So my friends and I are walking down the street after dinner. My friend points out to our friend (who is in from out of town) that this building is a bowling alley. And I'm all, "no shit! I had no idea! Let's go bowling!" And we did. When we walked in, we were a little mystified by the old school set up. Self scoring, locker rooms, etc. League play was just finishing up, but the woman working the bar made us feel totally welcome, so we changed our shoes (she even gave us socks! mine were brand new - it still had the plastic thingy on them), got a drink, picked some tunes on the jukebox, and ten minutes later we had our very own lane, complete with self scoring. And no, we didn't cheat! This is a small thing, but I did see some blind people in here bowling when we came in. They made use of the bumpers, but I thought it was so sweet they give them a place to play just like everyone else. What's not sweet? That they bowled better than me. Sigh. (Though my second game improved!) (But still not as good as theirs.) But where else can you have a fun night out for less than $10? In this economy, this place is a gem! Timberlanes, you're like the ultimate dive bar of bowling alleys. And I love it! read more

Can't get anymore old school than this place here. We had a little going away party one of our Navy Recruiters and this is the only place where the bar(who bowls without having little booze?) opens early. $2.50 per game $3.00 per shoes $3.00 per beer And you get to keep your own score? Of course I had to keep the score being the only asian in the party but needless to say, I still won 1 out of 3. And no, I didn't cheat. Honor, Courage, Commitment. That's our motto biznitch. Word. Don't expect comso bowling in the place. read more

I heart everything about this place. No real "perks", just good old fashion fun! My favorite three things are listed below. 8 lanes all original wood, -which seem to carry the ball better -they actually take care of the floors You get to keep your own score, -which means you can throw a few practices balls without getting charged -it keeps your brain in check -keeps lazy yuppies out Cheap drinks -no frilly frozen drinks holding up the line -drink moderately all night and not spend a fortune The clients seemed to be semi-the normal divey bowling alley type, but the majority were late 20-mid 30 crowd. There are two rooms off to the side with balls, lockers, and bathrooms. The front room has 12lbish and up and I found I had to go to the backroom for my ball. If I hadn't asked my arm would've been killing me! The nights I've been there bowling was under 2$ per game, but they have leagues so make sure you call ahead to see what time the league ends. If you get there before league ends you can grab a seat at the bar, shoot darts, or play video games. As an added bonus thanks to the IL smoking ban, you can actually hang out all night and NOT feel like you're suffocating! =) read more

Last night's 6 pm monsoon drenched our plans to see the concert at Millenium Park, so the kids and I chose the old standby for a rainy day: bowling. And in our book, there is only one place to bowl in Chicago, and it's Timberlanes. The owners said hello when we arrived. They recognized us as return customers and asked: "how've you been?" They don't charge (me, anyway) for Kiddy Cocktails. And it's so cheap: three people, four games, two hours: $24.00. Do the math: $2.00 per game per person. That so kicks the ass of any bowling alley in town that we know of. We are a one-alley family!!! (sometimes they charge $3.00 per game; one never knows; it seems to sort of depend on how they feel at the moment, and maybe depends on how many games one bowls. I'm not exactly sure. But the family-owned, we-do-as-we-please-here mentality is a delight!) And another nice bonus: for some reason, the pin resetting mechanism here doesn't work so well and it often allows three rolls per frame. What a fun way to level the "playing field" for even scoring across all age ranges!!! read more

I sure do love me some bowling! Maybe the best you can expect out of me is a 118, and that's on a good day, but so what? At a place like Timberlanes, it's really all about the atmosphere! $3 domestic bottles, $10 pitchers, this is a real no-frills joint. My friend was visiting from California and I couldn't help but smack my forehead and utter a "d'oh!" when she asked the bartender if she could make a lemon drop martini. The bartender looked at her like she was from another planet. Priceless. Don't worry if you show up sock-less - they've got plenty of grimy men's socks to keep your feet bowling ready. Shoes were $2, games were $2. Seriously, this may be one of the best deals in the 'hood. read more

