I have been so excited to try Arsenal Lanes in Lawrenceville!! I loved bowling at Dormont Lanes as a kid and haven't been bowling in some time. Arsenal Lanes elevates bowling to an entirely new level. The 44th street entrance opens to a grand steep staircase the brings you up to the primary bowling lanes. The decor brings you back to the grandeur of the 1920's Pittsburgh. There are beautiful period pieces salvaged from all over Pittsburgh that make up the front desk and the bar. Walking behind the lanes brings you to a second grand room with even more bowling lanes. There's a beautiful bar and kitchen has the most comfortable red velvet seat found in Pittsburgh in 2026. The kitchen makes great bowling alley food like pizza, burgers and nachos. The food is inexpensive and every day they have different bowling experiences that are inexpensive and so fun!! If you are looking for a fun time that takes you back to a time when bowling was part of the community fabric, please give Arsenal Lanes a try!! Lawrenceville is also one of the most vibrant dynamic neighborhoods in Pittsburgh so after bowling you can get great coffee or dessert right around the corner!! Enjoy!! read more

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I came around 8:30 on a Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised that it was not busy at all. My group of ten was able to get two lanes right away and we stayed for two fun games but we could have stayed longer because they were running an all you could play deal for $25 until closing which was a great deal! Just don't forget to bring cash because they are cash only! The retro feel of this venue is so fun and we had a great time. read more

First, I'll say this place has great vibes and it was a nice time. Nice staff, good bowling deals. This might be the pettiest review I've ever written but before you go, let it be known that this bowling alley does not put bumpers up for adults. Yes, I'm an adult, but I probably have the bowling skills of a child with no arms or legs. I went to have fun, not hone my bowling abilities. Not having a bumper strongly impeded on my ability to have fun as more than half of my turns were gutter balls anyways. I understand it was just policy that they couldn't put it up, but I wasn't even having fun. I didn't know as an adult I was expected to have bowling competency. Took me like 5 rounds to start hitting the pins at all more consistently. They also don't have screen animations when you get strikes and such which is lame but oh well. I'm giving it 5-stars cuz this is a very individualistic problem to me, but maybe somebody else will be like I need bumpers! read more

Freaking the absolute best place to bowl. The staff were amazing. They were totally booked up, but allowed us to come in and get a couple games in before close. The atmosphere is something out of an old magazine and words won't do it justice. The prices were amazing and so were the drinks. If you are in or visiting Pittsburgh, with the group or by yourself it is 150% worth of checking out. read more

Best bowling alley in Pittsburgh! I go bowling almost every week- sometimes multiple times per week and Arsenal is my favorite! It does get super busy though. You have to get there before 8:45 most week nights to make sure you get a lane. Open bowling starts at 9pm It's $10 on week days and $20 on weekends for a few hours of bowling. A good deal! They have 22 lanes so it's big. They have a bar with mostly beers and some simple mixed drinks. They have great bar food/apps as well! My favorite is their fried pickles. We get them almost every time we go! The best! read more

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Really cool old bowling alley. They have a DJ with some fun music as well as unlimited bowling! Definitely a fun night out. read more

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This "old school" bowling alley was super cute, reasonably priced, and a ton of fun! My boyfriend and I decided to go on a Friday night for their $15 special. It is $15 per person to bowl from 6 PM to 8 PM, and the price includes shoe rentals. It is CASH ONLY. It was our first time visiting, so we were surprised to see the old school theme, but we absolutely loved it. We were sent to the back portion, but we honestly preferred it because it was more secluded. The lanes worked well, and there was a variety of bowling balls to choose from. The bar was close by, and seemed to be fully stocked! It really was an enjoyable time! We will definitely return in the future. read more

Arsenal Bowl - Bowling Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A fun place to visit for a bowling outing! Went with friends a few weeks ago for a Friday night bowling game and we enjoyed ourselves. We did the "TGIF Bowl" which was all you can bowl for two hours. We were unfortunately placed right next to a horribly obnoxious group, and because of the cash bar, they were drinking and not mindful of their volume or physical space. Obviously not the fault of Arsenal! But just be aware that alcohol can create an interesting environment if you're looking for a family friendly night out or a quieter experience. All in all, a fun bowling alley and worth a visit if you are in Lawrenceville! read more

