Highland Park Bowl

"Highland Park Bowl makes for a great date spot for folks who prefer getting to know each other better over an activity rather than while sitting across a cramped table. The menu offers wood-fired pizzas, fries, burgers, and more, plus a solid range of cocktails, and there’s bar space to hang after a round or two of bowling. Plus, the best part about a date in Highland Park is the ability to walk around Figueroa after, stopping in at another bar or restaurant to prolong the evening if things go well." - Rebecca Roland, Matthew Kang

"Highland Park Bowl makes for a great date spot for first-time daters and longtime couples who prefer to bond over an activity rather than while sitting across a cramped table. The menu offers wood-fired pizzas, fries, burgers, and more, plus a solid range of cocktails, and there’s bar space to hang after a round or two of bowling. Plus, the best part about a date in Highland Park is the ability to walk around Figueroa after, stopping in at another bar or restaurant to prolong the evening if things go well. Check the calendar to see if there are comedy or burlesque nights on deck." - Rebecca Roland, Matthew Kang

"As anyone who’s watched Vanessa Hudgens’ 2006 music video “Say OK” knows, bowling alleys and a romantic night out are the ultimate combo. Which is why we love Highland Park Bowl, a relic from 1927 that got a major renovation several years back. You’ll find eight super shiny lanes here, plus comfortable leather couches and draft cocktails for you and your plus one to share. Make a reservation, then do something cute and cheesy, like bet the loser has to kiss the winner (or at least pay for a game)." - nikko duren, sylvio martins

"Drinking and bowling have gone hand-in-hand since the caveman era, and Highland Park Bowl does the combination better than anybody else. The historic space on Figueroa has been around since the 1920s, but after a big renovation a few years back, it's now a retro steampunk wonderland where bowling, drinking well-made cocktails, and eating very good pizza are required activities. If you do want to bowl, make sure you reserve well in advance." - brant cox, sylvio martins, nikko duren, kat hong, brett keating

"When your friend’s mailman’s metal band has a show at the bowling alley (true story), well, the mailman gets automatic bonus points, but All Star Bowling Center really scores. A live show at the bowling alley might seem kitsch, but it’s real. The decor is more or less frozen in time in every shade of green and ’retro feel’ here might just mean rough around the edges. What might lack in luster (broken A/C, chipped balls, dull lanes) makes up for it with inexpensive prices and a surplus of fun at your disposal - perfect for parties. Karaoke, pool tables, a video arcade, a “cozy and romantic” cocktail lounge pretty much spell out a big night of glitz. So don’t say we didn’t offer the hot tip." - Hype Type Studio & Steph Ashmore