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A bowling ball on a polished lane facing a rack of ten white bowling pins with red neck stripes
★ The 2026 bowling guide

Bowling in and near North York: three alleys, one duckpin surprise.

North York has 3 places to bowl — Playtime Bowl, RINX and Playdium Fairview — and the classic neighbourhood alleys are gone. Four more sit just outside the boundary.

📌 Updated: October 4, 2026By the editors5 min read
3
bowling venues inside North York
4
more alleys just outside the boundary
0
5-pin alleys confirmed in North York
2018
year Bathurst Bowlerama closed
The 30-second answer

Playtime Bowl is the main North York alley; the rest are nearby.

Playtime Bowl & Entertainment (33 Samor Rd) is the largest bowling venue in North York, with RINX (65 Orfus Rd) and Playdium at CF Fairview Mall (1800 Sheppard Ave E) as the other two. No 5-pin alley is confirmed in North York. For posted prices, Splitsville in Richmond Hill lists single games from $8.99 for adults.

If you only have a minute

The 5 things you actually need

  1. The 3 alleys inside North York
  2. 4 alleys just outside
  3. 5-pin vs 10-pin vs duckpin
  4. Cosmic bowling and parties
  5. Quick answers
Inside the boundary

Where to Bowl in North York

Only 3 venues inside North York offer bowling, all confirmed operational through Google Places on October 4, 2026.

Playtime Bowl & Entertainment, North York
In North YorkCosmic bowlingBirthday parties

1. Playtime Bowl & Entertainment

📍 33 Samor Rd, North York, ON M6A 1J2

Playtime Bowl at 33 Samor Rd is the biggest alley in the area: its site lists 28 lanes, VIP lanes, cosmic bowling, laser tag and an arcade, and it hosts birthday parties. Google users rate it 4.3 from 5,706 reviews (Google Places, October 4, 2026).

Worth knowing: We could not confirm lane or party prices from the official site on October 4, 2026, and the site loads its prices dynamically. Check current rates and party packages before you book. We have not confirmed whether the lanes are 5-pin or 10-pin.

Google: 4.3 (5,706 reviews)
Website Map
In North YorkMini bowlingCosmic bowling

2. RINX Entertainment Centre

📍 65 Orfus Rd, North York, ON M6A 1L7

RINX at 65 Orfus Rd is a 150,000 sq ft entertainment centre with laser tag, minigolf, roller skating and hockey, and kids' directories list mini bowling and cosmic bowling. Google Places showed it as operational on October 4, 2026, rated 3.8 from 690 reviews.

Worth knowing: This is closer to a party venue than a standard bowling alley, and it may be mainly private or party bookings. The old rinx.ca address now points to a parked page, so we have no official website to link: confirm hours and booking before you go.

Google: 3.8 (690 reviews)
Map
Playdium at CF Fairview Mall, North York
In North YorkDuckpin

3. Playdium at CF Fairview Mall

📍 1800 Sheppard Ave E (CF Fairview Mall), North York, ON M2J 5A7

Playdium at CF Fairview Mall opened in December 2024 with 60+ arcade games, party rooms and duckpin bowling — a smaller ball and pins than 10-pin, and a different game from 5-pin. Google rating 4.4 from 457 reviews (October 4, 2026).

Worth knowing: Duckpin pricing was not confirmed, so check with the venue.

Google: 4.4 (457 reviews)
Map
Worth the drive

Just Outside North York

These four are not in North York. Each label below names the actual neighbourhood.

Bowls & Blasters, North York
Just outside: Thornhill

Bowls & Blasters

📍 1 Promenade Cir, Thornhill, ON L4J 4P8 (Promenade Mall)

Bowls & Blasters sits inside Promenade Mall in Thornhill, just north of North York. A Replay Magazine report on its opening described 12 lanes alongside laser tag, bumper cars and an arcade. Google rating 4.7 from 652 reviews (October 4, 2026), the highest of the seven venues on this page.

Google: 4.7 (652 reviews)
Map
Splitsville Richmond Hill, North York
Just outside: Richmond HillPrices posted

Splitsville Richmond Hill

📍 9 East Wilmot St, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1A3 (near Leslie St and Highway 7)

Splitsville Richmond Hill posts the clearest prices of any alley here. Its site lists a single game from $8.99 for adults (16+) and $7.49 for seniors, students and children, and two games from $17.99 for adults, $14.99 for seniors and children and $10.00 for students (checked October 4, 2026). Free on-site parking.

Worth knowing: These are "starting at" prices. Peak times can cost more, so confirm when you book. Google rating 4.2 from 3,714 reviews.

