As shopping malls, movie theaters and rolling rinks seem to slowly disappear from the landscape, we’re left with fewer and fewer indoor escapes. However, gathering irl has massive benefits for our mental and social well-being. It provides a sense of belonging and purpose, reduced stress and even improved cognition. Those third spaces outside of home, work, and school are quite invaluable.
Enter: board game cafes. These communal spaces and casual lounges offer more than just games and java. They draw like-minded folks together in safe and welcoming spaces for fun, relaxation and artisanal food and beverages. For those looking to get out of the house and to try something new, we’ve gathered up 11 board game cafes across Pennsylvania for you to check out.
Dragon’s Roast Cafe (Pittsburgh)
Tucked inside of Pittsburgh game store Game Master, the inviting Dragon’s Roast Cafe offers space for you to play, work or just hang out. It boasts the city’s largest library of board games (over 1,000!), which you can pay $5 to access and explore. The packed event calendar includes board game nights and organized play of games, like Magic: The Gathering, Blood on the Clocktower, Pokémon and Star Wars: Unlimited.
Owner and coffee fanatic Phil Glotfelty opened his game store in 1996, but it wasn’t until he moved to his current location that he had the space to open a cafe. He says, “One of my other hobbies is mixology and I have been making cocktails and syrups for years, so I use those skills to design my own lattes and create homemade syrups for them.” His passion and expertise shines through on the extensive drink menu of lattes, hot chocolates, teas and more made with a slew of handcrafted syrups like plum, ginger spice and chai in warm or iced varieties. Choose your own adventure with bold options like the Radiant Citron Latte with red rooibos, blood orange and amaretto or something decadent like Grendel’s Schokolade Latte made with ganache, coconut, butter pecan and marshmallow. You’ve got to pair your drink with a donut or two from local legend Oram’s Donuts, available at the cafe from Monday through Saturday, and the many locally-sourced pastries, chocolates and other goods.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” Glotfelty says. “Over that time, we’ve really tried to build a community, and that’s what makes the store different. We have people from all backgrounds and walks of life. They’re all welcome to come here and enjoy a good cup and a great game.”
Dragon’s Roast Cafe is open seven days a week with varying hours. You can just show up and hang out, or schedule your own event to make it a special outing. Follow its Facebook and Instagram pages to stay in the loop. 398 Perry Hwy., Pittsburgh; (412) 367-4414.
The Magic Bean Café (Bradford)
Just south of the PA/NY border in Bradford, you’ll find The Magic Bean Cafe, a fun and casual hangout for foodies and fun-seekers. Game days, trivia nights and pre-release parties bring people together in this cute downtown café with hundreds of board games and a role playing game room. Welcoming vibes, attentive service, and scratch-made bites all make it a go-to for locals.
Just as fun as the games, this café’s menu boasts tasty, inventive paninis, specialty beverages, casual snacks and even a kids’ menu. Paninis, like The Ranger with honey ham, fig spread, dijon and Colby Jack, and The Druid with caramelized veggies, Cuba cheese curds and provolone, come on grilled sourdough with a side of potato chips.
Visit The Magic Bean Café any day but Tuesday, and follow it on Facebook and Instagram to see what’s happening. 17 Kennedy St., Bradford; (814) 596-0018.
Eclipse Gaming Café (Carlisle)
Comfort foods and friendly competition are the name of the game at Eclipse Gaming Café in Carlisle, where folks gather for game nights that include Dungeons & Dragons, Magic and Disney Lorcana and open play with the huge board game library.
Owner Jacob Laver is both a game enthusiast and a chef, with culinary skills that steal the show. Warm up with a bowl of homemade soup du jour, like loaded baked potato, Italian wedding, tomato and chicken corn soups and pair it with one of the scrumptious grilled cheese sandwiches like the maple bacon or jalapeño popper varieties. There are plenty of sodas in the cold case, coffees, teas and some particularly inventive mocktails.
Keep tabs on events and menu drops on Eclipse’s Facebook and Instagram pages, and pop in soon! 57 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle; (223) 259-3995.
Adventurer’s Hollow (Lebanon)
Tucked inside the Lebanon Valley Mall, Adventurer’s Hollow is a welcoming space with all kinds of games, events and a tasty, plant-based menu. Medieval-tavern-inspired, the interior boasts lots of rich wood and black iron finishes while remaining bright and inviting. The events are many, and sometimes scheduled back to back, with gamer favorites, like Magic: the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons and Friday Night Magic happening weekly. The knowingly curated selection of games for purchase include roleplaying games, dice, books, accessories and more.
