Table reservations and a walk-in waitlist for board game cafes
Groups book a table for game night from your booking page. Walk-ins join the list from a QR code and get a text when a table frees up. Staff see bookings, the line and every table on one screen.
- Groups book a table ahead
- Walk-ins join by QR code
- A text when a table opens
- Texts for the first 25 parties a month on Free
- No card to sign up
A board game cafe sells time at a table, and nobody knows exactly when a game will end. On a Friday night that means a line at the door and a lot of guessing about how long it will be.
bavoli gives the door a real list. Walk-ins join from their phone and get a text when a table opens. Groups who booked ahead are on the same list, next to a floor plan of your tables, so staff can see what's free and what's coming.
If you serve food and want bavoli's menus and online ordering too, pick restaurant when setup asks what kind of place you run, and add your menu during setup. The waitlist and bookings work the same way either way.
A Friday game night
- Afternoon
Tonight's bookings
Groups who booked a table for the evening are on the list with their size and any note they left, such as "first time, could use a game suggestion".
- 6:30
The door fills up
Walk-ins scan the QR card, add their name, group size and mobile number, and see their place in line. They can pick a game off the shelf while they wait.
- 7:15
A table frees up
Staff tap the next group. bavoli texts them, and the status page on their phone updates.
- 7:20
Seat them
Staff tap the table on the floor plan to seat the group, and the list moves up.
- Closing
Regulars on record
Every group is in the guest book with visit history and notes, like a favorite table or game.
What the cafe uses
Table reservations
Groups pick a date, a time and a party size. You set the largest group, how far ahead guests can book and how many groups can start in each time slot.
A walk-in waitlist by QR code
Put the QR card by the door. Walk-ins join from their phone with no app to download and see their place in line.
A text when a table opens
One tap sends it. On Free the first 25 parties each month get texts, Plus texts up to 500 and Pro up to 1,500.
Your tables on a floor plan
Staff see which tables are free, booked or taken, and seat the next group with a tap.
Card holds and no-show fees on Plus
Hold a card on online bookings and charge a flat no-show fee only if the group doesn't come. Needs Plus and a connected Stripe account.
A website with both links
A simple site with your hours, the booking page and the waitlist link comes with every plan. Pro adds your own domain.
Which plan fits a board game cafe
Every reservation and every group on the waitlist is one party. Count them for a month and compare with the text allowances.
| Plan | Price | Texted parties | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0, no end date | The first 25 parties each month | Waitlist, bookings, floor plan, guest book, website and email updates. A small bavoli badge on your pages. |
| Plus | $30 a month or $300 a year | Up to 500 parties a month | Card holds and no-show fees on online bookings. Hide the bavoli badge. |
| Pro | $60 a month or $600 a year | Up to 1,500 parties a month | Everything in Plus and a custom domain for your website. |
For example
A small cafe with about 15 reservations a month and a few waits on Saturdays has about 20 parties a month to text. That fits the Free plan, which texts the first 25 parties each month for $0.
For example
A busy cafe with about 25 walk-in groups on the list each weekend and about 80 reservations a month has about 180 parties a month to text. That fits Plus at $30 a month, which texts up to 500 parties a month.
Card holds and no-show fees come with Plus and Pro.
What bavoli doesn't do for a game cafe yet
bavoli runs the tables, the line and the bookings. It leaves these to you:
- It doesn't charge a table fee or a deposit when a group books. The no-show fee on Plus is one flat amount per online booking, charged only if the group doesn't show.
- It doesn't track your game library.
- It doesn't sell tickets for tournaments or events with a fixed number of seats.
- A booking holds a start time. You set how many groups can start in each time slot, and bavoli doesn't block a table for the full length of a visit.
Frequently asked questions
Should a board game cafe sign up as a restaurant?
Choose restaurant during setup if you serve food and want menus and online ordering, and add your menu there. If you only want reservations and the waitlist, choose "Studio, club or walk-in venue with tables" and setup skips the menu steps.
Can I set how long a group keeps a table?
You set the visit length you expect. The booking confirmation tells guests how long the table is theirs, and the floor plan shows when a seated table should free up. bavoli doesn't end a visit for you.
Can I charge for no-shows on busy nights?
Yes, on Plus ($30 a month) or Pro, once you connect a Stripe account. Guests add a card when they book online, and bavoli places a hold on it for the no-show fee you set. The fee is one flat amount per booking, and it is charged only if the group doesn't show. To keep it to groups, set the smallest party that can book online to your group size and let smaller parties walk in.
How are texts counted?
By party. A party is one reservation or one waitlist entry, and it counts once a month however many texts it gets. Free texts the first 25 parties each month, Plus up to 500 and Pro up to 1,500.
Can walk-ins join from their phone?
Yes. They scan the QR card or open the link, enter a name, group size and mobile number, and watch their place in line on the page that opens.