What a nightmare. I could not wait to place a review on Yelp and tell everyone who reads this to avoid this place at all costs. The staff here was worse than rude, they were outright unfriendly and one of them was in fact quite mean. I was beyond offended when I was asked to "hurry up" after spending over $160 in bowling and refreshments (not to mention the several people we were with who also spent liberally thinking this would be a great family event). Â There weren't people waiting and there were empty lanes at the time. I didn't expect this low-class, rude treatment. Unquestionably, the management were on a power trip and just wanted to flex their authority. Pathetic in every sense of the word.
You have to understand, we are the target market for them. We're nice people, on vacation, prepared to spend plenty of money. We also brought some friends with the same mindset. I can't believe that we were treated this poorly.
Seating was poor and the equipment, while modern, was poorly maintained and disorganized. The rental shoes were still "moist" from the previous patron and made me want to throw up, however, don't let the Nazi staff catch you on the floor wearing "street shoes" or they will threaten you with expulsion from the facility.
I can't tell you how much I regret darkening the door of this establishment. Unless, for some freakish reason, you prefer sub-standard treatment, mean, unreasonable hosts, combined with expensive, poor value for your money, stay away.
Total fail. NEVER AGAIN.
My family of 5 got a wristband for all day rides at The Boardwalk and with it included a free game of bowling and shoe rentals. It's located across the street from the Boardwalk. From the outside this placed looked like a dive but once inside it was bright, clean and cozy. The guy at the front desk was friendly and inviting, got us our shoes and told us our lanes. They had a ton of different sized bowling balls and plenty to choose from. We had a great time here and will definitely be back. Night time bowling is only $4 a game on week days. Not bad at all.
Review Source:Almost every weekend after a walk on the beach, playing games and fooling around before the evening me and my family go there and bask in bowling,:):), the first remark - the question of why we need to train and slippery shoes in them when they can barely walk let alone a ball?? / a second remark is that my husband a couple of times to win :-)
Review Source:I've been going to this bowling alley for years... like my whole life really and have never been that happy with it but it's the only bowling alley in Santa Cruz and our family likes to bowl.
Well, I went for my 28th birthday last weekend (12 adults 2 children) wanted to make a reservation a head of time, $22 a person for 2 lanes, 1 game, shoes and unlimited fountain drinks. So I passed on the $308 bowling expense and went for the $6.25 a person and we waited two hours, getting there at 6pm. Mind you we have 3 year olds with us, not the funnest waiting experience (and they said it would be about an hour wait). Two hours later, its our turn to bowl, my husband walks up and says, 12 adults 2 children. So the kids use there own shoes, we only pay for 12 adults. Well some how the transfer between 12 adults and 2 kids didn't get passed on as 14 players. We get to the 8th frame and our games stop. My brother goes to the counter and asks, "Why did our game stop?" Lady says, "you didn't pay for everyone in your party, you have to pay for a new game now" so, it now being  close to 10am said no. So everyone gives there shoes back. I walk back from the restroom and ask, "what happened?" Its explained to me so I ask to talk to a manager.
THE MANAGER: "You didn't pay for all the people in your party, that's why your games stopped"
Me, "So we have to buy a whole new game, that doesn't make sense"
Manager, "No, you have to pay for the other two players"
Me, "wait, the kids?"
Manager, "Yes, you didn't tell us about them"
Me, "Well there is a miss-understanding, we did tell the other lady about the 3 year olds, they just didn't need shoes"
Manager, "well I don't know what to tell you"
Me, "Um, a free game, a refund, and apology"
Manager, "I guess I'm sorry"
Me, "Wow, I guess I won't be coming back"
Manager, "Well, than don't come back"
So, I'm very sad, this is the only bowling alley in Santa Cruz and the management could care less about how the customers are treated. I've worked in customer service for over 10 years and have never treated someone like this. I just hope, if you go, you have a more pleasant experience. But for me, I guess will be my last time. I've also written to the Santa Cruz Sea Side Company but haven't heard back. I hope to resolve this issue.
If I could I'd give this place no stars!!!!!!
This place sucks!!! Â
They recently changed their policy regarding bumpers - no bumpers for anyone over the age 10, no exceptions. Â For those of us who only bowl 3 or 4 times a year, throwing gutter balls wasn't our idea of a fun time. Â I had 6 kids with me, ages 10 - 13. Â The manager refused to allow us to use the bumpers. Â I explained we aren't hard-core bowlers and we need the bumpers to make it fun and knock some of the pins down. Â He said no. Â So I asked for a refund and we left. Â We went across the street to play Laser Tag. Â I explained to the guy at the laser tag place what happened at the bowling alley and that we had 50% off coupons for bowling. Â He gave us 50% off our Laser Tag. Â Laser Tag was awesome. Â Bowling was horrible and we won't be going back.
