We all sometimes have those days or weekends when you want to do something a bit more wholesome than just another night out but you know that you still ought to see people. Well, if you haven’t already done so, why not check out one of London’s ever-growing list of board game bars and cafés? You might still be of the view that board games are something reserved specifically for the more boring moments in one’s life, when watching TV doesn’t even suffice. However, the past few years has seen a bit of resurgence when it comes to board games, resulting in more and more dedicated bars and cafés appearing, and board games even, dare we say it, becoming regarded as cool.
We’re a big fan of this trend as there isn’t a better time to play a board game than with a few friends, after a few drinks. Also, board game bars and cafés tend to have a huge array of different games on offer, meaning that you can try out a brand new game without needing to buy it first. So, whether you’re feeling like a classic game of Monopoly or Scrabble, or fancy something completely new and original, you’re bound to be able to find a game for any occasion at a board game cafe.
With a number of different places now open where you can play board games, you might not know where to start when looking for somewhere to go. Well worry not, as we have created a guide below to the best board game bars and cafés London has to offer. So next time you have a free evening, get your game face on, head down to one of these spots and get slightly too competitive about a game of Snakes & Ladders while enjoying a drink or two.
Draughts, Waterloo
What: Probably the most well-known board game café in London, Draughts also has a second branch over in Hackney, and features a choice of over 800 different board games – who knew that so many even existed? Once you’ve paid your entry at Draughts you can try out as many games as you wish, with choices on offer varying from classics like Articulate, through to strategy games you’ve never heard of. There’s also a decent selection of food on offer including burgers and tacos, accompanied by a variety of beers, wines, cocktails and more. To top it all off, this place stays open beyond midnight on Fridays and Saturdays which means late night, drunken board games - we're in!
How much: £6 entry for up to four hours of game play
Where: Arch 16, Leake Street, SE1 7NN
The Loading Bar, Dalston
What: Loading combines the concept of a board game bar with consoles, making it a place dedicated to all types of gaming. This stretches to its gaming-themed cocktail list which includes drinks such as a Crash Brandycoot, and a Pokémon Let’s Sloe. Spread over two floors, The Loading Bar has a party-like atmosphere to it and occasionally hosts live DJs, meaning that it’s a great spot to lose track of time with some friends while deeply immersed in a game.
How much: Free access to games
Where: 97 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BX
The Earl Derby, Kilburn
What: Based on the busy Kilburn High Road, The Earl Derby is a huge pub which manages to still maintain a real feeling of cosiness with lots of comfy corners where you can spend an afternoon. It also has a brilliant collection of board games which get more fun (if a bit more difficult), the more pints of the lengthy selection of beers you indulge in.
How much: Free access to games
Where: 155 Kilburn High Road, NW6 7HU
Candid Café, Angel
What: Tucked away up two flights of stairs in Angel, Candid Café isn’t the easiest spot to find, but once you get there it feels like a complete escape from the busyness of the city. This makes it an ideal spot to go with friends and play one of the many board games it has amassed over the years. The cosy furnishings make for a living room-like ambience so you’ll feel just like you’re playing a game in your own home.
How much: Free access to games
Where: 3 Torrens Street, EC1V 1NQ
The Sun of Camberwell, Brixton
What: This South London boozer has a great collection of board games to pick from when you visit, but it’s the high ceilings and spacious nature of this pub that makes it such a popular place to visit. It has, in fact, become a spot which a lot of London’s board game societies come to enjoy a game or two. If you add the fact that it serves a cracking roast and has a decent variety of beers on offer, it’s hard not to like The Sun of Camberwell.
How much: Free access to games
Where: Coldharbour Lane, SE5 9NS
Cakes & Ladders, Wood Green
What: If you hadn’t already been sold on this place by the punny name, maybe the fact that it’s based inside a converted double-decker bus will win you over! Located in Wood Green, Cakes & Ladders serves (you guessed it) a number of different cakes as well as cheese toasties alongside locally sourced coffee. From midday, you can also indulge in a variety of fantastic local beers, with Earth Ale taking over the bus from Thursday to Sundays to serve a selection of snacks and craft beers. Most importantly however, is the fact that Cakes & Ladders has over 500 games available to play, with a dedicated game guru on hand to help you pick one out.
