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Asbury Lanes
Categories: Active Life Bowling Nightlife Bars Dive Bars Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Bowling, Dive Bars, Music Venues [Edit]
209 4th AveAsbury Park, NJ 07712
(732) 776-6160
- Hours:
Wed-Sat 8 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Dive-y
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
50 reviews for Asbury Lanes
Review Highlights
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"Good place and great shows in a dying town." In 2 reviews -
"Seriously the coolest place to hang out ever." In 6 reviews -
"saw Dick Dale there last night and he rocked." In 2 reviews
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50 reviews in English
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Review from Rys M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/24/2012
I went here on Jan 13 to see some bands as part of the Light of Day benefit. I got to the venue early to get a ticket, fearing it would be sold out. The staff were super friendly and hooked me up with a wristband which to me made more sense than a paper ticket which I would probably lose.
Drinks were relatively inexpensive, had bottled beer so can't comment on the mixed drinks. The stage set up was interesting, people were actually bowling while my friend's band were on, and he wandered offstage with his guitar to watch someone bowl a strike! Very cool informal atmosphere, didn't feel like a "meat-market" like so many concert venues could be. The DJ played awesome old school punk and New Wave VINYL between bands. Totally worth the trip down from Brooklyn! -
Review from Adam K.
Jackson, NJ
4/20/2012
Always a good time at the lanes.
The crowd is awesome, regardless if you are there for a show or just getting some drinks at the bar.
All the people who work there are beyond nice as well. Drinks are good prices and if bowling is your thing than you can usually bowl all you want for $10.
You don't need a full sleeve or an ironic mustache to get in, so don't be afraid to check it out if you've never been there before. They get a lot of decent bands to play too so check their site schedule regularly. -
Review from Kurt I.
4/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
DIY punk rock mashed with the old rock and roll feel. This truly is how venues should be run. Dirty, loud, full of vagrants - awesome.
I came for the Tim Barry record release and I attempted to come before but found it closed.
Downfalls here-
Snack bar was closed. I heard the snack bar goddess quit. BUMMER. I wanted some greasy vegan treats.
The sound was awful. A mic or cord kept shorting out and no one noticed it or did anything for a long time. I wish they would run a fundraiser show to buy some new sound equipment. It seems that some of it could use some TLC/repair.
I hope this place never gets cleaned up or goes away. I will for certain be back - hopefully to ingest some grease.
PS - major bonus is the sound of the pins crashing behind the music. -
Review from Bob H.
Howell, NJ
3/5/2012
Old school for sure. Took a group of friends to Asbury Lanes last Saturday night. Place definitely had an "older vibe" that evening. We got there before 9PM. Had to wait in the lounge for about an hour to bowl until the large group of guys ended their evening.
Draft beer - 1 tap - PBR. I gave up booze for lent so it was water for me. The PBR must have been good because my group emptied multiple pitchers. We enjoyed some kind of tater-tot thing (sour cream, guacamole, beans, sprouts) as well as fries and onion rings (which were damn good). Once the fellas cleared out we got our two lanes and bowled for about an hour.
Nice crowd. Mostly gay that night (perhaps most nights?). DJ Ripper played a solid set of 80's that was really enjoyed by the late thirty somethings and the "youngish" forty somethings in our group.
Place was built in 1959 or so, and it looks it. It is marvelously "down in the heels".
Great staff, great time, great DJ. Lots of fun and not very hard on the wallet. -
Review from Lauren G.
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Granted I came here for a comic con and not for actual bowling, but man oh man...the inside of this place is bad ass. Old school all the way. The bar here is pretty swank too. I don't mind paying $5 for a beer since I'm essentially paying to hang out in a cool looking bar. If only I lived here and not in Baltimore. :(
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Review from Greg F.
