Where the past meets the present: Introducing Spin, the original ping pong social club
There comes a point during Austin’s annual blast furnace summer when it’s just too hot to do much of anything outside. While seeking out a swimming or a nice, comfortable spot in the shade is great for a while, when the true dog days of triple digits temperatures and soaring heat indexes tighten their hold on Austinites, indoor entertainment becomes essential.
If you’re looking for an activity that combines the joys of air-conditioned comfort with memories of hours spent over a childhood ping-pong table, look no further than Spin. Located at 213 West 5th Street, the downtown Austin location of this national chain opened in May 2018 and combines table tennis fun with a casual atmosphere and complete food and drink menu.
Featuring 14 Olympic-grade tables, Spin opens every day at 12pm and closes at midnight Sunday through Wednesday, and at 2am Thursday through Saturday. You don’t have to play ping-pong to hang out at Spin, but if you do, tables are available for both hourly rentals and unlimited packages, depending on the day and time. Plus, the venue provides assistants to retrieve balls that fly off the table, so you don’t have to re-live the times when you had to hunt for your last ball in the dirty corners of your garage.
Located in what was a former location of Austin’s famed Antone’s nightclub (now located on East 5th Street), Spin’s space maintains the basic design of that former tenant, with open spaces, exposed brick, wooden beams and vintage music show posters. In the middle is the center court table, where the club’s professional players compete in regular tournaments. Pro players also roam around during regular hours offering tips and advice to novices. The first Spin location opened in New York City in 2009 and was originally co-founded by famed film star Susan Sarandon. Locations followed in Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto and Philadelphia before the franchise made its way to Austin. The chain has since added sites in Seattle and Washington D.C. For more information, including summer specials, visit the Spin website.