Arsenal Bowl - Bowling Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I had so much fun at arsenal last weekend! I love the retro vibe of the bowling lanes combined with a dive bar in the back. The Saturday night deal is awesome: $20 for all you can bowl from 9 PM - 1 AM. We went with the intention of just bowling a game or two and ended up staying all night! There is no wait service, however, so you have to walk pretty far to get to the bar (it is the farthest place from the bowling lanes). Once there, however, the bartender was super friendly & fast. They have a great selection of draft beers which is the perfect vibe to go with a bowling night. The main man working the front desk is kind of funny...he either likes you & is friendly/helpful or decides he doesn't like you in which case he's pretty rude. Different individuals in our group had very different experiences (he liked me so I had a positive one haha)! Overall, I definitely want to come back & had a great time! Food: N/A Drinks: B Service: C Ambiance: A read more

My experience at Arsenal Bowling Lanes has brought to me to my first Yelp review! Last night was our first time at Arsenal (we were very excited)! As soon as we walked in, we were approached by the most rude, condensing employee I have ever came across. I'm not someone who usually complains or puts down a business, however the way that he spoke to us truly made me feel like Ashton Kutcher was going to pop out & tell me i've been Punk'd. He was rude, talked down to us and after telling him it was our first time & that's why we were confused he completely brushed us off, rolled his eyes & truly made us feel less than. It was sad that someone that miserable is working at such a fun place. With that said, the older gentleman who was distributing shoes saved the night. He was so kind, helpful and made our night so much better after the uncomfortable situation we dealt with upon arrival. Arsenal, you're a truly a great business but should absolutely re-evaluate the employee who who was working at the door on Saturday, 11/25 @ 9 pm. read more

I've been here for many get togethers and have had a blast each time! It's the perfect place to vibe with friends and the atmosphere is everything. The staff are up and down, but I love them regardless. The toilets have carpet on the lids. read more

Arsenal Bowl - Bar - Bowling Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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This Illy Philly met her family for bowling at Arsenal.....I was wary of going because I've been there before and wasn't too enthused about the experience, the food, or the drinks. Welp....I had a very unpleasant encounter with the bartender. I mentioned my disappointment in there not being a vegan selection on the menu and she became immediately challenging and said, "French fried are vegan".... not if they're fried in the same oil you fry the Chix tenders... I said to her that what I meant was not a side item like fries, but more vegan foods...she stared at me and said. " My mom is vegan and she eats fries", and gave me a sarcastic look. I then asked her why she was so challenging as this is not an issue and she started to repeat about fries being vegan, so I asked her to step away from me because she was so unpleasant. I waited for my food and then asked to speak to the manager. John came out and I advised on my experience and how the bartender was so challenging and he wanted to stand up for his bartender as if she wasn't capable of acting like that. Needless to say, there is a reason why I don't come here...the drinks sub-par, the food greasy and sub-par, and the service is horrible. read more

Arsenal Bowl - Bowling with tha fam..... - Bowling Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I love this bowling alley. At first glance you think it's small but it just keeps going. The drink specials are awesome and the food is yummy. The people are nice and always helpful. Make sure to get there early on special nights as lanes go pretty quickly. The drink specials are also A1. read more

Arsenal Bowl - Bowling lane - Bowling Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

fantastic work. loved the service! very vintage and homey vibe, had a great atmosphere. wouldn't recommend getting tons of drinks but the music is so fun to dance to and a great lovely atmosphere for amateurs and experts alike. read more

So much fun! A group of us from work planned a social event and bonded over bowling, brews and laughter. Such a great atmosphere. Not a bowler here whatsoever but enjoyed the old fashioned charm of Arsenal, the employees and how clean and comfortable everything was. $15 for 2 hours of bowling including shoe rental. Friendly staff. A great team-building evening, and despite more gutter balls than I can count, a good time had by all. read more

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Arsenal is a super fun bowling alley! Looking at some reviews here, it seems that there can be some confusion about lane availability. I originally came here with a friend around 6pm on a Saturday since we couldn't make it to their 12-3pm "Super Saturday" weekly special. We were even willing to pay for full-priced games. The alley looked empty, yet we were informed that all the lanes were unavailable due to a league that was scheduled in the next hour or two. Since I've been bowling for 20 years now, I know that this happens at other alleys and was not put-off by this change in our plans. Since we were still interested in bowling, we inquired about their other weekly special happening from 9pm-1am called "Top Shelf Saturday Night." It's $20 for all-you-can-bowl and includes shoe rental. This is a 21+ event. Definitely plan to come early! People started lining up around 8:15pm, so I would suggest coming no later than 8:30pm if you want a good chance of getting a lane. read more

