We came here during Sunday morning, me my husband and two kids. A woman in the lane next to us decided to tell us when we can and cannot bowl and started getting in our way. She started arguing with my husband and threatened him several times in front of the kids. I'm giving this place a 2 and not a 1 because I do appreciate that the staff there had our back. It is not safe to bowl here and that makes me said because I've been coming here for years. read more

It's always a good time at Madison bowl. The bar tenders sure do make a mean drink! You can play 2 rounds for only $15. They also updated the bar area and the bathrooms. My group was shocked that the restaurant wasn't there anymore but they did wait it will be remolded so fingers crossed. Can't wait to go back and see how it's looking after all of the changes. read more

Since the morning lady left, bowling on Saturday and Sunday morning is a living hell. Been coming here for like 7 years and since that lady left they have consistently screwed me over. Also the lanes sometimes are so burnt read more

Typical bowling alley. Great lanes most of the time and reasonably priced! I would recommend coming here. I have been bowling here for the past year and the people are friendly and everyone typically has a great time! They even have breakfast on Saturday if that is your thing haha read more

Step straight into the 70's with Madison Bowl! The decor is vintage but the prices aren't far from that either - VERY affordable bowling. It's fun if you want no frills bowling, but some of the balls are pretty banged up and it will take you quite literally 15 minutes to get a drink. But when you do, it'll be a whole bucket of beers for ~$8. read more

I had a good time at Madison Bowl over the weekend. I had never been there but a couple of my friends who live in Oakley had suggested we meet up there. There were a fair amount of people but it did not feel overly crowded and we were able to get a couple lanes. The facilities are older but are well maintained and appear clean. The shoes were some of the newer bowling shoes I have ever encountered in a bowling alley. The bartender was friendly and made us some great liquid adult refreshments to partake in while we were rollin. We got some bar food to snack on and it was what you would expect from a bar. The night was fun and affordable priced and I would definitely spend another night at Madison Bowl with some friends. read more

What better date night then to have cheap beer, bowling ally snacks, and trying to knock all the pins down in one throw?.... the answer is not much... Madison Bowl is just the place for all your date night needs. Madison bowl is an older bowling ally set back in the 80s and is perfect for taking you back. It just has that nostalgia feel. The staff are friendly.. shoes are relatively new... and the bowling reasonably priced. I will say that they could use an update on their bowling balls. Overall the balls are all scratched and many of them have chunks missing. I'm not sure what has been done with them just well used I suppose. The ally is home to a lot of leagues so I would suggest calling ahead to learn when open bowling is. We arrived at just the right time as there was a league playing and a lot of open bowlers came in. There was a waiting list for lanes when we left. However I don't think many people were upset as they do have a diner for food and a full bar. Speaking of bar they have beer specials that include buckets and pitchers. We did the pitcher for $9. It doesn't get much better then that. Cheap beer, good bowling= great night. Check out Madison Bowling if you need to take yourself back in time :) read more

Madison Bowl - Bowling Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Facilities are dated, but kept clean for the most part. Drinks are cheap! COVID- They strictly enforce mask requirment here even while eating and drinking they require you to put it right back on. read more

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I went to Madison Bowl and sat at the bar with my ex-wife, my son and his girlfriend. The bartender was very engaging and encouraged me to get a Captain and Sprite. My drink was refreshing and delicious! Overall, a top flight experience. read more

Madison Bowl - Bowling Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

A traditional bowling alley experience. The bowling scoring equipment is actually pretty nice and updated compared to the decor. Flat screens and various TVs are nice. The service desk was really helpful and approachable. I like how the lanes are spit on each side of the venue and the bar in the middle of the building. The bar has a service window which is great to grab a bucket of beer in between frames without having to go into the bar area itself. This place can get pretty busy in the early evening. Make sure you call ahead for open bowling hours and availability of you expect to get a lane. The parking lot does fill up but there's parking behind the building with a rear door so you don't have to walk all the way around the building. read more

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Your standard run of the mill bowling alley... the only problem was the bar was out of a lot of things, the place was packed, and music was extremely loud to the point it was hard to talk. We have been here before with success and had a nice evening but I guess we just caught them on a bad night. read more

