The BLVD is a sprawling, chef-driven entertainment venue on Buck Owens Boulevard in Bakersfield, California, and it reads more like a modern amusement complex than a traditional pinball-and-cabinet arcade. The directory lists it as an amusement center, and that framing fits: alongside its 65-plus arcade and VR games, the venue operates 22 bowling lanes — eight of them premium VIP lanes with ambient lighting and lane-side seating — a multi-level laser tag arena, an indoor multi-level ropes course, billiards, karaoke, and what the venue describes as the biggest sports wall in Bakersfield.
For visitors planning a night out in the city, The BLVD sits along a stretch of Buck Owens Boulevard that already mixes hospitality and entertainment venues, so it pairs naturally with stops at neighboring Bakersfield destinations such as Dave & Buster’s Bakersfield, MB2 Entertainment, Bowlero Bakersfield, Hide N Seek Adventure Park, and Bakersfield Esports. The venue also functions as a full-service restaurant and bar, so guests can settle in for a wood-fired pizza, a craft cocktail, or a local draft beer without ever leaving the building. Use the arcade finder to compare The BLVD against other family entertainment centers around town, or browse the interactive arcade map to see what else sits nearby.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 3200 Buck Owens Blvd Ste 300, Bakersfield, California |
| Phone | +1 661-873-4477 |
| Hours | Mon–Thu 11AM–10PM · Fri–Sat 11AM–12AM · Sun 11AM–10PM |
| Rating | 4.3 out of 5 from 2,700 Google reviews |
| Best For | Families, date night, large groups, kids parties |
What Players Say
Across roughly 2,700 Google reviews, the most consistent praise focuses on the sheer breadth of activities under one roof. One Google reviewer summed it up as “bowling, karaoke, rope course, laser tag, billiards, and bar.” That variety is a clear draw for families and large groups, with another review noting that it is a “great place to take a large group, as there are plenty of things for everyone to do.”
Food and drink reviews skew mixed-to-positive. Patrons describe the kitchen as solid but portions sometimes feel small — one reviewer said “food was good, just small, and the Oreo float was pretty big.” Bar service draws warm mentions, including one standout: “Crystal was an amazing bartender. So lively and full of positive energy.” On the staffing front, several Google reviewers singled out team members by name, with one writing “Mason, Nick, and Travis were all amazing—super friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful.”
Recurring complaints center on operational friction. Multiple reviewers reported losing reserved lanes — one wrote that “our lane had been given away and that we’d need to wait another 30 minutes.” Arcade machine reliability is another sore spot, with one reviewer estimating that “quite a few games not working, I would say about 40%.” Pricing draws mixed reactions, with weekend bowling costs drawing a specific complaint: “the ridiculous cost of bowling on weekends of $42 dollars a hour.” Large-group billing and adult-only-hours enforcement have produced isolated negative reviews as well, including a complaint about being “accused me of having nine additional people bowling and attempted to charge me an extra $350,” and another patron noting surprise that “it clearly stated online that there would be no kids, so I was quite surprised.”
Games & Machines
The BLVD’s game floor mixes classic ticket-redemption arcade machines with free-roam VR games and dedicated virtual-reality experiences, alongside billiards tables — bringing the lineup to the 65-plus games the venue advertises. This is a modern, VR-forward game room rather than a retro or pinball-focused lineup, so visitors hunting vintage cabinets may want to scan the interactive arcade map for a more traditional barcade elsewhere in the Bakersfield arcade directory.
Visiting
The BLVD is at 3200 Buck Owens Boulevard, Suite 300, on the same corridor that anchors much of Bakersfield’s entertainment scene. Posted hours run 11AM to 10PM Sunday through Thursday, with extended 11AM to midnight hours on Friday and Saturday — a useful schedule for after-work date nights and weekend groups. The venue is fully licensed, with a chef-driven menu built around wood-fired pizzas, smashburgers, loaded wings, shareables like wild fries, bacon jalapeño wontons, pretzel & cheese, onion bloom, and hummus & pita, plus seasonal craft cocktails and local beer on tap.
For groups, The BLVD books birthdays (with a 10% discount Monday through Thursday), corporate outings, school field trips, fundraisers, holiday parties, and full venue buyouts through an online party planner and a custom events team. Recurring weekly specials include Lunch Specials (Monday through Friday, 11AM to 4PM), Happy Hour (Monday through Friday, 3PM to 6PM), Monday Bites & Strikes Family Packs, Tuesday Choose Day sharable deals, Wing & Win Wednesday with BOGO wings and half-off arcade, and Throwback & Throwdown Thursday with $40-per-hour bowling plus beer and shooter specials.
Owners and operators who run a similar multi-attraction venue can claim the listing to update hours, pricing, and event details. Travelers building a California road trip can use the interactive arcade map or browse the broader find-an-arcade directory to line up the next stop.