Best Pool Halls In The United States

Brickyard Billiards in Indy on the west side (465 and Washington St) may not be the best room in the country but it is headed that way.

The new owners bought out the old Airport billiards and they have really turned it around.

They have good equipment 6 x GC 9' and 3 x Diamond 9' 1 x Diamond 7' and probably 10 Valleys.

The food is good and they enforce the no smoking.

The action is picking up and road men can get played any and all games.

They do not have a billiard or snooker table but the atmosphere and feel of the place is right on...
 
Best Pool Halls

I played for many years at Galaxy Billiards in San Antonio. It's closed now, but, had great tournaments, road players galore, McReady, Parica, Buddy Hall, just about everyone came through there. Danny K's in southern Cal is a very nice room run by a great guy, great tacos. Antique Billiards in Colorado Springs is a great room, Diamond tables, antique tables, cheap cold beer and reasonable rates. Played in a room in Sarasota Florida that was very nice also, had wood floors, great bar. I guess that it depends on what you're looking for. I prefer "old school" pool halls versus the "fern bar" concept. There are really not too many left.
 
Best pool hall that is now the worst

J. Learned Hand said:
Shooters in Olathe.
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I have been to many of the rooms listed and have to agree. A few that were not mentioned are High Pockets in Milwaukee, Slate in NYNY, CJ's in Dallas, The Warehouse in Austin and let's not forget Bank Shot in Houston.

Now I would like to talk about one location that was a favorite of mine and many others for over 40 years until new idiot mgmt has taken over. The Cue and Cushion in Houston, TX was a staple pool room location since the 1960's. Every road player worth their salt has played here. Nothing fancy but home to many great players with a great client base and a very warm and inviting environment.

Now after 40 years they have decided to change this venue to a live music pub with a few pool tables. The new GM, some rude jerk named Mike, has run off all of the pool players. There are two new weird bar maids. One of them has had XXXXXL plastic surgery and the other is real tom-boyish...

Funny thing is that I was in there last night at about 10:30PM and some $250 garage band was trying to play something that sounded like blues and there we a total of 5 customers (I think they were with the band)....and no one playing pool on any of the remaining 8 tables. They tried to charge me a $5 cover charge....yeah right.

I hope their new business model works out.
 
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Dot's Cue Club

Dot's cue club in Rocky Mount NC

They have several 9 footers, one with the tightest pockets I've ever played on and a American snooker table. I've only had a chance to stop in there a couple of times and only for about an hour each time, but being a total stranger in there didn't hinder anyone from coming up and offering a game. I played a few one pocket and bank games before I had to go, very friendly atmosphere, I think they have a web site somewhere with pictures.
 
I think my room on Long Island was the best in that area if you didn't mind a little violence once in awhile, with a mix of bikers,gang member, mob, and everyday run of the mill punks, and ex cons. The inside was shaped like a boxcar. It had nine old Brunswick tables and a Foos-Ball table, that was it. One bathroom and it was a men's only room. (don't get on my case ladies. This was from 1960 to 1975. I have since come around to your way of thinking...60 you 40 me.).

It was the type of room that if you said out loud, "I need a car, tires, a gun, or anything else, it was there right then or an hour later. Big and small robberies were planned there all the time. And of course there were drug dealers everywhere. God I miss that room. Johnnyt
 
You crack me up, Johnnyt.

Hard Times in Sac, Family Billiards in SF, and Edgies and California billiards are all excellent rooms but they're all a long drive for me.

Luckily, a room opened in my home town that includes a billiard table, new cloth on all the tables, a 5x10 snooker table coming and you can play from 1-7pm every day for $35 a month.

Of course I'm the only regular pool player who spends more than 5 bucks a week there on food or drink so it will never last from pool player support, but hopefully the night crowd of drinkers will keep the biz afloat.
 
Johnnyt said:
I think my room on Long Island was the best in that area if you didn't mind a little violence once in awhile, with a mix of bikers,gang member, mob, and everyday run of the mill punks, and ex cons. The inside was shaped like a boxcar. It had nine old Brunswick tables and a Foos-Ball table, that was it. One bathroom and it was a men's only room. (don't get on my case ladies. This was from 1960 to 1975. I have since come around to your way of thinking...60 you 40 me.).

It was the type of room that if you said out loud, "I need a car, tires, a gun, or anything else, it was there right then or an hour later. Big and small robberies were planned there all the time. And of course there were drug dealers everywhere. God I miss that room. Johnnyt
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Oh yes...the good old early days when the pool room was pure and wholesome.....a time long since....Cue and Cushion was similar but I would say a bit more mild..with tons of LARGE action for it's day. Now-a-days the criminal element comes from the corporate ownership with $25 / hr rates.
 
I have to say i havent been to many pool halls bur Mr cues i really like, also johnny archers place, is nice too, i really like the G crown with a triple shim in there. im also from houston and Bogeys is nice, good place to gamble and will a very nice set up on the 4 G crowns the have with nice comfortable seating arragements. Mr cues i believe is where johhny and nevel played there match for like 5 grand
 
I have been driving around aimlessly since Nov 3 and I have went to alot of pool halls. I have liked all of them. However if I had to pick just one it would be impossible.
 
