I first learned about this spot through my sister, as she and her boyfriend are huge board game enthusiasts. Whenever they invite me here, it is hard to say no. It is such a cozy and welcoming café, and I always enjoy spending a few hours getting immersed in different board games. The concept alone makes this place a fun and unique destination. That being said, while I love the atmosphere and experience, I do not think the drinks are particularly impressive. In fact, I would consider them below average compared to other cafés in the area. The iced matcha latte tasted noticeably low quality, and the hibiscus tea was reminiscent of feet. The only drink I have consistently enjoyed has been the iced chai latte, which was flavorful and well balanced. The food, however, is a different story. I have generally had much better experiences with the food than with the beverages, making it a better option if you are looking for something to snack on while playing games. If your main goal is to enjoy the board game selection and spend time with friends, I would recommend ordering food rather than coming specifically for the drinks. Overall, this place shines because of its atmosphere, board game collection, and the experience it offers. While the beverages leave something to be desired, the fun environment and solid food options keep me coming back. read more

Coral Sword - Cafes Near Me - Houston, Texas

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They have a TON of board games here! My friend group had fun exploring different games we had never heard of before. It was really crowded when we came on a weekend afternoon, but we were able to find a table and pull up an extra chair. The wifi worked well for me. The drink selection and quality were subpar though. We did not try the food. They have a tiny parking lot, so we all had to find street parking. I ended up parking two blocks away in the neighbourhood as all the closer parallel parking spots were occupied. read more

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The overall concept of the place is very fun. I love a café where you can just go and game. They have different board games, card games, etc on the wall. It was a lot of fun because you could just invite a group of friends and play different activities together. Overall was really cute hole in the wall place with around 40 people worth of seating. Now the only thing that was not up to par for me were the drinks. I ordered the Matcha latte and my friend ordered the lavender latte. These drinks are probably one of the worst Matcha drinks I've ever had in my life. I'm not sure how they were made but either the Matcha standard wasn't very great or it was mixed with something that wasn't dairy, but it had no taste with a hint of grass. Now I understand that certain matcha do taste like grass, but it was overall such a bad drink. I'm not sure if things have changed because I went a couple of months ago, but I hope they did! There was street parking next to the location and a very tiny street lot right in front of the store. You might have to loop around our parallel park in order to get parking. At the time of also, they had a magic gathering contest going on in the background so it does get a bit noisy and crowded. If that's not your scene, check ahead of the time, what event might be happening at that location for that time. read more

Coral Sword - Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Houston, Texas

One thing about me, I'm a sucker for board games and a good time. And I can guarantee you will find both at Coral Sword. I usually come here to play with friends, but they also host game events. They have an extensive collection of games, ranging from childhood classics to complicated games that have you trying to figure the instructions out for an hour (good thing there isn't a time limit). There is a $5 fee to access the games, but it will be waived if you buy a drink/snack instead, which is a win for me even if I lost every game that day. There is plenty of seating for how seemingly small the cafe is. Parking can be difficult on busy days, but the neighborhood behind the building has street parking. Definitely give Coral Sword a visit if you haven't already. But beware, 4 hours will pass in a blink of an eye. read more

Coral Sword - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Coral Sword has great coffee and a better enviornment. This is a super chill spot to study or hang out with some friends. The staff is super nice and gets drinks out quickly. One of my favorites in Houston! read more

This café is awesome. It's packed with fun games, great drinks, and plenty of unique items to browse and buy. I tried one of their specialty sodas, a lavender lemonade (I think!). It was pretty decent and refreshing, though not my all-time favorite. I'd give it an 8/10. Their game selection is super varied, so there's definitely something for everyone. I can't wait to come back and spend more time exploring! read more

Fantastic cafe! Such a gem in the area. Vibe? Immaculate. Employees? So kind! Coffee? Delicious and *very* reasonably priced, especially considering the quality you get. I also appreciate that it's one of the few coffee shops that will still serve your drink in an actual mug instead of a disposable cup. It's becoming a rare luxury these days, unfortunately. Food? Also quite good! I've only tried a blueberry muffin but it was very tasty dipped in my flat white. The only downside I've encountered at this place is.... The parking. No way around it, it's terrible. The roads are narrow, the extremely tiny parking lot behind the building is narrow, and the side of the building parking is limited. I've had times where I gave up trying to get a coffee here unfortunately because the parking was such a mess. Overall, I love taking a break in here and enjoying a drink and snack surrounded by gaming themed decor :D I only hope one day they're able to expand their parking situation so it's more accessible. read more

