Entry No. 20 — the Missoula file — filed under: arcade-play
GILD Brewing (Basement Arcade)
A three-floor brewpub in the historic Butterfly Building hides its best secret in the basement: a cozy pinball bar tucked among old river-rock walls and brick floors. The lineup runs around 21 machines deep, mixing pinball tables like Funhouse, JAWS, and Pulp Fiction with classic arcade cabinets. The arcade opens at 4pm (closed Monday and Tuesday) and flips to 21+ after 8pm, so the late hours feel like a grown-up speakeasy of flippers and tilt.
The story
You don't come to the historic Butterfly Building on Higgins Avenue just for the street tacos and house brew—though three distinct floors with 20 taps at each bar make a convincing case. You come because the main taproom hides a stone staircase leading down to a subterranean pocket of Missoula history that smells faintly of spent grain, ozone, and silver ball metal.
Down below, enclosed by raw river-rock walls and old brick flooring, is a pinball cave that feels entirely decoupled from the street above. The room runs about 21 machines deep, balancing modern tables like JAWS and Pulp Fiction against older tilt-tested staples like Funhouse, alongside a scattered perimeter of classic arcade cabinets. It lacks the sterile neon glow of suburban barcades; instead, it feels like a secret gaming cellar carved directly into the Hip Strip's bedrock.
What it's like
Head straight through the main taphouse and look for the stairs leading down. If you arrive between 4pm and 8pm, you'll share the floor with a casual crowd grabbing street food and trading quarters. At 8pm, the basement switches strictly to 21+, turning into a dimly lit sanctuary of flippers and tilt warnings. Keep in mind the arcade stays locked on Mondays and Tuesdays, so plan your high-score runs for Wednesday night or later.
The move: Grab a flight upstairs, then disappear into the basement to trade quarters battling for the high score on Funhouse.
📍 Before you go Arcade opens at 4pm, closed Mon/Tue, and is 21+ after 8pm.
- 📍 Missoula (Hip Strip)
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 515 South Higgins Ave, Missoula, MT 59801
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Meadowsweet Herbs — Step a few doors down Higgins Avenue after your pinball run to browse hand-compounded herbal salves and tinctures.
- The Wilma Theatre — Pair pre-show tacos and arcade games with a live event at Missoula's historic 1921 theater just two blocks north across the river.
- OddPitch Brewing — Keep your pinball run going a mile away at a taproom centered around a rotating fleet of silver ball machines.
Good to know
What are the age rules for the arcade?
All ages are welcome when the arcade opens at 4pm, but the basement transitions to 21+ only after 8pm.
What games are in the lineup?
The machine roster sits at roughly 21 games, mixing classic video arcade cabinets with pinball tables like Funhouse, JAWS, and Pulp Fiction.
What are the basement arcade hours?
The basement opens at 4pm Wednesday through Sunday. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Can you get food and drinks downstairs?
Yes. Each floor has its own bar setup pouring beer, wine, cider, and house kombucha, plus Mexican street food ordered from the kitchen.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · missoulaunderground.com · pinballmap.com · Yelp · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-24