Looking for some family fun this holiday season? The Alley Lounge and Lanes just might be right up — well — your alley! This is lively entertainment any time of year, with bowling, billiards, bocce, darts, and shuffleboard. It stands out though, this time of year, as an excellent choice for multi-generational fun, with a big emphasis on good food and drinks, too. I mean, how many bowling alleys have a real executive chef? Ever Pas, who made his local reputation with his popular El Sabor food truck, oversees the kitchen here.
THIS IS HOW WE ROLL
The whole Hutton Broadcasting team loved our holiday party at The Alley last week. Few of us were great bowlers, but everyone had a great time.
Joey and Hannah Padilla opened The Alley in 2019 with a vision of a family-friendly center for multiple activities. Central to the concept is a dozen bowling lanes, a half-dozen pool tables, and spaces for bocce, darts, and even shuffleboard. It’s spacious, light, airy, and very clean. They offer discounts for locals, seniors, and kid bowlers with an adult.
FOOD AND BEVERAGES AT THE ALLEY
Then, there’s that food. Sure, you can get expected bowling alley treats like hot dogs, burgers, and pizza. Chef Ever is offering so much more though, melding together a world of flavors. You can eat at tables or have the food accompany you to the lanes or elsewhere. We enjoyed tacos and enchiladas, and an especially piquant salsa. You can order much more, like grilled artichoke hearts dotted with black olives, grilled chipotle chicken basted with a balsamic glaze, and ribeye skewers with chimichurri. Salad fans have a couple of freshly made options. A super sandwich piles together ham, provolone, avocado, green chile, and chipotle mayo on sourdough. Churros are delectable for munching after the rest of a meal.
Happy hour, from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, has many specials. You’ll find local beers, some available in flights. Cocktails are creative. Check out drinks such as the Tequila Shuffle, with Blanco tequila, ginger beer, lemon juice, and orange bitters, or the crazy good The Dude, blending Skrewball peanut butter whiskey, Kahlua, and half-and-half.
STRIKE!
When I was in high school and beyond, my friends and I loved hanging out at a hometown bowling alley. Hanging out at The Alley brought back all those fond memories. It’s a good place to create new memories too.
The Alley Lounge and Lanes 
DeVargas Center, north side
153 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe
Thealleysantafe.com
505-557-6789
Open daily at 11 a.m.
Story and photos by Cheryl Alters Jamison
Four-time James Beard Foundation Book Award-winning author Cheryl Alters Jamison is the host of Heating It Up on KTRC and is now the “queen of culinary content” for SantaFe.com. Find new stories about the Santa Fe food scene each week on SantaFe.com.