Remember when you were a kid and your parents would take you bowling on weekends? You always looked forward to it with anticipation. From getting your odd colored rental shoes which always smelled of lysol, picking out which ball you could pick up easily and wouldn't rip your fingers off, to getting ready to hurl said ball and knock all the pins down... Or at least try to. Madison Bowl is classic bowling the way you remembered it, but even better. Walking in is like taking a roll down a nostalgic lane. Good music playing, plenty of lanes so there's no wait, countless choices for ball-based weaponry to decimate those elusive pins. And if you're like me and like enjoying a good brew or two while getting your game on, there's a full bar with a very nice craft beer selection right there. Watch out for their happy hour and other beer specials going on all the time. Like a little arcade action too? They have a few arcade games and classic pinball tables too. Try your hand at a prize claw or test your might at the boxing arcade game. If you get a little hungry from hurling those balls around, there's a diner in the back, serving up a plethora of good food. Burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, wings, pizza, fries, onion rings, beans and cornbread, something for everyone and every taste. Prices won't strike your wallet too hard either, so you'll spare yourself the headache of paying too much for a fun outing. So relive the great times you recall as a kid and while introducing your own kids at the same time. Or just enjoy a few frames with some friends or with a date. read more

Madison Bowl - Good brews and bowling. Game on! - Bowling Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My Jules Haiku I can still taste you You and your hot crinkled friends We must meet again read more

Madison Bowl - Bowling Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Horrible bowling alley! Shoes were new so that was cool, only upside to this place. They had no balls under 10 pounds (and very minimal ones at 10) that would fit a thumb larger than a child's thumb. We were rushed off the lane before we were done bowling our game. No food ordering organization, so you just had to happen to be there when your food got out and then served us fries that were still frozen. Save your money for any other bowling alley. read more

Nice bowling alley. It was packed. Groupon for 20 dollars was a great deal. 3 games, shoes and a burger combo for 2. 4.25 per game otherwise. They had old time pinball machines and claw games. Bowling balls were ancient! Friendly staff. Burgers and fries in old style 50s diner. Lots of other choices. read more

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Walking into Madison Bowl (and Madison Diner, in the back) is like entering a time warp back to the 1970's. It's an old-school, no frills bowling alley that I bet is mostly unchanged in the last 40 years. On any day of the week, expect to see a lot of serious bowlers here. There are leagues set up. I'm more of a casual bowler (i.e. I can't get above 80-ish), but I still had fun here even without bowling and just enjoying the people watching. My friends and I enjoyed the buckets of beers and the fried foods served out of Madison Diner. The chicken fingers (4 for $5) and mozzarella sticks ($4.75) were especially yummy. My only serious complaint is that the whole place is a little dirty (everything needs a good scrub). Kids are welcome here too, plus it's open super late! You can host birthday parties here and they do catering for those parties out of the diner. A good place for nostalgic fun and people watching. read more

Madison Bowl - bowling lanes and bowling balls - Bowling Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Holy hilariousness. After seeing this joint, I feel like I want to write letter to everyone in Hollywood exclaiming, "If you need a set straight from the 70's Madison Bowl can provide just that!" We arrived at Madison Bowl on a whim. It was cold. No one wanted to drive and so the bf and I decided why not check out this awesome local biz, strap some bowlin' shoes on and get to werk. When we walked in there was a 30-45 minute wait as leagues were just ending. They were super slammed and gave us a little piece of cardboard with a number on it and said they would announce it when our lane was ready. So we decided to check out "the bar" and boyyyy was this an experience. The bar looks like my parents basement growing up. Dusty, dingy, and with all your favorite men: Jim, Jack, Johnny Red, Johnny Black, and Jose. They also had a small selection of light spirits. What surprised me most was the awesome selection of local beer. It was a full bodied list and each were priced at $5 per can. I opted for a PBR because I'm classy like that and took a seat at a plastic covered neon green couch with a floor to ceiling mirror behind it that looked like it was plucked out of a strip club. We sat there awkwardly and people watched and it was the greatest time you could have ever imagined. All walks of life congregate here from frat boys ordering nati lights by the case, to retired vets looking to be left alone. Our number was called on time around 30 minutes later. The price of the bowling I thought was a fair deal: $11 for two games and shoes. We did the two game deal, and proceeded to our lane. I have to say it was a little alarming to see how drunk people were. Several people were falling down the lanes while their buddies were cracking up. Beer cans lined the seats. We seriously sept them off of our seats there were so many of them. About 30 minutes later two guys came to clean them up which was fine - just a note that this is not the cleanest place. Overall I love the set-up of this bowling alley. The bar is hysterical. They have a tiny dive bar kitchen that I absolutely need to go back for. And it has everything you want in a bowling alley - greasy food, beer, broken in shoes, and a good time. I will be back! read more