If you’re hungry, the allergen-friendly menu can match your craving with casual eats, like loaded buffalo tots and Italian flatbreads, baked goods, like cookies for dessert, and fantasy mocktails in pretty hues to admire before sipping.
Adventurer’s Hollow is open every day but Monday and posts updates on its Facebook and Instagram pages to keep you up to date. 2231 Lebanon Valley Mall Suite E7, Lebanon; (717) 844-3455.
Mayhem’s Bookstore & Board Game Cafe (Lancaster)
Add Mayhem’s Bookstore & Board Game Cafe to the ever-growing list of reasons to go hang out in downtown Lancaster. This cheerful, inviting book-lined cafe offers non-stop events, like Commander Night, comic swaps and craft hangouts. Its subscription membership ($20/month or $200 annually) is a great idea for locals, getting you unlimited board game play, tabletop roleplaying game hosting, free drip coffee and a discount on books. For those just stopping in, grab a 2-hour or all-day pass ($5 or $10) and peruse the 300+ available board games. Or, check out the massive collection of comics, manga and graphic novels first. A book purchase earns you a free all-day game pass that you can use right away, or save for later.
As you settle in for some gaming, be sure to treat yourself to a coffee, tea or hot cocoa. There are sweet baked goods and savory, filling breakfast burritos and deli sandwiches available. Mayhem’s is open 7 days a week and its Facebook and Instagram pages will keep you updated with all the buzz. 102 W. Kings St., Lancaster; (717) 203-8799.
Jokers Are Wild Game Cafe (Lehighton)
The fun and family-friendly Jokers Are Wild Game Cafe in Lehighton invites you to put down the screens and compete, face to face. There are ongoing Dungeons & Dragons, Commander, Riftbound and youth game nights, classic and modern board games to play and escape room challenges for collective problem-solving and strategy.
The menu has an entire grilled cheese section with buffalo chicken, mac and cheese and club sandwich versions, and paninis pressed with the same ingredients and more. Hot from the air fryer, try chicken nuggets, mozzerella sticks or fried pickles. Soup, chili and salads round it all out.
Jokers Are Wild Game Cafe is open Tuesday through Sunday. For all the latest haps, follow its Facebook and Instagram pages. 125 N. 1st St., Lehighton; (610) 714-4263.
The Parlour Tabletop and Tome (Quakertown)
The Parlour Tabletop and Tome is Quakertown’s third place for the community to gather, game and dine, with plenty of space for quiet solitary moments, too. It hosts numerous tabletop roleplaying game nights for adults and teens, with systems like Dungeons & Dragons, Starfinder, Pathfinder and more. You can join as a solo player or organize yourself for $5, which is waived with the purchase of food. There’s also a horror book club that meets on occasional Sundays for those looking to discuss what they’ve read. Otherwise, grab a drink, a bite and a game from the library shelves, and have yourself a time in the chic and cozy space decorated with interesting, eclectic art.
The appealing menu invites you to build your own breakfast sandwich with your choice of protein, cheese, bread and spread, or nosh on grilled cheese paninis, quesadillas and house-made soups and stews for lunch. The nut-free sweets include over-the-top creations, like the Kitchen Sink Cookie loaded with caramel and chocolate chips and topped with a pretzel. Don’t miss the whimsical coffee and tea drinks with staples and seasonal specials, like a caffeine-free salted caramel fog steamer and The Midnight Draft made with rich espresso, cardamom and rose-infused brown sugar syrup.
Keep up with the specials and happenings by following The Parlour Tabletop and Tome on Facebook and Instagram. 241 W. Broad St., Quakertown; (267) 373-00020.
Mythic Beasts & Brews (Easton)
Open for five years and going strong, Mythic Beasts & Brews is Easton’s haven for gamers. The checkerboard floor, wide playing tables, and layout full of nooks and a cozy fireplace draw in casual hobbyists and serious players, alike. Many just visit to browse the numerous playing cards and figurines for sale or grab a coffee drink to go, while an ever-growing community of Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon aficionados meet at weekly events for casual and competitive play.
