Emerald Bowl

Emerald Bowl

Reviews Summary

Emerald Bowl is consistently praised for its friendly staff, clean facilities, and family-friendly atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the affordable prices, great food, and nostalgic, old-school vibe. The bowling alley is well-maintained, with updated lanes and equipment, and offers excellent customer service. While most reviews are overwhelmingly positive, a few mention occasional issues like outdated amenities or inconsistent policies. Overall, it’s a beloved local spot for both casual bowlers and regulars, offering a fun, welcoming experience.

About This Listing

Has Tournaments
Has Food
Good for kids
Wheelchair Accessible

Who Can Play?

Most arcades welcome all ages (some may have age restrictions for certain games)
Minors may need parent/guardian supervision (policies vary by location)
No gaming experience required - games range from beginner to expert level
Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes recommended for safety
Valid ID may be required for certain attractions or age verification
Groups and parties welcome (advance booking may be required)

*Note: Age restrictions and policies may vary by arcade. Check with your local facility for specifics.*

First-Time Visitors

First-time visitors may need to sign a waiver or register for a game card. Staff are typically available to help explain games and provide tutorials. Some arcades offer newcomer specials or free play sessions to help you get started.

Common Restrictions:

Age-Based Some games may have height or age requirements for safety reasons
Capacity Popular games may have wait times during peak hours

*Note: Policies vary by arcade. Confirm with your local facility.*

What to Bring

Cash or card for tokens/credits (some arcades are cashless)
Valid ID for age verification or membership signup
Phone to capture high scores and memories (check photo policies)

*Note: Payment methods and requirements may differ by arcade.*

Preparing for Your Visit

Check arcade hours and peak times online before visiting
Eat beforehand or check if the arcade has food options
Bring friends for multiplayer games and competitions
Wear comfortable clothes you can move freely in
Avoid bringing valuable items that could be lost or damaged
Check for special events, tournaments, or discount days
Set a budget for games and stick to it
Stay hydrated, especially during long gaming sessions

*Note: Tips may vary by arcade type and location.*

How to Get Started

Most arcades accept walk-ins, but call ahead during busy periods or for large groups. Check for membership deals!

Other Helpful Info

Most visits last 1-3 hours depending on games and group size
Popular games may have longer wait times during weekends and evenings
Many arcades offer unlimited play packages or time-based pricing
Some locations host tournaments and special events regularly
Prize redemption available at many arcades - save your tickets!

*Note: Policies, pricing, and features differ by arcade. Contact your local facility for details.*

Features

Has Tournaments
Has Food
Good for kids
Wheelchair Accessible

Contact Information

Address

9307 Boone Rd

Houston, Texas 77099

Hours

Monday 9AM-12AM
Tuesday 9AM-12AM
Wednesday 9AM-12AM
Thursday 9AM-12AM
Friday 9AM-1AM
Saturday 9AM-1AM
Sunday 9AM-12AM

Customer Reviews

?????????? Super fun place! The environment is really clean and welcoming. It's not too expensive either, $50 for an hour for up to 6 people, with shoes and everything included in the price. They also have ice cream, a small restaurant, and even lockers to store your things. It was really fun and easy to learn how to play, even if you're a beginner. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a good time with friends or family!

This place was nice and clean has music playing that wasn't over bearing. Will say our lane had minor glitch that the front desk was so helpful with allowing us to redo our play. We enjoyed it so much we played 6rounds. They charge by the hour or per player. We did per player. They had adult drinks and food service and very attentive service. Definitely family friendly unless its a specified otherwise on certain occasions. Loved this place will go again. The little bowling shop was my favorite.

Had a great time. Didn't have to wait too long for lanes. The only thing I didn't like was how they changed up the seating by taking the benches away and just having tables and chairs. Other than that, great customer service and it was clean. Oh and the wings and mozzarella sticks were soooo good

This bowling alley reminds me of the one I went to as a child in the 90?s (minus the cigarette smoke!). It's clean and the staff is very friendly, a great place for some family fun.

Absolutely fantastic! We celebrated my sisters 70th birthday. Everyone raved about the pizzas & wings. Delicious & high quality. The service was professional, attentive & 5 star. My picky husband & family said the bathrooms were sparkling clean. When I walked in I expected the aura to be like my mom?s old bowling place back in the day. It was fresh & a pleasant surprise. Loved that the parking lot was well lit. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Clean and bowling personnel were very attentive. Consession stand service was HORRIBLE!!!!! Waited over an hour for my order. Employees need additional training.

Extremely friendly employees, welcoming people, great place and reasonable prices to come bowl with family and friends. Definitely had a great time and would recommend this place, especially considering there aren't any similar fun activities nearby in the area.

