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    South Boston Candlepin

    4.1 (59 reviews)
    ModerateBowling, Bars
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    South Boston Candlepin Photos

    SOUTH BOSTON CANDLEPIN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - South Boston Candlepin

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    Candle pins

    We had such a great time bowling here! We are from out of state and we're looking for a special activity to do and found South Boston candlepin bowling. We did not have the food so I can't report on that but service was great. We ordered our spot online and was able to get a good rate for five of us for an hour. The environment is very much like a bowling alley. One thing I did notice is that it's very old school. You pick your own shoes, you have to press the button to clear your lane and you keep score yourself. Not a big deal and a good opportunity for the kids to learn how to manually score a bowling game. Seems like a fairly popular place for the locals. One thing to me, just keep an eye on the prices as they do change after 5 PM.

    Not accurate but I'm new to this scoring but their QR code is helpful!
    Kourtney B.

    "What the hell are you doing in SOUTHIE?!" asked the incredulous locals next to us. I didn't tell them we're tourists, but my traveling companion is much more chatty and much less street smart. But these folks seem nice and not like they're about to mug us, so I let it slide. What are we doing in Southie? Trying out Candlepin bowling of course! Their confusion was not lessened in the slightest, baffled how two tourists ended up in their neighborhood in this locals only kind of spot. While I currently live in San Diego, I grew up in a small Midwest town with a bowling alley. You know the ones with funky lighting that's dim but too bright at the same time, well worn shoes, balls you're pretty sure are older than your parents, and the ugliest carpet you've ever seen? That was one of my favorite places to go. It wasn't fancy but it was fun. My family looks a bit different these days- dead, older, bum backs, and living in different states across the country. But one is never too old to try to crush their mother in whatever slightly sporty competition we can find, hence our evening trying our hand at Candlepin. Even flanked by other businesses, it's not hard to spot the Southie Bowl mural on the side. It's slightly worn, like the interior, so you know this spot has been open for decades. Once inside I was surprised to see it wasn't packed, but maybe the rain kept the crowd away. I'd made a reservation online ahead of time since it was a Saturday night, but because there was room we got to start our hour of bowling early. Worked out perfectly actually because at 9 the normal lights went out and they turned on the fun lights. Getting to do a little halfsies of that was a fun little perk. But before you get to the bowling you have to pick your shoes and your balls. Unlike traditional bowling with the different ball weights and finger holes of varying sizes that your fat little fingers get stuck in so every time you jam your fingers - candlepin balls here appeared to be the same, except the patterns on the outside that I loved. Also unlike traditional electronic scoring, at least at most alleys, here the score is kept with pencil and paper. And the scoring system? Look it up before you start playing because the game is a bit different than the bowling you're probably most familiar with. For starters you bowl three times, the pins aren't swept away between rolls, and your score is kept a bit differently. Did we bother to learn how to keep score accurately? We sure didn't. We were really going by who knocked down the most pins. Because given the sheer amount of gutter balls we rolled we were pretty sure we weren't going to be rolling a bunch of strikes. It was hard enough to get a single spare! We bowled, we laughed, and we wondered why Candlepin is merely an obscure New England tradition while we languish out west with regular bowling. Our hour flew by. If we hadn't had such a long day of sightseeing we could have bowled another hour. I won! And by that I mean I knocked over the most pins. Even better was in the morning we didn't wake up all sore, with aching muscles we often forget we have. No jammed fingers! All we had were fun memories and a "new" thing to tell everyone about. Are there other candlepin bowling alleys in Boston? Sure, but I loved this one. The seating was comfortable, the shoes weren't gross, and the vibe was old school but not ratty. If I was local I'd be a regular. Instead I'll just have to settle for coming by to bowl whenever I'm visiting. (See you in 2024 if I'm lucky!) Any top 10 list of things to do in Boston really should include candlepin, maybe even top 5. I'd also say to make the trip to Southie for your game. If your childhood was anything like mine, oh the nostalgia you'll feel walking into this place. A time warp of the best kind!

    Similar to bowling. But much less stressful. Ha. Ha.
    Mike M.