I would give Timber Lanes 6+ stars if I could. Where to start? League bowlers will love the close-knit relationships and challenging lane conditions. Having rolled in leagues here for over 10 years, I love it more every week. The cast of characters is like no place else. Cops and plumbers, IT professionals and lawyers, bartenders and retired teachers, hipsters and bikers, yuppies and scumbags; all blending together in a beautiful bowling gumbo. For the casual bowler, affordable beers (mostly domestic with a smattering of import and craft) and an "old-school" atmosphere make it a wonderful place to awkwardly chuck a few balls down the wooden, not synthetic lanes. You won't break the bank for a few hours of fun, unlike other bowling centers, who often gouge patrons, even on weekdays. Bob is the owner. With his wife Karen and collection of great staff including Mark, Tommy, Tyler, Scott, Chris and several others always make you feel welcome regardless of your bowling proficiency. Timber is ultra-accommodating to groups, as well as parties, be they for 25 little tots or 50 slobbering drunks (though rarely at the same time). read more

I'm not a huge bowler, but I can fully support what Timber Lanes is doing here - manual scoring, questionable shoes, a nice musty scent - it's about as retro/hipster you can get without a lick of that retro/hipster pretense. It's just good, old-fashioned fun. Granted, I have no idea how to score manually, so that's left to someone else. But there was something unique about bowling and not having flashing lines or disco balls. About a weird backroom with scattered and mismatched bowling balls (treasure hunt for the prettiest). Full bar - though limited in selection, super reasonable in price. Cash only. Quick jump right off the Irving Park brown line L stop. read more

I went bowling at Timber Lanes last night for a friend's birthday. It is a pretty old school bowling alley with a small selection of libations at the bar. They don't have food, but they do allow you to have outside food delivered. They have a juke box and photohunt, which were nice surprises. The shoes seem kind of old, but they weren't too terrible. They are so old school that they don't have computers, and you are responsible for manual scoring. They seemed super accommodating about the birthday party aspect. A friend dropped off a cake and some other party supplies earlier in the day, which they were great about. They provided a table for food and cake. They also were able to loan us a knife and matches to light candles when cake time came around. Overall, I had a great time. This is a nice chill, older bowling alley, which is a nice change of pace from some of the more updated and crowded alleys around the city. I would definitely come bowling here again. read more

This place is great. I bowled the best score of my life (256!) here and had witnesses! I swear Lane #1 is rigged or something because I just couldn't miss. The staff is friendly. The place is kind of dumpy, but that's kind of why you go here. I definitely want to come back here over and over. read more

Helped us throw a wonderful party for our advisor. Very accommodating and really worked with us to make sure everything went right- from champagne to pizza to cake cutting. Recommend recommend recommend! Bring cash, and be ready to score your own bowling! read more

What's not to love? Cheap drinks, faux Wisconsin lodge atmosphere, blasting 80's hair metal, smell of feet! It's bowling, baby, and this is oldskool style. read more

This has got to be the least pretentious bowling alley in Chicago, as if there's a yard stick for something like that. Right off of a bustling intersection, but, once inside you could be in Smalltown, USA, blissfully smoke free and enjoying cheap drinks and a night of fun with friends. Cheap and fun, and not mobbed with jerks. I look forward to going back. read more

Note - I haven't been here since the smoking ban, but I am 100% confident I would enjoy the experience far more. Been here for afternoon, night, and even late night bowling. Had a great time each visit. A rocking jukebox kept the tunes flowing, and the lane prices (and cheap beers) kept us bowling. The bowling lanes themselves were surprising well-kept. The rest of the bowling alley, including the bar and any sort of "food area" however, were pretty tired. But that's probably not why you come here. I'd like to revisit since there's no longer smoking, but Lincoln Square Lanes is closer to my home now. This would be my second place choice. read more

Ahh. This is what bowling should be. Initmate little alley, hand-painted woody-looking "Timber Lanes" above the eight lanes. Cheap beer, cheap bowling... no big flashy cosmic bowling, computerized scoring, or big video arcade. Just good old-fashioned bowling. Since it is so small, it can get busy, especially on the weekends. Apparently it's smoke-free now (I moved a while back, and don't remember if it was then...), and the crowd/employees are on the whole very cool. Jukebox is top-notch, too. Lots of metal, older industrial (when's the last time you saw Ministry on a jukebox?), and enough cheesy crap to sing along with like a big dork. read more

