Ethan BrownFor some classic fun with your friends and family, you can never go wrong with bowling. This amazing sport brings a sense of camaraderie and friendly competition as you show off your skill in handling a bowling ball.
Lucky for us, Ottawa has plenty of bowling centres where you can enjoy this sport and more. Let’s quickly discuss the best alleys no matter whether you are a seasoned pro or a casual bowler.
West Park Bowling
Website: https://www.westparkbowling.com/
Address: 1205 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2Z8, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-728-0933
Operating hours:
12:00 PM – 9:00 PM (SUN-THURS)
12:00 PM – 2:00 AM (FRI and SAT)
West Park Bowling in Ottawa is a cherished institution with a rich history dating back to 1946. Located on Wellington Street West, this classic bowling alley has stood the test of time and offers a delightful blend of nostalgia and modern amenities.
What I love here is the warm hospitality of the friendly staff, who are ready to guide you through a memorable bowling experience. Despite their age, the lanes here are well maintained, and the vintage scoring systems add a nostalgic charm to the place.
But it’s not just about the pins and strikes here, as West Park Bowling is a community hub where friends and families spend entire days having some fun.
There are even live music performances here to hype the crowd every Thursday night!
| Pro tip: You can save a lot of money by availing of West Park Bowling’s Night Life Bowling rates. Starting at 7 PM, you can rent and play one of their bowling lanes with five friends for two hours for only $90. |
Orleans Bowling Centre
Website: https://www.orleansbowling.com/
Address: 885 Taylor Creek Dr, Ottawa, ON K4A 0Z9, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-837-7000
Operating hours:
9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (MON-WED)
9:00 AM – 11:00 PM (THURS)
9:00 AM – 1:00 AM (FRI and SAT)
10:30 AM – 10:00 PM (SUN)
Orleans Bowling Centre is a beloved spot for bowling enthusiasts and families alike. Established in 1989, this bowling alley on Taylor Creek Drive has been a beloved part of the local community for decades.
Currently, this spacious venue boasts 32 lanes, each with its own automatic bumpers. These bumpers are designed to prevent any gutterballs from occurring, so beginners can still have a fun time while competing against seasoned players.
Beyond the lanes, you’ll also find a fully licensed bar, billiards tables, and dart boards. That’s why whether you’re aiming for a friendly bowling competition or simply enjoying the laid-back atmosphere, this bowling centre is always a fantastic choice!
| Pro tip: If you have a kid who’s interested in bowling, sign them up for the Orleans Bowling Centre’s Youth Bowling Club! This club is open to children between the ages of 4 and 19, and every participant will receive the guidance of experienced coaches to help them become better bowlers. |
Merivale Bowling Centre
– Photo credit: jewelsiet
Website: https://merivalebowlingcentre.com/
Address: 1916 Merivale Rd, Nepean, ON K2G 1E8, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-228-9190
Operating hours:
10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (SUN-THURS)
10:00 AM – 12:00 AM (FRI and SAT)
Merivale Bowling Centre, located in Nepean, is a lively and inclusive entertainment hub for all ages. Here, there’s always something fun you can try, even if you’re not a big fan of bowling.
To begin, this bowling center boasts 48 lanes equipped with computerized scoring. With automated scoring systems, gone are the days where you had to manually keep track of your scores, leading to faster and more exciting games.
Aside from its bowling alleys, Merivale Bowling Centre also has its own arcade, where you can play both classic and modern arcade machines. It even has its own restaurant, so you can spend an entire afternoon here without leaving its doors!
| Pro tip: On Friday nights and weekends, Merivale Bowling Centre holds a special event called Rock’N’Bowling. This exhilarating cosmic bowling experience features glow-in-the-dark bowling lanes and neon-coloured lights that will elevate your games to the next level. This experience only costs $7.99 per person, so make sure to try it at least once! |
Galaxie Bowling
– Photo credit: lenka_travel_adventure
Website: https://www.galaxieaylmer.com/liguesen.html
Address: 90 Rue du Patrimoine, Gatineau, QC J9H 3P4, Canada
Contact details: +1 819-682-2695
Operating hours:
12:00 PM – 10:00 PM (MON-THURS)
12:00 PM – 11:00 PM (FRI)
11:00 AM – 11:00 PM (SAT)
11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (SUN)
Located in the nearby town of Gatineau, Galaxie Bowling is an amazing bowling centre you can visit across the Ottawa River. It’s famous for its vibrant atmosphere and entertaining ambience, which you definitely wouldn’t want to miss.
This spacious bowling centre boasts twenty-four gleaming lanes that are divided into three distinct bowling games. Currently, there are twelve 5-pin lanes, eight 10-pin lanes, and four duckpin lanes available here.
