The Ballroom Bowl bowling and sports bar at 145 John Street Toronto

Entertainment District · Bowling & Sports Bar

The Ballroom Toronto

4.0 Open from noon most days

145 John St · 9 Bowling Lanes · 4 Bars & 50+ TVs · Fri & Sat to 2am

  • MusicBar playlists
  • Best NightsFri–Sat, game days
  • AreaEntertainment District
  • Dress CodeCasual
  • CrowdGroups, sports fans
  • FormatBowling & sports bar

Plan your night at The Ballroom

The fast version of this whole page.

  • How to get in Book a lane online ahead — bowling walk-ins only Fri & Sat from 5pm; the bar side is walk-in
  • Hours Fri–Sat 12pm–2am · Thu to midnight · other days to 11pm (Mon–Tue from 4pm)
  • Best nights Friday & Saturday, plus Leafs, Jays and Raptors game days
  • Dress code Casual — you're changing into bowling shoes anyway
  • Bowling $27.50/person/hr Sun–Thu · $32.50 Fri–Sat · shoes included (per the venue)

Below: full details on lanes, the bars, game days, and group bookings. Or jump straight to the booking form.

Request a Lane, Table or Group Booking

The Ballroom takes lane bookings, tables and group packages — we help you get one locked in. We respond by text or email within 24 hours.

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TorontoNightclubs.com is an independent nightlife guide and booking-request service. We're not affiliated with The Ballroom Toronto. Final reservations and entry are subject to venue approval, availability, dress code, and house policy.

At a glance

The fast facts about The Ballroom in one place.

  • Address 145 John St
  • Hours Fri–Sat to 2am
  • Format Bowling & sports bar
  • Min Age All ages (19+ to drink)
  • Entry Book lanes / walk-in bar
  • Bowling $27.50–$32.50/person/hr
  • Size 23,000 sq ft, 2 floors
  • Setup 9 lanes, 4 bars, 50+ TVs

Our take on The Ballroom

Our honest take, updated when something changes.

Visited multiple times Last reviewed

  • Fun factor 4.3
  • Food & drink 3.7
  • Nightlife energy 3.3

Best for

  • Group nights and birthdays where an activity beats a dance floor
  • Game days — Leafs, Jays, Raptors across 50+ screens and four bars
  • Work events — two floors of lanes, games and reservable space

Skip if

  • You want DJs and a dance floor — this is a sports bar that bowls
  • You're on a budget — weekend lanes run $32.50 a person per hour
  • You hate noise — pins, screens and a full bar crowd stack up

The Ballroom Bowl has been the Entertainment District's activity anchor for years — 23,000 square feet at John and Richmond, split over two floors, with nine ten-pin lanes, four bars, more than fifty TVs, pool tables, ping pong and two patios. The chain now has Yonge & Dundas and Yorkville siblings, but John Street is the original, and it still carries the formula best: give a downtown group one address that covers the activity, the food, the game and the late drink.

Bowling is the spine and it's priced like downtown: per the venue's published rates, $27.50 per person per hour Sunday to Thursday and $32.50 on Friday and Saturday, shoes included, up to eight bowlers a lane, with kids' rates and a post-5pm student rate softening the edges. The operational quirk to know: bowling walk-ins are currently only taken Friday and Saturday from 5pm, first come first served — every other time you should book the lane online ahead. The bar side is a normal walk-in sports bar, and on Leafs, Jays and Raptors nights it functions as one of the district's main watch rooms.

As nightlife it's honest about what it is. Friday and Saturday run to 2am and the room gets loud, young and bar-like — but there's no DJ-and-dance-floor program and no bottle-service theatre. It's also genuinely all-ages by day, with bumpers on the outer lanes and under-5s bowling free, which tells you the daytime and the midnight versions of this room are different animals.

Bottom line: book a weekend lane in advance, split it eight ways, and let the four bars and fifty screens do the rest — it's the easiest big-group booking in the district. If your night needs a dance floor instead of a 7–10 split, the club rooms are a five-minute walk away.

What guests are saying

Aggregated from public review platforms. Independent of TorontoNightclubs.com's editorial.