Really enjoyed our time here! Family went for the Sunday special and had a great time, played 2 games, Adults had drinks and kids had tots and soft drinks. Overall a great experience, will be returning soon.

Emerald Bowl is the place to be. I invite you to bring your family. They have revamp the place and it looks great. Clean! Clean! And Family friendly! I was gone for years but decided to try them again. Worthy the visit and now a regular again.

Wonderful old school bowling with updated lanes and machines. They have a great little bar and a very nice snack stand... try the BBQ chicken flatbread! Staff is friendly and accommodating. Can be crowded when leagues are playing so call ahead to see how busy it is. Easy parking with plenty of space.

Had fun playing with friends, and the atmosphere was great. Very clean and nice music at the background.

good morning y'all! this place from start to finish is all that and a bag of chips. don't even know where to begin on how accommodating the staff was. super friendly and nice from start to finish. my cousins and I with a group of friends went to celebrate their 21st birthday. from the front desk receptionists to the dj and concessions stand it was a wonderful time. the only thing I'll say the dj tuned off the slow wind while we were getting our groove on! just jokes of course but everyone was absolutely won

Great fun!?!? The service was great. Our kiddos had several balls stuck in the gutter. ?? We had a blast!!

My sister had a birthday party for her boyfriend and some of his family, and everyone was attentive and nice from checking out shoes to the server bringing the food. The food was always fresh, hot and good. We had a variety of foods including pizza, flatbread, mozzarella sticks, wings, and it would disappear every time a platter was brought out. Everyone had a good time and I would definitely recommend.

Great atmosphere for a great bowling alley. You can feel yourself getting better at bowling with an old school place like this. Got to have the wings they are fantastic!

I see alot of complaints on here, but this place was great when I was coming here, that is 1984, yes 41 years ago, paid 4 dollars to bowl for one hour!!!! And the food was actually great also with arcade gaming machines everywhere, I guess times have changed, anyway miss the place, moved to San Francisco California in 1997, but miss Alief!!! ??

First time customer. Great experience. Family friendly atmosphere. Food & drinks, alcohol beverages available as well. Affordable prices. Friendly staff. 10/10.

Great old place, close to the house! Got a Groupon for this place. I have not bowled for over 40 years and i gotta say it was like I had bowled every day for the last 40 years! Bowling is still a lot of fun and I am still pretty good! Haha! This is straight up bowling with a small arcade, I don't recommend the arcade , since we lost our tokens and sign says no refunds. That was the only negative! Very nice staff, clean. Equipment was well kept! Will return again, so happy to rediscover bowling! Perfect fu

So we use this bowling alley off of Groupon and exceptionally well service, I went and talk to one of the mangers cuz I just flew in from work and my voucher was bout to expire that I purchase they honored it but normally they wouldn't cuz they are a very popular bowling alley, look at ur vouchers ppl cuz i didnt see the time period, lanes clean equipment all up to date and. Working properly, the food was very tasty chicken pizza fries nd beverages was reasonably priced iam a family of 7, lax environme

We had such a wonderful time at Emerald Bowl during the thanksgiving break while the kids were out of school. Xavier was so helpful with explaining when we could actually use the Groupon. We were so happy everything worked out because we didn't want to disappoint the kids. Once we arrived,customer service was great and took care of our large group. Everything was perfect, such a family friendly place, very clean (including the restrooms). We bowled 2 games, enjoyed reasonably priced pizzas and pitchers o

5/5 stars! I recently visited Emerald Bowling and was blown away by the exceptional service from the girls working there! They were attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our visit. But what really impressed me was the delicious basket! Every bite was flavorful and freshly. The kitchen staff Estoya, Octavia & LeRoy at Emerald Bowling truly deserve more recognition - they're doing an amazing job! Keep up the fantastic work, ladies! Can't wait to come back and experience

Bought a group on and took the kids there. From the start everyone was so nice and respectful. The boy behind the counter was so pleasant and so was the manager. They came and asked if we wanted the things up so the kids could bowl peacefully. We had a really good time!

I took my 8 year old here for the first time today to wrap up her Spring Break. She was skeptical about going but once she started knocking down pins & hitting strikes she loved it & She didnt want to leave!! My son showed her some tips! We will come back soon so we can bowl & learn more. I had to learn my way around because I hadnt been bowling since 2005 ??

I went with a large group and the staff was so accommodating. Xavier was the bestttt!! He explained how to use the Groupon first of all. He made sure everything went smooth, all the kids were taken care of and even asked if he could put some tables together so we can all sit together. The place was clean, everyone tore up the pizza so I'm assuming it was good and Xavier even took some pictures for us before we left. Everyone had such a good time that we will definitely be back!!!!!

