Boardgame Cafe Review: King and the Pawn

Address: 24 Purvis St, level 2, Singapore 188601

Nestled on level 2 of Purvis Street is a beautiful hideaway where one can gather for an afternoon of board games. Conceptualized by husband and wife team, Yixian and Grace, King and the Pawn (KATP) welcomes hungry gamers to while away a day.

Split into 2 levels, the decor inspired fun and warmth. Cosy sofas sit the family friendly upper floor, lit as bright as a comfortable living room. The first level features custom gaming tables that can be joined or separated. Warm lighting brightens walls adorned with classic motifs taken from board games.

An impressive wall of games easily proves the café’s claim of over 300 board games! The varied collection showcases Yixian’s expert curation. Apart from light games such as Saboteur and Singapore Dream, modern casuals such as Azul, Wavelength, and Telestrations also are available. Their staff are happy to teach these to you.

For the more serious players, KATP stocks heavier fares such as Ticket to Ride, Rising Sun, Great Western Trail, Concordia, Orleans, and Terraforming Mars! Yet, due to the location’s popularity, sought-after games have traded hands many times. The worn-out look of components having seen better days.

KATP rounds off the gaming experience with its food. The café has a professional kitchen and bar, making it one of the rare places that actually lives up to the title of a boardgame café. If you’re not eating, gaming charges are at $8-13 per pax, depending, and you can stay as long as you want.

Our group had a variety of mains. We all agreed that for its price and quality, KATP are generous with their portions. Highlights of what we enjoyed when we visited for the Boardgame Cafe Review:

Truffled Honey Croque Madame (on the right, at the back) – Delicious Brioche sandwich served with 2 sunny side eggs, smothered with ham and cheese with incredible presentation.

Smoky BBQ Bacon Burger (on the left, at the back) – Perfectly crisped bacon with their scratch built thick patty that was cooked to perfection. Also, the Rosemary Garlic Fries were crispy, tasty, and left us wanting more! Best sides!

Honey Lime Sriracha Wings – Looks like Korean style fried chicken wings, with that perfect crispy outer skin hiding steaming hot succulent chicken (voted the best by the team!)

Worthy Mention: Gosnells Citra Sea Mead (tall glass) – For those who hate bitter beer, this sparkling mead is a treasure to find, as even established bars and pubs don’t carry this nectar of the gods!

Conclusion

For a town location, this is where we would recommend you to drop by, especially if its for that special occasion. Grace and Yixian have made this a comfortable space. Their priority being on the bar and café ambience with a great spread of games.

King and the Pawn is Perfect for…
– Large groups of friends and family looking for casual fun, since the tables can be joined.
– Couples looking for warm ambience and great meals for date night.
– Event hosting (Singapore International Board Games Meetup has its regular Tuesday Meetups here), sits up to 60 pax.
– After-office crowd looking to unwind with drinks, company, and casual gaming, since King and the Pawn is located near central. 

King and the Pawn is Good for…
– Avid Boardgamers looking for a quieter private gaming space (if level 2 is available).
– Roleplayers & their DMs, as the café does not impose a time limit (if level 2 is available).
– Game designers to use for launch events.

King and the Pawn is Bad for…
– Tabletop Miniature gamers, as the store has no terrain or miniatures.
– Collectible Card gamers since intermingling is strictly not allowed, and there is no retail front.
– People with physical disabilities that impede climbing as the only access to the café is via a long staircase.

The lads from TabletopTavern are on an adventure to discover Boardgame Cafes situated on the sunny island of Singapore. Our quest is to provide you with the most informative Boardgame Cafe Reviews. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to catch our latest Boardgame Cafe Reviews!

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