Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Racket Bar & Pinball Lounge

    3.9 (47 reviews)
    InexpensiveBars, Arcades
    Closed • 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The Racket Bar & Pinball Lounge Photos

    THE RACKET BAR & PINBALL LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    More like The Racket Bar & Pinball Lounge

    Recommended Reviews - The Racket Bar & Pinball Lounge

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    drinks!
    Sabrina V.

    Love coming here with my friends for drinks! And the pinball is a plus! All of their cocktails are dangerously good! My all time favorite is the Summer Honey with lavender infused vodka. And every time I come the bartender always has a new suggestion to make it taste even better than it does! Service here is always great and it adds to the mix of why I enjoy coming here. I also love the ambiance of the bar with their movie/music theme on the walls and then pinball upstairs! The food options are different and good too, I enjoy the tots! Love love love coming here!

    Jennifer J.

    I'll be the first to admit I was not screaming in excitement when someone mentioned a new pinball place had opened up in downtown Bellingham. In fact, it's possible I may have yawned. Having grown up a part of Generation Video Game, pinball just sounded...well...kinda boring. Well, I was wrong. I've been to The Racket three times now and have had more fun on each visit. The place is small, with a full bar (including good taps) downstairs and a long row of pinball machines brightening up the upstairs. Food can also be purchased from the legendary Shakedown kitchen right next door (um, falafel anyone?). The crowd is lively and skews toward "fun" rather than trendy, which is always a nice plus. My only complaint is it's hotter than you-know-what in the pinball area - they've set out a fan but it doesn't do much more than blow the warm air around. The easiest solution I've found to this problem (as with most temperature related problems in the Ham) is simple: wear layers! The thing I like most about The Racket is that it's different. And in a smaller city like we have, different is good! BTW, the pinball machines all take quarters; but if you don't have any cash you can use your credit card to buy a roll of quarters at the downstairs bar ($1 service charge). This is also a 21-and-over place and they do card at the door.

    Philly steak sandwich
    Rex D.

    Saw this place next to Old World and love Philly steak sandwiches. The decor is pretty standard when you walk in. It looks like any other long and narrow bar on the top. I didn't have time during lunch to go to down and check out the basement where the pinball machines were. Maybe next time. You could hear them banging away, that's for sure! Got the Philly to go. Shot back home and broke open the plastic box. I had ordered the Philly, and the server asked if I wanted fries with that. When I paid and took my sandwich, noticed it was about $2 more then what it should be. Without saying, the charged the fries as extra with the meal. I wouldn't have minded if the meal was was higher priced and included the fries. But the server padded the bill up and didn't say anything. When I did get to taste the sandwich. It did taste like a normal Philly sandwich, but the bread was very dry. It had little to no sauce and very little moisture. The 3-star rating really is pretty accurate about the overall experience and taste of the food. I hope this review helps you out when you try this place out for yourself.

    Contemporary Philly (via Viking Food)
    Elizabeth M.

    When a friend came over and we were browsing Viking Food, they mentioned the contemporary philly made by the racket... a philly with cheese whiz... I thought "disgusting... who would eat that?!" I would eat that. It's now one of my favorite Viking food orders haha!

    Erika O.

    Okay. I felt this was a full three star review. My first piece of advice: If you are a HIPSTER and aren't already shacking up here, you're missing your life blood. We went on a Friday night and saw every single hipster in the Bellingham city limits. I kid you not- we made it a game by the end. Pros? Fun machines, great location right next to the shakedown and by Old World Deli and friendly staff! Drinks looked great and I enjoyed the cup holders attached to lots of the pinball machines. Cons? Really rude (I mean, I'm not overly sensitive- it's a bar scene) regulars upstairs. Pushy, generally sarcastic and impatient to us regular folk trying to have a good time. Really crowded- this could be a pro and a con, but there was always a (strangely passive aggressive?) fight for space. Three separate times the pinball machines took quarters without registering them. As in, fully operational but takes our money without any result. I'm going to give this spot another try for sure- with high hopes that maybe it'll amp up to how awesome other reviews say it is.

    See all

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Hollie H.

    Hollie H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sue M.
    421
    21
    4

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jake J.
    0
    390
    19

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Todd F.
    75
    22
    1

    4 years ago

    Nice selection of pinball games. They are upstairs and away from the bar. Felt secluded from what was going on.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of KC L.
    344
    11
    12

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hannah C.
    127
    65
    10

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R B.
    0
    27
    1

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Hollie H.

