Get competitive and indulge in board games at this Mumbaikar's home

Come Friday and every friend group sits around and ponders on their weekend plans For Srushti Bukane a doctorturnedparty host the idea was quite simple Bukanersquos cosy one bedroom house now known as The Boardgame Tavern situated in Borivli transforms into something far more than your typical weekend hangout for friendsldquoMovies dinners comedy shows and escape rooms felt repetitive expensive and got over far too quickly Yoursquore done in a few hours and then yoursquore left wondering whatrsquos next mdash unless you keep spendingrdquo Bukane explainsA view of the game The Castles of BurgundyWhat began as casual sessions of Catan Azul and Splendor almost three years ago soon turned into a ritual of hosting friends almost every weekend As her love for both mdash games and hosting mdash grew so did the circle around the table What was an initial games night for her friends circle transformed into a community of people who loved board games Along the way some friends suggested opening the experience to others who were looking for something other than the usual partying or barhopping Thus The Boardgame Tavern was born at the house in the living roomElements of Scythe a historical board gameTavern by the eveningUnlike commercial gaming cafeacutes the space is quite literally Bukanersquos home nestled in IC Colony The intention is immediate and deliberate Guests are meant to feel at ease Therersquos no formal vetting system no complicated rules Bukane emphasises that choosing to visit a space that centres on learning vulnerability and genuine interaction is more than enough Kindness and respect are the only prerequisitesTokens from Dungeons and DragonsldquoAll guests are welcomed with freshly baked signature cookies and generous refills of coffee or cold brew Before any dice are rolled or cards are shuffled the group takes part in an icebreaker led by the Game Masterrdquo says Bukane After everyone has settled down and gotten comfortable each person is asked to introduce themselves and share one outrageous or memorable story which makes people open up and root for one another and awkwardness dissolves By the time games like Azul or Century Spice Road hit the table the group already feels connectedGateway to gamesThe Great WallThe range of games at the Tavern is deliberately vast Pretty much having something for everyone A resident board game expert and Game Master explains that there is no lsquosingle bestrsquo game mdash only the right one for each player ldquoSocial deduction fans gravitate towards Blood on the Clocktower where players lie deceive and deduce in a battle between good and evil Those craving immersive storytelling are particularly drawn to Dungeons amp Dragons where no two sessions are the same and imagination sets the limitsrdquo confirmed BukaneA top view of the board game ScytheFor strategy lovers longer more complex titles like Brass Birmingham Great Western Trail Puerto Rico Teotihuacan The Great Wall and Dwellings of Eldervale offer some sort of tactical depth For someone who is completely new beginnerfriendly games like Catan and Azul are also availableThe philosophy focuses on flow of the game rather than rules The players are briefed on the reasons for their actions before introducing them to game mechanics ensuring the experience never feels intimidating For Bukane the magic lies in the reactions mdash especially during a session of Dungeons amp Dragons when players see the handpainted miniatures and custombuilt inhouse 3Dprinted worlds for the first timeBukane concludes by saying ldquoThe Tavern now boasts a collection of over 70 games but the true success lies beyond the table Guests who once arrived as strangers now travel together celebrate birthdays and festivals and show up for one another in difficult moments At The Boardgame Tavern games may bring people togethermdashbut itrsquos the community that keeps them coming backOn Every weekend 3 pm onwards at Holy Cross Road 1 IC Colony BorivliLog on to boardgametavernEntry Rs 499 onwards