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Official site
theballroombowl.ca

Hours, lanes & bookings

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Review snapshot last checked July 2026. We don't operate, own, or earn from The Ballroom — these reviews are public on Google.

The Ballroom vs other nearby venues

If The Ballroom isn't right for your night, these are some alternatives worth knowing.

Venue Best for Music Price Door difficulty
The Ballroom Bowling, sports bar and group parties over two floors Bar playlists $$ Easy (book lanes)
Dprtment Underground-leaning club room, house-heavy nights House / Tech $$$ Medium
Lost and Found Compact King West party room, hip-hop crowd Hip-hop / R&B $$$ Medium
Century Mainstream hip-hop & Top 40, spacious room Hip-hop / Top 40 $$$ Medium
Cassius Italian supper club, dinner that rolls into a DJ night Top 40 / House $$$ Reservation

How to get into The Ballroom

Practical tips for lanes, walk-ins and timing your night.

Book the lane — don't count on walking in
  • Bowling walk-ins are currently only accepted Friday and Saturday from 5pm, first come first served.
  • Groups of 8 or fewer book lanes online; groups of 9–29 book by email with the venue.
  • The bar and restaurant side is normal walk-in — no lane needed to watch the game.
  • Use the form on this page and we'll help coordinate a lane or a group booking.
Best timing for your night
  • For cheaper lanes: Sunday to Thursday runs $27.50 a person per hour vs $32.50 on weekends; students get $13.75 after 5pm Sun–Thu.
  • For the bar energy: Friday and Saturday nights, when hours run to 2am.
  • For the game: arrive before puck drop or tip-off on Leafs, Jays and Raptors nights — the 50+ screens draw a crowd.
Hours & nights
  • Per the official site: Mon–Tue 4pm–11pm, Wed & Sun 12pm–11pm, Thu 12pm–midnight, Fri–Sat 12pm–2am.
  • Weekends are the late nights — the rest of the week wraps by 11pm or midnight.
  • Hours can shift for holidays and private buyouts — check before a special trip.
ID & age policy
  • Bowling is all ages — kids' pricing, bumpers on the outer lanes, and under-5s bowl free.
  • It's a licensed venue: 19+ with valid government photo ID to drink, per Ontario law.
  • Late weekend nights skew adult — plan family visits for daytime.
Dress code
  • Casual. Jeans, sneakers and jerseys are the norm.
  • You're trading into bowling shoes anyway — rental is included in lane pricing.
  • No doorman, no outfit judgment.
Groups & celebrations
  • Two floors built for events — venue materials cite space for up to 850 guests across the building.
  • Corporate events, private parties and meeting space are core business, with dedicated event planning.
  • Lanes take up to 8 bowlers each, which maps neatly onto team outings.
  • Submit the form with your date and headcount and we'll help coordinate.
Insider tips
  • Shoe rental is included in the hourly rate — one less line to stand in.
  • Ball weights run 5lb to 14lb, and the outer lanes have bumpers — useful intel for mixed-skill groups.
  • On big game nights, claim a bar spot early even if your lane starts later.
  • Closest TTC: St. Andrew or Osgoode Station, both a short walk; the 504 King streetcar stops at King & John.

About The Ballroom

Two floors of bowling, bars and screens in the middle of the Entertainment District.

The Ballroom — officially The Ballroom Bowl — calls itself downtown Toronto's original entertainment centre, and the claim fits the footprint: 23,000 square feet over two floors at 145 John Street, in the heart of the Entertainment District. The setup is nine ten-pin bowling lanes, four bars, more than fifty TVs, pool tables, ping pong and two patios — a one-address answer to the "what should the group do tonight" question. The brand has since added Yonge & Dundas and Yorkville locations, but John Street is the original room.