My nephew had his 18th birthday party here. Fun times and very reasonable prices! Party of 6 was only $40. Can't beat that! Come play and have fun!

Fun place. Good parking plenty of lanes, they rent by the hour. Bar that is stocked and cost effective. Close at 2 am, checks all the boxes for a good night out

As a group of friends doing bowling for the first time in my life. It was so much fun for rolling the bowl. It was heavy when you try to carry it. I want to go here again with my friends

It's a nice bowling ?? place! Price is good and great for family and friends gathering place! We had a good time here! It's not that new system but enough for having a good fun time all together! Come and enjoy! Cheers ??

This place is organized, there aren't too many screens to distract bowling and the employees are very experienced, helpful and friendly. My favorite place in the area for sure.

I'm going to give this place 5 stars BASED ON THE KIDS BOWL FOR FREE program. $35 covers 2 adults, 3 kids and is good for the Summer until 8/31 as long as the time is used before 4pm. The guy with the fro at the counter was really nice and even gave our little popsicle loving girl a popsicle (that they don't serve)... maybe a personal staff stash, but that was so kind, he didn't have to, and it's those small things that are big. It was pretty clean especially for a place that's been in operation for a LONG

Very good staff. Had issues with the balls returning, apparently need minor maintenance. Food service seems slow, May have been short staff. Note: They adjust time for problems. Would go back again.

Big, clean, open bowling alley. Lights were a lil dim but not too dark. Plenty of space to walk/get around other bowlers when it's packed. Sport shot [oil patterns] ain't no joke. Come prepared and don't expect to score too high, lol.

The place is still nice for bowling. Just hate how much their prices have gone up. Some of the working staff was very nice

Roomy bowling alley. Definitely a classic look to it and has not been modernized, but that is a positive for this place. Most modernized slleys around here are cramped and dirty. Not Emerald! I look forward to playing here more often. They have a great Pro Shop that explains everything in detail. Fast service and reasonable prices.

You'll get the bowling experience, but it is an old place and is shown through the amenities and general atmosphere. I was going to order food, but when I saw the kitchen through the window I decided that it was not a good idea.

The equipment is a little old i.e the lanes clearing and the tv these of the game, but the music was lively and the prices were reasonable so we had a great time!

Love this place. Just got a face-lift in the signage, bathrooms, new menu items, etc. Ownership is local and as invested in their guests and league bowlers as any alley in Houston. Privately owned, not a corporate run BS alley like AMF's Bowlero, etc. Tons of regulars coming here for decades. Great gathering spot and nice quiet watering hole too. Staff in every post are happy, friendly, eager to see you and catch up. Family vibes. Awesome.

This place is usually packed so I always call to ask if any lanes are available. The staff is nice and helpful. The reason I did not give it 5 stars is because I wish they had blacklights at night.

Very cool place, family friendly, drinks and food available on site, very friendly staff. The bathroom was however closed down I'm not sure for how long it will be but they had it like tarped off. But the shoes were fairly new, the carpets were clean, and the atmosphere was overall very pleasant. We've driven past this place living super close by for six years I'm really glad we finally decided to stop in, we will be back

This place could have been 5 stars! Everything was perfect, the fun and family friendly environment. Amazing staff and really good prices to bowl. The only reason this place got 3 stars was because of the FOOD. I spent 54$ on a large pizza, large fries and 4 drinks. The price was not the problem at all. The problem was that the pizza was really bad. They sell the frozen pizzas you get at walmart. The fries were tiny and they were 8$ . Refills are extra as well and well it was just horrible. Also, beware you

I purchased a Groupon for Emerald Bowl for 2 hours of bowling. Went on a Wednesday with my family at 4:30 pm which followed the rules on the fine print. Was told by the guy at the counter that there was a bowling league showing up at 5 pm and if I redeemed my coupon that my family and I would only be allowed to bowl until 5:15 pm but if I paid full price through them I would be allowed to stay longer. My family and I left without bowling. Will never be going back to this place.

Great place for spending quality time with the family.....not to crowded with an ol'skool vibe and very inexpensive for a family of four....I purchased the "Family-Pack" for this summer and will be returning and above all...MY KIDS LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!.......

Traveled to Missouri City to visit a family member. It was a BLESSED Saturday!

Came here for bowling and it was great! The staff was friendly and helpful. Lane works properly and the price is unbeatable.

