If you searched for Snakes & Lattes Virginia Beach and ended up here — yeah, we know. The board game café everyone remembers is gone. The shelves of games, the long tables, the let-you-just-stay-for-five-hours energy — all of it disappeared with the closure.
But the experience a place like Snakes & Lattes gave you was never really about the brand. It was about three things:
- a real library of board games you didn't have to buy or bring
- tables sized for actual gameplay instead of dinner plates
- a community of people who showed up regularly enough that the space felt alive
All three of those exist in Virginia Beach right now. They just don't live at Snakes & Lattes anymore.
The Short Answer: Setting Sun VB
Setting Sun Virginia Beach is the dedicated board game café in Virginia Beach now — full library, drop-in pricing, regular game nights, and a real community of weekly regulars.
It is at 4878 Princess Anne Rd. Suite 105, right near the Norfolk–Virginia Beach border, with free parking on site.
If you used to spend Saturday afternoons at Snakes & Lattes pulling Catan off a shelf and ordering coffee with a friend, this is the closest equivalent you will find in Hampton Roads.
What's in the Library
The board game library covers what you'd expect from a real game café:
- Strategy classics: Catan, Carcassonne, Splendor, Wingspan, Azul
- Party games: Codenames, Skull, Decrypto, One Night Werewolf
- Two-player duels: 7 Wonders Duel, Patchwork, Jaipur, Hive
- Heavier games: Terraforming Mars, Brass, Scythe, Spirit Island
- Family-friendly: Ticket to Ride, King of Tokyo, Sushi Go!
- Tile classics: Riichi Mahjong, Chess, Backgammon, Go
The full catalog lives on the Board Games page. Staff knows it well — tell them how many people you have and what kind of mood you're in, and they will point you at something that fits.
What Snakes & Lattes Didn't Have
Here is where it gets interesting. Snakes & Lattes was, fundamentally, a board game restaurant. Setting Sun is a gaming parlor first — which means it does things the typical board game café doesn't.
- Automated Riichi mahjong tables — the same kind used in mahjong parlors in Tokyo. Setting Sun is the only place in Hampton Roads that has them. Drop in for open mahjong play or join a weekly workshop.
- Monthly WBO Beyblade tournaments — official, sanctioned events. Results count toward your global WBO ranking. See Beyblade Tournaments.
- Friday Night Fighting Game brackets — Tekken 8, Street Fighter 4/6, Soul Calibur 2. Every Friday at 6:30 PM. See Fighting Games.
- Sunday chess workshops — open to all skill levels, with monthly competitive tournaments layered on top.
If you were a Snakes & Lattes regular who never touched anything more competitive than Ticket to Ride, none of that is required. The board game library still works exactly like a board game café should. But if you ever wanted to push deeper into a hobby, the rails are there.
How It's Priced
Open play is hourly, included with venue entry. Bring whoever you want, stay as long as you want. See the Pricing page for current rates.
Lessons (mahjong, chess) and tournament entries (Riichi, Beyblade, fighting games) are priced separately. None of them are required to use the library.
When to Go
Open hours:
- Mon–Fri — 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sat & Sun — 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM
If you used to do a Saturday-afternoon Snakes & Lattes run with friends, Saturday or Sunday afternoon at Setting Sun is the same energy — open library, no booking required, casual atmosphere.
If you want to make it a weekly thing, Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:30 PM are mahjong workshop nights (newcomer-friendly), Friday at 6:30 PM is fighting game night, and Sunday at 2 PM is chess. Full breakdown on the Events Schedule.
The Group-Friendliness Factor
Snakes & Lattes worked well for friend groups because the staff knew how to recommend a game and the tables were built for groups. Setting Sun handles this the same way — and it also takes private bookings for birthdays, bachelorette parties, corporate events, and any group large enough to take over a section of the venue. Reach out through the contact page with your headcount and date.
A Note on Hampton Roads Specifically
Snakes & Lattes pulled a lot of its crowd from D.C. and Toronto regulars who happened to be passing through. Setting Sun is built specifically for the Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, and broader Hampton Roads community. Most of the regulars live within a 30-minute drive.
That means the community ages, vibes, and play styles are local — which, if you cared about the café part of board game café (the regulars, the staff, the casual run-ins), is a feature, not a bug.
FAQ: The Snakes & Lattes Question
Is there still a Snakes & Lattes in Virginia Beach?
No. The location is no longer operating. Setting Sun VB at 4878 Princess Anne Rd. 105 is the dedicated board game café in Virginia Beach now.
Is Setting Sun the same kind of place?
Same core idea — open board game library, drop-in pricing, group-friendly tables. Setting Sun also hosts mahjong, Beyblade tournaments, fighting game nights, and chess, which Snakes & Lattes didn't do.
Do I have to play board games to come in?
No. You can drop in for mahjong open play, casual fighting games, or just to hang out while friends play. Pricing is hourly regardless of what you do once you're inside.
Can I just bring my own board game?
Yes. Bring whatever you want. The library is a bonus, not a requirement.
What if I have kids?
Weekend afternoons are the most kid-friendly window. Some weekly events (fighting game night, tournament nights) skew adult — check the Events Schedule before bringing kids to a specific night.
Worth the Trip
If you used to drive to Snakes & Lattes from Norfolk or Chesapeake, Setting Sun is in the same direction and a similar trip. Newport News is about 35 minutes. Most of Virginia Beach is 15–25 minutes.
The board game café experience is not gone in Hampton Roads. It just lives somewhere else now.
Plan your visit, check the Events Schedule, or jump straight to the Board Games page to see what's on the shelf.