Kings

Back Bay, Boston –

There's no shortage of entertainment at Kings, a 24,000-square-foot facility filled with bowling, billiards, and brews.

Chatty couples on first dates and business types bowling in suits dominate the early hours, replaced by louder groups of carefree students and young professionals later in the evening.

Some amiable patrons mingle and flirt as they wait for their personal buzzers to vibrate, signaling their lane is open, as others use the downtime to enjoy karaoke, trivia, or the occasional boisterous round of shots.

A floor-to-ceiling mural of bowling pins and hundreds of celebrity photos cover the walls, while the alley itself is a sensory overload featuring checkered floors, blue fluorescent lighting, and flat-screen TVs over each of the sixteen lanes.

Curved wooden benches provide plenty of seating for the animated groups playing high-energy games or indulging in an impromptu dance party to Lady Gaga around the lanes.

Those interested in quieter entertainment can play on one of the eight pool tables in the billiard room, which also contains a lively bar offering the same creative cocktails, including the huge and enigmatic Swedish Fish Scorpion Bowl.

Anyone in search of a vibrant venue for a date or a group outing will find it at Kings, a classy playground appealing to the big kid in everyone.