The Loft Board Game Lounge in Ottawa, ON

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Telephone:	+1 613-695-7529
Website:	www.theloftlounge.ca
Address:	14 Waller Street, Ottawa, ON, K1N 9C4
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:	280 ftRideau/Cumberland nord 350 ftRideau/Cumberland sud 700 ftRideau/Nicholas sud
Categories:	Lounges Cafes

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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations	Yes
Delivery	No
Take-out	No
Accepts Apple Pay	No
Good For	Lunch, Late Night
Parking	Street
Bike Parking	Yes
Wheelchair Accessible	No
Good for Kids	Yes
Good for Groups	Yes
Attire	Casual
Ambience	Casual
Noise Level	Loud

Music	Background
Good For Dancing	No
Alcohol	Full Bar
Happy Hour	Yes
Best Nights	Tue, Wed, Thu
Coat Check	No
Smoking	No
Outdoor Seating	No
Wi-Fi	No
Has TV	No
Waiter Service	Yes
Caters	No
Has Pool Table	No

Today

Today	5:00 pm – 2:00 am Open now
Local time (Ottawa)	01:51 Friday, 23 May 2025

Business hours

Monday	5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Tuesday	5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Wednesday	5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Thursday	5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Friday	5:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday	11:00 am – 2:00 am
Sunday	11:00 am – 12:00 am

Description

Specialties

With its relaxed and casual atmosphere, and a library of over 800 games to choose from, The Loft offers you a unique entertainment opportunity. Enjoy some face to face interaction with friends or family while you eat, drink and play. You are welcome to stay and play as many games as you like! At the end of your stay a $ 5 ‘Stay and Play’ charge will be added to your bill. Staff will be on hand to recommend the perfect game to suit your preferences and even teach you how to play it. The lounge will offer a selection of tasty eats like fresh baked flatbread pizza, waffles, and appetizers — as well as delicious coffee, espressos, wine and beer, served to you at your table!

History

Established in 2014.

Alessandro when visiting Toronto, made a journey to Board Game Mecca — Toronto’s «Snakes and Lattes». He was blown away by how much fun everyone was having and knew he wanted to bring the concept to Ottawa.

Mike started playing board games regularly almost 4 years ago while he was working in the hospitality industry and he sought a way to turn his new-found hobby into a full time career and began collecting games in earnest. His 3 year quest for board games took him far & wide. So, here he was with over 700 games occupying every corner of his apartment, but how was he going to translate this into an actual business without some help?

One evening while reading through the Ottawa subreddit (www.Reddit.com/r/Ottawa), Alessandro came across a seemingly random user posting that he has been looking into opening a board game lounge in Ottawa. A hah! His interest was piqued. He messaged the user to explore the possibility of a partnership. Eh voila! The fellowship was born.

Meet the Business Owner

Mike and Alessandro X.

Business Owner

Alessandro grew up playing classical board games like Checkers, Chess, Monopoly, Scrabble and Risk. Thanks to a cousin, he got bitten by the Settlers of Catan bug and the rest they say, is history. He loved this new style of board game that involved planning, trading, and especially, a little bit of manipulation! When visiting his girlfriend in Toronto, he made a journey to Board Game Mecca — Toronto’s «Snakes and Lattes». He was blown away by how much fun everyone was having and knew he wanted to bring the concept to Ottawa.

Mike started playing board games regularly almost 4 years ago while he was working in the hospitality industry and pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Kinetics. Newer games like Power Grid, and A Game of Thrones got him hooked and there was no looking back. Realizing academic life wasn’t suited to him, and after his own visit to Snakes & Lattes, he sought a way to turn his new-found hobby into a full time career and began collecting games in earnest.

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20 reviews of The Loft Board Game Lounge

No registration required

Julia J.

Place rating: 4
Ottawa, Canada

My friend and I went on a Tuesday and it was quiet. They have a huge selection of games and the staff was willing to explain any games. I’d recommend going there!

Scott O.

Place rating: 5
Ottawa, Canada

I went to the Loft with friends for some fun one evening, and we had an absolute blast! You have access to literally hundreds of board games to try, many titles of which stray from the beaten path. While playing, you can also order food and alcohol; playing a casual board game over a beer is (at least for adults) the way to go. This being said, it is family friendly and they 100% have children friendly board games. The staff are not only friendly, but also know the rules to almost all the board games and can help you get started when your group is trying something new.
I would recommend reserving a table in advance, we were there on a random weekday and the room was completely full shortly after it opened. Highly recommended, you absolutely must check it out!

Donavon B.

Place rating: 5
Ottawa, Canada

A solid atmosphere and a great model for how to run a game lounge. Good food and a pretty solid game library.

