Arcade Bars in San Francisco! February 19, 2026

Mentioned in this episode:

• Noise Pop Festival starts tonight, February 19, 2026!
• Emporium Arcade Bar - 616 Divisadero Street, San Francisco
• Thriller Social Club - 508 4th Street, San Francisco
• The Detour - 2200 Market Street, San Francisco

Check out past episodes of this podcast at the To Do San Francisco podcast archive.

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Transcript

Jamie Whitaker 0:17

Hi there, this is Jamie, and you're listening to the To Do San Francisco podcast for Thursday, February 19th, 2026. If you can feel that extra bit of electric hum in the air today, it's probably because the Noise Pop Festival is officially kicking off its first full night of shows. But if you aren't heading to a concert tonight, or maybe you just want to keep the energy going after the encore, we're diving into one of my favorite ways to spend a Thursday, the San Francisco arcade bar scene. We've got a few heavy hitters that have defined the city's nightlife, so let's talk about where you're dropping your quarters tonight. First up, we're swinging over to 616 Divisadero Street to visit Emporium Arcade Bar. Now, if you haven't been, this place is massive, and for good reason, it's housed in the historic Harding Theater, which opened way back in 1926 as a vaudeville house. It's lived a thousand lives since then, even hosting The Grateful Dead for a legendary run in the early 70s. When you walk in, you can still feel that grandeur. Most of the reviews online mention that the jaw dropping 50 foot ceilings make playing Mortal Kombat feel like you're performing at the opera. It's got massive screen for sports, plenty of pool tables, and a vibe that's more palace than basement. Now, if we head south to 508 4th Street in South the Market, or SoMa, we hit a spot with some serious history. For years, this was the beloved Coin Op Game Room, which really set the standard for the modern arcade bar in San Francisco. While Coinop moved on, the space was reborn as Thriller Social Club, and they definitely kept the spirit alive while leveling up the spectacle. It's basically a neon soaked carnival for adults now. One of the coolest quirky details here is that it's the official home of the San Francisco Ski Ball League. The games were actually curated by Joey the Cat Mucha, who is literally the top-ranked skee ball player in the world. Reviewers love the Lunar Saloons theme and the fact that they have a full-on golf simulator tucked in the back. Finally, we have to talk about the Detour over at 2200 Market Street. This one feels like the Ultimate Neighborhood Hangout. It started out years ago as a tiny spot called Brewcade, but they eventually moved into this much bigger space and took on a name that honors the city's roots. The Detour was actually the name of a legendary, much grittier gay bar that sat nearby decades ago. Today's detour is incredibly inclusive and serves up some of the best food you'll find in any arcade, hands down. People actually flock there just for the Pan Asian menu. If you go, the consensus from the regulars is that you have to order the spam Masubi or the Korean chicken wings while you wait for your turn on the Killer Queen machine. Just a quick pro tip for tonight. Most of these spots shift to 21 and over after 8 p.m. And since it's noise pop week, expect a bit of a crowd. But honestly, that's half the fun. So get out there, play some games, and don't forget to tip your bartenders. Thank you for listening. Have an excellent day, San Francisco.