Bowling Restaurant Menken Leiden: prices, parties and groups

Bowling for casual visitors and groups

Bowling Restaurant Menken is located on Kenauweg in western Leiden and combines recreational bowling with a restaurant, children's parties, school activities and facilities for competitive bowlers. The lanes use a modern scoring system with several game formats. A visit therefore does not have to consist only of traditional ten-frame bowling. Families can choose easier games and children can use automatic bumpers and ball ramps.

Lane rates

Rates are charged per hour per lane rather than per person, with a maximum of six players on each lane. Monday to Friday before 18:00 costs €26. Monday to Thursday after 18:00 costs €29. Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday cost €31. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, the second hour costs €26.50, bringing two hours to €57.50. Per-person value is clearly strongest with five or six players.

Students and special rates

Sunday after 18:00 has a ninety-minute rate of €37.50. Students can also bowl for ninety minutes at €37.50 from Sunday evening through Thursday when showing a valid student card. Easter and Christmas use a separate 55-minute tariff. The final online booking total should therefore be treated as authoritative for a specific date.

Disco and game formats

On Friday and Saturday from 20:00, blacklight, music, video clips and lighting create a disco-bowling atmosphere. Children's disco bowling is offered on Wednesday afternoon. Games include Angry Birds, PinPix, Creature Feature, Pin Pals, MyShot and EZ Bowling. EZ Bowling uses five frames and one ball per frame, making the activity faster and more accessible for young or inexperienced players.

Children's parties

The party package is aimed at children of roughly six to fifteen and can be booked daily until 19:00. The current price is €14.50 per child up to age fourteen and €15.50 for participants aged fifteen or over and adults. It includes one hour of bowling, optional bumpers, lemonade, fries with a snack, a bottled soft drink and ice cream. A maximum of six children may use one lane.

Food, allergies and gluten-free options

Snack choices include croquettes, frikandel, halal frikandel, chicken nuggets and cheese soufflé. The operator states that gluten-free fries are prepared in a fryer used only for fries. Guests with coeliac disease or serious allergies should still discuss snacks, sauces, work surfaces, utensils and possible cross-contact in advance.

Restaurant and packages

Menken has its own restaurant with grill menus, buffets and coffee-table meals. Grill menus are generally available from four people and require at least one day's notice. Coffee-table options start at €16.50 per person excluding bowling. Groups should confirm whether lane rental, food and drinks are charged separately.

Schools and competitive bowling

Schools may sometimes visit outside regular hours and request a special rate. Sending player names and shoe sizes in advance helps the venue prepare. Competitive bowlers benefit from competition lanes, selectable oil patterns, local leagues and a pro shop. Menken therefore serves both casual visitors and serious players.

Opening hours and booking

The centre normally opens at 12:00 Monday to Friday, 10:00 on Saturday and 11:00 on Sunday. Lanes are generally rented until midnight and until 22:00 on Sunday. Summer periods, holidays and private groups can cause exceptions. Advance booking is strongly recommended on weekend evenings and during school holidays.

Getting there

Menken is outside the historic centre near Leiden's western access roads. Drivers can approach via the A44 or the N434 and Corbulo tunnel. Bus 2 towards Stevenshof and route 43 stop at Haagse Schouw; the operator states that the remaining walk is about three minutes. Cycling is normally fastest from central Leiden.

Accessibility

A secondary family-attraction website describes the venue as wheelchair friendly, but the official website does not provide a complete specification of thresholds, accessible toilets or assistance. Contact the venue in advance when a guest uses a wheelchair or needs help handling a ball. Automatic bumpers and ball ramps improve access for children and players with limited strength or technique.

Who will enjoy Menken?

The venue suits families, groups of friends, students, children's parties, schools, colleagues and competitive bowlers. The restaurant makes a complete afternoon or evening straightforward. Two guests face a relatively high per-person lane cost, and visitors seeking a historic or design-led attraction should expect a traditional, functional bowling environment.

Our assessment

Menken offers substantially more than a basic bowling lane. Game formats, children's aids, packages, food and competitive facilities create a broad offer. With five or six players, value is strong. Pricing is less transparent because it varies by daypart, student status and second-hour discounts. The atmosphere is traditional, but public comments frequently praise friendly service, lane quality and the social experience.