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8 Best Board Game Cafe Melbourne Has To Offer [2024]

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Board Game Cafe Melbourne

Best Board Game Cafe Melbourne
Best Board Game Cafe Melbourne

Gaming cafés, like most other cafes, have their own distinct personality that sets them apart from the competition. These cafés all have a few things in common. Board game cafés are part of the answer, giving places for people to socialize not only over beverages and food, but also through competition and collaboration in fun and games and amazing drinks. This is why you should be aware of the top board game cafe Melbourne has to offer.

1. Marche

Key ServicesEndless Supplies of Board Games | Social Events Accommodation | Taiwanese Inspired Food & Drinks | Karaoke Private Rooms
Websitehttps://mbgcafe.com.au/
Address63 A’Beckett St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Phone+61 3 9663 8898
E-mailinfo@mbgcafe.com.au
Operating Hours2PM – 11PM Sundays – Thursdays | 2PM – 1AM Fridays – Saturdays

Marche is located on bustling A’beckett Street in Melbourne’s CBD, only a block from Melbourne Central. It’s a beautiful paradise for folks who like to spend hours playing board games, singing karaoke, eating delectable Taiwanese cuisine, or enjoying fresh bubble tea and milkshakes. Their walls are adorned with an abundance of board games. Come down with a group of pals and enjoy an old favorite or learn a new game from Their library. Their wonderful Taiwanese-inspired meals and beverages, as well as the sharing combinations, are ideal. This is why they are one of the top board game cafe Melbourne has to offer.

Key Differentiators:

  • Taiwanese cuisine
  • Karaoke
  • board games

Customer Testimonial:

“Great place to stop by and try new board games with friends! The staff there have a good idea of how to play the games so can give you a quick run down if the rules start getting too complicated. Tasty and easy finger food is available while you play. The karaoke booths are also great!”

Allison Dempsey

2. Alchemists Refuge

Key ServicesDrinks Only | Friendly Service | Vast Games Library | Nerd-culture Cocktails And Boardgames
AddressGames Laboratory 328 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3000
Phone+61 3 9602 2075
Operating Hours12PM – 5PM Sundays | 5PM – 10PM Wednesdays – Thursdays | 4PM – 10PM Fridays | 2PM – 10PM Saturdays

The Alchemist’s Refuge may be found under the Games Laboratory. With a large range of beers and ciders and comfortable seating, it’s the ideal place to unwind and have a drink while playing a board game. The board game library is extensive, and the staff can assist you in selecting a game that is appropriate for your group. There’s enough for everyone on the menu, including pub meals, burgers, pizzas, and munchies. This is why they are one of the top board game cafe Melbourne has to offer.

Key Differentiators:

  • beers and ciders
  • board games
  • friendly staff

Customer Testimonial:

“A great little bar with a fantastic selection of both beers and board games. Staff are friendly and have pointed us in the direction of some awesome games to play, but keep trying to warn us off one of the best beers on the menu (the keru AT-AT). Have been going here at least once a week for years and they’ve never let us down.”

Blech

3. Queen of Spades

Key ServicesTasty Nacho Chips | Beef And Halloumi | A Plethora Of Entertaining Games
WebsiteFacebook
Address189 Smith St, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia, Victoria
Phone+61 3 9509 4244
E-mailqueenofspadesbar@gmail.com
Operating Hours8AM – 2PM Mondays – Fridays | 8PM – 8PM Saturdays – Sundays

Queen of Spades Fitzroy serves as a cafĂ©, bar, and board gaming hub all in one. You may indulge in your favorite beverage and meal while playing Monopoly, Settlers of Catan, Scrabble, or anything else from the large library of games, which includes craft beer, cider, and wine, as well as Australian-style cafĂ© classics. Along Smith Street, you’ll find everything from Mediterranean-style harissa scrambled eggs with shaved pecorino to burgers, nachos, calamari, and lots more delectable treats. It has a sophisticated interior design with large tables that are ideal for gaming. This is why they are one of the top board game cafe Melbourne has to offer.

Key Differentiators:

  • board games
  • sophisticated design

Customer Testimonial:

“Great little cafe in funky Fitzroy! Really good coffee and drinks, and so many board games to choose from. Really cool atmosphere too. Definitely worth visiting Fri-Sun for unlimited play!”

Asha Kurup

4. The Fox Hotel

Key ServicesCraft Beer | Global Eats | Live Music | Vegetarian Burrito | Foxy Fish Plate
Websitehttps://thefoxhotel.com.au/
Address351 Wellington St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia
Phone+61 3 9416 4957
E-mailInfo@thefoxhotel.com.au
Operating Hours8AM – 2PM Mondays – Thursdays | 3PM – 1AM Fridays | 12PM – 1AM Saturdays | 12PM – 11PM Sundays

The Fox Hotel is an ancient restored bar in Collingwood. It offers a distinctively contemporary touch on its food, beer, and wine while retaining its old school attractions. This brilliantly flexible bar turned modern bistro has a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. The extensive culinary selection includes the now-famous Vegetarian Burrito, roasted Pork Belly, and the Moreton Bay Bug Pie, with vegetarians, vegans, and people with food sensitivities never forgotten. Beer is treasured, with 100 different types kept in the fridge and rotating taps highlighting outstanding local and international microbrews. This is why they are one of the top board game cafe Melbourne has to offer.

Key Differentiators:

  • board games
  • great food

Customer Testimonial:

“Sunday roast special was very special. Generous portion and delicious. Friendly and attentive service. Fantastic choice of music with a good selection of the Stones mixed in.”

