NOW EXPERIENCING:The Keys
Monday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Phone
(03) 8844 4124
Website
thekeys.com.au
Instagram
@thekeys.leisure

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 06 Apr 2023

By
Michael Harden


Fans of old-school bowling alleys, craft beer, White Russians on tap and pub-style snacks, all delivered with strong service, will believe they’ve found nirvana at The Keys.

Bowling are at The Keys
Why you goFans of the Coen brothers’ movie The Big Lebowski and those who like a generous dose of retro Americana in their 10-pin bowling experience will find plenty to smile about at The Keys. Housed in a vast, cleverly renovated former sawmill in Preston, The Keys combines a 12-lane bowling alley, games arcade, pool tables, beer garden (adding some Aussie pub culture to the mix), dance floor and surprisingly strong service for a venue with a licence for 600 patrons at a time. The drink and food components of the mix are solid enough to bring you here without sending a single ball down the glossy maple-wood lanes, but the bewitching sound of pins being flattened and the red neon signs lend an air of being transported to another place and time that’s irresistible. It will probably have you ordering a White Russian from the tap, slipping on some bowling shoes and channelling your inner Dude before the night is over. 
Why you stayThe folks behind The Keys have not stinted on the details, whether that’s stocking the arcade with classic games like Daytona or offering well-designed on-theme merch you actually want to buy. It’s particularly apparent with the bowling-alley part of the equation, which has the kind of atmosphere many of us will have only experienced via TV shows and movies out of the US. Burgundy carpeting and old theatre seats, a wash of red neon and those timeless two-toned bowling shoes all add to the effect. The dial may be firmly set to nostalgia, but all that retro is combined with the latest in bowling-alley technology (the machines do all the scoring for you) and a modern, well-considered range of drinks available from multiple bars throughout the venue. The dozen or so beers on tap are all from Aussie craft brewers (aside from the Guinness that’s available in the Bowling Bar) and the crowd-pleasing cocktails are punchy and well made. It’s the kind of place you might come for the gimmick factor, but quickly understand it’s the real deal and might just be the perfect venue for that birthday celebration or group get-together you’ve been wondering about.
bar are at The Keys
Image of Wine glass & french ires at The Keys
What drink to order

The Keys differs from your regular American bowling alley in that it offers a more-than-decent list of wine that’s available by glass and bottle, but for those after a more authentic experience it’s hard to go past the list of tap beers (though there’s good packaged beer available, too) where you can drink the likes of 3 Ravens Juicy IPA or Love Shack English Brown Ale by the pot, pint or jug. But you really need to consider ordering a cocktail here, particularly the solid on-tap White Russian (of Big Lebowski fame), excellent Salted Grapefruit Paloma or the kind-of-hilarious, completely-on-theme Nascar Spritz, which teams Italy’s bittersweet Aperol liqueur and lemon with a stubby of Budweiser.

 

What to pair it with

It comes as no surprise that the food at The Keys is resolutely on theme. A single-page menu covers all the major bowling-alley food groups, from hot dogs and pizza to burgers that do the trick without trying on any fancy designer moves. There’s a bit of an Aussie-pub theme at play, too, with the addition of fish and chips, chicken parma and steak Diane. But if you had to pick a winner on the day, The Keys’ schnitzel with its accompanying bone-marrow butter is a safe bet. 

 

image of dishes at The keys
outside sitting are at The keys
Regular’s tipIf you’re planning on a game or two of 10-pin bowling (and we suggest you do), it’s an excellent idea to book a lane ahead of time. There are a couple of lanes reserved for walk-ins, but the queue for those gets pretty long very quickly.
Don’t leave withoutChecking out the arcade games. Even those who did not have a misspent youth feeding all their pocket money into these machines will get a nostalgic kick from the titles and the atmosphere.
Sponsor logo
In partnership with Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
image credits: Charlie Hawks and Jack Lovel (architecture)