The first time I went to Timber was over 2 years ago on my first date with my boyfriend. He obviously did something right because we're still together. They still have all-wood lanes, you have to keep score manually (whoever thinks automatic scoring is superior is a moron) and the drink deals are fantastic. Seriously, $3 for a pint of Leinie's Red?! Superb! Minus the digital jukebox, this place keeps it super old-school, which makes me happy. I go almost every week since my other half is on a league and I, too am on a league during the summer. I do suggest calling before you go in since there are leagues playing almost everyday. It baffles me when people walk in and are irritated that they have to wait because of league. News Flash: It's a bowling alley! People bowl here on a weekly basis unlike those who decide to do it once a year! Big props to Bob, the owner, who has done a great job running a well-oiled machine (and lanes). See you on Monday, Timber! read more

I bowl in a league here, year round. There is free street parking and a very friendly staff. If you enjoy the old type of bowling, without the automatic scoring, and with the "Big Lebowski" type of feeling -- then you'll love this place. read more

Charming old school bowling alley where you record the scores by hand located right off the Irving Park brown line stop. Every time I've come, the bartender or owner have been very welcoming and, once, the owner even gave my friend and I a tour and explanation of how the pin system works. At just $2.50/person/game, it's a cheap and fun time. Has a fully stocked bar, some arcade games, and a couple tvs, this bowling alley is a diamond in the rough. read more

Just went here for the first time in a long time a few weeks ago. My friend was having a birthday party. I really need to find out what the price on this deal was (if any) but party-atendees were charged $25 for open bowling and booze for 4 hours. Let's have a birthday party there every day!!! read more

Timber Lanes - Bowling Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lots of fun for groups. Make a reservation, though. Self -scoring is so strange...but it works for this place. Bartender has a cheat sheet if you have no idea how to do it. read more

Timber Lanes has friendly bartenders, cheap beer, and a great juke box! I also like that it's smoke-free(are all bowling alleys in Chicago smoke-free now)? We didn't even go to bowl - we were just there to enjoy a few beverages and have a good time. The only complaint that I have is that the juke box costs $1 per song - a bit much, but I guess I can afford it when I'm paying so little for my beers! It was also a little bright in there pretty late at night, but that's not really a complaint, just an observation. Good times, good times! read more

What could make an old school dive bar even better? Old school bowling! Pretty hopping for a Monday night even after the bowling league finished. I was pretty surprised at the wide range of people that go here to bowl - definitely not your stereotypical bar/bowling alley that's for sure. Great service, great jukebox, so much fun. read more

This is exactly what I had in mind for a bowling alley! The ONLY affordable bowling I've found in the city. This place has The Big Lebowski written all over it (complete with the movie posters and what should have been the soundtrack) It is a complete dive, so hopefully you're not looking for class...after all it is bowling. You also keep manual score. Great place and right under the Irving Park brown line stop. read more

So I used to be in a bowling league at Marigold for close to 10 years. It was my favorite thing to do with my favorite people. I looked forward to it every week and was hung over every Friday because of it. Then the family who owned it got an offer they couldn't refuse and sold the damn place. Of course they tore it down, and turned the spot into - how original! - condos. I thought I'd never bowl again. I haven't been by that property since. I was in serious mourning. I mean, what could compare with Marigold? Well, a friend and league partner decided to start a spinoff league at this joint Timber Lanes. Never heard of the place. We were all immediately skeptic. Where was it? (On Irving/Wolcott.) What kind of people run the joint? (Really, really nice friendly ones.) Is the scoring electronic, which is the spawn of Satan? (No! You keep your own score with a pencil and paper just like the gods intended.) Can they make me a Stoli Raspberry and Soda, my bowling staple for years, the same way Marigold did? (yes!) Ok, we'll give this new spinoff league a whirl. Well, six years later we're still going there every Wednesday night and it's once again the highlight of my week, and we have Timber Lanes to thank for that. The drinks are strong, and the prices are cheap. They let you order or bring in food since they don't serve any. They have video games and darts and plenty of TVs for sports watching. Even if you don't want to bowl, the bar and clientele are better than any other neighborhood bar in the area. And the people who own it and work there are so damn nice. Not to mention they have "TIMBER LANES" painted down by the pins in a nice log-looking font. Sweet. I love you, Timber Lanes. Thanks for saving my bowling night. My scores, on the other hand, still need help... read more

