Monday 3 February 2014

Snakes and Lattes

For those bored with the same-old, Toronto’s Snakes and Lattes deals a full hand of tabletop games, cards, and coffee - a perfect combination for the all-age rabble at Bloor and Bathurst every night. Subtle puns aside, there are few places in Toronto as atmospherically sublime as the little game shop.
Once there, with the crowd of people quietly murmuring between shelves upon shelves of game boxes, its popularity is evident. According to Chris Matheson, a veteran employee at S&L, it’s like that every night.


This is Chris.

“We are busy every night," Matheson said. "Monday to Sunday, every night we’re busy - and then Saturday all day, and Sunday, pretty much all day.”
The entrance fee is five dollars, and you can stay as long as you want (for all those Axis and Allies players out there). You’re given regular service, besides the whole “let’s play Settlers of Catan over chocolate milkshakes” thing. They have nearly every board game you’ve ever played, a few you’ve only heard of, and that one Star Wars game that should have never been published but was, because, as we all know, cross-developed money-makers can’t go wrong.


A valid reason to keep a pocket knife handy.


Unlike their recently opened “Snakes and Lagers” spinoff (on College Street), Snakes and Lattes is a family-oriented location. While many of the regulars are young adults, Matheson is quick to point out how diverse the cafe’s visitors are.
“We get a broad age range … anything from younger kids to people in their forties. Families come here with their kids. It’s actually a pretty broad spectrum.”
For first time S&L gamers, it goes like this: show up early. Snakes and Lattes opens at 11 a.m. and goes well into the night (past midnight from Thursday to Saturday), and they don’t offer reservations; if you’re looking to get seated immediately, arrive before two. As a courtesy, if no seats are available, they’ll take your number and text you as soon as one becomes empty.


Comes with more of a ‘pub-like feel’ 
than most Toronto pubs.
Pro tip: food/drink and Cards Against Humanity should be handled with caution. I’d avoid scalding drinks entirely while playing, unless you’re a veteran at handling both.
Because some players just aren’t satisfied with playing the same game on a daily basis, regardless of how utterly badass checkers can be, Snakes and Lattes is constantly getting new games in. Some are so good, the staff themselves can’t put them down.
“I’m all about this two player game right now; it’s called the Duke,” said Matheson. “We actually have a Duke League happening in the store between the staff right now, because we’re totally obsessed with it. It’s sort of like chess; its a board game, played on a grid. Very similar to chess.”

Snakes and Lattes is located at 600 Bloor Street West, near Bathurst station. For full information on Snakes and Lattes, along with their menu, click here.


The full audio for the interview with Chris is here:

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