More Than Just Snacking: Cafes That Offer Books & Board Games Too

While Chavadi does not have board games, they do have something innovative to entertain you. Make way to their Story Wall (blackboards, basically) where the owners start a story thread and you get to take it forward. So, by the end of your meal here, you can expect to see an interesting tale, with inputs from different customers. They also have a well-stocked library, so you can sit back with your favourite novel (you can even buy it), a mug of beer and make most of the rooftop ambience.

This one is for the comic book enthusiasts. From superhero comics to good old Tinkle, you will be spoilt for choice. Alas, no board games here. But, we think the great food (their breakfasts come highly recommended) and the selection of comics more than makeup for that. Cafe Terra has relocated to Indiranagar, don't worry the comic books have made it there too. As for the Koramangala outlet, we are told it is now called Terra Bites that serves similar food.

The bookstore which is part of Champaca cafe is something you will fall in love with. The collection is curated and you can buy books as diverse as philosophy and poetry. We spotted sci-fi books such as Graham Masteron's White Bones rubbing shoulders with Jumpha Lahiri's The Lowland. The bookshelves, which looks straight out of a Hogwarts library, has got even a small sliding ladder you can climb to reach books on the higher levels!

A cafe, workspace, and library of sorts, all rolled into one, Dialogues Cafe is called more of a ‘social club’ or a ‘social experiment.’ So while you lounge about reading a book, talking to a friend, having a cup of coffee (and some snacks, of course), or just working away (did we mention they have high-speed WiFi?), all you need to pay for is the time you spend. There is a lean plan at INR 100 per hour, person, each hour the person can order one snack or drink of their choice from the menu. Day passes to work out the cafe is available too. Note that Dialogues Cafe, Koramangala is currently shut, only the JP Nagar outlet is operational.

Cafe Down The Alley is an absolute winner to us! Not only is this quirky comic-themed cafe totally Instagram-worthy - feels like discovering the Bat Cave, as rightly put by an LBB crew member - it has superhero murals and posters that line the wall together with spacious and comfortable lounge seating. Of course, there are board games to keep you and the gang engaged and entertained too. Currently, there's chess and Jenga, Uno and ludo and other board games will soon join the mix too! As for food, expect cafe-style, coffee, sandwiches, smoothies, fries and burgers.

Bangalore's first and only paint your own pottery studio-cum-cafe, Bistro Claytopia in Koramangala is where you should head if you want some artsy fun served with every meal. Get creative and paint some ceramics - magnets, mugs, ornaments, jewellery boxes and more while sipping on coffee, or on date night. All things necessary are provided, paint to brushes and the canvas. You get to bake these pieces and take them home once ready too. We know you're already thinking it, yes this is an ideal spot to take the kids to, too!