Entry No. 60 — the New Orleans file — filed under: arcade-play
Old Town Slidell Soda Shop
An old-fashioned soda shop in Slidell's historic Olde Towne district with a genuine arcade tucked inside, mixing new and old machines. The pinball collection includes Godzilla, Star Wars, and Stranger Things, and there's an 18-hole mini-golf course next door (the only one in St. Tammany Parish). A garden area under giant oaks with string lights, fountains, and a small gazebo rounds out the visit, plus ice cream, floats, and all-American food.
The story
Cross the twin spans over Lake Pontchartrain into Slidell, and while most day-trippers head straight for the swamp tour boats or keep driving toward Mississippi, Olde Towne holds a surprisingly complete time capsule. Sitting at 301 Cousin Street, the Old Town Slidell Soda Shop looks at first glance like a routine retro ice cream counter. Walk past the ice cream freezer, though, and you'll find a dense multi-era entertainment compound hiding in plain sight.
The shop operates as a double act: part working soda fountain serving floats, banana splits, and burgers, and part legitimate pinball hideout. The arcade floor mixes classic video cabinets with high-end modern pinball tables, including Stern heavy hitters like Godzilla, Star Wars, and Stranger Things. Unlike modern ticket-redemption mega-barcades, the collection feels curated for real play rather than draining your wallet on plastic trinkets.
The real draw sits right out back. Shaded beneath giant live oaks with fountains, string lights, and a small gazebo is an 18-hole mini-golf course—currently the only mini-golf setup operating anywhere in St. Tammany Parish. That combo makes it easy to burn through two or three hours on the Northshore: rack up a high score indoors, settle your mini-golf debts under the oaks, and finish with a fountain float before heading back across the lake.
What it's like
Expect a hyper-local daytime crowd—this is a family-oriented soda shop and community staple, not a midnight craft beer barcade. Parking along Cousin Street in historic Olde Towne is straightforward, but the counter line can back up on sunny weekend afternoons. Your best bet is to order your food or ice cream first, duck into the air-conditioned pinball room while the sun is high, and hit the shaded mini-golf course in the courtyard once things cool down.
The move: Play a round of pinball and the video cabinets, then settle a score with 18 holes of mini-golf and split a banana split afterward.
📍 Before you go About 35 miles from New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain; mini-golf is roughly $8 per person and family-oriented, not a bar.
- 📍 Slidell
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 301 Cousin St, Slidell, LA 70458
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours — Pair a morning boat tour looking for gators on the Pearl River with an afternoon of pinball and ice cream back in town.
- Abita Mystery House (UCM Museum) — Build a full Northshore oddity day-trip by combining folk-art button-pushing in Abita Springs with classic arcade cabinets in Slidell.
- Canoe & Trail Adventures Moonlight Paddle — Fuel up on sodas and a round of mini-golf in Slidell before heading west to Mandeville for an evening swamp paddle.
Good to know
How far is this from downtown New Orleans?
It's about 35 miles northeast of New Orleans, which usually translates to a 40-minute drive across Lake Pontchartrain via the I-10 bridge.
Is this a barcade?
No. It’s an all-ages, family-oriented soda shop and diner. Don't expect craft beers or late-night bar vibes.
How much does mini-golf cost?
A round on the 18-hole outdoor course costs roughly $8 per player.
What kind of games are in the arcade?
The lineup blends vintage video arcade cabinets with modern pinball machines like Godzilla, Star Wars, and Stranger Things.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: pinballmap.com · visitthenorthshore.com · Yelp · neworleansmom.com
last checked: 2026-06-23