Bard and Baker Board Game Cafe

Bard & Baker is truly a wonderful experience. amazing ambience, wonderful hospitality, clever menu, delectable food & drinks. the breakfast poutine (pictured) is one of the best things ive ever eaten in my life. the gaming aspect is just a bonus IMO. lovely place and lovely staff, the Albany one i... Read more

Bard & Baker is truly a wonderful experience. amazing ambience, wonderful hospitality, clever menu, delectable food & drinks. the breakfast poutine (pictured) is one of the best things ive ever eaten in my life. the gaming aspect is just a bonus IMO. lovely place and lovely staff, the Albany one is great too, i have yet to have a less than great visit to either. i reccomend Bard & Baker to everyone. thank you so much! Show less

Bard & Baker is truly a wonderful experience. amazing ambience, wonderful hospitality, clever menu, delectable food & drinks. the breakfast poutine (pictured) is one of the best things ive ever eaten in my life. the gaming aspect is just a bonus IMO. lovely place and lovely staff, the Albany one i... Read more

Bard & Baker is truly a wonderful experience. amazing ambience, wonderful hospitality, clever menu, delectable food & drinks. the breakfast poutine (pictured) is one of the best things ive ever eaten in my life. the gaming aspect is just a bonus IMO. lovely place and lovely staff, the Albany one is great too, i have yet to have a less than great visit to either. i reccomend Bard & Baker to everyone. thank you so much! Show less

Such a fantastic experience, I've been here twice now. The first time it was a Saturday and it was a great icing to the cake that is a Troy Farmer's Market. $5 covers all your games on weekdays and $10 on weekends (because they're peak times). This time which was July 9th was part of the store's we... Read more

Such a fantastic experience, I've been here twice now. The first time it was a Saturday and it was a great icing to the cake that is a Troy Farmer's Market. $5 covers all your games on weekdays and $10 on weekends (because they're peak times). This time which was July 9th was part of the store's weekly Wednesday event where you get to meet a lot of new people and play new games! The food and drink here is stupendous as well, you can't go wrong with the Lemonade and the cheesy C.A.T. sandwich. They also sell a variety of alcoholic drinks if you want to just relax a little and play something chill. Lastly, it's still a great place for families. I saw a dad&son playing the first time and a father&daughter this time. Check it out! Show less

Such a fantastic experience, I've been here twice now. The first time it was a Saturday and it was a great icing to the cake that is a Troy Farmer's Market. $5 covers all your games on weekdays and $10 on weekends (because they're peak times). This time which was July 9th was part of the store's we... Read more

Such a fantastic experience, I've been here twice now. The first time it was a Saturday and it was a great icing to the cake that is a Troy Farmer's Market. $5 covers all your games on weekdays and $10 on weekends (because they're peak times). This time which was July 9th was part of the store's weekly Wednesday event where you get to meet a lot of new people and play new games! The food and drink here is stupendous as well, you can't go wrong with the Lemonade and the cheesy C.A.T. sandwich. They also sell a variety of alcoholic drinks if you want to just relax a little and play something chill. Lastly, it's still a great place for families. I saw a dad&son playing the first time and a father&daughter this time. Check it out! Show less

A hidden gem for food lovers and tabletop gamers alike! This place combines everything I love, delicious food, a cozy and inviting atmosphere, and the added bonus of tabletop games to enjoy while you hang out. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, and you can really tell they care about cr... Read more

A hidden gem for food lovers and tabletop gamers alike! This place combines everything I love, delicious food, a cozy and inviting atmosphere, and the added bonus of tabletop games to enjoy while you hang out. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, and you can really tell they care about creating a welcoming space. Whether you're stopping by for a bite or planning a game night with friends, this spot is an absolute win. Highly recommend! Show less

A hidden gem for food lovers and tabletop gamers alike! This place combines everything I love, delicious food, a cozy and inviting atmosphere, and the added bonus of tabletop games to enjoy while you hang out. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, and you can really tell they care about cr... Read more

