I needed a place with WiFi to take a Zoom call before an IRL meeting in this neighborhood. Squarrel fit the bill and did the job! I love board games and wanted to see one in NYC when i was there. When I got there, it was packed with what I perceived to be high schoolers playing a game. Someone left after I ordered, so I was lucky to snag not just a table, but a corner table with an outlet. Score! The strawberry matcha was very good and didn't keep me up at night--sometimes matcha (aka caffeine) does that to me. They also have dumplings! I would've gotten some if I was hungrier. Good energy and vibes and they have other fun drinks too. Service was kind and patient with me when I couldn't decide what to order. They were also kind (to let me take a call there although I didn't really talk) in letting me know I had to leave (I didn't do anything, everyone had to leave) to make room for a weekly nighttime board game group. Would be back if I'm in the area! read more

See all

This is a very cute little cafe. They sell coffee and pastries and they have board games you can play. They have the most interesting chess board I've ever seen. It's vertical. Now I feel like I have to get one. Cute shop with a nice chill vibe. I had a chocolate croissant that was delicious. Will definitely check it out again. read more

See all

One of the more spacious coffee shops I have been too. I was shocked to have been the only one in here too. This coffee shop is also a place where you can play board games with friends and family. They have a whole range of selection of games to choose from. Many seating options as well and as I said before spacious spot. I got a shaken espresso which comes in a fun cup too. It was very good. The barista who made my drink was very nice and did not rush me as I was deciding on what I wanted. I highly recommend coming to check out this spot if you are in the area. read more

See all

Cool cafe with board games. I enjoyed my cappuccino - it's a sweet spot. I would avoid if you're looking for a quiet spot during the afternoon hours. Go with your teens or friends though for game night. read more

This cafe is only a couple of blocks away from the Barclays and across the street from the train station. It is in a very convenient location. I was going to a show at the Barclays but my nephew needed to do a class online beforehand. We were able to stop in here in the morning. He did his class while I enjoyed a matcha latte. By noon there were a lot more people coming in that probably had reservations to play board games. So if comin in the afternoon I would suggest it reserving your table beforehand. This was a Sunday. Were only here for an hour so I do not know how crowded it could get. But I would recommend and will come back to play some board games. read more

Squarrel Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I came here with my little cousins and we had a blast! They have dozens and dozens of games available...maybe I've never even heard of before! You pay $8 per person for three hours, which seems absolutely incredible. They have delicious bubble teas and some light bites. They have teas and coffees too. Super shout out to the woman working there today (12/29) because my little cousin is not an adventurous eater and she recommended the lychee boba and gave him a sample. He never tries things but did and really enjoyed it. I am so thankful for everyone's kindness who worked there. A cool atmosphere with lots of meetups and games going on. Huge positive that you can make a reservation. I can't wait to come back! read more

Really like the concept of this place and how you can rent out board games! There is definitely decent seating, but heard it gets packed in the evenings and weekends. I came here in the morning I got a less sweet early grey latte, that was quite good - a bit too milky forward. Would come back with some friends in the future! read more

See all

The staff is always kind. The beverages are tasty and the atmosphere is unique. It is one of the coffee houses in rotation for me.

I was looking for a bubble tea spot and stumbled upon this place. I didn't realize that this is a board game cafe until I stepped inside. Overall, I loved the vibe and would've totally stay longer if I wasn't in a rush. I really like the bubble tea selection where you can mix and match tea base and fruit flavor drinks. I got chrysanthemum with passion fruit with no toppings which turned out to the alright. I loved the cup though! The cup is not only super cute but there's a tiny detachable cap at the top where you can seal your drink if you no longer have your bubble tea straw in. Perfect to take on the go and for occasions where you can't finish your drink in one go. Would definitely come back here to try the other drinks next time and also check out the different games since they sure do have some cool varieties! read more

Squarrel Cafe - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

Super friendly staff and great drinks! This is my favorite go-to stop in my neighborhood.

