The best and most beautiful pool rooms in USA

[DaveK]

Slim, it is also fun to meet other Az members when you are out of town. I am in VA and have had Az'ers from Sacramento, Oklahoma, Tennessee and VA over to eat and play. I have also been treated great whenever I have to go out of town. I just post where I am going and they reply. It's all good buddy.
Purdman

WHAT ? NO CANADIANS ? ... grumble grumble .... you and that betmore guy, no respect for your neighbours to the north ... say, you aren't going to be in the Domincan Republic Costa del Coco area in a few weeks, are ya ? If so maybe we can play, eh ?

Dave, who won't be shivering for too much longer

 

[whitey2]

I'll second both of those places...

Yes, Country Club USA in Chelmsford MA, and Snooker's
in Providence RI are both very nice places. Country Club
USA is the biggest poolroom I have ever seen. There must
be 60 tables or more.

 

[wayne]

Hollywood is or was very expensive and i couldn't find a single house cue that didnt have a tip that looked like it had been put on by a blind guy with Parkinsons. I tried twice and they wont get me again. It's also so busy over there-traffic, shitty parking. Hardtimes is cool but id like to find another good one around there too.

You forgot to mention that it is one of the most beautiful poolhalls you have ever been in, the lower room has 16 perfect tables with tight pockets, there is a viewing area that can accomodate about 100 people on the second floor to watch the action on the ground floor, for sporting events there are about 20 flat screen TVs, the food is the best you may ever find in a poolhall, the waitresses are pretty, a lot of celebrities show up there, the rates are $4 per hr between 11am and 8pm, the picture window on the second floor looks out onto the HOLLYWOOD sign.

BUT Hey you may be right about the house cues having bad tips I don't know about that but fortunately I can afford my own cue.

Wayne

 

[jay helfert]

Hard Times Sacramento has a great players room with eight perfect Gold Crown IV's and nice spectator seating. California Billiards in San Jose is a very nice room as well. And check out Family Billiards if you are in the Bay area.

In L.A. the original Hard Times still has its loyal following, although for upscale enjoyment Hollywood Billiards is the nicest. Danny K's may be the best room in Orange County, definitely worth a look if you're out this way.

On the other side of L.A., the Plush Pocket in the Valley is a clean cordial room with friendly people working there and good rates. I have yet to see the new Stix in Rancho Cucamanga, but I hear its great.

 

[Cornerman]

Well if you're ever in Boston, you might as well check out Jillians. I can't even begin to explain this place, even though I've tried. They have Jillians everywhere now, but Jillians of Boston is just beyond belief. I think it's the original, but I could be mistaken.

The Boston Billiad Clubs are all gorgeous, but the one in Nashua, NH is IMO the best of the bunch.

Fred

 

[stolz2]

Hollywood

Hollywood Billiards in LA.

http://www.hollywoodbilliards.com/

It will break the bank.

I am thinking of driving anround the country.

Can you all give your opinions of the best and/or most beautiful pool rooms in America?

Thanks

 

[Shadow]

Hollywood is or was very expensive and i couldn't find a single house cue that didnt have a tip that looked like it had been put on by a blind guy with Parkinsons. I tried twice and they wont get me again. It's also so busy over there-traffic, shitty parking. Hardtimes is cool but id like to find another good one around there too.

Agree, i used to live there, nearby and the traffic and parking??? forget it!

 

[Bob Jewett]

I am thinking of driving anround the country.

Can you all give your opinions of the best and/or most beautiful pool rooms in America?...

If I were doing this....

Start with the list you've seen here, but also get the past several years of the Billiards Digest Awards issues. They give various categories of awards to rooms in a special issue each year. Maybe you could even work it into a road-story series for them.

But I think Rackem's suggestion is the best. Get a laptop. When you are ready to go on to the next town, go to whitepages.com and playpool.com to get the various possibilities. Be sure to check along the route you're driving as there might be a room in a smaller town along the way. (Pool in Modesto?) I think there are one or two other pool hall finder sites that are of various quality.

In this part of the country, there are two or three regional pool papers. They have room ads and tournament schedules in them. An example is On the Break News. See: http://www.onthebreaknews.com/TournyLists.htm which covers Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Idaho and California.

Also, look in magazines such as BD, National Billiard News, Pool & Billiards, and Inside Pool for reports on regional tournaments which are often held at "players'" pool rooms.

 

[Bob Jewett]

.. Can you all give your opinions of the best and/or most beautiful pool rooms in America? ...

Specifically in this area, Hardtimes and Jointed Cue in Sacramento, Broken Rack in Emeryville, Family Billiards and Billiard Palacade in SF (plus Jillian's if you are in the downtown area, but not worth a drive), Shoreline and California Billiard Club in Mountian View, Fast Eddie's in Capitola, and Easy Street in Monterey. From that list, Hardtimes, Family, CBC and Fast Eddie's are probably the places most likely to have action going on.