Deal, NJ
5/2/2012
There are some pretty raunchy looking bull dykes here, but if you have the patience, you will find a gem or two. I actually managed to lure one of the younglings back to my castle the other night. She was a little dumb, like most of their patrons, but had the lips and thighs of an angel. When I finally got her to my room, after listening to all of her stupid dreams, I laid her out on my mattress and gave her belly a rub down she won't soon forget. For that one experience alone, I give this place four fucking stars.
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Review from Jarrett H.
Pittsburgh, PA
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Easily the coolest place in Asbury Park. A stage smack in the middle of the lanes, awesome food(Grilled cheese with BBQ Tofu and Avocado for about $5?? Yes, please!), and cheap cheap drinks made this place a constant party. We bowled a bit, but honestly that was an aside for our time spent there. The stage was cool if not hard to see from anywhere beyond a few rows and the sound could have been better but there wasn't much to be concerned about
As m. m. said, the place was understaffed - for the amount of money they were pulling they could have threw the food girl an assistant. I wound up returning a sandwich order once when an hour and a half passed and it hadn't even been started, but I doubt this place gets full at 12:30pm too often. Also, she was making the sandwiches on a countertop griddle. -
Review from m. m.
Philadelphia, PA
10/5/2011
This gem of a joint was by far the best thing about All Tomorrow's Parties fest. For starters, the retro decor is the ginchiest! It looks like the backdrop to a Shag painting. I expected to see the B-52s hanging out. Best of all, the decor seems to be totally in underground earnest, rather than touristy-50s-style-"diner"-dishonest. There's a good bit of original art that's clearly from the post-50s era on the walls (much of it for sale), which fits in nicely and keeps the place from looking too Disneyland.
The bar is excellently appointed and has a huge lounge area with lots of artsy-looking comfy couches and chairs, and those tattooed bartenders make the drinks good and strong. There is also a snack bar that was serving probably the best food available at ATP, certainly the best you could get indoors. It was a tad bit slow as the Lanes were full to capacity (with a waiting line to get in outside) yet only had one poor server working the food bar, and she was cooking everything to individual order. I've never waited so long for a two dollar corn dog in my life. But it was better than nothing and had a pretty extensive sandwich and burger menu. I would imagine on many nights the Lanes is not nearly so full so they don't have such a back-up on the food queue.
There are several bowling lanes next to the stage and you can bowl while you watch the band play, although it gets a little bit dark when they turn down the houselights for the show. The staff are way cool and obviously used to running shows. Unlike the other two venues that ATP used (Paramount Theater and Convention Hall), I did not see the Asbury Lanes staff acting bossy or hassling anybody. It was also nice and warm in there when the night got chilly, which again is not something I could say about the other two cavernous venues (or even the Wonder Bar up the street which has a lot of open-air openings).
The only negative things about this place are that the stage is not very high, so when there's a big crowd, unless you are six feet tall you probably won't be able to see the band without standing on a bench; and also, you need to be aware that the interior has different levels and steps in weird places due to its being a bowling alley with raised platforms and lanes. If you're not familiar with the layout, and there's a big crowd blocking your view, it's easy to trip and spill your drink, or trip if you've had too many drinks. Aside from that, I have nothing bad to say. I'd definitely be up for another show here, it's more awesome than the average alterna-rock club. -
Review from Tara M.
Asbury Park, NJ
Love love love The Lanes!!! Everything you'd ever want in an underground music venue is here, and way more. Strong drinks, cheap eats, personable staff, GREAT shows, plus BOWLING! You won't find a bar or club in NJ (maybe anywhere) quite like this.
The lineup of live acts at The Lanes never ceases to amaze me. From punk and hardcore to rockabilly and blues rock to local up-and-comers of all types, The Lanes books quality! The frequent burlesque shows and other non-musical events like flea markets and art shows add plenty of variety.
In short: the place is amazing. I've had a blast every time I've been there. -
Review from Emily P.
