Board game café near Nowon Station: Gemblo and Thrill Pang with kids

Looking for a cool place to play with the kids during summer break

The kids' long summer vacation has begun. The weather is sweltering, and it's so stifling outdoors that running around outside is out of the question, so I went looking for something fun and cool to do with them. I found a perfect indoor spot in Nowon for holding hands with the kids and escaping the heat: Hero Board Game Cafe Nowon Branch.

Getting to Hero Board Game Cafe Nowon Branch, and parking

Hero Board Game Cafe Nowon Branch is on the 3rd floor of a building, a 3-minute walk from Exit 9 of Nowon Station on Line 4. It's right by the station, so public transport access is great, and the bold red sign stands out from far away, so you can find it without wandering around.

There is no dedicated parking, though. If you're driving, I recommend using a nearby public parking lot, or just coming by public transport.

Inside Hero Board Game Cafe Nowon Branch and the curtained room seats

The inside is much bigger than I expected, with lots of private, room-style seats separated by curtains. I climbed the stairs to the 3rd floor and was greeted by an entrance in a bold signature red. When I opened the door, a space full of all kinds of board games came into view.

The space is wide open, so it doesn't feel stuffy at all. What I liked most was that there were so many room-style seats divided off by curtains.

Thanks to that, we could play comfortably with little kids without worrying about other people's glances. With such a cozy, clean setup, there were plenty of couples spending quiet time together as well as families, and I could immediately see why it has a reputation as an indoor date spot in Nowon.

Multi-play zone with arcade machines and Nintendo Switch

One side of the café has a multi-play zone with everything from nostalgic arcade machines to Nintendo Switch. We came for board games, but the charm doesn't end there. We passed on the Nintendo, though!!

The kiosk on every table: how do you use it?

Every room table has its own kiosk POS, which you can use to order food, search for board games and even watch rule explanation videos. When we walked into our assigned room, this screen was right there, and it was really convenient.

Thanks to the friendly explainer videos, we picked up how to play easily.

Board games with the kids: from Halli Galli to Thrill Pang

We warmed up with Halli Galli, then played Halli Galli Cups, a forbidden-words game, Gemblo, Thrill Pang and more. The kids had such quick reflexes and fast hands that I kept losing my cards, and we laughed and laughed for ages.

These days the kids mostly stare at the TV and smartphones, so making eye contact, talking and putting our heads together over a game was a truly precious time.

Drinks and snacks at Hero Board Game Cafe Nowon Branch

One drink per person is required, and the menu is so varied, from coffee to ades and smoothies, that it rivals a proper café. There were plenty of easy snacks too.

We got hungry fast from all the fun, so we ordered drinks and Chapaghetti (instant black bean noodles) on the kiosk, and the kids ate it up so well...

How much does it cost?

It costs ₩3,000 per hour, which is very reasonable, so you can spend a full day without spending much. We played so hard that time flew by.

You can eat good food and play all kinds of games under cool air conditioning, so I strongly recommend it as an indoor date course in Nowon where you can relax with your family or partner.