Sacramento arcade has unlimited pinball and more. What I got for under $25
An old-timey sign with bold golden letters hangs over the entrance to one of Sacramento’s best spots for affordable fun.
Capital Pinball Parlor stands acoss the railroad tracks from the Sacramento River waterfront in historic Old Sacramento.
The arcade at 117 J St. in Sacramento is surrounded by brick buildings, wooden slate porches and tall, western-style swinging doors.
Inside, the parlor is mostly dark with brilliant, prismatic lights beaming from the dozens of pinball machines.
A Sacramento Bee reader recommended that I check out Capital Pinball Parlor as part of The Bee’s On a Budget series, which helps readers find fun and affordable ways to connect to the community.
Here’s what I discovered:
What is Capital Pinball in Sacramento like?
I visited Capital Pinball Parlor at around 3 p.m. on a weekday.
Before I entered the parlor I could hear the classic sounds of roughly 40 pinball machines, creating a harmonious and incredibly welcoming environment.
Inside the business were people of all ages laughing and playing the many pinball machines. Some were hyperfocused on their games. The parlor also has other arcade games scattered between the pinball machines.
Patrons are immediately greeted by a friendly worker stationed behind a counter located on the right side of the building.
The small counter doubles as a bar with limited drink options.
During my visit, customers could choose from a blonde ale, red lager, Modelo beer or hard kombucha lemonade.
You can also select snacks from a vending machine with several candy and chip options.
Another vending machine at the parlor serves up a variety of soda and juice options including Mountain Dew, coffee and Coca Cola.
There’s limited inside seating and tables throughout the parlor.
At the center of the parlor is a large rectangle table with several stools for large groups to sit, talk and take a break.
Customers can find limited street parking in front of the parlor and other nearby businesses.
What I got for $25 at Old Sacramento parlor?
I spent a total of $18 before tip and tax at Capital Pinball Parlor — and got an evening full of fun.
For $10, I got to play an hour worth of pinball.
I also ordered a 16-ounce Kyla hard kombucha lavender lemonade for $8.
I must admit that I am not the biggest fan of kombucha. However, this hard kombucha lemonade was absolutely wonderful with a light, sweet flavor that I’d recommend to anyone.
What truly amazed me about Capital Pinball Parlor is how it functions as an interactive history museum.
I played several pinball machines that demonstrated the function, design and mechanics of pinball machines that came out before 1980s.
As I switched machines, I saw how game technology changed with speed, mini games and design through the decades. Some machines even shook in order to provide additional challenges to the player.
Other machines held the ball mid-game and displayed mini games that require the player to dodge asteroids using the flipper buttons, such as the “Star Wars” machine.
Some of the machines were inspired by modern films including “Guardians of the Galaxy” and role-playing games such as “Dungeons and Dragons.”
By far my favorite was the “Revenge from Mars” pinball game, which was combined with an arcade alien fighter game and lit up with red, green and teal colors.
Though it was a little slower than some of the newer pinball machines I played, the creativity by the designers shined brightly.
After playing one game I knew that the team behind the machine used all resources available to them to create a truly special experience.
Is Capital Pinball Parlor affordable?
Yes, Capital Pinball Parlor is very affordable for people looking to have timeless fun.
The parlor offers three choices of play for customers.
For $5, patrons can play unlimited pinball for 30 minutes. You can get an hour of unlimited pinball for $10, or an entire day for $15.
If you want to play as much as you want, the $15 is the best bang for your buck. You can even take a short break and walk around Old Sacramento.
Prices for food range between $1 to $3 depending on the snack.
Drink prices range from $1 to $3.
I would highly recommend Capital Pinball Parlor to anyone. It’s a place that parents, teens, children, single adults and people on dates can all enjoy.
I will definitely revisit this parlor and plan to take all my visitors and friends. Who doesn’t love history you can play?
This story was originally published September 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