Arsenal Bowl - Bowling Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I don't know what's all the rant is about. I liked being here the first time. They would accept only cash to book a lane and the bar accepts credit card for a minimum $10 purchase. We spent an hour and a half here bowling and it was fun! The played old Hollywood songs which matched with the interiors theme. Check it one out if you're in the vicinity. read more

Great bowling alley. The atmosphere is very unique. The food here is so so good. They have a great weekend special

I wouldn't even give this place 1 star! Was excited to come here with friends and my partner's family (who were visiting from another country), and we arrived 15 min before 9:00 pm on a Saturday night (the time that the website said that the "bowl all night" bowling started) and saw signs saying "sorry, full come again next time." We walked upstairs to check with an employee, and he said "unfortunately we're booked full tonight." He was not very friendly and asked if we had a reservation to which we responded "no, the website didn't say reservations were recommended let alone an option." He said "you can always make a reservation." Then my partner's sister-in-law walked 10 feet to the left of the cashier box just to observe some bowling while I talked to the employee, and the rude employee said "what is she doing over there?!" I said "just taking a look, she's from another country." And he said "she needs to get back over here now." I've literally never seen a business be so rude and unwelcoming to customers. Not even a "sorry!" While we stood for 2 minutes talking about what to do next, the employee said "what are you guys doing, make a decision," and we just left. I don't ever imagine myself coming back here which is a real shame since it's the only bowling close to downtown Pittsburgh. That just goes to show you how horrible our experience was. Would literally rather not go bowling again than give this place our business. You never even know when you can get a lane anyways! read more

Had such a nice time. Place was clean and equipment worked fine. I think the Friday nite special (6-9/$15) was great. The only miss I had was not being able to find the right ball. The only ball I could find to fit was a bit too heavy. read more

Arsenal Bowl - Happy Halloween! - Bowling Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

They're not racist, they're just stupid. I'm white, and they turned me away too, lol. Called to see if they had open bowling on the weekend and a lady gave us the hours. So we later went there within said hours and were told that no more reservations could be made. Reservations? Called again a month later and asked about needing a reservation. Guy said it's first come first serve. We went there. and the door was locked and a sign saying "all lanes reserved." Called again and finally got this. He said that it is first come first serve but you can also make a reservation but no reservations allowed the day of. And you have to pre-pay over the phone only which means they have your credit card info. You know, like the 90's. read more

How is it I've never reviewed one of my old stomping grounds? Back in the day my ex-husband's band was a regular fixture for "bands on the lanes". What great fun, bowling while a live band plays right next to you. Of course I've been here many, many times over the years because it's an iconic bowling alley in the city with lots of fun events, reasonable bowling fees and let's not forget the back bar and lounge. When people visit from out of town I like to bring them here for a fun outing. Also I've never met a more helpful and patient staff. Really quite refreshing. read more

Arsenal Bowl - Bowling Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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My boyfriend & I make a point to bowl a few games here whenever we're in town. The themed music nights are super cool & the lanes themselves are just super "decked out". The bar lounge makes waiting for your lane to open an even more enjoyable experience. The only thing we don't particular favor/understand is the fact that you can only purchase a pitcher of beer if you're a member of one of their bowling leagues. Having to walk back and forth to the bar constantly while you're trying to keep up with the flow of your game can be a bit of an inconvenience. But overall, this is a super fun late night spot located on Butler Street in the heart of Lawrenceville! read more