Always a pleasure to stop by. Fast service and relax atmosphere, delicious drinks without feeling rushed.

This is a great spot, but I've now gone out of my way multiple times to be told "if you're not playing a board game, you won't have priority seating." I love the community, but when you travel out of your way, that's not ok. I'm not going to sit for 15 minutes to be told to leave AFTER I've made my purchase. They do not always post it on their socials, so there's no way of ever fully knowing. So always call first if you're not playing a board game! I won't be back, but it is cute. read more

I come here semi-regularly for boba drinks. I love that they have both almond milk and oat milk available (for 75 cents extra) to make drinks more vegan-friendly. Toppings like boba/tapioca is extra as well, so it does kind of add up and make a drink a tad more expensive. But I see boba drinks as a treat so it's ok. It's also not a giant chain or franchise (as far as I know), so I'm happy to support a small business. The boba is always perfect. A couple times I've had to wait while they make more boba because they've just run out. But the boba texture is always perfectly soft but a little chewy. I also enjoy that I can have one of their many coffee drinks with boba, also customizable with alternative milks and less sugar and no sugar options. The staff is always super nice, too. I haven't been there to play board games as a lot of people go there to do, but it seems like fun. read more

Squarrel Cafe - Cold Brew with oat milk and tapioca - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

This cafe is a cute little gem, I stop by at least a few times a month for their boba teas. I love the seasonal flavors and the baked goods are usually good and their dumplings are definitely worth trying. While I haven't actually stayed to play the games, I've perused the selection and there are tons of options. Highly recommend! read more

Cool spot with a solid board game selection and decent bubble tea. The atmosphere is nice for hanging out, though it can get a bit crowded. Worth checking out if you're into games and don't mind the board game fee read more

Squarrel Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Summer float with crystal boba 8/10 lced yuan Yang tea 7/10 Grilled cheese 9/10 Latte 7/10 read more

Squarrel Cafe - Summer float with crystal boba 8/10 lced yuan Yang tea 7/10 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Such a unique and fun spot in Brooklyn. My friend and I didn't play games while we were there, but I love that the space is set up for the opportunity to, and they have so many options available. read more

Large space in the back with a bunch of board games. It's a pretty neat space for different purposes. The drinks are pretty good. The front is more of a cafe feel where you can read or chat leisurely. The back seems more for big groups or if you want to play some board games. read more

Great service! friendly staff willinng to help you figure out great additiona to your cafe drink. I live Queens and I stop by whenever I'm in Brooklyn. I absolutely love this place! 10/10 would def recommend!!! read more

Squarrel Cafe - My absolute fav - cappuccino from Squarrel Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Ahh, I really wish there was a place like this for us youngsters when I was back in high school. This game is exactly what I imagined a board game cafe would be like and it actually serves decent drinks. I came with a party of 3 on a Thursday afternoon to chat and play some friendly board games and we all had a fun time! The current pricing is $5 for 3 hours and they have basically all of the board games you can think of, plus more! I was super happy to see that they had one of my favorites, Pandemic. Being that my friends and I are nurses, we HAD to play that one. The game cards were all laminated nicely, which we really appreciated. I ordered a latte, while my friends ordered their fruit teas. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their drinks. They also serve snacks for the grumbly tummies. I definitely recommend coming here to check out their board game collection. One thing to note is that if you are planning to study/do homework here, you may be disrupted by others who are playing board games or students who are coming by after school. read more

See all

always good! great staff! this is one of my usual places I come almost daily. def recommend

Love that this is a board game cafe. They seem to have a wide array of game options and the tables are spacious to allow for game play. I came in for breakfast and was excited to have a taro latte because as a non-coffee drinker it is always exciting to see multiple non-coffee options. I was disappointed to see that all of their drinks are made from powders instead of any fresh ingredients and their pastries were a bit wilted looking. Wouldn't come back just for a tea but would definitely come with friends for a board game night. read more

