The Board Room Game Cafe

What a gem of a place! Service was quick and super friendly. The collection of games was truly impressive. There was something for everyone. There were couples and big groups there as well. We had a game boss who was great at explaining and helping us pick a game, coming back to check on how we’re doing and giving tips. The food was really tasty too. Such an enjoyable and fun evening. We will be back

Came here with a few friends one night to catch up and the atmosphere was amazing, staff was so friendly and the food was great. The staff gave us some good recommendations for the games and didn’t hesitate to help explain and answer questions! Amazing service, we will all be back.

Such an amazing place for a date night, group hang out, or family outing. We needed a last minute reservation change from 6 to 8 people and the staff were extremely accommodating and found a way to find us a spot. Service was great all night, the waiter was attentive, helpful, and very aware of dietary restrictions. Another employee helped us find other party games for our group size, which was appreciated! Great selection of games and honestly just an amazing atmosphere. The BRC is an amazing concept that has been brought to life in a spectacular manner. Kudos to the employees and owner, they’ve made this such a great spot!

Have you ever watched classic sitcoms like Friends, How I Met Your Mother, and Cheers and wondered where those kind of hangout places exist in real life? This cafe is definitely that hidden gem for Halifax. Introduced to me by a buddy when I moved back here, it slowly turned it a regular hangout spot for our group. Admission being so affordable meant that this place served as a solace during periods of unemployment and times of financial distress. We always felt welcome and had a place to go to, especially since they were open until late. It’s a great place to go to try out board games before buying them, and they have different seating arrangements based on your group’s vibes. All the other players have also been extremely respectful, making the atmosphere feel like a big gathering of friends. Their milkshakes are fantastic, and it’s impressive how knowledgeable the staff are in the over 200 board games they have there. Been going here almost 2 years now but the absolutely wonderful service tonight by Tony made it one of our most memorable nights here! He was attentive, funny, personable and polite. Checked up on us, accommodated every request while swiftly clearing our table and engaging in friendly banter. While the service is always exceptional, Tony’s dedication stands out. It’s staff like him that always keep us coming back. When I do eventually move to another province, this is one of the things about Halifax I’ll miss the most!

This is the best board game cafe i have ever visited! Staff were great - attentive without being intrusive. Wonderful selection of craft beers and ciders. Amazing choice of board games! I really liked how two player games were bolded on the list and how they were organized. I'll definitely stop by again on my next trip to Halifax.

Sadly no photos, forgot to take pics here. Food: 4/5. The mac n cheese tasted pretty good, but wasn't a lot compared to the popcorn bowl or salsa nacho bowl(?) my friends ordered for themselves. The menu itself looked pretty pricey for snack foods, but I'm hoping the other options taste as good or even better than the mac n cheese. Didn't wait too long for the pasta, came piping hot in a nice, clean ceramic dish. My friends enjoyed their orders too. Service: 5/5. Servers were checking in at a decent rate and weee friendly and helpful when asked questions about where games were. When our server changed, the new server amicably introduced themselves and checked in on us too. When time was up, they let you know and guide you to the cash register, and other workers clean/wipe the table and take your plates and cups. Atmosphere: 5/5. It's mostly just friend groups or family (with friends maybe) there it seems, so the atmosphere is very joyful and happy. There were a lot of rooms and tables for people to sit, and they all appeared to be clean (I didn't inspect every table though of course, so double check if you do go here). The workers I saw also seemed to be pretty glad working there compared to other kinda of places I've visited, which is nice to see. Overall: 5/5. Probably eat food before or after going here for a real meal, but other than that, it was very fun to go with friends! Cheers!

It's much bigger on the inside than the outside. Good selection of games. Good selection of mocktails. Some of the games are a little worn, but all the pieces were there. Some cards might need sleeves. Recommended: beer flight, orange spice tea, luck potion, italian soda (mango+peach)

easily one of my favourite spots in halifax. the amount of games are endless, the ambiance is unbeatable, and the food is perfect. recently one of my visits the service was a bit questionable, but majority of my experiences here have been perfect so it was probably just an off day! i adore it here and highly recommend it to everyone.

Great spot for a board game and some light snacking. The nachos are simple but a super compelling buy as they nail the fundamentals without trying to be different and are a very good price. The location itself is starting to feel a bit long in the tooth and often the air conditioning is set too cold. Their sauce is super friendly, but sometimes inexperienced. Try it out if you like discovering new board games.

