In a world of introverts and extroverts, there comes the existence of some humans who lie smack in the middle – the ever so illusive, ambiverts. An ideal outing for people of this nature can be hard to please, as a movie day at home with a galore of snacks may not be pleasing enough, while hiking up a mountain would push them just over their limit. So, where do we find middle ground?
Board game and card game cafés have always been popular with those who want to add a little action to their evening without having to exert an extreme amount of energy to generate the same amount of fun – physically that is. Luckily for Malaysians, there are a variety of these cafés scattered across the Klang Valley to quench our thirst for an evening of light-hearted yet competitive gaming.
Image for illustration purposes only.
Here are 8 board game cafés in the Klang Valley to get a dose of friendly rivalry with a touch of fun:
1. Boards & Brews – by TD
With over 150 games to choose from, Boards & Brews stepped onto the board game scene as a heavy hitter. Located in Bandar Sunway, visitors will be able to find some of the most classic games such as Dungeons & Dragons, Steam Up, and Glory of The Giants, to local favourites such as The Malaysian Dream and HR: The Toxic Workplace.
The café even organises occasional tabletop roleplaying events at different points throughout each week, with an array of delicious snacks to match its cosy ambience. Serving baked goods, coffee, and even craft beers, you may want to dip your taste senses in some of their mouth-watering cakes too!
Click here to find out more information about the café.
Address
5D, Nadayu, 28 Dagang, Jalan PJS 11/7,
Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours
– 12.30pm to 11.30pm (Tuesdays to Fridays)
– 2pm to 11.30pm (Saturdays and Sundays)
Closed on Mondays
2. Vivae Board Game Café
If you’re new to board games, Vivae may be the place to go! Priding themselves as a café for pure game lovers and those who are just looking to try the hobby out, you won’t just get a plethora of board games here, but also trading card games and miniature games as well. Some of the locale’s best ones to try out include Wyrmspan, Marvel Zombie: A Zombicide Game, and Drama Pukul 7 Card Game.
The best part? You can get these games on their official website, too! While you’re there, don’t miss out on trying some of their light snacks, though their signature pizza is absolutely to die for. As for students who are looking for a good way to destress after a day filled with academia, look out for the store’s Student Specials, so you don’t have to go broke for a fun evening out.
Click here to get more details on Vivae Board Game Café.
Address
Outlet 1
18A, Jalan SS 21/62, Damansara Utama,
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Outlet 2
383c-2, 4th Mile, Jalan Ampang, Desa Pahlawan,
50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Operating hours
– 4pm to 12am (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays)
– 2pm to 12am (Saturdays)
– 2pm to 10pm (Sundays)
Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (except public holidays, then it is 2pm to 10pm)
3. Here Be Dragons MY
Unleashing a world of pure fantasy and mystical wonder, Here Be Dragons supplies a variety of plays, including board games, card games, and roleplaying options. With over 100 different games, there’s something built for gameplayers of any degree. Want something simple? Grab the Monopoly or Scrabble sets. Looking to challenge yourself and your friends? Select Dead of Winter and Arkham Horror instead.
Aside from the accompaniment of delicious snacks and refreshments, the location even organises events frequently that are worth keeping up with. For hardcore board gamers, don’t forget to check out the private rooms for you to battle it out till the last person wins – just remember to make this reservation at least a day in advance.
Click here for a full rundown of the location’s details and contact information.
Address
2nd Floor, 54-B, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14, Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours
– 2pm to 12am (Tuesdays to Fridays)
– 10am to 12am (Saturdays and Sundays)
Closed on Mondays
4. Hex A Box Boardgame Café
When a group of board game lovers get together to fill in a gap for tabletop and card game outlets in Puchong, you know this is bound to be good. Dedicated to connecting different people through board games, Hex A Box possesses over 150 items that range from leisurely to competitive killers.
If you’re not certain about what game to choose, the location’s website not only provides information on their games, but how many players are suitable for each designation. Serving simple snacks such as nuggets, popcorn chicken, and an ensemble of soft drinks, there’s also a gaming discount for those who choose to become members with Hex A Box.
The shop is only open on Fridays and weekends, so be sure to get your spot in advance. Click here to get all the details of Hex A Box.
