While not nearly as large as PHOF, like PHOF, you will find most of the latest Sterns at the entrance, and games from all eras after that.

The newest Sterns are pay to play and all proceeds go towards the museum. They do not require paid admission. The rest of the machines (over 100, I think) require admission but are on free play.

-Mark

I'll let the locals chime in first as to specific favorites, but be sure to check out Pinball Map:
http://pinballmap.com/bayarea

If you haven't already, download the Pinball Map app, free for Android and iOS.

-Mark

Theke, pinball map will steer you well. If you want, you can drop in on league on Wednesday night at Free Gold Watch. Lots of great spots to play here. Where did you put up that SM score? Metreon?

Was just in san fran for a week. Definately check out the antique coin op museum @ the pier by fishermans wharf, not alot of pins but some cool old coin op stuff. Pacific Pinball museum. we went on a sat and lots of kids running around for birthday parties, alot of broken games!!. couple of the rooms were so tight you could not get a good game in (POTH) for example. they do have alot of old titles. be careful you dont end up in oakland, its pretty bad when down town has graffitti everywhere.
Locator app is a plus out there.
JT

^^^ sure there are bad parts of Oakland but there are great parts too. Check out the legionnaires saloon, they had last time I was there MET pro, MB with color and, DM, SS, and I want to say one more I can't remember. High life pizza is a great spot too, they had AFM, BSD, FT, ST PRO and a bunch more last time I was there.

Don't forget the Radio bar. Oakland is no different than any other big city. You just have to be aware of where you are in the city and what time it is. The graffiti won't hurt you.

What's over at radio? Have not checked it out yet.

Will be in the Bay area in August with family,so I am interested in the places to go also. Really looking to play WOZ,so I'll see if they if they have one laying around,lol

ST pro. Make sure to order a beverage and tip your bartender.

Musée Mécanique

http://www.museemecaniquesf.com/

They have a bunch of cool old stuff, plus you get to see a WMS Indiana Jones with the worst playfield wear I have ever seen on a modern game. I think they had a POTC, WMS Indy and a TAF when I was there last.

Was at the PPM this past week. The EMs were generally in better shape than the SS machines with most having new rubbers, balls and clean playfields. Many of the SS machines had credit dots, bad rubbers (shooter rod on Cyclone plinking the ball on launch for example) lights out or other problems. The SS machines were a bit of a disappointment IMHO especially compared to the EMs.

All the new sterns in the front played fine except for Metallica which was having a ball trough problem.

viperrwk

Agree; I was there this weekend. The SS games need some love, but that's probably because they get a lot of use, more than the EM games. I would love to help get those machines cleaned up! They all mechanically played pretty well, they just need bulbs, rubber and a good PF scrub.

The EMs were beautiful, though. Some amazing history there.

Marc

Just checked out where to play on Pinball Map and a place by Haight-Ashbury called Free Gold Watch.
They have a lot of the top Pins(around 30) including a WOZ! I'll be staying in Union Square,so it's a no brainer at this point. Flipside is that area can be a little dicey at night,but this place is only open till 5-6pm anyway.

Yeah if you all have questions about the condition of machines feel free to ask. Legionnaire and Hi Life in Oakland are both amazing as is Free Gold Watch. We play a lot of location pinball here and a lot of folks (like me) aren't as hard core about having to have machines that are perfect (although of course, I'd rather have a machine that's in amazing shape).

While you're on the Island, you might want to also check out "High Scores Arcade" http://highscoresarcade.com/
They have a collection of 80's arcades there. I Haven't been there yet, but I want to check it out next time I'm up that way.

Alameda Island is okay, but boy, that area up near Emeryville, just south of I 80 looks like something out of The Walking Dead!

believe me I know, I work in west Oakland and I think you mean the street behind my work. It looks like it's straight out of mad max. huge homeless camps, cars barely missing each other driving 90 miles an hour, buildings held up by the amount spray paint on them, and junkies going through the ashtray so the ly can smoke old butts with tobacco left in them.

Luckily there are no pins for miles!

Okay, time for my recommendations...

Oakland/Alameda area:
Hi Life Pizza - Stern Trek, AFM, AC/DC Pro, Batman Dark Knight, Cirqus Voltaire, Fish Tales, Whirlwind, Radical, Diner
SubPar Mini Golf - Who Dunnit, Shrek, T2, Monopoly, Indy 93, Mushroom World
High Scores - 80's classic free play video arcade - Baby Pac Man and Granny & The Gators
Pacific Pinball Museum (duh!)

San Francisco:
Metreon - Batman Dark Knight, Lord of the Rings, Simpsons, Sopranos, Spiderman, Family Guy
Free Gold Watch - 24+ pins, but many with small issues or aren't leveled properly

-Mark

I was there about a month ago, and don't recall the SS pins being that bad, so they must get played constantly. However, the EM's were definitely in nicer shape...for reasons already mentioned.

I know they have one night a week (or similar) where volunteers come in and clean the machines...perhaps you could join the crew!
http://pacificpinball.org/volunteers

-Mark

If you hit that Free Gold Watch place let us know how that went. They have a WOZ I believe.

Well worth the trip! Really glad to hear you enjoyed PPM as well, it always bums me out when someone goes and does not have a great experience. Its such a great place.

And they do.

Can't quite make out the finer details on the map, but isn't that close to Amoeba Music?

its about one block over parallel to ameoba.

Go to Whole Foods and grab a bomber first to drink while you play - it's BYOB

Damn. I was in that neighborhood a year ago, and didn't know Free Gold Watch existed.

Not sure how long its been around, may actually not have been there yet.

It's been there over a year but come visit any time - it rocks!

So I found out what happened to WOZ - apparently the power supply or something like that melted down so it's really down for the count for a bit. I know it's been having a lot of problems and I don't know if it's because it gets a ton of play on location there, but the OP for it is always good about working on it and making sure it is in working shape but it does seem to go down a ton. I hope JJP can make sure that The Hobbit and even the rest of the WOZ run are built to handle being on location since it seems like they are often out of order when I see them on location (sample group of two machines).