If you’re a geek like me who also wants to go out, meet people, or hang with friends at locations that my geeky-loving self would enjoy, we’ve put together hangout spots that cater to all kinds of geeks. Whether you love anime, comics, or Dungeons & Dragons, we’ve found the spots for you.
From nostalgia-themed bars to fantasy-themed cafes, here are five geeky hangout spots for you to visit:
1. SideQuest Café Hobby + Lounge
Play board games or shop collectibles with your friends while grabbing a meal at this cozy spot in Pasig City. This is a place to meet others that love the same geeky things that you do as well as hone your skills in all kinds of board and card games. Often, SideQuest holds “learn to play” sessions for newbies as well as casual tournaments for those with higher expertise.
2. Aniporium and Aniporium Café
Anime fans will lose their minds at Aniporium, one of the largest physical anime stores in the Philippines. Found in Makati, the place is stocked to the brim with original Japanese goods of all kinds. Nearby is the very cute Aniporium Café where you can get snacks, Japanese food, coffee and other items to enjoy after a long day of shopping.
3. Marauder’s Brew Café
Step into a fantastical world at Marauder’s Brew Café. This fantasy-themed café in Baguio takes inspiration mostly from the world of Harry Potter, but other beloved geeky worlds are represented as well. You can also grab books off the shelf or play some board games while chilling out with your magical meals and the café’s own version of butterbeer.
4. Omniverse Museum
Thousands of original collectibles, statues, sets, and more can be found at the largest sci-fi pop culture museum in the country, located in the heart of Makati. Omniverse has a vast collection of displays that are cool to look at, and are Instagram-ready as well. Geek out when you visit exhibits that focus on the Marvel Universe, the DC Universe, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and more.
5. Versus Barcade & Take Me Back Bar
If you want to geek out while also enjoying drinks and partying the night away with your friends, there are several “geeky” bars that you can visit. Versus Barcade in Taguig is the first bar-arcade hybrid in the country, with a room full of arcade games to play right next to the banging club floor. If you’re looking for some 90s nostalgia, though, visit Take Me Back in Tomas Morato, a bar that is decorated with your favorite 90s movies and TV shows like Friends and Fight Club. Just look for the giant door shaped like a Game Boy to enter!
Make sure to let your geek flag fly on Geek Pride Day this May 25, but you can celebrate being a geek every day by playing your favorite board game, buying a figurine of your beloved anime character, taking pictures with your idolized superheroes, and visiting one of these geeky hangout spots with your friends!