Say you’re looking for something to do besides hitting the usual nightspots. Or it’s a rainy day and you want to have some indoor fun. Bowling, that ancient sport not normally associated with Hong Kong, is a good option.
Though not very conspicuous, there are several major bowling alleys scattered around town. There’s even a well stocked pro shop hidden down a sleepy side street in Causeway Bay. Do you know which top Hong Kong singer / actor is also a famous bowler?
If you guessed Andy Lau, you are correct!
Many private clubs offer bowling including the Yacht Club in Causeway Bay, the Aberdeen Marina Club, the Ladies Recreation Club in Mid-Levels, and certain apartment complexes. The following are a few public-friendly places to bowl around the city.
My first time bowling in Hong Kong was at the South China Athletic Association. They have a whopping 60 lanes! The SCAA’s convenient location near Causeway Bay and Happy Valley makes it a good spot when you decide to go bowling on a whim. It’s slightly hidden on Caroline Hill Road, not a place where most people travel. Though there is a membership required to bowl, it’s only a nominal fee to join for a year. Have a look at the SCAA website for more information.
[photopress:Bowling_Hong_Kong_SCAA.jpg,full,pp_image]I’ve been told the place used to be a hot spot in Hong Kong in the 70’s and 80’s. Back then the bowling complex even had an adjacent room filled with video game machines! Judging by the amazing sticker collection on the old lockers, I’d have to agree that the place was special. In addition to a Charles Bronson sticker circa Death Wish, my friend also spotted a New York Cosmos sticker. Now that’s extraordinary beyond belief! (For those of you who don’t know, the New York Cosmos were an amazing soccer team put together with superstars from all over the world, including Pele (the greatest player ever,) during the 1970’s!)
[photopress:Bowling_locker_sticker.jpg,full,pp_image]A newer bowling facility, conveniently located at the Olympic stop on the Tung Chung MTR line is housed inside the Olympian City 2 shopping mall. I’ve heard that the place even offers Disco bowling. I’ll be there to inspect first hand soon!
Another large modern bowling alley is located in Kowloon Bay in the massive HITEC building. Called Hong Kong Bowling City, the sprawling complex occupies a one time rave party venue. The concert hall where the Bape Heads World Tour took place is just upstairs.
Near the UA cinema complex in Hung Hom is Thunder Bowl. I’ve walked by the place a few years ago, but never went down to inspect. It’s located in the Whampoa area of Hung Hom just across from the gigantic boat. (If you haven’t been there, it’s worth a look!)
There are several other bowling facilities in New Territories and parts of Kowloon. I haven’t been to these, but I’ll list the addresses for reference purposes. I’d suggest calling before heading to any of these to check their hours of operation. If you’re hardcore and are interested in owning your own ball, I’ve listed the address of the A-One Pro-shop as well.
[photopress:Bowling_Hong_Kong_store.jpg,full,pp_image]SCAA Bowling Centre
88 Caroline Hill Road
(near Causeway Bay and Happy Valley)
Hong Kong
2890-8528
60 lanes
www.scaa.org.hk
Olympian City Super Fun Bowl
Shop 148, 1/F, Olympian City 2, 18
Hoi Ting Road West, Olympic
Kowloon (on the MTR line, take exit D3)
2273-4773
22 lanes
10:00-01:00 (Mon-Fri & Sun & Public Holidays)
10:00-02:00 (Sat)
Hong Kong Bowling City
Hall A, G/F, Emax,
Hong Kong International Trade & Exhibition Centre, (aka HITEC)
1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, HK
2620-3010
48 lanes
Thunder Bowl
1st Basement Site 8, Whampoa Garden
Hung Hom, Kowloon
2122-9822
22 lanes
Belair Bowling Centre
Shop 4, Level 2, Phase 1
Belair Garden Shopping Arcade
52 Tai Chung Kiu Road, Shatin, N.T.
2649-9022
18 lanes
Dragon Bowling – Amoy
S154-160, 2/F, Phase 3, Amoy Plaza
77 Ngau Tau Kok Road
Kowloon, Hong Kong
2116-1536
18 Lanes
Dragon Bowling – Tuen Mun
Yan Oi Tong Community & Indoor Sports Centre
2/F, 18 Kai Man Path
Tuen Mun, N.T.