Now THIS is what I call bowling. I loved the energy of the crowd. The drinks were cheap, the games were fairly priced, and my bowling partner enjoyed the music. If only we knew how to keep score.... read more

I (heart) Timberlanes. I'm so glad that I was introduced to it. What a great place to know. I had never heard about it until I attended a birthday party there last week. Now I can't wait to have an excuse to throw a party so I can go there again! You may be a little leery upon first stepping in. Depending on which group of incredible 17 year old dude bowlers are there, you may hear Pantera blasting from the jukebox, and the immediate smell is reminiscent of an old closet. But just keep on trekking... You will not be disappointed. I LOVE the manual scorekeeping. It's nice to put good old mathematics to work every once in a while. But be sure to bring your cash! It is a cash only establishment, but so reasonably priced, you needn't worry about hitting the withdrawl limit on the ATM. Eight lanes are just enough and make for a very cozy atmosphere. This place is probably awesome for private parties as well! I say "probably" because I haven't been to or hosted one yet. However, I called the owner Bob to discuss costs and drink packages and I was so excited to hear that it is only $400 to close the whole place for 3 to 3 1/2 hours of unlimited bowling and shoe rentals for 50-75 people. That is pretty amazing! Drink packages range from $15-$25 per person for those same 3-3 1/2 hours, but they don't have food options. That being said, they allow you the freedom to bring anything and everything and to order from whereever you want. Bob told me that the goal of Timberlanes is for people to have a good time. He told me "If people don't have fun, we must be doing something wrong." And in 22 years, I doubt that Bob's crew has ever done anything wrong. Check it out, but keep it on the downlow. The beauty of this place is that it is off the beaten track. read more

I had my best day bowling here. I honestly think one of the lanes is slanted toward the middle. I should probably have more of an issue with that, but I almost broke 200. Hells yes. read more

In short it's a fun small bowling alley + dive bar. Went there for a birthday party for one of my kids classmates. I was surprised that I had never noticed this place before, and I've lived around this area for 20 years. The 5-6 older regulars, probably in their 60's and 70's made me want to call my dad today though. Short review as dive bars are not my thing but it was cool for what it is. read more

This is a great alley. Cheap by city standards, $20/hour on weekends. Pitchers of beer are $8-9. Manual scoring, which is a welcome sight these days. Nothing in the jukebox past 1990. They also have dart boards and the old school Ms. Pac Man - Galaga combo. They also let you order food in for parties. The employees are nice and friendly almost all the time, and the location is right off the Irving Park el. read more

Timber Lanes is a very cool, old school, bowling alley. I would describe it as "divey", but what bowling alley that isn't Lucky Strike isn't? This place is Southport Lanes for people that actually want to bowl, don't want to get ripped off, and don't mind hangin out with people we would refer to as, "bowling regulars". First off, the owners/managers of the place are awesome. Very friendly and helpful, actually had my reservation on the list when I got there, and seem like people that enjoy running their business. Ok I admit, I threw the previous lines in there because the guy bought me a beer later in the night, but still... Beers in general are pretty cheap at this place, and you can bring in outside food too so you don't have to eat cardboard tasting frozen bowling alley pizzas (which I admit I love), or hot dogs that have been rotating in a warmer since the Cubs won back to back World Series titles. I don't remember the exact prices for lane rentals, but I recall it being pretty cheap ($15-20/hour), especially if you are there with a group. Also, people will describe this place was having a certain "charm" to it. Bowling charm = manually keeping score. Personally, I like concentrating on bowling and beering, but if someone else in your group is keeping score, it's a cool concept. If you don't know how to keep score, buy a regular a beer and have them teach you. Fun random fact to leave you with - Nelly and Lil' Wayne are freakin' awesome bowlers read more

Went bowling here back when I had cool friends that would actually go bowling. Something about a bowling alley that doesn't have cosmic bowling. It's an old school bowling alley with no frills... just booze, some video games and BOWLING. Small, but fun (when it's not a league night). Oh... how I wish Marigold was still open.) read more