This is my favorite cafe in Houston to spend time with friends! What truly makes this place special is the atmosphere and space for activities that they've created here! The coffee and food are good but nothing to write home about but I have no problem supporting them because of their hospitality There are close to a hundred board games for visitors to use and the community takes good care of them. The few games with pieces missing are noted appropriately so you know before playing. They have plenty of community events and a lot of groups meet here. I've seen all kinds of people here and it's a family friendly place. If you do come please make sure to buy something so that we can keep this place in business! read more

My flat white and breakfast sando were both great. Very cool space with games for play or purchase, and plenty of seating for getting some work done. Parking is available but limited, I had no trouble finding a spot out back. I like the extra touch of giving hot sauce with the sando. I'm a huge Hunter Pence fan, so I enjoyed the jerseys in the back read more

Coral Sword - Cafes Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Super cute little spot my friend took me here in Houston. I love that it's a boardgame Cafe and you can sit for hours playing. The food and drinks are limited but are really good. I had a nitro Thai iced tea with a shot of espresso and it was delicious. It was light and refreshing. For food I ordered the egg sandwich which was more like a snack. It wasn't heavy and I think the bread overpowered the egg. They have a ton of games you can pick up and play. You don't have to bring your own. They also host magic the gathering events. Which my friend goes to a lot. Fun fact: favorite boardgame is Wingspan! read more

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Great hidden gem for gamers who like to gather together. All kinds of coffe and drinks with great pizza flat bread. read more

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I lalalalalalove this place. Amazing customer service and great drink choices. Affordable prices. Amazing playlist. Plus, you can also play games and they have tournaments read more

Cool vibe. I really liked the decor, the chill nature, the games, and the staff was very friendly. Nice size menu with cool choices. I really liked the iced teas they offered. I had the peach tea with honey. So so good. All in all, I'll be back to try more things. read more

Coral Sword - Cafes Near Me - Houston, Texas

This place is so fun but always packed and the drinks arent very good ! But it was many choices for board games and that makes up for it .

Another cool coffee spot in East Houston? Yup. Good selection of drinks at great prices. Even moreso, a number of gaming options if you are interested and lots of interior space to play. The interior decor was very fun, a great environment for tabletop gamers. I will definitely be back. read more

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Came here for a friends birthday and we spent hours playing Boardgames I bought with me and also new ones to try from their collection. We stayed there for so long and the only thing we had to do was pay for a food or drink item as admission. Obviously, we stayed so long we got hungry so we bought snacks. Their food was average (French fries 4/5, chicken tenders 3.5/5) but the company, ambience, service and comfort is 5/5 would recommend. 2nd time here and loving it. We will all probably be back again. read more

Coral Sword - Wingspan - Cafes Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Recently found this gem and absolutely love it! Board game cafe with a huge selection!! Can pay $5 to play or just order from their menu. I love the atmosphere of it and there are some people who come to study (although it can get kind of loud so probably not the best). Probably a dozen or so parking spaces but haven't had trouble finding parking when coming over. read more

Awesome spot. It seems like more of a social place since their focus is board games. Personally, I'd probably go to a quieter coffee shop if I wanted to do solo work or reading. But that's just me! Great chai latte (get the cinnamon on top). Btw, they sell beer in addition to coffee/tea/snacks. I came here for a drawing meet-up (Houston Drink and Draw meets here regularly) but it's obviously a spot for gaming. I believe they have a shelf of games available for play as well as a shelf with games for sale. It's fantastic and much appreciated that they host meet-ups here as well. Parking is a bit tricky. There are a couple spots in the front and a small/tight lot in the back. I came here at 5pm on a Saturday and all those spots were taken (it was really busy inside). I was lucky and snagged a spot on the side street (Fourcade), right across from the barber shop which adjoins CS. There does seem to be available street parking nearby although I didn't read any of the signs. There is also an abandoned building next to CS but I saw towing signs so I didn't want to risk it. read more

