How gaming café booking works
Updated 8 October 2026
Booking a gaming session online replaces the phone call or the walk-in gamble: you see which cafés are open, which setups and games they have, and which times still have seats, then pay and get a confirmation. Here is how it works on Nitro Console, and what is worth checking along the way.
1. Find a café
Start from the home page to see gaming cafés near your location, or browse the list of cities and open the one you are in. Each city page lists the cafés there with their setups, starting prices and ratings, so you can compare before you open anything.
2. Check what the café offers
A café page shows its address and opening hours, the setups you can book (for example PS5, Xbox, gaming PC, racing simulator or VR), the games available on them, its amenities and its ratings and reviews. Reviews on Nitro Console come from players who have booked a session at that café.
- Setup: a console, PC or simulator you book by the hour. Different setups have different prices.
- Games: a game lists how many players it supports. If you are coming as a group, check the number fits. Our guide to PS5 multiplayer games helps you choose.
- Hours: make sure your session fits inside the café's opening hours.
3. Pick a time and the number of players
Choose the experience you want and look at the free times. Only times with a free seat can be booked. Set how many players are coming and how long you want to play; the price is worked out from those choices. Pricing explained covers what moves the total.
4. Pay online
You see the total before you confirm. Once the payment goes through, the booking appears in your bookings. If you are the host of a group you can invite friends to join the session.
5. Turn up and play
Arrive a few minutes before your start time so you can use all of the time you booked. See gaming café etiquette for the small things that make a session go smoothly.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds follow one policy for every café on Nitro Console. How much comes back depends on how far ahead you cancel, and if a café cannot host you the whole amount is returned. Read the cancellation and refund policy before you book so there are no surprises.