Categories: City Life

5 Best Bowling Alleys in Denver

While bowling isn’t the most popular sport out there, it’s a great social activity and much less demanding than most forms of sportsball. If you live in or are planning to visit the Denver area and happen to enjoy the game, here are 5 of the best Denver Bowling Alleys.

1. Arapahoe Bowling Center.

Located in the Greenwood Village area of Denver county, this Denver bowling alley is a family-owned place that has been in operation since 1985. It also has a very solid set of ratings on various social media sites, and the reviews all seem to be made by real people. One of the things I can appreciate about the place is that it knows what it is. It doesn’t try to be a neon-painted super-arcade or anything like that. It’s a clean, well-lit bowling establishment that hosts local league and tournament games. The center also has a bowling supply shop, a restaurant that sells reasonably priced diner food, and a whole room full of pinball machines. It’s also pretty close to the 1-UP arcade bar and several other restaurants, so feel free to explore the area after you finish up your game. It is a very bowling-focused bowling alley, which is something I can appreciate.

2. Lucky Strike Denver.

Located on the Sixteenth Street Mall, this Denver bowling alley is much more focused on the nightclub/arcade aspects than the previous entry on this list. Lucky Strike advertises itself as “bowling without the leagues” and being “all about the fun.” I agree that it’s a good place for more casual bowling, it also has a large arcade and various other amenities like ping-pong and billiards. This will become something of a theme. Lucky Strike also has a much higher budget than some other lanes due to being a Hollywood-based chain. One of the major draws is the food and drink options are better than most bowling alleys in the city. I mean, they even have a cocktail menu. Granted, not a large cocktail menu, but the cocktails they do offer are well made. Their food menu is also better than most, as it has an actual chef to make it. It might be on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for. It’s also pretty easy to get to from Auraria campus, making it a great spot to go with you college buddies to unwind. The nachos are really good, especially when compared to the nachos usually served at bowling establishments.

3. Wheat Ridge Lanes.

Located in the Wheat Ridge area, this Denver bowling alley is a more classic or retro style of establishment. An interesting thing about this particular place is that it doesn’t take reservations, so you don’t need to plan ahead if the urge to go bowling suddenly strikes you. However, there’s also no guarantee that you’ll actually get to bowl when you show up. Another notable factor is that they are not open on Mondays, but it’s a little hard for me to picture going casually bowling on a Monday. It is very much a place for bowling purists, as in you go there to bowl and very little else. They do have a few extra events, like car shows during the summer, and 12-dollar steaks on Thursdays. Twelve dollars is pretty cheap for a steak, at least in my experience. It should also be noted that they do host league games on Sundays, and you should wait until late afternoon if you plan to go bowling on those days. Overall it’s a pretty solid bowling establishment with good reviews and decent food. If you just want to go bowling, check it out.

4. Punch Bowl Social.

Our fourth Denver bowling alley, located on Broadway, may be stretching the definition of bowling alley a bit, but I don’t really care. Punch Bowl is a gastropub with great food and drink. It’s very much more of a bar or gathering spot than a dedicated bowling alley. However, they have a couple of lanes, so it counts. Punch Bowl is much more a place where you can bowl if you go there, but you don’t go there specifically to bowl. It’s a great social gathering spot with a variety of activities to partake in. In addition to bowling, they have a large arcade, pool tables, ping-pong tables, and even a karaoke section. The food is also excellent, as it’s one of the main draws, with a large menu and a whopping 4 separate bars. The building also has an interesting “dirty modern” design theme. Peak hours are around 8 PM and the food can be a little on the expensive side, but it’s basically a warehouse sized, upscaled Dave and Busters. If you want a place to party with bowing on the side, this is one of the best.

5. Bowlero Cherry Creek.

The final Denver bowling alley we’ll be talking about is located in the Cherry Creek area, and is the third chain bowling alley on the list. This alley leans even harder into the black-light, neon-soaked, everything-must-glow aesthetic than any other alley in the Denver area. They have 40 lanes, a sports bar, and a bowling equipment shop. Apparently Bowlero hosts their own leagues, even though bowling purists might disagree. This establishment also hosts a sports bar and a large arcade, and they offer a few special deals. They offer unlimited play for 21 dollars after 9 PM on Mondays Wednesdays and Thursdays. Huh, I guess people do bowl on Mondays. The arcade is also half-price on Wednesdays. The sports bar offers a terrifying 123-ounce cocktail known as the Dunk Tank, which is expressly not meant for a single person. I am being serious when I say trying to drink the whole thing alone would probably kill you, so don’t bother. Their burgers and other entrees are quite well-made, but are also a bit on the pricey side. If you’re gonna hit this place up, bring some friends, and don’t blame me for any hangovers you may receive.