I've been here a couple times now, once for the name sake board games and a second time for one of their themed trivia nights. It's a pretty easy concept to get - for a $5 charge per head you can stay as long as you want and play as many different games as you want. And they have walls of them. My friends knew what they wanted to play going in, so we didn't need any game playing advice, but you can get that from the staff as well. There's also a big ol' wall of games by the entrance if you want to purchase one to take home. They have a very good selection of local beers on tap and in bottles, as well as a small menu with mostly snacky type foods, although they have a few more substantial things like sandwiches. And being a cafe, they of course have several options for your caffeine addiction. Game night was super fun, and the staff checked in frequently to keep us topped up on beverages. The trivia night was awesome. It was Simpsons themed, and they went all out for it with the hosts dressing up, and new menus being printed, with some things re-named and a couple special items like "Guff" beer - a special batch from Garrison - and the Forbidden Donut - a pink icing-dipped classic. The beer was an easy going brew, like Duff would be, but better than a big macro brand beer. I also got the Meaty One sandwich, which has roasted chicken, bacon, havarti, and green and red peppers. It's a solid sandwich, but the southwest dip I chose to go with it really went a long way in adding some more complex flavours to it. I capped off my healthy meal with the Forbidden donut. It wasn't up to Ol' School Donuts level of donut game, but it was a respectable entry. The business is one of a kind in the city, and it's great to see it doing really well and adding to options of social activities to do in Halifax.

I've been meaning to come here for quite a long time, but somehow this place has always slipped off my schedule whenever I come back to Halifax. Finally, I got the chance to make a visit, and I can safely say that I'm not disappointed in the slightest. Four friends and I dropped by on a Monday night. It was moderately full when we first stepped in, but it quickly filled up as the night progressed. Monday nights are cover-free, which means that you only need to pay for food and not entry. Since this was my first time here, I'm not sure how much the entry fee is, but the food is definitely reasonably priced. We grabbed the table under a vent - pro tip, it gets pretty chilly when you sit next to the AC. Would avoid next time, but it wasn't that bad. The service was fast and attentive. We ordered about five things, all finger food and straight carbs (oops), and they all tasted great. We also got some tea and a few glasses of water, which the server made sure stayed full. In total, we played three games, and the first plate of food came about five minutes into our first game. The rest of our food quickly followed suite. I definitely recommend the garlic fingers. I think we stayed about three hours in the end? There's a loyalty card program too, so I made sure to grab one for my next inevitable stop here. Super fun!

I came with a group of three others and we just LOVED it. A fantastic selection of games, great menu, and attentive staff! I got a London fog to drink and it was hands down the best London fog I've ever had. A staff member gave our table a free bowl of popcorn towards the end of the night as they were closing up the kitchen and probably had extra- definitely no complaints! really can't say enough good things. I just wish there wasn't a three hour time limit cause I could stay all day!!

Awesome place. Been here for a few times and every time it was great service, great food and great atmosphere. The times I've went to just play board games the staff were super helpful in terms of being patient while they teach you how to play and their knowledge of the incredible amount of games they have is unbelievable. The snacks I've had (pretzels, pita, etc.) are pretty friggin good, especially considering the price and environment. Nice to have a bit of grub as you destroy your friends at monopoly.

I was a doubter. Honestly, when someone first told me about this place, I thought two things: 1) I'll never go; and 2) it'll never last. I'm glad to see that I was wrong on both counts! One of my major reservations was the idea of paying a cover fee to play board games. Uh, I have a ton of them at home. Why would I pay to play games. Until I realized that this is a great way to "test drive" games (some of which I've since purchased and/or received as gifts). There are so many board games out there to which I'd never been exposed and with 400+, the Board Room has lots for me to learn. The staff? Amazing. Exceptional. Above-and-beyond. They really seem to know how to play every game (or at least know who does). They convert the often complicated instructions into real, human language and make the games seem so much easier. Food and drink? Delicious and varied. Price? Pretty good! The environment? Fun. And surprisingly not noisy. I know it's an odd thing to comment on but you'd think with so many people playing board games, it'd be deafening in here but that has never been my experience. Instead, you can have a conversation with your friends while enjoying some fun shared experiences. Thumbs up.

The people who complain about the service here must have no social skills. I've been there twice and both times were great. The first time we played Ticket to Ride and Catan. A man asked if we needed help with the rules, and thoroughly explained everything. He checked in every once in a while to ensure we were going along fine. The noodle bowl was fantastic and the beer selection/pricing is great. The second time we just played a couple card games and spent a little more time drinking/eating. Service was fast and friendly which was impressive because it was super busy. Definitely recommend this place (unless your gonna sit by an AC vent and then complain about the AC..... Some people lol)

LOVE IT! Amazing beer selection, featuring plenty of local craft beers. 19+ Keeps the kiddies away after 6PM. Excellent coffee and espresso-based drinks (Dat MEEPLE though!). Great snack selection. Sandwiches on the menu.The staff is cool as hell and very knowledgable. Clean. Affordable. I have been going every Wednesday evening for the past few weeks with a group of friends and we have had a blast every time. We typically are served by the same person every week, no names, so we'll just call them CODENAMEDRAGON. Fantastic! Remembers our drinks. Banters with us. And never lets our glasses go empty without being offered another pint. First date? Go here. Catching up with friends? Go here. Family? Go here. I can't think of any situation where this place wouldn't be a blast. If you aren't having fun here, then you probably just suck.