I'm an unabashed board game geek. My friends and I plan monthly game days. I own a bunch of games and expansion packs. I recently went to Philly for PAX Unplugged (essentially a massive three-day board game convention). You get the point. I was thrilled to learn about Squarrel Cafe and its relative proximity to me. The Yelp event was a blast, so I knew I had to return. $5 to play board/card games for as long as your heart desires, especially when the place closes at midnight on a Saturday? SOLD. My friend and I spent practically 8.5 hours here. We played Horrified, Tokaido, and Plague, all really fun games in their own ways. We actually played Plague with Ming, the owner, during the cafe's quieter moments. He explained the game to us and was generally super friendly. He was also open to game suggestions and said they might host some tournaments in the future. Don't skip out on the drinks either. Ming made me a great taro latte with a nice, rich foam on top. My friend got the yuan yang, a Hong Kong favorite of coffee mixed with milk tea. It was comforting and not too sweet. Whether you're a game fanatic or a casual player, this is a great place to visit and try some new games. People also stopped by just to buy a drink and relax, if that's more up your alley. read more

See all

I love this place everyone is so kind and the owner is lovely! My favorite place I have found in the city to play games. I would recommend it to anyone. read more

This place is really nice. You can either unwind here, getting, for example, a beverage and lounging at a table in the front or back, or you can get wound up unleashing your competitive nature against your opponents by getting involved in some game. Or do both if you can multi-task. The game selection here wasn't quite as large as I was expecting, but they've got enough of a variety to satisfy everyone, and the price to game is a bargain! I think the staff here enjoy creating their beverages for you. When I walked in, I said I wanted something cold to drink, and I was told they could make cold versions of many of the hot beverages, and even mix-and-match a bit. So I got a chai-based beverage infused with peach, admittedly something the woman who waited on me said she hadn't tried previously. She was even willing to replace the drink for free if I didn't enjoy the finished product - but I did enjoy it, the combination of flavors was intriguing and refreshing. It's pleasant and well-maintained here. It's a great place to have a time-out or to get your game on. read more

Squarrel Cafe - An experimental beverage they made for me on the fly, a peach infused iced chai - delicious. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

I love it here! Despite this place being a board cafe, the store was very quiet. I guess they are missing me to rowdy this place up! Before playing, the worker requested our vaccination cards, so keep that in mind! $5 all day is seriously also such a steal. I can literally stay there all day. Since we came on a particular Sunday when they were doing a Game Night event, we were able to stay past 6PM, their typical closing hour. There aren't too many games to choose from, but my friends and I were able to have fun with the same 2 games. There were also drinks available, and I even saw crystal boba as a topping option, so I would definitely love to go back to try, as their drinks seem super solid. The owner/manager and workers were very friendly and accommodating. I definitely think a lot of regulars come here to chill or even just for their drinks. Definitely check Squarrel Cafe out! read more

Squarrel Cafe - Love the vibes here! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I had a BLAST playing games here with my friends! Do note you have to show your vaccination card in order to play so be prepared to have it at hand (picture works). The workers were very nice to let us be seated first while we tried to get that sorted out. Also, it would be a good idea to do reservations beforehand if possible because pretty much all the tables were reserved/filled when we went late on Sunday afternoon, luckily we were able to get a free table at the front of the cafe. (I think they said it was also game night or some kind of game event day too) This was my first time at a board game cafe but it is quite different from what I expected in a pleasant way. There are no rowdy groups; everybody played civil manner with indoor volume. I lowkey worry me and my friends may have been the loudest that day because the games got us quite heated. I did notice a more private room towards the back of the cafe next to the bathroom. Also major props for how clean it is here. Even though we were only a party of 3, there were a number of options we could pick from the game shelf. Sad they didn't have that sword stabbing into barrel pirate game because people broke them ( I hope they restock that game again). We didn't play much, to be specific, we only played two games but two hours flew by like nothing. Definitely would be a good idea to come here early so you can play more and it's amazing how it's $5 to play games all day long, what a deal! We paid after playing. I would definitely be down to go here again with friends. I hope they know I'm waiting for next time :) read more

