Restaurants

4 Board Game Cafes to Hit Up in Metro Vancouver

A game of Ticket to Ride and bowl of gummy worms—name a better duo.

By Karisa Cheng /

Metro Vancouver will be seeing rainy weather for the foreseeable future, so outdoor outings are a no-go. So if you’re looking for indoor date or hang out ideas, a board game cafe might be the way to go. What better way to bond than to huddle in a cozy cafe and challenge your brain to a game of Catan? More of these cafes have been popping up on our radar, so here’s a round-up of some options for your next game of Monopoly. 

Shelves full of board games.
Credit: Pizzeria Ludica

Pizzeria Ludica

Did you know this pizza spot is also a game room? Ludica’s board games are free to play as long as you order pizza. What’s better – they have a colour-coordinated system on their website to show which games are most (or least) involved. On busy nights, there is a game steward to help teach you how to play any new games.

189 Keefer Place, Vancouver
604-669-5552

601 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster
604-553-2232

Two cups of fully loaded milkshakes in front of a Tic-tac-toe board.
Credit: Off the Grid Waffle Cafe

Off the Grid Waffle Cafe

Originally known for their waffle topped milk shakes, Off the Grid Waffle Cafe has expanded their menu to include chicken burgers and chicken and waffles. They also offer more laidback games like Jenga and Tic-tac-toe as free entertainment for customers. Comfort food with a side of Jenga sounds like the best way to spend a rainy Sunday.

5943 Fraser Street, Vancouver BC
(604) 326-0708

Scrabble tiles spelling "Meeples" next to a plate of chicken and fries.
Credit: The Raving Gamer Bistro

The Raving Gamer Bistro

This “gamer” restaurant is a great option for Langley residents. They have a bunch of different food menus – from a kid’s menu to share plates to a fully vegan menu. Students get 10% off entrees Monday to Friday. The Raving Gamer offers private rooms for big groups of board gamers, which costs $40 for the first 2 hours and an additional $10 per hour after. Otherwise, they do have a two-hour and two-game limit in their main room.

106 – 5735, 203rd Street, Langley BC
604-510-4414

A bowl of gummies next to a bowl of popcorn
Credit: Boardwalk Cafe & Games

Boardwalk Cafe & Games

This Abbotsford cafe offers over 600 game options for patrons. Their food menu mostly consists of sandwiches or snacks, but they also carry coffee and boozy drinks. You can opt to purchase a membership to avoid paying the $6 cover, in addition to other member perks. They also host role-playing games – be sure to check out their website for more information.

33760 Essendene Avenue, Abbotsford BC
778-666-5006