    In town for an overnight. Hurricane Henri caused some disruption. Our friends are in the same boat. One went to school with Mac and Donna who live a half a block from this place. We ended up there yesterday afternoon for a few hours of candlestick bowling. Oh my what fun. This place is (dare I say) "vintage". It the folks are super chill and everyone has a good vibe. They have a dozen lanes, full bar amd a dart board section. What else can you ask for? The game is fun and a bit frustrating at the same time. But if you're hanging out looking for a fun way to kill a few hours, have a beer and toss some balls at the pins!

    Frank B.

    Absolutely fantastic old school bowling ally found in Southie. I must admit I found this place watching Anthony Bourdain "No Reservations" but damn this place is the type of dump I enjoy frequenting in my travels. This establishment is a place where real locals enjoy themselves and there easy to spot with there thick south Bashton accents and a stupid look on there faces like there in there in the midst of asking a dumb question. As for the bowling the experience it was fantastic. Old school pins that Aren't exactly to knock down. With these micro balls that you grab with your hands and roll. Far different than 99% of the bowling alleys in America where you grab an enlarged ball and stuffing three fingers into and throw your arm & shoulder out with. Fun place to take the family or date. A must for any local or if your in Boston as a tourist. Frank Booth " DOUBLE THUMBS UP" award.

    Lanes
    Howard B.

    First things first .... what an absolute blast playing candlepin again !! I grew up playing candlepin bowling in Southbridge MA and I don't think I had played in 45 years! I have been thinking about my afternoon at South Boston Bowlarama with my daughter frequently since visiting a few weeks back. Clearly, I enjoyed myself. My visit really brought me back to my candlepin bowling youth. South Boston Bowlarama was featured in an episode of Anthony Bourdain. This is why I put it on a list of places to hit ... mostly bars =) ... when I made a recent trip to Boston. Thank you, Anthony (RIP). I received great service that was friendly and efficient on my visit. The bowling alley was clean and well maintained. The lanes were well stocked with balls. You need to keep score yourself here, which was refreshing. There were beers and snacks available. I had a Narragansett or 2 that really hit the spot. In summary, South Boston Bowlarama was no frills but was well run... and I am looking forward to my next visit!

    Really interesting bowling experience. Don't come here expecting nice lanes or computers to keep score...everything is old school here and you just need to embrace it. Don't expect the most outwardly friendly service but they do treat their customers well. This place has candlestick bowling which uses thinner pins and smaller balls. You also get 3 rolls instead of 2 because it's harder. Getting them all on the first roll is a strike, second is a spare, third is just 10. Keeping score is done all by eye and hand. You count how many pins are left up and then you keep score on paper (so make sure someone knows the scoring rules, though don't expect too many spares or strikes). To reset the pins, you push a silver button on the side of the place that holds the balls. They DO NOT serve food here but you are welcome to bring whatever food you want here which is a nice perk. They do have both bottled beer and beer on draft. They offer a $20/person for 2 hour deal which I would highly recommend...more than enough time to get several games in. I will definitely be back.

    Glorious and ghetto.

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    4 months ago

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    5 months ago

    A must stop every time i'm in boston. Its very fun and has a very cozy lived in vibe. Staff have always been great

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    1 year ago

    Charming and authentic atmosphere, very courteous staff, and extremely reasonable pricing

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Fun for every age! Easy online lane booking, lots of lanes, we had a blast. Even bought a sweatshirt

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    7 years ago

    Cool atmosphere, good beer, cheap prices, friendly workers. Recommend! 20 lanes in total, much larger than it looks from the street.

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    6 years ago

    Retro, clean, cool, lots of character. I can't recommend it enough. Great experience.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - South Boston Candlepin

    Review Highlights - South Boston Candlepin

    We knew nothing about candlepin bowling until we moved here and were introduced to this great establishment.

