Bars with board games in Melbourne

Could this be Melbourne's newest, best and bougiest game shop-slash-bar? The Collectivist, a gorgeously designed board game shop and licensed bar on Union Road, is everything a cosy games stop should be: beautifully designed, warm, and brimming with tasty drinks, sweets, vino and snacking options. There's a rotating events calendar here, plus a games library full of classics, cult favourites, and some modern gems. See you there for a game of chess!

There’s a whole cupboard of board games waiting for you at Brunswick Street’s speakeasy. It’s the kind of place where you’d happily while away a Sunday afternoon in a shabby, low-lit booth, with a chessboard and cocktails made just the way the bartenders like them.

If you've ever wanted to live in New York, 29th Apartment is probably the closest thing to it in Melbourne. The NY apartment-themed cocktail bar and music venue is located right in the middle of Fitzroy Street in St Kilda. Head over to claim a spot near the exposed brick wall, split a bottle of red with your mates and play a few rounds of board games. While you're waiting for a go on the giant Jenga board, take advantage of the cheap drink deals like the two-for-one cocktail special on Saturdays and the $5 house drinks on Wednesdays. 

A playground designed just for the big kids, this Carlton spot is jam-packed with traditional bar games with a twist, alongside plenty of pints. The new sibling of the OG CBD venue, Ballers Clubhouse Carlton is a reimagined pub filled with modern versions of beloved games injected with the latest tech. There are pool tables featuring interactive projections, 360 ping pong and digital takes on classics like darts and shuffleboard. And in an innovative first, you can belt out your go-to karaoke tune while diving into a massive ball pit.  

The venue promises to be the perfect spot for a night out with the whole gang, with bookings for up to sixteen people starting at $22 per person. Or if you’re not in a competitive mood, kick back in the luxe bar space and enjoy a drink, pizza or a selection of pub bites like cheeseburger spring rolls and waffle fries. You can still experience the gamified fun with interactive cocktails that will spice up the evening and bring on the laughter. 

​​"Ballers Clubhouse is the latest venue opening in Carlton that will spearhead the suburb’s resurgence as a nighttime precinct to have fun,” says venue owner Josh Lefers. “With the Sooshi Mango boys recently opening Johnny, Vince and Sam’s Italian restaurant around the corner, Carlton is now the place to be! We've created a venue that combines exceptional hospitality with cutting-edge games and experiences. It's a place where large groups can come together to party, connect, and play like never before."

Baller’s Clubhouse is a place to embrace your inner kid and play the night away. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from noon until late. For more information, check out the website.

Fancy an Italian feast before you play pool? Check out our guide to the best restaurants just around the corner on Lygon St.

Joining Melbourne's gaming bar scene in mid-2022, Boardies is your new haven in Collingwood for liquor-fuelled hijinks and competitive play. There are parmas, pots, trivia nights, video game contests, plus a huge selection of board games that run the gamut from traditional family classics to viral newcomers. In short, it's got everything you need for a night of good, old-fashioned fun. Find out more at the website.

With pool tables and ping pong, a night at this much-loved Collingwood watering hole can quickly turn from a relaxed brew with friends to the ultimate showdown. For those with an overdeveloped competitive streak, stick with a friendly game of Scrabble. 

We're well aware that even one round of Connect Four can get very real, very fast: and so is the crew at South Yarra's Katuk. These guys run tournaments from time to time (go diagonal! No one expects diagonal!), but mostly, they encourage casual games in their cute cubby out back.

Out in Huntingdale, this nerdy-but-cool hangout spot comes well stocked not only with drinks (read: a very decent whiskey and gin selection), but also a plethora of computer and board games and permission to BYO food from the great dining spots up the street. Whether you get your Guitar Hero on or K.O. some half-lion-looking creature in Tekken 8, fun times are sure to abound at this local fave, buoyed along by groovy-looking cocktails, of course. Find out more at the website.

There are more than a few drawcards at this comfy games 'n' drinks oasis in the CBD. First, it's got all your nostalgic classics on the shelves – from Catan and Scrabble to Werewolf. Second, if you whip out $25 you get a drink and three hours of board game play. Thirdly, a case of the nibbles won't last long here. The yummy Taiwanese cuisine on offer includes dumplings, bao and a selection of rice and noodle dishes to keep your belly lined for the night ahead. And yes, the night will go ahead as there's karaoke, too. Check it out! More info is available at the website.

Despite the name, Good Heavens isn’t a pearl-clutching kind of place. From the moment the doors open, local suits and bar hunters with their fingers on the pulse start staking their claim on the precious rooftop real estate above Fancy Hank's. Fight for a spot or simply laugh and observe as they lord over Bourke Street while Hawaiian shirt-clad staff shake up vintage tipples at the central island bar. There are board games and card games available for you to play while you sip.