Just missing a good system to find the game you want. Overview Halifax has needed a spot like The Board Room Game Cafe for a long, long time! Before this place, all we really had were movies, bars and coffee shops. Now we have this! And we also have a few Virtual Reality lounges in the city which is a huge bonus. Environment / Atmosphere The main area is the best decorated and designed. You are surrounded by other people at tables playing games I have never head of. HOWEVER, the other spots in the cafe have less to be desired. There is another room that fits about the same amount of people as the main area and it's just an unappealing room with bad lighting. So there's growth that's needed. Games They have every game I've ever heard of. However I have yet to discover a system that they have in order to find the game you want. If you have an exact one in mind, you have to wait to ask a staff member cause it's like finding a needle in a haystack. The games aren't organized alphabetically like one would suspect. It would be great if they had some sort of system that anyone could recognize and utilize to find the game they want right away. Food and Drink Really good! And they make sure they have low-cost food options like popcorn that are fun options for everyone! Side-note, right now, if you check-in there, you'll get a free popcorn. That's as of March, 2018. No promises for those reading this review in 2025 when robots have taken over our planet and Elon Musk is president of Earth. Customer Service Helpful but I'm starting to feel they are a bit overworked. I've noticed patience levels of some of the staff who are explaining the games to be a bit on the shorter side. So I think more staff need to get trained up on how to play the games and/or hire one or two more people. Conclusion Thank god this place exists. It's a great date option or just a way to hang out with your friends and have a blast without music blaring into your ear like at every bar in the city.lol.

It's a cafe, so 99% of people are with company. I don't know whether it would be easy for solo players to go in and actually enjoy it, but it's well-setup for small groups and dates. I saw at least 3 couples on dates when I went. There are lots and lots of games that are very organized. It was my first time going to a board game cafe and the small tour at the start really helped me understand how to find games that I might be interested in playing. You pay for admissions and food at the end, so you don't have to fiddle with any of that while you're gaming. You can just relax, have fun, and eat until midnight!

Updated review: stopped by to pick up copy of a tabletop game and their mark up was 33.3% more than I could have gotten it for online. I don't mind paying a bit more to support local but wow that's quite a mark up. They were the only place in town with a copy of what I wanted and I didn't want to wait for delivery. The fried bread/ burnt cheese was still as strong and off putting as the last time I was here.

Yes I'm THAT person. The person who goes to house parties and suggests everyone plays a board game. and YES. I love monopoly. In fact, I have the Spongebob, Disney and Pokemon editions. Alas, who wants to play board games instead of beer pong? Introducing the board room game cafe!! They have an abundance of boards games and not your typical ones. There's a whole world other than clue, life, scrabble, cranium, monopoly and the other popular games. The best part of this place is the trivia nights. So much fun. o! O! And their menu is the perfect amount of nibblies. They have a sandwich and some dips but not big meals. Which I love. I mean, who wants to be playing settlers of catan with mr.pizza and have sauce dripping down your face while you put the game on hold? Not me. So... why does this place loose a star? A great question. The customer service I've had here is the worst. I have yet to come here and be greeted with something other than "We're sold out of wine". Which, BTW, is super annoying... How can you be sold out of wine when you opened 3 mins ago?! And it's the first night of trivia night so OBVIOUSLY these themed menus were printed recently. I kid you not, one time I asked for hot chocolate and the waitress ROLLED HER EYES. I'm sorry? If you hate your job so much why are you working here? She must have gotten someone else to do it because a lady turned up a couple minutes later with the hot chocolate (Which was a good beverage btw). Here's the reeeeeeeal kicker tho: An HOUR later, my waitress shows up with the hot chocolate. She put it on the table and I informed her that it was already given to me. She looked at me, huffed and rolled her eyes. GAHHH.... WHAT DID I DO?! However, overall, everytime I've been here I've had a great time =) I can't wait till next time!

Must-visit hangout for the geek-crowd or game-curious. The Nutella latte is over the moon good, service is excellent, and there are tons of games to be had. If I could recommend one or 2 things, it would be to book in advance (Saturdays are insane), and to put a little more work into maintance for the games - some of the more popular ones could stand to have a .pdf of the rules on backup or some replacement pieces - the Catan cards were getting a little rough around the edges, for example. Guaranteed a good night out when the friends get together.