7/28/2011 5 photos
The Lanes will always have my loyalty as a bowling alley bar with a live stage at the heart of everything. Aside from a cover charge, the drinks are strong and affordable, the music is always good, and you will always meet someone you already know here. Great for live shows, DJ's that I can vouch for and plenty of room to dance. Movie night is always kind of eerie and fun here, too.
Don't miss great events like flea markets, record fairs, art shows, vintage car shows, and burlesque dancers. -
Review from Steve W.
Hoboken, NJ
6/11/2011
This is THE best underground music venue in New Jersey.
The lineups and performers are generally as awesome as it gets. Some of the best shows I've ever seen have been here. The staff is great, the drinks are cheap and good, and the crowds are almost always diverse yet compatible. Bartenders are all great. The snack bar is delicious... get a veggie burger and some tots!
Also, as a musician who's performed here, I can vouch that they treat their bands respectfully well. Sound guys have always been friendly in my experience.
Bonus points for being a pretty fun place to spend my 21st birthday. -
Review from Christopher M.
Hermosa Beach, CA
10/21/2011
Not sure how to rate this place as a bowling place, but in terms of vibe and atmosphere while watching live music it's really great. Good bar, great drunk food. Really cool idea to have a stage set up in the middle of the lanes.
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Review from Brian L.
Scranton, PA
4/11/2011
I love this place! Cheap beers in an old bowling alley! YES!
I've played here several times, always a blast. Super friendly staff and just an overall positive "vibe"
Their food rules too! BBQ tofu grilled cheese and tater tots! YES!
They're really good to the bands and the soundguys (Jim) is one of the best to work with. Only possible "not cool" thing is it's kinda "Rock-a-Billy as fuck" but if you're into that then it's an added boner. Hell, I'll take FLAMING CARDS and DEVIL HORNS if it means cheap beer and a blast in a "vintage-ass" bowling alley. fun place! -
Review from Gina G.
Trenton, NJ
5/10/2011
The place is the tops!
The ambiance is untouchable. Porkroll and tots (yum), and beer! The staff is friendly, and the bathrooms are clean!
Hands down, this is one of my favorite local places to visit, whether it is to see a show or just hang out. -
Review from Dan M.
Sea Bright, NJ
11/22/2011
Wow is this place amazing. Rock n' Roll bands, dance parties, food, an art gallery, a full bar, a pool table, a photo booth... all in the middle of a retro-1950s style bowling alley. A unique and amazing experience you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else on the East Coast, let alone the world.
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Review from Megan M.
Philadelphia, PA
11/26/2011
Great food and fun crowd. Always something entertaining going on. Reasonably priced bowling, food, and drinks. Love the atmosphere.
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Review from Nina B.
8/18/2010
Badass(bury) place.
I visited Asbury Lanes as part of a bachelorette party, and boy, was it a good time. There was a burlesque show that was off the chain (I think they were from NYC), the drinks were great (I got the best Arnold Palmer of my LIFE), and the snack bar had an amazing menu (I had the grilled brie, bacon, and granny smith sandwich, but was seriously considering the totchos-- yes, nachos with tots). Oh, and curly fries. God bless any establishment with curly fries.
My only complaints are:
#1. While those snack bar ladies worked their tushies off, they were still BACKED UP. I probably could have had a pizza delivered to the place faster.
#2. Some patrons were jerks. But I guess some people are jerks, and even they find their way to places cool kids hang out. -
Review from Suge K.
San Francisco, CA
4/12/2006
***Updated 1/3/2007****
Fucking shithole run by a bunch of shitty people. Used to be a cool place and then they fucked over everyone who mattered. Don't support these assholes.Listed in: Avoid Like the Plague!
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Review from Andrea M.
Rahway, NJ
9/28/2011
This place really rocks. The décor is pretty awesome. The food was good. And you can bowl. The staff was very nice! We celebrated my little sister's birthday there. The whole place was very accommodating to our needs. There was also a burlesque show there. The show was wonderful!! What a great place nj has to offer!!
