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    Pins Mechanical

    3.9 (268 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Pins Mechanical Photos

    Business Info

    PINS MECHANICAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Pins Mechanical

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    Jennifer R.

    They had me at pinball. We may have been the oldest people in there by several (wink wink) years but we didn't let that stop us! Loved the indoor/outdoor space and the margaritas were surprisingly great. The wait for bowling was long on a weekend night, so we skipped that. Sadly no skeeball, but we did enjoy some heated foosball competition. The whole thing is kind of like an adult playground and I loved it. Tip: Bring cash. The games take quarters.

    Amy W.

    What an absolute blast! Our air BNB room faced this fun spot. We definitely knew we needed to check it out. It's a duck pin bowling spot but they have all sorts of games. They don't serve food but they have a permanent food truck. You go and order and they bring it out to you. There were some fun drinks too. We enjoyed sitting out on the swings. It's an adult playground (we did see kids too, but it gets rowdy here). Very fun time!

    Lots of pinball machines
    Amelia S.

    Our company had a large event here, and it was an absolute blast. Pins had so many different games, and it was fun to play several under one roof. Duckpin bowling (8 lanes available) was especially fun. They have ping pong, hookie, giant jenga, giant connect four, foosball, and many pinball machines. The bartenders are cool, and they have a nice selection of drinks. No food availability however. Definitely a cool spot to hang out as a group!

    Aesha E.

    This was an interesting place. I was glad to I got to check out this modern-day arcade. The place doesn't have any food, but they do sometimes have food trucks to grab something to eat. I think they also may have small things like popcorn or something, but perhaps I'm misremembering. The fun here is in the games. They have duckpin bowling! What is this, you ask? Great question, because I had no clue. It's similar to the 10-pin bowling that's more typical... in that there are pins, 10 of them, and a ball that hits them. The pins are smaller, though, and the ball is much smaller as well; you won't use the one you're familiar with that has holes for holding it. Because of the size of the pins and ball, you get to roll three times per frame. Super fun, in part because it's a different style than is typical and also because it feels easier in some respects--for instance, you're not trying to control a 13 pound bowling ball, but something that fits more easily into the palm of your hand. There's also other games like pinball, foosball tables, pingpong, and other diversions. They have a pretty well-stocked bar, and non-alcoholic beverages as well. The outdoor space has fire pits and activity as well.

    Bowling Area
    Bradley L.

    We visited Sunday for a Sunday funday after a wedding. Enjoyed a beer and a lack luster Bloody Mary, do not recommend. Had a good time getting my butt kicked at bowling though. Unrelated we saw someone have a medical emergency and the entire team jumped into help. Friendly staff that seems to care about what they do.

    Pins downtown Columbus
    Ace C.

    I highly recommend Pins Mechanical. The best laid-back Gaming Bar around. Bring your friends and family. Your going to have a great time.

    Tipsy Grinch
    Chelsea W.

    Pins Mechanical is so much fun! They offer a variety of games including; patio pong, ping pong, duck pin bowling, ring toss, jenga and pin ball. Many local and domestic options on draft. They also have fun seasonal drinks. They do not serve food but frequently host at least one food truck. Super chill place on Sunday afternoon. There were even several kids with their parents enjoying the activities.

    Black knight, with catapult upper deck
    Sam D.

    Lovely cocktails, very friendly people. Pinball machines are many, but have some operating issues

    Cheeseburger and fries
    Cassie P.

    Delish! The food trucks here serve great food and are very speedy. Get you some for sure!

    Jenny Z.

    Automatic five stars for this bar being dog friendly at all of their locations. Only kind of kidding. We lived in Seattle where dogs were allowed almost everywhere that didn't serve food. Ohio has different rules and we haven't been able to take our sweet pup out with us as much (culture shock for him). It was wonderful being able to have him with us as we celebrated an engagement at Pins! We also got a wag bag which is precious. He's still wearing the bandana. I didn't play any of the games but we did indulge in several drinks. Bartenders were all very friendly and accommodating to slight modifications. The prices were pretty good too! There were a lot of people but it felt comfortable with plenty of ledges to put your drinks and some tables / chairs / couches. We'll definitely be back! The patio is also amazing in the summer.