I typically (well with the exception of my old leasing company) only review restaurants on here, but I want to comment about Arsenal. It's been pretty packed in there every time i've gone with friends. I really feel like they could have figured out having less lanes somehow and still have a good space (which is what it is). I really noticed how tight it was when we were at Arsenal for a friend's party on Friday night. Our friend had reserved three lanes for our group, which was good, but several times while bowling I felt like the group next to us (a group of ladies out for a girls night who were drinking a lot) was shoulder to shoulder with us. If you're in either room, it just feels tight. Also, I feel like Arsenal was short staffed the entire night. They have a good beer selection all the way in the back at their bar, but other than a couple times when one worker was bringing out food, there was just the one bartender and a very long, slow moving line. It was almost to the crane game arcade machine by the shoe rentals at several points. I think 2 bartenders would have made the line move consistently quicker. That or maybe people were just ordering very slowly. It just seemed disorganized. But, Arsenal's been fun every time we've gone read more

Their website and hours posted on the door say they open at 5. Arrived at 5 to be told I couldn't bowl because there were leagues. This is the fourth time this has happened to me. Why don't they have specific league times that they post as not open to the public? Don't waste your time with this spot unless you're okay with the likely hood that you get turned away despite their "open" hours. read more

Grew up going to Arsenal Lanes as a kid, so when the opportunity arose to visit again as an adult for late night bowling on a Saturday for a birthday celebration presented itself, I was absolutely all in. When we arrived, the decor was pretty much as I remembered it, but the experience was meh unfortunately. For the Saturday bowling it is adults only, however the gentleman that was distributing shoes and such made it seem as if the crowd was full of children. While we had a good time in our group and enjoyed actually bowling, this employee made the whole night uncomfortable. We had just arrived and were directed to our lane, he commented all the lanes are reserved so you all have to stay on your side of the double lane setup, perfectly normal request, we arrived and the folks in the next lane had not, the lanes have incredibly limited space to get your bowling shoes on, yet the lanes allot for up to 6 players, a few of our group sat on the other side of the bench simply to get our shoes changed and he ran over yelling that we had to stay on our side of the bench because the other lane was reserved. For the price per bowler I would've expected more updated tech as far as the scoring and such, this took me right back to the 90's. From there it just continued on all night with this employee, he would pop up like a ninja giving orders. At one point he called over a member of our group and made an accusation about vaping, the mass majority of our group are non-smokers, including the individual he summoned over to the front desk by pointing at her and making the motion with his finger to come over here, seriously once again guy we aren't children. Also to mention we were literally 7 feet if that from the front desk, so make it make sense how if anyone were vaping he wouldn't have seen smoke...just said he smelled it...I will also point out that in the front room there were only two groups that had non-Caucasian individuals within their groups and those were the only people that I observed this employee engage with in a negative manner. While we made the best of an incredibly awkward and uncomfortable situation for the night, we won't be visiting this establishment again in the future. read more

We're a small league that bowlers at Arsenal on Sunday and have for many years. These lanes are one of Pittsburgh and Lawrenceville hidden treasures the staff is outstanding they makes you feel like welcome from the very first "hello" the atmosphere is authentic to an era when life just had a different pace and being at Arsenal takes you back to place instantly... don't miss what is just "simple fun" read more

Awesome 22 lane bowling alley. Bar and food in back. Rentals and balls available. The guys that run this place are amazing. A bunch of buddies and myself are in bowling leagues there. Highly recommend this spot! read more

I would say that Arsenal Bowling is somewhere that you have to go if you live in the area. They have fun events and every day of the week is something different. There is a back bar and food so you can have some food and fun. Overall it is not a bad place to be. I am just pretty 'meh' about it. I love that it is close but I hate that it is expensive. My three star rating is more because I went there with my nephews and they were not equipped to handle kids. I asked for a ball that my 6 year old nephew and the smallest they had was 6 or 7 lbs. This was totally not small enough for my nephew. He had trouble holding it and it just did not work out for him. We would have stayed longer but it just wasn't fun if you couldn't actually bowl. You also have to watch what day you go and for the prices of things. We went on a Saturday for all you can bowl. It was about $7 a person. But then shoes were an additional $4. Not a cheap quick fun thing to do at all. I will come here again, since it is right up the road but it is not my go to for a fun thing to do in Lawrenceville. read more

Super fun, impressively clean- however could use an update on the seating. Super worn upholstery. But seriously I was afraid to drop anything on the floor. Like shiny... AF read more

This guy is just a loser. Gave us a hard time about everything from shoes to timing to beers. Somehow made bowling not fun. I can't believe how poorly we were treated. Larry is an angry old man plain and simple don't patronize this establishment. read more

