“Reviewers at both hostels flag the indoor game space as more memorable than they expected. Ciarus's billiards-and-arcade-machine combination shows up in 8.3-rated stays as the 'unexpected highlight' for solo travelers and small groups; The People's board-game shelf is mentioned in 7.9-rated stays as the rainy-afternoon save. Couples particularly use Ciarus's billiards-and-restaurant pairing as a non-bar evening option; younger solo backpackers prefer The People's pairing of the board-game shelf with the bar 5 metres away.”
Strasbourg's only hostel-association property — a 295-bed Catholic-roots compound on rue Finkmatt with on-site restaurant, billiards, indoor games room and conference halls. 3772+ reviews at 8.3 rating, dorms from around 38 EUR. The non-party Strasbourg base.
Strasbourg's only proper party hostel — sits on rue de la Krutenau in the student/bohemian quarter with an in-house bar, regular DJ nights, themed dinners and a happy-hour timetable. 5814+ reviews at 7.9, dorms from around 32 EUR. The Erasmus meeting point of the city.
Ciarus billiards table is first-come-first-served — 14:00-22:30 daily, no booking system. Peak times are 19:00-21:30 when school groups and EU interns clear off the dinner tables; aim for 14:00-17:00 if you want guaranteed table time. The American pool cues are at the bar, the French-style cues are stored beside the table.
The People's board-game shelf is bar-side, accessed by asking at the counter — they keep titles behind the bar to prevent walk-off. Expect Catan, 7 Wonders, Codenames, Coup, Skull, plus a smaller selection of co-op titles (Pandemic, Forbidden Island). Tournament Thursdays start 20:30, sign up at the bar from 18:00.
If you want a bigger board-game session, walk 8 minutes south to Café Brant on Place de l'Université — coffee + board-game café format, 4 EUR per player flat fee, 200+ titles. Strasbourg's two main meetup groups (Strasbourg Boardgame Society, Strasbourg Roleplay) run regular evenings there.
Ciarus's arcade machines are working originals (mostly Pacman/Galaga/Bubble Bobble cabinets) and don't take coins — they're free for guests. The catch: they're old enough that the joysticks can be sticky, especially Pacman. Reception will swap a controller if asked.
Both hostels run their game space year-round, but it's January-February when these matter most — that's when Krutenau bars empty out by 22:00 and the indoor option becomes the actual evening plan rather than the rainy-day backup.
