Places to Bowl With Kids in New York City

Bowling may not be your favorite thing to do, but most kids really start to get into it around 5 years old and it is a perfect indoor activity when you find yourself with some spare time.  There are bowling alleys (think leagues, snack bars and pro shops) all over the city, but in Manhattan, they have been transformed into lounges with luxe amenities like bottle service, fine dining, dress codes and age restrictions. Don’t worry, kids can still bowl in Manhattan – you just have to bring them at the right time. Bowling birthday parties are also great for the pre-k and the young elementary school set and all these venues offer them.

Read on for our round up of bowling alleys (and lounges) in New York City.
 

Manhattan:
Manhattan bowling alleys are sceney and kids are not allowed after dark. Kids and families are welcome to the alleys during daytime hours before the age restrictions kick in.  Although these alleys offer walk up bowling it is best to make a reservation if you want to bowl after 5 pm or in a large group.  They offer great kids' birthday parties during specific times and will put bumpers up in the gutters to ensure no gutter balls – just ask. And like most things in Gotham, bowling is a little pricey and a little over the top, if you are looking for a more authentic bowling experience you may want to head to a different borough.  

Frames Bowling Lounge
Remember Leisure Time, the bowling alley in the Port Authority Bus Terminal, well now it is a swanky bowling lounge with a bistro, a game room and a dance club on the way.  Families can walk in and easily grab one of their 27 lanes before 5 pm or opt to rent a lane by the hour for $50-60 depending on the time of day. Food is available at the bistro but the menu is a little fancy for kids, for example, the macaroni and cheese is made with pecorino and has truffles in it. Some kids may eat that but mine won’t.

Walk in Price per game/per person:  $7 - $10.50 depending on when you go.  Click here for more information.
Shoe Rentals:  $5 per person.
Hours: Opens at 10:00 am on weekdays and 11:00 am weekends.  
Age restrictions: 21 years and older after 8 pm daily.
Family Special: 1 hour of bowling with shoes, 1 large pizza and 1 pitcher of soda per lane for $19.95 per person, minimum 4 people on Monday-Saturday before 5PM or all day Sunday.

Bowlmor Lanes Union Square
The granddaddy of Manhattan bowling alleys since the 1930s and everyone who is anyone has bowled here. (Back in the 80s, The Stray Cats even made their Rock this Town video at Bowlmor.) They offer glow-in-the-dark bowling (a little over stimulating for me but my son loves it!) in their multi-level, 42 lane alley. The food is good here – much better than what you would expect at a bowling alley (I love the little sliders) thanks to the playful menu conceived by Chef David Burke.

Walk in Price per game/per person: Weekdays, $12.95, Weekends, $75 an hour per lane
Shoe Rentals: $6.50 per person
Hours:  Open at 4:00 pm during the week and 11:00 am weekends.  
Age Restrictions: 18 years and older after 7 pm daily.
 

Bowlmor Lanes Times Square
Brand new and ultra cool with 50 lanes split across 7 NYC themed lounges. Kids will love banging a giant gong in the Chinatown area or warming up by the fire in the Central Park area.  Massive two story sports bar on site and Chef Burke’s food  can be delivered to your lane.  Bowling reservations suggested at all times.

Walk in Price: $24.95 –$31.95 per lane for half hour of bowling depending on time.
Shoe Rentals:  $6.50 per person.
Hours: Opens at 11:00 am  
Age restrictions: 21 years and older after 8 pm daily.

Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge
This swanky Hollywood import offers 26 lanes of bowling plus billiard tables and local art gracing the walls.

Walk in Price per person/per game: $8.95 –$11.95 depending on time.
Shoe Rentals:  $5.00 per person.
Hours: Opens at noon  
Age restrictions: 21 years and older after 5:30 pm Monday – Friday and after 7:00 pm on weekends.

300 New York at Chelsea Piers
This 40 lane alley offers lane side food delivery and cool neon bowling.  Kids will dig the video game area where they can win tickets to redeem for birthday party favor type prizes. Four private lanes for rental, too.

Walk in Price per person/per game: $8.25 –$11.25 depending on time.  Click here for more information.
Shoe Rentals:  $6.00 per person.
Hours: Opens at 9:00 am every day  
Age restrictions: 21 years and older after 10 pm unless children are bowling in a group with their parents.