Been here numerous times and every time I had issues with advertisements being wrong and employees/management being rude They agreed the issue I brought up about their false advertising was a valid one and told me they'd make it up to me by sending me free bowling passes... They asked for my postal address, I gave it to him and nothing came in the mail Also the lanes are extremely tightly packed much smaller than an average bowling alley for how many people they squeeze into a Lane read more

I have never been, but called trying to prepare for a birthday outing and wanted the details regarding COVID. The older gentleman I spoke to told me "that he could not predict the future" when asked if there is typically a wait Saturday evenings. I don't believe disrespecting potential customers is a successful business model. Imagine how they treat you once they receive your money. read more

I don't like the non advertised $6.00 cover. In a printed add in the Citypaper it states .50 shoes, .50 sodas , .50 games and .50 shoes. I was tight on money but still wanted to have a birthday outing for my 5 year old cousin. I was with a party of six and we bowled a total of 7 games. The total cost for the games was $10.50. Now math isn't my strong suit but .50 * 7 does not equal $10.50. I was very annoyed to say the very least. I'll be waiting awhile before I give Arsenal lanes anymore of my hard earned money. read more

Arsenal Bowl - Sister and niece bowling - Bowling Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Had a great time with friends and family. Would definitely go again.

As a casual bowler, I've bowled at Arsenal more times than I can remember. It's a great place to go with friends, bowl, and enjoy the retro-styled lanes...and do so at a reasonable price! Bowling can add up, but most nights (and Saturday afternoons), Arsenal has all-you-can-bowl for between $8-10 for 3 hour windows. Each night has a different vibe to it (80's night!), but overall, the one vibe that's consistent is that Arsenal is a fun, relaxed place to bowl. They don't adhere to the cheesy midnight glow bowling approach to make money, so you're not going to find kids everywhere. Bring your ID, as you'll definitely be carded at the door. This is a bowling alley geared towards adults. It's old school and fits perfect into the persona of Lawrenceville. My only complaints would be geared to more "serious" bowlers. If you care one bit about oil patterns, etc., be prepared to experience less-than-stellar conditions...especially during special hours. While it's hardly surprising at $8/3 hours, bone dry lanes can be pretty annoying. You'll also likely be annoyed by the vintage ball returns when you're on the even numbered lanes, as they can get in the way if you kick back at all. Therefore, come to Arsenal ready to have a beer a bowl for fun. If you're going to be serious, you'll probably just end up frustrated. read more

Fun bowling / atmosphere. Really poor customer service. It felt like their customers were an inconvenience. We were new bowlers and it took a while to get used to their system. However the staff acted like you needed to be an expert. Rude, unfriendly, unhelpful. That being said, it is a unique spot with a lot going for it if they could be just a little friendlier. read more

Sooooo much fun! Not sure how I've lived in Pittsburgh for so long and never made it into this place. I checked out the reviews beforehand and they are correct in that you should definitely make a reservation! My friend rented out some lanes for her birthday and we had a blast. They had a nice spread of pizza and spinach artichoke dip. Both were very good. Super easy to walk over and bring a bev from the bar back as well. The music was freaking awesome and we danced in between throws. Love the old school vibe. The bowling space isn't very big so if you're at the end lanes near the bar, be prepared to have strangers walking into your area. Everyone was super nice tho. read more

I've been able to actually get into Arsenal on ONE occasion. This place clearly is popular because each time we have tried to go during a time we think it will be less crowded, we are turned away at the door. Despite this, when we did get in, we had an enjoyable experience. I went with a group for college night and played a few rounds for really cheap. The atmosphere is really laid back and gives you a "Big Lebowski" vibe. It's vintage and certainly is not a modern bowling lane. They have a bar in the back and the drink selection is decent. We had a great time bowling and made friends with the other groups around us as we did. Everyone was really relaxed and just there to have a good time. The staff were okay, as we had little interaction with them. It would be great if would could get back in again some time soon... read more

Good amount of lanes and it's a good time. I wouldn't necessarily trust most of the food on the menu because they try a bit more than the usual burgers and hot dogs, and that's prob not the best way to go. Also, their policy of each person in your party having to go to the bar in order to show their ID is lame. They should instead check all IDs upon distributing bowling shoes and apply an ink stamp for eligible drinkers. read more