Bonus Round Game Cafe
3230 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
various · see site; walk-ins welcome
7 USD game pass pp + 10 USD min food/drink pp
verify on site — undated source
checked 2026-10-19
Open Table
Open tables and game cafés (checked by hand)
Each card shows the date we checked it. Confirm times on the official page before you go.
Chicago Chess Center
166 W Washington Street, Unit 600, Chicago, IL
daily (Sun casual + quads) · Mon-Fri 18:00-21:30, Sat 09:30-19:00, Sun 13:00-18:00
membership adult 19.99 USD/month; most events encourage membership
verify on site — undated source
checked 2026-10-19
Chicago Game Lovers - Monday learn-and-play at Monochrome Brewing
2101 S Carpenter St, Chicago, IL
Monday · 17:30 (drop in and out)
no cover or minimum; asked to buy from venue
checked 2026-10-19
Snakes & Lattes Chicago game night (Meetup)
Thursday · evening
7 USD gaming pass or 7 USD food/drink minimum
checked 2026-10-19
Beer & Board Games Chicago at Navigator Taproom
1st and 3rd Thursday · 18:30
not stated
checked 2026-10-19
Upcoming
Game nights in Chicago you can join
Check the official page before you go.
Wed21Oct
Free17:00–19:00
Adult board game night at Greater Grand Crossing library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Greater Grand Crossing
The Greater Grand Crossing branch on the South Side opens its doors for a relaxed evening of board games: play the classics, learn something new and connect with others in a welcoming space. All experience levels are welcome, snacks are provided and you can bring a favourite game or use one of the library's. It is free with no registration, so you can simply walk in on your own and join a table. «Adult Game Night» Starts 17:00, ends about 19:00. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Thu22Oct
Free19:00–20:00
Trivia night with Back of the Yards library at The Plant, Chicago
The Plant (Back of the Yards Branch off-site)
The Back of the Yards branch hosts a trivia night at The Plant, the former meatpacking building turned sustainable food hub on the Southwest Side. Questions cover surprise categories, teams can be anything from one to four people, and the top three teams win bragging rights and library swag. It is free for adults with a quick RSVP, and solo players are explicitly welcome. «Trivia Night with Back of the Yards» Starts 19:00, ends about 20:00. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Mon2Nov
Free18:30–19:30
November Knowledge trivia night at Canaryville library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Canaryville
The Canaryville branch on the South Side hosts a trivia game for adults with questions from easy to difficult on a little bit of everything, and you just might win a prize. It is free and needs no registration. Trivia teams always welcome an extra player, so it is easy to join on your own. «Trivia Night at Canaryville: November Knowledge Edition» Starts 18:30, ends about 19:30. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Wed4Nov
Free17:00–19:00
Game night for adults with smooth jazz, Wrightwood-Ashburn, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Wrightwood-Ashburn
The Wrightwood-Ashburn branch on Chicago's South West Side sets out chess, checkers, cards and other games for an evening of play to a smooth-jazz soundtrack. Bring your own snacks and join any table. It is free, for adults, and needs no registration. «Game Night for Adults» Starts 17:00, ends about 19:00. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Mon16Nov
Free18:00–19:30
Relaxed board game night for adults at Austin library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Austin (Auditorium, 2nd floor)
The Austin branch on Chicago's West Side hosts a relaxed Monday evening of board games in its auditorium. Play the classics, learn something new and connect with others, whatever your experience; bring your favourite game or use one of the library's. It is free, for adults, and needs no registration. «Game Night» Starts 18:00, ends about 19:30. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Wed18Nov
Free14:00–16:00
Retro Game Day: tabletop games at Near North library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Near North (Meeting Room)
Near North branch on West Division Street sets out old-school tabletop games for a Wednesday afternoon: Mahjong, Rummikub, UNO and more are provided, or bring your own favourite and teach the table how to play. Rediscovering a classic game is one of the easiest ways to sit down with strangers. It is free, for adults, and needs no registration. «Retro Game Day: Tabletop Game Play» Starts 14:00, ends about 16:00. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Fri20Nov
Free13:30–16:30
Friday Mahjong Club at Clearing library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Clearing
Clearing branch on the Southwest Side, near Midway airport, invites adults to come and play Mahjong on Friday afternoons. The tile game with roots in nineteenth-century China has a long-lasting appeal and a table of four that always needs another player. It is free, for adults, and needs no registration. «Mahjong Club» Starts 13:30, ends about 16:30. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Sat28Nov
Free09:30–15:30
Saturday Game Day drop-in at Garfield Ridge library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Garfield Ridge
Garfield Ridge branch on South Archer Avenue, on the Southwest Side near Midway airport, runs an all-day Saturday game drop-in for adults. Bring a game or play one of the library's: UNO, Skip-Bo, Mexican Train, Canasta, chess, checkers, Sorry and more. Players gather on the adult side of the building as space allows, and the stated aim is simply to make new friends. Free, no registration, come and go as you like. «Saturday Game Day» Starts 09:30, ends about 15:30. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Wed2Dec
Free17:00–19:00
Game Night for Adults with smooth jazz, Wrightwood-Ashburn, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Wrightwood-Ashburn
On the far South-West Side of Chicago, the Wrightwood-Ashburn branch on Kedzie Avenue puts smooth jazz on the speakers and lays out chess, checkers, cards and other games for a relaxed Wednesday evening. Bring your own snacks, sit down at whichever table has a free chair and you will have a partner within minutes. For adults, free, no registration. «Game Night for Adults» Starts 17:00, ends about 19:00. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Mon7Dec
Free18:30–19:30
Holiday Trivia Night at Canaryville Library
Chicago Public Library – Canaryville
A holiday-themed trivia game with questions from easy to difficult, and maybe a prize if you win. It is free, and trivia nights make it simple to join a table of strangers.
