The best bowling spots in Miami

This is the mac daddy of lanes, Miami's most iconic old school alley that boasts more than half a century of history. If you're a local, you've been here. Your grandparents have, too. And though Bird Bowl has modernized with the times, adding a fully stocked bar with top shelf spirits, neon trimmings, disco lights and even a private karaoke room, no bells and whistles are needed here; a good, classic game of bowling is still the main draw. 

Some bowling alleys have a restaurant. This restaurant has a bowling alley. Dubbed an “eatertainment” hub, you could just as well have a perfect game as you could a piping hot plate of pasta or pizza at Pinstripes Aventura, a recently opened Italian-American restaurant that also touts lanes and a bocce court. Go on the weekends for boozy brunch, where Aperol Spritzes are as bottomless as a gutter is to a buzzed person.   

The most Miami alley you can find (think bottle service and neon) means just four exclusive lanes for the bowler who wants to be that much extra. LED displays, a state-of-the-art sound system, interactive lighting that syncs with bowlers’ movements, and, of course, bowling shoes customized by famed artists make it a true badger. 

Kings Dining and Entertainment has all the makings of a classic bowling alley – 14 lanes, billiards and an arcade – but retrofitted for the modern day. It's as much a place to bowl as it is to eat and drink, with a plethora of elevated finger foods and festive drinks that you could order by the tower. More of star than a strike-out athlete? Though Thursday night is karaoke night, there's a private karaoke room open all the time. 

Identical in concept and lane length, Duckpin bowling is basically bowling but with a small pin and balls, and FunDimension is the only venue in Miami that offers this version of the game. This is one of the many activities that this Wynwood fun center offers, including virtual reality, laser tag, bumper cars, and a fully functioning arcade. 

A traditional bowling alley with a little bit of flair, this 11-lane space in the Village at Gulfstream Park is filled with plush seating, touch screen scoring technology and even mini-lanes for the younger bowling aficionados. Plus, how many can say they house a hookah lounge? 

Everything's bigger in Dolphin Mall – even the bowling alleys. Bowlero boast 34-lanes of competition and good clean fun in a theatric midcentury setting. Blacklight bowling is just one of the draws here. So is laser tag, actually good food and the actually deadly 123-ounce Dunk Tank (a shareable fish bowl with a concoction so bright it may actually glow in the dark). Should you find bowling is your calling (or just want to make some new friends), consider joining one of their leagues. 

When the people of Pembroke Pines want to knock down some pins, they know to go to AMF. Founded in 1900 as a subsidiary of the American Tobacco Company, AMF got its start manufacturing equipment to make and package cigarettes, and later broke off to invent the automatic pinsetter, which completely changed the game. Today, AMF is owned by Bowlero Corp, so you can expect all the funky flare of Bowlero, including the head-sized 6 Pound Behemoth Burger.  

More sports bar than gastropub, Davie’s SpareZ still brings the fun with theme nights, live DJs and the largest league in South Florida. Come here when you're over the pomp and circumstance of the "new and improved" bowling alleys and you just want to have a fun outing with friends. Also, they’ll swap out your pins for pink or blue if you want to do a truly outstanding gender reveal.

After a ten year run in South Beach, Lucky Strike has found itself a spare life in Downtown Miami. Not much has been released, but it's planning to open in February a few blocks west of the Kesaya Center.