The Ludoquist - Board Game Cafe Bar in Croydon

An amazing place with a vast collection of games and good service

This is a great board game cafe to have in Croydon. Croydon's night life has very little these days, but this is a stand out location for socialising which is more than just a bar for drinking. Good selection of games and great staff.

It was my second time here and it was just amazing. The whole group had fun playing games, socialising and enjoying a meal. We'll definitely be back.

My first experience was pleasant until I was approached by the obnoxious games manager. My daughter made a mistake by ripping the game board box, ( Wicked Monopoly), my daughter put back the board game and the games manager came over to our table abruptly and was speaking in tone which I found condescending. This was all taking place in front of my daughter and other customers. The games manager demanded I pay a fee of £31.00 because they could no longer use the game because it was damaged. I stated to her we can either discuss this somewhere else because I was not prepared to have the conversation on the floor. I said to her where did she rip the box, she said do you want to see the video footage. I said let me see the footage( I'm still waiting to see the footage). I told her very clearly I am not going to pay for £31.00, either we come to some sort of arrangement or I will leave. She stated you can pay your bill and leave. So I did. I went back the next day and spoke with a manger who had good customer service skills. I advised her I am paying for the game my daughter had ripped. I stated to her "that " women needs to improve on her customer service skills, I also stated that it was a lesson for my daughter to understand when she makes mistakes sometimes there are consequences. I paid when it suited me not when " that " women demanded payment at our table. Children will make mistakes and its clear " that " women didn't know how to approach the situation without being condescending and extremely rude. I asked the manager if we were banned, she advised the other mangers were told, my child and I should be banned, however the managers did not agree. I'm glad they saw sense, it was a mistake,. " That women" had the audacity to try and ban me and my child over something small. "That woman's " behaviour was atrocious however the other staff I encountered were nice and pleasant. I plan on returning to Ludoquist, the atmosphere is great and the people are nice, minus the GAMES MANAGER.

All ok only the menu is limited . Either you play or u just chill.Nice place to hang or book for any birthday party ....my kids enjoyed.

Brutal! Very good Escaperoom! Best game master possible! Recommended!

Love the games and the friendly staff. A lovely place to be.

I’ve always wanted to visit The Ludoquist and thought it would be a great spot to take my friends visiting London. We stopped by on a Tuesday late afternoon when the place was quite empty, with only three tables occupied. Unfortunately, our experience was dampened right at the door. The staff member who greeted us, a girl with curly hair, didn’t even attempt a smile, which immediately set the wrong tone for the visit. Despite the place being almost empty, we were initially seated at a table right next to the toilets. After asking to move, we were accommodated without issue, but it felt like an unnecessary hiccup. On the positive side, the drinks were very good, and the venue itself has a lot of potential. However, first impressions matter, and it’s disappointing that the person at the door gave off such an unwelcoming vibe. I hope the management considers training staff to reflect the friendly and fun atmosphere the place aims to offer.

Lovely place to spend the day at. Book a table for 4hrs and time flew by. There are sooooo many game selections of various different types, me and my friends played about 6 different games. It’s quite a simple food selection but it was super nice. They have a very large range of drink selection from hot drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, beers, endless things. Everything was priced fairly and expected. Staff were super friendly and welcoming which always makes a place even better. Atmosphere was very chilled and comforting. I will be 1000% be coming here again and recommending for all my friends & family :)!

Really enjoyed our time here - staff were excellent

I mean the food you get is basically to be expected pizzas and paninis. Couple beers and ciders on offer. The staff are chill and enthusiastic. And the amount of games that is on offer to play is crazy. My only problem is that it's just too small. You got people basically sitting on your lap if it's busy. But what a cool lil place for a date or a catch up with friends where you are not constantly on your own and instead in each other's faces making things more personal. Prices aren't to bad to be fair

