Best Bowling Alley
Mahall's 20 Lanes
Bowling is one of those activities that feels like it should be free, but always ends up costing more than you bargained for. But not at Mahall's. This small, split-level bowling alley with 20 lanes was opened in the 1930s by John Mahall. Seven decades later, grandson Thomas charges just $2 a game and $2 for shoes. The look is undeniably retro. "We can't afford to do anything," Mahall explains. But in a bowling alley, that's a blessing. No light shows, no blaring pop music, and -- most important -- no automatic scoring machines. No, this throwback has everything you need and nothing you don't.
More Categories
More Categories
Bars & Clubs
- All
- Best Beer
- Best Harvey Wallbanger
- Best Oyster Shooters
- Best Blue-Collar Bar
- Best Hifalutin Bar
- Best Glamorous Bar
- Best Bar for Watching OSU Football
- Best Hair-Metal Bar
- Best Irish Bar on the East Side
- Best Irish Bar on the West Side
- Best Patio Drinking
- Best Bar for Conversation
- Best Rooftop Drinking
- Best Happy Hour
- Best Meat Market on West Sixth Street
- Best Warehouse District Find
- Best Belgian Beer
- Best Brewpub
- Best Microbrewery for Live Music
- Best Microwinery
- Best Hidden Bar
- Best Straight Bar for Gays
- Best Gay Bar
- Best Gay Bartender
- Best Bar for Drunken Law Students
- Best Place to Take a Blind Date
- Best Place to Show Off Your Tan
- Best Beer Lesson
- Best Bar to Warm Up In
- Best Island Bar
- Best View of the Field
- Best Unsung Music Club
- Best Live Music Club
- Best Rock Bathroom
- Best Jazz Club
- Best New Strip Club
- Best Place to Drop Hamiltons
- Best Stripper Pole
- Best Ballast for a Water Street Pub Crawl
- Best Pub Grub
- Best Blackout Food
- Best Capper for a Weekend Bender
Sports & Recreation
- All
- Best Pro Team
- Best Pro Coach
- Best Cav Not Named LeBron
- Best Sports Owner
- Best Sports Exec
- Best Taste of Sports Glory
- Best New Slogan
- Best Week to be a Cavs Fan
- Best Indian
- Best Hope for the Indians
- Best Brown
- Best Browns Draft Pick
- Best Righteous Hit
- Best Homecoming
- Best Clutch Player
- Best Pigskin Prognosticator
- Best Mascot
- Best In-Game Entertainment
- Best Announcer
- Best Sportswriter
- Best Sports Talker
- Best Boxer
- Best Indoor Soccer
- Best College Team
- Best College Coach
- Best Gender-Bending Sports Team
- Best Catfight on Wheels
- Best Rollerblading
- Best Adult Roller Boogie
- Best Old-School Hockey Rink
- Best Hope for Minor League Hockey
- Best Bowling Alley
- Best Year-Round Batting Cage
- Best Ubiquitous Gym
- Best Place to Train for the UFC
- Best Driving Range
- Best Public Golf Course
- Best Place to Play Frisbee Golf
- Best Place to Play Ultimate Frisbee
- Best Mountain Biking
- Best Cliff-Jumping
- Best Place to Go Jogging
- Best Natural Sledding
- Best Man-Made Sledding
- Best Place to Play Pickup Basketball
- Best Way to Pretend You're Back in Fifth Grade
- Best Way to Get Yourself Out of the House
- Best New Extreme Sport
Shops & Services
- All
- Best Haircut and Ego Booster
- Best Place to Be Pampered for Under $50
- Best Manicure
- Best Paradise for Teenage Girls
- Best Place to Buy Beaded Jewelry
- Best Place to Buy a Gift for Your Girlfriend
- Best Place to Buy Gifts for Everyone Else
- Best New Home for Old Memories
- Best Gourmet Gift Basket
- Best Organic Housewares
- Best Budget Flowers
- Best X-Rated Greeting Cards
- Best Tattoo
- Best Body-Piercing
- Best 40-Ounce Store
- Best Cigar Shop
- Best Cheap Smokes
- Best Head Shop
- Best Staff Flick Picks
- Best Family Outing
- Best Pet Store
- Best Pet Hospital
- Best Thrift Store
- Best Source of Vintage Dresses
- Best Vinyl
- Best Place for Indie and Electronica
- Best Vintage Audio Store
- Best Hardware Store
- Best Bike Shop
- Best Locksmith
- Best Butcher Shop
- Best Shoe Repair
- Best Dress Alterations
- Best Tailored Suits
- Best Yuppie Market
- Best Place to Buy Art
- Best Way to Stretch Your Book Dollar
- Best Store for Graphic Novels
- Best Oddball Emporium
People & Places
- All
- Best World Tourin 10 Blocks or Less
- Best Town Square
- Best Lofts
- Best Luxury Living
- Best Place to Watch Fireworks
- Best Scalper
- Best Barfly
- Best Local Superhero
- Best Investigative Reporter
- Best Survivor of On-Air Staff Attrition
- Best Radio Newscaster
- Best A.M. Radio
- Best Radio-Host Homecoming
- Best Homegrown Radio
- Best Crime Fighter in a Suit and Tie
