Amy Groome 
There’s a reason why board games are a classic choice for a cozy night in, or a chill thing to do with a group. Board games are coming out of the living room and into third spaces like bars, restaurants, and game shops, meaning players can make real-life connections in addition to playing their favorite games. Read on for more about where to play board games in Montclair and beyond.
Cedar Beans Coffee Joint | 575 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
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Cedar Beans is a super special coffee location equipped with coffee, tea, snacks, on-the-go breakfast sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and board games ready to be played. Cedar Beans also hosts a Dungeons + Dragons night on the first Tuesday of every month. Specific drinks are named after various D + D character types.
East Side Mags | 491 Bloomfield Avenue, Suite 102, Montclair
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East Side Mags is a welcoming space that hosts Dungeons + Dragons games. Registration and payment are required in advance. Games have a 10-player limit. East Side Mags reported the D + D days of the week are consistent, including Thursday and Friday evenings, and all day Sundays, with specific times for varied age groups and skill levels. At the Saturday Morning Cartoon Club at East Side Mags, art classes are offered for kids ages 5 and up, with more information here.
Read More: 7 Cozy Winter Hobby Classes in Montclair
Hasty Goblin Games | 377 Broad Street 2nd Floor, Bloomfield
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Hasty Goblin Games in Bloomfield opened in August of 2025. The trading card events are gaining popularity the most. There’s open play for board games every Sunday. Hasty Goblin Games holds events for Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, + Riftbound Games, which are all trading card games. Be sure to enjoy the Dungeons + Dragons nights with an official start in 2026.
Intrinsic Cafe | 5 Sussex Avenue, Newark
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This sweet cafe in Newark has board games on site to enjoy with a cup of joe or bubble tea, hot chocolate, pastries, other snacks, sandwiches, or paninis for purchase. Close by Essex County College and the Rutgers-Newark campus, college students can use the board game space, make some friends, and partake in conversation and friendly connections.
Maplewood Hobby | 1970 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood
Maplewood Hobby has been in business for over 20 years, offering a variety of hobby supplies and event space for games. This hobby shop has lots of stuff to buy for the winter to enjoy on a rainy day or maybe a snowy day to get cozy with a craft or game. Maplewood Hobby specializes in Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer 40K / Fantasy, Warmachine, Historical Miniature Wargaming, and role-playing games. Maplewood Hobby also offers open game play days.
New World Manga | 93 E Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston
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New World Manga has a weekly schedule set up. Riftbound + League of Legends Trading Card games are among their top-selling products. Visitors can also shop online and on-site for trading card games like Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokémon, and Disney Lorcana.
The Oakley Kitchen | 789 Bloomfield Avenue, Nutley
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The Oakley Kitchen recently hosted its first board game night and regularly hosts Karaoke and trivia events. While you attend, purchase a beer or cocktail to pair with great food choices. Check back for more information about the Board Gamers of Greater Nutley on Meetup here.
Old Canal Inn | 2 E Passaic Avenue, Nutley
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The Old Canal Inn, Nutley’s oldest bar, hosts Bingo nights and trivia nights. Aside from Bingo and trivia, this friendly bar and restaurant has craft beers and good eats.
The Player Agency | 5 Mead Street, South Orange + 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair
On the second floor of the Baird Center, you’ll find the board game cafe with a full menu and breakfast all day. There’s a long list of food, beverages, and board games. This is a special place for board games. There are also adult alcoholic beverages. The Player Agency’s South Orange location hosts chess meetups, trivia nights, and Pokémon trading card game times to learn and play, Magic: The Gathering nights, Dungeons + Dragons nights, and honors a safe space for “Gayme” nights.
Skip to My Brew | 149 Valley Road, Montclair
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Skip to My Brew has board games readily available on site to engage in while you sip a coffee drink or tea and munch on a pastry with your friends or family. The special atmosphere has booths, a perfect space to set up a board game.
Time Warp Comics and Games | 555A Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
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Time Warp Comics and Games has plenty of table space to enjoy all types of board games throughout the year. Some game events include Magic: The Gathering and Star Wars Legion. Ask about the opportunities for card and board game demos.
Traveling Boards | Various Locations
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Traveling Boards, a custom board gaming experience, is tailored to its clients’ interests and needs. A board game expert hosts game nights at the location chosen by the client. The library contains a collection of over 500+ tabletop and card games. Co-founders Chris Barrows + Anthony Battista handle all logistics and work with business owners, educators, corporate organizations, and more intimate game settings with peers, family, and friends.
Traveling Boards will be hosting pop-up board game events throughout the area, partnering with local businesses, including bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. Services include in-home board game events such as birthday parties. Traveling Boards has extensive trivia services compared to the standardized pub trivia. The team is available for fundraising events through Bingo, board games, trivia, etc.
The West Orange Chess Club | 650 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange
The West Orange Chess Club started in 1978. The club offers tournaments, casual play, game analysis, and free education and instruction in the game of chess. There’s a large tournament room and an additional good-sized room for casual play and fun conversation. The West Orange Chess Club (WOCC) has been in action every Tuesday night, 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM, for the last 48 years at the Toby Katz Community Center in West Orange, except for major holidays and weather-related constraints. The WOCC is a free, volunteer-run chess club. The WOCC holds officially rated United States Chess Federation (USCF) tournaments. Children as young as 4 stop by for informal chess lessons and mentorship from seasoned chess aficionados.
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