Restaurant in Philadelphia, United States
Northern Liberties' reliable casual night out.
North Bowl in Northern Liberties is Philadelphia's go-to casual venue pairing bowling with bar food and drinks. Easy to book, best mid-week for first-timers or weekends for groups. Not a dining destination, but a solid, low-pressure night out that earns repeat visits when you know how to time them.
North Bowl sits at 909 N 2nd St in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties neighborhood, and it earns its place as a go-to spot for casual nights out in a part of the city that does casual very well. Booking is easy — walk-ins are generally fine, and the format rewards spontaneity rather than planning. If you're a first-timer trying to figure out whether this is worth your evening, the honest answer is: yes, provided you're in the right headspace for a laid-back, multi-activity venue rather than a sit-down dinner destination.
Because the venue data doesn't include a published price range, plan for mid-range Philadelphia casual spending — think bar-food pricing with drinks on leading, not a splurge night. That positions North Bowl closer to the neighborhood-hangout end of the spectrum than to the dining-destination end. If you're looking for a serious dinner, Fork (New American) or Friday Saturday Sunday (New American) serve that need better. North Bowl's value is in the combination of food, drinks, and entertainment under one roof.
First visit: come mid-week when the space is quieter and you can actually get a feel for the layout and the vibe without fighting for space. Use this visit to get your bearings , grab a lane, try the bar, and order something direct. Second visit: weekend evenings are when North Bowl operates at full energy, which is genuinely fun if you know what you're walking into. Bring a group of four to eight for the leading experience , smaller groups can feel a little lost in the format, and larger parties get unwieldy. Third visit, if it earns one: try it as a late-night option after dinner elsewhere in Northern Liberties or Fishtown. The area is well-served by bars worth exploring, covered in our full Philadelphia bars guide.
Mid-week evenings offer the smoothest experience for first-timers. Friday and Saturday nights are high-energy but crowded , expect to wait for lanes. Sunday afternoons can be a good middle ground: social without the full weekend rush. For the wider Philadelphia dining picture, see our full Philadelphia restaurants guide, our full Philadelphia hotels guide, and our full Philadelphia experiences guide.
Reservations: Walk-ins generally work; advance booking recommended for weekends. Dress: Casual , this is a bowling alley bar, not a dress-code room. Budget: Mid-range casual; expect bar-food and drinks pricing. Getting there: Northern Liberties is accessible by public transit and rideshare from Center City.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Bowl | Easy | — | |
| Friday Saturday Sunday | Unknown | — | |
| Fork | Unknown | — | |
| South Philly Barbacoa | Unknown | — | |
| Jean-Georges Philadelphia | Unknown | — | |
| Helm | Unknown | — |
Comparing your options in Philadelphia for this tier.
North Bowl is primarily a bar and bowling venue in Northern Liberties, so drinks are the focus rather than a destination food menu. Come for cocktails and bar-style food that keeps the night moving rather than a sit-down dining experience. If food is a priority for your night out, eat before you arrive or pair your visit with a nearby Northern Liberties restaurant.
Yes, bar seating is part of the casual format at North Bowl, and the setup at 909 N 2nd St suits drop-in drinking over structured dining. It works well for grabbing a drink before or after bowling without needing a reservation for a table. Don't treat it as a dinner destination — treat it as a bar that happens to have lanes.
If you're after a proper dinner instead of a casual night out, Fork in Old City and Friday Saturday Sunday in Fairmount are both stronger choices for food-focused occasions. South Philly Barbacoa is the pick if you want something affordable with serious culinary credibility. North Bowl fills a specific gap — group-friendly, activity-led, low-commitment — that none of those venues are trying to fill.
Solo dining is fine if you're happy at the bar with a drink, but North Bowl is built around group activity, and bowling alone has limited appeal. For a solo evening where the food and atmosphere carry the experience, Friday Saturday Sunday or Helm are better fits. North Bowl is worth a solo visit only if you're meeting others there.
North Bowl works for a birthday group outing or a casual celebration where the vibe matters more than the food — think large party, low formality, late evening. For a milestone dinner or an anniversary, look at Jean-Georges Philadelphia or Fork instead. The Northern Liberties location suits celebrations that want energy over ceremony.
Specific menu and dietary accommodation details are not available in the current venue record for North Bowl. As a bar-led venue, the food menu is typically limited in scope, which can make dietary flexibility harder than at a full-service restaurant. If dietary needs are a primary concern, calling ahead or checking directly with the venue at 909 N 2nd St is the practical step.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