5 stars for the bar. The bartenders were really sweet and attentive and made some damned good drinks.
This review is lower because of the bowling. I stayed at a hotel across the street and my friend and I really wanted to go bowling. We headed over there our first night and were told to come back at 9:15 to reserve a lane. So we came back. And the lady told us they weren't accepting anymore reservations (It was 9:15) on the dot.
I asked her why she had told us to come back and she completely ignored me.
Next night we go BACK hoping that this bitch isn't there. She isn't, thankfully.
BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. The guy told us to come back; same time, 9:15. So we gave up and spent a lovely evening in the connected bar, got shitfaced, and did karaoke. But still, what the hell.
Also, the snacks from the little food place in the middle are YUMMY. Definitely get some if you get the (drunken) or just sober munchies. The poppers are a must try.
Marlene has been so rude to us the last 2 times that we've gone here. We will NOT be coming back. It is overpriced and the "service" is not service at all, but a bunch of rude kids who obviously dislike their jobs, and in turn take it out on unsuspecting customers. Other friends of mine have said that they have also experienced similar issues here.
Any bowling alley is better than this.
Good for families, parties, or just fun times!
I went here yesturday with my friend, and actually arrived just in time for their 50% off special. Each game was $2 a person, and $3.50 for shoes. We managed to get a few games in plus with the shoes for $15. Unfortunately I got charged Adult price, even though I'm under 18, but I must admit, the price was still a good deal! (compared to bowling in SF).
There's TV to watch, lots of places to sit, an arcade, a cafe, bar and outdoor seating! The bowling is directly one block up (or east) of the Boardwalk arcade! It was nice to get in a few bowls before heading across the street for a ride on the giant dipper.
friendly staff, and people. I would definately play again here
This is the place that the Beach Boardwalk tells you to have your kids' party.  I just wanted a place for our group to meet, have lunch, birthday cake and then head over to the Boardwalk together; we didn't want to bowl.  The woman I spoke with suggested we just make a reservation for our group of 20 in Coasters Cafe, which is basically, the Bar & Grill attached to the bowling alley.  After reading other reviews about what a divey party spot this is, I was really worried about where I was sending my friends and their kids to meet us.  BUT it was great- Coasters is totally adequate as a pizzeria/cafe and it's all very family friendly during the day.  We had the Giants game on, beer for the parents and  I brought a party table cloth, put a few tables together with some balloons and Voila- I had a kids birthday party!
The Staff were super helpful and nice and the food was SERIOUSLY tasty. Â We all liked it, even my very particular mother had no complaints ;0)
The only thing I have to say is that you could smell the mens' bathroom before you could see it, so i took my 6 year old boy into the cleaner women's restroom with me. Â But otherwise, we'd totally recommend it for family lunch or small party.
We went on a crazy busy Saturday night. The prices are good, and the place is fun. My Problem was how the bar kept over-serving the drunks next to me. Â My 10 and 12 year old daughters had to put up with hearing the F word shouted repeatedly, spilled food AND drinks, and a girl literally falling onto our laps. There is no excuse for that. I talked to the security guys - who did nothing. This was 7pm...so REALLY?
If you want to bowl - it will be fun. But don't expect much from management or security if things get dicey.
I went there almost 3 weeks back. It was a spur of the moment decision of crashing at this bowling alley at 10.30pm.
Prices were awesome. The place was big. Crowd was perfect. There was cheap beer. The screens were a little outdated but i scored 140 twice that night, so who cares!
I live in Sunnyvale so the drive all the way down this place sucks, BUT I would so totally go to this place again!
Wow, I did not know this place was here. When someone said, "let's go bowling", after beach v-ball, I said, huh?
Well across from the Boardwalk's arcade is this bowling alley. Don't do what I did, which was park miles away, causing anxiety attacks as to whether I dropped enough quarters in the street meter. Park BEHIND the bowling alley---now, that would be too easy.
It was a fun time. A couple of tequila shots, mixed with several pitchers of the brew pumped up enough cajones juice to land a few strikes (at least in our minds, anyways).
Drop by. Bowl. Karaoke-away with your fav Elton John song, or just get away from the board walk. Fun for the whole fam.