I enjoyed the atmosphere. On the weekends they need two to three people handling the bar. Especially with a party in the mix. Same as food, two or more. Other than that, I had a nice time

It was great. Have lot of fun. Clean. The only reason they don't 5 start is because the machine got stuck 3 time and I lost 20 minutes and I didn't got those back. But I'm happy

One of the few great bowling allies left in Houston! It's clean, everything is working properly and the staff is awesome. The kids had a great time.

So I learned about this gem (Emerald Bowl) via Groupon which was an absolute STEAL (a two hour bowling session with shoe rental for 6 people for the grand total of $45.90)! Emerald Bowl is a clean, family friendly bowling alley that offers a good time! There are PLENTY of lanes, plenty of bowling ball options, and decently priced hand foods for purchase. Needless to say my family and I thoroughly enjoyed Emerald Bowl. This is definitely now our family?s go to bowling spot.

Really fun not super busy in the morning enjoyed myself lots

In general the place was OK, we had a good time bowling and we saw very good bowlers around us. However, the computer had a few issues keeping up the score, and the bumpers can't be used for one person only.

I went to Emerald Bowl after 7pm...Really great vibe...parking lit was well lit...security was a plus, the staff was friendly and professional. The wings from the kitchen were great, the drinks from the bar were really good and it was clean. I honestly didn't expect the great experience I had...I'll be going back!

We celebrated my brother in-law birthday here had blast

The ppl where so nice, that treated our so awesome we use a Groupon and they helped us understand how. We where from Saint Louis visiting our grandkids. They made it a great experience

Fun place, great food. Nice and clean.

They just did a remodel an it's awesome! More family fun!!!

We haven't bowled since moving to Sugar Land almost two years ago so it was nice finding a traditional, old school bowling alley that wasn't too far from home. The morning staff were great. Got us going in no time and our family had a great and fun time. We also used a Groupon which saved us some $ for our family of 6. The place seems well kept, plenty of parking and the lanes weren't dry at all. Looking forward to bowling here again.

Great customer service and staff are friendly as well as helpful and the security guard really is on top of the parking lot security if needed. Which makes you and your kids feel safe ?? the music is always playing, clean restrooms, and a good amount of lanes!

It has good specials for families and big groups. The staff OMG the front desk very nice peoples, the kitchen guy's very funny. Definitely coming back soon.

Great time. Courteous staff. More than enough lanes.

My family and I had a good time. We bowled, we laughed, we ate. Good times. Good times.

Fun time with the kiddos. Reasonably priced, decent food, and a great environment. Would love to come back and make this spot a weekly tradition.

Nice chill spot to bowl. I think they have an arcade.

I do not know how or why this place has good reviews!!! I am disgusted i walked in with my 4 year old they were smoking marijuana and just flat out ratchet inside of a bowling alley ! On top of that finally make our way to the counter because people crowded the door way just lounging and smoking to only be told that we could not use the kids bowl free today and that it was on the app i look on the app it says nothing like that and would not refund me my 2 pass adult admissions the guy did not care at all no

Excellent! 2 hours with shoes for two - $30.31

Went today w intention of using the Groupon. Never had a problem w it there before. Everyone was always nice and it was fun w my son. Today, we were matter of factly told no at 1230 pm. You must purchase the Groupon at least 24 hours in advance, so no. The young man said it would be more than double the price. The manager was busy talking w some other workers, understandable post Beryl. We said we'd never go back and we mean it. Place is looking dated and the arcade only halfway functions w very few choice

Super fun! The facility was clean, the service was fast and the staff was so friendly and super helpful! The staff here def cares about the environment they are creating and it shows! Would def recommend! Walker was very attentive and very helpful, give him a rise!

I took my son there for his 16th birthday good customer service. We actually enjoyed ourselves the pizza was really good and so were the wings Savannah is the one that took care of us and I really appreciate her customer service she did a good job thanks Savannah

Great place to go bowling. The staffs are friendly and have 40 lanes available. Their pro shop is top notch if you looking for up to date bowling gears. Mike and Lisa runs are awesome to work with and I have had many of my balls drilled by Mike.

My husband and I take our grandchildren bowling often, this is a very nice clean and friendly place. We took our children there as well, sometimes we make it a family affair and go and have fun bowling. Also had many birthday parties there, excellent place to commemorate our love ones.

Inexpensive bowling alley. Pretty busy evey time I've visit. My favorite thing is how organized and clean this location is. Plus they have a friendly staff.

Emerald Bowling Alley is our go to place for a good time ??My son finally beat me ??we recommend the supreme pizza ?? and large fries ?? the staff there is amazing and very welcoming also Sundays are our favorite day to go!so I'd recommend Emerald Bowling ?? to everyone ??

