Most pubs don’t offer patrons a lot in the way of activities — simply sip your drink, munch snacks and keep half an eye on whatever game is playing on the establishment’s TVs. The following watering holes add fun, excitement and even mental stimulation to the pub equation with games that you and your friends can enjoy while savouring those cold pints and chicken wings.
This downtown pub is well known as a thriving alternative music venue. Following a trend that has been growing across Canada and the U.S., Dickens Pub also offers Gamer Sundays, allowing board game enthusiasts to play Dungeons & Dragons as well as other games while knocking back a pint or two through the evening.
Aside from watching all the biggest sporting events, patrons of Schanks Sports Grill’s two locations can enjoy an incredible array of games and activities. Always-buzzing, this establishment offers mini-putt golf, virtual golf and even a golf league that hands out prizes at the end of the season. Further distractions include networked trivia games and an arcade.
Bonasera Pizza and Sports Bar features an impressive matrix of televisions on which patrons can enjoy major sporting events, including NHL games. However, Bonasera is also one of the best pubs around for competitive darts. In fact, the pub is the home venue for a couple of Calgary dart leagues.
As well as being a superb place to take in live music, Hexter's Rock 'n Roll Blues Lounge offers a variety of games that patrons can enjoy with their drinks and live blues music. The lounge also offers pool tables and darts, as well as a video lottery terminal room that features 15 VLTs.
The Garage Sports Bar is one of the best games rooms in Calgary, offering a terrific variety of fun activities such as ping pong, darts, foosball and old-school pinball machines. You’ll also find a bunch of pool tables. As well, this large, high-end sports bar features a great selection of craft beer and spirits, plus a top-notch audio and video setup for watching sports and other events.
One of the best trivia pub nights in Calgary can be found at The Cat ’n Fiddle, which hosts a pair of weekly events that cater to different types of trivia aficionados. Its Thursday night trivia event focuses on pop culture, while Tuesday nights feature a general pub trivia event. Adding to the fun of these trivia games are drink and food specials, as well as popular video games such as Golden Tee Golf.