Toronto’s Got Game – Gaming Cafes in the City
Saturday April 5th is the second annual International Table Top Day as proclaimed by the Youtube channel Geek & Sundry. This year there are over 2000 events currently listed, including events in Toronto. Games have come a long way from Battleship and Operation – although those are both fun too. If the concept of a multi-hour strategy game intrigues you, but a 40 page rule book daunts you, why not go to one of Toronto’s gaming cafes for both assistance, and someone who’ll bring you coffee and snacks while you play!
While there are many bars and coffee shops that have a few boxes of games that their patrons can use, there are four places that take the gaming part of ‘game cafe’ very very seriously. Each of the different cafes all have a slightly different vibe…but here’s a quick synopsis of the four main cafes to game in Toronto.
Snakes & Lattes
Kicking off the gaming cafe trend in 2010 (and through a couple of expansions) this combination cafe gaming lounge the largest game library in the city with 3000 available to play. If you’re not sure of the rules, ask one of their gaming gurus.
With a $5/person flat fee, and a selection of snacks ($3/4), sandwiches ($8-9), salads ($5-7), waffles($7.95), baked goods, Chapman ice cream (peanut free) smoothies/milkshakes ($4.75/$4.50), and espresso drinks, you can be there for hours.
That is one of the draw backs, as there are no reservations so when they are full, they are not sure when a table will free up. However, they will
take your number and text you when a table’s available. This is the rec-room you always wished you had with a blend of kitchen tables and more comfortable chairs. Add knowledgeable assistants and people bringing you food, why would you ever leave? A great place for you and your friends to test run various games, and then buying them.
Where: 600 Bloor Street West (Between Bathurst and Palmerston)
Hours: Sun-Weds 11 am to midnight
Thursday-Saturday 11am to 2am
Fees: $5/person
Number of Games: 3000 (yes that’s three THOUSAND)
Upsides: Enthusiastic gaming gurus to help you through the games.
Downsides: Very popular and no reservations.
Snakes and Lagers
A sister store to Snakes and Lagers opened in February this year. It’s straight down Palmerston on College. They’ve taken over a two story bar, and, as the name implies, are licenced! This is definitely the foodie approach to gaming with 19 taps (currently including an oyster stout) as well as whiskeys and scotches and and and. The menu includes $4 nibbles like a pickle plate, $4.50 sides including fried brussel sprouts or duck fat fried fries; sliders $6 each or 3 for $15, charcuterie and cheese boards, and $5 desserts.
The kitchen offers gluten/dairy/nut-free/egg free options, but it’s not certified as such. They have 250 games, with both card games that work the two-person cocktails tables, and traditional table top games which can spread out over the booths upstairs. They are a smaller venue, and therefore cannot accept groups of more than six. While there’s no reservations, they will take your number and text you when a table comes free. I think this would make a great date venue, as long as you’re not the type who has to win every game
at all costs.
Where: 488 College Street (Between Bathurst and Palmerston)
Hours: 3 pm to 2 am (everyday)
Fees: $5/person library fee
Number of Games: 250
Upsides: Amazing menu selection and gaming gurus to help you through the games.
Downsides: Smaller size means that they can only take groups of 6 or less, and they also have the no reservation policy of Snakes & Lattes.
Castle Board Game Cafe
Just a few blocks away from Snakes & Lagers, is storefront Castle Board Game Cafe. Steps south of College on Spadina, this cafe has two rooms full of tables. The staff is happy to help you navigate the rules to their selection of 500 games, and bring you some luscious looking cakes! While not licenced, they serve espresso and tea drinks, sandwiches, Belgian Waffles and desserts. The plate glass windows means that during the day it’s a very bright space, although the backroom doesn’t benefit the same way.
Unlike the other cafes, Castle is a ‘timed’ cafe, with a $2.50/person/hour fee rate. So you can play as long as you like, but the costs are running.
Where: 454 Spadina (just south of College)
Hours: Sunday-Thursday noon-midnight
Friday/Saturday noon- 2 am
Number of Games: over 500
Fees: $2.50/person/hour to sit down and game
Upsides: Amazing dessert options.
Downsides: The fee structure makes it harder to lose yourself conquering other worlds.
Roll Play Cafe
The newest kid on the block is Roll Play cafe, located upsides beside the former World’s Biggest Book Store. While they don’t have a fee, they do require that each person buy at least $10 worth of food and reserve the right to limit play to two hours during the busy periods. Again, there’s no reservations Fridays or Saturdays, but you can make reservations for groups of 8 or more on the other days of the week.
The upstairs location has high ceilings and large windows and a blend of table seating and sofas around coffee tables for a more retro gaming feel. There’s a wall of games, and like all the others, there are several games for sale.
The menu options are less ‘foodie’ than Snakes and Lagers, and are designed with games in mind. There’s a selection of pizzas (priced from $13-$16), sandwiches–including a citrus tuna melt with russet potatoes and capers with melted swiss — (priced from $8.50 to $10.50), salads for $7.50, and shareable items like Super High Roller Nachos for $16. While they have the mandatory espresso drinks, it’s also licensed with a basic bar selection of beer and a few specialty cocktails.
Where: 10A Edward Street (near Yonge and Dundas)
Hours: Sunday-Wednesday 11 am-midnight
Thursday-Saturday 11 am- 1 am
Fees: A minimum food/drink bill of $10/person.
Number of Games: 300 games
Upsides: Bright spacious location in the heart of downtown.
Downsides: Pressure to choose short play games during peak periods. Plus it’s up a flight of stairs, so there may be accessibility issues.