Honestly this place was a hot mess when I went yesterday. Food took at-least one hour to reach our table and there was only ONE man in the kitchen..! That is unacceptable. Our order came out and they gave it to the table beside us even though they ordered much after and that was apparently a mix up. Had to wait another 15 minutes for my pizza. The nachos were stale and the cheese dried up before it even got to our table, rock solid! My friend found a hair in her food too, but atleast they refunded it and offered something free on the house. In terms of service it was honestly average, I understand Friday nights are busy but there is no reason to respond with “WHAT??” When asked excuse me, which is what the man who worked in the kitchen did. If you are frustrated because there’s one person in the kitchen I suggest hiring more help? Board games were fine, but some pieces were missing from some games such as 5 second rule, which was a bummer. Overall would not come here again nor would I recommend this place.

i loved the vibe it was so cozy and the staff were so friendly. there were rly good menu options for the price and i would deffo recommend. i would go everyday if i could

Nice venue with a generous selection of games to choose from, place was let down by the uncomfortable seating and it would be nice to have a larger selection for the food menu. Hit and miss with staff as some were not friendly but last lady who served us was very nice.

Amazing place to go with friends. Always try there best to get you a spot if not booked. Perfect pizzas and drinks

Great place ! If you like board games you must visit. Great selection of games, great casual environment, decent food and reasonable prices. I really like how it's so easy to search and find games.

Honestly this is my third time here and the best experience I've had but leaves me over all confused about the other bad experiences I've had here. Was 7 pounds from 4-till close. But the previous time I was asked to pay another 7 pounds after 4 hours of being there? Staff were nicer this time compared to previous times where they wouldn't even talk to me. Food was better this time also. Drinks are expensive and small but nice. Seems like maybe they've got better control of it and I would come back again and hopefully get the same standard. The choice of board games is pretty amazing tbh and there's so much to choose from.

Very nice place u can go to hangout and play games and chill

There is SOOO much choice of board games. There's also a super extensive menu of hot food, cold snacks, cocktails and beer. Service is super fast. The food is just standard pub fare, nothing to write home about but it does the job

One of my favourite places in London! Inclusive, awesome games and a generous happy hour!

Kind enough to let me bring my guinea pigs, lovely staff, good food definitely recommend

Absolutely loved the atmosphere here. Playing board games with mates is an absolute must and they literally have everything, many many things I had never heard of. Service was quite slow but it didn't curb our fun. Highly recommended

Great place to come and play board games with friends. Decent food, good board game selection and friendly staff

you’re looking for a fun spot to hang out and play some board games, The Ludoquist in Croydon is the place to be! This cozy cafe has over 1,000 board games, so there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart. The vibe is super friendly and laid-back. The staff are awesome and always ready to help you pick a game or explain the rules if you’re stuck. They’ve got everything from classics like Monopoly to cool new games you might not have heard of yet. And it’s not just about the games – the food and drinks are great too! You can munch on stone-baked pizzas, paninis, and they’ve got vegan and gluten-free options too. Plus, their coffee is locally roasted, and they have a nice selection of craft beers, wines, and cocktails. All in all, The Ludoquist is a fantastic spot for a fun day or night out. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or just looking for a chill place to hang out, you’ll love it here.

A very good way to spend a fun time with friends and family

Amazing location and great fun :)

The service was very good, the staff very friendly and all the drinks we ordered came relatively quickly.

Such a great experience. The games themselves are great fun but the service is truly brilliant. No queuing for drinks, you just buzz and someone comes and takes your order then brings it over to you. And I can definitely recommend the cocktails!

right off the bat, i’d recommend this place to anyone who’s looking for new board games to play, or wants a calm atmosphere a good cafe has, and everyone in between. this cafe has a very large range of board games, which can go from your regular household names to roleplaying games to games you never knew existed. it’s not that far of a stretch to say that if you want to play a game, this cafe probably has it. one negative i have with this, however, is that some of the games have missing pieces or are kept in a not nice condition. if this does happen, i’d recommend checking in with a staff member and they’ll try their best to sort it out. the food can seem pricy at times, but it makes up for it with how good it tastes, especially the nachos; i’d recommend that to anyone who can eat it. they do have plenty of vegan and gluten free choices, but i did see with the menu that it sort of lacked allergen information. you might be able to figure this out with the descriptions of the foods or by checking in with a staff member, but i just thought it might be useful information to somebody who has allergies. the staff are incredibly kind and patient. that’s all i need to say, i don’t think i can further elaborate on just how friendly they are. again, this place is the place to be if you want to catch up with friends, or broaden your gaming horizons, or just want a place to chill out.

