8 Best Board Game Cafes in NYC

8 Best Board Game Cafes in NYC

Playing board games is a great way to bond as a family. Board games teach strategy and sportsmanship, and they’re just plain fun. Your family game nights don’t have to be limited to your living room anymore. 

If you’re looking to bring some new life to your Family Game Night, check out one of New York City’s board game cafes!

Board game cafes have been becoming more popular in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. For a small fee, you and your family can have a night of board game fun.

These cafes typically have a library stocked with hundreds of different games and some delicious food to go with them. 

Here are 8 of the best board game cafes in New York City to check out with your family. 

Psst… Here are 11 Things to Do Near NYC with Kids Who Are Obsessed with Dinosaurs!

The Uncommons

230 Thompson St., New York, NY

Manhattan’s first board game café boasts one of the largest libraries of games on the East Coast. Play classic games, like Monopoly and Risk, or try your hand at the newest games on the scene or games by independent designers.

You may even go home with a new favorite game. A night at The Uncommons is sure to be fun for the whole family. 

Next Move Cafe

6 Bay 23rd St., Brooklyn, NY

Hang out in Next Move Cafe’s cozy common area and play some of your favorite games while drinking bubble tea. The game collection here is massive, so you’ll definitely want to make multiple trips to try out everything the café has to offer.

Their menu has options you can’t get at any other board game café, including milk tea, kimchi fries and kimbap. 

Hex & Company

2911 Broadway, New York, NY
1462 1st Ave., New York, NY
801 Broadway, New York, NY

Visit one of Hex & Company’s two Manhattan locations for open play of over a thousand tabletop games, role playing game meetups and other community events.

Hex & Company also offers a variety of in-person and online after school programs for kids. These clubs are focused on exploring strategic thinking and encouraging teamwork and good sportsmanship. 

Main St. Board Game Café

307 Main St., Huntington, NY

Unplug and enjoy an analog gaming experience with your friends, family and other gaming enthusiasts. While you game, dine on snacks and drinks like milkshakes, lattes, hot pretzels and more.

Looking for an at-home gaming experience or want to expand your home game library? You can order board games, collectible card games and RPG books for pick-up or delivery. 

Squarrel Cafe

572 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, NY

This cozy café in Brooklyn is best known for bubble tea, coffee and lots and lots of board games. They have regular game night events, and you can always enjoy a quick board game with your regular coffee stop in store.

Take your favorite games home with you through the store’s game rental program! 

Sip & Play

471 5th Ave., Brooklyn, NY

Sip & Play is a homey, brick-lined café, sure to provide a fun gaming experience for all visitors. Peruse the shelves and shelves of games, order from the cafe’s expansive food and drink menu and take a seat for a relaxing night of board gaming.

Have a little one that can’t get enough of board games? Look into their after school game design academy for upper elementary schoolers and middle schoolers. Their inaugural year has kicked off already, but keep an eye out for future programs. 

The Brooklyn Strategist

333 Court St., Brooklyn, NY

Find a gaming community at the Brooklyn Strategist. Drop in with your family and play one of the 500 games in the store’s gaming library.

Sign your game-loving kid up for an after school program, where they can sharpen their minds and make new friends.

Looking to take your gaming skills to the next level? Take a lesson in games like chess, Catan, Magic the Gathering and more. 

Last Place on Earth

531 Graham Ave., Brooklyn, NY

It’s easy to feel at home in this women-owned entertainment café. Grab a comforting cup of tea or coffee and drop in for open play board games.

Last Place on Earth also has a full lineup of events for adults as well as kids, including couples game nights, yoga classes, book clubs and Dungeons and Dragons nights for kids, teens and adults. 

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Chickenshed NYC

<p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that began in the UK in 1974. Chickenshed NYC is a young organization bringing that same ethos and unique methodology to the USA. Chickenshed’s mission is to create entertaining and outstanding theatre that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed's model of Inclusive Theatre is based in the belief that everyone can flourish when everyone is included. At Chickenshed everyone is welcome, everyone is valued, and together we produce remarkable theatre. We want to break down barriers between people to create a world without labels and where differences no longer divide. At Chickenshed, support is given to those who need it, and given by those who can . We believe that creative activities, self-expression and performance should be available to anyone who has the desire, no matter their background or circumstances. We know that when everyone has the opportunity to shine, amazing things happen.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed NYC provides programming for little ones, children and youth through semester-long activities and performances.</p>

Play On! Studios

<p>Play On! Studios offers theater day camps and after-school classes on the UWS that are guaranteed to give kids a summer full of acting, music, and fun they won't soon forget! Young actors will rehearse and perform in a full production, work with professional NYC actors/teaching artists, build up their skills in a nurturing, non-competitive environment and play lots of drama games!</p> <p>Creative Drama Camps are perfect for kids entering grades K-4. Campers will work each week to put on a brand-new show! Each session, they will receive a script, rehearse a production, make a set and costumes, and perform their play. Kids will also play drama games, play outside (weather permitting), and have tons of fun!</p> <p>Musical Theater Camps are aimed at kids entering grades 4-9. In Musical Theater Performance Camp, campers put on a complete musical production in a professional NYC theater! Campers will stretch their skills with drama exercises and games, vocal coaching, field trips, and building a professional set. Our incredible teaching artists and campers come together to put on a truly remarkable show!</p> <p>During the school year, classes are great for beginners or more experienced actors - sing, dance, and put on a play! Whether your child is just starting out, or ready for Broadway, we’ve got the class for them. Classes are available for grades PreK-8, after school or on Saturdays! Come play with us.</p> <p> </p>

PaleyLand Holiday Experience

<p>Celebrate the holidays at PaleyLand at the Paley Museum, New York's must-visit destination for a holiday adventure, just steps from Rockefeller Center!</p> <p>Our five-floor immersive holiday extravaganza, includes photos with Santa and holiday characters, crafts, giveaways, screenings of classic holiday favorites, hot chocolate, a magical train display, and more.</p> <p>Escape the cold and the crowds, and enjoy our indoor wonderland where families can play, relax, and create timeless memories together in our holiday oasis in the heart of midtown Manhattan.</p> <p>General Admission to PaleyLand is free for children under 12.</p> <p>The holiday extravaganza is open from November 20 – January 5 at the Paley Museum, 25 W 52 Street, NYC. Paley Members enjoy free access. Come to PaleyLand again and again to see all your favorite characters and screenings. After just one visit, membership pays for itself!</p> <p><span style="color: #888888;"> </span></p>