the weekends. In the front there are 2 retro photo booths that have been refurbished. You are able to take fun retro pictures with your friends while shopping there.

710 Collective
1644 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117

Photomatica

Another quirky, one of a kind Haight Street destination is Photomatica. It is where the past meets the present. They offer modern digital phone booths and vintage phone booths. There is a refurbished analog booth from the 1960’s among the collection. Capture the fun in the Haight with some photographic memories at this quirky business.

Photomatica
1644 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 294-1082

Zoltar Says

Although the Haight does not have a Zoltar Says Carnival Machine, like in the movie “Big”, there are surprisingly several throughout the city. If you can figure out where three Zoltar Says machines are in SF, message us on the CrawlSF Instagram for a prize.