Byron from San Francisco

About me The quote “It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious” by Oscar Wilde works for me. I grew up on the central coast and have always valued the California virtues of connecting with people and their stories - there is a reason Hollywood and Silicon Valley started here. Everyone has a story, but so few tell it well. For the la...

Aug 31, 2025

Free Gold Watch San Francisco

Honest old school pinball palace

"When I can hear the sound of spare coins jingling, I get an itch for a real pinball fix and head to the Haight and Free Gold Watch in San Francisco..."

When I can hear the sound of spare coins jingling, I get an itch for a real pinball fix and head to the Haight and Free Gold Watch. Located on Waller, a block off Haight, a garage door opens onto the largest collection of classic steel pinball machines in the city. This is not a fancy place for hipster drinks or electronic gaming. It is real pinball with flippers and an extra ball if you match. Started in the spare room of a tee shirt printing company, there are now about 100 true pinball machines waiting for a couple of quarters to spring into life.

There is a room with some very old-school games from the 1950s that feel like a trip back in time, but the majority are classic movie and pop culture machines from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Play the Addams Family pinball or Lord of the Rings – can you reach Mount Doom? Sounds and lights and bonus points add up to an amazing way to spend an hour before exploring the entrance to Golden Gate Park or diving back into the Haight.

Open seven days a week, Free Gold Watch feels like a hidden club for the neighbourhood. It is a friendly place to spend an hour and score 40,000 points for hitting Indiana Jones' secret hoard.

Art & culture

Relaxing

About this spot

1767 Waller St

US$

no-price

Website

4158764444

find your way in San Francisco, download our app.

Find your way with 158 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our San Francisco guide.

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in San Francisco

Adventure Cat

Sailing the SF Bay

You'll sail completely around Alcatraz and then out to sea, pass other boats, and experience the fog rolling into the Bay—a very cool experience.

Relaxing

Kathleen

Messmer

Sep 8, 2025

The Carousel

A Childhood Fantasy Come True

Custom-built in Italy, it features more than 30 colorful animals and is the only bay area carousel with artistic renderings of all the SF landmarks!

Relaxing

Shopping

Kathleen

Messmer

Sep 8, 2025

Trouble Coffee

Coffee with an edge!

"Trouble Coffee" in San Francisco is a category of its own. Let's say it belongs to the 'badass coffee' category. Makes me feel like a rough surfer girl!

Coffee & tea

Brooke

Ekdahl

Sep 7, 2025

Mt. Davidson

A Great Hike on a Foggy Day

It's an easy hike with trees, ferns, and other bits of nature surrounding the trail. If you stop and listen, you will hear… nothing.

Relaxing

Kathleen

Messmer

Sep 5, 2025

Hook Fish Co

Fish tacos in the Sunset Avenues

"Hook Fish Co" in San Francisco is deep in the Sunset Avenues and is perfect for when you have a hankering for some scrumptious fish tacos!

What makes "SPRO Coffee Lab" in San Francisco and its food truck special is their specialty crafted coffee drinks & artisanal goods. It's a gem of a spot!

Coffee & tea