Pips & Bounce, a ping-pong paradise — Photo courtesy of Pips & Bounce
Take everything you automatically think of when it comes to playing ping-pong and forget it, because this is not your neighbor's garage or your grandmother's basement.
Instead, Pips & Bounce – a new nightlife hot spot in Portland – brings together good food, local brews and ping-pong to create a night unlike any other.
Pips & Bounce is the brainchild of two brothers, Michael and Eugene Jung, who grew up playing ping-pong and wanted to recreate the fun they had as children.
They started their business by throwing pop-up ping pong parties at popular locations throughout Portland. These pop-up parties were widely embraced and people wanted more. So with that in mind, the brothers created what they consider to be a ping-pong paradise on the corner of SE 9th and Belmont back in 2014.
Pips & Bounce features 10 ping-pong tables and hundreds of paddles. You can reserve a table in 30-minute increments, or take your chances and just walk in.
Portland's premier ping-pong bar — Photo courtesy of Pips & Bounce
If you want to visit on a Wednesday, keep in mind that this is league night. On other nights, they may be having a fun dress-up theme, so you'll want to check their website so you know what to wear! It could be a cowboy theme or an '80s night. Some nights they have black lights going for cosmic ping-pong.
If you get hungry, they have a full menu with various offerings. Small bites include chips and salsa, nachos, chili, hummus and some other tasty cheap options.
For something a little heartier, Pips & Bounce serves salads, pizzas and sandwiches. There's even a kids' menu here!
To satisfy your thirst, they have a full bar with wine, beer, cocktails and sodas.
Pips & Bounce is able to cater to different groups. For example, if a family wants to have a fun night out, they can bring the kids in up until 9 p.m. For those that want an adults-only experience, just wait until 9 p.m. or later to visit.
For groups that need more room than just a table, there are options to rent the whole place or a corner suite.
Pips & Bounce charges $8 for 30 minutes of play time. Your play time comes with a large basket of balls so you don't waste your time chasing balls everywhere.
No matter who you visit Pips & Bounce with, you're guaranteed to have a blast.
