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Restaurant

The Keys

Unit 1/188 Plenty Rd, Preston VIC 3072, Australia

Recommended by 29 people

Updated

Find The Keys

Unit 1/188 Plenty Rd, Preston VIC 3072, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 8844 4124
HoursMonday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About The Keys

Right on Plenty Road, this sprawling converted factory pairs retro tenpin bowling with a massive beer garden and elevated pub feeds. Free entry means you can pop in just for a pint or stay for hours. Regulars head straight for the chicken parma or buffalo wings before staking out the pool tables and arcade cabs. Mid-century timber lanes give way to vintage neon and a courtyard made for sunny afternoons, with a cold schooner in hand.

  • Retro Amusements: Classic timber bowling lanes, pool tables, and vintage arcade cabinets housed in a former warehouse.
  • Elevated Pub Grub: Hearty chicken parmigiana, buffalo wings, and steaks paired with beers on tap and cocktails.
  • Free Entry, Pay-Per-Game: No door charge to enter, dine, or drink, with fees charged solely per bowling game.
  • Beer Garden & Lounge: Sprawling layout featuring an outdoor courtyard, multiple bar areas, and indoor fireplaces.
RestaurantPub mealsBowling Alley

What's On at The Keys

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose The Keys

Why guests choose The Keys for social entertainment, classic bowling, and elevated pub dining.

  • Quality Pub Dining & Craft Drinks

    Guests enjoy generous pub favourites, share-friendly snacks, and craft drinks that far exceed typical bowling alley fare.

    generous pub classics and share-friendly snacks that do exactly what they’re meant to do between frames

    Debi Slinger

  • Free Entry Pay-Per-Game Flexibility

    The venue welcomes patrons with free entry, allowing guests to visit purely for dining or drinks without cover fees.

    To enter The Keys there is no admission fee however if you want to partake in a game of bowling, there is a game fee.

    Normandy C Jr

  • All-in-One Gathering Spot

    A multi-activity layout keeps friend groups, dates, and families engaged together across bowling, pool, and arcade games under one roof.

    The Keys is a great spot for date nights, double dates or catching up with friends. We came for the bowling but ended up spending a few hours there with the arcade games, pool tables and dining in.

    Foodie Queen21

  • Spacious Social Environment

    The expansive venue provides ample room for social groups of all types to gather comfortably for hours.

    What a great family and social place to spend on a Saturday night with family and friends.

    Miles Sikic

  • Vintage Bowling Aesthetic

    Mid-century timber bowling lanes and period decor evoke a classic, immersive retro atmosphere.

    The Keys gives the older style bar with bowling feel but with a very modern take.

    wattaman

  • Multi-Zone Leisure Spaces

    A versatile venue layout featuring distinct indoor lounges, a cosy fireplace, and an outdoor beer garden tailored to any outing.

    There is a beer garden out the front and a cosy fire place inside.

    Michael Jones

Hearty pub favourites and elevated classics to fuel your session on the lanes

  • Buffalo Wings

    far and away the BEST buffalo wings I've ever had in Australia

    Dan Johnson

  • Steak

    We tried the steak and chicken schnitzel, both were excellent.

    Slow Swagin

  • Chicken Parmigiana

    Chicken parmigiana is huge

    Jorge Acevedo

  • Eggplant Parma

    I tried the eggplant parma and it was so good!

    Serena

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful service details and playful touches that elevate your time at The Keys

  • Hassle-Free Dietary Replacement

    Waitstaff promptly and seamlessly remade a dish without extra cost or hesitation when a guest realised an unmentioned dietary requirement upon arrival.

  • Personalised Cocktail Guidance

    Bar staff provide tailored recommendations to guide guests through cocktail selections to match individual tastes.

  • Vintage Zoltar Fortune Machine

    A vintage Zoltar fortune-telling machine sits among the arcade games, offering a nostalgic and whimsical interactive highlight.

  • Cosy Open Fireplace Lounging

    Welcoming amenities feature indoor open fireplaces that create a cosy lounge setting alongside the venue's active entertainment zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an admission fee or do I need to book to bowl?

Entry to the venue is free if you are just visiting for food, drinks, or the beer garden; bowling is charged separately per game. Because the lanes get busy, booking bowling ahead is recommended.

What kind of food and dietary options are available?

Yes. The menu features pub classics like chicken parmigiana, schnitzel, steak frites, and burgers, along with gluten-free (GF/GFO) options, vegetarian choices like the eggplant parma and mushroom burger, and vegan drinks like white Russians on tap.

Where can I park when visiting?

Free parking is available at the rear of the venue, as well as free street parking nearby—just be sure to keep an eye on posted street time limits.

What activities and spaces are there beyond bowling?

Along with timber bowling lanes, The Keys features arcade games, pool tables, a beer garden, indoor fireplaces, and even pickleball courts. Dogs are also welcome in the beer garden.

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