Joey the Cat’s Arcade is a retro barcade tucked into San Francisco’s Mission district, where skee-ball lanes anchor a lineup of classic arcade and pinball cabinets. The space pulls double duty as a casual hangout, a competitive league venue, and a private event space, all under the personal brand of a 3-time National Skee-Ball Champion who bills himself as the #1 Roller in the World. It’s the kind of neighborhood spot where a date night, a birthday party, and a Wednesday league night can all happen in the same room on different nights of the week.
San Francisco’s arcade and barcade scene has long leaned into this hybrid model, and Joey the Cat’s fits squarely into that tradition. The Mission in particular has a history of eclectic, independently owned bars and entertainment venues, and the arcade borrows that playful, social energy while adding a heavy lean toward organized skee-ball competition. Visitors looking for more options in the city can browse the full set of nearby spots through the RetroArcade.com arcade finder or by exploring the interactive arcade map.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | San Francisco, CA |
| Phone | +1 415-869-8661 |
| Hours | Not listed |
| Rating | 4.8 out of 5 from 107 reviews |
| Best For | Casual drinkers, large groups, tournament players, date night |
The Scene
Joey the Cat’s Arcade reads as a bar-first arcade with a serious skee-ball identity. The venue’s homepage describes the vibe as playful and social, anchored by multiple skee-ball lanes and a lineup of classic arcade and pinball cabinets. Owner Joey “The Cat” — a 3-time National Skee-Ball Champion — has built his personality and brand directly into the space, so visitors aren’t just dropping into a generic barcade; they’re walking into a champion-curated hangout.
The Skee-Ball League is a recurring feature, and the venue actively books private events and custom arcade builds. That means the room can shift from a laid-back after-work crowd to a tournament night to a booked-out birthday party without losing its identity. The standout detail, according to the venue’s own site, is the owner’s reputation: a 3-time National Skee-Ball Champion and self-described #1 Roller in the World. That’s the kind of provenance that draws both casual players and serious rollers.
A small caveat worth flagging: the venue’s directory category lists it as a “Video arcade,” but the space is also a full barcade with food and alcohol service — not a pure coin-op arcade. Anyone planning a visit should treat it as a 21-and-up barcade rather than a family drop-in spot, since the homepage does not list specific hours, age policies, or menu prices at the time of this writing.
Games & Machines
The game floor leans into the venue’s skee-ball identity. The headline attractions are the skee-ball lanes themselves, joined by 4-player arcade cabinets, a claw machine, pop-a-shot, and a rotation of pinball machines. Photobooth services and custom arcade builds round out the feature list, the latter of which the venue offers as part of its private event and party booking work.
For players chasing the signature experience, skee-ball is the obvious draw, especially with a 3-time national champion in residence running the league. Pinball fans will find cabinets to dig into, while groups looking for casual competition can rotate through pop-a-shot and the 4-player cabinets. The combination of full bar, kitchen, skee-ball league, and party bookings makes the game floor part of a larger social package rather than a standalone arcade experience.
Visiting
Joey the Cat’s Arcade is listed at San Francisco, CA, with a contact number at +1 415-869-8661 and a homepage at joeythecat.com. The directory does not surface a specific street address, and the venue’s own homepage does not publish operating hours or an age policy at the time of this writing, so visitors should call ahead to confirm the door is open and to ask about any age restrictions before heading over.
Full bar and kitchen service are part of the deal, and the venue’s own site features a prominent “BOOK YOUR EVENT” call-to-action for private events and custom arcade builds. Groups planning a birthday, corporate outing, or league night should reach out directly through the venue’s website or phone line to lock in details. Visitors exploring other San Francisco options can compare nearby venues like Emporium Arcade Bar, Players Sports Grill & Arcade, Kiddleton, and Round1 Bowling & Arcade — San Francisco, or use the arcade finder and arcade map to plan a full night out. Arcade owners who want to update or manage this listing can submit changes through the claim-your-listing page.