Nicest Pool hall in the U.S.

KingCarom

KingCarom

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I get to travel several times a year on business, and always bring my cue along so I can get out and check out the local scene after business hours. I have played in some cities that have a much larger pool following than Seattle which is nice because it'sa easier to get a different sense of the talent of other region's players. In the last two years or so I have played in Minneapolis, Greensboro, OKC, LA, New York, Portland, West Palm Beach, Miami, and Boston.

In all of my tavels, I would have to say that Hollywood Billiards was one of the nicest halls I have been to. I like their indoor ambience, and outdoor courtyard. Nice tables and people for the most part.

Here is a link tho their establishment:
http://www.hollywoodbilliards.com/

What is the nicest place you have played? Please provide a link to the spot if it is available so we can all take a look at your vote.

Now, I must append this statement by saying that I also enjoy the much smaller, smoky and kinda grungy pool room that isnt so fancy; they have their own appeal. However, this thread is for the nicest hall you have been to or can think of. The nicest tables, atmosphere, bar, clientel.
Thanks-
 
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I must agree.
Holly Billiards, minus the parking, is one of the best.
There's also a great Thai restaurant across from it.
Too bad they took out the billiard and snooker table upstairs.
 
Sorry to get off the subject but I thought Seattle had a large pool following? Which cities in your opinion have a large majority of pool players?
 
Seattle Following

There is a pretty good crowd here in Seattle, but pool isnt as big here as one might think it would be. I mean, geeze... it just rains here all the time right! :) people ought to be indoors playing pool all the time!

I am gauging the size of "the following" by the number of players and poolrooms in the metro area. Seattle has a few good rooms, but not as many per capita as other major cities.
 
I'd probably have to go with Los Angeles. I've never played there but I suppose they have lots of nice rooms. I've been hearing about them for awhile. Hollywood Billiards, Hard Times.
 
Re: Seattle Following

KingCarem said:
I am gauging the size of "the following" by the number of players and poolrooms in the metro area. Seattle has a few good rooms, but not as many per capita as other major cities.
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Which rooms are you speaking of? ;) All of the rooms I know of have loud obnoxious music, and clientel to match.
 
The 211 used to be good, now there is Breaking point, City Lights in Tacoma, Dr Cues, Sunset Billiards, Shotze's... etc. I only go out to the Breaking Point since it is so close to my house. Where do you live in Wa. Holey Roller?
 
King, I just wanted to check on the health of my old friend Dan Louie. Do you guys know how Dan is doing? Thanks
 
KingCarem said:
The 211 used to be good, now there is Breaking point, City Lights in Tacoma, Dr Cues, Sunset Billiards, Shotze's... etc. I only go out to the Breaking Point since it is so close to my house. Where do you live in Wa. Holey Roller?
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I'm downtown, so I'm stuck with places like the garage, and belltown billiards I'm afraid :) yeah it's too bad about the 211.
 
I too have played in many rooms around the USA and other places in the world (Japan in particular) and think amsterdam billiards west is one of the nicer ones I have played at. I also liked the bank or bank shot billiards in louisville kentucky (except they really needed to do something with the vault). I feel they could have had at minimum a pro shop in the vault and if there was room, they could have had a money table in the vault...They were missing the ball on using the theme to its potential, in my opinion...
Chalkies billiards in Indianapolis is also a nice room.
 
Paradox, i live in louisville and i agree, The Bank shot is the best pool hall around. 10 9 foot diamond tables upstairs and about 6 more downstairs. it can't be beat.

Ps. i love the vault :)
 
Are they doing anything with the vault? I was there 2 years ago and it was like a storage area and it looked pretty messy...
 
Thanks any way King. Let me know if you hear anything please. I believe the ? was NICEST pool room. If you guys ever get down south you've got to check out Southern Billiards in Starkville, Miss. I've been virtually everywhere and the owner Professor R. H. Gilmer and his family are among the nicest people in the country..................$Bill
 
