Lucky Strike

The big bowling house on Haven Ave has worn a few names — most recently Bowlero, now Lucky Strike — but the building's job hasn't changed: forty lanes, a sports bar, and billiards under one roof in the middle of the city.

In a town with no bar district, places like this do a lot of nightlife's heavy lifting. League bowlers, birthday parties, and people who just want the game on with a beer all end up sharing a roof here, and the sports bar means nobody has to actually bowl to justify the trip.

If you're choosing between the city's two bowling-plus-bar operations: Punch Bowl Social at Victoria Gardens is the dressed-up, date-night version; Lucky Strike is the bigger, more utilitarian room. Forty lanes beats boutique when there are twelve of you and half the group only came for the billiards tables.