Find Your Inner Pinball Wizard At This Awesome Portland Barcade

by | Jan 10, 2024 | Entertainment, Things To Do, Video Games

“Wedgehead” refers to a pinball machine design that first appeared in 1960 featuring a distinctive wedge-shaped backhead, meaning it was wider on top than the bottom. Although the wedgehead didn’t change the game in any fundamental way, these classic models are now collector’s items to those in the know. But, you can catch a glimpse—and actually play on some of these classic machines—at Wedgehead, a pinball-only barcade located on the corner of NE 37th and Sandy Blvd in Portland.

interior
interior gaming area, Wedgehead facebook

The name of the bar is an homage to the pinball machines inside, and the building they’re housed in also happens to be wedge-shaped since it sits on a weird, triangular corner in the mess of streets that make up the Hollywood District. (Side note: I was also curious where the “pin” of pinball comes from, and this dates back to the 1930s when the game was first invented. Instead of having the mechanical flipper arms to shoot the ball back into play, it originally just rolled down the playfield bouncing off several set nails (pins). The More You Know™!” 

player
player, Margot Kelley Google Local

At its core, Wedgehead is a retro pinball parlor, but it offers more to its growing customer base than your typical arcade. As you’d expect from a hip Portland bar, it’s very cool inside, bedecked with colorful, kaleidoscopic murals that pull from pop culture, gaming, and betray an obsession with Kurt Russel. The owners of Wedgehead have over 150(!) pinball machines, though only 25 of them are on the floor at any one time. The others are regularly rotated through so you’re always gonna get to play something new, even if you’re a regular. They even keep a running list online of what’s currently on the floor.

cool bar
cool bar, Lesa Monster Google Local

The games are all “free” to play with a one-time entry fee of $12 that gets you a wristband to play as long as you want—even if you leave and come back later that day. Minors are also allowed but only until 6:00pm per OLCC rules, making this a great place to bring older kids during the day. It’s also a fun spot to meet up with friends or go out on a date (you’ll have something to keep you occupied if the conversation gets stale).

free pinball sign
free pinball sign, wedgehead facebook

Wedgehead stands out from the crowd by the variety of machines they have and their awesome food and drinks. The menu is somewhat predictable, but don’t conflate what they offer with standard bar fare. Everything here is done at the highest level (like they make their own chicken nuggets from scratch—who does that!) and includes burgers, chicken or veggie sandwiches, nachos, even arepas and churros! They also have jello shots, beer, wine, and inventive craft cocktails done by Little Hands.

seating area
seating, Marc Thayer Google Local

Another endearing quality of Wedgehead is they seem truly committed to fostering a sense of community. They have a Wedgehead Reward program (where you can earn your own fancy card) that gets you extra perks and discounts on games, food and drinks. Plus, every Thursday night they host an event called “Howdy Pardner” which is an informal competition where you’re put on a mixed-skill level team of three to four people and compete in a fun, inclusive environment. 

Dr. No game
Dr. No game, Wedgehead facebook

You can book events here like birthdays, work parties, celebrations, even weddings! Parking can suck, but that’s always been true in this neighborhood. There’s no parking lot so your best bet is to find street parking which means you’ll likely be walking a few blocks to get there. A small price to pay for the fun you’re about to have.

Hours: (21 and over after 6:00pm) 

  • Monday – Thursday, 4:00pm – 11:00pm
  • Friday, 4:00pm – Midnight
  • Saturday, 12:00pm – Midnight
  • Sunday,  12:0pm – 10:00pm

Address: 3728 NE Sandy Boulevard, Portland

Phone: 503-477-7637

Share this article

Written By Diana Flowers

Diana is a writer living in Portland with her delightful son and crotchety cat. Growing up in the area, family vacations were often to nearby destinations reachable by car. She has since expanded that love of local road trips and has been all over the great state of Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest, frequently pairing backpacking trips with exploring new towns and regions.

Related Articles

Salem, Oregon Ranks Top 10 In USA Family Friendly Travel Destinations

Salem, Oregon Ranks Top 10 In USA Family Friendly Travel Destinations

Recently Yelp, known for reviews of restaurants, attractions and other businesses, compiled a list of America's top 10 family friendly destinations. The ten cities that made the cut were cities that matched the 'good for kids' attribute on Yelp and had high searches...

8 Offbeat Oregon Towns That Make For A Perfect Spring Road Trip

8 Offbeat Oregon Towns That Make For A Perfect Spring Road Trip

Whether you’re an art aficionado, an adrenaline junkie, or simply in search of a peaceful retreat, these eight towns promise a road trip filled with discovery and delight.

X