If you’re looking for a place to play board games in Phoenix, Arizona, you’ve got a few options.
While it may not be overflowing with them, Arizona’s Urban Heart has a pretty decent distribution of board game cafés and bars.
Here are the city’s offerings:
Board Game Cafes in Phoenix
These are the all-age board game cafés and coffee shops with board games in Phoenix:
Phoenix Gaming Lounge
4747 N Central AvePhoenix, AZ 85012
(602) 266-8180
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 2 pm – 10 pmFriday-Saturday: 2 pm – Midnight
Sunday: Noon – 8 pm
Gaming Fee: None (Game Store), $5 for most contests/tournaments
Funkatronic Rex
1343 E Northern AvePhoenix, AZ 85020
(602) 531-0433
Hours:
Monday: 2 pm – 8 pmTuesday-Thursday/Saturday: Noon – 8 pm
Friday: Noon – 10 pm
Sunday: Noon – 6 pm
Gaming Fee: None (Game Store)
Snakes & Lattes
Centerpoint on Mill20 W 6th St
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 361-6644
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 11 am – 10 pmFriday: 10 am – Midnight
Saturday: 9 am – Midnight
Sunday: 9 am – 10 pm
Gaming Fee: $6/player (offset by food/drink purchase)
Imperial Outpost Games
(Regular Game Nights)
Campus Village West4920 W Thunderbird Rd
Glendale, AZ 85306
(602) 978-0467
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10 am – 9 pmFriday-Saturday: 10 am – Midnight
Sunday: Noon – 6 pm
Gaming Fee: None (Game Store)
Athoria Games
(Board Game Night Each Week, Only at Tempe Location)
Southern Palms Shopping Center3136 S McClintock Dr #11
Tempe, AZ 85282
(480) 875-9777
Hours (Game Night):
Tuesday: 6 pm – 10 pmGaming Fee: None (Game Store)
Board Game Bars
These are the 21+ bars in Phoenix known to keep board games on hand:
The Silver Key Lounge
Villa Tuscana Reception Hall1837 W Guadalupe Rd Ste 105
Mesa, AZ 85202
(480) 534-4060
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 4 pm – MidnightFriday: 4 pm – 1 am
Saturday: 11 am – 1 pm
Sunday: 11 am – Midnight
Gaming Fee: $10/2 hours (offset by food/drink purchase)
The Whining Pig Downtown
(Limited Old-School Games)
Collier Center201 E Washington St #104
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 603-9987
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 3 pm – 10 pmFriday-Saturday: 1 pm – Midnight
Sunday: 1 pm – 10 pm
Gaming Fee: None (Buy a drink!)
The Whining Pig Phoenix
(Limited Old-School Games)
Bethany Plaza1612 E Bethany Home Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 633-1244
Hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 3 pm – 11 pmFriday: 3 pm – 1 am
Saturday: 1 am – 1 am
Gaming Fee: None (Buy a drink!)
The Whining Pig Ahwatukee
(Limited Old-School Games)
Foothills Park Place Shopping Center5030 E Ray Rd J5 Phoenix, AZ 85044
(480) 248-6969
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 3 pm – MidnightFriday: 3 pm – 2 am
Saturday: 3 pm – 2 am
Sunday: 11 am – Midnight
Gaming Fee: None (Buy a drink!)
The Whining Pig Desert Ridge
(Limited Old-School Games)
Desert Ridge Marketplace21001 N Tatum Blvd Ste 46 Phoenix, AZ 85050
(480) 500-5358
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 4 pm – MidnightFriday: 4 pm – 1 am
Saturday: 11 am – 1 pm Sunday: 11 am – Midnight
Gaming Fee: None (Buy a drink!)
The Whining Pig McDowell Mountain
(Limited Old-School Games)
McDowell Mountain Marketplace10121 E Bell Rd #110
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480) 361-6890
Hours:
Monday: Closed Tuesday-Thursday: 3 pm – 11 pmFriday-Saturday: 1 pm – 1 am
Sunday: 1 pm – 9 pm
Gaming Fee: None (Buy a drink!)
The Whining Pig Gilbert
(Limited Old-School Games)
2512 S Val Vista Dr #105Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 696-4004
Hours:
Monday-Wednesday: 3 pm – MidnightThursday: 1 pm – Midnight
Friday-Saturday: 1 pm – 2 pm Sunday: 1 pm – 10 pm
Gaming Fee: None (Buy a drink!)
Board Game Café & Bars FAQ
Are board game cafés and board game bars the same thing?
Sort of, but not exactly.
Board game cafés are exactly that, cafés, and they don’t always serve alcohol.
Board game bars are exactly that, bars, and, like any bar, not only do they serve alcohol, but alcohol is typically their main interest.
Due to that, board game bars are almost always 21+, whereas board game cafes are open to all ages.
Though, there is some variation to this.
Some board game cafés do serve limited alcoholic drinks (typically just wine and beer), while some board game bars do allow younger players (as long as they’re with adults).
But, as a general rule, you can think of board game cafes as all ages and board game bars as 21+.
Though, if you’re over 21, they’re pretty much the same.
They’re both places to play games where you can get food and drink.
Can you go to a board game café alone?
Of course, you can! You might even get let in on someone else’s game.
Just go with an open mind, and check your expectations.
If there are other parties there playing, you can certainly make their acquaintance and they may be down for you to join their games.
But don’t be upset if it doesn’t happen.
You never know what other people are doing there.
They may be having a personal celebration and don’t really want a stranger to be a part of it.
Or they may have a decades-old grudge match that you want no part of.
So, go hoping you might get let in on a game, but be okay with playing solo.
The good news is there are plenty of popular board games you can play all by your awesome self.
Where can I find other board gamers?
If you really want to find some other board game enthusiasts to play with, showing up solo at a board game café or bar probably isn’t your best strategy.
And we know, as a gamer, you love you some strategy.
So, instead of just popping by at random, check out the events coming up at your local board game café or bar (they often have meet-ups) or the events at your local indie board game shop (if you have one in town).
If they don’t have any, ask if they might be willing to host one.
You can also search for board game meet-ups on Meetup.com.
It’s become a go-to place for board gamers to connect with other players.
If there is no meet-up in your city, you can always create your own meet-up and hope other solo gamers find you.