Hawaiian Brian's Billiards

Hawaiian Brian's Billiards.
Honolulu Hawaii, 1 block west of the Hawaii Convention Center, which is at the entrance to Waikiki..
Or 1 block north of Ala Moana Shoping Center. Close to everything.
36 Gold Crown Tables, Large Video Game Section, Pro Shop and Snack Bar.
Action on the Back Tables. Hawaii's Best Players play here.

 

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HB's Snack Shop

Here's Hawaiian Brian's Snack Bar..
 

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dannym said:
Q-MASTERS in VA BEACH. Owned the by barry behrman
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i just moved to virginia, and started playing again because of this pool hall. tables get wiped and brushed right after your done playing. staff is extremely friendly. not too bright inside and music is not too loud. full set of comfortable bleechers and always action to watch. oh yeah, and they host the US Open also..
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
I recently read an artical about hollywood Billiards, in Hollywood, California and it sounds like a first class place.
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Hollywood Billiards in Hollywood, CA is my favorite of all poolrooms I've been in. It has a nice layout with plenty of room between the tables and good lighting. The pockets are all shimmed to 4" (not sure about the tables upstairs though). The food is great and the staff is friendly. As a nice touch, valet parking is available.

I was passing through Hollywood one day and my car broke down in the area of the poolroom. I was stranded there for 3 1/2 days before my car was fixed. I was in the poolroom quite a bit. I thought to myself, if I had to be stranded anywhere, this is the place to be!

I imagine a lot of celebrities hang out there. One time I was in there and saw a gal that looked exactly like Jessica Alba. Don't know if it was her for sure but she had her own cue seemed to be interested in the game.

Even though Hollywood Biliards is set up to be a quality players room, there are hardly any players in there. Other than that, it is the nuts!
 
8ballEinstein said:
Hollywood Billiards in Hollywood, CA is my favorite of all poolrooms I've been in. It has a nice layout with plenty of room between the tables and good lighting. The pockets are all shimmed to 4" (not sure about the tables upstairs though). The food is great and the staff is friendly. As a nice touch, valet parking is available.

I was passing through Hollywood one day and my car broke down in the area of the poolroom. I was stranded there for 3 1/2 days before my car was fixed. I was in the poolroom quite a bit. I thought to myself, if I had to be stranded anywhere, this is the place to be!

I imagine a lot of celebrities hang out there. One time I was in there and saw a gal that looked exactly like Jessica Alba. Don't know if it was her for sure but she had her own cue seemed to be interested in the game.

Even though Hollywood Biliards is set up to be a quality players room, there are hardly any players in there. Other than that, it is the nuts!
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Great place!
Max Eberle and Joe Rogan are the two local bullies there.
Pacquiao plays there sometimes when he's training for a fight. The Wild Card Gym is a few blocks away.
Ernesto shimmed those brutal pockets .
 
Hungarian Nut said:
Oh yes...the good old early days when the pool room was pure and wholesome.....a time long since....Cue and Cushion was similar but I would say a bit more mild..with tons of LARGE action for it's day. Now-a-days the criminal element comes from the corporate ownership with $25 / hr rates.
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I agree, even though there was rarely any big time action in mine. Probably because they were afraid to post big money or let someone know they had it. Thieves don't steal from thieves is BS. It's always open season on everybody. Watch that purse Mom. Johnnyt
 
I too like the 'old school poolrooms'. Golden Cue in Melbourne, Florida comes to mind. Nothing fancy just serious pool. Saw a lot of great tournaments in the 80s there. Wish my town had one like this: http://www.family-billiards.com/. Really like the way the owner has this room set up and the way he runs it. Guess my favorite though was the original Chattanooga Billiard Club. I just loved the equipment/memorabilia and the atmosphere of the room.
 
DEACON said:
Chris's Billiards in Chicago has the real feel of the movie the Hustler. Lots of options to choose from, upstairs. No pinball, no dartboards, just pool mr. Red Shoes is a great place as well. Always a few pros walking around looking for games. good owners who run a good business and there is always action. .
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Yep! Love both those rooms! You know a lot of the scenes in TCOM was shot in Chris's .


I used to hang out at red shoes about everyday. Great players room. good tables,good atmosphere. Velvet ropes around the action tables.

I still remember a kid walking up to the counter and asking for the jukebox to be turned up, The answer " no". Plain and simple. It wasn't a dance hall, it was a pool room.

Still, one of the funniest things I remember was a kid watching a couple of old timers playing a game of one pocket. This kid had obviously never even heard of one pocket. He was watching these guys go at it in between shots at his own table. I could see him being so confused at why these two guys that had the privelege of playing " behind the ropes" were just missing ball after ball. He noticed that I was interested in the game as I was sitting down and keeping track of the match. I could see how much it baffled him. Here are 2 guys who seem to be respected pool players and they may have pocketed 2 balls between them in 10 tries, and were obviously not even seeing all of the open shots!

Well, after awhile the kid actually walks up and challenges one of the guys to a game. He must have felt pretty confident by this time. Well, long story short, the kid was amazed when during their game of 8 ball he didn't stand a chance. All of a sudden the guy couldn't miss! The hardest part was not laughing my a$$ off!

He must have thought that it was some sort of elaborate hustle set up soley for his benefit. We were all in on it to split up his $20 or whatever!:thumbup:

Jw
 
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