Bowling runs on published per-person hourly pricing: $27.50 for ages 13+ Sunday to Thursday and $32.50 on Friday and Saturday, with shoe rental included, kids 6–12 at $13.75/$16.25, under-5s free, and a $13.75 student rate after 5pm early in the week. Lanes take up to eight bowlers, ball weights run 5 to 14 pounds, and the outer lanes carry bumpers — details that make it as workable for a kids' afternoon as for a stag night. One rule matters more than any other: bowling walk-ins are currently only accepted Friday and Saturday from 5pm, so booking online ahead is the default. The kitchen describes itself as elevated casual — hand-crafted cocktails, beer and mocktails alongside a full food menu and a happy hour menu.

As a night out, The Ballroom is the district's group-night workhorse. Friday and Saturday hours run noon to 2am, game nights turn the four bars into one of downtown's busiest sports rooms — Leafs, Jays and Raptors are the staples — and the two floors host corporate events and private parties with venue materials citing capacity up to 850 guests. What it doesn't do is club programming: no DJs-and-dance-floor format, no bottle-service culture. For that, see our Entertainment District clubs guide or the city-wide best clubs in Toronto list — several options are within a five-minute walk.

Groups & bookings at The Ballroom

The ways to lock in lanes and space at The Ballroom. Details are confirmed on request.

  • Lane booking (up to 8) Popular

    A reserved lane, shoes included — $27.50/person/hr Sun–Thu, $32.50 Fri–Sat per the venue

    Book onlineper person hourly

  • Group lanes (9–29 guests)

    Multi-lane bookings arranged by email with the venue — the birthday and team-outing sweet spot

    By emailreserve ahead

  • Bar & restaurant table

    The sports-bar side — walk-in, with four bars, 50+ TVs and two patios

    Walk-inno lane needed

  • Corporate & private events

    Two floors with meeting space — venue materials cite up to 850 guests

    On requestquoted per event

What a booking gets you

  • A guaranteed lane — the walk-in window is narrow (Fri & Sat from 5pm only)
  • Shoes included in the hourly rate, up to 8 bowlers a lane
  • A home base with food and drinks served while you bowl
  • The game on — 50+ screens mean your lane never misses a goal
  • Scalability — the same building handles a date night or a 100-person work event

How pricing works

Bowling is priced per person per hour (published on the venue's site), and you pay food and drink as you go — there are no cover charges or minimums on the bar side. Corporate and private-event pricing is quoted per event based on date, headcount and inclusions.

Submit the form with your date and headcount, and note whether it's lanes, a bar table or a private event — we'll help coordinate it.

The Ballroom doesn't sell nightclub-style bottle service — it's lanes, bar tables and event packages. Submit a booking with your date and group size and we'll help arrange the right one.

What a typical night looks like

How a weekend at The Ballroom unfolds, first frame to last call.

  1. ~12–4pm

    Daytime lanes

    Weekend doors at noon. Families, tourists and casual bowlers have the lanes — bumpers up, kids' rates on.

  2. ~5–8pm

    After-work & walk-in window

    Friday and Saturday walk-ins open at 5pm, first come first served. Work groups take lanes and the bars fill for the early game.

  3. ~8–10pm

    Game time

    On Leafs, Jays and Raptors nights the 50+ screens run the room — the four bars are at their busiest and loudest.

  4. ~10pm–1am

    Peak energy

    Birthday groups, late lanes and the post-game crowd stack up — the closest the room gets to a bar-night atmosphere.

  5. ~2am

    Close (Fri–Sat)

    Last call and final frames — weekend nights wrap at 2am; the rest of the week ends 11pm–midnight.

Photos

Photos of The Ballroom coming soon.

The Ballroom location & directions

145 John St, at John and Richmond in the Entertainment District.

145 John Street, Toronto, ON M5V 2E4

Entertainment District · at Richmond St W · steps from the Scotiabank Theatre block

  • TTC: St. Andrew or Osgoode Station (Line 1), both a short walk; the 504 King streetcar stops at King & John
  • Parking: Public lots and Green P around John, Richmond and Adelaide; transit is easier on weekend nights
  • Contact: 647-366-7890 · JohnSt@TheBallroomBowl.ca · johnst.theballroombowl.ca
  • Finding it: The big corner building at John and Richmond — look for the Ballroom signage and the patio
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Similar clubs in Toronto

If The Ballroom is your first stop, these rooms are where the night usually goes next.