Bill Mrozek

5. 29th Apartment

Key ServicesMovie-themed cocktails & snacks | New York-style pizza | private booth seating | creative and unique space
Websitehttps://www.29thapartment.com.au/
Address29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia
Phone+61 3 8506 0765
E-mailinfo@29thapartment.com.au
Operating Hours6PM – 3AM Wednesdays – Sundays

29th flat is the quintessential eccentric Melbourne hangout for the St Kilda cognoscenti, with its unusual dĂ©cor, pop-art color palette, and abstract artwork. This eccentric Federation mansion coupled with NYC flat is the ‘go to’ for its party-loving audience and is located on vibrant Fitzroy Street in the heart of lively St Kilda. The re-imagining of an apartment lived by the famed Katishe; a scandalous, impoverished artist who walked the streets of St Kilda by night to finance her passion, 29th apartment ingeniously mixes iconic architecture and motifs from both New York and St Kilda in a really unique bar. This is why they are one of the top board game cafe Melbourne has to offer.

Key Differentiators:

  • eccentric dĂ©cor
  • unique atmosphere

Customer Testimonial:

“A place where everyone ends up to have a fantastic night, don’t worry about the phallic fish tank, but do try to insta a bath. Open until 3am, 29th apartment is a perpetual house party – games, music, cigarettes and drinks by the picket fence, or whimsical whispers in the library. A must visit.”

Thomas Barker

6. Lucky Coq

Key ServicesBar Food | DJ | Outdoor Area | Late Night Dining | Notable Gluten-Free Options | Pizza
Websitehttps://luckycoq.com.au/
Address179 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181, Australia
Phone+61 3 9525 1288
E-mailmanager@luckycoq.com.au
Operating Hours12PM – 12AM Wednesdays – Sundays

Lucky Coq, which opened in April 2006, has become a local favorite, with an emphasis on comfort, value, and entertainment. At Lucky Coq, entertainment is a big deal, and each night is different. Every night, there is free table tennis, free pool tables, movie nights, BBQs, live bands, and DJs. With a constantly changing tap beer list, you’ll always have a large selection of the greatest new and old beers from Australia and across the world to choose from. Cocktails are of the greatest quality, and with a skilled bar service, all palates may be satisfied. This is why they are one of the top board game cafe Melbourne has to offer.

Key Differentiators:

  • live entertainment
  • great selection of beer and cocktails

Customer Testimonial:

“Always a good time heading out to Lucky Coq for a dance and a drink. The seperate floors are usually always playing different tunes so it’s got a lot of variety – the staff are great too.”

Tyson Patterson

7. Katuk

Key ServicesFunction Venue | Quirky Library-themed Front Bar | Wood-paneled Terrace | Cocktail Classes | Trivia Day | Happy Hour
Websitehttps://www.katuk.com.au/
Address517a Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia
Phone+61 448 006 006
E-mailhello@katuk.com.au
Operating Hours5PM – 1AM Tuesdays – Sundays

Katuk is located in the heart of South Yarra’s Chapel St nightlife zone and boasts a dĂ©cor that many other pubs would envy. It will leave you feeling utterly relaxed and ready to either party or lay about with friends. Pratt Hospitality Group consists of three establishments, including Katuk. Maeve Fox and The Blacksmith Bar, both in Richmond, are Katuk’s sibling establishments. Katuk specializes in high-quality drinks as well as gatherings and events. Katuk will not disappoint with a variety of event venues to fit any gathering size or budget. This is why they are one of the top board game cafe Melbourne has to offer.

Key Differentiators:

  • great dĂ©cor
  • high-quality drinks

Customer Testimonial:

“Great drinks and great bartenders! We managed to pop in on a Wednesday where their Classic Cocktail list was 1/2 off which is always a bonus. I would absolutely go back any time of the week!”

Ashley Price

8. The Alehouse Project

Key ServicesCraft-beer Specialist | Bar Food | Notable Beer List | Function Hire
WebsiteFacebook
Address98-100 Lygon St, Brunswick East VIC 3057, Australia
Phone+61 3 9387 1218
E-mailthe.alehouse.project@gmail.com
Operating Hours3PM – 11PM Wednesdays – Sundays

The Alehouse Project first opened its doors in 2012, just as Melbourne began to appreciate craft beer. The Comfortable Chair was sold to a group of friends who sought a welcoming and approachable craft beer venue. The furniture is now minimal, consisting primarily of high tables and stools. Out back, there’s a vibrant beer garden, and the side room is a great place to keep one eye on the afternoon game and the other on the enormous windows that frame lively Lygon Street. Burgers dominate the menu, with a few nibbles, tacos, and pub favorites tossed in for good measure. This is why they are one of the top board game cafe Melbourne has to offer.

Key Differentiators:

  • Friendly and welcoming atmosphere
  • Great craft beer selection

Customer Testimonial:

“Great intimate venue. Great selection of beers to choose from and reasonably priced. Would be ideal for social functions, a quiet beer or two and shows all sports like rugby union’s super league and the boxing. You can order uber eats and The Alehouse Project has plenty of eateries around it. An absolute hidden gem.”

Carl Koudelka

Board Game Cafe Melbourne

Overall, board games have grown in popularity, and hobby game sales have climbed every year for the previous decade. Board game cafe, which capitalize on this trend, provide a warm and friendly environment for individuals who wish to learn how to play games, get lost in role play over a night of Dungeons and Dragons, or just crush a loved one over Scrabble and coffee. We hope this information assists you in locating the finest board game café Melbourne has to offer.

If you’re looking for more recommendations, you can check out our other posts below:

Rachel Tan - FunEmpire

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I'm currently the editor at FunEmpire Media Australia. I've over 8 years of experience in the media industry discovering the best local businesses, places and things to do in Australia. From lifestyle, entertainment, food, travel, education and more, I strive to curate the very best Australia has to offer.