Entry No. 46 — the Seattle file — filed under: arcade-play

Shorty's

A Belltown dive with a hard Coney Island theme, Shorty's crams pinball machines and arcade cabinets into the back while serving cheap drinks and Chicago-style hot dogs up front. The aesthetic is creepy-clown carnival meets gritty punk bar, with pinball-themed tables and unsettling sideshow decor throughout. A longtime locals' haunt, it's outlasted most of Belltown's churn — surviving a 2019 move a couple blocks over to 2nd Ave. Note: 21+ only.

The move: Order corn dogs and a round of cheap beers, then disappear into the dim back room for pinball under the clown gaze.

📍 Before you go 21+ bar with a carnival/clown theme; cash-friendly dive; pinball is concentrated in the back room.

📍 Belltown, Seattle
💸 $
⚡ Big night
🌗 Indoors

Where: 2510 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.

#arcade-play #pinball #dive #carnival #belltown #hot-dogs

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-24