Erica T.

Place rating: 3
Mississauga, Canada

I go to board game cafés pretty often in Toronto and Waterloo so I wanted to see how Ottawa compared.
Great atmosphere, cozy but modern? If that makes sense at all aha! Staff are very friendly and having a designated game guru is great! (Some in Waterloo do not.) She suggested great games for us when we told her what we were feeling which was mindless and silly.
Food was good too! I got the popcorn chicken wrap and Bailey’s hot chocolate! Both were very tasty! My friends all got flatbread pizzas and they looked amazing. Will definitely have to get one of those next time.
Their board game collection is huge! But I do not like how they organize and categorize their games. It’s ordered from low strategy to high strategy. When I was looking for specific games, I wasn’t sure how they were categorized and where they fell in their ranking system so it took a while to find them. Not a big deal, but something to point out!
Overall really fun experience and would love to come back!

Nabila I.

Place rating: 4
Toronto, Canada

We walked in on Family Day (during the evening) and found the place to be bustling. Unfortunately they couldn’t seat us right away so we put our names down on the list and went over to the nearby Starbucks to kill time. We didn’t have to wait too long, and were seated as soon as we arrived. The staff member explained how they operated ($ 5 per person) and how the board games were divided along the walls. As there was only two of us, we checked out the 2 person game section. We noticed a wide variety of games throughout the collection (strategy, cooperative, family favourites, card games, etc). We stayed for about 1.5−2 hours. During our stay we played 2 games and ordered the popcorn chicken. The food on the menu was very similar to bar/pub fare. We did not order drinks, however, they serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. They also have a dessert menu. While we were there we never felt rushed to order more or leave. You can stay and play for as long as you’d like. Which is awesome. This spot would be great for a group of friends, or a date, or even an outing with the family (they have a kids rate for the stay and play of $ 2.50 per child). I’m not sure how good the food is, but I think for the price you’re paying to stay as long as you’d like, it’s definitely a good deal.

Conrad L.

Place rating: 5
Ottawa, Canada

Good coffee, decent food at acceptable prices and a huge board game selection. The staff is friendly in helping you choose a game and helping you figure new games out. Amazingly you only pay five bucks per person to play unlimited time, so this can become a great spot for cheap hang outs! And due to its size, there is always spots available! Recommend!

Ashley F.

Place rating: 3
Peekskill, NY

Visited Ottawa from NY and came to the loft. All in all I had a very very entertaining evening! So many fun old school games to pick from! $ 5 fee per person to play «in order to keep the games on the shelves» as my waitress told me. I didn’t give five stars because there was hardly anything on the menu that was vegetarian friendly. Literally everything had meat on it. (Yes this could be party my fault for not calling ahead to ask about the menu) and also didn’t like how aggressive the workers are when they see you browsing the game wall. I kept having to reiterate to the staff that I was just browsing to try and find a game that caught my eye. Instead they would respond with «UTILIZE ME! LET ME NARROW YOUR SEARCH! WHAT STYLE DO YOU LIKE TO PLAY» … Like homie back up off me. I said I was browsing calm the F*ck down. I’m not 3 years old, I’m fully capable of looking at game titles and deciding if they appeal to me. I don’t need you to hold my hand. Maybe they were super concerned that I would move all the games out of their labels sections but seriously… back off.

Delta N.

Place rating: 5
Ottawa, Canada

The food was fantastic and they have an awesome game selection. The staff are really helpful and are able to explain the rules to relatively every game.

Kaixin Z.

Place rating: 4
Montreal, Canada

Been here once, was really fun. The space is mid-sized and they have a few couches and stuff as well if you’re lucky enough to get one of those. They have a pretty large collection of board games and good beers/drinks/foods. Price is very reasonable (simple cover charge of 5 $).
What impressed me the most was how friendly the staff were. They didn’t hesitate to check up on you, yet made sure not to interrupt you when you seemed busy. They were also very open to explain all the rules to you of any game you picked if you were having trouble understanding the rules (or maybe too lazy to read haha). Either way, very friendly staff.
Friendly reminder: it is still a bar so bring your ID in case you plan on getting drinks later! I almost forgot to bring mine as I was thinking I was just going to a boardgame lounge. And we all know everything is better with alcohol…

Shiyue X.