Solid bowling alley. Â Always pretty busy, but you can usually get a lane and get on fairly quickly. Â They have a bar and karaoke. Â Equipment is pretty new. Â Staff is friendly. Â Atomic bowling is good fun. Â Parking lot is kind of small, but oh well.
They have movie nights on Wednesdays where you pay $40 per lane. Â Never been, but it seems cool.
Oy, I feel terrible giving a 1 star, but this place really did deserve it. It was kind of deceptive because there was a nice patio outside, my friends and I were hungry, thirsty, and their menu posted outside looked great and super inexpensive...so why not? Once we sat down, our hopes and dreams of this place being awesome were shattered, lol.
It took a very long time to get our order in, service was very slow, then we waited around for 23 minutes (we timed it) for our beer. The place wasn't even that busy when we had arrived. We went up with our receipt to ask for our beer, and without an apology, we got an "oh, oops". 5 minutes later, we were finally brought our drinks, along with my one friends veggie burger. He asked for no onions and cucumbers and instead, they loaded it up with both. Not just a few slices here or there, but an entire giant onion cut up it seemed. Even though it was a veggie burger, it wasn't cooked all the way and was falling apart.
We waited for the rest of out food, about another 15 minutes after our one friend had received and ate his. The turkey melt was covered in Kraft Singles...gross! It's not even REAL cheese! The whole sandwich was covered in grease, and the onion rings tasted like old oil. It was really unfortunate because the patio was in an excellent location, right across the street from the beach and has a good menu, but the staff just seems to not care to be there.
We looked for the venue on Yelp on our phones, then realized that it was a bowling alley, not a restaurant. I can say that we won't be returning there ever again. Bummer because it looks like a cool spot.
Terrible service. I've been in multiple times where they've told me I cannot play another game because they are closing when its an hour and a half before they close. Change your website information if you don't want to stay late. Hire some people who care about there jobs and not leaving early. Wish there was another bowling alley in town
Review Source:Most of my friends know that despite being of Japanese descent, I can't stand karaoke. Â I always used to get in trouble in the past with Japanese business associates for not being a team player and going up to sing. Â Roy-san does not want to sing...no shite.
Anyway, a bar in a bowling alley is not what comes to mind on a fun or wild night of drinking, yet for some reason, I have found that I have ended up here for one reason or another on my wilder evenings in Santa Cruz.
Last night, after a particularly wild and fun night of drinking in Santa Cruz, my friends and I ended up coming here towards the very end. Â My friend Gabe actually sang a song and dedicated it to us and it was a most hilarious and fitting end to a particularly wild evening.
For a bowling alley bar...this place is A-OK!!!
Went here over the past weekend while visiting the boardwalk because we had a few coupons for free bowling or LASER tag or mini golf... etc. I had no particular attachment to bowling or minigolf, and when I got into the bar to buy a pitcher for the lanes, I noticed that the karaoke going on was particularly on point.
Tom - a 70 year white man busting out "baby got back" caught my attention.
The guy who put an inspired twist on Vanilla ice including beatboxing and scratching on the mic, nice work.
The old couple duet of "My Humps" really made things happen as well.
The quick trip to the bowling alley for a game or two turned into a 7 hour ordeal, with bachelorette parties, tater tots, multiple pitchers.
Friendly staff, clean bathroom, good lanes, automatic scoring, and chill people. Great bar in addition. Thumbs up.
Not a bad place to roll some frames with your buds after a day at The Boardwalk. My only gripe here is that I have had families glare at me for having beer at my lane. Yes, just for having beer.
Were we drunk? NO. Did we pound several pitchers? NO. We had beer with our nachos, because it sounded good. Still, evil eyes all around. Sad, since we were really well behaved. We know when we aren't.... because we have been before. (Well, not that bad in the past. Just loud!) This was not a "call a cab" kind of night in the least.
Aside from that, decent alley grub and a great location make this a pretty great spot. Karaoke in the bar isn't a bad deal either!
I have been coming here since I was just a wee one....and I am ashamed to say I had never been drinking while bowling... don't ask me why, but it's sad. Well last night I got my first taste and I think I might be a better bowler when I am wasted than when I am sober.
A group of us went, bought a few pitchers and we had a great time. And might I add a pitcher of Widmer is only $12 bucks. Score! It's also about the same per person for 2 games to bowl. Â No matter what if you like bowling you'll like the Boardwalk Bowl. Plus there is no other bowling alley close by..so you're kinda SOL.
Only downfall is they close at 1am.. I vote to stay open till at least 2am.
