Play popular board games at this South Mumbai cafe

Creeda regularly hosts events such as the Ultimate Board Gaming Sunday, held last November.

For someone whose experience in board games is limited to Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, and a few rounds of chess, walking into a space dedicated to board games can be intimidating. But thanks to the warm, friendly vibe at Creeda Board Game Cafe in Fort, you are suddenly at ease.

Located behind Excelsior Cinema at Fort, Creeda feels less like a café and more like your friend's homely living room, the friend who invites you to roll a dice and try out his/her latest board games from a vast collection. The only difference is that you need to pay per hour (Rs 120), which works fine if you consider the unique experience on offer.

It's a cosy space to play and learn the world's most popular board games. PICS/Hassan M Kamal

We strolled into the café one afternoon, with the intent to buy a few board games. Yes, theyalso sell board games, but mostly if pre-ordered (and the pricing is actually less than what's available online).

Creeda offers more than 200 games sourced from across the world, and a space to play them, whether you are a big group or with few friends. If needed, their game gurus, will also lend a helping hand to teach you how to play them. Given the casual, relaxed vibe, you never realise that you are being taught.

Creeda regularly hosts events such as the Ultimate Board Gaming Sunday, held last November. PIC courtesy/Creeda

Patrons are free to choose any number of games within the time at the café, but if you are a newbie, we recommend starting with easier games like Love Letters and Splendour. Love letters is a simple card game of risk, deduction and luck, whereas Splendour requires you to develop a strategy to defeat your opponent. We learnt both games at the café, and managed to find our way through them in an hour's time (in fact, we earned a lead over our guru while we were there).

The café also offers a few reasonably priced snacks such as cakes, for gamers in the house, but during our time there, they were only serving a few desserts, and beverages like coffee, tea and cold drinks. We tried their Lemon Tea (Rs 50), which was okay. This, we believe, is an area that the café needs to improve on, especially since outside food is not allowed. Hopefully, you should be able to see a few more options, as the café is working on a new food menu which should be up by next week. Then again, we will have to see how it works out, after all nobody likes food stains on their playing cards and timers.

Overall, Creeda makes for a great idea in a city that's starved for genuine hangouts - a space to learn and play the latest board games, and to unwind with friends and family in a relaxed atmosphere.

On: 12 noon to 10 pm, Mondays closed
At: Creeda Board Game Cafe, rear end, ground floor, New Excelsior Cinema, Wallace Street, Fort.
Cost: Rs 120 per hour
Call: 22010202
Log on to: Creeda.in

Creeda Board Room Cafe didn't know we were there. the guide reviews anonymously and pays for its meals