Best Places to Play Bocce Ball and Dine

Several years ago after dining at Atlanta's Vini Vidi Vici, we played bocce ball at their adjacent bocce ball court, it was a lovely way to end a summer evening. Sadly, Vini Vidi Vici's bocce ball court is no longer there, but many wonderful restaurants have bocce ball courts on their premises so you can take in a game before or after dinner.

Why (you think) would you need to dine and play bocce ball?  Well, perhaps you have to wait for a table and don't want to run up a bar bill or wait in the anteroom.  Maybe you realize that your children may not be able to wait 20-30 minutes for your table to be ready.  Or, you and your friends and family just want to chill after a wonderful meal and relax over a game of bocce. 

Whatever the reason, finding a great spot to dine and play bocce ball seems like the best of both worlds... Bocce ball and food. Since the Romans invented Bocce Ball several thousand years ago and Italy is known for its delicious cuisine, it is only fitting that some enterprising restauranteurs decided to combine the two for lovers of food and bocce ball.

Here are some of the BEST restaurants where you can also play Bocce Ball.

1) Greenwood Park, providing mostly bar food, paninis, salads, burgers. 555 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (between 19th and 20th Streets).  greenwoodparkbk@gmail.com

2) Campo di Bocce, traditional Italian fare. 175 E. Vineyard Avenue, Livermore, CA.  (925)249-9800 

3) The Vig, upscale comfort food, 4041 N. 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ  (602)553-7227

4) Vinoteca Wine Bar, featuring small plates and bar food, 1940 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC (202)332-9463

5) Mosaic, Asian Fusion, 211 S. First Street, San Jose, CA  (408)282-8888

6) The Grove, eclectic menu, 7511 Pachero Pass Highway, Hollister, CA (831)636-1400

7) Carsonie's, traditional Italian, 6000 Westerville Road, Franklin, Ohio (614)899-6700

8) Noto's Old World Italian, 6600 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI (616)493-6686

9) Von Trapp's, Austrian fare, 912 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA (206)325-5409

10) Il Fornaio, Italian, 18051 Von Karmen Avenue, Irvine, CA (949)261-1444

11) Bar Bocce, California/Mediterranean, 1250 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA (415)331-0555

12) Brooklyn Athletic Club, American fare, 601 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas (713) 527-4440

13) Aunt Chilada's, family dining, 7330 N. Dreamy Draw Drive, Phoenix, AZ (602) 944-1286

14) Bocce Italian Grill, Italian fare on Cape Cod, 842 US Route 6, South Wellfleet, MA (508) 349-2688

15) Pinstripes, Italian-American cuisine, 13500 Nall Avenue, Overland Park, KS (913) 681-2255

16) Sanitas Brewing Company, Craft Beers & Bocce, 3550 Frontier Avenue, Unit A, Boulder, CO (303) 442-4130

You'll notice from this list that quite a few are in California and that is because Bocce Ball is popular in the Golden State and the weather is conducive for year-round play.

There was a recent article in the Dallas Morning News listing some terrific spots in the Dallas metro area where you can dine and play bocce ball.  See HERE for the full story.

We would love to find more spots in the Midwest that offer bocce ball with dining and so if you have some suggestions for us, send them on it via comments.   We'll capture the suggestions and update them on our Best Bocce Ball site, see this LINK for updates.

Enjoy dining at these restaurants and take advantage of their hospitality by playing bocce ball at their outdoor courts.  It's a pleasant way to spend an evening with friends and family.

Ciao:)