If you're into table top games, or want to get into them, this is a must-visit. Just make sure to get there early so you can get a table! It gets busy fast. They have an immense library of games to choose from, so you can play almost anything on the market. And if you're uncertain of how to play a game, just ask - they have a game master to help out with that! The food and drinks are pretty delicious too. My personal favourite is the ginger beer, but I know their beer selection is great. Don't forget to sign up for Brownie Points (the reward system) if you're a frequent visitor!

This place is great - comfy, cozy, great selection of games (maybe even comprehensive) and staff who are happy to not only recommend games but stop by to help when you get stuck or aren't sure what to do in a particular situation. Everyone who helped us out seemed to have first hand knowledge of each game, which is hard to imagine! I wonder if you have to explain random games during your job interview? So three of us joined together to play a game, told the helpful staff person we had about 30 minutes (sometimes double bookings are a pain!), and he picked out 3 games to offer us a choice. One had a bit of strategy (and cute penguins!), one was a matching game, and the third was one of those games where you physically build something until it falls apart. No, not Jenga, but something with a lot of German on the box. We picked the penguins, since they were cute, and mild strategy sounded like something we could handle. I like the variety of seating in this place, and the food I saw being delivered around looked very tasty. You can order beer, pop, snacks, sandwiches, and next time I stop by - with more friends and more time I'm sure! - I'm looking forward to snacking as well.

Awesome space for group, kids also will enjoy the place Don't forget to bring your ID after 6 p.m. I guess. Kids allow before that They have lots and lots of options, you won't be disappointed here. Staff are super friendly and they would explain how to play if you encounter a new game

This place is phenomenal, the combination of a chill atmosphere and unlimited access to numerous board games is amazing. Plus rolling a D20 to upgrade your orders tickles my fancy

100's of board games, staff that loves to help and explain how to play and beverages and snacks. Pretty much all the ingredients for a fun night out with friends. This place is fantastic, so much so they have doubled in size since they first opened. I have been here 3 or 4 times and each visit is a new experience. You can play the good old classic games like monopoly or risk or so with titles you have never heard of. For games that look complicated, staff will come to your table and walk you through game play. Making things accessible even to someone like myself who hates taking the time to read through user manuals. A great place to go on a date or enjoy the company of a large group of friends. Tip!! This place gets super busy so make a reservation in advance or show up early in the evening. If you forget they will put you on a list, while you go down the road to have a beer and call you when there is a free table..

Based on my first visit I give 5 stars! Staff were helpful and friendly (thanks for helping us learn the games quick so we can start playing). We hit a quiet time which was nice. This place does get a lot of loyal traffic. It's clean, spacious and I liked the music. We had good eats from the menu - dips with naan bread, popcorn and pretzels :) The drink price was standard to most Halifax joints and a very good selection. Several local craft beer were on tap - NICE! (The beer on tap were some of our favorites). I enjoyed the Propeller Ginger Beer and the winter sangria - yum! I'm glad I ventured outside my comfort zone to try it - yum yum! The lattes sounded great too (Nutella latte - sounds dangerous LOL). I will have to try a latte or two the next cold winter day. The Place: There's lots to look at - you can check out games you've never even heard of. And there's even stuff to purchase - games and other items like t-shirts. We know some people who frequent this joint and now that we have been introduced, we'll try and join them one of these days. Or perhaps just a small intimate group since our gamer friends seem to play more complicated/competitive games. Yes, you can play some games with only two people - but a group of 3 or 4 can make the game/night more fun! 2.5 hours flew by :) I do hear from others that this place does get busy and has wait times - so plan ahead. Happy gaming!

Awesome spot! Great selection of board games, cool employees, great appetizers and drinks and a lot of space too. Once you get inside, time just flies!

tl;dr: Amazing selection of games & food, great employees. They do Brownie Points! If you have a bad experience, chalk it up to someone having a bad day. I hummed and hawed over writing this review because MAN I really really love this place. Except this one time an employee treated me and my table like shit. And that sucked because I capital-L LOVE this place. A group of friends were all meeting here to have a night of board game fun (as you are guaranteed to do if you go!). My boyfriend and I happened to be the first to arrive. The place was basically dead; we had arrived around 4pm. We figured there would be a sizable group of us, 5-9 people, so we walked around looking for a good space and decided the long table under the stairs would probably be best, rather than cramming in people or re-arranging tables (as an ex-server, I understand the pain when people do this). So I asked about the long table. The employee I asked was basically "wtf no" and told us (not asked) to sit at a smaller table. I briefly explained that a group would be arriving, but he still told us to sit at a smaller table and that he'd see about reseating us "IF other people arrived." And by the way he said it, he didn't believe us. Okay, fine. We sat at a table for four, picked out a game, and started playing only to have the entire group show up five minutes later. They were confused ("wtf dude why are you sitting at a small table?") and when I went back up to ask the same employee if we could now be reseated, he was not pleased and waved me off. So we moved ourselves. The rest of the visit was fantastic. We had an extremely energetic and friendly server, and we ordered plenty of food & drink from her. Now here's the thing: the staff at the Board Room have always been helpful and friendly, recommending games or menu items with panache. They have never been unkind... except this one guy. He was rude and dismissive and made zero attempts to apologize for it. If it had been busy, or the table prebooked, I would understand. We would have rearranged. But it wasn't, and he was douche-y. I haven't been back since this happened. I will but it just left me with a bad taste.

