My family loves board games! When my husband and I were first married, we loved getting together with friends for game nights all the time. It happens with a bit less frequency at this stage of life, but it’s still something we enjoy making time for! (We also love two-player games, especially cooperative ones, because we can both get pretty competitive; we have learned we can’t play Uno with each other.)
Over the past few months, my 4½ year old has become increasingly interested in games! It is a moment I have looked forward to for years. Even though we can’t introduce her to games like Pandemic or Deception quite yet, it has been fun pulling out the classics! Sorry, Candy Land, Go Fish, and Life have quickly become favorites in our household.
🎲 🎲 🎲 Board game recommendations for different ages → → → here 🎲 🎲 🎲
If you love board games, there are some local spots you should know where you can both munch and check out the selection of games while you’re there! Here are a few I recommend exploring:
1. Slice and Dice Pizzeria
The first time I tried Slice and Dice was take-out that my husband grabbed for family movie night. We wanted to try a new pizza place, and they had a monthly special that sounded good. He told me I missed out by not going in and seeing all the games, so I made it a point to go back soon. It’s amazing! Such a fun environment, tons of board games, and delicious pizza. They even do a “Pizza of the Month: Charity pizza designed by and supporting a different charitable organization each month.” They donate 10% of the proceeds from those pizzas to different charities! This family-owned place also has salads, subs, drinks, and gluten- and vegan-friendly options.
They have two locations: one on the Eastside and one on the Westside.
2. Empire Board Game Library
Empire Board Game Library is another exceptional place to check out. It’s perfect for a fun date night, outing with friends, or fun family evening. You can preview their huge selection of board games online and make a solid plan in advance. The tables are uniquely designed to make game playing effective with slots to hold cards and pull-out trays for your food.
Their menu has sandwiches, desserts, and drinks for everyone to enjoy, including seasonal items you have to try. Part of their purpose is to “give parents and children a place to come together and communicate and strategize together—face to face.” Kids learn so many great things from playing games. Checking out a board game restaurant is a great way to support that!
Located at 3503 Central Ave in Nob Hill.
3. Snapdragon Tea
I only recently discovered Snapdragon Tea, and I’m already scheming to go back! It’s a cute little café where you can enjoy a themed tea party experience. Their spring themes are Alice in Wonderland and Fairy Garden! You can also simply pop in for a sandwich, burrito, pastries, or drinks, among other options. They have coloring for kids at each table (my daughter was HIGHLY impressed with this) and a selection of games you can pick from. Hungry Hungry Unicorns is a crowd favorite!
They have gluten-free and vegan-friendly options. You can see all the ingredients in their popular items online, so you can plan for any allergies. For tea parties, there’s even a child option that is cheaper and more kid-friendly than the regular tea party menu.
Located at 115 Harvard Dr near UNM.
I Scream Ice Cream and Chocolate Dude are also great places to play games as a family while you enjoy a treat. Many places are okay with you bringing your own board games and playing if you order food or drinks. Local breweries are a good place to try; just double-check before you pull out Monopoly or Apples to Apples!
There are so many awesome skills children learn from playing board games as a family. Making it an outing at a restaurant with the chance to try out some new games can really make the experience special!