Gaming is cheap and there is always a lane open even in busy times. This is the only bowling alley I would go to. Very roomy, easy parking, friendly staff, cheap drinks. I also noticed that they sanitize/spray their bowling shoes on a regular basis. read more

Madison Bowl is one of the best bowling alleys I have ever been to. It is great for groups or for couples. The staff is nice enough, the building is pretty clean and there are always lots of people. Prices for shoes and lanes are very fair . Fun fact: Madison Bowl is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. read more

Madison Bowl - Madison Bowl logo - Bowling Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Open til 3AM? No way! I am by no means a bowling fan, but every once in a while I get a hankering to attempt to cajole a heavy sphere down the lane and maybe, just maybe knock down a pin or two. Usually I am left with a sore arm, bruised ago and a laughably low score. However, the first game I bowled at Madison was the highest score I've ever had. I almost had a Turkey (that's 3 strikes in a row ;) ). Sweet. The place feels like it hasn't updated or remodeled since day one, and I'm fine with that. It is a bowling alley, I kind of expect it to be a little rough around the edges and old school. I'd go there again, and hopefully I'll bowl that elusive Turkey. read more

Madison Bowl - New shoes, vintage floor. - Bowling Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Have been here multiple times and haven't had a bad experience until recently, waited over 2 hours for a lane which would be understandable expect parties of 20+ get to go before a small party of 3 . I think if you have more than 10 people you should have to reserve accordingly. When my small group could of played our game or two and been out within an hour. Service is also kinda bad, they are pretty mean read more

great atmosphere. everyone who works there is very nice. highly recommend for going out with friends.

This was my 3rd time here, first time was a date and the last 2 were just my 4 year old and I. Every time we walked in we were very friendly greeted by the front desk. They made everything super easy from getting our shoes and starting a game. It has always been super clean, which can be rare for a bowling alley. Today was our first time enjoying the diner in the back for lunch and it was wonderful! Super friendly staff with great recommendations. Highly recommend the burgers with crinkle cut fries, and my son loves the chili. The bowling alley staff always happily rises the bumpers and bring the ramp over for him. When we finish we always have a tradition to play the arcade games. His favorites are the duck bowling, car racing and shooting game. Great amount of parking and super cheap beer! They have incredible specials on PBR and highlife, as well as $4 white claws. Wonderful for dates, families, friends or work gatherings. Cheers! read more

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Nice retro joint!! The place was crowded with people on day after Christmas!! We had to wait for 30 minutes before we can get a lane. Prices are reasonable. Cleanliness and quality of balls is not that good. Overall a fun place for birthday party or just hang out with friends. Dont count on their food or drinks, they will let you order or allow outside food for parties. There is definitely a lot of room for improvement, but an essential part of community. read more

Despite being a native west sider, I have to admit that this is the best bowling alley in town. It isn't the flashiest or fanciest, but it is a bowling alley. They've got tons of lanes so even when it is crowded I've never had to wait or make a reservation. It is so close to the Oakley scene that it is easy to add this into going to a movie, restaurant, or bar. Everything about this place is what it should be and the location beats all the others in town! read more

