Entry No. 51 — the Los Angeles file — filed under: arcade-play
Highland Park Bowl
LA's oldest bowling alley, opened in 1927, when its upstairs doctor's offices wrote Prohibition-era prescriptions for medicinal whiskey that patrons filled and drank in the lanes below. A 2016 restoration by the 1933 Group uncovered the original Jazz Age decor, rebuilding chandeliers from salvaged bowling-pin and mechanical parts above eight vintage lanes. There's a full bar and a kitchen turning out wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas.
The story
In 1927, Prohibition was in full swing, but Highland Park Bowl had a legal loophole built into its blueprints. The second floor was packed with doctors' offices. If you wanted a drink, you didn't look for a back-alley trapdoor—you walked upstairs, got a prescription for 'medicinal whiskey,' came down to the lane, and drank while rolling rocks down Brunswick-built wooden tracks.
Decades later, after years of bad remodels concealed the original bones, the 1933 Group stepped in for a 2016 restoration. They stripped back drywall and suspended ceilings to reveal the original Jazz Age trusses, painted murals, and vintage mechanical pinsetters. Instead of hauling the old guts away, fabricators salvaged the internal iron hardware and vintage wooden bowling pins, reassembling them into massive, glowing chandeliers hung directly above the eight active lanes.
Today, the space operates as LA's oldest surviving bowling alley, maintaining a dark, exposed-gear aesthetic where wood-fired Neapolitan pizza and craft cocktails sit next to open Brunswick lane machinery.
What it's like
Stepping in off North Figueroa drops you into high-ceilinged, ambiently lit timber architecture that feels equal parts speakeasy and industrial repair shop. With only eight lanes, getting actual bowling time on a weekend night can take patience; book a lane online in advance or put your name down early. If the lanes are full, walk straight to the bar or grab a table—the dining area takes walk-ins easily, letting you eat pizza and drink under the exposed pinsetters without throwing a frame.
The move: Book a vintage lane under the bowling-pin chandeliers, share a wood-fired pizza, and bowl a couple of games with cocktails.
📍 Before you go Only eight lanes and very popular; lanes are often a wait or worth checking ahead. The bar/restaurant areas are the easy walk-in option.
- 📍 Highland Park
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 5621 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Walt's Bar — Double down on vintage analog gaming by taking a five-minute drive to Walt's for cold beer and classic pinball.
- Heritage Square Museum — Pair Highland Park Bowl's 1920s interior with a walkthrough of rescued 19th-century Victorian buildings just down the Arroyo Seco.
- Revenge Of — Trade 1920s mechanical hardware for a comic shop hiding an industrial sci-fi spaceship backroom ten minutes away.
Good to know
How many bowling lanes are there, and do I need a reservation?
There are only eight lanes. Lane rentals fill up fast on evenings and weekends, so reserving online through their website ahead of time is recommended if you plan to bowl.
Can I visit just for food and drinks without bowling?
Yes. The bar and restaurant seating operate independently of the lanes, serving wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and cocktails for walk-in guests.
What is the story behind the Prohibition whiskey prescriptions?
During Prohibition in the 1920s, patrons visited doctors' offices on the building's second floor to obtain prescriptions for medicinal whiskey, which they then legally purchased and consumed while bowling downstairs.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · laist.com · savingplaces.org · Official site · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-06-23