Brooklyn Bowl opens a London location Jan. 16. Credit: Adam Kane Macchia
You spent your childhood slaying your opponents at Connect Four and Chutes and Ladders — who says you have to stop once you’re a grown-up? Grab your friends for a game night at one of these spots in town.
Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, 718-963-3369
Frames is cool for an ultra-luxurious bowling experience (who knew you needed that?), but for a down-home, chill vibe, hit the Williamsburg mainstay. Play a round ($20-$25) on one of 16 lanes while sipping on a local craft beer in the world’s first LEED-certified bowling alley. Take a break with Blue Ribbon fried chicken and stay for a show (Questlove spins every Thursday as part of his “Bowl Train” residency). On Sunday nights, lanes are half off after 8 p.m.
Salvation Taco
145 E. 39th St., 212-865-5800
The Spotted Pig’s April Bloomfield is behind the Mexican food at this taqueria, which is part of the Pod 39 Hotel. In the cavernous back room, there’s two ping-pong tables and board games. Celebrate your victory or drown your sorrows in cocktails like La Palomita (vodka, grapefruit soda, vanilla salt, lime) or a good ol’ marg. On Monday nights, come for Tacos & Table Tennis starting at 8 p.m. (signups begin at 7:30).
Greenwich Village Country Club
110 University Pl., 212-255-8188
This Union Square spot offers all the privilege of your local country club, without the pretense. There’s a nine-hole retro indoor mini golf course ($9.95), pool tables, air hockey and bowling downstairs at Bowlmor ($12.95, plus $6.50 for shoes). Plan accordingly — the space is only open on Saturdays.
The Uncommons
230 Thompson St., 646-543-9215
Nerds welcome: New York’s first board game café has chess, Settlers of Catan, plus a slew of other less-niche games (and Cards Against Humanity!). Drop $5 for a day of play. If you’re looking for an opponent, you can request match-ups by posting a message on the café’s bulletin board. The space, which opened in October thanks in part to Kickstarter, is in the former Village Chess Shop.
Barcade
388 Union Ave., Brooklyn, 718-302-6464
Classic arcade games line the perimeter of this high-ceilinged Williamsburg bar (there’s also a location in Jersey City, and one in the works in Chelsea). Get reacquainted with Donkey Kong, Tetris, Ms. Pacman and more figures from your childhood while sipping on an American craft brew and munching on bar snacks. If you want dinner, Barcade lets you order in from local restaurants. Games are just 25 cents per play — you didn’t really need to do laundry this week, anyway.
Start the day right
“The Games We Played” is a nostalgic look at street and board games at the House of Art Gallery, and it’s only in town through Jan. 11. The closing reception is Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. — maybe a good pre-drinks activity?
House of Art Gallery, 408 Marcus Garvey Blvd., Brooklyn, 347-663-8195