New to the Halifax area, the first time I went to the Board Room Cafe was with my wife, siblings, and friends. It can be little expensive if you are not careful on how much food you get but everything is great! The amount of games available to play is amazing. The staff are great in helping to make suggestions as well as help understanding the rules. I have not been to one of the trivia nights but may consider that in the future. It would be awesome if they did a chess tournament or something.

Let me start off by saying that I absolutely love the premise behind this place. I've loved board games for a while now, and it's a passion that only increases with my ever growing collection. They're pretty darn expensive, though. Now, however, there is a lovely place where you can pay a small fee and choose from a very expansion library of games for you and your friends to enjoy! The Board Room is a nice space on Barrington, with lots of light and ample seating for groups of people. We were lucky enough to grab the large leather sofas, but the regular chairs looked plenty comfy as well. The entrance fee is $5, which is added on to the bill for any food and drink you order. This fee allows you use of any of their 500 (REALLY!) games they have on offer, which range from old favourites like Scrabble and Monopoly, to some very interesting options you might never have heard of, and some that are even in other languages. They helpfully employ "Gamemasters", who stroll around the cafe offering assistance and tips on games you've never played before, and chatting in general with the patrons. I found all of the staff to be incredibly friendly, and they were a big help in explaining of the games we chose. While they offer paninis and freshly made coffee and espresso beverages, we stuck to pop and a bowl of candy (aw yes), being late night visitors. They will also be obtaining a liquor license sometime soon, so there will be some more boozy beverage options on the menu. Also offered is a retail section when you first enter the store, which has quite a lot to offer! They are also the only store in Atlantic Canada (as far as I understand) to sell Cards Against Humanity, and they also offer it to play; I highly recommend, it's a fantastic game. All in all it's a really great place, and one I can't wait to visit again. It's something our city definitely needed; reasonably priced entertainment that can appeal to a diverse crowd. Next time I'll have to grab something to eat, too.

This place is awesome! Such a neat idea and very popular - a good alternative to spend time with friends outside of a restaurant/bar/home. There are many game options and if you are unsure what to play, the staff will make some suggestions, or even pick one for you. I love the atmosphere and $5 for unlimited playing makes it so affordable. There are also drink options and food options. I find some of the drinks a bit expensive, so I always stick with water. But how can you go wrong with a $3 bowl of candy or pita bread and hummus. The staff are so friendly and know their games very well. There are quite a few tables and chairs (I think they all fit at least 4 people). Also there is a comfy couch option, but that is always hogged by other people. I will say that I've noticed that there can be a super long waiting list to get a table to play some games (especially on a weekend), and with no gaurantee of when a table will be available, a lot of people just don't bother. There should be some sort of time limit (weekend nights), at like 2-3 hours to allow for other groups to get a chance to play. We were there this past weekend from approximately 7:30pm to 9:30pm and only one table left during that time, and I noticed a lot of groups came in and left after hearing the wait time of at least 1.5hrs with no gaurantee. Overall, I love this place! I wish I thought of opening a place like this myself. I highly reccommend giving it a try.

This place is awesome! We stayed after the Elite event to play some more games and we were not disappointed. The place got busier as the night went on, and we did see a few people waiting - a good sign for good times! There are SO many games! We couldn't decide what to play first. We tried some Shark Bite, which was fun and quick ; some lumberjack game, where you knock over pieces (I got a little over zealous and they may have all ended up scattered...); a dragon game with tiles; a train game, where you try to get as many lines going across North America as possible; and a few other gems. We were wondering if they had Kerplunk but ran out of time to ask. Next time! The atmosphere when this place gets going is loud and fun. It's great for a group of friends and they've got some delicious treats - sandwiches, dips, candy, local soda, and more! My one complaint is that good service was SLOW and not attentive. We ordered a dip plate and it took almost 30 minutes to get it. After that we asked for more naan to finish the dip, it was fantastic and needed tone eaten, but after ordering it twice we have up. When we went to pay it was clear they'd totally forgotten our (two) orders. But that's the worst that happened... No biggie! Other than that it was a fantastic experience and we will all be back!!

