I never thought there would be a place that would combine two of my favorite things, board games and drinking, and then I found Bard & Baker in Troy.
/EDIT Jan. 22, 2023 – Bard & Baker will be closing the Albany location to focus more on the expansion of their Troy location. The Troy location will expand into the space next door which was once home to the Pause Gallery.
Bard & Baker opened in Troy in 2018 and has since been a favorite place for those who don’t want to lose their childhood. You walk in and it’s almost overwhelming just how many games they have to choose from. There are strategy games, party games, games from your childhood, story games, and so many more. Each of the games is categorized alphabetically as well as marked by a number of players and difficulty. There’s just something about a place where people can get together and enjoy each other’s company without it having to be a bar.
Owner Charlotte Guyton and Head Chef Bryan Connor have created a place “encouraging our guests and community, in our ever-encompassing technologically-driven society, to unplug and play through the world of games.”
Their menu offers not only small treats but larger food options as well. Also, though they try to distance themselves from a bar atmosphere, they still offer alcohol and alcohol to-go. You can find the full (ever-changing) list of over 750 board games on their website. The way it works, you pay a small fee to play the games unlimited throughout the day. Tuesday-Thursday are $5 per person, Friday-Sunday are $10 per adult, and $5 for students as well as 18 and under. Children under 6 are always free. You can also rent the games to bring home, find out how on their website.
The space is very cool. The treats we did have were delicious and the drinks were perfection. It’s a great place to just relax and have fun, be a kid again. As George Bernard Shaw says on their website, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing.”
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