How much: £3 for adults, £2 for children for unlimited game play
Where: 5 River Park Road, N22 7TB
The Board Game Cave at Grin & Beer It, Highbury
What: Hidden away in the basement of Highbury taproom Grin & Beer It, The Board Game Cave is a real den of fun. While its selection of games may not be quite as extensive as some of the more major London board game spots, there is still a huge variety of different games to pick from here. The Board Game Cave’s trump card however, is the fact that it has an amazing selection of craft beers on tap, which can be enjoyed while you lock horns with your friends. There is also Asian fusion food on offer from Zing Zing.
How much: £3 for unlimited game play
Where: 172 Blackstock Road, N5 1HA
The Library Pot, Richmond
What: The Library Pot is home to hundreds of board games and table top games, making it an ideal spot to visit for gaming enthusiasts in Richmond. Serving everything ranging from a huge selection of teas, all the way through to beers, wine, and spirits, it doesn’t call itself a bar or a café and instead positions itself somewhere in between the two. The Library Pot also serves an array of different types of food including, burgers, hot dogs, and Asian dishes meaning you don’t need to worry about getting hungry mid-game.
How much: £10 minimum spend during weekdays, £5 entry and £5 minimum spend during weekends
Where: 86 Kew Road, TW9 2PQ
The Ludoquist, Croydon
What: All the way down in Croydon, The Ludoquist is certainly worth making the trip for board game fanatics. With 1,400 different games on offer, it might just have one of the largest collections in the whole of London. To add to this, its drinks menu includes craft beers on tap, an appealing list of cocktails, and bottles of wine and bubbles. The Ludoquist's snacky food menu is predominantly focused around paninis and pizza – ideal for an easy bite while you battle away on the board.
How much: £5 for unlimited games, £2.50 for children
Where: 63-67 High Street, CR0 1QE
Bad Moon Café, Southwark
What: Specialising particularly in Warhammer, Bad Moon Café has 15 purpose-built gaming tables which feature gaming mats and dice trays to make every game of Warhammer you play as convenient as it possibly can be. However, if you’re more of a traditional board game fan, there’s no need to worry and Bad Moon has plenty more on offer. What’s more there is a selection of pizzas, pastries and sandwiches on offer, as well as both alcoholic and soft drinks.
How much: £4 for unlimited game play
Where: 159a Great Dover Street, SE1 4GZ
The Book Club, Shoreditch
What: Better known for its boozy brunches, cocktails and late-night parties, The Book Club in Shoreditch is actually a great spot to go and enjoy a board game or two with friends over a few drinks. With a decent selection of games on offer, The Book Club also occasionally hosts a board game day where you can go along and play a game or two with like-minded game obsessives.
How much: Free access to games
Where: 100-106 Leonard Street, EC2A 4RH
The Muse Pre-Gaming Lounge, Chelsea
What: You need to be careful at The Muse Pre-Gaming Lounge in Chelsea, as the hourly minimum spend can quickly add up without you noticing. However, what you get in return is the chance to try a few of its vast number of board games. The Middle Eastern-inspired food menu is another big reason to check out this place, with a huge drinks menu also on offer. There’s also the option to have bottomless food and drink on Saturday and Sundays.
How much: Minimum spend of £8 an hour per person
Where: 182 Walton Street, SW3 2JL
The Crown & Two Chairmen, Soho
What: If you’re looking for a cosy corner on a Sunday afternoon to indulge in a quiet board game or two after stuffing yourself full of Sunday roast, then look no further than The Crown & Two Chairmen. This Soho pub has a discreet but decent stack of board games hiding in the corner including everything from Scrabble to the Logo Game.
How much: Free access to games
Where: 31-32 Dean Street, W1D 3SB
The Rosemary Branch, Islington
What: The Rosemary Branch, on the face of it, is just a traditional London pub sat alongside the Regent’s canal. However, what you wouldn’t know from the outside is that it is actually home to one of the bigger collections of board games that we know of in a London pub. With everything there from Rapidough to Connect 4, you’ll be sure to find a game to enjoy alongside a glass or three of wine.
How much: Free access to games
Where: 2 Shepperton Road, N1 3DT
The Understudy at The National Theatre, South Bank
What: The National Theatre’s small craft beer pub The Understudy may not be your first thought of places to head to when you’re craving a good old game of scrabble, but behind the bar sits a fantastic pile of both new and classic board games. In fact, it also does something called board game Sundays every week, where if you play one of the board games with your group, the winner receives a free pint. Now that’s not a deal to be sniffed at.
How much: Free access to games
Where: Upper Ground, Bishop's, SE1 9PX
Do you just love a café regardless of whether there are board games or not? Check out our guide to the best coffee shops in London.