11 Reviews in.. and that's 105 stars out of the possible 105 stars available... pretty damn good start for a business that I only see growing in popularity. I won't lie.. The Thompson.. (the building that the Cafe is situated within..) would have a new tenant in it had I not already been a condo owner. That's how good this place is. I want to be inside it all the time. 5 dollars.. all you can play? In this economy? Hell.. in 1920's economy that's good money! There is an endless supply of games and goodness within it's walls. I have played so many amazing games here that I had only heard of previously.. and most I haven't. Walking Dead: The game, Rampage, Takenoko, Manhattan and now add to it, Ticket to Ride... Dixit, Get Bit, TocToc Wood Man, Formula D and Jaipur There is so many more I want to play and have been asking for them to get in (Betrayal at the house on the hill please!?).. There is snacks for you to partake.. hot drinks, cold drinks.. and even some wobbly pops to wet your whistle with. I am so excited to go back. Three pro tips for people visiting: 1. If you're coming with a group of 6 or more.. or are coming later in the evening on a Friday or Saturday.. call ahead. They are usually able to accommodate you somehow. 2. Go in with some plan as to either what game you want to play (I watch youtube channels like TableTop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpsQbnup0oE ... or go to Boardgamegeek.com) and that way you're not stuck staring at a wall of over 400 games with no clue. 3. Ask for help. Everyone there, and especially certain people are knowledgeable beyond your wildest dreams when it comes to games. Just flag one down and they will give you a run down of the setup and often will hang around for the first round or couple of turns to make sure everyone is getting the hang of it. (also if you're stuck for a game choice, tell them how many people, and what kind of game you are looking for.. they know it all) Most of all, just like me, get down there and let loose.. have some fun. It's just board games after all. The only minor tiny small issue I would have is the size... I just want more space and less wait times!

When I told my maid of honour I couldn't drink and didn't want to go out dancing with people so young I could have given birth to them, she was a little stumped as to what to do to celebrate my impending nuptials. Bowling? Euwww. Spa? Zzzzz. Dessert? Not if I wanted to get into that wedding dress. Enter the Board Room, with its dazzling selection of games, friendly staff and brilliant concept. There might have been a few raised eyebrows at a board-game bachelorette, but all were true believers by midnight. We showed up in a group, complete with balloons, feather boas, red lace nightie, and most likely terrified some of the regular patrons. But the staff were great, they made us feel welcome, gave us a rundown of how the place works, served up the booze and the treats as fast as we could get it in, and generally gave us a pass on our silliness (we were having so much fun that we might have dragged our heels leaving...just a little bit...). We all found games that were old favourites from childhood (holy crap! Fireball Island!) current favourites (holy crap! Ticket to Ride!) and some that we planned on trying next time (holy crap! Marrying Mr. Darcy?!) and laughed ourselves to tears with Cards Against Humanity (we are all terrible people). If you're looking for a fun late-night outing, this is a great place to go. I didn't try the food because I'd already stuffed myself at dinner (other than the candy bowls - which were upgraded when I rolled 20 on the multi-sided dice) but it was great to be some place that was laid back and casual, not full of half-naked barely-adults and pounding bass. Can't wait to go back and try out some other games!

Sorry to be that person not giving a 5 star review. Sigh. I moved to Halifax from Ottawa, theres 3 board room cafes there now, so this wasn't the first board game cafe I've been to, but it was definitely not great compared to the others. I absolutely love the idea, but I wasn't a fan of The Board Room Cafe for a few reasons. We came here on a Friday evening, the waitress promptly came over and took my drink order, really before I even had a chance to look at the menu. I ordered a Bulwark blush cider and a "meaty" cheese sandwich, which had red/green peppers, chicken, bacon, and cheese. It came with a dipping sauce which I found unusual, but whatever, I got the southwest one. Upon looking more thoroughly at the menu, I saw that I had an option of bread, and an option of fruit or vegetables, which I was never offered. The sandwich was just ok. There was no butter on the bread when they grilled it and so it wasn't overly crispy, it also didn't have much cheese on it so it fell apart easily. The dipping sauce worked well with the sandwich though. Our group eventually went up to 6 people, and we all crammed into a table for 4, which was fine, since it was packed. Eventually a large table with 6 seats freed up and we went over and sat there. A waitress immediately came up and asked us to go back to our other table, saying we had to be on a reservation list, and there was someone coming in to sit there. Fine, whatever. The irritating part was the party that occupied the 6 person table was a party of 4, while we were cramped at our 4 person table. My friends were super annoyed, so I volunteered to go up and mention we were a bit irritated with the table situation, a super rude server (blonde with a lip ring) didn't really care. About 3 hours later I was still hungry and my friends wanted to order more food. One of my friends specifically ordered the guacamole sandwich on sour dough bread with salsa mayo and vegetables. I ordered the warm brownie with ice cream. They brought my friend a guacamole sandwich on what looked like naan bread, with fruit. She was irritated and said her sandwich sucked. My brownie wasn't great either, stale and not warm. All in all, its a great idea and a great place to go with friends. However, the food isn't great and the service is even worse. I'll likely be back until another better board game cafe opens up.

