Best Bowling Alley

Newsweek

19-06-2025

30 Strikes | Stratford, NJ
Photo courtesy of AscentXmedia/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of AscentXmedia/iStock by Getty Images
A whopping 80 lanes makes 30 Strikes one of the largest bowling centers in New Jersey. It's also one of the family friendliest, with lots of bumper lanes and light balls for the kids, award-winning party options and a price tag that'll keep your mood out of the gutter. The popular Galactic Bowling weekends will have you dancing amid laser lights and fog—you might forget you're there to bowl!
Aiea Bowl | Aiea, HI
Photo courtesy of Alex Liew/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Alex Liew/iStock by Getty Images
You'll feel a warm aloha inside Aiea Bowl, with its gorgeous murals (all painted by local artists), HyperBowling tech to add a new layer of fun and cosmic bowling all day and night on the weekends. If that weren't enough, the on-site Alley Restaurant has food so good it's been featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives several times.
Boardwalk Bowl | Orlando, FL
Photo courtesy of FG Trade/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of FG Trade/iStock by Getty Images
Looking for something low-key but still fun in the high-paced city of theme parks? Boardwalk Bowl might be the answer. Eighty lanes make it one of the biggest bowling alleys in the Southeast. Your little ones will race toward the arcade to start winning big while you perfect your bowling form. And it's budget friendly, with weekly deals like discounted games, family packages and drink specials.
Brooklyn Bowl | Brooklyn, NY
Image courtesy of Brooklyn Bowl
Image courtesy of Brooklyn Bowl
It's time to rock 'n' bowl! Brooklyn Bowl is more than a bowling alley; it's a music venue that hosts live concerts almost every night. The best seats in the house are the plush leather sofas beside each lane, where you can knock down pins as you groove to the music and savor local brews, fried chicken with pancakes (yep, they taste great together) and chocolate chip bread pudding.
Bryant Lake Bowl and Theater |
Minneapolis, MN
Photo courtesy of Bryant Lake Bowl and Theater
Photo courtesy of Bryant Lake Bowl and Theater
Get ready for a great double feature: a rowdy improv show and a game on the lanes at Bryant Lake Bowl and Theater. The 1950s vibe and cabaret theater set the stage for what's become a popular date-night spot in Uptown Minneapolis. After a round of bowling, head to the on-site restaurant, BLB; after one bite of a carnitas taco, you'll see why it's a neighborhood hangout.
Chop's Bowling | Omaha, NE
Photo courtesy of mcouper/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of mcouper/iStock by Getty Images
You won't find a more charming (or more affordable) spot for a night out with your family than Chop's Bowling, the oldest bowling alley in Omaha. And if you're an avid bowler, there's even more to love—all kinds of holiday tournaments, cash prizes and leagues for every age. Friday and Saturday nights are for cosmic bowling, and Sundays are free for kids!
Country Club Lanes Family Entertainment
Center | Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy of monkeybusinessimages/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of monkeybusinessimages/iStock by Getty Images
No need for a membership and a collared shirt at this clubhouse; Country Club Lanes welcomes anyone who wants to put on a pair of bowling shoes and take on the pins. All bowled out? Then suit up for laser tag, win prizes in the arcade or simply live the good life with a cocktail and a plate of nachos in the lounge.
Galaxy Strikes Bowling Center |
Warrenton, VA
Photo courtesy of Nomadsoul1/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Nomadsoul1/iStock by Getty Images
A universe of fun awaits at Galaxy Strikes, from weekend Glow Bowling and nine holes of black-light mini golf to an arcade with a high-tech Prize Hub machine. Celebrate your high score at Space Station Cafe with a smoky cheeseburger or sweet potato waffles sprinkled with powdered sugar. If you're ready to rocket to the big leagues, the pro shop has custom bowling balls that'll send your game into orbit.
Highland Park Bowl | Los Angeles, CA
Photo courtesy of SolStock/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of SolStock/iStock by Getty Images
You'll feel like a time traveler as you take in the Prohibition-era furnishings and chandeliers of Highland Park Bowl, a beautifully restored 1920s speakeasy and bowling alley that's been going strong for nearly a hundred years. Worn leather couches grace the seating areas around the original wood lanes—it's the perfect spot for not-so-secretly sipping an Old Fashioned and nibbling a strawberry cannoli between frames.
Nana's Bowling & Bakery | Dubois, WY
Photo courtesy of Nana's Bowling & Bakery
Photo courtesy of Nana's Bowling & Bakery
At Nana's Bowling & Bakery, kids and adults can have a ball with eight bowling lanes plus an arcade with the latest games (you'll definitely want to win a cowboy hat at the prize counter). The real star is Bodacious the mechanical bull—ride him if you dare! Or maybe it's the bakery; housemade sweets like cherry turnovers and cinnamon rolls are tasty additions to Nana's Taco Tuesdays and Build-a-Burger Thursdays.
Pinstripes Georgetown | Washington, D.C.
Photo courtesy of Alex Liew/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Alex Liew/iStock by Getty Images
Along the cobblestone streets of D.C.'s quaint Georgetown neighborhood you'll find Pinstripes, which wants you to celebrate life with bowling, indoor bocce and some of the most delicious Italian-American cuisine this side of the Potomac River. It's an ideal spot for after-work drinks on the patio or a Sunday brunch complete with mimosas. Families are welcome too with a monthly Kids Club and free kiddie meals on Wednesdays.
Punch Bowl Social | Denver, CO
Photo courtesy of FG Trade/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of FG Trade/iStock by Getty Images
When you're greeted by golden ceilings, neon chandeliers and the sounds of karaoke, you know you're in for a good time at Punch Bowl Social. You'll find several locations across the country, but Denver is where it all started with its three bars, six bowling lanes and endless jazzy vibes. Challenge your friends' Jenga skills during happy hour, and then return for a weekend brunch—your taste buds will thank you.
Stardust Bowl | Addison, IL
Photo courtesy of mcouper/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of mcouper/iStock by Getty Images
Lace up your bowling shoes at Stardust Bowl, one of the largest bowling centers in the U.S. With 84 recently upgraded lanes, it's the best of modern bowling tech and 1970s nostalgia. While you're hunting for strikes, your kids can have a blast on the bumper lanes or in the huge arcade. Pool tables and dozens of beers on tap are the perfect recipe for a guys' night out.
The Painted Duck | Atlanta, GA
Photo courtesy of Nomadsoul1/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Nomadsoul1/iStock by Getty Images
At the award-winning Painted Duck, trash talking is encouraged! Compete for pride—or a plate of tasty Duck Phat Fries—in lesser-known games like Belgian feather bowling, snookball and duckpin bowling. And all the games are free, so you'll have plenty of cash to splurge at the on-site restaurant, famous for its whole roasted Peking duck and artisanal wines.
Wonder Bowl | New Bedford, MA
Photo courtesy of AscentXmedia/iStock by Getty Images
Photo courtesy of AscentXmedia/iStock by Getty Images
There's nothing like a classic bowling alley, and Wonder Bowl will give you all the right feels as you knock down pins on one of 40 lanes. On Friday and Saturday nights, the sound of bowling shoes squeaking on the wood switches to the beat of club music during cosmic bowling, where you can play under the black lights and disco ball.