Whoever came up with the idea of combining board games with cafe culture deserves a medal, if you ask the Secret NYC team. After all, what could be better than sipping a hot drink or tucking into a sweet treat while waging war against your most competitive friends? With CATAN 6th Edition officially out in the wild, there’s never been a better time to check out NYC’s board game cafes. Keep reading to discover some of our favorites…
1.Uncommons
As the first board game cafe to settle in NYC, Uncommons paved the way for the thriving tabletop scene – perfect for anyone looking to build their empire, CATAN-style. With 65 seats and one of the largest game libraries on the East Coast, it’s a haven for strategy lovers. But it’s not just board games they’re serious about – they’ve got a delicious selection of coffee, beer and tasty food to enjoy whilst you play.
📍230 Thompson Street NY, 10012
2.Hex & Co
With three locations across the city, Hex & Co is New York’s largest board game cafe, welcoming everything from casual coffee catch-ups to full-blown CATAN marathons. With craft beer on tap and fresh pizza on the menu, it’s the kind of place where you could while away many happy hours. And if you’re visiting the Morningside Heights spot, here’s a fun fact: it’s housed in the former West End Bar, once a favorite haunt of Beat Generation writers.
📍Morningside Heights, 2911 Broadway, NY 10025.
📍Union Square, 801 Broadway, NY 10003.
📍Upper East Side 1462 First Avenue, NY 10075.
3.Sip & Play
Founded by board game-lover Jonathon Li, this cozy cafe has a library of 300+ games for you to delve into. As any seasoned CATAN player will know, strategizing over a board can really work up an appetite – and luckily Sip & Play has an extensive menu of seasonal food, specialty drinks including boba (the owner’s favourite), and locally sourced beer and wine. And if your quest to conquer CATAN turns into an epic saga, don’t worry – the café stays open until 11pm Sunday-Thursday, and midnight on Friday and Saturday, giving you all the time you need to play it out.