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Bowling

Burnham Bowl

📍 West Allis, WI

4.0(203 Google reviews)

Burnham Bowl is a traditional West Allis bowling alley with open bowling lanes, a bar overlooking the alleys, and a loyal local community of regular bowlers. Neighbourhood feel with active Sunday sessions.

bowlingneighbourhood alleyopen bowlingbarcommunityclassic venue
★★★★★Featured review by James Ferber

This visit was my first time to the Burnham Bowl on a Sunday at noon. It was buzzing with the sounds of bowling balls rolling down the alleys , followed by the crash of the pins and cheers or sighs of the bowlers themselves. The bar , overlooking the alleys was filled with locals enjoying their beer and exchanging life stories with each other. The bartender was friendly and attentive and told me the owner was there bowling on the last alley. The TV's were tuned to sports and one was playing a Formula1 race. There was a video game area that was clean and maintained. I enjoyed my time here. I had shown up for a sports memoriblia show to sell an antique bat I had. The show was not there and I had carried the bat in with me. Patrons at the bar quickly asked me about why I had the bat with me at the bar. After some tense explaining everyone was relieved. I really liked the atmosphere and people here. Great place to have a beer and bowl. Thank You Burnham Bowl , a GREAT family neighborhood business.

🏆 Family Action Verdict

Best for families comfortable with a no-frills neighbourhood bowling experience rather than a modern entertainment centre. Older kids who can bowl independently enjoy the lively atmosphere. Younger toddlers may be better served by venues with bumper lanes and guaranteed lane functionality.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

💡Call ahead to confirm lane availability and functionality before making a trip, particularly on weekday visits
Sunday afternoons are the most active and social sessions — arrive early for the best lane selection
🎟️Bring your own bowling shoes if possible — the facility's rental equipment reflects its age
🚗Manage expectations around facility condition — this is a classic neighbourhood alley, not a renovated entertainment venue

💬 What Families Are Saying

View all reviews →
4.0

203 Google reviews

Fun local atmosphere40%
Facility condition notes30%
Friendly staff overall20%
Lane maintenance inconsistent10%
J

James Ferber

This visit was my first time to the Burnham Bowl on a Sunday at noon. It was buzzing with the sounds of bowling balls rolling down the alleys , followed by the crash of the pins and cheers or sighs of the bowlers themselves. The bar , overlooking the alleys was filled with locals enjoying their beer and exchanging life stories with each other. The bartender was friendly and attentive and told me the owner was there bowling on the last alley. The TV's were tuned to sports and one was playing a Formula1 race. There was a video game area that was clean and maintained. I enjoyed my time here. I had shown up for a sports memoriblia show to sell an antique bat I had. The show was not there and I had carried the bat in with me. Patrons at the bar quickly asked me about why I had the bat with me at the bar. After some tense explaining everyone was relieved. I really liked the atmosphere and people here. Great place to have a beer and bowl. Thank You Burnham Bowl , a GREAT family neighborhood business.

M

Margarita

Desde el primer día que lo abrieron,lo más que me gusta,las palmas de coco,yropical,mi ambiente

D

David Labitzke

It's a decent place for a quick bowling session. Staff was friendly, but I hate to say that the place felt dirty and in need of renovation. There was a distinct musty odor as you entered the building. The balls felt a little slimey. There was noticeable damage to the lane's gutters as well as a couple of other features. I can't in good conscious give it a 5 due to some cleanliness and maintenance issues.

R

Ryan Holtz

Customer service is absolutely terrible , couldn't even finish a full game. Lane wasn't functioning at all workers told me there's the reset button you can hit it. Won't ever be back terrible experience over all.

Reviews from Google

Overview

Burnham Bowl is a longstanding West Allis neighbourhood bowling alley on W Burnham Street. Open bowling fills the venue on weekend afternoons with the sounds of pins and cheers from regulars. A bar overlooks the lanes and draws a community crowd. The facility shows its age — reviewers note worn gutters, a musty entry smell, and dated décor — and lane maintenance can be inconsistent. One reviewer flagged a non-functioning lane with unhelpful staff response.

🕐 Opening Hours

TuesdayClosed
WednesdayClosed
Saturday13:00 – 01:00

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