Place rating: 5
Gatineau, Canada

I went there a few times. It’s our go to spot for our anniversaries. The atmosphere is nice and quiet early on during the weekend. So, it’s perfect to talk. As the night progresses, it’s starts getting louder and people feel more at ease to play games that require more yelling. (Ex. Pictionary!)
The staff is nice and welcoming and they check up on you to make sure you’re ok. They are also more than happy to show you a few games and tell you their favourite items on the menu. If it’s your first time there, they’ll tell you how it works, so you don’t need to panic if you don’t know what you’re doing!
There’s a paid parking lot right across the street that lets you park there from 3pm-6am for 5 $. There are quite a few spaces, so there is usually at least one free spot.
They have a great assortment of games. They have family games, strategy games, themed games, etc etc.
Personally, I have yet to see a child there, but there are a lot of children friendly games.
Although the menu may seem limited, I personally loved everything that I tried. The CBR was particularly great! My advice was be to try everything. Especially if you’re skeptical! The first time I tried a London fog I thought that it looked mundane. After tasting it, I get it every single time!
So if you’re looking for a nice place to have fun, the Loft is definitely worth checking out!

Andy B.

Place rating: 5
Waterloo, Canada

I’ve been to a lot of board game cafes, but Loft was my favourite for a few reasons. Disclaimer, I’m a huge board game nerd.
They had huge selection of board games. They also have an accurate list of all their board games on their website, which is great when trying to figure whether or not they have the game you want to play. It was really cool how a lot of the tables around me were playing really cool games, and not just Catan or Ticket to Ride, and I think hat had to do a lot with the diverse selection of board games they offered.
The place had lots of tables, though I think at some points it was full and there were people waiting, but if usually shouldn’t be a problem. the tables were also really nice for playing board games, because they were glass on top and had a shelf right under the table to put the board game box and empty plates, and clear tabletop space.
I also liked how the cost was just a $ 5 entry fee, and not some complicated pay by hour system. I stayed for about 4 hours, and I’m sure you could stay however long you wanted without a problem.
Overall great place, and I hope there are more board game cafes to come in Ottawa that are similar to this one!

Ana V.

Place rating: 4
Valencia, Spain

I come here with friends all the time because I really like board games.
The waiters always treat us really well, the ambient is also very nice and everything looks clean and new. They have no problems explaining you any game’s rules or suggesting what to play next.
In terms of food, I find the menu is quite limited. It really lacks some shareable things (like nachos, etc). The pizzas are good though (don’t miss the mediterranean one with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto!)
I’ll keep coming back!

Deirdre K.

Place rating: 5
Ottawa, Canada

I love, love, love The Loft Board Game Lounge! I have been in many times from when they had first opened and have yet to be disappointed. The staff are fantastic for both their knowledge of the over 700 games in-house as well as drink and food menus. The owners are often on the floor helping out and are extremely accommodating. On my first time in for lunch, one of the owners offered to make me a special-order sandwich that wasn’t on the menu and it was delicious! I went in at Halloween with a group of 15 and they were offering free candy to those in costume. Several of us got to enjoy this special. I most recently visited as part of a Unilocal event with Andrea B., Jim D., Vanessa D., and Andre G., among others. We had so much fun and that event is what got me Unilocaling. The service was fantastic and I enjoyed playing a game of Pandemic which our server did a good job of explaining.
If you sign up for their Facebook page, you will find that they often have contests. I won a $ 25 gift card for creating a new white card for Cards Against Humanity, which was voted most popular by Facebook members. It’s also pretty cool to know that my card is now part of their in-house game! :)
They have good pizzas and the Bailey’s hot chocolate is fantastic. They have a surprisingly yummy house salad. My game highlights include their many versions of Flux, Legendary, and Kings of Tokyo. It’s also great for a date night, smaller groups and can accommodate large groups.
The stay and play fee is $ 5 and gives you access to all of their games. There are certain times and days when this is waived so it’s worth looking into.
I highly recommend The Loft Board Game Lounge and will be back for more fun times!

Lesley M.

Place rating: 5
Gatineau, Canada

Okay– a 5 star: P that’s pretty exciting. Well deserved though!
This place absolutely great– and I’ll let you know why.
We had gone to the loft closer to when it opened– not many people were very aware of it being there, a place above the ludenburg xD– yes, you need to look up and brave the stairs.
The table reservation was for around 10 ppl for a good friends birthday. Two sections of the table would have games going on– or the entire table at once.
Access to the games costs 5 $ (which, let’s be honest– is decent given the enormity of options available to you) and the food options are lovely! (And most importantly tasty)
I think I asked for a juice– that was a combo of 3 juices, and oddly enough! Voila xD they were the only options on the menu (hit my preferences perfectly– pineapple, orange and cranberry if I’m not mistaken)
What I really appreciated though was just how cool the staff were! I went to the bar and asked if it were possible to request music– and they were all for it!
Overall awesome place– great for friends/families and double/triple dates ;P

Spike D.