Century Toronto

Century

 

King West · hip-hop & Top 40
Lost and Found Toronto

Lost and Found

 

King West · party room
Dprtment Toronto

Dprtment

 

Entertainment District · house club

How we verify this page

Page built from The Ballroom's own materials, Toronto coverage, public review patterns, and reader feedback. As a venue that runs from family bowling to 2am weekend bar nights, the experience differs sharply by hour — the Saturday afternoon and the Saturday midnight are effectively different rooms. Use the booking form to confirm the format for the night you want.

  • Address & venue details: from the official John Street site (johnst.theballroombowl.ca) and established Toronto sources.
  • Hours, bowling pricing & walk-in policy: from the official site — including the per-person hourly rates with shoes included and the Fri/Sat-from-5pm walk-in rule.
  • Event capacity (850): from venue marketing materials; large-event specifics are confirmed by the venue's event team on inquiry.
  • Editorial review: the TorontoNightclubs.com team's independent assessment of fun factor, food and drink, and nightlife energy.
  • Reviews: aggregated from public Google profiles. We don't operate, own, or earn commissions from The Ballroom.

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Nearby in the Entertainment District

Build a full night out — dinner before, drinks first, dancing after. All within walking or short-ride distance.

For pre-game drinks

For dinner first

If this room doesn't fit

The Ballroom Toronto FAQ

Quick answers to the questions guests ask most often.

Where is The Ballroom in Toronto?

The Ballroom Bowl is at 145 John St, Toronto, ON M5V 2E4, at John and Richmond in the Entertainment District — a short walk from both St. Andrew and Osgoode stations. The chain also has Yonge & Dundas and Yorkville locations; this page covers John Street.

What are the hours at The Ballroom Toronto?

Per the official site: Monday and Tuesday 4pm–11pm, Wednesday and Sunday 12pm–11pm, Thursday 12pm–midnight, and Friday and Saturday 12pm–2am.

How much does bowling cost at The Ballroom?

Per the venue's published pricing, bowling is per person per hour: $27.50 for ages 13+ Sunday to Thursday and $32.50 Friday and Saturday, with kids 6–12 at $13.75/$16.25, under-5s free, and a $13.75 student rate after 5pm Sunday to Thursday. Shoe rental is included, with up to 8 bowlers per lane.

Can I walk into The Ballroom without a booking?

For bowling, walk-ins are currently only accepted first-come-first-serve on Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm — otherwise book a lane ahead online. The bar and restaurant side is a normal walk-in sports bar.

Is The Ballroom Toronto 19+?

No — it's all ages for bowling, with kids' pricing, bumpers on some lanes and under-5s bowling free. It's a licensed venue, so you must be 19+ with valid ID to drink. On late weekend nights the crowd skews adult.

How big is The Ballroom?

23,000 square feet over two floors, with 9 ten-pin bowling lanes, 4 bars, more than 50 TVs, pool tables, ping pong and two patios. Venue materials cite event capacity of up to 850 guests across the two floors.

Does The Ballroom show sports?

Yes — with 50+ screens it's one of the district's main game-day rooms. Leafs, Jays and Raptors games are core programming, and big fixtures fill the bars.

What food and drinks does The Ballroom serve?

The venue describes its menu as elevated casual cuisine, alongside hand-crafted cocktails, beer and mocktails, with a main menu and a happy hour menu published on its site.

Can I book The Ballroom for a birthday or corporate event?

Yes — corporate events and private parties are a core part of the business, with meeting space available and two floors that venue materials say hold up to 850 guests. Groups of 9–29 book lanes by email; bigger events are arranged with the venue's event team.

Is The Ballroom a nightclub?

No — it's a bowling alley and sports bar that runs late on weekends. Friday and Saturday until 2am it gets loud and bar-like, but there's no DJ-and-dance-floor program or bottle-service culture. For actual club rooms, several are within a few minutes' walk.

What is the dress code at The Ballroom?

Casual — it's a bowling alley and sports bar. Jeans, sneakers and jerseys are the norm; you'll be trading your shoes for bowling shoes anyway.

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