2452-2119
30 Lanes
Mei Foo Super Fun Bowl
1/F, 95C Broadway
Mei Foo Sun Chuen
Kowloon
2742-5911
24 Lanes
U.S. Dacos Bowling Centre
1/F, Tuen Wan Garden
15-23 Castle Peak Road
Tsuen wan, N.T.
2494-7383
32 Lanes
Bowling A-One Pro-shop
G/F No.20 Haven Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
www.bowlingaone.com
Hi, good day sir. Do you know any other bowling pro shop other than the “a-one pro shop” ? Thanks for the reply.
Hi Charlie,
I can think of two: there’s one inside of the bowling alley at Olympic, and I believe there’s another inside of the bowling alley at South China Athletic Association. There will probably be other attached to the other bowling places around town.
Good luck!
Ok. Thanks for the info.
Does anyone know a good place to bowl in Hong Kong with good food and beer & wine?
Hi Bree,
I’m afraid there aren’t too many choices! I noticed that there’s a newly renovated restaurant inside the South China Athletic Association bowling complex, but I haven’t tried it yet! Why don’t you check it out and give us a report?
i used to bowl with the us consulate on monday nights in the seventies. Can you tell me when the lanes were first opened ?
Hi Bob,
Good question! I’ll ask them the next time I visit.
Actually, I could tell the place was open in the 70’s. There used to be a wall of lockers, and before the place was renovated, I saw a Charles Bronson and a New York Cosmos sticker on them! That’s old school! 🙂
The bowling center at the South China Athletic Association on Caroline Hill Road was opened on March 31st, 1966. Mr. C.K. Chow was the first person to roll a ball.
Hi, Where is a cheap and good bowling alley?
None that we have visited are exceptionally cheap. A friend told me that there’s a bowling alley in Yuen Long that is less expensive than anywhere else in Hong Kong side. We need to investigate further!
I think u should update your website. After looking at your website I went to the bowling alley at Olympian City and found that it had closed down. I wasted a whole day travelling there. Of course, I should have checked first to make sure it was there, that was my fault. But you as an administrator should ensure your facts are correct too!!!
Hi Sandie,
Wow! That’s too bad to hear that the bowling alley at Olympic closed. Unfortunately Hong Kong changes so incredibly fast that it’s impossible to keep up to date with everything.
If you look up at the top, this post was written in 2008, and all the information was accurate at that time.
If you are living on Hong Kong side, I’d recommend you join SCAA and go bowling there. They’ve recently renovated their lanes and the place is reasonably priced.
Hi
i just wanna ask if you now if scaa members can bring friends there for bowling???
thanks
Yes! If you are a card holding member you can bring up to 3 guests. 🙂
are there leagues that a single is available to join in the future. soon to be xpat moving to Hong Kong, avid bowler please advise
I believe there are leagues that you could join and compete in. Try going here: http://www.hktbc.org.hk/
Turns out the Dragon Bowling in Kowloon Bay is gone too!
Thanks for the updated info. I went to the Dragon Bowl in Tsuen Wan a few weeks ago and had a fun time. Check out their website here.
As I know SCAA is using original products, but most of the Centers in HK is using fake products. Such as pins is easy to know, the feeling is totally different!
the one in mei foo is also closed. what’s happened to bowling in hong kong??
hi just want to ask where i can buy bowling balls in kowloon preferably around nathan or mongkong that area? thanks
Are there any other contact details available for Olympian City Super Fun Bowl
The phone number above (that is listed everywhere only) does not work.
Hi Shiva!
Unfortunately, the Olympic bowling alley closed down already. The city’s high rents make it difficult to have things like bowling alleys since the dollar per square foot return is not that high.
There’s still a bowling alley in Hung Hom, in the basement of Whampoa Garden. It’s called Thunder Bowl. There’s a number for it above. Good luck! 🙂
I dont know how to bowl at all, but am very interested in this sport. I have been looking for a bowling coach without any success, I wonder if you can recommend someone within reasonable price for me. Thank you.