Snakes & Lattes - Annex

“Snakes & Lattes Annex, located near Bathurst station, operates as a board game cafe with a large on-site catalogue and a food and beverage menu. Their catalogue is available online for each location, but also offers an extensive selection that is labelled by difficulty levels and organized with a grid-based storage system for the games at the location. The staff are organized, friendly and knowledgeable at providing game recommendations when needed. On-site wifi is available for customers. Great for a night out to hang out with friends or a date! During a typical visit, the board game cafe can be busy, with a steady crowd and several seating options, including tables and a back-area with lots of booths space. Service and ordering were fairly streamlined with an assigned table and a seat number to simplify bill payment. The bathrooms are located downstairs near the front door and two accessibility bathrooms toward the back. Pricing and policies include a 3-hour table limit during busy times, as well as a $20 entrance fee for access to games alone with unlimited non-alcoholic drinks. If an alcoholic beverage is ordered, the entrance fee is halved. There is an 18% gratuity charge for parties of six or more. Tip: The Annex is part of a chain that also includes a College and Bathurst location (west of Bathurst on College) with a bar and a larger, louder space, with a more extensive bar and food options. Useful if you have a bigger group.”

“My friends and I went last night and had a lot of fun. I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the staff were all really nice. Joan, one of the game experts showed us how to play Wingspan and explained it so patiently and clearly! It's definitely a relatively complicated game and we were so appreciative of that tutorial so that we didn't have to decipher the written instructions. We had just come from dinner so didn't get to try any of their food, but I'm sure we'll be back!”

“Overall a pretty good experience. Pleasantly surprised about the prices, food was very reasonably priced especially for the quantity given. And a great board game selection. Our service tonight was on the slower side, with us unsuccessfully trying to flag our server down a handful of times, but what really surprised me was that they gave me what they described as watered down honey for my tea? I have never gotten this before. And honestly, i was not a fan. I see no reason they can't give me a little packet of honey (like a jam packet but honey) or a honey squeeze bottle or something, but for them to water it down and give me a little side of watered down honey gives me no confidence that it's good honey, or let alone even honey. I don't really get the business case for why they would do that when packs of honey aren't too expensive, and tablestakes at any other establishment. When someone orders tea with honey, I think the expectation is that you get honey on the side and you get to know exactly how much you add, just as you do with any inclusion to a hot drink.”

“I’ve been coming to this location since it first opened, and it’s really disappointing to see how much it’s gone downhill. Even a few years ago, the experience was solid, but now it feels neglected in multiple ways. The bathrooms were noticeably run down and not very clean, which set the tone. The space was so cold my entire table wore our jackets the whole time. The food has also declined in quality while somehow continuing to get more expensive each time I visit. On top of that, the table fee feels excessive; it makes it hard to justify stopping in for something casual like a coffee and a quick game with friends, because you end up feeling like you have to stay for hours just to get your money’s worth. I ordered a chai latte that came overloaded with cinnamon (to the point where it felt like attempting the cinnamon challenge) and the flavor itself tasted oddly chemical. I ended up sending it back. We were there for trivia night, which unfortunately didn’t improve things. The host made several awkward and off-putting comments, including repeatedly bringing up the Mean Girls musical movie and focusing in a strange way on the “bad casting” of Gretchen. It went on long enough to feel uncomfortable. Later, they started talking about potential future themes and referred to “A Court of Thorns and Roses” as “faerie porn,” which felt tone-deaf given the audience (mostly women) and dismissive of a genre millions of people genuinely enjoy. Overall, it was a strange and disappointing experience. I used to really like this place, but based on this visit, I don’t see myself returning anytime soon.”

“I’ve always loved the idea of board-game cafés, so I walked into Snakes & Lattes on Bloor with high expectations — but unfortunately, the overall experience was disappointing. The first thing that stood out was the air quality and ventilation. The space feels stuffy and poorly ventilated, almost like the air isn’t circulating at all. After spending some time inside, it genuinely became uncomfortable. What made it worse is that when I left, my jacket had absorbed a strong cooking-oil smell. I had to take it for dry cleaning, which shouldn’t be the “souvenir” you take home from a casual visit. The food was another letdown. For the prices they charge, you’d expect better quality, better taste, and better presentation. Instead, the food felt below average, almost like an afterthought, and definitely not good value for money. Considering the café concept, I wasn’t expecting fine dining, but I did expect something decent for what you pay — and this didn’t come close. Service was inconsistent and lacking warmth. Not rude, but not attentive either. It felt like the staff were stretched thin or simply not engaged, and it contributed to a general feeling of being overlooked. When you combine that with slow interactions and long waits, it takes away from what should be an enjoyable, social experience. The concept itself is fantastic — a fun, social place to play board games with friends. But the execution doesn’t live up to it. The seating isn’t very comfortable, the room feels cramped, the layout doesn’t help with noise or airflow, and overall the atmosphere just doesn’t support the experience they’re trying to create. In the end, the idea is great, but the comfort, food, service, and ventilation issues make it hard to justify a return. There are other cafés and lounges in the city that offer a more enjoyable, comfortable experience. I don’t think I’ll be going back.”