Timber Lanes is a really old-school bowling alley. There are 8 bowling lanes total. The place is very cozy, and the staff is very welcoming and super helpful. As I was bowling, the guy that works there noticed that my ball was too heavy and he brought me another ball, which was perfect and it helped me score higher. I came here on a Saturday night around midnight, so the place was somewhat empty. There's a full bar as soon as you come in. Overall, I had a great time in this bowling alley. The prices are affordable as well, $20 per hour. I highly recommend this place. read more

Timber Lanes is fantastic. I had a birthday celebration here a few years ago and they were so nice and accommodating. Had a pizza ordered in and they provided cups and plates. I even got to take home a bowling pin as a memento! You can't beat the bowling prices either. I have no nostalgia for hand scoring though. Give me a video screen with animations any day. read more

We were at Timber Lanes last night with a group that rented it. I love the atmosphere of the place, the big bar and the pleasant staff. Everybody at the party had such a good time. The $11 pitcher for Miller Lite is a good deal. My shoes fit and there were plenty of balls to choose from in the ball room. Parking - could have been a nightmare, we almost didn't find parking. That would have sucked to have driven 45 minutes there and had to drive back home. We lucked out. Beware those who do not take the El. read more

Awesome time at Timber Lanes today. Fun place to start a Friday. Really friendly staff and great prices, just remember to bring cash!

Timber Lanes is a small town bowling alley right in Chicago. There are some regulars who you can tell are in Timber Lanes all the time, but they are friendly and welcoming. It was easy to find a ball and get shoes that fit. Women's balls are in a tiny room to the right when you enter the ball room. It's a fun place to bowl and drink, but you need to be somewhat serious about bowling in order to fit in. read more

It's a hometown bowling alley and it's $20 an hour for a lane. The beer is okay and you also have to score your own bowling, but I think it adds to the ambiance of the place. This place will get the job done for any bowling needs. You can bring your own food just not BYOB. read more

Timber Lanes - Ain't this place cute!! - Bowling Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Totally fun and cool.. The owner is a nice old dude that has been here for 26 years or so.. I went here for a big party that rented the whole place, it was a blast! Keeping your own score is kinda hard because I like to drink and dont like to put much effort into this.. but then again, I dont really care about score! By nights end, we were just buying and scratching lotto tickets that you can get at the bar, I never actually won that much money on scratchers till now.. 10$.. 15$.. 20$... wow! Will be back, the place is worth a shake read more

Good, old-school, inexpensive, quiet bowling place. Bring cash, prepare to do score calculations by hand and do a little digging to find balls lighter than 14-16. There are 8 lanes for bowling, with comfortable tables and chairs. They have full bar with wide amount of inexpensive drinks, few arcade games, jukebox and HDTV showing sports all the time. On Sunday at 6 pm we were the only ones who actually played, but to be sure call ahead as they accept reservations. The place is cosy and quiet, no kids and no teenagers. I will definitely return. read more

Old school for sure. Only 8 lanes that always seem to be in use. Almost to the point that I feel like I'm rushed in and out so that they can keep the flow going. Avoid weekends during the day. Way too many kids running around. read more

I think this is the type of place where you really have to be in the mood to enjoy it. If you ever wondered what bowling alleys were like in the 1980s, this is a great place to experience it (with the exception of the music...which was definitely 90s). I came here this past weekend to celebrate my friend's birthday and it was definitely a throw back. Everything from the bathroom to the balls seemed like it was straight out of the 1980s. The most notable features include a communal hand towel machine in the bathroom and some serious throwback shoes. There are somewhere between 4 and 8 lanes in this facility (I cannot remember the exact number of lanes but the place felt very small). There's also a bar across from the lanes (perhaps this is something to consider if you're planning on bringing children--everyone in my group was drinking and it felt awkward --to me--because there were small children just a few feet away. Every time I threw a gutter ball I felt like I had to keep my cuss words to a minimum). We ended up sharing a scoring station with the folks next to us, and you probably will too, depending on when you go, because there's not a ton of space. If I remember correctly, the cost was $3pp for shoe rental plus $2.50pp per game. We have 4 people and played 2 games...with these costs, plus the cost of beer. We ended up paying a total cost that was only slightly cheaper than what we would have paid if we went to a fancy bowling place that had updated amenities, individual handtowels in the bathroom, and a private room. P.S. I think it's cash only! P.P.S. If you're a POC, you will likely be the only one present--which may not matter to you, but for some people it's nice to know. read more