As of Jan 2025 the owners rent caused the food to be super expensive. It's not beneficial for startup companies.

A little UT gem! Games and shoes are cheap (~$8/game and shoes per person). The bowling made me feel like a kid again, and it was even more fun when they turned off the bright lights for glow bowl (Thursday and Fridays after 5 pm). One star down for being a little outdated, but still fun times! read more

This place has always been special to me. No, no, not because I went to UT and spent a lot of time here instead of studying. It is because this is where my son fell in love with bowling. My son was 3 years old when he got his first toy bowling set. You know, the foam kind, 6 pins made of foams, a foam ball and a plastic mat to help you set the pins in triangle form. Since then, he's been hooked into bowling. We took my son to Union Underground when he was shy of 4 years old. He immediately took a liking to the glow-in-the-dark everything: shoes, lanes. The smallest ball they have was a 6 lbs-er. Even 6 lbs was still too heavy for him. He had to carry it with both hands and against his chest. But that did not stop him. When he rolled (eerrr.... actually, it's more like dropped) the ball to the lane, the ball went only 2 miles an hour, hit the bumper once or twice, then knocked only one or two pins. But that didn't stopped him. My son is now almost 5 years old. Since that first visit to Union Underground, we've been back several times. We've also been to other bowling alleys in town. None is as accommodating to him as Union Underground. In one bowling alley, the 2 miles an hour ball rolled into the gutter and got stuck -- twice. We had to call someone to go over and unstuck the ball. We eventually gave up and went to Union Underground instead. The 2 miles an hour ball never gave my son any problems. I recommend this place for any parents who have kids who are into bowling. read more

NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS. I'm a UT alumna and love coming to this spot still. During college, I came here with my fam bam during family weekend and we had the most amazing time playing guys vs. girls. It's a great place to bowl (at a very cheap rate - I think $4 a game - as well). There's not too many students overtaking the place during summer so I'd highly recommend going NOW. This place is a little Golden Nugget that should not be overlooked. It's a 10/10. read more

Union Underground - 2 full games of bowling for less than $10. Now that's a deal. - Bowling Near Me - Austin, Texas

Super cheap bowling during the day and glow bowling with lasers and disco balls at night - (call for exact times)! Beer! Weird basement atmosphere! They say the lanes are regulation length, but they appear shorter because the ceiling is so low. There's also pool, air hockey, and a sushi/noodle place. And they sell socks if you forgot yours. The music that's playing is always a surprise as they let the student workers bring their own cds. But if you really can't stand what's on and ask nicely, they'll usually change the cd :) read more

Was in town visiting my boyfriend and this was a fun place for us to go bowling. Right in the heart of the city and it was super clean and I love the aesthetic of this place. At first it was a little confusing to find but once we figured it out it was definitely worth it. The prices are amazing. read more

This review is for the bowling at the Texas Union Underground. This bowling alley is pretty "cozy" as they say - maybe 12 lanes in all - but very atmospheric in a kooky sort of way. The place is lit with black lights all the time, so it's dim, and any white clothing, shoe laces, etc. all glow bright purple. Very fun for little kids and the adults who love to tire them out. The computer scoreboard animation isn't as freaky as the one at Dart Bowl, but is sufficiently weird by most standards. The noise in the place is pretty loud, especially with the low ceilings and hard floors bouncing sound everywhere. The music is also loud, but at least when we were there, I liked the college-grunge-alt selections being played. Cost is cheap - we paid something like $17 for a game for three people, shoes included. Finding this bowling alley is tricky - it's down in the lowest level of the Texas Union building, right off Guadalupe and 22nd Street (or so). Best advice is to just go into the Texas Union Building and keep taking stairs or elevators down until you can't go down any further. Then listen for the sound of pins falling and follow the noise. Parking to get to this bowling alley is very difficult, as it is right off the Drag. So far I've only been twice (once on a Saturday and once on a Sunday) during the summer, and parking was tough even then. I can't even imagine trying to get there on a weekday during the school year. And, given the size of the place, it is probably wall-to-wall students during the school year as well. This will probably remain an off-semester activity for us. read more

I love the Union Underground, and not just because I used to study here when I was a student (I prefer background noise to quiet library-type environments). This is the best place to go for inexpensive entertainment. Sure, they only have 12 lanes and you can be cramped together, but I don't know what you're expecting when the most you're paying is $3.50 per game plus $2 for shoe rental. It's even cheaper at different times of day or with a UT ID. The Union Underground frequently has glow bowl, which is fun for kids and adults, they sell bottled beer, snacks, sodas, and ice cream bars, they have tv's, air hockey, play modern music, and there are a plethora of pool tables (no more than $8/hr). You can also order Austin's Pizza for your gang. I understand the location can be difficult because they don't have a dedicated parking lot. There is paid street parking nearby or a parking garage (but the garage can add up quick, thus making the trip moot). But I highly recommend taking the time to check them out for inexpensive entertainment, having your child's birthday party, or just grabbing a snack and people-watching. read more