 

[Jack Madden]

If I were doing this....


In this part of the country, there are two or three regional pool papers. They have room ads and tournament schedules in them. An example is On the Break News. See: http://www.onthebreaknews.com/TournyLists.htm which covers Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Idaho and California.

After you read the ads in The Break, www.onthebreaknews.com, you pretty well know if its something you are interested in - almost all the ads give you info ie "weekly 8-ball tournament, every saturday, year round, $5 entry - bar matches pot- ball in hand rules - 1 pm sharp - double elimination - drinks special" -- including address and phone number. And like Bob said ads for 6 states and lots of places.

 

[merylane]

I am thinking of driving anround the country.

Can you all give your opinions of the best and/or most beautiful pool rooms in America?

Thanks

hammerheadsbilliards.com

 

[bell]

Hardtimes Billiards

Hardtimes Billiards located in Bellflower, CA may be the biggest action room on the west coast. Free parking in back with security guard. Decent pro shop. In-house cue maker and former road player, "Little Al Romero". Tournament area with super tables. Sardo racks if you want. Home of King Kong. Big-time golf daily. Super resturant on Bellflower Blvd. is "Johnny Rebs" for ribs, catfish, hushpuppies, etc. Check it out.

 

[rackmsuckr]

The prettiest room we have up here is The Parlor martini bar in Bellevue, then Belltown Billiards, then Uncle Jack's and Jillian's. We also have the Garage, Shotze's in Everett and Palace Billiards. Players play at Dr. Cue's, Harvey's in Renton, and City Lights in Tacoma. There is also Manwon's very own Full Splice Billiards, also in Tacoma.

Here is a link to some pictures: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=22887

 

[jimmyg]

I forget the actual name but it is in Boca Raton, Florida.
Also a nice one on Route 10 in Jersey. I think it was The Grand?

IIRC I think the one in Boca Raton is right on Federal Hwy, called Gatsby's. More like a bar/restaurant with about 6 decent tables, don't remember what kind but not Gold Crowns. Not a serious pool room, but real nice with lots of good looking women.

Jim

 

[stick8]

I am thinking of driving anround the country.

Can you all give your opinions of the best and/or most beautiful pool rooms in America?

Thanks

ha ha, got one , the best is a old room in abbyville s.c. two old brunswick tables date bout 1940 somthing and the best HOT DOGS in the state. the outher is in cordeal ga again old tables one john, and the best HOT DOGS in state ga

 

[mantis99]

Pro-tyme billiards in orland park Illinois, a suburb south of chicago is widely regarded as one of the better halls around. Many on this site have been there. www.protymebilliards.com. Numerous gold crowns. you can see a picture of the inside on the website. There is a whole other row of tables and 3 semi-private rooms to play in also. 2005 billiards digest room of the year award winner.

 

[rackem]

IIRC I think the one in Boca Raton is right on Federal Hwy, called Gatsby's. More like a bar/restaurant with about 6 decent tables, don't remember what kind but not Gold Crowns. Not a serious pool room, but real nice with lots of good looking women.

Jim

I think the one you are thinking of was called Nationals on a road that runs north-south. The one I am refering to has more tables and I think it's on 17th east-west. There is also the one in Delray that use to be called Shootersville.

 

[cuechick]

Hollywood is or was very expensive and i couldn't find a single house cue that didnt have a tip that looked like it had been put on by a blind guy with Parkinsons. I tried twice and they wont get me again. It's also so busy over there-traffic, shitty parking. Hardtimes is cool but id like to find another good one around there too.

Hey Davy,
Another good room in Cali is "House of Billiards", there are 2 one in Santa Monica which I have only been to once but was pretty good and one in the Valley on Ventura Blvd. I have played there a lot, though not recently. I think you would like it.
Hollywood is better during the day, for awhile they were moving the tables on the weekends to have turn it into a disco! Not sure if they still do that but that can't be good for the tables!
It is pricey, they did have a special deal for regulars that would be good if you lived there. You paid a monthly fee and could play all day.

 

[vagabond]

Hey Davy,

Hollywood is better during the day,

Whenever I go to Hollywood I go to hollywood Billiards and I prefer to play on table # 17 or 18. Max Eberle is the house pro there.Close by on Melrose ave they have very nice Boutique stores for men and women and those are awesome.Those shoes and cloths are unreal.I may go there next month.

 

[JoeyA]

IIRC I think the one in Boca Raton is right on Federal Hwy, called Gatsby's. More like a bar/restaurant with about 6 decent tables, don't remember what kind but not Gold Crowns. Not a serious pool room, but real nice with lots of good looking women.

Jim

Let's see....... 6 decent tables vs. lots of good looking women....
Good looking women by a landslide.

Seen too many decent tables in my life.
JoeyA