...despite the fact that the General Manager eats little children's souls, this place succeeds as a fun place to because of it's wonderful staff. One that fights with all their soul's might to make happy little decisions on behalf of the customers (despite upper managements resistance to smart decisions, their  inability to get their heads out of their asses and their insatiable appetites for infants! Oh yeah, they will eat your b-r-a-i-n-s!!!! (as well)
Rogelio is the martyred saint of the Bowling alley...all hail ROGELIO!
Fan Fan Fan
We came here one night after returning from winter break during glow in the dark bowl. It was the only time we got our elusive 4th roommate to come out and play with us.
Glow in the Dark blowing was everything I remembered it to be from awkward junior high birthday parties at the Kabuki Bowling alley (sadly gone now) We weren't really prepared for glow in the dark, but we sure as hell had a lot of fun trying to spruce ourselves up to glow a bit more. Someone should always have a highlighter in the bag for this reason.
All in all, this is a pretty standard bowling alley, not super cheap, but not outrageously expensive. I don't go bowling very often, but would come back to this place if I were even in the mood again while in Santa Cruz.
I came here on Friday for a team builder event. We do it big at my company (not THAT big but hey it's pretty good compared to most lol), we actually took a tour bus from San Jose to Santa Cruz to celebrate the end of our quarter. The bowling alley is pretty clean and for a Friday there were a lot of lanes available. The feel here is the closest to family friendly that you're going to get at any bowling alley. Even though there's a bar available I didn't see any wandering drunks, points for that! Since everything was put on the expense report I have no idea how much a game cost BUT I did order some drinks and food for 5 people and the bill was under 30.
On to the food and drink....
There's a patio area that you pass by before entering the bowling alley. I'm not sure if this is part of Boardwalk Bowl or if it has an entirely different name but whatever it is we had the best time there!! The drinks are pretty cheap AND they have a full bar. We ordered long islands, blue Hawaiians, shots, and had glasses of wine all in a span of an hour. There's nothing like drinking and passing out on the beach. My favorite. Scratch that... having work pay me for drinking and passing out on the beach is my favorite!
I'm not much of a bowler but when I can have a Corona while I bowl, I think it's pretty alright!
We played on a Monday night  and it was 1/2 price.  So, not  a bad night of entertainment for $5 bucks.
Also had to buy some socks. Â Real cute anklets with bowling balls! Â ( I posted a pic)
I would like to come back and check out Coasters that is connected to the bowl. Â
Alot of karaoke going on in there!
I'm partial to the bar. Â Coasters is the kind of place where you can just be yourself and have a good time. Â They've got yummy food to munch, fun bar staff, regulars that aren't snobby, tourists who came to play, live music on Friday nights, karaoke several nights a week and fantastic specials.
Not to mention during the summer when you can sit out on the patio, listen to music and people watch with the beach in the background! Â
I love that every time I go there I see someone I know and haven't seen in a long time and I usually meet a new friend too. Â It's definitely a great place for people watching, partying, group events and good times!
I'm a terrible bowler...so I couldn't comment on that portion.
For a bowling alley, it's a bowling alley. I mean, it's hard to mess up bowling. The shoes are stylish and slippery, the balls range from light to heavy and the pins are, well, white.
But as a karaoke lounge, well! That's where the fun begins! You know how people love to watch car wrecks? I mean, something about destruction and burning in flames appeals to the human nature. That's kind of like the karaoke bar at the Bowl. Granted, there are some great singers that come to just jam a bit to their favorite songs too. But MAN, sometimes you get people up there that are WAAAAY to drunk to be up there and that's the beauty of this place because they just keep singing.
Then you have people like Tom who's a regular there. He's probably in his late 60's and has been coming (or so I've been told) to sing for about 20 years. He used to sing Sinatra but has moved on to hip hop songs. Last night I heard Funky Cold Medina and It's Getting Hot in Here. Classic. He's actually not bad once you get over the surprise.
Still, it's really fun to get a good group of people together and sing some karaoke over a pitcher or two. It's fun and entertaining for the whole group! And way safer than car crashes!
The bar is definitely the highlight spot for this joint, particularly on karaoke night...especially if you're a fat local redneck douche who tries to punk non-redneck people from diverse metropolitan areas. Â Seriously, you're local in a fucking bowling alley along the beach on like a monday night in summer. Â For a second I thought I was in Idaho, watching a beligerent Larry the Cable guy peek over the urinal wall while my friend was taking a piss. Â My friend got out of there before Larry did the ankle rub and shoe tap code...