Great food, good service, wonderful games

I had a really enjoyable evening with friends. Brought out the competitor within. Lots of fun and laughter.

This place is brilliant and the staff were very friendly and customer service was excellent and they welcomed me at the door and sat me on a table and the manageress was very polite and friendly and the business is very good too and thank you for they hospitality

Amazingly chilled atmosphere - I could literally spend the whole day here. Great food, great drinks, and great games selection. I have been a few times now and will definitely be returning.

Fun games nights Thanks to staff and guests.

Ludoquist is such a friendly and welcoming place to be. The staff are all lovely and the range of games is huge. Beers and snack aplenty and some basic lighter meals available too. A brilliant place to spend an afternoon or evening.

A few weekends ago travels centered on seeking out establishments that might be a sound fit for the gstreak community brought me to Croydon. As is often the case, one can view nearly every photo online, read all the meaningful reviews, and still only have a partial idea of the business at best. This rings truest for the Ludoquist in my opinion. From the atmosphere and way in which the floor plan was arranged, to the staff operators, to the cuisine and more, the Ludoquist! was positively radiant. And to see every possible combination of patron in attendance, groups of friends enjoying themselves, families partaking in quality time, couples out on a date, and more, really drove home Ludoquist's magnificence. I’d also like to give a big shout out to Faith and Adam for embodying that rare blend of professionalism yet personable. It was great to meet the both of you and all the best til we meet again!

Fun venue with good food options, best board game library I've seen in my extensive board game experience. Food is great and service is fast and friendly

Used to be good and still has good food and drinks but it’s simply too expensive now. £7 each for a session is too much!

Loved this place. Fantastic place to have quality time with the family away from screens and devices. Huge selection of board games to choose from. The food was fantastic and staff were friendly and accommodating. If I lived locally, I would be here every weekend. Great atmosphere.

The portions are large and very tasty.

If you like games this is a Great place to meet up with friends for a game, drinks or food - loved it

Lovely place, nice food and lots of fun with the games. Definitely will be back.

Always a great place to pop into. Sometimes not even for a game when I am in town. Amazing selection of games including some really gems of rare ones and heavy hitters to enjoy. Good selection of beers and nice food for gaming with.

Amazing spot for date night, or fun games day with a friend This place is more known for the games, they have so many games. I would advise to think of the games you would like to do as it can be overwhelming picking one The pizza was alright I would give it a 3/5 and the vanilla shake was very sweet. The virgin blue lagoon drink was just perfect and we loved the glitter in the drink😍 made it looks stunning

Was pleasantly surprised at how lively the venue is. Went with the family and had a great evening out. The food was ok too.

Yes , an excellent cafe for a good time pass with friends and colleagues and ofcourse with kids and family. Lots of games to play, nice foods, friendly staff.

I enjoyed my time playing board games with Croydon Contacts at The Ludoquist - Board Games Café which was three days ago now on Sunday 7th April twice between 2:49-6:00pm and 6:50-6:55pm!

So many board games to choose from! The staff are also really helpful if you have any questions or suggestions. Food is nice but pricey though.

Great place to hang out! Great selection of games. Good beer. Hung out with friends for a few hours and had fun playing some fun stuff.

My favourite place in Croydon. Unbelievable game selection and wonderful service.

Brilliant place!!!!! Came here with my GF yesterday and it was SUCH a fun day. Excellent, friendly staff, sooooo many games to choose from, comfy seating, table service with cool buzzer things (including drinks, food, beer on tap and even cocktails) and it's even dog friendly too. Will absolutely be returning and spending the entire day there.

One of our favourite places in Croydon. Lots of vegan options to choose from and a great variety of board games. Love it!