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Review from Stewart K.
Manhattan, NY
5/23/2010
This is probably this most difficult review I've had to write thus far. I want to say positive things about the lanes without sounding negative about it, which I'm really not. Ultimately, my review is only going to sound appealing to the hipsters (Yelp's primary demographic), but despite my own mixed feelings towards them (hipsters not Asbury Lanes), I'll do my best.
There is a lost seaside resort known as Asbury Park. Once a great family destination, the greatest on the East Coast, in fact, died a painful death after the riots and the construction of the Garden State Parkway. Yet in the rubble, there managed to survive a bar/bowling alley all these years, while still maintaining a early 60's gogo vibe.....
And that piece of history is what help makes the Lanes so cool. The town is mostly deserted, even in the summer, near the beach. Still this place attracts a decent crowd. Most don't bowl here (at least when I've gone) rather they listen to whatever band they have set up on a stage over the lanes. Sometimes famous, usually good. Indeed, music is the strong suit of this place. There's a bar/lounge off to the side, with some of the best and most colorful bartenders I've ever had the pleasure of being served by. And the rare 5 star review? Well maybe I'm feeling a little generous today, but I can't ever remember having a negative feeling towards this place, which is unusual since I love to gripe (hence I yelp!) Hmmm....maybe I can say this, Pabst flows freely here....read into that as you see fit. -
Review from Joseph W.
Los Angeles, CA
12/22/2008
This place reminds me of my hardcore youth in NJ/NYC but with a little dash of LA thrown-in for good measure. Most of the shows I went to growing up were in basements and knights of colombus and vfw halls, but the added touch of a bar with $2 PBR's makes my heart soar.
The bowling isn't state-of-the-art, the place isn't the cleanest ever, and the sound is horrible, but coming here the other night made me really pissed I didn't know this place existed because I would have been coming here for years. -
Review from Rebecca L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/20/2008
Asbury Lanes is great!
I hadn't bowled in 9 years and we ended up staying for over 4 hours. It was 10 bucks for unlimited bowling, shoes included. Five bucks cover to hear some great noteable DJs spin soul 45s all night. The photo booth is 3 bucks and slightly temperamental (also blinding).
One of the owners of Crybaby gallery owns this place (I believe) and she is really a nice lady. The girl behind the counter wasn't so nice. Regardless, a great way to spend a weekend night.
They also have food and a bar--didn't try out either.
If you are looking for a place to throw a large birthday party, Asbury Lanes would be awesome...as long as you invite me.
ps: 18 to enter!Listed in: You are stranded in Bradley…
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Review from Tom D.
Morristown, NJ
6/2/2007
Cool place...saw Dick Dale there last night and he rocked.
tiny venue, about 20 bowling lanes and the stage is set up right over the 5 lanes in the middle of the alley. The place is hot and humid, the beer is cheap ($2 PBR), the crowd has lots of ink, and the decor is right out of the Jetsons. Not the Asbury Park I remember as a kid, or maybe I just didn't go here.
Worth the trip to hear local music. The crowd is friendly, you'll have fun. -
Review from Matthew R.
Austin, TX
12/27/2009
This place is awesome. I've been drinking and partying here since I was 18. The bartenders are great and so are the tater tots.
You'll have a ton of a fun with $5 all you can bowl. -
Review from Citizen Cliff G.
Red Bank, NJ
Updated - 12/28/2011
One of my favorite places on planet Earth!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/11/2011
Cheap drinks, great shows, no douche bags, no hassles. A great place to have a good time with… Read more »
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Review from Sarah d.
11/10/2009
Awesome place to hang out and bowl.
They play great music and also have live bands. There is a lounge/bar area. Bowling and beers are real cheap. You have to do the scoring yourself but thats not so bad, in fact it suits the ambiance here, if you can call it that.
If you like cheap bowling, cheap beer, low lighting and rock and roll, you will fall in love with this place as soon as you walk in. -
Review from Chrim K.
