One of the most fun things about traveling is you get to meet new people from all walks of life. You get to know things about cultures you never knew before. While this is obvious, another great aspect of going places is you get to do fun stuff!
Bangalore is one such city where you’ll never run out of things to do. Be it doing adventure activities or indoor gaming, if you plan well, you won’t have to worry about the ‘fun’ part of your trip. Now, I am a big fan of mountains and wouldn’t miss a chance to hike up on one. But I’m also a child at heart and can sit and play board games ALL day.
For us grown-ups rolls eyes, it is practically close to impossible to make time for playing games. On top of that, convincing our friends to make time and take interest is beyond possible. BUT! If you also are a kid at heart and wish to sit for hours playing board games, The Board Game Den is the perfect place for you!
So, What is The Board Game Den?
In simple words- Heaven! But I wouldn’t be doing justice to this blog and the Den if I were to leave it at that. But imagine this- you walk into a room and see it filled with people. Complete strangers. There are tables and chairs set up across the space, almost all occupied. You walk by a few tables and see each one has a different board game. Some you’ve played, some you’ve heard of, and some you’ve never seen before.
Now, a loud cheer hits your ear slashing through the silence. Except the room wasn't silent. Your ears just zoned out the constant chatter. That one loud cheer from across the room brought you back to sense. Players at a distant table were celebrating their victory at Codenames.
You walk a little further and see a counter with different machines. “Free coffee?!” you cheer. Quitely, of course. You grab a cup of hot joe and look for someone to talk to. And out of nowhere, a smiling face appears and says hello. That would be Mansi, the founder of the Den.
If you ever find yourself in trouble at the Den, look for Mansi. She is THE OG board gamer. Along with her sister, mother and a few friends, Mansi has established the go-to weekend place for board game enthusiasts. But even if you aren’t one, this place will make you fall in love with games. That’s a promise.
What Happens At The Den?
Fun, fun, and fun. And then some more! Right from the moment you enter, you are surrounded by over 350 games that you can choose from. If you’re there with your friends, just pick a game of your choosing and start playing. If you’re not sure which one would be the best for you, you know what to do. Yup! Shout to Mansi. Or any of the volunteers there and they’ll help you with choosing the best game to begin with.
They’ve got strategy games, mystery games, role-playing games, and light and fun ones. There’s something for every mood and the team will help you out with it. And if you’re headed solo, you can go and join any table where there’s a need for a player. If everything’s occupied, the team will set you up with other players and get you settled.
What next? Forget your cell phone and your watch, and INDULGE! Once you start playing, you won’t realize how the time went by.
Where Does This Happen?
So now that I’ve painted the picture for you, let me give you the deets. The Board Game Den is set up on Church Street in Bangalore. Right next to the MG Road Metro Station and exactly opposite Matteo Coffea is a big WeWork building. And the magic happens on the first floor.
The games are held on every weekend. 3 PM to 8 PM on Saturdays and 1 PM to 7 PM on Sundays. Anyone above 15 can go. And there’s a ₹400 flat entry fee. No prior registration required.
Why Should I Go To The Den?
To have fun, of course! But you see, there’s so much more to it than just having fun. Board games are great for building decision-making and cognitive skills. But when you go to a place like this, you also learn how to socialize. You get to know people of all ages and from various backgrounds sharing their love for their favourite games. And that’s what it’s about!
So, the next time you’re in Bangalore and have a weekend in hand, you know where to go!