- Best Public Servant
- Best Outspoken Politician
- Best Place to Shmooze Akron Politicos
- Best Crusader
- Best Defense Against Predatory Lenders
- Best Advocate for Local Kids
- Best Pitchman
- Best Culinary Spokesman
- Best Grassroots AIDS Activist
- Best Drag Queen
- Best Excuse to Cross-Dress
- Best Makeup Artist
- Best Emerging Fashion Designers
- Best Cosmetic Dentist
- Best Traditional Wedding Location
- Best Unusual Wedding Location
- Best Downtown Parking
- Best Place to Walk and Shop
- Best Place to Bump into a Cavs Player
- Best First-Date Spot
- Best Place to Be a Male Dog-Owner
- Best Bet for Dinner and a Movie
- Best Place to Be a 10-Year-Old Again
- Best Walking Trail
- Best Place to Play With Food
- Best Library
- Best Amish Road Trip
- Best Place to Take the Kids
- Best Place for Fun With Golf Carts
- Best Swimming Hole for Dogs
- Best Plant Nursery
- Best Place to Score an Heirloom Tomato
- Best Place to See Snakes
- Best Haunted Hill
- Best Chess
- Best Museum
- Best Place to Watch Planes Land
- Best Taste of Nature
- Best Way to Drown Your Midlife Crisis
- Best Place for a Dirt Nap
Food & Drink
- All
- Best Restaurant
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant
- Best All-Day Breakfast
- Best Sunday Brunch
- Best Power Lunch
- Best Bet for Lunch at Your Desk
- Best Sandwich Shop
- Best Food at a Gas Station
- Best Value for Gourmets
- Best Cheap Eats
- Best Special-Occasion Dining
- Best Wine List
- Best Servers
- Best Marketing Scheme
- Best Outdoor Dining
- Best View
- Best Movable Feast
- Best Stand-in for Mom's Home Cooking
- Best Restaurant for People-Watching
- Best Bet for Upscale Shoppers
- Best Cheap Date
- Best "Eats Street"
- Best Deli
- Best Downtown Pizza
- Best Hamburger
- Best Steakburger
- Best Cheesesteak
- Best Bowl of Soup
- Best Wings
- Best New Wings Flavor
- Best Seafood
- Best Sushi
- Best Catfish
- Best Beef Brisket
- Best Soul Food
- Best Mac and Cheese
- Best Fondue
- Best Comfort Food
- Best Italian
- Best Vietnamese
- Best Korean Barbecue
- Best Indian Buffet
- Best Southeast Asian
- Best Aloha on a Plate
- Best Taste of Brazil
- Best Cheap Latin Food
- Best Bite of Modern Mexico
- Best Creole
- Best Bistro in a Dance Club
- Best Limited-Time Veggie Offer
- Best Place to Get Your Veggies
- Best Flavor for Health Nuts
- Best Smoothies
- Best Jamba Juice Substitute
- Best Farm Run by Nuns
- Best West Side Market Surprise
- Best Tea House
- Best Iced Coffee
- Best Toddy
- Best Cup of Hot Chocolate
- Best Milkshake
- Best Frozen Custard
- Best Reason to Eat More Ice Cream
- Best Donuts
- Best Taste of Tomorrow's Cooking
- Best New Restaurant
Arts & Entertainment
- All
- Best New Rock Band
- Best New Country Band
- Best Roots Residency
- Best Disco Band
- Best Music to Ease a Broken Heart
- Best Band for Venting Your Spleen
- Best Band Stage Show
- Best Stage Patter From a Band
- Best Chance to Be a Star
- Best New Record Label
- Best Band Gimmick
- Best Sonic Youths
- Best Outdoor Venue
- Best Prescient Music Coverage
- Best Podcast
- Best Radio Showcase for Local Music
- Best Progressive Radio Station
- Best Stage Actor
- Best Stage Actress
- Best Stage Drama
- Best Stage Comedy
- Best Stage Musical
- Best Stage Production
- Best Free Theater
- Best Costume Design
- Best Street Event
- Best Theater Choreography
- Best Intermission Concessions
- Best Hollywood Actor From Cleveland
- Best Place to Watch a Summer Hit
- Best Local Author
- Best Contest for Budding Playwrights
- Best Online Funny Guys
- Best Comedy Night
- Best Karaoke
- Best Pipe Organ
- Best Arts Festival
- Best Gay Event
- Best Knights Out
- Best New Museum
- Best Chance to See CMA's Art Collection
- Best Public Art Piece
- Best Orchestra
- Best Local Composer
- Best Art Gallery With Beer and Toys
- Best New Body of Work
- Best Nudie Bar for Regular Guys
- Best Wrestling Promotion
Previously in Best of Cleveland
-
BEST BOWLING ALLEY
| Apr 24, 2019
-
Best Bowling Alley
Mahall's 20 Lanes
| Apr 26, 2017
-
Best Bowling Alley
The Corner Alley
| Apr 27, 2016
-
Best Bowling Alley
Mahall's
| Mar 25, 2015
-
Best Bowling Alley
Mahall's
| Apr 23, 2014
-
Best Bowling Alley
Mahall's 20 Lanes
| Oct 14, 2009
-
Best Bowling Alley
Meszar's Lanes
| Sep 25, 2002
-
Best Bowling Alley
Mahall's 20 Lanes
| Sep 27, 2001
-
Best Bowling Alley
Moran's Tavern/Elyria Bowling Center
| Sep 28, 2000