Entry No. 18 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: arcade-play
The Blue Shell
A gaming tavern where NES and SNES consoles are built directly into the bar top, so you can play Mario between sips. Around a dozen classic arcade cabinets share space with a lending library of over 100 board games and 16 taps pouring Pacific Northwest beer and cider, plus espresso. The owners run Magic: The Gathering drafts, learn-to-play nights and tournaments for the local gaming community.
The story
You didn't hear it from us, but if you sit down at the wood bar at 1903 E Sherman Ave expecting to just watch a television screen or fiddle with a coaster, you're missing the point. Built directly into the bar top itself are retro Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo consoles, wired up so you can throw Hadoukens or stomp Goombas right between sips. It sits east of downtown Coeur d'Alene, quietly keeping the city's board game purists, deck builders, and 8-bit nostalgics out of the usual tourist-heavy sports bars.
The room stretches well beyond the counter. Around a dozen classic arcade cabinets and pinball machines line the space, anchored by a lending library holding over 100 tabletop and board games. Across 16 draft taps pouring Pacific Northwest beers and ciders—backed up by wine, canned cocktails, and espresso—the tavern operates as a community hub for local players, running Magic: The Gathering drafts, casual Commander sessions, and paid D&D one-shot campaigns.
What it's like
You're stepping into a low-lit 21+ tavern where the hum of arcade sound chips mixes with the clatter of polyhedral dice. If you want to hold down a table for a multi-hour tabletop session with a group, book a spot online in advance—the house table fee gets waived as long as your tab hits the same amount in drinks and food. Show up on a weeknight if you want open access to the bar-top SNES controllers, or swing by on a Tuesday evening if you're looking to jump into a Magic draft with local regulars.
The move: Pick a board game off the wall of 100-plus, grab a regional cider, and challenge each other on the in-bar Super Nintendo.
📍 Before you go 21+ tavern environment; reservations available online. On Sherman Ave east of downtown.
- 📍 Coeur d'Alene
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1903 E Sherman Ave, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Big Flipper — Pair The Blue Shell's bar-top console play with Big Flipper's 20-machine pinball lineup less than two miles away for a full retro gaming tour.
- Chimney Shaped Like Idaho — Just a short stroll down Sherman Avenue from the tavern, you can check out a 1950s motor court brick chimney laid up in the distinct outline of Idaho.
- Museum of North Idaho Cemetery Walking Tours — Follow up an afternoon of tabletop board gaming with a flashlight-at-dusk historical tour through Coeur d'Alene's oldest burial grounds.
Good to know
What are the age requirements at The Blue Shell?
The venue operates strictly as a 21-and-over tavern environment at all times.
Do I need a reservation to play board games?
Walk-ins can pick games from the 100-plus board game wall, but reservations are available online. Table reservation fees are waived if your group's food and beverage purchases meet or exceed the fee total.
What drinks are available on menu?
They serve 16 rotating taps of Pacific Northwest beer and cider, along with wine, canned cocktails, hard seltzers, and espresso.
Where is the tavern located?
It is located at 1903 E Sherman Ave in Coeur d'Alene, situated along Sherman Avenue east of downtown.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · cdapress.com · kineticist.com
last checked: 2026-06-24