Chance & Counters: Board Game Café and Bar in Cardiff

If you like board games but don't fancy setting up a table at home, Chance & Counters is a board game café, bar and games shop at 23 High Street in Cardiff's Castle Quarter. It sits roughly halfway between Cardiff Castle and Cardiff Central Market. The Castle is about a five-minute walk away, Cardiff Central station is about ten minutes, and the venue is on the match-day route to the Principality Stadium.

The café has over 700 board games spread across two floors. A team of Game Gurus is on hand to recommend games and teach you the rules, which helps if you're new to a game or you're not sure what to pick. Gaming is paid up front when you book. It costs £2.50 per person per hour off-peak (Sunday 5pm to Friday 5pm) and £3.50 per person per hour at peak times (Friday 5pm to Sunday 5pm). Children aged 14 and under play for free off-peak, while peak rates apply to all ages. Walk-ins are welcome, but booking is recommended for Friday and Saturday nights and for larger groups. Opening hours are Monday and Tuesday from 17:00 to 23:00, Wednesday to Saturday from 12:00 to 23:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 21:00. So on a Wednesday like today, you can go from midday until 23:00.

Food and drink are a big part of the visit. The bar serves craft beer, cider, cocktails, fine wine, local beers and proper coffee. The kitchen serves comfort food all day, with vegan and gluten-free options, thick shakes, burgers, loaded fries and grilled cheese toasties. The whole venue is dog-friendly. The space suits date nights, birthdays, hen and stag dos, work socials, match-day plans and rainy afternoons. The full menu is on the venue's website.

For the festive season, there are Christmas 2026 party packages available from 11 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, for groups of 2 to 100 people. Prices are per person: the Standard package is £30 for 2 hours of play, the Premium is £32 for 3 hours and is the most popular, and the Extended is £35 for 4 hours. Each package includes festive food, a welcome drink, access to 500+ board games and festive decorations. Food has to be pre-ordered, and packages must be booked at least 36 hours in advance.

There is also a membership option, offered as a limited-time deal: 150 memberships at £100 for a whole year. Members get unlimited gaming, free gaming at Social Gaming events, and a limited edition welcome gift. The gift includes two collaboration beers, a branded glass and an entry into a prize draw to win a 3D Catan. Memberships are valid for the named member only and do not cover ticketed events such as Blood on the Clocktower.