Hongdae board game café for beginners: Hero Board Game Cafe

I went to Hero Board Game Cafe Hongdae Branch 1 with a friend who had never really played board games before. Besides board games, it also had arcade machines and pool, so I thought there would be plenty for us to do together. My friend enjoyed it so much that afterward, they said they wanted to come back and play all night.

Where is Hero Board Game Cafe Hongdae Branch 1?

It is near Hongik Culture Park on Hongdae's main street. It used to be called the Hongdae Playground, so I was a little sorry that the name had changed. The café is on the second floor of the building, and I took the elevator up.

What are the seating and interior like?

There was a restroom inside the café. The seating was divided by curtains, and the back had a raised, room-style space.

Is there more to do than play board games?

There were many kinds of board games, including a variety of escape-room-style board games. The new escape-room games looked quite popular.

There was also a pool table, and customers used it throughout our stay. There were arcade machines for games such as Spot the Difference, along with MAME and a PS5; the game consoles and arcade machines were free to use.

What were the weekday rates and food like?

At the time of my visit, the weekday unlimited rate was ₩6,000. We decided to use the unlimited plan too. After 3 p.m., groups of students started coming in.

There was a wide range of food, including cocktails. We ate mango cheese bingsu while playing games.

Which games did I play with a board-game beginner?

We started with Spot the Difference, which my friend likes. It was my first time playing it in around 20 years, and the old-fashioned photos brought back memories as we played.

We also picked up an escape-room board game, but put it back because it seemed too difficult for my beginner friend.

Next, we tried Splendor. It is an introductory game for two to four players, where you strategically collect resources and build up your position.

Which game was the most fun for the two of us?

Lost Cities was the game we enjoyed most. It is an introductory game specifically for two players, and the psychological battle of deciding whether to take risks was fun. I lost after setting out on expeditions without much thought.

We spent time in the cool indoor space while eating mango cheese bingsu. We could learn unfamiliar board games by watching explanation videos, and take turns using the game consoles, so it was fun even with a friend unfamiliar with board games. It is a place I might think of when looking for an indoor date activity or something to do with a friend in Hongdae.