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Header image courtesy of @wheatandwood (via Instagram)
Originally published by Ching Yuen. Last updated by Celia Lee.
It doesn’t matter if you are five years old or well into your seventies—board games are fun for anyone. Most people will be familiar with the classics, like Uno or Monopoly, but there are a hundred different kinds of board games out there worth exploring. Board game cafés provide a comfortable haven for you and your friends to relax and have a go at a range of games in-store, and it’s a good alternative hangout spot when you’re trying to escape the heat and rain!
Board game connoisseurs are bound to love 808 Board Game. Located in the heart of the busy Mong Kok neighbourhood, this board game café offers a wide selection of games for you to choose from. Whether you’re in for a long game of Ticket to Ride, or simply itching for a classic game of Uno, 808 has got you covered. Each booking grants you three hours of play time, and guests are welcome to bring their own food and drink, although the café is stocked with simple refreshments for those in need of a snack.
808 Board Game, Room 808, 8/F, Pakpolee Commercial Centre, 1A–1K Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mong Kok | (+852) 3791 2799
Morokok, a Thai-inspired board game café in Mong Kok, is truly a hidden gem. Not only does it have delectable food, but its massive outdoor terrace is one of the coolest places to try out a myriad of board games. You can see plenty of old Hong Kong-style buildings surrounding you from the terrace, and if you’re lucky, you can also catch the sunset.
Settle down onto Moroccan-style mats and cushions with a coffee and have a go at the Game of Thrones-themed Monopoly—it’s a race to see who will reach King’s Landing first and who will go bankrupt in their attempts.
Morokok, Shop 801, 8/F, Gala Place, 56 Dundas Street, Mong Kok | (+852) 2363 1882
Wheat & Wood is one of the sleekest board game cafés in Hong Kong. Every shelf in the café is filled with all sorts of games, and there are also tables set up exclusively for bigger games like Jenga and chess. You’ll find most board game favourites here, like Life, Catan, and Risk, as well as some niche titles from smaller producers.
Wheat & Wood, Shop 6, G/F, Brilliant Court, 28 Praya, Kennedy Town | (+852) 2399 0433
Claiming to the best board game café in Kowloon—we’ll see about that—Painkiller Boardgame Café prides itself on its extensive range of board games. You can virtually pick any game from their cupboards to guarantee a good time among your pals. If you fall in love with any of the in-house board games, rest assured that you can browse the café’s retail section to purchase your very own copy to take home.
Painkiller Boardgame Café, Room 1301, 13/F, Grandmark, 8A–10 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3568 3227
Here at Double Café, you can find an extensive dining menu you can order from when you’re vying for the win among board games or card games of all sorts. A smoked salmon panini with fries is good for lunch or a large afternoon tea snack, and the chocolate lava cake with ice cream is designed for all the sweet tooths out there.
If you’re just looking for a drink, you can order from its Tarot Card menu, where drinks are named after characters from tarot cards, such as the Magician, which is a mixture of rose and green apple, or the Demon, a blueberry blended ice smoothie!
Double Café, 4/F, Ko’s House, 577 Nathan Road, Mong Kok | (+852) 9768 2318
Jolly Thinkers has grown from a small café to a multi-service business, offering in-store retail options, online retail, rental services, and wholesale board games as well. With two stores filled from top to bottom with board games, its staff are able to not only offer recommendations of what to play, but they can practically teach you any game as well. We could go into detail on what kinds of board games Jolly Thinkers offers, but trust us when we say that they have everything and their selection is so comprehensive, it’s dizzying.
This colourful café is filled with board games of all sorts to take you back to your childhood, such as Pirate Barrel or the Bad Dog toy! Walking into Any Moment Café is like going into another world: Extravagant, nature-themed decorations hang on the walls to help you relax into your window seats overlooking the streets of Mong Kok and while away the hours. They also offer options for private parties and gatherings in their forest-inspired room where you can play Jenga and other space-consuming games!
Any Moment Café, 9/F, Hanway Commercial Centre, 36 Dundas Street, Mong Kok | (+852) 6130 6631
If you’re looking for a cheap way to kill time and play board games, then Sweet & Fun Café is the place for you. Pick any board game from its tall racks and play for as long as you want—without any cover charges! Since some games like Monopoly take forever to finish, we would recommend getting a drink or two to support a boutique local business.
Sweet & Fun Café, 18/F, Hanway Commercial Centre, 36 Dundas Street, Mong Kok | (+852) 3482 3992
Industrial buildings are full of surprises, including The 5B Private Corner, a hidden café just 15 minutes away from The Mills. As long as you have the address right, it’s not actually that hard to find. There are many reasons to love this café, from the epic sea view you get treated to from its window seats to the board games you can play anywhere. This café is like a slice of childhood that manages to survive throughout the times!
The 5B Private Corner, Room B, 5/F, Tsuen Tung Factory Building, 38–40 Chai Wan Kok Street, Tsuen Wan | (+852) 3956 3926
Having lived in Hong Kong, Beijing, and London sure is a fun fact whenever people try to guess Ching’s accent. She loves switching between all these language channels and her “mother tongue” is just determined by how many drinks she’s had for the night! She loves movies, travelling, and exploring cities, from hidden alleys to gourmet dining, so feel free to hit her up if you need any suggestions for dinner!
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