Harlem Lanes
Sadly, Harlem Lanes closed in August, 2012.

Brooklyn:

Brooklyn Bowl
A little sceney, but more of a hipster Brooklyn scene than a Manhattan nightclub scene with bowling on 16 lanes, live music and great eats like French bread pizza and fried chicken by Blue Ribbon restaurants.  Open for kids only on weekends and often offers live family oriented music during these times.

Lane Rentals during family hours: Saturdays $25 per lane for ½ hour, Sundays are $20, up to 8 people per lane. Click here for details.
Shoe Rentals: $4.00 per person.
Family Bowling Hours: Noon to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Age restrictions: 21 years at all times except noon to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Maple Lanes
Old school bowling with over 40 lanes and free how to bowl clinics, as well as leagues. Glow in the dark “Cosmic” bowling on weekend nights with a live dj, trivia games and more.

Walk in Price per person/per game: $4.50 - $6.50 depending on time.
Shoe Rentals:  $4.25
Hours: Opens at 9:00 am every day  
Family Special: They offer tons of lane rental packages for families and other specials that vary by time.

Gil Hodges Lanes
Leagues for both adults and children are available at this 34 lane alley.  Along with weekend glow bowling.  Tons of bargain packages, too, like 50¢ games on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Walk in Price per person/per game: $4.50 - $6.00 depending on time.
Shoe Rentals:  $4.25
Hours: Opens at 9:00 am every day  
Family Special: They offer lane rental packages for families and other specials that vary by time.

Melody Lanes
Arcades, great deals and after school leagues for kids at this 26 lane joint. Glow in the dark bowling, too.

Walk in Price per person/per game: $6.00 - $7.75 depending on time. Click here for schedule.
Shoe Rentals:  $4
Hours: Opens at 9:00 am every day  
Family Special: Every night between 5 and 6:30 pm $15 per person will get you 2 games, shoes and popcorn and soda for the kids.  1 adult, 1 child minimum.  Information here.

Shell Lanes
Brooklynites have been bowling here for over 100 years.  Shell Lanes features an arcade room and leagues for kids.

Walk in Price per person/per game: $3.00 - $5.50 depending on time. Click here for schedule.
Shoe Rentals:  $4
Hours: Opens at 9:00 am daily except Sunday when they open at noon.  

Queens:

Jib Lanes
Sister alley to Maple Lanes with a pro shop, café, lessons for kids and free workshops and the same fun cosmic bowling with a dj that Maple offers.  They also offer great specials including packages for families.

Walk in Price per person/per game: $4.50 - $6.50 depending on time. 
Shoe Rentals:  $4.25
Hours: Opens at 9:00 am every day  
Family Special: They offer tons of lane rental packages for families and other specials that vary by time.

Whitestone Lanes
Bowling available 24 hours a day in this colorful and bright bowling alley with a snack shop, bar and pro shop.

Walk in Price per person/per game: $4.50 - $7.50 depending on time.  Click here for schedule.
Shoe Rentals:  $4.50
Hours: Open 24/7
Special: $19 all you can bowl specials available for $19 in the wee hours during the week and 8 am on weekends. Click here for information.

Astoria Bowl
Formerly, Maric Lanes, in the shadow of La Guardia airport (and pretty far from mass transport, thankfully they have a parking lot) this is a traditional bowling alley with an enclosed bar, snack shop and league bowling, even for kids.

Walk in Price per person/per game: $4.00 - $7.00 depending on time. Click here for schedule.
Shoe Rentals:  $4.00
Hours: Open 10:00 am on weekdays, 9:00 am on weekends.

Staten Island

Rab’s Country Lanes
Huge bowling alley with over 40 lanes and three private party rooms for birthdays, leagues for kids and this cool lazer maze that you can navigate like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible.

Walk in Price per person/per game: $5.50 – $6.00 for adults, $4.00 for kids during the weekdays before 6 pm. Other times lane rentals are $18 to $25 per hour.  Cosmic bowling extra.  Click here for more information.
Shoe Rentals:  $3.00
Hours: Open 9 am w/ closures mid day for leagues.

Find more fun indoor stuff to do in our Mommy Poppins Indoor Activity Guide this winter, and check out our new Winter Fun and Activity Guide.