4 Calgary board game cafes to check out on a rainy day
Board game cafes are fantastic and trendy places to hang out, either for a casual cup of coffee or for a seriously competitive game night.
Calgary is home to four stellar board game cafes, all of which are open late. Most of them even serve wine and beer if you’d like to pair a glass of red with a night of Settlers of Catan.
See also
- Calgary's SUPER Smash Café officially just opened its doors
- 7 essential tips for first-timers at Calgary Expo 2019
- Calgary Expo to host a massive cosplay parade this April
Boxcar Board Game Cafe
This cool locale serves snacks, salads, sandwiches, pizza, coffee, pop, wine and beer, and is home to over 350 games to play.
You can check out their entire collection of games online and you can take any of them home to rent for $5 per night.
The cost for a table is $3 per hour, though from Monday to Thursday it’s only $5 for unlimited play-time. During peak times hours and days gameplay is limited to three hours per group, however.
They also have games available for sale.
Where: 1215 1st Street SW
Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11 am to 11 pm
- Friday to Saturday: 11 pm to 2 am
Hexagon Board Game Cafe
This one is probably the most well known in the city, with locations both in Calgary and Edmonton.
Hexagon offers players a wide assortment of games, as well as refreshments. Food, coffee, beer, and wine can all be enjoyed while you’re playing a game.
This location can be a little more pricey, with games costing $2.50 per hour per person. Their entire game library is available online, and games are available for sale.
Where: 1140 Kensington Road NW
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8 am to 11 pm. Friday: 8 am to 1 am. Saturday: 9 am to 1 am. Sunday: 9 am to 11 pm.
Metal Galaxy Social Games and Bistro
This cafe boasts a game library of over 300 games and loaner card decks available to play every day of the week — and the best part is that they are completely free to play!
The bistro offers a widely varied menu offering waffles, ice cream, cold drinks, coffee, beer and wine, pizza, sandwiches and hotdogs.
Where: 4624 Macleod Trail
Hours:
- Monday to Tuesday: 10 am to 6 pm (self-serve only)
- Wednesday: 10 am to 9 pm (Bistro open from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm)
- Thursday to Saturday 10 am to 9 pm (Bistro open 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm)
- Sunday Noon to 7 pm (Bistro open noon to 6 pm)
ShoeBox Games & Cafe
First opening in 2016, this is a full retail, cafe and gaming store. For the retail aspect of their business, they have a second location at Crossroads Market.
With tons of trading cards from Pokemon, Yu-Gi-oh! and Magic the Gathering, as well as Games Workshop products and board games, there are no shortages of choices.
They also have a food menu that includes Belgian waffles, crepes, smoothies, and fish and chips.
Where: 509 McKnight Boulevard NE.
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11 am to 9 pm, Friday to Saturday: 11 am to 11 pm, Sunday: 11 am to 6 pm
Follow Channels and Categories