What a great find!! You do have to pre book, but I managed to book in the morning for the same evening. It's reasonably priced at £7 adult and £3.50 for under 16s for up to 3 hours of game time. The drinks are a little pricey but expected due to the location, and they are well presented. The garlic bread was so tasty!! The staff are really knowledgeable about the location of games, and if you have a particular genre you'd like to play, then they are happy and able to make good recommendations. If you love board games, then you need to make a visit. My daughter and I had a lovely evening together and managed to play 3 games in that time, 2 of them we had never heard of before, which was nice. We have actually pre booked to go back and celebrate her birthday with a large group of us.

Really enjoyed this cafe! So many games to pick from and they're all pretty decent! A couple pieces missing here and there but made no real difference to the games played. The food and drinks weren't bad either. The only downsides for me, the service was more on the slower side, the table cloths are torn up (at least the ones on our table was) and should be changed and lastly, they need to put signs up so those who bring in their pets, know its not their home to be putting dogs on tables where people eat! They addressed the situation at the time when I told them so that was good but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. I guess thats more the customers gross behaviour though.

Brilliant games cafe. Loads of games of various levels of difficulty to chose from. Great food and friendly staff.

All the staff were super friendly, there was a good range of board games on offer, the food was very affordable and tasted good and you get given enough time that you can actually play your game and socialise. It was very popular when we visited so I'd recommend booking in before hand.

Great vegan options, pizzas were really good, enjoyed the beer, for us we can get bus directly to it with stop right outside, dog friendly was awesome as Thanos our sheepdog loved accompanying us on our outing. Can’t wait to come back.

The concept of a board game cafe is great and the atmosphere here is brilliant. It can get busy at weekends and evenings, so if you want to go then book in advance

Easily the best board game cafe I've been to. Spacious, amazing selection of games, great drinks and awesome atmosphere. I did not eat but the food looked good. Highly recommend

Absolute diamond in the rough... rough being, well, Croydon.. Amazing selection of games and the food is great (vegan chilli yum)! Would love if they had chips as a side but now I'm just acting spoiled.

Yeah all the 5 star reviews are well deserved. Absolutely fab venue. I would definitely recommend booking, but that’s very easy to do. With 1400 games to choose from, this is a really impressive place. Great atmosphere, well priced food, and well priced gaming. I was worried that I’d feel compelled to keep getting coffees or similar but that just isn’t the case, they give you a buzzer so you can just call over the friendly staff if you are in need of their assistance. Food is tasty, and they do bowls of snacks which are just perfect. I’d absolutely recommend this place to anyone wanting to try games.

Loooove this place! From their huge collection of board games for every age and number of players to their friendly atmosphere and delicious snacks and drinks!! Will be definitely coming back :)

Great place to find a new game. We love coming here as the amount of games is so vast. We always find a new fav. Service is great and I can recommend the pizza and hot chocolate. We always get this when we go. Can't wait to go back.

Board game cafe for millionaires

My favourite place in Croydon. Great service, good food and a huge variety of games.

Tons of games to play, plenty of meets during the week, accommodating to large groups, lovely food

Love this place. There are lots of game options, and it's a really good price considering people stay for hours. The food and drink are good too

Atmosphere and service are great. Would be nice to have a few healthier options on the menu though.

Great selection of games, affordable food and super friendly staff willing to discuss game recommendations with you

Wanted to check this place out for a while and so glad I finally did! Went in on my own, whilst daughter was at a panto with Brownies. The guy who serves me was really chilled about me being a solo player and picked me out some games to try. Two hours flew by playing Friday. Lovely cup of chai tea too. Well worth the money and will be going back!

Very good boardgame cafe. Good atmosphere for the kids and adults, good solid food at a reasonable price. Nice mix of casual and l337 nerd games.

Great place for family to eat and play board games

Great boardgame cafe with a fantastic community.

Really friendly board game café. A unique little place in Croydon. Small selection of decent food, reasonably priced. Huge selection of quality games. Well organised and run, with an interested and engaged owner. Well worth trying out if you have never been.

Had a small issue with my order but Nick apologised and sorted it immediately. Would definitely still visit again

We have been here a number of times for after-work socials and Christmas Dos in Croydon. The staff are super friendly and the selection of games is brilliant. Their pizzas/paninis and drinks selection also makes it a good full night out of eating, socialising and laughing all night! Recommended for an "alternative" night out if in Croydon. The staff also make it super easy to book in advance.