Whether you’re there for fierce, organized competition in one of the rentable gaming rooms or just pulling a board game off the shelf, we encourage you to try one of the house made coffee drinks, hot chocolates or smoothies. The coffee is from Homestead Coffee Roasters in nearby Upper Black Eddy, and the seasonal drinks include specialties like white hot chocolate with salted caramel and whipped cream and peppermint mocha with dark chocolate and espresso.
Follow Mythic Beasts & Brews on Facebook and Instagram and head there any day of the week!
Gamers Heaven (Phoenixville)
A self-appointed second home for “geeks and gamers,” Gamers Heaven has it all: weekly game nights, trading card and board games, anime, vintage video games and a super tasty menu to heighten the experience. It’s located just outside of downtown Phoenixville and approximately 30 miles from Philly, and set up with gaming chairs, cozy sofas, screens galore, a board game library and plenty of cards and figurines for sale. There are figure painting workshops, paid game nights with Mahjong, D&D and Daggerheart and lots more, watch parties, summer camps, and all kinds of other game and anime-centric programming.
The menu includes truly rave-worthy ramen with your choice of tonkotsu (pork flavored broth), shoyu (chicken and soy sauce flavored broth) or miso (soybean paste flavored broth) and all the fixings, like garlic shoots, shiitake mushrooms and shredded seaweed. There are also dumplings, spring rolls, pizzas and other casual fare. The boba tea is a must, available in either tea or creamy styles with bursting boba balls, fruit enhancers and whipped cream.
Learn about Gamers Heaven’s myriad offerings on Facebook and Instagram, and make it a point to stop by the next time you’re in the area, any day but Monday. 275 Schuylkill Rd., Phoenixville; no phone.
The Board & Brew (Philadelphia)
Located in University City a hop, skip and a jump from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, The Board & Brew offers a tranquil escape from the city hubub. It’s two stories of space, with a cafe feel downstairs and a cozy, lounge-like setting upstairs. On warm days, head out onto the expansive second-floor patio and enjoy a nice bird’s eye view. More than 750 board games of all levels and styles line the walls, organized by type (like deduction, racing and quest) and ready for play.
The food and drink menus are substantial, spanning all day with lots of vegetarian options. There’s a strawberry goat cheese griddle breakfast sandwich, vegetarian chorizo tacos and chickpea fava falafel along with comfort food classics, like a pancake stack, French fries with a vanilla milkshake and a classic cheeseburger on a challah roll. You could also just come here for dessert and tuck into decadent house-made treats, like milk chocolate custard cake with espresso caramel and ice cream, carrot cake, spiced apple cake and a variety of milkshakes, including vegan options. For some caffeine energy, choose from coffees, espresso drinks and loose-leaf teas. To mellow out, try one of the inventive cocktails or mocktails, like a Rum & Bones mai tai made with dark rum, apple, coconut and allspice or the Matcha Soda made with lavender and vanilla. There’s also a variety of crisp, sweet, malty and hoppy beers and a selection of wine.
The Board & Brew is open every day with online orders and table reservations available. 3200 Chestnut St., Philadelphia; (267) 857-0229.
Queen & Rook Game Café (Philadelphia)
More is more at Queen & Rook Game Café in Queen Village, Philadelphia, where there’s always an extra dose of fun to be had, festive food and drink to be shared, and another round to play. This spectacular café boasts cathedral ceilings, exposed brick and hardwood floors with plenty of room to spread out, a patio overlooking South Street and a basement level full of vintage video games.
Owners Edward Garcia and Jeannie Wong aim to offer something for everyone and succeed with flying colors. Guests choose from over 2,500 games, grown-up events, like quizzo, Texas Hold ‘Em and a popular game leagues (D&D, and Pokémon, for example), youth camps and events and plenty of other social affairs. And let’s not forget the food! The vegetarian/vegan pub-style menu is really quite remarkable, with hearty appetizers, pizzas, fries and sandwiches, like a Beyond Meat kimchi burger with tamari glaze and your choice of vegan or dairy cheddar. The drinks, of course, are next-level, too. Think milkshakes with shots of peanut butter whiskey, a Phoenix Feather cocktail with tequila, mezcal, cranberry, lime and smoked rosemary and an Airglider zero proof cocktail with chai, thyme and spices, and you’ve got the idea.
- Feature photo: Mayhem's Bookstore & Board Game Cafe
- All other photos: Courtesy of the respective businesses