Wed9Dec
Free14:00–16:00
Retro Game Day: tabletop games at Near North library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Near North (Meeting Room)
The Near North branch on West Division Street, between the Gold Coast and Old Town, sets out old-school board games for a Wednesday afternoon: Mahjong, Rummikub, UNO and other card games are provided, or you bring your own and teach the others how to play. A low-key way to spend two hours with strangers who quickly stop being strangers. Free, no registration. «Retro Game Day: Tabletop Game Play» Starts 14:00, ends about 16:00. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Mon21Dec
Free18:00–19:30
Budlong Woods Library Game Night
Chicago Public Library – Budlong Woods
An evening of quick board and card games such as Flip 7, Rummikub, Scrabble, chess and Azul, and you are welcome to bring a favourite game to teach. The library says solo players are welcome and encourages you to make new friends. It is free with no registration.
Tue22Dec
Free17:30–19:45
Tabletop game night with staff who teach the rules, Northtown, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Northtown (Community Meeting Room)
Northtown's Tuesday game night is built for people who come alone: library staff teach the games and connect you with other players. The shelf runs from Catan, Carcassonne and Codenames to Sagrada, Jaipur, King of Tokyo and a Chicago transit game. Bring a game to share if you like. Free, drop in. «Tabletop Game Night» Starts 17:30, ends about 19:45. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Mon28Dec
Free18:00–19:30
Relaxed board-game night between the holidays, Austin library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Austin (Auditorium, 2nd floor)
Between Christmas and New Year the Austin branch on the West Side runs a relaxed evening of board games in its second-floor auditorium: play the classics, learn something new and meet other players. All experience levels are welcome; bring a favourite game or use one of the library's. Free, for adults, no registration. «Game Night» Starts 18:00, ends about 19:30. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Tue29Dec
Free17:30–19:45
Tabletop Game Night at Northtown Library
Chicago Public Library – Northtown
Northtown Library's Tuesday game night offers a shelf of titles such as Catan, Codenames, Carcassonne and King of Tokyo, or you can bring your own. Library staff teach the games and help connect you with other players. It is free and drop-in, and the library explicitly invites you to bring a friend or meet a new one.
Sun3Jan
Free13:30–15:30
Sunday chess meetup for all levels, Sulzer Regional library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Sulzer Regional (Small Meeting Room)
A friendly chess meetup in Lincoln Square's big regional library: play a few games and meet new people, whatever your level. Bring your own set if you have one. The room is small, so the organisers ask you to RSVP through their Meetup group (meetup.com/ChicagoChess), where any updates are posted. Free. «Sulzer Chess Meetup» Starts 13:30, ends about 15:30. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Sun17Jan
Free13:30–15:30
Sunday Chess Meetup for All Levels at Sulzer Regional Library
Chicago Public Library – Sulzer Regional
Players of all levels gather at Sulzer Regional to play chess and make new friends, and you can bring your own set if you have one. It is free, but the room is small, so RSVP through the Chicago Chess Meetup group. A chessboard is a ready-made introduction to a stranger.
Sun31Jan
Free13:30–15:30
Sunday chess meetup at Sulzer Regional Library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Sulzer Regional (Small Meeting Room)
Casual chess on a Sunday afternoon in the Small Meeting Room of the Sulzer Regional Library in Lincoln Square, organised by the Chicago Chess meetup group: every level is welcome, from beginners learning how the knight moves to club players looking for a tough game, and the point is as much to meet new people as to win. Bring your own set if you have one; a few are provided. The room is small, so RSVP in advance via meetup.com/ChicagoChess, where any updates are posted. Free; Western Brown Line station is a few steps away. «Sulzer Chess Meetup» Starts 13:30, ends about 15:30. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Sun28Feb
Free13:30–15:30
Chess meetup at Sulzer Regional Library, Chicago
Chicago Public Library – Sulzer Regional
Sulzer Regional Library hosts a chess meetup for players of all levels who want to play and meet new people; bring your own set if you have one. Space in the room is limited and the library asks you to register through the Chicago Chess group on Meetup. Free to attend. «Sulzer Chess Meetup» Starts 13:30, ends about 15:30. Source: Chicago Public Library events.
Host a game night
No table near you? Set one up in a minute.
Create a free invite (pick the Game night template), share the link, and the people who say yes bring the snacks. This is the whole host kit:
- A public table — a café, a bar's back room or a library room beats your living room for strangers.
- Two or three short games that take one minute to explain; save the four-hour epic for later.
- Cap it at 4–8 players per table and say so in the invite.
- Beginners welcome, in writing — it is the line that gets newcomers to say yes.
- Fixed end time, two to three hours, so leaving is easy and coming back next time is too.
Questions people ask
When is the next game night in Chicago?
Adult board game night at Greater Grand Crossing library, Chicago on Wednesday 21 October at 17:00. This page lists all 19 upcoming board-game nights, chess, quizzes and puzzle evenings in Chicago from our feed.
What is an open table?
An open table is a table where the organisers seat strangers together. You come alone, say you are new, and they explain the game.
Can I go to a game night in Chicago alone?
Yes. Tables are always short a player and quiz teams take solo players. Arrive at the start, tell the host it is your first time, and you will be seated and taught the rules.
Are game nights in Chicago free?
19 of the 19 upcoming game nights listed here are marked free. Others may ask for a drink, a ticket or a small entry fee — check the official page of each venue or event.
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