A hidden gem for food lovers and tabletop gamers alike! This place combines everything I love, delicious food, a cozy and inviting atmosphere, and the added bonus of tabletop games to enjoy while you hang out. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, and you can really tell they care about creating a welcoming space. Whether you're stopping by for a bite or planning a game night with friends, this spot is an absolute win. Highly recommend! Show less

Bard & Baker is already my new favorite place to hang out! Aside from their outstanding board game library they have a delicious menu with a variety of craft-quality café fare. The coffee and tea lists are both varied and formidable. Lots of great choices. The craft beer/cider/cocktail menu is top... Read more

Bard & Baker is already my new favorite place to hang out! Aside from their outstanding board game library they have a delicious menu with a variety of craft-quality café fare. The coffee and tea lists are both varied and formidable. Lots of great choices. The craft beer/cider/cocktail menu is top notch. I tried the caramel bourbon coffee and was blown away by the richness of flavors. Looking forward to the popcicle/prosecco cocktails as well! The clean, bright, friendly atmosphere really captures both the energy of downtown Troy and the privacy for enjoying a game with friends or a quiet cup of comfort with your laptop. Friendly, knowledgeable, approachable staff are the frosting on the cake, so to speak. I'll be spending a lot of time with them as this downtown treasure. Do yourself a favor and stop by, even just for a quick snack or a drink. Show less

Bard & Baker is already my new favorite place to hang out! Aside from their outstanding board game library they have a delicious menu with a variety of craft-quality café fare. The coffee and tea lists are both varied and formidable. Lots of great choices. The craft beer/cider/cocktail menu is top... Read more

Bard & Baker is already my new favorite place to hang out! Aside from their outstanding board game library they have a delicious menu with a variety of craft-quality café fare. The coffee and tea lists are both varied and formidable. Lots of great choices. The craft beer/cider/cocktail menu is top notch. I tried the caramel bourbon coffee and was blown away by the richness of flavors. Looking forward to the popcicle/prosecco cocktails as well! The clean, bright, friendly atmosphere really captures both the energy of downtown Troy and the privacy for enjoying a game with friends or a quiet cup of comfort with your laptop. Friendly, knowledgeable, approachable staff are the frosting on the cake, so to speak. I'll be spending a lot of time with them as this downtown treasure. Do yourself a favor and stop by, even just for a quick snack or a drink. Show less

Sandwiches were excellent. I customized mine (BBQ sauce, no blu cheese) and they got everything right. 4th visit in the last few years; very reliable. Especially for large groups, they do recommend reservations. We got lucky by going early Sat. morning, at 11:30 AM to beat the rush. Staff were very ... Read more

Sandwiches were excellent. I customized mine (BBQ sauce, no blu cheese) and they got everything right. 4th visit in the last few years; very reliable. Especially for large groups, they do recommend reservations. We got lucky by going early Sat. morning, at 11:30 AM to beat the rush. Staff were very helpful getting all 13 people seated in our preferred spots. Show less

Sandwiches were excellent. I customized mine (BBQ sauce, no blu cheese) and they got everything right. 4th visit in the last few years; very reliable. Especially for large groups, they do recommend reservations. We got lucky by going early Sat. morning, at 11:30 AM to beat the rush. Staff were very ... Read more

Sandwiches were excellent. I customized mine (BBQ sauce, no blu cheese) and they got everything right. 4th visit in the last few years; very reliable. Especially for large groups, they do recommend reservations. We got lucky by going early Sat. morning, at 11:30 AM to beat the rush. Staff were very helpful getting all 13 people seated in our preferred spots. Show less

The selection of games is very impressive. I really liked being able to experience a game without buying it so I can decide if I want to add it to my collection. The food and drinks were a bit pricey for what you get but tasted ok. My biggest complaint is I wish that there were tiered payments if on... Read more