Squarrel Cafe - Yelp Celeb playing games with me - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Small board game cafe located close to Atlantic Terminal. They have a range of teas and bubble tea drinks available at modest prices. The main thing you come here for is their board game cafes, which are available at $5 per person, and you can play all day. The ambience is very simple and sparse. Service is friendly, but it's an order and pay at the counter sort of place. read more

Squarrel Cafe - Scrabble - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Squarrel Cafe manages to pull off a calm, relaxing vibe in the middle of one of the busiest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Walking in is like being transported to a quiet living room at a friend's apartment, which also happens to have great drinks and tons of board games. When I went, the board games weren't in use - most folks were quietly plugging away at their work individually. But there is plenty of communal seating, and I can see the cafe being equal parts working space + social space for board game enthusiasts. I had an earl gray latte, which was great, especially since the barista asked how sweet I would like it (not very) and adjusted to my tastes. Really great local vibe, and a nice place to work/chill, especially if you're trying to take a break from the downtown BK noise for a little while. read more

A down to earth bubble tea spot close to the trains. Prices are reasonable and quality is mid-tier. Also not too sweet!

Perfect spot for cold rainy weekend. Was busy when we stopped there, service was friendly. There's a limited special right now, only $5 per person for unlimited play!!! Apparently there's a few pastry items but they were sold out. Bathroom is decent. Diverse crowd. Their staff favorites menu was pretty good, got something with "beach" in it, peach oolong with strawberry and lychee and really good crystal boba - I think my favorite part. Great location by Barclays Center. read more

Squarrel Cafe - Extensive collection of games - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

One of my favorite places in the area. Staff is always great and the drinks are delicious!

Came in for some boba drinks after a concert, has a calm quiet relaxing atmosphere, A/C inside is great and was able to cool down after a hot summer day outside walking around read more

Solid space with friendly people and a great collection of board games. Coffee drinks are solid as well.

Still as great as I remember during my first visit a few years ago. I first found out about the Squarrel Cafe after attending a Yelp elite event here, before the pandemic. I had such a great time and I knew, that it was a great place to return to. Well, I decided to meet up with a gentleman for our first date at Squarrel Cafe. It was ideal as we we had connected via a dating app. It offered a public setting that encourages conversation without pressure. We visited on a Saturday evening, about 2 hours prior to closing. I paid about $5 each for us to place unlimited games. He purchased us drinks and we just sat for hours talking and playing a host of games. The ambience isn't extremely loud and they have an impressive variety of games including board games and card games; all in great condition. Our drinks were good, nothing spectacular but they hit the spot. We ended up staying past closing time. I'm not sure what closing actually means here because we left after 10 and there was a group (including a few staff) playing a card game, very intently lol. Nonetheless, we enjoyed ourselves. Staff was very friendly and attentive. I'll be returning again and I highly recommend it to others! read more

Squarrel Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

very friendly people and great staff. One of my favorite weekend spots. I come at least once a week for the meetup

This is a Phenomenal cafe that's affordable, so inviting, with great drinks and cudstomer service

Awesome! I always get the bubble tea on the beach and I kid you not lit is so delicious.

Love this place! The barista is always very friendly and he makes a great cappuccino. I can't wait for Covid to be over so we can play board games. Also, the sink and air dryer in the bathroom is the coolest thing I've ever seen lol. read more

Squarrel Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This place is right outside of Atlantic terminal/Barclays...tons of seating, TONS of board games, and excellent coffee (hot, fresh, flavor options) It's not a chic spot- it's def got more of a chill vibe to it. Would I travel far to come here? Probably not. If you're in the area and need a place to wait for your train, this is a cool spot. read more