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    Gray’s Hall

    Gray’s Hall

    4.9
    (52 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    You must order the kale salad. I am not a kale salad person, yet I have dined here three times in…read morethe last week to eat the kale salad and am already planning my next visit. You know when you're eating a kale salad and the pieces are too big and you're kind of cramming them into your mouth and then the salad dressing is all over your face? This is NOT that salad! The kale is perfectly chopped so you can enjoy it with just your fork as you talk to your friend/spouse/date or just read your book. The dressing is such perfection, and the perfect amount, no gloopiness here! Crunchy breadcrumbs add magical texture and then there's a shower of finely grated gouda cheese on top. Have you ever read a good book and as you're reading it, you're so into it that you don't want it to end? So you slow down your reading speed to make it last a little longer? That's how I feel about this salad. There are other delicious items on the menu, I saw someone eating the burger that looked so good, I also want to try the Brussels but the call of the salad siren is too strong. Everyone is super welcoming and friendly, especially Catherine, and the kitchen team even shared the dressing recipe with me. Excellent wine list, casual and cozy space with twinkle lights, a lot of bar/counter seating, great date spot. Also attached/sister company to American Provisions I believe (great spot in Southie for sandwiches, cheeses, wines, pastries, rare food items).

    This is one of those spots that I want to keep on the down low because I don't want it to become…read moretoo popular...but I have to give Gray's Hall their flowers. I absolutely ADORE this place. It's one of my top 3 places in all of Boston. The vibes, the food, the wine, the prices, EVERYTHING is 10/10. This is one of those places where I feel at peace because I feel like my money was 100% well-spent. The prices are fair, and I don't feel like I'm being taken advantage of. And the FOOD, the food is exquisite. My favorite time to go is on Tuesdays for the $1 oyster deal, definitely my favorite $1 oyster deal in the city. They mostly have small plates and a few large plates, but you seriously can't go wrong with anything on the menu. And the wine options, amazinggggggg. Gray's is a true gem!

    Photos
    Steak Frites + Orange Wine!
    Steak Frites + Orange Wine!
    $1 oysters on Tuesdays! The best!
    $1 oysters on Tuesdays! The best!
    Gray’s Hall

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    The Playwright

    The Playwright

    2.9
    (58 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Came here for dinner for the first time with a couple of friends. Hubby and I ordered their…read morebuffalo loaded fries, a spicy chicken burger, pressed veggie melt, and a couple of drinks. Total came out to approximately $80 (not including tip). What's Hot - Menu. Pretty good variety. There's something for everyone, including vegans (for the most part). Specifically for vegans, they do not appear to have vegan cheese. They recently added loaded fries to their menu. - Quality. We tried their buffalo loaded fries, which definitely a good kick of spiciness. There was a good amount of buffalo mozzarella cheese and chicken. Their fries are slightly crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside. I really enjoyed my pressed veggie sandwich. There were whole veggies, such as broccoli, with a good amount of cheese melted between all the veggies. I liked that it was not a mashed patty. The sourdough bread was not tart (which I prefer), soft, and not too greasy. No skimping on the ingredients either. Their mozzarella bites appetizer is good, not overly breaded, and cheesy/stringy. All of us enjoyed our meals. - Service. We showed up without reservations on a Friday night when it was cold and rainy, and they were able to seat us right away. We tried several other restaurants before getting here, and we would have had to wait at least one hour, because we did not have reservations, even though those restaurants clearly had open tables. Our waitress was helpful. She answered all questions she had and was able to provide us contextual helpful info (i.e., what she's tried from the menu, what she liked and why, flavor level, etc...). She paid attention to detail. One of our friends hates pickles and specifically asked for no pickles with his burger. This may seem like a minor detail, but if a staffer cannot pay attention to detail in the service industry, that is not a good indication. - Price. Good value for money, especially given the quality of food and portions. - Portions. Good amount and enough to get one full on one dish. - Location. Conveniently located in downtown Boston around many other shops and restaurants. - Layout. At the front, there's a pretty large bar area, including high tables and chairs, with booths and smaller tables towards the back. They appear to be able to accommodate large groups and smaller parties, including individuals. What's Not - Acoustics. It's pretty loud inside and sound carries very easily, so it's difficult to carry a conversation. Final Answer Worth returning.

    I got two cocktails from here and loved both! The "down cape" was very pretty and tasty. I also…read moreenjoyed the "starstruck" drink. The restaurant is very large and has plenty of seating. The servers and bartenders are all very nice. My only complaint is that some of the things on the menu are not actually available. I tried to order a sangria but no luck.

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    The Playwright
    PW nachos
    PW nachos
    Buffalo loaded fries

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    Buffalo loaded fries

    South Boston Candlepin - bowling - Updated July 2026

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