Queen Of Spades

The Verdict

A lot of things can happen at Queen of Spades. You can make new friends over a game of old-school Pictionary....or lose old friends when Monopoly brings out your dark side and you accuse the Banker of embezzling money. 

Welcome to Melbourne's new, dedicated board games bar and cafe. Smith St's new favourite hang, and one of the best first-date venues you'll find anywhere in the city. Queen combines an encyclopedic board games collection with premium coffee from The Bean Cartel and a brunch menu that ticks all the bases. 

Now, we know what you're thinking. Board game cafe? Sounds gimmicky. But Queen Of Spades takes this sh*t seriously. They stock a variety of classic games, but also cutting-edge stuff from around the world. Even the latest award winners. 

Case in point. The game board aficionados over at Queen of Spades recommend Mysterium, the 2016 winner of the French “Best Board Game of the Year”. It’s a game that requires up to seven masterminds to solve an imaginative murder mystery, and apparently it leaves Cluedo in the dust (sorry Cluedo, you know we love you).

If the tensions are starting to rise, ease the hanger pains with some comfort food, maybe a pulled pork Ciabatta sandwich and some vodka soda.

The day menu is chock-full of your favs: avo on toast, brekkie bowls, and burgers with black bean or Angus beef. The night menu offers pulled pork burgers with kale slaw and chunky chips or Georgian meatballs cooked in spicy ajika.

Game hosts will also be around to school you in any new game you want to try (or break up any Uno brawls). Get your gamer on early from 8am weekdays. Weekend seshes start at 9am and run all the way to 11pm. 

Image credit: Queen of Spades