Place rating: 4
Washington, DC

I probably would not have wandered into this place on my own, figuring it was a place for someone younger, hipper, with more time on their hands. Thanks to Unilocal Elite events, I found myself in a new place and really enjoying it.
First, the ambience is terrific. Nice old building, exposed brick, high ceilings, wide open spaces. Secondly, the service was terrific. Met one of the owners and was impressed by their commitment to creating a great customer experience.
After seeing it action, I now get the «board game lounge» thing. It is a great way to socialize, talk, see the people across the table, goof off and turn off your smart phone. Seems like a great family or all-ages event. Maybe an office social? Definitely a good way to bridge the gap if you have older or younger acquaintances. Adult beverages and good food are a nice touch but no need to power drink. Also it’s not noisy! Great for those of us who stay out of bars and clubs because of the noise factor.
Finger food appetizers and tasty dessert menus conducive to sitting and snacking.

Jim D.

Place rating: 5
Ottawa, Canada

This is a really great place. The décor is gorgeous, and the staff is friendly and helpful, both with the menu and the games.
For dinner I tried the perogies for an appetizer. They were decent. Not as great as House of Targ (which fries them a bit), but I liked them. For the main course I had the flatbread pepperoni pizza, which was shockingly good. My wife had the Italian chicken sandwich, which I tried. It also was excellent.
For the gaming, I played «Forbidden Desert,» which was very fun. The staff helped out when we had questions about the rules. We were playing it wrong at one point.
Overall it was a great experience and I’d like to go back.

Dawn M.

Place rating: 4
Ottawa, Canada

Loved my visit here. Between the décor, our friendly server, the beer and the long wall full of games — I was impressed!
Interesting concept: You pay a $ 5 cover to ‘stay and play’ games for as long as you wish. The cover goes towards game maintenance and purchases, as well as helps defray some of the costs associated with a low turnover.
They have a simple food menu — all of the items perfect for game night. (Easy to make, easy to eat, minimal utensils). And they have the beer to go with it.
My understanding, from chatting with one of the owners is that on weekends you may wish to get there early — there are lineups starting some days around 4 or so. We were there on a Tuesday night, which worked out well as they waive the stay and play cover on Tuesdays. (Yay!)
For food: I had the CBR — it was good. People around me were raving about the El Lofto Rolls. Didn’t try them, so all I can do is pass on what I heard. :-)
Would I return: Yes — I’m thinking that the next time we have out of town guests, this could be one evening’s activities, to get out of the house, or to relax after a day of gallivanting around.
Would I recommend: Yes. Great business.

Fadi M.

Place rating: 5
Byward Market - Parliament Hill, Canada

First time going there and definitely won’t be the last.
The loft is the perfect combination of good food, drinks and board games! Yes, board games.
The place has a great ambience and provides an excellent setting to socialize.
To everyone’s surprise, the food is actually great. I had the spicy rollos (can’t remember the exact name) but they were delicious and also not that spicy. Combine that with some hot chocolate and whipped cream, and a huge variety of board games, and that made my first time there– tons of fun.
The service was excellent and everyone was really friendly.
I highly recommend you check out this place, and since you won’t have time to enjoy most games, I bet you’ll want to come again!

Tim B.

Place rating: 5
Ottawa, Canada

I’ve been here a number of times now, starting with groupons when they first opened and now returning as an occasional customer.
The food and drinks are very good; if it weren’t a board game place and were just a restaurant, it would be doing a good job. Beyond the food/drink, for $ 5 (free Tuesdays) you can hang out as long as you like and play board games. And boy do they have a lot to choose from. Word games, card games, big complex strategy games, party games… And the people working there know the rules to almost every game if you need a hand.
This place is a pretty great deal, and a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. If you thought about it compared to alternatives like bowling or pool, the $ 5 flat fee puts The Loft ahead right there. The food, atmosphere and sheer number of fun games puts them over the top as a terrific option.
Food recommendation: The Loft Rollos

Phil E.

Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA

I came here with Leanne H. during a stay in Ottawa in late December.
The first time it was packed and the wait time was about 90 mins, so we left and came back the next day. Lesson: be careful about just turning up.
I’m glad we did come back though; we had a great time. The setting is sociable, cosy and relaxing with a huge array of games on offer along with drinks and food at a reasonable price (see pic). You do have to pay for the table (/right to play), so if you’re going to visit I’d recommend doing so for at least two or three hours to make sure you feel you get your money’s worth.
For a different, chilled night or afternoon out I’d definitely come back here. Alcohol optional but recommended as it makes the board games more fun. Four stars only because of the difficulty in knowing if you’ll definitely get a table and because I thought the drinks were a little overpriced.