Space Invaders not allowed: Pinball paradise lives on in Budapest basement

Glistening signs, flashing lights and non-stop tinkling lure scores of tourists in Budapest to Europe’s largest pinball museum, where passionate collector, Balazs Palfi, is bent on reviving the once-popular pastime. Palfi displays the unique collection of over 140 working machines in a nondescript apartment basement, which has turned into pilgrimage site for pinball enthusiasts. It’s open to the public five days a week, it has become a top attraction in Hungary’s capital, according to the travel website Tripadvisor. For the price of admission, museum visitors can play as much as they like.

Since the 1990s, pinball machines have disappeared from most bars. But there is now a renaissance of pinball culture. From bars and pubs, the pinball scene moved to museums and collectors.

Balazs Palfi, pinball museum owner

Flashing vintage machines from the 1980s and 1990s feature popular rock bands like Guns N’ Roses and AC/DC or movies like “Indiana Jones” or “Star Wars.” Horror and space themes notably are in vogue, with tourists and hipsters flocking to the noisy cave-like setting. Museum curator Palfi acquired most of his machines from the United States, France, Belgium and other countries.

From bars and pubs, the pinball scene moved to museums and collectors.

Guns N’ Roses

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