Great range of board games, fantastic food and a warm atmosphere without breaking the bank!

Relaxed atmosphere, good service, staff seemed friendly enough. It’s become a little shabby over the years and the atmosphere wasn’t the best, maybe because it was half term and there were two distinctly different crowds, it didn’t feel as welcoming as it has in the past. It’s busier now so I found you really need to book in advance. The table we had for three of us was between two other tables which limited our space. Didn’t feel comfortable. Couldn’t really order food as there would be no space to put it around the game. In any case, plenty of the games are grubby now so probably wouldn’t want to be handling them and food at the same time. Definitely would have preferred a little room between our table and the next, and a bit of space to pull the chair out. We still had a good few hours.

Great place to spend a rainy day...games galore.

The food is good, as well as the coffee. However, that is probably not the reason you're visiting. The cafe has a very wide variety of board and card games for all ages, and is also very well organised. It's a great place to hang out with friends and family, and I would highly recommend!

I paid a visit with my daughter and partner when I visited them last weekend. Lovely venue for everything games from boxes! We were greeted straight away as we arrived, asked if we had visited before.. He gave us a comprehensive run down in terms of ordering refreshments; and how the games are organised relative of difficulty. There were loads of games I've not seen before. We had a fun time!!

Lovely place, we were visiting family and popped in on the way back because it looked welcoming and is dog friendly. We just wanted a cuppa & glass of wine, but the atmosphere was buzzing, and we ended up playing a quick game ourselves. Staff were wonderful, especially to us newbies. The whole place is very well organised! The atmosphere was the best, whether families, couples, individuals or big groups of friends, everyone was enjoying themselves. Highly recommended!

I recall going in here during 2019. Something very offish about this place. The man behind the bar was pulling grimaces at me when I asked for a drink. Felt it was down to my ethnicity as when I observed, he was fine with all other customers. Sad guy. The pizza was okay though.

Very noisy but that's to be expected.

Organised a work evening here and it couldn't of been easier. Staff were very helpful before the night and on the night gave great suggestions and serivce. Can't wait to go back agian.

Book a table before you go. Great place. 5*

Always a good day out at Ludoquist!

The price is not worth the fun. Been to lots
 of board game cafes and this was the most expensive and least friendly. Will not be returning I’m afraid.

Worst board game cafe I have ever visited. The Ambience is so boring. Staff were rude, all the games we played were in absolutely rotten condition to the point they were barely playable as they were missing so many components, and the food was poor quality and overpriced. Would not visit again.

What a great find on my way back to Berlin via Croydon - I was seeing old friends in Reading. Lovely staff, a place to plug in my phone and laptop, an expansive menu with lots of non-alcoholic options, good pricing and... I guess you can also play or buy a lot of board games here 😂 I am a gamer but wasn't doing so on this visit, but maybe next time. Would highly recommend.

Great choice of games, food below par and expensive afternoon when you play for a couple of hours and have a drink or a snack while you play.

Went for the first time last night. Great vibe, great food, reallly lovely staff. Can’t wait to go again ☺️

Brilliant board game cafe in central Croydon, huge selection of board games to play for all ages and abilities. Staff are super helpful and friendly, give great game recommendations if you can't decide. Nice cocktails and food options. Regular gaming events hosted throughout the week also.

Great vibe, lovely place to hang out and play games

Uma delicia pra ir c a família, comer e jogar! Meu filho de 6 anos adora!

Brilliant idea, a place to play board games, to eat, to talk to people

Just had a great afternoon playing games with a friend here. Huge selection of board games to choose from and lots of tables to sit at. I managed to get around ok (disabled, with walker), and I was impressed that they even have a disabled toilet. Table service works well, nice that you don’t have to leave a game to get a drink. Food good, pizzas so filling we couldn’t finish them! Shame we don’t live closer but will definitely go again if in the area. Thank you for a great time!

Delightful little pub with board games and lovely ambience

Great place for nerdy people 🥰 Love and service is also amazing

Great place to play board games and have a bite to eat with friends, recommend 😊