A new favourite! A nice alternative downtown if you want to relax with friends but don't want to deal with a loud, crowded bar. I went here over the weekend with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday - we were looking for something different to do for fun post-dinner. First of all, this is an awesome concept. Secondly, their space is really nice - being below street-level, it has the cozy and private feeling of a basement, but the high-ceilings and great domed window at the front still makes it feel open and bright. Thirdly, $5 all you can play as long as you want?! That's a steal! (Part of me worries that they aren't going to stay open long unless they charge more, but at the same time I'm sure the low cost brings more people in. In any case, the price is awesome!). And the staff? Amazing! We dropped by with a group of 7 people during peak time (Saturday evening) and they went out of their way to set up a great spot for us. Although we were sitting right by the counter, someone came right up and took our drink orders and they brought the finished products over just as fast. My hot chocolate with shot of peppermint was really tasty and came in an adorable orange "Board Room Cafe" mug (I plan on buying one for home and a few for friends next time I stop in!). Not only are they fast and friendly but do they ever know their games - someone on the floor was quick to make recos for us based on our preferences, and others came around and brought games right to our table that they thought we would like. And we did! One staff member recommend Ghost Blitz to us, something none of us had ever played or heard of, and it was really fun. Another guy came by and helped us figure out another game, La Boca, we were having trouble with (all the instructions were in German!). We really appreciated the personal attention and were really impressed by their knowledge. Another great idea is to have the games for sale at the front of the cafe. If you play a new game inside and fall in love with it, you can buy it and take it home! Although, I would still find any excuse to stop in and play here if I were you - the perfect place to spend an evening laughing, being silly and surrounded by others doing the same.

This cafe is one of my favourite Halifax hangouts. The food, though I haven't tried much off the menu, is very reasonably priced, and their latte is amongst my favourites in the city. The staff are knowledgeable and always happy to help with game selection or explanation. Especially since it is open late, it's a great place to hangout with friends.

Fun place to be - great service - good beer selection. Excellent place to hang out and try a new board game before purchasing.

We arrived after the kitchen closed and were just looking for a few drinks and games. The server was great as he offered to make us any snacks he could, even though the kitchen was closed. There was a great selection of board games that were well organized. The staff was also very knowledgeable about the games and helped us to select one that would suit us. It was a fun and friendly environment and I am looking forward to going back!

This place is quite good if you ever want to get out of the house and beat your friends at board games! The location isn't to our if the way if you reside in Halifax. They have A TON of board games available, and some of them you can even purchase your own copy if you enjoy it that much. The staff are also very friendly (in my personal experience). One of the cooler things they do is hold themed Trivia nights which are organized quite well. Some examples would be Pokémon and How I Met your Mother themes.

This is the best place to play board games in the city - LOTS of fun with a great group of friends! :) Their food - not so great. Takes a long time and is not worth the wait or price. My advice: fill up on food somewhere else then hit the board room.

LOVE this spot. I couldn't be more happy to welcome this place into Halifax. With a beautiful clean spot with multiple seating options, this makes an excellent spot for friends to come together and game. At first I was skeptical that the staff really knew anything about boardgames, I thought they were focusing more on the cafe options, but they actually do have some pretty great game masters! These people will travel around the room, make sure you are playing the games right, answer any questions, and even sit down and teach you some games. The cafe is great too! With a focus on local beers, wines, and coffee (?) they have lots of options. Now if they would only serve some local looseleaf tea! Their snacks are fantastic. Pretzels, jelly beans, cheese and meats, dips and pita,...what great selections. Just what i want when I'm playing games. Their sandwiches are also super tasty (a bit on the high price end). Made with a panini press for extra deliciousness. The only down I would say is, because of its popularity, often there are line ups...so I kind of feel pressured to buy from the cafe so I don't feel like I am taking up space. This may just be me- but I think the staff should convey that cafe purchases aren't necessary. But I am sure this isn't an issue with many others. They also have a great selection of retail if you are in the buying mood. Overall I think these people do an amazing job running this place and I am thanking them for bringing board games into the mainstream!!

Such an awesome way to spend a rainy Sunday night in HFX. Incredibly nice and helpful staff, yummy coffees and snacks, and the best collection of games I've ever seen. Next time we're in town we'l be back!

Cool spot. It's actually a good spot for the board game enthusiast, down to the novice. The staff are very knowledgeable on the majority of the games and will take the time to guide you through it. The food menu is nothing amazing but really just there to keep your belly full while you play games with hopefully your good friends. Definitely recommend grabbing a few friends, head down for games, drinks and snacks or a meal.

