Kiss Pinball at the John Curtin Hotel
Rock gods Kiss are no stranger to a bit of healthy merchandising. From condoms to coffins, credit cards to lunch boxes – they’ve licensed their ridiculous mugs to over 3,000 product categories. Thankfully, their pinball machine rules. If you’re on a lucky streak, Gene Simmons’ infamous tongue will spit out a round of ‘demon multi-ball’. Personally, I think all sport would be more enjoyable with the added pandemonium of a multi-ball challenge. Until that happens, catch me at the Kiss machine.
29 Lygon Street, Carlton. (03) 9663 6350.
Creature from the Black Lagoon at Soda Rock Diner
Slip your leather jacket on and slick back your quiff for this one, because stepping into Soda Rock is like stepping into a ’50s time warp. Wind your way past a couple of rollerskating waitresses and a pyramid of Doctor Pepper cans to find this retro classic, straight out of 1992. Take your shot at a high score under the watchful eye of an Elvis effigy to join the ‘creature feature hall of fame’. If he can’t help you – nothing will.
257 Toorak Road, South Yarra. (03) 9827 3500.
The Simpsons Pinball Party at Blue Bar
Everyone’s favourite four fingered friends have landed themselves one of the most successful pinball machines of the 21st century. Make the right amount of shots and you’ll crack into ‘Super Duper Mega Extreme Wizard Mode’. Go too hard and Comic Book Guy will bump your ball straight down the drain. Flipper your way around Springfield in between Blue Bar’s hip hop and R&B sets, featuring live DJs every night.
330 Chapel Street, Prahran. (03) 9529 6499.
Monster Bash at Pixel Alley
A classic Williams machine, the playfield features a whole stack of iconic horror characters. The goal is to make enough shots to pull The Wolfman, Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula and The Mummy together to form the almighty Monster’s of Rock band. Besides from this game, Pixel Alley boasts a treasure trove of classic arcade games including Daytona and Street Fighter as well as an Iron Man pinball machine. To cap it all off, every pint of their house beer comes with a complimentary game token.
95 Smith Street, Fitzroy. (03) 9416 0079.
Twilight Zone at Bartronica
Twilight Zone is rated one of the top electronic pinball machines of all time. With a mind boggling amount of bells and whistles, you can find yourself fending off an onslaught of balls bursting forth from a miniature gumball machine or getting sucked into a magnetic power field. It’s just one of the great games on offer at Bartronica, alongside a slew of certified classics from the ’70s through to the ’90s. One of the best places to find pinball in the city, they’ve also got Fastbreak, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Demolition Man and World Cup Soccer machines. If you’re looking for drinks and a game, you’ve come to the right place.
335 Flinders Lane, CBD. (03) 9629 9921.
The Rolling Stones at Leonard’s House of Love
Another classic rock band to be forever immortalised in pinball glory, The Rolling Stones machine is tucked into a corner inside Leonard’s cosy game room. Get your jaw around one of their double patty cheeseburgers in between launching your ball into a moving Mick Jagger target. Now there’s some satisfaction.
3 Wilson Street, South Yarra. 0428 066 778.
WWF Royal Rumble at The Brunswick Hotel
Are you ready to rumble? Go back to the golden days of overdramatic wrestling, where hilariously exaggerated machismo was the name of the game. Take a flip with Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker before catching some live music at The Brunny, Wednesday through to Sunday every week.
140 Sydney Road, Brunswick. (03) 9387 6637.
WWE Wrestlemania at The Retreat
What does wrestling and pinball have in common? Well, I’m not entirely sure to be honest. Pinball doesn’t make much sense at the best of time. Regardless, this is a killer game. Take your place as king of the ring by flipping the ball up into the miniature wrestling wring to ricochet around the ropes. While your there, soak up some of The Retreat’s live music and their extensive dinner and drinks menu.
280 Sydney Road, Brunswick. (03) 9380 4090.
Funhouse at The Old Bar
In what might be the most endearingly bizarre pinball machine of all, this ’90s gem takes the theme of an amusement park, complete with a talking doll’s head in the centre of the playfield. What’s more, the doll is a bit of a jerk. Named Rudy, he’ll heckle and taunt you for making a bad shot as well as follow the ball with his eyes. Equal parts creepy and cool, it’s the perfect excuse to get down to The Old Bar to enjoy some original music – live every night of the week.
74-76 Johnston Street, Fitzroy. (03) 9417 4155.
AC/DC Pinball at The Workers Club
For those about to flip, we salute you. Set to the soundtrack of Thunderstruck and a bunch of other AC/DC hits, this hard rocking machine features a set of swinging Hell’s Bells and a 3D rock’n’roll train. Before you get the air guitar out, check out The Workers Club’s gig guide to get down and support some up and coming artists. Topping it off is a tidy menu showcasing hearty pub classics and plenty of vegetarian options.
51 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. (03) 9415 6558.
BY JAMES DI FABRIZIO
