Fort Worth likes to get its game on, as proven by the growing number of bars that provide a side of entertaining activities. Think bowling, bocce, board games, pinball, pickleball, and – new to the local scene – croquet. Here are seven bars to visit this month where patrons can truly eat, drink, and play.
Stewart’s Croquet & Cocktails
Find English country club vibes at Tim Love’s just-opened croquet and cocktail destination, Stewart’s, which is named for his father. Located next to Love’s Italian concept, Gemelle, in the former longtime George’s Specialty Foods space (4424 White Settlement Rd.), the new sophisticated stop for drinks and decadent bites emphasizes an elevated bar scene. For example, caviar served with chilled vodka is on the menu, along with lobster rolls and blue crab cakes. Stewart’s signature martini cart boasts premium vodkas and gins alongside six custom bitters, and drinks are finished tableside with a twist or olives. There are two outdoor croquet courts on the 15,000-square-foot lawn that can accommodate 12 players each. Hours are 4-10 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am-11 pm Friday and Saturday, and 10 am-10 pm on Sunday.
Courtside Kitchen
As the fastest-growing sport in America four years in a row, pickleball appeals to a large population from kids to seniors and all ages in between. Courtside Kitchen, Fort Worth’s only pickleball destination with a bar and restaurant, opened in 2021 at the beginning of the craze. Located at 1615 Rogers Rd., the destination boasts nine courts, craft cocktails, and live music. Try the bar’s frozen creations, like bourbon and Coke and blackberry Arnold Palmer, as the temperatures start to rise. Margaritas are sold by the pitcher for easy pouring during play, and all-day happy hour is Monday through Friday from 11 am-6 pm.
Cidercade
There are more than 275 arcade games (from new to vintage favorites like Donkey Kong and NBA Jam) at this spacious South Fort Worth venue that offers unlimited play for just $12. While Cidercade (1813 W. Bowie St.) is popular for kids' birthdays and family-friendly outings, the bar – which serves alcoholic ciders, beer, wine, and canned cocktails – is strictly 18-and-up after 9 pm. Beer on tap comes from Fort Worth’s Wild Acre Brewing Company and ciders are by Dallas-based Bishop Cider Company. Food items include build-your-own artisan pizzas, pretzels, quesadillas, and dessert pizzas.
Bowlounge
This retro-inspired bowling alley opened in the former Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. space at 901 W. Vickery Blvd. back in 2020. With buttoned vinyl booth seating, Brunswick pinsetters, and up-ramp ball returners, lanes are purposely old school. But the drink menu is anything but dated. Patrons will find cold-brew espresso martinis, smoked old fashioneds, and even a fresa paleta concoction made with Stoli Chamoy vodka, berry puree, and jalapeno. Vintage arcade games, ping-pong, and darts add to the fun. Note that on Tuesdays, bowling and tacos are half price; there’s happy hour Monday through Thursday from 3-6 pm, featuring half-off signature cocktails and appetizers.
Game Theory
This South Fort Worth gastropub (804 S. Main St.) takes game night to next-level status with more than 500 board games in its gaming library. (Don’t see your favorite? Simply ask and ownership will add it to their collection.) Folks flock for a chance to peruse games from Battleship to Othello to pair with cocktails like the Pacific Punch, made with coconut rum and served in a nostalgic juice pouch; or the potent South Main Smash, made with vodka, gin, rum, and muddled strawberries. Game play is not required to visit for the elevated bar food offerings like rosemary truffle fries, potstickers, and pie flights.
Free Play
While nearly 100 arcade and pinball games are the primary draw here, Free Play (1311 Lipscomb Ave.) also boasts more 10,000 square feet of patio space, including a rooftop tiki bar featuring island-inspired cocktails. Admission ($12.49 for unlimited play) is not required to access the bar and patio areas if not partaking in games. There are more than two dozen craft beers, ciders, and seltzers on tap at the interior ground level bar. At Slushy’s on the rooftop (open Friday and Saturday nights) drinks include the Magnolia Mai Tai and the banana-infused Rum Runner, along with a rotating menu of frozen concoctions.
Pinstripes
This modern take on bowling and bocce ball located in the Shops at Clearfork (5001 Trailhead Bend Way) has been drawing fun-loving patrons since 2018. Multi-level patios for people-watching, an expansive Italian-American menu with wood-fired pizzas and pastas, and great happy hour specials add to the appeal. Visit Monday through Friday from 3-6:30 pm and Sunday through Thursday from 8-9 pm for deals like $5 draft beer and wine; $10 select cocktails, pizzas, and flatbreads; and half-price bowling and bocce.