Well my daughter and I where going to go here tonight, however was told had to arrive by six for there event, this was not stated anywhere on there event on Facebook, big disappoint. Very poor policy

1 year later and still singing their praises. Seriously if you have't gone yet what is holding you back . On the retail side they have a great selection of games. If they don't have something your looking for just ask them and they will bring it in for you. Also they have Brownie points!!!! This place was great enough with out them but now you can collect points on everything they sell!!! Then you can redeem them for a bunch of stuff!!!!

I really love this place. It has a great vibe and some really great board games. The place is extremely cosy and makes you just want to sit there for hours. There is an understandable $5 dollar entry fee to play as long as you would like. The food and drinks are absolutely top notch. They have so many delicious snack plates, candy, sandwiches wraps. etc. I highly recommend the grilled naan platter with the dips, the grilled cheese, and the pepperoni and cheese platter. They have delicious coffee and milkshakes and best of all, they have 3 taps with 2-3 options each. Most of the stuff they serve on tap is local as well so another plus to this place. The service is pretty great as well. Very nice and friendly staff. They treat customers really well and do a pretty good job at explaining the games. The only thing is that sometimes when the place is packed, the service is a bit slow but that is expected I guess. The only thing I wish for is maybe some more games? They don't have twilight imperium and they don't really do RPG games, even though they sell 20 sided dice.... I guess this place is targeted for a wide, casual audience but maybe lacks some of the really hardcore strategic games. To be fair, could also be an issue of space, logistics etc.

Boardroom Cafe is enjoyable if you go on a Sunday afternoon. However, if you go on a Saturday day night, expect to to deal with their questionable host. He is a grey haired boy who takes great pride in telling people their is a wait list. He is soft.

Choooosing the game is 3/4 of the battle!! Candy and chocolate bars are off the hook! I would definitely go again! This time I would plan a longer trip!

Okay, so at first I have to admit I thought the board room was going to be nerd city. You know what? It kinda was but it's hella fun! I went on a Friday night and it was PACKED! We got a table quickly though. The service was 110% awesome. As we waited for our table 3 people asked us if we had been helped. We were escorted to our table and the guy explained the rules of the place to me because I was new to to board room game. Once we got seated and got our drinks we started gaming. At the end of the night I got up to go get a new game to play, no sure what to pick I stopped a girl wiping a table, a sure sign she worked there. I asked her for a game suggestion for our smaller party of 4. She suggested a SUPER fun game (It's in the photo, I can't remember the name). Not only did she suggest an awesome game, she explained how to play it, which I thought was amazing customer service. I loved this place. I used the Yelp app to check in and got 10 extra brownie points when I paid my bill. Oh yeah, they accept brownie points. - oh p.s. The cheap snacks are awesome. $3 popcorn? Yes please

I love this place. Love the atmosphere, the selection of games & the food/drinks are very good price and were amazing. Can't wait to try this place again.

How the hell did I not rate this? awesome place, one thing you gotta remember is it's tougher for minors to stay but they do give you options and a time frame for them and you CANNOT bring your own food, but the tasty menu is sheer AWESOME like the Mix and Match and I simply am addicted to the blueberry, strawberry banana smoothies, My tab is usually in the 30/40s because mostly I want more of the food xD and it's great to share with groups. also this place literally has over 200 games like Cards against humanity, Personally incorrect and even nostolgia games like 13 Dead End Drive and Mouse Trap. Also tip, make sure you have EXACT numbers for booking and call a head in advance because the seats/tables are easy come easy go

I've been to a couple board game cafes before but this one was by far the best I've seen. Great service, amazing atmosphere, and an exceptional setup. If you have a couple hours to spend with some friends then this is a good place for it.

As soon as I heard about this place, I knew I had to go. We met a couple of friends of ours there today. Firstly, the cafe itself is just lovely. It's this big open room that's half underground, cozy, warm, inviting and so much to look at. I loved the vibe of this place. They have 3 giant bookcases full of board games. The hardest part was choosing what to play. First we tried an adorable panda game called Takanoko. It was a lot of fun and then played a classic game of Munchkins. The menu is not huge but they do offer a few options for vegans. You can get their latte's made with soy milk and also offer jitterbug sodas and gingerbread coffee syrup as well. As far as food goes they have a veggie tray with hummus, pretzels or veggie straws. They also offer a veggie sandwich which could be vegan if you ask for no cheese. We spent 4.5 hours there and had a really good time. My only complaint is the prices are a little steep on their drinks and snacks but we had a lovely day just the same.

Great prices on games, good value entertainment for an evening. The staff really know the games and are very helpful when trying something new.

A cheap way to do a really fun rainy afternoon. Would love to come back with a group of people. Tons of games and lots of cool snacks!