A UT hidden gem! I loved this place. They have dirt cheap prices for bowling and it's even cheaper if you are a UT student! It's not super big or flashy or anything but it has all the elements of a bowling alley (including shoe rental!). It's pretty fun to go with a friend in the middle of the day if you have time to kill between classes. Deff come check this place out if you are a student and visit it atleast once before you graduate! read more

A great place for bowling, billiards and enjoying time with friends. There are maybe 15 tables and 10 lanes. It's not the biggest place but it'll hold a good amount of people. My girlfriend and I come here to play pool pretty often. It's $5 an hour for students and $7 for non students. Tables and sticks are of decent quality. Definitely stop by if you are a student! There may not be swimming pools on top of roofs but the union does have an underground. read more

Union Underground - Bowling Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Cool place to bowl. My kids loved the atmosphere and all the black lights/glow in the dark bowling. Even though it is on campus, I'd recommend bringing your family there for the bowling. This is a small alley, but I have never been there when it was packed. Parking is tough unless you are a student and live on campus. read more

I love the bowling alley. This staff is very friendly. The service is great. I've been here before with some friends and I've had great experiences. read more

The Union Underground is a perfect hangout place for UT students. Showing your student id allows you to play cheap discounted games of bowling, table pool, arcade games, etc. They also serve pizza from Austin's Pizza. If you don't feel like going DT on a Friday night and have nothing else to do, come here since they're open late! It's hard not to have a good time in this cozy space. read more

Nostalgia sets in every time I'm in here. Have I really gotten that old?? It seems like yesterday that it was my freshman year and my friends and I would all get together and hit up the bowling lanes and the pool tables. Is this place the best bowling alley ever? Far from it. There are cables hanging loose and you feel like you are in a cave. That's kind of the charm of it all though. The staff is still friendly. It's still got the best location for those of us who work on campus or the students who live nearby. You can throw down some expert PBA bowling skills in between classes if you really wanted to. $7.50 a game for 3 players on one lane not including shoe rentals. Stay late enough and the lights go off and things get all crazy and everything is glowing in the dark. read more

My son ding ding was having a good wholesome time bowling when the place received a mysterious call and they told me to turn off my phone and leave, its like we were in North Korea i thought this was Texas? I attached a phot of my son ding ding for reference. read more

Union Underground - my son - Bowling Near Me - Austin, Texas

I have always had fun here and whenever we plan an event here it always goes well. Prices are fair, people are attentive, everything is clean. I would recommend this place especially if you are on campus. Like other bowling allays, you need to rent your shoes, shocks required, and an ID. They have drinks and snacks as well. I see little kids having their b-day parties here as well. read more

No filming, KKona, Kappa, one star literally unplayable. We just wanted to watch grill go bowling was that too much to ask?

I was hustled and the bowling was overpriced. the food was really bad and I was harassed by the manager. What a bad vacation spot

I don't know how they hired the manager and as a manager! Was playing bowling with friends and it wasn't showing the scores for some reason. But when we asked the staff, they sent us the manager to fix it. I Was going there to have fun, but with the way that rude person talked to us, it was hell! Hopefully they fire him soon because otherwise he's going to let all customers leave. read more

Fun hangout spot for after class or if you're visiting a friend. The billiards is cheap and almost always available, the bowling is really fun and this place just has so much to offer for a cheap price! read more

Under a black light your teeth will glow, lint on your dark shirt will glow, shoe laces will glow - and if you do it right @ blacklight bowling your conversation with friends will have incandescence to it as well. Glow-in-the-dark bowling at the union is one of my favorite places to take someone I want to hang with and get good conversations going; it doesn't have the time-pressure of a restaurant & is a lot easier to talk at than your standard everybody-has-a-laptop-out-or-there-is-loud-music-blazing coffee shop. Plus, I am a totally rotten bowler so my friends always get to win! There is the thrill of an unexpected strike, a chance at playful conversation, and glow-in-the-dark smiles-- what's not to love? read more

Cheap and Fun! The glow in the dark bowling is always a plus, and if you dont need any fancy new TVs or waiters to enhance your bowling experience (300) and are just looking for a fun time with a few friends, then the Union is a great place to go! Be careful on weekends though, there may be quite a wait... if so.. head to Dart Bowl! Just as cheap.. a little farther from down town.. but not as hectic! read more

Great place to go. Just a bit hectic on the weekends because this is usually when families go to bowl. Go late or go during the week to avoid waiting. read more

Wonderful place to take a family on cold afternoon. Extremely clean and doesn't smell like the average bowling alley. Thank you!!!