Okay, place to go. Reasonable prices. Pay attention to the day and time you go because they do have tournaments, I believe Monday thru Friday, but call ahead.

Good place to take kids. No wait, reasonable prices, ok food. Lots of fun. 3 1/2 year old loved it.

We had a great time at our tournament! The club sandwich was super yummie! The pro shop had a great selection of balls, bags, shoes, accessories, etc.

The staff are very nice and is exactly what would be described as an old-school traditional bowling alley. It's hard to get a lane whenever a league is playing. Prices have been raised to about $5-$7 per game or $35-$45 per hour depending on the time.

Me and my family had fun a

They have pretty good deals sometimes and the place is decent. We've been going to this place for a couple of times and we always have had fun.

Everyone working here was so helpful and pleasant. The man walking on the floor and checking on everyone was especially nice. Front desk was nice. The man behind the concession stand was nice too. He explained he wasn't usually the one behind there making food and apologized for the delay. I really appreciate the good customer service

Great place for bowling, multiple lanes available. People are very nice.

Great place Napa Antoine are the best bowlers

Second time we've been there, and just as much fun as the first! Clean, friendly staff, other bowlers also add to a fun atmosphere too ?? BIG O APPROVES ????

Perfect for a casual night out with friends, it's affordable and full of nostalgic charm. The staff is friendly, the snacks and drinks are just what you need. Whether you're a pro bowler or just out for fun, it's a great place to create lasting memories with friends. Highly recommended.

I held my son?s 10th birthday party at Emerald Bowl and the staff was amazing! Savannah was very helpful in planning and set-up for additional items I requested and the day of staff, Bao & Andre, were INCREDIBLE! Thank you for helping make my son?s birthday so special! We love having date night at the bowling alley and now it's even more fun as a family affair!

I had a very unfortunate experience at Emerald Bowl on 10/14/2023. My family and I were having a great time bowling initially. But our food was taking forever to come out, even though we ordered it as soon as we arrived. We paid for an hour worth of bowling and we realized that we weren't going to receive our food before our time was up. I went to the front desk and explained my situation to them. It didn't seem fair that we would not get the opportunity to eat our food during the hour that we bowled. I as

Always great service here. Friendly employees & good atmosphere. Great food at a good price. Also want to say that Izzy is one of the most dedicated, friendly & considerate mgr I know. His demeanor is always the same & he takes care of everyone. I am amazed that he knows everyone by name & can converse with all. Bowl here 3-4 times a week.

I had a good time me & my son first time here I will be back soon

My FAVORITE place to bowl. Literally there multuple times a week. Love the staff!! Great old fashioned bowling... which is exactly what I'm looking for in my bowling alley experience.

The pricing is great shoes included. Drinks and food great. The wings they serve especially delicious. Lanes are in great quality and there is plenty of space for friends and family. We did schedule a party for our trip which was not communicated to the personnel who were actually working that night so we were delayed in our time but there worked hard to get things together.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s it like visiting an arcade today?

It’s a mix of nostalgia and high-energy fun! Many arcades blend retro classics like Pac-Man and pinball with modern VR games, racing simulators, and rhythm challenges — often with music, lights, and a social vibe.

Is it better to go alone or with friends?

Both can be great! Solo visits let you focus on your favorite games, while going with friends adds competition, teamwork, and laughs. Many people plan arcade meetups as a casual hangout or even date spot.

What should I bring to an arcade?

Usually just yourself and a way to pay (some arcades still use coins, others use cards or apps). If you're competitive, bring your A-game. If you're social, bring friends or meet new ones over multiplayer games.

What’s the best time to visit an arcade?

Weekdays or early afternoons are usually less crowded — perfect for focused play. Evenings and weekends bring the buzz, especially at barcades or venues with DJs, tournaments, or themed nights.

Can I meet new people at arcades?

Absolutely! Arcades attract a mix of casual players and serious gamers. Whether you're jumping into a four-player co-op or chatting between rounds, it's a fun, low-pressure way to connect over shared interests.

Are arcades still just for kids?

Not at all. While many arcades are family-friendly, there are also adult-oriented ones with full bars, 18+ nights, or vintage nostalgia themes. Arcades today cater to everyone — from first-timers to lifelong gamers.

Are there events or tournaments I can join?

Yes! Many arcades host regular competitions, retro nights, cosplay parties, and more. Whether you're into high scores or just want to watch and vibe, events add an extra layer to the experience.

What if I’m not great at arcade games?

No worries — arcades are about having fun, not being perfect. Try a variety of games, ask others for tips, and remember: the vibe is more “let’s play” than “let’s win.”