You really can't go wrong with $6 bowling + $1 beers on a Friday night. Although it may be small and dated, this bowling alley has character out the wazoo. Although it was consistently packed the entire time we were there, my group of 6 had no problems getting shoes, a lane, or drinks. Although we didn't get any food, the lane next to us got several orders of fries that smelled absolutely incredible. TLDR - Maddy Bowl = cheap & fun time read more

A decent place to hang out with family. It's not a fancy place but good for when you just want to go bowling! We happened to go Labor Day and enjoyed 2 games a person (came out to $4 a game). People generally exercised good etiquette (putting the bowling balls back on the rack after they are done playing), the restrooms were clean, and you pay after you're done bowling. read more

Took the family for a game. Friendly desk and the shoes weren't disgusting. Ha! There were plenty of empty lanes on Labor Day. My husband hasn't bowled in years and had a good time. My girls appreciated the bumpers making it easier for them. We paid after our game and didn't break the bank. Worth returning if we bowl again. read more

When I want to go bowling., this is the kind of place I like to come to... I don't know, I'm just not into all of the upscale new fancy bowling alley..give me a $2 miller lite in a can in a basket of fries while I'm bowling. That being said, the lanes are kept in excellent condition, and it's an overall fun place to spend an evening. Also the elderly bartender is hysterical...go in there just to have a conversation with her! read more

Here is a place that embodies the bowling alley qualities I love. Cheap game of bowling with friends on a casual night (2 games and shoes runs at around $10) and cheap PBRs that you can get in a bucket for a price that for some reason might be different than if you got the same amount of cans out of the bucket (their math is not very good), this bowling alley is pretty much all you need if you're here to just bowl and enjoy a couple hours. It is unique in that it is 24/7 and what makes it a nice option is that unlike other bowling lanes in this city/area (*cough Stone Lanes *cough), the lanes are well-maintained so you can actually get a consistent bowling game in. read more

I don't go bowling very often but when I do go this is the type of place I want to see. Sure, it's old and a bit worn around the edges but it doesn't have any of the gaudy, annoying crap. It's classic (it has a lunch counter!). Plus, it's cheap. There was a large group of us and it was $7.60 for two games and free shoes. The attendants were all very nice and welcoming. Add in cheap beer and good video games and this was a fun night out. The only drawback I can find is the ball selection. I ended up using a kids ball because the rest were either too heavy or the finger holes were drilled in an anatomically impossible configuration. But that is a minor quibble from an occasional bowler. Oh! Another plus, BBQ Revue is next door so you can make a night of it with dinner and bowling for not much dough. read more

Random thoughts about Madison Bowl..because that's just how I summarize my experience there...random and it does the job. You don't go here and assume you'll have a fancy experience. It's a staple around Oakley and I'm so glad it's nearby and always so busy. it's definitely still sporting it's vibe from times past which makes it incredibly approachable. I'm glad there's a bar with seating...it was cool to have something to do while we waited or a lane. If I met you and you live near Oakley...and you told me you've never been here...I don't believe it would work out for us to be friends. read more

My girlfriend and I used to bowl a lot in Iowa and we've recently moved to Cincinnati. When looking for a place to bowl we decided to choose Ohio over Kentucky because we both hate indoor smoking. The reviews for madison bowl looked good so we decided to drive out there and try it out. Parking was very easy, the attendant inside was friendly, and the price to bowl was his made up figure of 9.50 for shoes and 3 hours of bowling per person. Great deal if you ask me, I love to bowl on a time limit rather than games because i fly through games in about 20 minutes by myself and maybe in the 30-40 range with my gf. The place is exactly what you want if you want to bowl on nice lanes for a cheap price. Fun date night but definitely not fancy - I went from lounging around the house to bowling without needing to change clothes. The lanes were very even, and polished the right amount. This worked out well for the spin I put on the ball. The ball caught the lanes just enough to break at the right time. The screens don't have any sort of graphics for turkeys etc but they do show the speed of the ball which was pretty helpful and fun if you're going for fastest bowl ;) The shoes were actually pretty nice and didn't smell. The balls on the other hand are one of the reasons why it gets 4 instead of 5 stars. I couldn't tell how heavy the balls that they have were. also, you can't find two of the same ball! if you're bringing your own this doesn't matter, but I definitely don't have a bowling ball. The other reason this place isn't 5 stars is that it looks like it's closed while you're bowling. I think the management is smart to turn off a lot of lights that aren't being used but when the music shut off (briefly) and most of the lights were off it was kind of like how I imagine the place is at the odd hours of their operation (open 24/7). In summation Pros: Not fancy cosmic bowling with stupid wall mount TVs everywhere Great prices. nice lanes. available parking Cons -A little bit more dingy than it needed to be. bad ball selection. Definitely a fun bowling night and probably a great place to practice! read more

