Board Game Café · Retro Arcade · Surry Hills
Where Surry Hills comes to play
Over 400 tabletop titles, a floor of lovingly restored arcade cabinets, and single-origin coffee — all under one warm walnut-panelled roof on Holt Street.
Our mission
A living room for Sydney’s game lovers
We opened Qemarvok in 2019 to give Surry Hills a place where strangers become opponents and opponents become friends. Every table is set for play, our game gurus teach the rules so you never read a manual, and the espresso keeps flowing until the final meeple falls. No screens required — unless you fancy a round on the arcade floor.
Inside the lounge
A look around the floor
From the walnut library wall to the neon-lit arcade nook.
The Library Wall
Four metres of curated tabletop titles, sorted by weight and player count.
Game Night
Thursday socials pair solo players into new groups all evening long.
The Arcade Nook
Eighteen restored cabinets on free play with your table booking.
The Espresso Bar
Single-origin beans roasted in Marrickville, poured till close.
What we offer
Everything your game night needs
Tap each offering to see the details, times and pricing.
Pay once and play anything on the shelf from open to close. Our game gurus will recommend a title for your group size and teach you the rules in minutes. Everything from 15-minute fillers to epic four-hour campaigns.
Restored classics from Pac-Man to Street Fighter II, all set to free play. No coins, no queues — just grab a controller between rounds. Cabinets are maintained in-house by our resident technician.
Catan Mondays, Wingspan Wednesdays and Fighting-Game Fridays. Entry includes a welcome drink and prize-pool credit toward the shop. Sign up at the bar or reserve your seat when you book.
Book the lounge for birthdays, studio socials or launch nights. Includes a dedicated host, a tailored game menu and grazing platters from our kitchen. Weeknight and Sunday-afternoon slots available.
Loved by locals
What our players say
Real regulars from around Sydney.
The game gurus taught us Wingspan in ten minutes and we ended up staying four hours. Best first-date idea I’ve ever had — we’re now Wednesday regulars.
Booked the whole floor for my studio’s end-of-project night. The grazing platters were huge and the host kept 40 designers entertained without a hitch.
The restored Street Fighter cabinet alone is worth the trip. Add flat whites that actually taste good and you’ve got my favourite Sunday in Surry Hills.
I come solo most Thursdays and never leave without a new group of friends. The staff genuinely remember your name and your favourite games.
Stay in the loop
Get the weekly game night lineup
Tournament schedules, new arrivals to the library and members-only events — straight to your inbox every Monday morning.
Come say hello
Find us & get in touch
Questions about bookings, hire or the library? Drop us a line.