7 of the Best Bar Games

Operating a bar or pub entails more than just providing patrons with drinks. Part of your responsibility as owner is to make sure your customers enjoy themselves. Whether you do this by offering live music, featuring sports on TV, or outfitting your establishment with games, the important part is ensuring your patrons have options. This post covers some of the best bar games that your customers would love the chance to play.

Darts

Throwing darts is perhaps the quintessential bar game. Requiring only a dart board and the darts themselves, the game is inexpensive, takes up minimal space, and—as long as you position the board off to the side of the bar—is relatively safe. Since dart boards come in many styles, you can get one that perfectly suits your establishment. This gives sports bars the opportunity to show pride in their local college or sports team.

Billiards

A more substantial investment compared to a dart board, a billiards table is on the pricey side and requires far more room. Not only do you have to account for the space taken up by the table, but you also need to consider the extra room players need to comfortably make shots. Luckily, pool tables come in a wide range of sizes. Since you’re running a bar and not a professional pool hall, you can get away with a table that’s smaller than regulation size. Keep in mind that you’ll need to populate your bar with plenty of pool cues and also keep chalk on hand.

One of the best parts about billiards tables is they can be customized. So whether you want to put an emblem of your bar or a local sports team symbol in the middle of the table, the choice is yours. This will undoubtedly cost you a little extra, but it’s a nice touch that will remind your patrons where they are. It also makes a great picture, so it could lead to more exposure via social media. Other game options that are similar billiards include ping pong and air hockey.

Trivia

Who says drinking beer can’t be educational? Trivia is a great way to test the knowledge of your patrons while encouraging a little friendly competition. If you want to up the stakes a bit, offer a special prize to the winning team. Whether that’s free drinks, food, or even a party at your bar, a reward will help draw in more contestants and get people excited about your trivia night.

Hiring a DJ to run the event might seem like an unnecessary expense, but doing so can make a significant difference in how enjoyable the night is. A good DJ brings energy to the game and will get even the most trivia-averse patrons excited to play.

Cornhole

Especially perfect for bars that have large outdoor areas, cornhole is a classic summer time game that can be easily played with a drink in hand. It requires a couple of raised platforms with holes in them, half a dozen bean bags, and some spare space. The raised platforms are relatively easy to build and can be customized with paint jobs and logos. Giving bar owners the opportunity to hold tournaments and attract new crowds, cornhole can be played in singles or doubles.  

Shuffleboard

If you have space along an extended wall that’s not being used for anything, a shuffleboard might be a perfect fit for your bar or pub. Ideally that wall won’t be next to any windows, as a change in temperature or sun exposure can dry out a shuffleboard and make its surface play inconsistently. This means the board might play one way during the day but a completely different way at night. And for serious shuffleboard players, that can be very frustrating.

Shuffleboards also require a bit more maintenance than other games on this list. To get that slippery smooth surface that the game demands, you’ll need to keep the board clean and apply certain substances. The precise substances depend on what your board is made of, so make sure to research before making a potential misstep.

Arcade Games

Although arcade games are traditionally enjoyed by a younger clientele, they certainly have their place in bars and pubs. Games like Golden Tee have been staples for years, while other classics like Pacman, Donkey Kong, and pin ball machines can help transport patrons back to a simpler time. Even though many of these games are available through smart phones these days, there’s still nothing like the real thing.

Board Games

A classic throwback, board games at bars has been becoming increasingly popular over the last few years. Especially great if you have a lounge area with large tables, board games are fun, social, and inexpensive. Even if you want to pick up a bunch of used sets, the cost is minimal, and your customers will thank you for it.

What games are best for your patrons will likely depend on the patrons themselves. Consider your crowd and make a decision based on what you think they’ll get excited about. If you have more of a sports bar, you’ll want to stick with physical activities like billiards and darts. More cerebral environments will do better with board games or trivia. No matter what you choose, you’ll know you’re doing all you can to make your bar or pub a success.