Shatto Lanes

My first trip to Shatto was 4 years ago on a rainy Thursday. I was enjoying a delightful day of hookey from work while entertaining dad and sis, in town from destinations afar. We arrived lane-side in the early-afternoon to hear Tainted Love echoing throughout the 40+ nearly deserted bowling lanes, hits from New Order and Depeche Mode followed. Needless to say, it was love at first sight. Since that fateful visit I have been back to Shatto many, many times.

In the words of their home page, "The Greatest thing about this Bowling Alley is not only the location nor the fantastic pricing, but rather the memories of what a bowling alley once was. The above ground ball returns, the dozens of early arcade machines, and the basic architectural design of the building which houses this monstrous bowling alley." So I returned, armed with Smudge, and our companion Hampster, to enjoy a few frames and kick off this little blog.

As usual Shatto delivered and the outcome was typically rad. It was Monday with most lanes filled with eager league teams. Us non-league bowlers found ourselves situated in a nice corner with a smartly dressed Asian couple to our right and a gaggle of Silverlake / EchoPark-sters to our left. A lane beyond was an Orthodox Jewish father with his three children. The mix of cultures and ethnicities that always seems present at Shatto is definitely part of the alley's allure.

First thing you notice laneside is the old-school early 80s scoring console, followed quickly by the classic above ground ball return. Lanes are in good shape. After names entered in the computer I pulled a 14lb rock off the rack and started rolling. Game 1: 143 = awesomeness.

$3 shoe rental and $5.50 a game (evening rate) puts Shatto at the lower-middle of the Los Angeles bowling price-spectrum. Domestic beers are $3.25 making Shatto an excellent location to work on getting buzzed. And for the adventerous drinker, consider the Pin-Chaser, an $8.25 concoction I have yet to order.

A few other touches worth noting. Top notch late 80s, early 90s arcade filled with all the classics: Ms. Pac Man, Centipede, Street Fighter II, and more. Pool tables for rent. Bar. Small snack shack, fries can be hit or miss, but mysteriously the mozzerella sticks are always good. Additional points for the 1980s fountain spray soda machine, stocked with Fanta and Diet Rite. You remember the kind where you drop in a buck, cup falls into place, then the ice, followed by a jet stream of soda shooting downward. If not, think Dirty Harry grabbing a soda from police headquarters and you've got it. Also, be warned the parking lot is nuts, huge columns and odd angles everywhere.

The roundup on Shatto. This is a classic alley that does not dissapoint. Great for groups, couples, or a solitary night of rolling. Gets busy on weekends but you can call ahead and reserve. The price is right from the shoe rental to the beer to the food. A perfect place to bring your east-side friends, parents, or a first date. Easily one of our favorite Los Angeles bowling alleys.

Shatto Lanes
3255 W. 4th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90020

Prices & Hours
Shoes: $3
Day Game: $3.50, Night Game: $4.50 - 5.50
Monday-Thursday: 10a - 2a, Friday-Saturday: 10a - 3a, Sunday: 11a - 2a