Kearny, NJ
8/9/2010
Bowling, live music, great dj sets, tater tots, and a funky bar. This place has it all.
Not to miss: Record Swaps & New Year's Eve Party -
Review from Meredith P.
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
2/6/2012
asbury lanes is an awesome venue! super fun and unique. a must check out place. blowing, live music, super cheap (vegan friendly too) eats.....they host events that you will just not find anywhere else. dress is casual to outregeous....whatever your feeling that night. i hope this place is around forever!
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Review from James B.
Spring Lake, NJ
7/21/2011
Cheap beers, cheap eats....and the punk rock, don't forget the punk rock....equals good times!
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Review from Chelsea V.
Rutherford, NJ
9/3/2006
Bowl while watching local bands play their shit. What an awesome place. The stage is set up right in the middle of the lanes!
When I went this past Saturday, I paid ten dollars for unlimited bowling. We got a lane right next to the stage and bowled for the next four hours.
Asbury Lanes looks just like a classic bowling alley and has the coolest decor of any bowling alley I have ever been in. Cheap food (vegetarian offerings!), cheap bowling, and shows. I can't wait to go back. Plus, it's a short walk away from the boardwalk! -
Review from Jenn L.
Los Angeles, CA
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Review from Liana L.
Brooklyn, NY
12/4/2008
A few years ago this place changed to 21+ which was very disappointing to me but the times I did spend there were awesome! How cool is it to be able to bowl and listen to great bands play on a stage right over the bowling alley!? Saw Against Me! and the Soviettes there, what a great show... and a great place.
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Review from Stephanie G.
Ithaca, NY
5/18/2010
The Lanes is one of my favorite spots that exist. Growing up around Asbury, I've seen this place go through a few incarnations and it's now a really unique space, good for live shows, bowling, dancing, watching films or sitting around. The space is so large that you'll hear complaints about the sound, but It makes up for that and then some with the atmosphere and vibe. The people who work here and the people who frequent here are all interesting, talented and incredible. Drinks are stiff and music's good. That's all you can really ask for!
Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Sleazeme P.
New York, NY
3/21/2006
the ventures rocked this venue up to high heavens.
punk, drunk and roll, is all i have to say about this place. $2 PBRs, hot chicks with tattoos serving your beer, and bowling to Social D on the the sound system. -
Review from gogoAmy H.
Teaneck, NJ
5/3/2010
Seriously the coolest place to hang out ever! Great staff, fun crowds, tasty food plenty of booze, always awesome art on the walls plus cool and interesting shows there. I could hang out at Asbury Lanes every night of the week and never get sick of it. I love this place.
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Review from Kristina V.
Scotch Plains, NJ
10/23/2009
Great Place to watch shows, bowl and have fun!! I miss it, it's a little far to drive. I wish there was a place like this around my house
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Review from Jason F.
Los Angeles, CA
5/1/2010
Great place run by great people. This is truly the definition of a "local club" and deserves support. I was there on a tour and, while the turnout was less than stellar, we all had a really great time and would come back in a heartbeat.
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Review from meli l.
8/12/2010
Fun place to go, frequently good shows. Seems like every time we go there's a pretty steep cover, though - that's kept us from coming back as much as we'd like.
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Review from Kevin J.
8/12/2010
It would be nice to be able to get into the place to give it a fair assessment. However, every time I visit Asbury Lanes during the late afternoon I am denied a lane. Like they're only in business to turn away business! I'm going to rate: not sure! on all the additional tips and give a below average rating for the below average front of the house customer service, although I'm glad they support the music scene. They can't even tell me what their operating hours are, they just tell me they're closed. I guess I should know that by now. Lame.
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Review from Heather T.
Princeton, NJ
4/15/2008
Best Place Ever! There are rumors that the lanes might get taken by eminent domain, go now and enjoy the best damn bowling alley/bar/music venue ever!