The selection of games is very impressive. I really liked being able to experience a game without buying it so I can decide if I want to add it to my collection. The food and drinks were a bit pricey for what you get but tasted ok. My biggest complaint is I wish that there were tiered payments if one was only planning to play games for only an hour or so. Overall a very good place but I would plan to stay for 4+ hours to get your money's worth. It can also get quite crowded during peak hours, reservations may be needed. The staff is friendly and courteous. Parking can be an issue. Show less

The selection of games is very impressive. I really liked being able to experience a game without buying it so I can decide if I want to add it to my collection. The food and drinks were a bit pricey for what you get but tasted ok. My biggest complaint is I wish that there were tiered payments if on... Read more

The selection of games is very impressive. I really liked being able to experience a game without buying it so I can decide if I want to add it to my collection. The food and drinks were a bit pricey for what you get but tasted ok. My biggest complaint is I wish that there were tiered payments if one was only planning to play games for only an hour or so. Overall a very good place but I would plan to stay for 4+ hours to get your money's worth. It can also get quite crowded during peak hours, reservations may be needed. The staff is friendly and courteous. Parking can be an issue. Show less

We love this place! The food is delicious, the bubble tea is fantastic, and the selection of board games is top-notch. The staff are all so friendly and they do a great job fostering a welcoming & inclusive space. The special events are so much fun and the 'pixel to plate dinners' are well executed.... Read more

We love this place! The food is delicious, the bubble tea is fantastic, and the selection of board games is top-notch. The staff are all so friendly and they do a great job fostering a welcoming & inclusive space. The special events are so much fun and the 'pixel to plate dinners' are well executed. There's nothing negative to say, this is a great business doing great things for the community! Show less

We love this place! The food is delicious, the bubble tea is fantastic, and the selection of board games is top-notch. The staff are all so friendly and they do a great job fostering a welcoming & inclusive space. The special events are so much fun and the 'pixel to plate dinners' are well executed.... Read more

We love this place! The food is delicious, the bubble tea is fantastic, and the selection of board games is top-notch. The staff are all so friendly and they do a great job fostering a welcoming & inclusive space. The special events are so much fun and the 'pixel to plate dinners' are well executed. There's nothing negative to say, this is a great business doing great things for the community! Show less

Excellent spot! Very unique place with a plethora of board games to play. Came here during lunch. Highly recommend getting one of their sandwiches. Their ciabatta bread is homemade. In addition, their cocktails rock! I love that they put boba beads in some of them! Try the pisco pineapple punch! :)... Read more

Excellent spot! Very unique place with a plethora of board games to play. Came here during lunch. Highly recommend getting one of their sandwiches. Their ciabatta bread is homemade. In addition, their cocktails rock! I love that they put boba beads in some of them! Try the pisco pineapple punch! :) But I don’t recommend getting their salads. There was no flavor and just felt like a boring salad that I can make at home. Show less

Excellent spot! Very unique place with a plethora of board games to play. Came here during lunch. Highly recommend getting one of their sandwiches. Their ciabatta bread is homemade. In addition, their cocktails rock! I love that they put boba beads in some of them! Try the pisco pineapple punch! :)... Read more

Excellent spot! Very unique place with a plethora of board games to play. Came here during lunch. Highly recommend getting one of their sandwiches. Their ciabatta bread is homemade. In addition, their cocktails rock! I love that they put boba beads in some of them! Try the pisco pineapple punch! :) But I don’t recommend getting their salads. There was no flavor and just felt like a boring salad that I can make at home. Show less

Discovered this gem & my husband & I have been coming weekly ever since! Amazing atmosphere/music, incredible selection of fun games, great price for all-day game passes if you come during the week ($5 vs $10 on the weekend). AWESOME food & drinks. Get the Mac & cheese! (Especially the Buffalo chick... Read more

