13 Innovative Eatertainment Concepts
Ever since bowling alleys gained popularity in 1850’s (yes, they really are that old!), people of all ages have been attracted to places where they can socialize, eat, drink, and play. Born from bowling alleys, growing with Chuck E Cheese and Dave & Buster’s, and ultimately booming with TopGolf, the eatertainment industry has never been more popular or more tech-driven.
“Eatertainment” is the combination of dining + entertainment, and these venues offer the perfect opportunity for socializing, dining, and participating in activities. While bowling and even golf simulators are now commonplace in most major cities, these 13 venues are challenging the status quo with unique eatertainment concepts.
1. F1 Arcade (Simulated Racing)
Building off of the growing intrigue around F1 racing, F1 Arcade allows guests to be a part of the action themselves with world-class racing simulators. Guests can participate in team racing or go head-to-head with individual racing.
F1 Arcade accommodates multiple skill levels and allows guests to experience the excitement of F1 racing on simulated versions of iconic racetracks. With delicious food and drinks for adults and kids, F1 Arcade is a highly popular eatertainment venue with locations in Boston, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, and London.
2. Sixes Social Cricket (Cricket)
There’s an eatertainment venue in Dallas, Texas, that’s reimagining and challenging the stereotype of cricket. Proving that cricket is a thrilling, energetic, and dramatic game, Sixes Social Cricket is a hotspot for friendly competition, excellent dining, and unique memories.
If you’re like most people and have never played cricket before, don’t worry. There’s no experience necessary to try your hand in the batting nets. All bookings come with an adjoined table so your party can enjoy food and drinks while you play.
3. Camp Pickle (Pickleball)
Coming to Denver and Tulsa in 2025, locals and visitors should keep Camp Pickle on their radar. Building off of the excitement and growth of pickleball, Camp Pickle will be a pickleball eatertainment venue with a unique twist.
Designed to feel like a 1940’s summer camp, guests will be transported back in time. That’s right, with summer camp-inspired architecture and an innovative food and drink menu, guests will get to combine the energy of modern pickleball competition with the nostalgia of old-school summer camps.
4. SPIN (Ping Pong)
Born out of weekly ping pong parties in 2007, SPIN launched in New York City in 2009. Socialization and fun is at the heart of SPIN— you’ll find diverse crowds of artists, professional ping pong players, musicians, bankers, and just about everyone you can imagine at this vibrant, welcoming eatertainment venue.
Now with locations in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington DC, and Boston, people all across North America can participate in the welcoming, social, and playful atmosphere at SPIN.
With farm to table, locally-sourced food, SPIN is also committed to supporting local farming communities while providing an outstanding dining experience.
5. Jaguar Bolera (Multiple Games)
Combining southern comfort with Mexican vibrancy, Jaguar Bolera specializes in what they call “Southern Hospitalidad.” In this “Mexican with a Southern accent” venue, you’ll find a plethora of fun, social activities, including:
- Duckpin bowling
- “Makertainment” (for the crafters!)
- Karaoke
- Darts
- Foosball
- Board games
Pickleball, cornhole, and ping pong are all coming soon.
With a pour-your-own tap wall, mouth-watering Mexican-Southern fusion food, and Instagram-worthy decor, Jaguar Bolera is a hotspot for socialization in Raleigh (and soon in Atlanta!).
6. Roaring Social (Speakeasy Dancing + Boutique Bowling)
In the Atlanta metro, you’ll find a speakeasy-inspired venue tucked away in the Speakeasy Level of The Hamilton Hotel. Step back in time 100 years ago to the Roaring 20’s at Roaring Social.
There you’ll find live music, impeccably presented food and drinks, dancing, and boutique bowling (with shorter lanes, heavier pins, and smaller balls).
Two tips: Make sure you follow the dress code, and if you’re not sure what the secret password is, you might want to let them know you’re “here to pick up your tailoring.”
7. Pinstripes (Bocce & Bowling)
Born in the Midwest in 2007 but now with locations across the country, Pinstripes combines Italian-American dining with bocce ball and bowling. Guests can enjoy food and beverages right next to their bocce and bowling lanes for friendly competition.
With accommodations for private events, Pinstripes is also a popular venue for weddings, graduations, anniversaries, and other private gatherings.
