A bowls club packing plenty of history (it was part of the first inter-club bowls game recorded in Australia in 1866), Fitzroy’s bowlo is a local favourite for parties of all stripes. Hugging the outskirts of the Edinburgh gardens, the 10 public and eight members’-only greens are ringed by lawns decked out in umbrella-shaded picnic tables along with a marquee and deck for hire, with the busy bar serving a good range of craft-minded beer and friends, including Mornington Pale Ale, Brookvale Union’s spicy alcoholic ginger beer and Coldstream apple cider. Hire a barbecue and bring your own food and utensils – or spare yourself the hassle with a $99 barbecue pack that includes food for 10 and a handy quiver of utensils. 578 Brunswick St, Fitzroy North; barefootbowling.com.au.

Th St Kilda bowlo isn’t just a bowls club – it’s a scene. Dating back to 1865, the second oldest club in Australia is the present-day hangout of Melbourne luminaries from rock stars to artists, where you can expect live music acts and even the occasional meat raffle. Grab a bowling green and a glass of something cold from the bar, whether that’s a jug of 4 Pines Pale Ale or an SA Riesling. As for food, it’s a BYO affair, with barbecue and equipment hire costing $30 for two hours. Pro tip: take your self-catering scene up a notch by swinging by Andrew McConnell’s Meatsmith on Barkly Street to stock up on premium snags, chops and skewers. 66 Fitzroy St, St Kilda; stkildasportsclub.com.au.

A homey vibe rules at this button-cute club tucked into the backstreets of Brunswick East where two real grass greens and a clubroom equal a sum total of barefoot bowls happiness. Book ahead for food packages that include notch-above offerings such as lamb kofta balls, satay chicken skewers, freshly shucked oysters and mac and cheese croquettes – or simply hire a barbecue (utensils, cooking oil and condiments are provided) and add a well-priced meat pack including sliced onions, tomatoes and bread rolls (for an extra charge they’ll even provide a barbecue chef). As for drinks, the bar has you covered with everything from Corona and espresso martinis to a refreshing Pimms punch. 104-106 Victoria St, Brunswick East; brunswickbowlingclub.com.au.

Bowling is even more fun with the bright lights of the big city as the background, as this historic club tucked into in the Flagstaff Gardens proves. The bar boasts Furphy and Holgate on tap, rounded out by a short, sharp list of all-Australian and NZ wines. And with the Queen Victoria Market just a few minutes’ walk away it’s all too easy to provide the ingredients to throw on a barbecue (hiring one costs $3.50 a person and $2.50 for crockery and cutlery, but bear in mind this sustainably-minded club doesn’t permit anything disposable on the premises); maybe add a cheese or antipasto platter, available to pre-order. Flagstaff Gardens, Dudley Street, West Melbourne; citybowls.org.

Things go big in Melbourne’s west, where this mega-club offers a bistro, kids’ zone and a great deck overlooking the greens, complete with live music Sunday sessions. Its magnitude doesn’t preclude the option of DIY barbecuing – barbecue produce packs include a vegetarian option – while all-inclusive finger food options include crumbed calamari and mini quiches. Head to the bistro for pub classics and steak off the grill, including a good ol’ surf and turf rib eye, and embrace the great bowlo tradition of pots of Victoria Bitter and Carlton Draught from the bar. 339A Francis St, Yarraville; yarravillefootscraybowlingclub.com.