The Boardroom Offers Screen-Free Family Fun in Burlington

The Boardroom operates as Burlington’s sole board game café, welcoming families for screen-free play.

Visitors walking inside find walls decorated with local art available for purchase alongside various knickknacks and signs. One sign establishes the core rule of the establishment: “NO WIFI. Play Boardgames. Talk to Each Other.”

The two-level venue spans the Burlington side of the bridge connecting to Winooski. Inside, wood furnishings and low ceilings create a spacious yet cozy atmosphere.

More than 650 board games fill the shelves, ranging from traditional titles like Monopoly and Risk up to deeper strategy games like Catan and Pandemic. A simple sticker rating system uses a five-point scale, ranging from green for very easy titles to pink for high-difficulty games.

Admission costs six dollars per person for unlimited gaming. A comfort-food menu offers appetizers and sandwiches, featuring 14 distinct grilled cheese variations alongside an entire section dedicated to peanut butter sandwiches.

A recent family visit featured an $8 bowl of buttery popcorn and a $12 soft pretzel served with melted cheese dip. Three children in the party also ordered $8 milkshakes served in classic fountain glasses.

The five-person group started their afternoon with Blorp!, a very easy game created by local designer Garth Kauffman. Later, they transitioned to Beat the Parents, a trivia game matching kids against adults.

The café buzzed with activity from other visitors on that Saturday afternoon. Sounds drifted up from a children’s birthday party held in the basement space.

Steve Joachim recently purchased the establishment and now operates it as sole proprietor. Staff members wear neon-green shirts marked with “Employee of the Month” on the back.

Joachim views the café as a physical escape from a phone-obsessed society. When customers prepare to leave, he routinely asks if they enjoyed their time.