1 / 3Diversey River Bowl
📍 Bucktown, IL
A 35-year Chicago bowling institution offering family-friendly bowling with cosmic light shows, birthday parties, and a popular on-site restaurant featuring their legendary DRB Smash Burger.
I kept seeing the free bowling cards around Logan Square and I needed to find out if they worked - well, they do! Even though there was a league there practicing they had room for 4 to bowl. There’s no TV monitor so you don’t get the crazy animations there, only on the small scoring screen. Plenty of house bowling balls to use. The pizza was decent and very shareable! They even have a cute arcade where I won a duck! Tricky to find parking when it’s busy. But a lot of fun!
🏆 Family Action Verdict
This is an excellent choice for families with children of all ages, including those with special needs thanks to accommodating staff and quiet areas. The venue works well for both casual weekend family outings and weekday lunch dates. However, be prepared for potential parking challenges during busy times and occasional service hiccups.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →1,144 Google reviews
Lou Lou
9 months ago
“I kept seeing the free bowling cards around Logan Square and I needed to find out if they worked - well, they do! Even though there was a league there practicing they had room for 4 to bowl. There’s no TV monitor so you don’t get the crazy animations there, only on the small scoring screen. Plenty of house bowling balls to use. The pizza was decent and very shareable! They even have a cute arcade where I won a duck! Tricky to find parking when it’s busy. But a lot of fun!”
Ms.steinburg
4 months ago
“Friday/ Saturday night this is the place to be! Although it is pricey I have to say staff was wonderful. The girl security at the door was so kind and patient with my disable mother and autistic son. She informed us they had a lounging area right behind her incase we needed a more quiet area. Will be returning.”
Elizabeth Otter
2 months ago
“Love going here for a quick weekday lunch date with my partner. We bowl for an hour and order food from the great restaurant. It’s simple car food but done so well. Also really fun to take our small children on the weekends too.”
Deyanira Garcia
a month ago
“Jessica and Tony were super sweet and cordial. I would always love them to check me and make sure everyone is safe!”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Diversey River Bowl features bowling lanes with league play, cosmic bowling with light shows on weekends, birthday party packages, and a full restaurant menu including their signature DRB Smash Burger and cheese curds. The venue offers 2-hour lane reservations, accommodates groups and special events, and includes a limited selection of arcade games alongside the main bowling facilities.