Address
15-02, Jalan Kenari 18b, Bandar Puchong Jaya,
47170 Puchong, Selangor
Operating hours
– 1pm to 11.30pm (Fridays to Sundays)
Closed on Mondays to Thursdays
5. Boardgamecafe.net
Building a board game community since 2005, Boardgamecafe.net has made a mark in Malaysia due to its convenience, not only in play, but as an importer of the latest games to hit the market. The store’s ambition in supporting kick-starter projects since 2011 has not only brought some of the hottest games to the mainstream scene of KL, but made it accessible for any person seeking these unique items.
From horror to mystery, adventure, and even action, Boardgamecafe.net has a division of games for Star Wars, Lord of The Rings, Dominion, and It’s A Wonderful World, so your complete board game vision can be realised with ease. If you need a touch of care, pimp-up your experience with card sleeves, mats and boards, improved components, and dice accessories to make it a true fun evening of gaming.
Click here to check out their comprehensive website and lists of games.
Address
157-1 (1st Floor) Jalan Lancang, Taman Sri Bahtera,
56100 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Operating hours
– 2.30pm to 7.30pm (Mondays to Thursdays)
– 4pm to 9pm (Fridays)
– 1pm to 6pm (Saturdays and Sundays)
6. Classroom Café
Describing themselves as an established hobby centre catering to the top trading card games (TCGs) in Malaysia, Classroom Café sits comfortably as a neighbourhood shop where players can come to sling trading cards around or to hang out with like-minded people. Specialising in one of the world’s premier TGCs, you will be able to find a variety of common sets related to Magic: The Gathering (MTG).
Holding an open-concept business, don’t be afraid if you’re just getting into the realm of these games, as guides are around if you need a helping hand. The store also conducts daily – yes DAILY – events catering to different MTG formats. The best part? There are prizes you can win if you figure out how to master what these game require for success.
Click here to get an overview of Classroom Café and all that they have to offer.
Address
47B, Jalan SS 21/37, Damansara Utama,
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours
– 2pm to 10pm (Mondays to Fridays)
– 12pm to 7pm (Saturdays and Sundays)
7. Weplaygames
With over 600 board games for visitors to choose from, Weplaygames’ success is clear with their expansion in two outlets located in Cyberjaya and Desa Sri Hartamas. Revolutionising the confines of gameplay to that which is beyond the stores itself, a unique feature at Weplaygames is an ongoing programme which allows customers to bring a board game home by paying a reasonable rental fee.
For some of the more detailed games such as Citadel and Warhammer, this store even organises game workshops to get you accustomed to these complex features. If you get hungry while gaming your heart out, browse the café’s impressive spread of cakes, hot pies, muffins, and chocolate drinks to nourish the valiant competitor within you.
Click here for everything you need to know about Weplaygames café.
Address’
Outlet 1
D2-04-16, Level 4, Tamarind Square, Persiaran Multimedia,
Cyber 10, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor
Outlet 2
12-1 (1st Floor), Jalan 27/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas,
50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours
– 2pm to 9.45pm (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays)
– 2pm to 11pm (Fridays)
– 1pm to 11pm (Saturdays)
– 1pm to 9.45pm (Sundays)
Closed on Tuesdays
8. Meeples
As one of the pioneer board game locales in all of Klang Valley, Meeples carries products from over 100 different publishers around the globe, evolving to become one of Southeast Asia’s largest distributors of designer board games and accessories. With a substantial list of board games to choose from, the truth is this – you may never be able to play every board game in Meeples, there are simple that many!
Carrying multiple all-time favourites such as The Resistance, Ticket to Ride, and King of Tokyo, there’s also an assortment of games you can purchase and bring home should you enjoy it that much. Going the extra mile to cater to their customers, Meeples also organises Student Day on Wednesdays and Ladies Night on Thursdays, with a decent range of booze options should you want to spice up your evening.
Click here to check out all the details of Meeples’ store.
Address
64-1, Jalan SS15/4D, 47500 Subang Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia
Operating hours
– 5pm to 12am (Tuesdays to Sundays)
Closed on Mondays
Ready to get your (board) game on? Which of these stores do you plan to visit? Let us know!