My first experience here started off not too well and a 1 star rating but ended up being a 4 star rating because of the service, tasty drinks and being worth my time. You should call ahead of time because they were out of quite a few things. Came a ways from where I live because of seeing the other reviews and the matcha looked so good however, couldn't try it because they were out of it. I ordered the cappuccino and chai instead. When I ordered, I stated I wanted it for "here" because I wanted it in a regular cup for the experience of how a cappuccino and chai are served and it was served in a to go cup. Ricky was so sweet and apologized for the mishap and said he should have asked. He went back to remake them and they were worth the wait. Very delicious!! read more

Coral Sword - Cappuccino with sugar free vanilla - Cafes Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Absolutely love this place. Great if you want to hang out with friends but also perfect if uou are looking for a little spot for remote working. read more

Welcome to the hippest gamer hangout in H-town! This place is especially perfect for Magic: The Gathering and coffee lovers! You can even reserve a table to study! The staff is always nice and welcoming, Sandy is the best! There is always some unique boutique coffee brewing, fresh sandwich bites, and trendy drinks in their mini fridge. These go great when you have a long commander game or study session to dominate! I love playing Magic: The Gathering, so its always a fun time when and host Friday Night Magic (FNM) and Commander (EDH) games regularly on the weekends. You can join their discord channel and be all in the know for the upcoming events! You can buy trading cards, board games, and get a group of friends together here...what's not to love! Definitely the goal of creating a welcoming and cool place to game out was achieved here, thanks CORAL SWORD read more

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me and friends come here sometimes, the coffee is good and it's fun to hangout altogether! but now i'm wondering about y'all cause lately y'all keep getting our drinks wrong except mine are y'all hiring transphobic staff lately? i can understand if our drink orders could be confusing but even the remakes get attitude from the barista. i had heard y'all were trans friendly especially lately that was amazing! now i think that was a lie and tbh i'd rather my friends not get that service, so we'll look somewhere else for games and beverages good coffee but don't go if you're not passing enough apparently read more

This cafe was cute! The coffee was great, the hot cocoa was even better (not too sweet!) And there was plenty of parking and seating inside. The staff were friendly and the decorations were so cool! Their menu has limited food options, but they offer plenty in the way of drinks to stay satiated. I had their vegan almond butter and jelly sandwich and it was fantastic with my coffee. The music was fun and not too loud to study, and they had so many small nooks and tables tucked away for less distractions. Bathrooms were impeccably clean and I will definitely be back! read more

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We were very excited about this place initially! We visited in July to check it out as a possible venue for a small get-together for my daughter and 4 of her friends for her 18th birthday. The staff we spoke to at the time said to avoid making reservations for weeknights because of the various gaming clubs that meet but weekends should be fine. I made a reservation via their website (WHICH IS A GOOGLE FORM) for a specific date and time 3 weeks in advance. I never received a confirmation email or phone call. So I called a few days later to confirm. No one answered the phone but the voicemail gave an email address to use. I sent an email. Again - no response. I continued to call and finally reached an actual person who said to call back the next day when the game master was in. (We are now 5 days before our reservation date). I called the next day and was told that my reservation would not be possible since "lots of people were making reservations for the weekend". I said I am not MAKING a reservation. I MADE a reservation several weeks ago. I explained to the Game Master that the employee told us in July to schedule our event for the weekend because weeknights tended to be more booked. She said that in the intervening month the Coral Sword has become more popular on social media so now weekends are filling up more quickly. So my daughter and I were forced to make last-minute plans at another venue. The day after we were told our reservation would not be honored, I received an email from the Coral Sword confirming our reservation FOR THE WRONG DATE (a day later than I had requested). Maybe this place is great for a pop-in game and food session, but their advance reservation business definitely needs an upgrade. Zero communication until a few days before is not acceptable and they should have a reservation platform, NOT a Google form. Maybe this is just growing pains for a growing business, but we are definitely disappointed customers. Please do better Coral Sword. read more

Looooove this place! The vibe is so chill and the baristas are always super cool. The drinks are also so good and reasonably priced. read more

Coral Sword - matcha with honey - Cafes Near Me - Houston, Texas

This spot was a pleasant surprise on our trip to Houston. I had an iced dirty chai with oat milk and my mom had an oat milk latte. We also split an almond croissant. The croissant was tender, sweet, and delicious. We loved how much seating this place has as well as the music and overall atmosphere. read more