Discovered this gem & my husband & I have been coming weekly ever since! Amazing atmosphere/music, incredible selection of fun games, great price for all-day game passes if you come during the week ($5 vs $10 on the weekend). AWESOME food & drinks. Get the Mac & cheese! (Especially the Buffalo chicken). And the Thai tea! Their tapioca pearls are flavorful & a great consistency. The best I’ve had. For games, we def recommend Time Stories & Obscurio!! We’ve been playing a new Time Stories expansion every week. The staff are so friendly & helpful, & are always willing to give game suggestions. My husband & I shared a Mac & cheese yesterday instead of getting our own, & it was impossible not to notice that they purposefully loaded the bowl up more than normal, & put in a lot more chicken. They’re just very thoughtful. We’ve brought family & friends here & can’t get enough. Good for all ages. You can also rent games to play at home, buy bags of delicious house blend coffee, and — randomly — you can purchase access to a printer. If I could give 10 stars out of 5 I would. **pictured are the Buffalo chicken mac & fancy Mac, & strawberry & oolong bubble teas! Oh, & Obscurio! Show less

Discovered this gem & my husband & I have been coming weekly ever since! Amazing atmosphere/music, incredible selection of fun games, great price for all-day game passes if you come during the week ($5 vs $10 on the weekend). AWESOME food & drinks. Get the Mac & cheese! (Especially the Buffalo chick... Read more

Discovered this gem & my husband & I have been coming weekly ever since! Amazing atmosphere/music, incredible selection of fun games, great price for all-day game passes if you come during the week ($5 vs $10 on the weekend). AWESOME food & drinks. Get the Mac & cheese! (Especially the Buffalo chicken). And the Thai tea! Their tapioca pearls are flavorful & a great consistency. The best I’ve had. For games, we def recommend Time Stories & Obscurio!! We’ve been playing a new Time Stories expansion every week. The staff are so friendly & helpful, & are always willing to give game suggestions. My husband & I shared a Mac & cheese yesterday instead of getting our own, & it was impossible not to notice that they purposefully loaded the bowl up more than normal, & put in a lot more chicken. They’re just very thoughtful. We’ve brought family & friends here & can’t get enough. Good for all ages. You can also rent games to play at home, buy bags of delicious house blend coffee, and — randomly — you can purchase access to a printer. If I could give 10 stars out of 5 I would. **pictured are the Buffalo chicken mac & fancy Mac, & strawberry & oolong bubble teas! Oh, & Obscurio! Show less

Tonight was my second time there and today I was there with others for my birthday and it was great. They have where if you reserve a table for 6-12 people at $10/ person, you have the reserved space, get to play the boardgames and you get a “share-a-bowl” per every 3 people in your party! And the w... Read more

Tonight was my second time there and today I was there with others for my birthday and it was great. They have where if you reserve a table for 6-12 people at $10/ person, you have the reserved space, get to play the boardgames and you get a “share-a-bowl” per every 3 people in your party! And the workers are so nice!! I also love their teas and had an amazing buffalo cauliflower sandwich! Show less

Tonight was my second time there and today I was there with others for my birthday and it was great. They have where if you reserve a table for 6-12 people at $10/ person, you have the reserved space, get to play the boardgames and you get a “share-a-bowl” per every 3 people in your party! And the w... Read more

Tonight was my second time there and today I was there with others for my birthday and it was great. They have where if you reserve a table for 6-12 people at $10/ person, you have the reserved space, get to play the boardgames and you get a “share-a-bowl” per every 3 people in your party! And the workers are so nice!! I also love their teas and had an amazing buffalo cauliflower sandwich! Show less

A lovely little resturant/cafe with a fantastic atmosphere. Walking in I was hit with chill music, a comfy atmosphere, and I had a good chuckle at all the little stickers and trinkets they had lying around. The boardgame selection is also fantastic. But my forte is the food. I ordered the "fancy ma... Read more

A lovely little resturant/cafe with a fantastic atmosphere. Walking in I was hit with chill music, a comfy atmosphere, and I had a good chuckle at all the little stickers and trinkets they had lying around. The boardgame selection is also fantastic. But my forte is the food. I ordered the "fancy mac" and an Oolong bubble tea. Both of which were very good! The bubble tea was fairly standard, and the fancy mac was extremely interesting. The choice of cheese curds, truffle oil, and cheezits was a bold one. I feel like it paid off at first, those first few bites were great, the cheese pulled from the plate for what seemed like meters, but I struggled to finish the meal by the end with the overwhelming flavors. Maybe hold back on either the truffle oil or the curds, together, they're fighting for room on my tounge. Regardless, this place is fantastic. A great cafe. Show less

