ARDMORE, PA — Philadelphia’s first board game cafe has expanded into the suburbs.
Now open in Ardmore is Twenty One Pips, which is owned and operated by the folks behind Philadelphia’s Thirsty Dice table game cafe.
Named for the number of dots, which are called pips, on a six-sided die, the new business located at 24 Cricket Ave. in Ardmore has hundreds of games to play and full-time attendants to help customers explore games. based on themes. and interests ranging from strategy games like Catan, party games like Blank Slate, or family games like Dixit, and of course the entire catalog of nostalgic classics like Guess Who, Trivial Pursuit, Yahtzee, and Jenga.
Library passes, which cost $5 for two hours, grant access to all games.
There are also two vintage skeeball machines, a 3-D Atari ping pong table, and a library of retro arcade video games for up to four players.
“We’re excited to join the Main Line community and help guests explore how easy and fun it can be to connect while gaming and sharing great food,” said Matt Hendricks, owner of Twenty One Pips.
While playing, patrons can enjoy an eclectic menu of food and drinks.
Menu items include half-smoked and roasted Cornish chicken, cheese fries with crab and Old Bay sauce, mac and cheese, aubergine fritters, various flatbread pizzas and a burger.
Kids can go a long way with chicken strips, kid’s burgers and kid’s cheese pizza.
For the sweeter side of things, look to cast iron brookies and a semi-cold espresso.
And if you’re looking to have a drink while you play, cocktails include the Plum Professor, made with gin, lemon, tea pea syrup, plum sake and elderflower tonic; the Game Changer with cucumber-infused tequila, mezcal, jalapeño agave, orange liqueur, lime and bitters, and the Carrie the Team with cider vodka, cranberry liqueur, mandarin liqueur and lime.
These are in addition to local wines, whiskeys and craft beers from vendors like Hatfield’s Imprint Beer Co. nanobrewery and Lansdale’s Boardroom Spirits distillery.
“Twenty One Pips is a neighborhood spot to meet friends after work, enjoy cocktails, or entertain your family over a great glass of wine and tuck into locally sourced cheese and charcuterie. What could be better?”
Twenty One Pips features 5,000 square feet of space, seating about 170 people.
It also has a mezzanine for private dining.
Inside the new concept, visitors will find unique and intricate hand-drawn black and white murals incorporating iconic game-themed imagery such as Pac-Man Ghosts and Monopoly pieces mixed with gaming phrases, words and quotes by artist Natalie. Hope McDonald.
Twenty One Pips will be open from 11:30 am to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, 11:30 am to midnight on Friday, 11 am to midnight on Saturday, and 11 am to 7 pm on Sunday.
In addition, the new location will offer coffee to go and pastries will be available from 7 am to 11:30 am Monday through Friday, 8 am to 2 pm on Saturday, and 10 am to 2 pm on Sunday.
The beverage program will feature a signature blend of locally roasted coffee created by Herman’s Coffee of Philadelphia.