8. Flight Club (Darts)
As the home of thirteen Social Darts® locations in the UK, Flight Club is quickly becoming the #1 eatertainment venue for darts. With eight USA locations and two in Australia, it’s clear that these aren’t your standard dive bar dart boards.
Guests get a semi-private seating area where they can eat, drink, and socialize while playing their hand at six different Social Darts® games with modern digital screens.
The only thing better than playing darts during dinner? Playing darts during brunch. Guests can participate in the 2-hour Brunch Social every weekend to enjoy prosecco, orange juice, and bottomless pizza.
9. Electric Shuffle (Shuffleboard)
Not to be confused with the Electric Slide, Electric Shuffle is the go-to destination for social shuffleboard. From the same team behind Flight Club, Electric Shuffle currently has locations in Austin, Dallas, and NYC, as well as three locations in the UK.
Groups of 4 to 20 enjoy high-tech, team-based shuffleboard combined with delicious food and craft cocktails. Boasting proprietary vision technology and scoring, Electric Shuffle has introduced a modern spin on the traditional game. And just like Flight Club, guests can enjoy a vibrant brunch on the weekends.
10. GoodSurf (Surfing)
Brand new to Dallas, GoodSurf is pushing the boundaries of the eatertainment industry with landlocked surfing wave pools. GoodSurf utilizes citywave® technology for their innovative stationary waves, reaching up to 6 feet tall!
The wave pools are customizable, allowing all skill levels to participate— even people who have never surfed before. Just bring your bathing suit and a change of clothes, and GoodSurf will provide the rest, including the wetsuit, rashguard, and fully-stocked locker room facilities.
Surfing isn’t the only thing you’ll find here. Guests also enjoy pickleball courts, creative menu items, and a dog-friendly beer garden.
11. The Painted Duck (Duckpin Bowling + More)
As a local favorite in Atlanta, The Painted Duck offers something for everyone in their unique venue. And that’s not just a catchphrase. Beyond duckpin bowling, they also have:
- Belgian feather bowling
- Indoor horseshoes
- Knuckleball
- Toad in the hole
- Shuffleboard
- Basketball
- Air hockey
- Snookball (a soccer/billiards combo)
- Live music on weekends
- And more!
Oh, did we mention you can order a whole roasted peking duck on their menu? The Painted Duck isn’t messing around when it comes to eatertainment innovation, and their impressive attendance year-round proves that their efforts are paying off.
12. Sports & Social (Sports Viewing + More)
Imagine your favorite sports bar. Now, imagine your favorite sports bar with a floor-to-ceiling big screen, betting windows and self-serve betting terminals, skeeball, air hockey, arcade games, billiards, bowling, and much more. That’s Sports & Social.
Get all the excitement of being in the stadium with the exhilarating social atmosphere at Sports & Social— with four locations across Maryland and Philadelphia and two more coming soon to Florida and Washington D.C. Whether you’re there to watch a big game, enjoy food and drinks with friends, play one of the many games, or all of the above, you’re sure to have a great time at this clever eatertainment venue.
13. Fowling Warehouse (Fowling: Football + Bowling Combo)
Born out of a tailgating game at the 2001 Indy 500, fowling is a fun mashup between football and bowling. While it may sound silly at first, it’s quickly gaining in popularity across the country, and Fowling Warehouse is a huge reason why.
Guests play the fun, simple game of throwing a football at ten bowling pins until one team knocks the other team’s down while enjoying two fully stocked bars and an arcade area. The game is easy to pick up, and the venue provides access to the official rules. Plus, if guests love fowling so much that they want access to it on the road, fowling sets are available for purchase.
Support Your Eatertainment Concept With DIGIDECK
One thing’s clear: eatertainment isn’t just bowling alleys anymore.
If you’re looking to open your own eatertainment concept or a franchise location of one of the concepts listed above, it’s no secret that private events are a huge revenue driver in the eatertainment space. Eatertainment venues are the perfect spot for birthdays, wedding receptions, anniversaries, and other events, but with more and more unique venues popping up around the country, your team needs to stand out from the competition.
That’s why top eatertainment venues like Dave & Buster’s rely on DIGIDECK presentations for custom, automated event proposals that eliminate the need for manual processes, send personalized content, and are trackable with viewership analytics.
Interested in seeing how DIGIDECK can streamline your event proposal process? Learn more by scheduling a free demo!