A lovely little resturant/cafe with a fantastic atmosphere. Walking in I was hit with chill music, a comfy atmosphere, and I had a good chuckle at all the little stickers and trinkets they had lying around. The boardgame selection is also fantastic. But my forte is the food. I ordered the "fancy ma... Read more

A lovely little resturant/cafe with a fantastic atmosphere. Walking in I was hit with chill music, a comfy atmosphere, and I had a good chuckle at all the little stickers and trinkets they had lying around. The boardgame selection is also fantastic. But my forte is the food. I ordered the "fancy mac" and an Oolong bubble tea. Both of which were very good! The bubble tea was fairly standard, and the fancy mac was extremely interesting. The choice of cheese curds, truffle oil, and cheezits was a bold one. I feel like it paid off at first, those first few bites were great, the cheese pulled from the plate for what seemed like meters, but I struggled to finish the meal by the end with the overwhelming flavors. Maybe hold back on either the truffle oil or the curds, together, they're fighting for room on my tounge. Regardless, this place is fantastic. A great cafe. Show less

Sometimes you enter a new place and it just feels right, you know you have found something special. This is exactly how I felt when I first entered this place. The exterior is classy and inviting making it easily noticed from regular traffic. The interior is the perfect combo of modern and welcoming... Read more

Sometimes you enter a new place and it just feels right, you know you have found something special. This is exactly how I felt when I first entered this place. The exterior is classy and inviting making it easily noticed from regular traffic. The interior is the perfect combo of modern and welcoming. The staff is so incredibly awesome. We arrived with 3 extra people even though our reservations were for 7, they just rolled with us no issue at all. A huge selection of games. A great light fare menu compliments the situation perfectly. Some of the best handicap access in the city. Parking is no issue with a parking garage across the street. Instantly a family favorite, we will be back often. Show less

Sometimes you enter a new place and it just feels right, you know you have found something special. This is exactly how I felt when I first entered this place. The exterior is classy and inviting making it easily noticed from regular traffic. The interior is the perfect combo of modern and welcoming... Read more

Sometimes you enter a new place and it just feels right, you know you have found something special. This is exactly how I felt when I first entered this place. The exterior is classy and inviting making it easily noticed from regular traffic. The interior is the perfect combo of modern and welcoming. The staff is so incredibly awesome. We arrived with 3 extra people even though our reservations were for 7, they just rolled with us no issue at all. A huge selection of games. A great light fare menu compliments the situation perfectly. Some of the best handicap access in the city. Parking is no issue with a parking garage across the street. Instantly a family favorite, we will be back often. Show less

Foods great, if your gonna join a group game night don’t be painfully awkward, make it there at around 545 to get into a group. the event went from 6pm-10pm, so if you get there late don’t be that guy that takes it out on a small business and rights a crappy review ….my bad there amazing I was ha... Read more

Foods great, if your gonna join a group game night don’t be painfully awkward, make it there at around 545 to get into a group. the event went from 6pm-10pm, so if you get there late don’t be that guy that takes it out on a small business and rights a crappy review ….my bad there amazing I was having a bad night not there fault I misunderstood the club rules. Show less

Foods great, if your gonna join a group game night don’t be painfully awkward, make it there at around 545 to get into a group. the event went from 6pm-10pm, so if you get there late don’t be that guy that takes it out on a small business and rights a crappy review ….my bad there amazing I was ha... Read more

Foods great, if your gonna join a group game night don’t be painfully awkward, make it there at around 545 to get into a group. the event went from 6pm-10pm, so if you get there late don’t be that guy that takes it out on a small business and rights a crappy review ….my bad there amazing I was having a bad night not there fault I misunderstood the club rules. Show less