This is my go-to place to go for good old bowling. Located right off Madison rd. Usually packed on the weekends. Very affordable prices here when it comes to bowling and the food. Not much else to say here but this should be your place of choice! read more

Great bowling alley. Good lanes and friendly staff with a very retro feel to the whole place. The food options are pretty basic and unadorned. Good beer options with good prices. If you are looking for a high-end joint, this is not your place but they are not trying to be that. As a lifelong bowler, this is a top shelf bowling alley. read more

Madison Bowl is my kind of bowling alley, cheap, a little dirty, and open all day, every day for your bowling needs. Running low on funds? No problem, everything here can be purchased on the cheap, from shoe rental, to games, and most importantly, to beer, and we all know how important beer is to the game of bowling. Other than that, I am not too sure what there is to say about a bowling alley. The lanes are nice, there is off street parking available, and its just generally a fun place to hang out and kill a few hours, no matter what time of day or night it is. read more

I came here for a work fundraising event where we all were in teams to bowl. I haven't been here in a while, but not much looks like it has changed. The bowling atmosphere was like any other typical bowling alley, kind of a weird smell, kind of retro. One thing I first noticed, was that the balls were pretty scarce. I use an 8 pound ball and had to share it with 2 other people because they couldn't find any others. The thing that really bothered me was the bartender. He was extremely rude and everyone that had to go get a drink from him also agreed. When I came up to get a single beer (after ordering a bucket earlier), another girl was getting a bucket of two different beers, and when she asked to switch one of them out - the bartender scoffed and rolled his eyes. When it was my turn he just said "what do you want." in a rude tone, like I was annoying him by wanting to order a drink. When I got my drink I handed him my card to pay, he asked if I wanted to keep it open, and I said no because it was my last drink. He kind of laughed and said "No. There's a $5 minimum. This is only $3. What do you want." So I told him that I had bought a bucket earlier that was $10 and that I didn't know that there was a minimum for cards since there was no sign for it, and he said again louder in a rude tone, NO it's per swipe. So someone ended up paying for my drink from across the room probably because they could see the bartender being unnecessarily rude to me. The situation wasn't that bad, but the way that the bartender had made me and many of my professional co-workers feel was unacceptable and embarrassing. read more

I won't lie, this bowling alley is not going to amaze you or wow you, but for the price it is a good value. It's clean enough (as clean as you'd expect a cheap bowling alley to be) and the service was generally friendly. On Wednesday nights it is $9 for two hours of unlimited bowling with shoes included, the only catch is you have to wait until leagues are over. There was good energy in the alley as most of the lanes were full until about 11pm, and the drinks at the bar are very cheap. This place will not change your life, but it will give you a couple hours of cheap fun! read more

Although this bowling alley is not as fancy as many of the newer ones, it is definitely a great place to stop in for a quick meal and/or a drink. The bar has a juke box and is not too crowded. You can enjoy a conversation with a group of friends or a date as you listen to personally selected music, eat, drink, and maybe bowl! For the record there is a US Bank ATM available on site as well... So if you're low on cash there's no excuse! You can play lottery, cash checks and get money orders if needed. 24 hour facility so let the fun and games be never ending! read more

I've been going to Madison Bowl for a long time now ever since the days of league bowling when I was at UC. Not much has changed at all in all the years but that's perfectly fine with me. Pricing is very fair for games & shoes and there are plenty of deals throughout the week. The bar & food is basic but exactly what you need at a bowling alley. The best part is that Madison Bowl is open 24 hours to satisfy any late night bowling craving. read more