Entry No. 64 — the Wichita file — filed under: arcade-play
Kirby's FlipSide
FlipSide is a dedicated 21-and-over pinball hall built next door to the beloved dive bar Kirby's Beer Store, stocked from co-owner Ryan Bell's personal collection. A rotating roster of close to 20 machines mixes vintage tables with modern licensed releases, and a MAME cabinet adds hundreds of classic arcade games. You load a card at a kiosk for credits or buy timed unlimited play, and you can carry drinks over from Kirby's.
The story
Kirby's Beer Store has long been Wichita's go-to dive bar institution, but right next door at 3227 E. 17th St. N sits its silver-ball annex: Kirby's FlipSide. Co-owner Ryan Bell built the dedicated arcade setup using machines pulled directly from his own personal collection, giving the room the distinct feel of a high-end private stash that happens to be open to the public.
Inside, you won't find a noisy mega-arcade. Instead, you get a tight, rotating lineup of roughly 15 to 20 pinball tables ranging from classic electromechanical nostalgia to modern licensed titles like Red & Ted's Road Show. Tucked alongside the flippers sits a multi-game MAME cabinet loaded with hundreds of vintage video games for anyone needing a quick breather from steel balls.
What it's like
FlipSide is strictly 21-and-over, so you won't be competing with middle schoolers for screen time. You won't find coin slots on these machines; instead, head straight to the kiosk card station near the door. You can pay per game (usually 50 to 75 cents) or buy a block of timed unlimited play if you're settling in to chase a top score. Order a drink at Kirby's Beer Store next door, walk it straight over to FlipSide's drink rails, and hit the flippers.
The move: Buy a couple hours of unlimited play on the kiosk card, then trade off on the rotating pinball lineup while grabbing beers from the dive bar next door between games.
📍 Before you go 21+ only. Open daily roughly 4pm to 1:30am. Pay via a kiosk card; machines run 50-75 cents, or buy timed unlimited play.
- 📍 Northeast Wichita (College Hill area)
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3227 E. 17th St. N, Wichita, KS 67208
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Celestial Mechanic (buried spaceman sculpture, WSU campus) — After hitting the flippers, take a four-minute walk onto WSU's campus to view Randy Regier's half-excavated astronaut sculpture buried under glass.
- Original Pizza Hut Museum — Pair late-night pinball and dive bar beers with a visit to the original 500-square-foot brick building where the pizza chain started on WSU's campus.
- Headshots Bar & Grill — If you want to swap mechanical pinball for board games and console gaming, head two miles south to Wichita's original barcade pub.
Good to know
Can I bring drinks over from Kirby's Beer Store?
Yes. You can buy a beer at Kirby's next door and bring it over to the FlipSide side while you play.
Is Kirby's FlipSide open to families or kids?
No. The venue strictly enforces a 21-and-over age requirement, matching the bar next door.
How do you pay for games at FlipSide?
The machines run on a kiosk card system. You load money onto a card at the entrance kiosk for per-game credits (50 to 75 cents) or purchase timed unlimited play.
How many games are set up inside?
The roster constantly rotates, but you can typically expect 15 to 20 pinball machines plus a MAME cabinet stocked with classic arcade video games.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: wichitabyeb.com · wichitapinball.com · kmuw.org · Official site · pinside.com · kansas.com
last checked: 2026-06-23