    Hollie H.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Suzan S.
    113
    15
    0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    The staff is fast, professional & on their shit & super friendly too. Awesome pinball tables upstairs

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dylan L.
    117
    23
    11

    10 years ago

    The bartender told me to keep my voice down. This is a bar...with loud pinball machines. Are you kidding me?

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Racket Bar & Pinball Lounge

    Review Highlights - The Racket Bar & Pinball Lounge

    “Yes, it is a pinball bar but I tend to use the 'bar' part more than the 'pinball' so this review is going to focus on t”

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Redlight Kitchen & Bar - Dumplings

    Redlight Kitchen & Bar

    4.5(187 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    •$$

    This place was, to say the least, unforgettable. I grew up in Bellingham but have never lived there…read moreas an adult. I visited Redlight on my dad's 62nd birthday. Not only were the cocktails delicious and intriguing, the food delectable, and the atmosphere spectacular. The service was beyond words. Anna was a wonderful server as well as a different server who helped when I asked for something, but additionally I spoke to a bartender who provided great recommendations for my father. When the food and drinks were served, my expectations were exceeded. In addition to all of the positive experiences, once we had closed out a customized birthday card signed by the entire staff was delivered to my dad. PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND VISIT THIS RESTAURANT!

    We had a really good experience at Redlight and I'm already looking forward to going back and…read moretrying more of the menu! First, the cocktail menu is fantastic. It's been a long time since I've seen one this creative and extensive. If I wasn't worried about falling over, I probably would have ordered one of everything . I had the Song of the Siren, which was a perfect balance of sweet and tart without being too sweet. I especially loved the hint of white balsamic vinegar. It was surprisingly strong though, so one was plenty! My husband had Le Tigre, which had guava, passionfruit, pineapple, lime and Thai chili tincture. It had just a touch of spice and a really interesting combination of flavors. We both loved our drinks. For food, we started with the ribs and then ordered the pork belly bao buns and the hot noodle dish. The ribs were cooked really well and had a wonderful crispy/fried texture, but they were very lightly seasoned. If you really want to taste the meat, you'll probably love them. For us, they could have used a little something extra. A couple of fun dipping sauces, maybe something like a honey gochujang, would have made them amazing. Our waitress, who was extremely friendly, told us the hot noodles are one of their favorites. They weren't quite for us. There was definitely lots of flavor, but the sauce was pretty rich and dense and the dish had a good amount of spice. We each had about a bite and ended up packing the rest to take home. It sounds like it's a popular dish though, so I think this one is probably just personal preference. The absolute highlight was the pork belly bao buns. I was a little worried pork belly might mean a lot of heavy fat, but these were much more meat-forward, with the perfect crispness around the outside. The flavors were phenomenal and the bao itself was perfectly cooked. Definitely order these! Overall, really good food, wonderful service and one of the most interesting cocktail menus I've seen in a long time. We'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Redlight Kitchen & Bar - Vanilla Lemon Drop

    Vanilla Lemon Drop

    Redlight Kitchen & Bar - Hot Noodle! IG - @bilalandjesseatfood

    Hot Noodle! IG - @bilalandjesseatfood

    Redlight Kitchen & Bar - Hot Noodles

    See all

    Hot Noodles

    Corner Taphouse - Shady Grove! Toe tapping!

    Corner Taphouse

    4.8(12 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    This is a great little place to catch some comedy, have a drink, or listen to some live music…read more It's cozy and they have a pretty decent tap list, which includes beer, wine, cider, and cocktails, and there's a limited food menu. You are also permitted to bring in outside food, which is convenient because The Filling Station is literally across the street. Parking is on the street which can be tricky on busy days, but a short walk doesn't hurt! Service is always friendly, and I have had a good time here because there's truly something for everyone.

    I have the opportunity to visit the Corner Taphouse a few times this year with The Dude, and we…read morereally like it. They have a nice selection of taps (including more than just beer), some vintage video games, and offer live music regularly. On our most recent visit, we found one of our fave local musicians, Michael Dayvid, playing and managed to snag a cozy seat in the front row. We sipped our pints (I got an amber, Dude got an IPA) and enjoyed the show - right after a rousing game of Pac Man, of course. This is large space, so there's seating in the back if you don't want to be front row for the music. The service is friendly, too. Parking can be a little challenging, as it's only street parking, but it's not too bad. In a town that has a lot of breweries, but could use a few more cozy taphouses, Corner Taphouse fills a niche (especially in the Fairhaven area). I hope they continue to thrive!

    Photos
    Corner Taphouse - Retro video games.

    Retro video games.

    Corner Taphouse
    Corner Taphouse

    See all

    The Racket Bar & Pinball Lounge - bars - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...