Changed Location
I heard that David & Maria have recently found a better place for their board gaming cafe and moved … see the new address below … Meanwhile …
Innovative
It was the name that first caught my attention … brilliant, I thought! … Then, this wonderful idea, equally brilliant! A board gaming cafe, nestled in the vibrant city of Larnaca, and I just had to get together with David, owner of ‘Shakes & Lattes’, to find out more …
Larnaca’s Hidden Gem
To be honest, the first time I heard the name ‘Shakes & Lattes’, it made me smile. It’s cheeky, memorable, and with a spin on Snakes & Ladders, bringing board games instantly to mind, and it pretty much tells you exactly what you’re in for. But when you walk through the door, you’ll discover it was Cyprus’s first proper board-game café, right in the heart of Larnaca, and I knew I just had to see it for myself.
First Time
So I arranged to meet David and Maria, the husband-and-wife team behind it all, and spent an afternoon that turned into an entire evening, discovering exactly why everyone who walks in ends up staying for hours. This isn’t just a café with a few games on a shelf. It’s a proper community hub where phones stay in pockets, and people actually talk, laugh, and occasionally shout “traitor!” across the table!
The Games Library
As you walk in, the first thing that hits you is the sheer number of boxes. I asked David, How many games do you have here? He said, “Over 300 titles, and it keeps growing”. I noticed classics like Monopoly, Scrabble, Risk, Battleship, and Catan that sit comfortably next to modern heavyweights like Wingspan, Scythe, Brass and War of the Ring. He explained, “There are a few quick 15-minute fillers, several epic four-hour campaigns, two-player duels, and huge party games for ten or more. Oh, and solo gamers aren’t forgotten either!”
Medieval
David continued, “My personal obsession became Carcassonne, yes, with two ‘n’s and two ‘s’s! The game involves you building the map as you play, so every session creates a completely new medieval landscape”.
Let’s Get Serious
Upstairs is dedicated to bigger experiences; Things like Dungeons & Dragons, One-Shots and Campaigns, with English, Greek, and Russian-speaking Dungeon Masters. Then the latest addition, ‘Warhammer Nights’, and painting workshops. Whatever your flavour of nerd, they’ve got a table space for it.
It’s a Wrap!
This place is your friendly local games shop that serves really good coffee as well! But what really sets Shakes & Lattes apart is that they’re also the island’s go-to retail shop for tabletop games and hobbies. The shelves are packed with the latest board-game releases, ‘Warhammer 40k’ and ‘Age of Sigmar’ boxes, Paints, Terrain, D&D books, dice in every colour imaginable, and accessories galore.
Quick Peek
You can browse everything on their Website, but purchases are in-store only, which is actually perfect, because David, Maria, or one of the team will happily spend twenty minutes helping you choose exactly the right starter set instead of you impulsively buying the wrong one online.
Fuel for Victory & Defeat
The milkshakes are legitimately famous, thick, made with real fruit and proper ice cream, and still only €5. People drive from Nicosia or Limassol just for them! I’ve seen the reviews … purely 5 stars. The coffee comes from Paul’s Coffee Roasters in Larnaca, rich, properly extracted, and served by people who care.
Munchies
Food-wise, expect authentic Italian pizzas, as well as freshly baked Cypriot and French pastries. Nothing is overpriced, everything is made or baked fresh, and it all feels like fuel for the next round rather than an afterthought.
The Crew
With staff in the know, who actually play the games, the service goes far beyond the counter, and this is the bit that usually turns first-timers into regulars. The team don’t just bring your coffee; they’re game evangelists. Need a recommendation for a group of six that includes two kids and one person who ‘doesn’t really do board games’? They’ve got that covered, too!
Ready to Learn
Want someone to teach you the rules of a complicated eurogame in ten minutes flat? They’ve got you covered. I watched a staff member teach ‘Azul’ to a family who had never touched anything more complex than Ludo, and twenty minutes later, the kids were arguing over who took the blue tiles. That kind of magic doesn’t happen by accident!
Feels Like Home
Whether you’re a hardcore Warhammer commander or painter, a D&D campaign hero, you love Paint Workshops on Tuesdays, or just a parent looking for somewhere screen-free to take the kids, or just someone who fancies a fabulous coffee and a laugh with friends, Shakes & Lattes has a table with your name on it. In just a few years, David and Maria have built something genuinely special: A modern kafenio where the village gathers, except the village now includes tourists, local families, students, corporate teams enjoying team-building days, and birthday parties for 8-year-olds and 80-year-olds alike.
The Word is Out
Their fantastic Reviews say it all: “I went in for a quick coffee and a look, and left five hours later with a new favourite game under my arm and plans to come back next week” … “Do yourself a favour, go! Play something new”. “Order the banana and caramel shake; it’s like a banoffee pie in a glass” … “Let the staff pick a game for you, you’ll thank me later” …
Get in Touch
You’ll find them on all social media platforms below, or just walk in. Tell David and Maria I sent you; they’ll probably talk you into a quick game of ‘Coup’ before your coffee even arrives … oh, and btw, the moment you step inside, the smell of fresh coffee and warm pastry hits you like a warm hug!
Opening All Year
• Monday: Closed
• Daily: 14:00–22:00
• Friday: 14:00–23:00
• Saturday: 10:00–23:00
• Sunday: 12:00–22:00
Directions
Quick warning: Shakes & Lattes are easy to find, and impossible to leave … Their new place is at 29, Medousis, Larnaca, 6059 … It’s a 10-minute stroll from the main road, just behind Lidl’s and Radisson Blu Hotel Larnaca to Ammohostos Road … There’s ample parking … Click on the Google Map Icon Below …
GPS: 34.934958, 33.636380
Board Gaming with a Hug!
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