Let the good times roll with a game of Skee-Ball at Full Circle Bar. It’s a dollar per play but worth it when you’re paying next to nothing for quality canned brewskies ($3-$9). Drop in on Tuesday or Thursday for free Skee, jumbo pretzels, and hot dogs loaded with jalapeno ketchup.
Full Circle Bar, 318 Grand Street, between Havemeyer Street and Marcy Avenue, Williamsburg (347-725-4588 or fullcirclebar.com).
No jive turkeys at this jazzy pool hall: cheap beer, live music nightly, and games aplenty (chess, Scrabble, ping-pong, billiards). Can you dig it?
Fat Cat, 75 Christopher Street, between Seventh Avenue and Bleecker Street (212-675-6056 or fatcatmusic.org).
Rock ’n’ roll, literally, at Williamsburg’s bowling alley and music venue in one. While chugging Brooklyn-brewed beer and noshing on Blue Ribbon bites, take note of this cool detail: The sixteen-lane behemoth is the first LEED-certified bowling alley in the world.
Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue, between North 11th and 12th Streets, Williamsburg (718-963-3369 or brooklynbowl.com).
This carefully curated game room and bar houses Ms. Pac-Man, foosball, pool, and classic board games. The beer, mixed drinks, and habanero chicken wings won’t empty your wallet.
675 Bar, 675 Hudson Street, between 13th and 14th Streets (212-699-2410 or 675bar.com).
Whether you’re a table tennis pro or still trying to perfect your backhand, Spin lets you go balls to the wall — as in, you have an entire bucket of balls at your disposal, and you don’t have to chase them midgame. It does get pricey ($20 for a half-hour at a table after 6 p.m.), so split the cost with some buddies.
Spin New York, 48 East 23rd Street, between Madison and Park Avenues (212-982-8802 or spinyc.com).
In a sea of West Village bars, head to this bookish watering hole for games of darts, pinball, and Pac-Man along with your cold brew.
Kettle of Fish, 59 Christopher Street, between Seventh Avenue South and Grove Street (212-414-2278 or kettleoffishnyc.com).
My, how divey this place is. The better to keep things raucous. The Gutter’s ’70s-era basement furniture outfits a few wooden lanes where hipster pals share pitchers and try to keep cool while launching bowling balls deep into the night.
The Gutter, 200 North 14th Street, between Wythe and Nassau Avenues, Williamsburg (718-387-3585 or thegutterbrooklyn.com).
Revenge of the nerds: The library-themed bar has shelves of old books, dark woods, fireplaces, leather chairs, and a bocce ball court. Downstairs there’s a small venue for karaoke, comedy, and music.
Union Hall, 702 Union Street, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, Park Slope (718-638-4400 or unionhallny.com).
Practice your jump shot at the free throw basketball machine, play tabletop shuffleboard or an old-school arcade game, and share a bowl of bacon (yes, bacon) with your fellow sports fans. Just don’t leave without doing at least one pickle juice shot.
The Whiskey Brooklyn, 44 Berry Street, between 11th and 12th Streets, Williamsburg (718-387-8444 or whiskeybrooklyn.com).
Challenge co-workers to a rousing game of Scattergories at the cozy Noho bar. Go for $3 drafts during happy hour (daily, 4-8 p.m.), addictive garlic fries, and eight high-def TVs tuned to pro sports.
West 3rd Common, 1 West 3rd Street, between Broadway and Mercer Street (212-529-2059 or west3rdcommon.com).
The glitzy Harlem Lanes has a mini arcade, flat-screen TVs, karaoke nights, disco bowling, and high-heeled bowling shoes. Lick your fingers (BBQ shrimp, spring rolls, and sliders) before going for that spare.
Harlem Lanes, 2116 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, between 125th and 126th Streets, Harlem (212-678-2695 or harlemlanes.com).
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