    Interior
    Anthony T.

    My family and I have been going to pins for two years now. Every winter, my wife and I visit my family for the holidays. Our favorite place to spend time with my family is at pins. We enjoy playing a few ganes of duckpin bowling and then a few more games of pinball. What's not to love?

    Beer

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    5 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    Pins M.

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    2 years ago

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    Pins M.

    Thanks for the great review and congrats to the new couple!

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    4 years ago

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    Ben R.

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    2 years ago

    Great bar! Very big inside and lots to do with lots of beer options. Outdoor area is great in both winter and summer.

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    11 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Love finding this place for a date night. It was clean, fun and enjoyable! Def would return!

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    Pins M.

    Thanks for the awesome review Amanda. Stop back in soon!

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    5 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Fun experience when its not crowded. Love the candlepin bowling! Bartender knows his craft.

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    9 years ago

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    Pins Mechanical Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pins Mechanical

    Can you smoke on the outdoor patio?

    Yes. Smoking is permitted on the patio. Ashtrays are provided.

    How much are the games to play?

    Pinabll is .50/play with a couple of free play machines in the loft area. Bowling is $5/game per person.

    What's the best food item to get there?

    They don't serve food, but they have a food truck and you can bring in outside food

    View All 6 Questions

    Review Highlights - Pins Mechanical

    They do not take reservations for duck pin bowling on Saturdays get there early to get your name on the list.

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    The Alibi Bourbon and Cocktail Lounge - Wright bros

    The Alibi Bourbon and Cocktail Lounge

    4.5(103 reviews)
    1.0 miShort North
    $$

    I never leave Alibi disappointed. They always have such a creative menu with something for…read moreeveryone. It always amazes me how quickly they crank out such creative drinks. I'm sure some of them are batched, but they don't taste like they are. Service was excellent, as always. Endlessly knowledgeable. Small place, but never feels crowded even when full.

    I really, really, really love the drink menu of the Alibi. Like, a lot. Their visual chart is a…read moregodsend for cocktail explorers, and all of the drinks came out delicious and exactly as described. It's so creative, and the drinks are really the stellar stand out here. However, the atmosphere of those drinks is what gives me pause when thinking about coming back. The limited table situation, tiny cramped space, and loud music means that it doesn't feel particularly relaxing. People are constantly brushing up against you (even at 5PM), and holding a conversation at a normal distance is nearly impossible. NOTE: This place is covered in dust. No shade to the ownership as it doesn't appear to be anywhere near food prep areas (it's on the decor, on/around shelving, all over the faux plants, etc.), but if you're someone who's sensitive to dust, this is probably not a good fit. PROS: -I loooooooove how they've done their drink menu. As someone who is still exploring the potential of cocktails, their nerdy "chart" that places all of their drinks on a sweet/bitter and alcohol-forward/approachable visual chart is SUCH a help. As such, everything I ordered was absolutely amazing for me. I knew exactly what to expect from a drink because of its position on the chart, and it delivered. -Their drinks are really unique. Aqua faba? Fat washed alcohols? Lollipops or toasted marshmallows as garnishes? Super cool. Don't let some of the weirder descriptions creep you out of trying them. -All of their drinks were delicious. Everything I ordered was exactly as described. I often go places where the taste is barely related to its namesake, but they were entirely on-point here. CONS: -I'm not sure if someone called off that night as other reviewers are in love with the service, but our service was really really slow. No real rapport with the staff; just stating the name of a drink as they rushed past and then they were off to try to clean a table or take someone else's order. The drinks they made were great, but this isn't somewhere we'd go if we were in a hurry. -The pictures do not accurately convey how small this place is. Like, it's small. I'd guess less than 1000 square feet. My apartment is bigger by a lot. This isn't necessarily an issue, but it means people pile up quickly as they wait for seating (there's like 4/5 tables and then bar seating). The human walkways are small enough that the bartenders and other guests will brush against you a lot - even while seated. -I get the vibe they were going for here, but with the smaller space, I think a lot of the potential decor options had to "go" in order to fit more humans. It's giving me hardcore The Hearth Room (in Cincinnati) vibes, and I think it could honestly pull it off if it simply had more space. The "relaxed, sophisticated bourbon bar" doesn't quite come through as well when things are so focused on simply fitting in more bodies. -It's loud AF. Like, really, really loud. Between all the people and the blasting pop music, it required leaning into someone's ear in order to speak at normal volumes. We'd regularly have to pause the conversation if something in the music was building to a drop. This is not a place I'd take someone I wasn't very very comfortable with because it really requires being in someone's space to talk. -There's a single all-gender toilet here for everyone in the establishment. It's basically a revolving door of people in and out of it. The door auto-closes, however, so it's really difficult to figure out if it's open or not. There was usually a queue of people waiting in front of the door.