A small, local coffee shop with a cozy atmosphere to study, hang out with friends or play board games. Personally, I don't care too much for the drinks - they're too diluted. The ones I've had were the Matcha Milk Tea, Earl Grey Milk Tea, Nitro Thai Tea, Cappuccino. They also offer pastries, sandwiches, and snacks. Once you order, they will bring it over to you. There is plenty of seating inside and outside. However, it does get quite crowded over the weekend. There are plenty of outlets (granted they're sort of "hidden") to charge your electronics. The employees are friendly and helpful. They have 2 shelves for board games: one for retail and one where you can play. The shelf to the left of where you order is for retail. The shelf where you can play has plenty of games to select from. Once you've decided which one you want, you bring it to the front to get the game pieces. And when you're finished, just return them to the front. There is designated parking on the front, side, and back of the building. Parking is sort of limited and does fill up quickly. They recently repaved the parking area in the back! read more

I stopped by here for a bit for an iced tea and was really impressed by how much care they go through to make a fresh brewed iced tea! I'm not a gamer so I couldn't tell you the first thing about all the board games they have but the place was packed by happy people playing games and the whole place is filled with board games you can play while there or buy ones to take home so it really seems to be the "it" place to be. The atmosphere is super friendly as well and both the staff members I saw were super cool in explaining their offerings and the prices are great too. read more

Coral Sword is my favorite coffee shop on the East End. The coffee is great, they've got ample seating, the staff are SO friendly, and I love all the free board games that they have available. The friendly staff thing is really important to me as someone with an anxiety disorder. Everyone I've ever spoken to there has been kind and low key. I really appreciate it. For people unaware, there are frequently game nights and social events at this shop, so it's often loud inside. I don't mind, and it's easy to avoid the noise if you check their Instagram and go around events. Just a heads up for anyone seeking a quiet place to get work done. read more

The Coral Sword has an amazing space and fun vibe. I the coffee and excellent service :)

i'm here mostly looking to find another way i could troll Sandy.... then Katy wrote a review so Great space to hang out and has everything covered from beer to coffee to snacky snacks. read more

Super fun place for board game lover, card games d&d etc. the atmosphere is very friendly and easy place to make friends of similar internet Ice coffee just need a bit more sugar read more

This is the Spot!!! If you want some good coffee and better vibes check this spot out. Bel Biv Devo on the speakers, board games on deck, plenty of room to hang or work and the look fits perfectly. Coffee Krew come thru. read more

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Perfect spot for a quick coffee break Not only is it aesthetically pleasing but they have games and beer as well.. too bad i'm on my break read more

This place was extremely different for me. This establishment gives me Austin vibes 100%. It's a corky cool hangout spot where you can play board games of your choice, web browse while drink coffee or tea, meet and connect with friends and they also have retro video games. This is unique for me because I'm not use to seeing HOUSTON this different. read more

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We are from out of town and needed a quick coffee. Most places closed early and were able to get in at 9:30pm. The staff was friendly and the place was clean. A cute atmosphere with people playing cards and games. read more

I've been here a handful of times over the past couple of years and I love this place. Their chai latte and dirty chai latte are both delicious, and their snacks are good as well. I typically bring my own game (mtg) when I go so I've never borrowed one of their games before but they have a super wide selection and it's always fun to browse through. The 2 person tables are a bit cramped, but they are just big enough to fit 2 mtg play mats, though there's not much extra space for your drink. read more

I'm from out of town and the place is really nice but I have to say I am extremely disappointed in the fact that they weren't willing to sell me any booster packs for the game I was looking for. They said they were out of stock but I overheard them say they had an extra booster box case left but were saving it for a friend. That's really nice and all but not professional at all especially when I Ubered there for nothing. read more

Such a cute hidden coffee spot. I was looking for a study spot and found this place, it is small but each time that I've gone it hasn't been super packed. If you're a coffee lover like myself, you should definitely try this place out. Their matcha latte was creamy and tasty, their vanilla latte was good as well. read more

Coral Sword - Matcha latte and a vanilla latte - Cafes Near Me - Houston, Texas

Such a cute place and great idea! Parking is a bit crazy, but that's normal for Houston. A great place to spend some quality time with people with many different games, snacks, and drinks. read more