National at The Well is where entertainment meets style, offering elevated bar bites, handcraft cocktails, a six-lane bowling alley, and an arcade. 

From rolling strikes (or gutter balls) to grabbing a slice of New York-style pizza, battling it out at air hockey, or catching the game on one of the many screens, it's the ultimate destination for fun, day or night. 

"It's meant to be about good times and good vibes. It's somewhere where you go to hang out with friends, grab a beer, or go on a date night," shared District General Manager Dane Walker. 

Opened in late November 2024, the Toronto spot is the fourth location from Calgary-based hospitality brand Concorde Group. Partnering with Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality, this marks National's first branch out east. 

National is far from your typical dark and dingy bowling alley. Instead of plastic chairs, sticky floors, and fountain soda, you'll find sleek leather couches, moody lighting, and warm wood throughout.

They also collaborated with Brunswick Bowling to ensure everything from the lanes to the shoes is top-tier.

Lanes are $120 for the hour and accommodate up to 8 players. Bowling enthusiasts are welcome to bring their own shoes or lucky balls. 

With three players, we fit in two games after customizing our profiles. One hour was plenty of time to work on our technique and signature moves, although I can't say my Nonna's bowling league would be impressed. 

Regardless of skill level, it's a game that exudes fun, and in between turns, you can kick back and enjoy one of the many delicious cocktails.

One of my favourites was the Toasted Coconut Margarita ($19). Featuring tequila, coconut rum, vanilla liqueur, toasted coconut, and lime, the drink was sweet and creamy, with a tropical flavour that had me longing for the beach. 

The Guava Mai Tai ($19) is another celebration of the tropics with rum, guava, orgeat (almond syrup), and lime served over crushed ice. It's pleasantly tart with a hint of nuttiness.    

After Jupiter ($17) combines gin, vanilla, passionfruit, orgeat, lemon, and orange blossom to deliver a subtly warm blend of citrus and floral notes.

Giving a nod to the retro pineapple upside-down cake, the Upside Down ($17) is a playful beverage crafted with vanilla vodka, mezcal, wine aperitif, pineapple and lemon. Sweet and citrusy, all that was missing was the maraschino cherry. 

The food menu also gives a nostalgic nod to old-time favourites with offerings such as fried pickles, chicken wings, tater tots, and nachos. 

The Tater Tots ($12) are a welcome departure from your typical side of fries. Crisp and golden brown, I couldn't remember the last time I had these one-bite grated potatoes, but I've been craving them ever since. 

A definite step up from their freezer aisle counterparts, they come with a rich and creamy truffle pecorino dip.

Nothing screams game night more than a big plate of Nachos ($25), and the nachos at National come fully loaded with all the fixings: Monterey Jack, warm queso, pickled red onion, creamy lime crema, fresh cilantro, green onion, and pico de gallo.

The toppings are evenly distributed across the corn tortilla chips, ensuring every bite tastes as good as the next, and I enjoyed how bright and refreshing it was.  

Walker's top pick is the savoury Shrimp and Pork Dumplings ($17.50), a Toronto-exclusive menu item. Served with mildly spiced chilli oil, sesame seeds, and green onions, the dumplings were juicy and full of flavour.

The NTNL Burger ($21) features your standard double beef patties, tomato, lettuce, dill pickle and American cheese on a soft potato bun. Topped with their coveted Clive Sauce, sourced from Calgary's Clive Burger, it has all the makings of a truly great burger.

The restaurant's hand-tossed New York-style pizzas are, as Walker described, "the brand's claim to fame," and it's easy to understand why.

La Pepperoni ($31) is simple and unfussy, with the ideal pep-to-cheese ratio. The crust is thin and crispy, and a generous sprinkle of parmesan and a drizzle of honey makes for the perfect bite. 

The 800-capacity venue offers plenty of dining options, including a laid-back lounge, a high-top bar, and a more formal sit-down eating area. 

Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6 PM to 2 AM, there's a roster of DJs playing house tracks and top 40 hits, and after a late night of music and games, National has you covered with their weekend brunch to keep the good times rolling. 

National is located at 486 Front Street West.