Old fashion poolrooms are a rarity, but I am fortunate to have grown up in one. Most of th new (upscale) rooms are very nice, in how they mold a club atmosphere and good playing equipment together, but there is nothing like a good old fashion poolroom - No juke box, no waiter, players that are there only because of the game and the people. That's what I call a poolroom.
If you are on the west coast you know about this place, and if you are not then I highly recommend visiting the Jointed Cue, in Sacramento. There are not many places that I know of that has old handpainted tournament boards with every Hall of Famer listed in the field. The "A", "B" tournament system works near-perfectly every Monday & Tuesday night. "A's" can not play in the "B" tournament, and the "B's" are move up to the "A's" when they begin to dominate the "B" field. The "A" tournament is tough, single elimination race to 4, with a full line of run-out players. The only handicap is the cost of entry, a "B" player pays $5, and a guy like Kim pays $20.; everyone else pays somewhere inbetween.
Check it out... you can just feel the history when you walk in the room.
My other votes for poolrooms - (1) Family Billiards, San Francisco, (2) Hollywood Billiards, San Francisco, (3) and Hardtime Billiards, LA.
Club/billiardrooms - (1) Hardtimes Billiards, Sacramento, (2) Hollywood Billiards, LA, (3) and The Great Entertainer, San Francisco.
I have been to a lot of other place in the world that in my opinion rank with these (other than the Joint), but I am getting old and can't remember all the names.
Banker Burt
PS. Stop by the Jointed Cue. Say hi to Ted Ito and Tom Jackson, then feast on a Stonier Family - World Famous Cheeseburger... That's what the sign says, and they can back it up!
 
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I have been to alot of the well known pool rooms on the west coast. There is no equivalant to Hard Times in Bellfower. They have the nicest tournament room I have ever seen and the players that go there are top notch. I can remember back in the 90's when I saw many a pro player come to town and get broke at this place.
The Sunday weekly tournament was filled with heavyweights every week guys like Ernesto, Morro, Keith, Mark Tad, and a ton of other guys would be in there every week.

I have never seen another poolroom this good and believe this one sets the standard.
Not the nicest room but by far the best for the serious player or pool enthusiast.
 
Banker Burt,

I would only add that the Jointed Cue also has a great breakfast; eggs, hash browns and ham, german sausage or plain sausage. They cook it right in front of you on a big old fashioned griddle. And, the prices on the food are very reasonable.

They also have two billiard tables in the front that will provide anyone with stiff competition. They get a lot of play on them and they have players from intermediate to pretty darn good.
 
GUESS IT'S TIME I GOT MY FEET WET....I JUST STARTED READING THIS FORUM LAST WEEK AND I'VE FOUND IT TO BE INFORMATIVE AND ENTERTAINING.....WELL, I'VE BEEN TO QUITE A FEW POOLROOMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, SO I'LL PUT MY THREE CENTS IN - I WON'T REPEAT THE POOL ROOMS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DESERVEDLY MENTIONED.....WELL, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A 'FANCY' POOL ROOM, (GUESS I SHOULD SAY BILLIARD PARLOR), I'D SEND YOU TO CHELSEA BILLIARDS IN N.Y.C. TOTALLY GORGEOUS, BUT COLD AS ICE.....AN EXCELLENT PLAYERS ROOM, THAT'S LAYED OUT GREAT, WITH TOP NOTCH EQUIPMENT ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEVELS/SECTIONS, TONS OF SEATING, AND OUTDOOR LUNCH TABLES, IS C J WILEYS ROOM IN DALLAS - FOR A SMALL ROOM WITH PRISTINE EQUIPMENT, A LOT OF CHARACTER AND VERY SERIOUS 3 CUSHION BILLIARD PLAY, CHECK OUT THE CORNER POCKET IN WILTON MANOR FLA. (FORT LAUDERDALE AREA).....TWO OF MY FAVORITE OLD TIME ROOMS, ONE SMALL AND ONE HUGE, ARE: BAKERS BILLIARDS IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA, WITH AN OLD FASHIONED LUNCH COUNTER AND GREAT OLD MURALS PAINTED ON THE WALLS, AND CHRIS'S BILLIARDS IN CHICAGO - A HUGE OLD SECOND FLOOR POOLROOM WITH THREE BIG ROOMS HAVING 45 TABLES AND 5 BILLIARD TABLES.....ANYBODY ELSE KNOW THESE POOLROOMS ?
 
paradox said:
Are they doing anything with the vault? I was there 2 years ago and it was like a storage area and it looked pretty messy...
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I don't know about 2 years ago because i only started going there this year but the vault is not messy at all now, it looks very clean.

the whole place is clean.
 
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