Are you looking for some friendly, or not-so-friendly, competition to take part in? Or are you just looking for a new place to hang out with your friends? Whatever the case, these board game cafés in London make a good case for kicking back and whiling away a few hours. Whether you’re a board game fanatic, or have only ever played UNO, all of these spots offer up a fun day, or evening, out. And there’s even some food and drink on offer at these places, too. Just don’t spill it on the games!
1. Draughts, Dalston and Waterloo
In operation for a decade now, Draughts is a mini group of board game cafés in London with two spacious venues that can seat over 200 people. They are located in Waterloo and Dalston – and the latter even features an outdoor terrace. The two venues each have more than a thousand board games on their shelves, providing you with a whole afternoon of entertainment and fun. They can also host all manner of private events, from work outings to birthday parties, and more.
Draughts also has a wide-spanning menu that includes everything from tacos to cheeseburgers, and Korean fried chicken. And there is something for everyone – even for veggies, vegans, and gluten-free eaters. Plus, when you get thirsty they’ve got plenty of drinks too, including draught beers, wines, ciders and soft drinks to keep you hydrated while playing your favourite game.
📍 Draughts Waterloo, Arch 16, Leake Street, London, SE1 7NN. Nearest station is Waterloo.
💰 Off-peak: £7.50, Peak: £9.50. 3 hour limit. Free for under-12s and half-price for 13-17-year-olds.
📍 Draughts Hackney, 41 Kingsland High Street, London, E8 2JS. Nearest stations are Dalston Kingsland and Dalston Junction.
💰 Off-peak: £7.25, Peak: £8.50. 3 hour limit. Free for under-12s and half-price for 13-17-year-olds.
2. The Arcanist’s Tavern, Shoreditch
If you want to add a bit of immersive theming to your board game cafe experience, Shoreditch’s The Arcanist’s Tavern is a must-visit. This charming board game cafe tavern brings to life the “candlelit halls of a real rustic fantasy tavern” so you can enjoy your gaming session. When you enter you’ll all but expect to find a cloaked adventurer beckoning you over to join their expedition. And join an expedition you will – a tabletop one that is!
There are all manner of board games to choose from, and the venue’s three spaces also boast special tables designed for hardcore gaming sessions of TTRPGs (table-top role-playing games) and Wargaming. And while you’re there, be sure to visit The Apothecary to enjoy some of the themed food and drinks inspired by role-playing games. And, don’t worry, there are tons of veggie and vegan options, as well as non-alcoholic drinks.
📍 87-91 Hackney Road, London, E2 8FE. Nearest station is Hoxton.
💰 Board games: £7 per person for full access. Extra cost for special tables and role-playing booths.
3. Bad Moon Café, London Bridge
Located a few minutes from London Bridge and Borough stations, Bad Moon Café is an extremely popular board game café in London. Their spacious and bright main area allows guests to play a large selection of tabletop games while enjoying the food and drinks on offer. The board game library boasts over 150 games – and it’s always growing – so you can really while away the hours here.
Their mission at Bad Moon is to “create an inviting, comfortable and enjoyable experience for tabletop gamers in London”. And thanks to the friendly staff, some nifty sandwiches and pizzas, and a banging drinks selection – oh, and the games of course! – they’ve sure managed to achieve that. Don’t miss their special events that take place regularly, focusing on popular tabletop games such as Magic: the Gathering.
📍 159A Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4GZ. Nearest station is Borough.
💰 £7 per person for up to four hours.
4. Rogues Quarter, Kentish Town
Located in Kentish Town, Rogues Quarter is one of those board game cafés in London that holds a special kind of magic within its walls. As well as proffering up a hefty collection of board games for guests to enjoy, Rogues hosts Magic The Gathering events and has special 6×4′ gaming tables “for all your Wargaming needs”.
They take particular pride in the food and drinks offered at Rogues. Their coffee beans are sourced from small producers, and they emphasize sustainability across all of their consumable products. Food options range from tapas platters to loaded dirty fries, burger behemoths, and sweet snack-y options. Drinks range from sodas to hot drinks, wines, beers, and their specially-themed Potions (aka cocktails).
📍 155-157 Queens Crescent, London, NW5 4EA. Nearest station is Kentish Town West.
💰 Board Game Hire: £6 for up to 3 hours. £2 per extra hour beyond that. You must purchase food and/or drink to access the board games.
5. The Ludoquist, Croydon
This board game cafe is a popular spot for locals in Croydon – and it’s easy to see why. It’s a charming spot, with a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. And it just might be home to the biggest board game collection of any board game cafe in London. The Ludoquist boasts a ludicrous collection of almost 1,500 games.
While you play you can graze on paninis, pizzas, or finger foods; just remember to wipe those greasy fingers! And you can also enjoy a range of alcoholic drinks – including an impressive cocktail menu – as well as soft drinks, coffees, and more.
📍 63-67 High Street, Croydon CR0 1QE. Nearest station is East Croydon or George Street tram stop.
💰 £7 for three hours; no limit on sessions started after 6pm.
6. Library Pot, Richmond
This hidden spot in Richmond is both a fully licensed restaurant and a board game cafe – so you can expect plenty to choose from both gaming- and food-and-drink-wise. If you’re hungry for competition and just plain hungry, this is a great spot to visit. Their menu includes everything from curries to ramen, pizza, gyoza, burgers, salads, and more. That’s not to mention the drinks menu that ranges from sodas and smoothies to beer, absinthe, sake, plum wine, and beyond.
But this is a board game cafe article – you want to know about that! Well, their board game collection extends to over 700 titles, ranging from popular family-friendly games to esoteric titles from indie publishers. Library Pot is particularly popular for its Mahjong leagues that you can join, as well as meetups where curious newbies can learn the game.
📍 86 Kew Road, Richmond TW9 2PQ. Nearest station is Richmond.
💰 £6.50 per person per session – plus £15 minimum spend on food and drink per person. Sessions last up to five hours.
7. Loading Bar, Peckham and Stoke Newington
This mini chain of gaming bars stretches around London and all the way down to Brighton, offering up a place for people to eat, drink, and play. But there’s more than just board games at these venues, with classic arcade games and video gaming areas also available. You could go from pinball to an Xbox One X to a tabletop competition all in one gaming session.
Loading Bar operates a little differently from other board game cafes, with no charge for the games or table. Instead, each round of food or drinks from their themed menus grants you 90 minutes of unlimited access to their gaming experiences. Reaching the end of your session – simply order another round and it will start all over again!
📍 Loading Bar Stoke Newington, 129 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 0PH. Nearest stations are Stoke Newington and Rectory Road.
📍 Loading Bar Peckham, 120 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JT. Nearest station is Peckham Rye.
💰 Gaming is free with food and drinks orders.
8. Escape Bar, Stratford
Serving up a large selection of board games, Escape Bar Stratford is a buzzy bar that handily maintains its identity as a bar whilst also offering up a chance for a great board game sesh with mates. This spot features a wide collection of tabletop games that spans over 100 titles. And the best part is? There’s no table fee! You can simply turn up, grab a drink, grab a game, and get to playing.
Escape Bar also hosts regular events and live performances. These include pub quizzes, regular live comedy nights, and even a regular Rock Band karaoke night.
📍 25 West Ham Lane, London, E15 4PH. Nearest station is Stratford High Street.
💰 No table fee.
As you can see from this roundup, there are plenty of board game cafés in London for you to while away the hours. So roll the dice, grab a token, or deal the cards, and get playing!