Marrickville Bowling & Recreation Club

Marrickville Bowlo combines bowling with live music — and is a bona fide inner west institution. Gigs are held most Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and run the gauntlet from local rock to blues and soul to DJs that get the whole venue having a boogie.

During the day, it's all about the bowls. While it does host competitions, the venue's barefoot bowls is a more casual affair, and costs just $15 per person for around two hours of game time. Instructions are even thrown in.

Should your sweet victory (or close losses) make you hungry, pop into the bowlo's bistro for a feed.  The menu includes hearty pub classics like burgers, nachos, steaks and potato wedges. The kitchen stays open until 8.30pm, so you can grab a snack before a gig, too.

Image: Kate Murphy.