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for a friend's birthday they have a HUGE selection of games and i was glad to find that all the components were present and cards sleeved for the games we chose to play. We had drinks and food, several of our party enjoyed the pizza bagels and i had the buffalo caul... Read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for a friend's birthday they have a HUGE selection of games and i was glad to find that all the components were present and cards sleeved for the games we chose to play. We had drinks and food, several of our party enjoyed the pizza bagels and i had the buffalo cauliflower mac and cheese which was good! The portions are more snack sized so you can try more than one item from their menu. There were a number of vegetarian options including the boba tea. The servers bring your drinks and food to the table for you so you wont miss a turn when playing games! Show less

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for a friend's birthday they have a HUGE selection of games and i was glad to find that all the components were present and cards sleeved for the games we chose to play. We had drinks and food, several of our party enjoyed the pizza bagels and i had the buffalo caul... Read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for a friend's birthday they have a HUGE selection of games and i was glad to find that all the components were present and cards sleeved for the games we chose to play. We had drinks and food, several of our party enjoyed the pizza bagels and i had the buffalo cauliflower mac and cheese which was good! The portions are more snack sized so you can try more than one item from their menu. There were a number of vegetarian options including the boba tea. The servers bring your drinks and food to the table for you so you wont miss a turn when playing games! Show less

I really enjoy the vibe of this place. Convivial, well decorated, and such a large collection of board games for people to use. I appreciate their efforts of building a community space and hosting events like trivia. The drink menu is very imaginative! I love the variety and themed drinks. I only ga... Read more

I really enjoy the vibe of this place. Convivial, well decorated, and such a large collection of board games for people to use. I appreciate their efforts of building a community space and hosting events like trivia. The drink menu is very imaginative! I love the variety and themed drinks. I only gave it 4 stars because I do think it’s very pricey (I.e. $11 for a cheese-topped bagel). I understand inflation is tough on small businesses but the prices will definitely limit how often I visit. Show less

I really enjoy the vibe of this place. Convivial, well decorated, and such a large collection of board games for people to use. I appreciate their efforts of building a community space and hosting events like trivia. The drink menu is very imaginative! I love the variety and themed drinks. I only ga... Read more

I really enjoy the vibe of this place. Convivial, well decorated, and such a large collection of board games for people to use. I appreciate their efforts of building a community space and hosting events like trivia. The drink menu is very imaginative! I love the variety and themed drinks. I only gave it 4 stars because I do think it’s very pricey (I.e. $11 for a cheese-topped bagel). I understand inflation is tough on small businesses but the prices will definitely limit how often I visit. Show less

One of the best boardgame cafes ever! They have an impressive assortment of games that they do routinely swap out to ensure good condition, plus you can rent them to bring home. They expanded and have an extra room on the side to play. Food is decently priced and has vegan options. I had the breakfa... Read more

One of the best boardgame cafes ever! They have an impressive assortment of games that they do routinely swap out to ensure good condition, plus you can rent them to bring home. They expanded and have an extra room on the side to play. Food is decently priced and has vegan options. I had the breakfast burrito and was very satisfied. The staff are super nice. There's an assortment of game themed merchandise and local drinks. Also cool to see how much community involvement is here based on their postings for regular DnD oneshots and activities like bonsai bars. I wish I lived near this place. It was such a good experience coming here. Show less

One of the best boardgame cafes ever! They have an impressive assortment of games that they do routinely swap out to ensure good condition, plus you can rent them to bring home. They expanded and have an extra room on the side to play. Food is decently priced and has vegan options. I had the breakfa... Read more

One of the best boardgame cafes ever! They have an impressive assortment of games that they do routinely swap out to ensure good condition, plus you can rent them to bring home. They expanded and have an extra room on the side to play. Food is decently priced and has vegan options. I had the breakfast burrito and was very satisfied. The staff are super nice. There's an assortment of game themed merchandise and local drinks. Also cool to see how much community involvement is here based on their postings for regular DnD oneshots and activities like bonsai bars. I wish I lived near this place. It was such a good experience coming here. Show less