Review Source:Really loud spandex lovin' eyeliner wearing acoustic heavy metal band? Oh yeah. Really cute bartender getting me a krunk on heavy handed cheap drinks. Yeah, yeah. Having my friend Vicki talk with an Irish accent and pretend to be an Irish lesbian and exciting two tourists from Kentucky. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.Thinking I'm "having a moment" with a guy who looks like a hobo, only to be told, "oh I don't think so" by my now very best friend Deirdre. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.Yeah. Bowling. Not so much. Drinking? Much.
Review Source:I don't know how to even start this review. Â After our tour of the Boardwalk and the closing of the arcade, we wondered across the street and found this bowling alley. Â I was quickly drawn to the sign and the sounds of Karaoke advertised. Â Hey, wait, that is TONIGHT! Â The evidence of it was not hard to find. Â Just beyond the smokey outside glass there were couples crooning and singles belting as well as a homeless-type woman gyrating to the tunes while occasionally nursing a beer.
I was drawn inside after surveying the lousy pinball options. Â We quickly ordered a couple pints and sat back to take in the locals belting out their favorites. Â No matter what was sung, the homeless woman rotated her hips to the beat even throwing in some hand signals when appropriate.
When our beers were drained and we contemplated leaving, we decided to bowl a few games near closing time. Â We ended up having a great time.
I can't bowl worth shit, but I guess if you're going to add alcohol who cares? Although you ever wonder about the sanity of combining booze and having people huck heavy objects around? This was the site of a company team building/motivational watchamacallit activity and was the beginning of a night of getting completely trashed.
Review Source:I am a huge fan of Bowling Alley bars. Huge.
Coasters Bar and Grill is located inside this place. I CANNOT go to Santa Cruz and not stop here...either for 1 drink, or dozens of drinks and food. Their food is your standard fried whatever bar food, but it just seems better here.
I drive, so their parking lot is waaayyy convenient, especially considering it is right across the street from the $10 public parking monster.
Any bartender I have ever had here is great. They know your from out of town immediately, but still treat you like family. The locals go here to get their drink on, so you know the prices are cool.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!!! LET ME DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE BEER TAP ON MY FAR RIGHT!!!! LET'S ALL GIVE AN OLD FASHIONED WELCOME TO NEWCASTLE ALE!!!!
Some pints of those and some overflowing shots of Jagermeister, and I can finally say "HAPPY FUCKING MOTHER'S DAY!"
Here's the breakdown:
1 star for being a bar in a bowling alley
1 star for Newacastle on tap
1 star for better than most fried bar food
1 star for welcoming out-of-towners
1 star for aces parking
Now who the fuck is gonna drive me home?
Seriously, nothing warms my heart more than rented shoes, loud music, beers and bowling.
I have gone with my family a few times and loved every minute of it.
I wish I could get a group together and Bowl for New Years, because they have a light show at mid-night. Or maybe I'll do this for my birthday -- mmm cake and beer and strobe lights.
Also when its your birthday, they give you a giant kingpin and a marker and all your friends can sign it.
If I had a better choice of spending a New Year's eve than this place, I would.
This 26 Lane Bowling Alley with a up to date scoreboard screen and computerized score tracker in the floor made it appealing for the casual bowlers just to have fun without worrying on how to keep score. The place is not bad with the long time bowlers there reminding you of the bowler's etiquette. Never knew there was one until then.
As in like you can't bowl until your neighbor finished or walked off. Can't walk in front of the path of others. Ha! Good luck with that one if you are off balance. Oh yeah.... don't use their bowling ball! They might accuse of stealing or damaging their possessions. Ay Caramba!
Getting those etiquette out of the way, the game average out to be $4 per game per person and shoe rental is $2.50 per person. Not a total hicksville or some back-country activity. Been to plenty of bowling alley, this is the first one that people can take it too seriously.
There is another for birthday parties and other social events that can be held at this place for fun. There's a bar with an open mike karaoke machine. One of my co-worker wants to do it, but we're too wasted to even try.
Other than the serious mood of competitive bowlers in this place, it's not bad of a fun. Although I think alot of us would rather do something else than have bowling in mind on a New Year's eve.
Yes, I know... good luck at finding a girl to kiss when clock hits 12.
Can you even have more fun in your own town?- classic bowling, every girl loves a sport where the shoes come with the activity. cold beers right on the table, hilarious music to get your game going. And then to top it all off- karaoke right in the bar. Nothing upscale or pretentious about this kind of fun.
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