Games on Tap
Waterloo's board game café — a thousand-game library, craft beer and lattes, and the cheapest great night out for a group in KW.
#18 of 30 experiences in KWC
What it is
Games on Tap has been running since 2014 in the brown building on Weber Street North, a short walk from both universities, and is the region’s board game café of record. The library runs past a thousand titles — party games for big tables, strategy and euro games for the serious, and a deep shelf of two-player games that makes it a reliable date spot. The menu covers beer, wine, cocktails, coffee drinks, sandwiches, pizza and desserts, so a full evening happens without leaving the table. There’s a weekly trivia night, and the café takes private bookings for teams, companies and parties during the day and evening.
Why locals rate it
The formula is simple and the execution is consistent: a small cover fee, a bottomless library, and staff who actually know the games and will teach a table a new one in five minutes. That last part is what separates a good board game café from a room with shelves — Games on Tap’s staff recommendations are genuinely good, and they read a group’s mood well. For value it’s nearly unbeatable on this list; a table of six can have a full evening for less than one round of most other activities in the city. It’s also one of the few group venues that works equally well for a loud birthday and a quiet Tuesday.
What to do first
Turn up with your group, tell the staff your headcount and how competitive you’re feeling, and let them pull three options. Party games like Codenames or Wavelength open a night for a big table; couples should ask for the two-player shelf. Groups of eight or more should book ahead, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Insider tip
Bad Axe Throwing is in the same building, which makes for an easy two-stop night: an hour of throwing, then a table of games to wind down. Park anywhere around or behind the brown building; avoid the lot behind the Naval Association next door.
Heads-up
Sunday to Thursday evenings are relaxed, but weekend nights near the universities can mean a wait for a table if you haven’t booked. The café is closed one weekday each week, so check before setting out on a midweek plan. Food is solid café fare rather than a destination dinner — eat first if you’re expecting more.
