Fun and unique. Board game shop with a restaurant and drinks stapled on to it, it's a great place to hang with some friends and try out some board games. Basically, grab a table, go rent a board game of choice, eat, drink and be merry. They have a pretty wide selection of games and renting a game is just $5, so good way to sample and try new games. Food wise, the food itself is decent, portions are very large. I've gotten the fish and chips twice and the chips are thick and have good crisp on it and the tartar sauce is good. Fish pieces are huge but batter is a bit thick and a bit on the greasy side - I doubt you'll finish it all. They got interesting drinks too if that's your thing. Come for the hangout and games, but the combo of food, drink and play is a winner.

This is the type of place that someone dreams of creating - a board game hot spot combined with a restaurant/bar combined with a store. The vibes are spot on. We came on a Saturday afternoon without a reservation and it was pretty packed, but managed to get a table. If you come with your own board games, you don't have to pay the $10 for the day pass. The tables are mostly for groups of up to 4. I did notice that the evening seemed to be the busiest time, with people waiting for tables. There are lots of tables outside too if you're willing to storm the weather. The food menu was really interesting! I wanted to get the brisket Wellington but they ran out, so I got the bison burgers and the English chips. The bison burgers had good flavor and were seasoned well, just needed to ask for ketchup on the side. I absolutely loved the fries, they're shaped in these unique twists. A friend got the latte and made it sweet and enjoyed it, and another friend got The Doctor but found it to be very bitter and it was half the size of the latte. There are even seasonal drinks available. I saw a table order what must've been poutine, which looked delicious. The servers are very kind and accommodating, shoutout to our server Mace!

One part game/hobby shop, one part pub/bar, one part rentable hangout spots, Emerald Tavern is an incredible place to visit! This was only my second visit there, but trust, if it were closer to home, I'd be there A LOT more often. We had a co-worker friend visiting from Seattle who's a D&D nerd; they wanted to get together for dinner and I suggested this place, wanting to impress our friend. Trust me, it worked. This place has such a fun folksy vibe, Ren Fairesque. Which is precisely why I donned a bardic fox outfit to go there (and all the employees complimented me, aww). In particular, the establishment serves themed food and drink items with clever D&D-reference names (there's even a d20 menu where you roll a d20-- which you get to keep-- and your luck determines which bevvie you receive from the bar!). The food is legit delicious; the kitchen knows what they're doing. Last night I got the "Draconic Wellington," and I savored EVERY bite, omg. They also regularly rotate their menu with new offerings for spring, summer, fall, and winter. For dessert I had to order off the seasonal menu and get the peppermint strawberry chocolate bundt cake. There's lots of seating both indoors and outside (the patio has a solid overhang). You can also rent a private room (which are quite roomy) if you have a bigger party wanting to game. You can rent board games if you want to try something new, but you're also completely welcome to bring in your own games from home, or of course buy something new from the store itself and take it home! ;) They have a lot of boxed board games, along with minifigures and paints, dice sets, trading cards, nerdy plushies, and more. A managed to finally cross off the last person on my Christmas list with a perfect gift find! Whew. The staff are all affable-- likely because they enjoy working at such a fun establishment. Our group was well attended to the whole visit, and we had such fun!

$10 unlimited games or you can bring your own for free!! Enjoyed 2 beers and a London fog and it was so fun! Staff were nice and knowledgeable on games too. First time here and will be back!

This is one of my favorite spots in Austin that I only discovered a few months ago. What I love: - the massive menu of a wide variety of drink (especially non alcoholic options, favorites include the Golbat, falconeer, pukei's matcha, London fog!!) and food options (the poutine, fish and chips, the curry, the burger) - affordable pricing for the all day game pass - the ability to have staff recommend a game that fits your interests - the medieval mainstream music is a vibe (wish you could hear it more though) Areas for improvement: - sometimes it takes a while to learn a new game, it would be great if we could tap employees or watch from a bank of videos that teach you how to play -service is super slow and inconsistent, the ability to order food on your phone would make the process much more friendly to customers and the employees who are working hard - more copies of popular games! Or a game waitlist This is one of my favorite spots that I hope will be a permanent fixture in Austin!

Great place to hangout, play board games and eat/drink. Great playful vibe. Staff is helpful and responsive. Very easy to spend hours and hours here. We will definitely be back!

Emerald Tavern is such a unique and fun spot, blending a board game store with a bar and café setting--it's perfect for an afternoon with friends. My group and I had an absolute blast playing games, and we appreciated the quiet, laid-back atmosphere in the afternoon. It made for a relaxed yet engaging time. The staff, especially those in training, were a bit pushy with service at times, but they were definitely attentive and eager to help. I think they're still finding the right balance, but their enthusiasm was appreciated. Overall, it's a great place to hang out, enjoy some drinks, and dive into a variety of board games. I'll definitely be back for more game nights with friends!

Emerald Tavern is a dream come true for board game enthusiasts! They've got a huge library of games, delicious food, and even special themed menus (their Lord of the Rings anniversary menu was fantastic!). Definitely reserve a table, which includes games rentals. Keep an eye on their social media for cool events like tournaments and themed game nights. A must-visit for playful fun and tasty treats!

This was my first time trying something like this. Truly amazed to see so many game options. You basically just pay for area you reserve and you can rent any available game you like based on your party size. You can enjoy drinks and food available onsite but limited food options for vegeterian.