All lanes are equipped with huge display screens that accurately track each player’s current scores. Aside from bowling lanes, Galaxie Bowling also has fifteen video lottery terminals if you’re feeling a bit lucky during your visit.
| Pro tip: Galaxie Bowling is accepting reservations for birthday parties and other special events. The party package includes an hour of bowling and access to the private party room. You can call their contact number for more details on pricing and package options. |
Kemptville Bowling
– Photo credit: davinajoseph
Website: https://kemptvillebowling.wordpress.com/public-bowling/
Address: 291 44, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-258-3121
Operating hours:
4:00 PM – 10:00 PM (FRI)
1:30 PM – 10:00 PM (SAT)
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM (SUN)
Distance from Ottawa CBD: 30 minutes
Should you ever find yourself visiting the lower outskirts of Ottawa, be sure to check out Kemptville Bowling. Located in Kemptville, this friendly establishment offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere to both locals and town visitors alike.
This bowling centre has a total of twelve 5-pin bowling lanes available for use. All of them are equipped with enhanced automatic scoring systems and large flatscreens that showcase engaging animations whenever someone hits a spare or strike.
Instead of charging per game, Kemptville Bowling charges $35 per hour of play. To get here quickly from the Ottawa CBD, exit the city via Queensway and make your way towards the Veterans Memorial Highway, which goes straight to Kemptville.
| Pro tip: Interested in showing off your bowling skills? Then sign up for one of Kemptville Bowling’s bowling leagues! Their league sessions take place between the months of September and April. All visitors are free to join regardless of their age and gender, so don’t miss out! |
Anik Bowling Hall
– Photo credit: fco.pictures
Website: https://salleanik.com/
Address: 975 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Gatineau, Quebec J8Z 1W8, Canada
Contact details: +1 819-776-3535
Operating hours:
10:00 AM – 11:00 PM (MON-WED)
10:00 AM – 12:00 AM (THURS-SAT)
19:00 AM – 6:00 PM (SUN)
Another amazing bowling centre you can visit across the Ottawa River is Anik Bowling Hall, also located in Gatineau. Designed as an entertainment hub, this place offers a tonne of other fun activities outside of bowling.
In total, there are 48 modern bowling lanes to be found here. Twenty-four are designed for 5-pin bowling, twelve lanes for 10-pin bowling with small bowling balls, and another twelve for 10-pin bowling that uses large bowling balls.
Beyond bowling, visitors can also enjoy the billiard tables and video lottery machines here. Anik Bowling Hall also has its own bar, where you can get a couple of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to celebrate the good times with your friends and family.
| Pro tip: Anik Bowling Hall has two beater rooms available if you want to host a private party or event here. The first room can accommodate up to 50 people, while the second can host gatherings of up to 70 people. Both rooms are adjacent to the bowling lanes, so you and your friends won’t have any difficulties playing a quick bowling game. |
Centre Francophone de Vanier
– Photo credit: liamthesaint
Website: https://bowlontario5pin.ca/
Address: 270 Avenue Marier, Ottawa K1L 5P8
Contact details: +1 613-746-0611
Operating hours: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM (MON-SAT)
The Centre Francophone de Vanier is run by a non-profit organization that serves the Francophone residents and visitors of Ottawa.
Located in Vanier, this community hub aims to promote cultural exchange through its community activities for its visitors.
Part of its efforts to promote community activities is through its own bowling centre that’s currently managed by Bowl Ontario 5 Pin. The well-maintained 5-pin bowling lanes are suitable for all ages, making them an excellent choice for family bonding.
Furthermore, the Centre Francophone de Vanier also hosts other fun activities like basketball and free movie screenings. So if you’re interested in hanging out and meeting with new people, make sure to stop by here sometime!
| Pro tip: If you are or if you know someone above the age of 55, you can sign up for the Bowl Ontario 5 Pin’s Club 55 bowling program. This is a special program for bowlers aged 55 and above and is all about encouraging members to stay active, make new friends, and enjoy the game of 5-pin bowling. The club is open to everyone, regardless of their skill level! |
Elmdale Lawn Bowls Club
– Photo credit: _romick47
Website: https://www.elmdalelawnbowling.com/
Address: 1 MacFarlane Ave, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2P5, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-722-2205
Operating hours:
10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (TUES-SAT)
10:00 AM – 8:30 PM (SUN and MON)
Come visit Elmdale Lawn Bowls Club if you’re interested in trying something different from 5-pin or 10-pin bowling. Located within the serene Civic Hospital district, this place offers a delightful escape for lawn bowling enthusiasts.
In case you didn’t know, lawn bowling is an outdoor sport that uses smaller, hand-sized balls without any holes. Its rules are quite similar to indoor 5-pin bowling, as your objective is to also roll the ball down the lane to knock down all five pins.
Here, players of all skill levels are welcome, so don’t be afraid to try out this sport once in a while. In fact, their veteran lawn bowling players are keen on teaching the sport so much that they offer free coaching classes to newcomers!
| Pro tip: If you’re in need of an event venue for your party or team-building activity, Elmdale Lawns Bowls Club allows the use of its facilities for a day for only $450. This includes access to their clubhouse, bowling greens, and lawn bowling equipment. Some of their club members will also assist you in supervising the event and teaching your guests how to play lawn bowling. |
