When the weather's hot, there are only a few ways to enjoy some indoor entertainment without sitting around, and bowling is a classic. San Antonians now have a new place to retreat into the air conditioning with the recent opening of the city's second Pinstack, a modern bowling alley, entertainment venue, and restaurant.
The new venue is now open at 19238 IH-10, between Ferrari of San Antonio and Brasão Brazilian Steakhouse, for a slightly more attainable evening out. Although the trend for indoor semi-sporty entertainment in 2024 seems to be over-the-top adult mini-golf, Pinstack mostly sticks to the traditional bowling script.
Still, some updates include large TV screens over the lanes, fun light shows over the pins and across the bumpers, and sometimes projections on the lanes. Of course, a lights-out experiences helps accentuate these flourishes, although the tables farther back are brighter.
There's much more than bowling across the 54,000-square-foot entertainment center, including an arcade with "hundreds" of video games, virtual reality experiences, traditional game, and a 24-foot rock climbing wall. Criss-crossed above all this is a 20-foot high-ropes course that sends visitors in a balance-challenging obstacle adventure. As below, so above: The flashy arcade can be seen from the course, and the rock climbing wall is adorned with its own LED lights.
Pinstack has also stepped up its food game compared to many other bowling alleys, with a "modern American" menu that features the usual suspects — pizza, burgers, and chicken wings — alongside more balanced and global fare. Less expected options on the spring and summer menu include a choice of three salads, Cajun mahi mahi with market veggies, Korean barbecue ribs, and a few different types of tacos. Indecisive visitors and large parties might benefit from large sampling platters, like one with 50 wings or a 36-inch hotdog.
How's that for a bowling alley snack?Pinstack/Instagram
Alongside the extensive food menu is a full cocktail bar with 24 beers and 12 wines on tap. Milkshakes are a fun non-alcoholic touch in seven flavors. All this is served both on the lanes and in a more enclosed restaurant, plus on a temperature-controlled patio.
Locals may already be familiar with the Dallas-based chain after visiting the location at San Antonio's Park North Shopping Center, which was the first in the city. There are now six locations in total, including three in North Texas, one in Austin, and another in Westlake, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, coming soon.
“We knew that we wanted to open multiple locations in the [San Antonio] area," said Mark Moore, CEO of Entertainment Properties Group, Inc, the parent group for Pinstack, in a press release. It also operates Strike + Reel, a similar concept that includes a movie theater. "North Rim was a natural fit for our second location because of its proximity to major business headquarters, travel, tourism and shopping."
The choice to be near business headquarters may sound out of place, but this entertainment venue also differentiates itself by offering private meeting rooms and catered events that can scale up to 1200 guests. Why aren't more business meetings conducted at bowling alleys?
Pinstack's North Rim location is open Sundays through Thursdays from 10 am to midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 2 am. More information and reservation links are available at pinstackbowl.com.