Prices from splitsvillebowl.ca, Oct 4, 2026
Website Map
Kennedy Bowl, North York
Just outside: Scarborough10-pin

Kennedy Bowl

📍 2300 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, ON M1P 2R3

Kennedy Bowl in Scarborough was reported to have 32 ten-pin lanes in a 2017 BlogTO roundup; lane counts may have changed since. Google Places showed it as operational on October 4, 2026, rated 4.0 from 943 reviews.

Google: 4.0 (943 reviews)
Map
Bowlerama Rexdale, North York
Just outside: Etobicoke

Bowlerama Rexdale

📍 115 Rexdale Blvd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 1P1

Bowlerama Rexdale in Etobicoke is a bowling alley in Etobicoke; Google Places showed it as operational on October 4, 2026, rated 4.4 from 1,621 reviews.

Worth knowing: Older sources describe a mix of 5-pin and 10-pin lanes, but its own site lists 32 ten-pin lanes. Those sources conflict, so ask which games are available before you go.

Google: 4.4 (1,621 reviews)
Website Map
The rules of the game

5-Pin vs 10-Pin vs Duckpin

StyleBallWhere near North York
10-pinLarge ball with finger holesKennedy Bowl is reported 10-pin; Bowlerama Rexdale's site lists 10-pin lanes
5-pinSmall handheld ball, no finger holesNo alley confirmed inside North York; Shamrock Bowl (280 Coxwell Ave) is a Toronto option
DuckpinSmall ball, short squat pinsPlaydium at CF Fairview Mall

No 5-pin alley is confirmed in North York. That is a real change: Bathurst Bowlerama (2788 Bathurst St) closed December 15, 2018 after 56 years, and Newtonbrook Bowlerama (5837 Yonge St) has also closed. If 5-pin is what you want, call ahead to ask which game each venue runs.

Lights down, music up

Cosmic Bowling and Birthday Parties

Cosmic bowling is advertised at Playtime Bowl (33 Samor Rd), and kids' directories list it at RINX (65 Orfus Rd). Both venues also host birthday parties. Playtime lists packages on its birthday page; we could not confirm current party prices on October 4, 2026, so ask for a written quote including shoes, food and laser tag.

For younger kids, see our kids' activities guide, which covers indoor playgrounds, trampoline parks, arcades and more.

Quick answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any 5-pin bowling alleys in North York?

No 5-pin alley is confirmed inside North York as of October 4, 2026. Two former neighbourhood alleys, Bathurst Bowlerama (2788 Bathurst St, closed December 15, 2018) and Newtonbrook Bowlerama (5837 Yonge St), have both closed. Remaining Toronto 5-pin options, such as Shamrock Bowl at 280 Coxwell Ave, are outside North York. Playtime Bowl's pin type is unconfirmed, so ask before you book.

Where can you bowl in North York?

Three venues are inside North York: Playtime Bowl & Entertainment (33 Samor Rd), RINX Entertainment Centre (65 Orfus Rd) and Playdium at CF Fairview Mall (1800 Sheppard Ave E). Playdium offers duckpin bowling; RINX lists mini bowling.

Where is cosmic bowling in North York?

Playtime Bowl at 33 Samor Rd advertises cosmic bowling, and kids' directories list cosmic bowling at RINX, 65 Orfus Rd. Check each venue for current cosmic-bowling hours, since schedules and prices change.

How much does bowling cost near North York?

The only price we could confirm on October 4, 2026 is at Splitsville Richmond Hill: a single game from $8.99 for adults and $7.49 for children, seniors and students, and two games from $17.99 for adults. Playtime Bowl's lane, party and shoe pricing is posted on its site but loads dynamically, so check it directly.

What is the difference between 5-pin, 10-pin and duckpin?

10-pin uses the large ball with finger holes that most people picture. 5-pin, a Canadian variant, uses a small handheld ball with no finger holes and five taller pins. Duckpin uses a small ball and short, squat pins. Playdium at CF Fairview Mall offers duckpin; Kennedy Bowl is reported to be 10-pin.

What happened to Bathurst Bowlerama?

Bathurst Bowlerama at 2788 Bathurst St closed on December 15, 2018, after 56 years, according to BlogTO and CTV News. The site was redeveloped for condos.

Can I have a kid's birthday party at a bowling alley in North York?

Playtime Bowl and RINX both host birthday parties. Playtime lists party packages on its birthday page, but we could not confirm current prices, so request a quote. For more kids' options, see our kids' activities guide.

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Venue photos via Google Maps.