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    The Alibi Bourbon and Cocktail Lounge - Fresh, handmade seasonal cocktails

    Fresh, handmade seasonal cocktails

    The Alibi Bourbon and Cocktail Lounge - Smoked old fashioned (Buffalo Trace)

    Smoked old fashioned (Buffalo Trace)

    The Alibi Bourbon and Cocktail Lounge

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    The Oracle - Entrance

    The Oracle

    4.3(26 reviews)
    1.5 miOlde Towne East
    $$

    Fun and funky but only been there once so I'd need to go back a few times and want to know if there…read moreis a happy hour

    Hubs and stopped in the Oracle yesterday on our way to visit our oldest daughter. It's the first…read moreweek in September, so the pandemic is still looming and of course we respect all the precautions every business is taking to stay safe and prevent the spread. That being said, upon opening the door we were told we couldn't come in without masks. Mine was in my pocket, no problem. I haven't left my home (in Tennessee) often enough since the beginning of the virus for it to become habit to automatically put on a mask when I get out of my vehicle. But 9/10 times I remember before entering a public place. The male bartender just seemed rude in the way he told us to put one one. I had read the raving reviews, and being a Yelp Elite myself I know I can and do trust their reviews above others. So....I was really looking forward to trying something new and enjoy watching a bartender do their thing. The bartender pointed to two framed menus on top of a cooler containing seltzer's and canned drinks, and some glass bottles of pre-made cocktails, I think. I would've appreciated the bartender ask me what I liked, and help me decide, but it was easier for him to point to the sign. Customer service absolutely sucked hippo balls. I asked if I could just order a Knob Creek and Coke in a short glass, and a Blanton's for my hubs. Sure!! What I got was a shot of each in a to-go plastic condiment container with a lid, and two big paper go cups (like Burger King) of ice, and a can of Coke, which I told him never mind I had a soda in the truck. We also got two bags of Cheeto's, to make the sale legal. So....we poured our bourbons over the ice in the paper cups. I drank a few sips of mine, yum, even in paper. My husband was just about to take a sip and noticed something stuck in his ice that looked just like a maggot. He walked back across the street and told/showed the bartender, who vehemently denied it came from the ice because it was a brand new bag. Then I noticed 3 of the maggot looking things in my ice, so I went back in and showed my husband and then the bartender. He told my husband it was probably from the citrus he was cutting on a board near the ice bin. They were frozen INSIDE the ice cubes. I'm upset with myself that I didn't take a picture of it, it was gross. I'm upset that a bartender would try to make it seem like it was nothing. After seeing it all in my ice my husband just asked for our money back, and the bartender said, "But I've already poured another." Ummm, sorry, but no thank you. He did give the refund, but I most assuredly won't give them a second chance when I visit Columbus.

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    The Oracle - Goodnight sweet prince

    Goodnight sweet prince

    The Oracle - French Pop

    French Pop

    The Oracle - The bar

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    The bar

    Pins Mechanical - bowling - Updated May 2026

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