Whether you’re looking for a fun afternoon of board gaming with some of your best mates, or finding a team-building activity for corporate events, these 9 places have you covered. With attentive staff, a great selection of games plus a solid menu of food items, here are some of the best ones in town to check out.
Mind Cafe
When people hear ‘Board Game Cafe’, Mind Cafe is usually the flagship one that they think of! For over a decade, the longstanding Mind Cafe has seen many a gathering of board game geeks and casual groups. Conveniently situated in Dhoby Ghaut, it boasts an impressive list of 500 titles, with classic games like Snakes & Ladders and Monopoly.
As the go-to cafe for the uninitiated and experts alike, do not expect the games to be in pristine condition. Depending on the purpose of your visit, your group can even enjoy having its own personal facilitators. The basic fee is $5 an hour, but other packages that come with free flow drinks and snacks from Old Chang Kee and Polar will have you spending hours of gaming and snacking. Check out their website for their extensive menu of food and games.
Website
Address: Islandwide
Opening Hours: Sun-Thu, 11am-2am, Fri-Sat, 11am-6am
King and the Pawn
On the second floor of a shophouse along Purvis Street is homey 55-seater King and the Pawn. With a solid menu of hearty grub, artisanal cocktails and locally brewed craft beers—and best of all, no time limit, this is one of our favorite hangouts. All the cafe asks is that you pay a “cover charge” of $9 per person (Tue-Thu) and $14 (Fri-Sun) for whoever’s playing.
Easy crowd favorites include Riff Raff , a game that tests your dexterity by having you balance tiny game pieces atop a precariously swivelling ship; and Cards Against Muggles—a clear Harry Potter twist on the notorious Cards Against Humanity (also available)—that’s bound to have Harry Potter fans and non-fans alike in stitches. Try the Tomato and Roasted Grape Bruschetta that comes with a generous tub of feta cheese; as well as the aromatic Truffled Honey Croque Madame.
Website
Address: 24 Purvis Street, Level 2, Singapore 188601
Opening Hours: Tues-Thur, 5.30pm-11.30pm, Fri, 5.30pm-1.30am, Sat, 11am-1.30am, Sun: 11am-10pm
Play Nation
A cash-only, fun-loving cozy space, Play Nation has a solid variety of selections, whether it’s board or console gaming. You might remember seeing their iconic monkey logo in multiple locations like Scape and Tampines, but those outlets have since closed down.
The cafe has recently moved to Prinsep Street, setting up their HQ in a 2-storey shophouse that seats 120. With jaunty beanbags, a smorgasbord of insta-worthy dishes, and 500 board and console games, you’ll surely have a fun game night at Play Nation.
Website
Address: 58 Prinsep St, Singapore 188686
Opening Hours: Sun-Thurs, 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sat, 12pm-3am
Settlers’ Cafe
Settlers’ Cafe’s veritable list of 600 board game titles is its biggest draw. Being in operation for over 15 years, this much-raved about halal-certified space has its loyal fans. Ambience is made cosy with low lighting, low-slung furniture and the nostalgic oak racks of well-worn games. You can rent a private room, or enjoy the indoor and outdoor seating at any time of the day, as their new Serangoon location is open 24/7!
A strong contender with the younger King and the Pawn, Settlers’ Cafe will serve you a heaping plate of fries along with other snacks that come in sharing portions. Nurse a cocktail as you contemplate your next move, or order from the thoughtfully curated menu. Try the Seafood Laksa Pasta, the Pistachio Rose Cake or the Matcha Lava Cake. Here, you can have your cake and eat it too.
Website
Address: 562 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218178
Opening Hours: Daily, 24hrs
ME Cafe & Games
ME Cafe & Games has it all. Board games, console games, even automatic Mahjong tables! Their shop at Tanjong Pagar offers private rooms with choices of all the latest consoles: The Switch, Ps5, and Xbox. They regularly host team bonding events and company gatherings, making it a social hub for enjoying countless board games in good company.
Website
Address: Level 3, 77B Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088498
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs, 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sun, 12pm-12am
Games@PI
Located smack in the centre of Singapore, this underrated, unexplored games haven proves the point that Orchard Road is more than just upscale malls and boutiques. At Games@PI, it’s all fluorescent office lighting and racks upon racks of games for sale or rent.
Together with the staff, you can browse and learn more about the Tabletop RPG scene. Enjoy their huge collection of games such as Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer, and other long-running classics. The retail area is out front, while the back area is dedicated to casual plays and tournaments alike. Pick a few to try, and if you fancy, purchase the games here too. Regular patrons appreciate the fact that Games@PI is very up to date with their offerings.
Website
Address: 220 Orchard Road #03-01 Midpoint Orchard, Singapore 238852
Opening Hours: Fri-Mon, 12pm-9pm, Tue-Thurs, 12pm-8pm
Battle Bunker
When you walk past Battle Bunker at Bugis+, you won’t be able to miss the huge collection of miniatures sitting in their outside displays. Entire armies of lovingly-hand-painted figurines point to the amount of care that this store puts into their games.
The community here is one of the best in Singapore, and that really counts with board games and tabletop gaming where half the fun is all about the people you play with. They provide many quality-of-life conveniences as well, such as lockers to store your games (so you don’t need to lug them around), a well-lit painting room to get your miniatures properly done, as well as bottled water and drinks you can purchase while taking part in their games program. The fact that they even make their own games (that you can back on Kickstarter) shows how passionate the folks here are.
Website
Address: BUGIS+, 201 Victoria St, #03-16/17, 188067
Opening Hours: Daily, 12pm-9pm
Experience Point
Team Board Game
With over 1000 unique games from the U.S., Team Board Game allows you to try your hand at various different games. And when you find something you like, purchase them right off the shelves. A seat at their table is priced very affordably ($3/person/hr), which makes TBG a good hangout spot for those looking to kill time with a good couple of rounds. Shop their site if you’re so inclined too.
Website
Address: 16 Arumugam Road, #05-01A, LTC Building D, Singapore 409961
Opening Hours: Daily, 1pm-11pm
Everyone has played a board game at some point, but diving deep into it is a niche hobby. These 9 places offer countless gaming packages to help pull you and your friends into the tabletop gaming world.
If you’re looking for a gaming experience that’s a little more up close and personal, instead of on a table, check out these arcades with Virtual Reality (VR) games in Singapore.
