Entry No. 72 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: speakeasy
The Crooked Cue
A polished downtown pool-and-pinball lounge with 18 professional Diamond Pro-Am tables — racked in the lounge's signature blue felt instead of the usual green (seven 9-footers, ten 7-footers, and a full-size 10-footer) — plus shuffleboard, electronic darts, and a seven-machine pinball collection at just 50 cents a play. The pinball lineup runs modern Stern hits like Deadpool, James Bond 007, Venom, and Star Wars alongside throwbacks like Maverick and Monopoly. Air-baked pizza (with gluten-free and vegan options) and craft cocktails round it out. Open daily 11am to 1:30am, all ages until 8pm and 21+ after.
The story
Most pool halls force you into dark, basement-grade gloom where you chalk up under flickering fluorescent tubes and pray the green felt isn't sticky. The Crooked Cue took over the former Tattered Cover bookstore space on Tejon Street and did the opposite: gutting the retail layout into an airy, bi-level billiards lounge lit like an architectural studio and wrapped entirely in bright electric-blue felt. You are looking at 18 precision-leveled Diamond Pro-Am tables—seven 9-footers, ten 7-footers, and a massive 10-foot monster—set against exposed red brick walls and open-loft industrial framing.
The details here show someone actually plays the game. Between the custom high-backed seating benches, small side tables are fitted with brass cue claws so your stick never leans against a chair or touches the floor while you drink. Beside the pool tables, a row of seven pinball cabinets operates at a flat 50 cents a play—running modern Stern hits like Deadpool, Venom, and James Bond 007 alongside vintage throwbacks like Maverick and Monopoly—complemented by shuffleboard, electronic darts, craft cocktails, and air-baked pizzas with full vegan and gluten-free menu options.
What it's like
Arrive before 5 PM on a weekday if you want to snag a 9-foot Diamond table at the $3-per-person daytime rate without waiting. Hand your credit card to the front counter to check out a tray of balls, then pick between the main floor or the upstairs loft. The space is open to all ages until 8 PM before shifting strictly 21+ for the night crowd. The high-backed benches around the perimeter elevate spectators high enough to actually see table action over the rail, while pinball chimes and the crack of racks drive the room's energy late into the night.
The move: Rack up a cheap pool table for an hour, then hunt down the kitschy vintage pinball machines at fifty cents a pop over cocktails.
📍 Before you go Pinball is 50 cents/play; pool runs about $3/person/hour during the day; 21+ after 8pm.
- 📍 Downtown Colorado Springs
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 112 N Tejon St, Suite 100, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Shrunken Head Tiki Bar — Head down to the subterranean level of the very same building complex to trade your pool cue for a rum-soaked cocktail inside a hidden tiki enclave.
- Supernova Bar and Arcade — Walk two blocks north on Tejon Street to swap modern pinball and pool for wall-to-wall 80s arcade joysticks and pub food.
- The Rabbit Hole — Cross the street to descend through a park-bench-style entryway into an underground speakeasy housed in Colorado Springs' historic former city morgue.
- District Eleven — Head one block east and slip through a taco shop vault door for rare whiskies in a dimly lit backroom setting.
Good to know
How much does it cost to play pool and pinball?
Pinball machines cost 50 cents per play. Daytime pool runs around $3 per person per hour from 11 AM to 5 PM, and you leave a credit card at the counter to hold your ball tray.
What are the age restrictions and hours?
The lounge is open daily from 11 AM to 1:30 AM. It is all-ages until 8 PM, after which entry is strictly 21 and over.
What kind of food and drinks can I get?
They serve craft cocktails, beer, and air-baked pizzas, including vegan and gluten-free choices like BBQ cauliflower, margherita, and spinach-artichoke with vegan sausage, along with apps like jalapeno poppers.
What games are available besides billiards?
Beyond the 18 Diamond Pro-Am pool tables, you'll find shuffleboard, electronic dartboards, and seven pinball machines featuring titles like Deadpool, James Bond 007, Star Wars, Venom, Maverick, and Monopoly.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · pinballmap.com · Yelp · Instagram · Reddit · forums.azbilliards.com
last checked: 2026-06-23