The internet cafe in 2026: what it is today
For many people an internet cafe brings back the early noughties, queues for a free computer and Counter-Strike after school. Today the place has changed beyond recognition. In 2026, instead of a stuffy little room you get a space with top-tier gear, a bar and events for gamers.
The internet cafe then and now
Twenty years ago the internet cafe was often the only place with a fast connection and a reasonably powerful computer. You went there to check your email, chat on a messenger or play the online hits. The gear was often weak and the space cramped, but that is where many people fell in love with gaming.
Once fast internet reached people's homes, the classic cafes all but disappeared. Their place was taken by modern gaming lounges and clubs that focus on top-class hardware and playing together on site, not just access to the network.
The very reason people come has changed too. It used to be mainly about access to hardware and a fast network, and today it is about playing together, the vibe and events you cannot move into your living room. The modern internet cafe has become a meeting place, not just a spot with computers by the hour.
What a modern internet cafe offers today
A modern venue for gamers is more than a row of computers. At Kinguin Esports Lounge in Gdansk you will find 58 PC stations on Ryzen 7 7700 processors, RTX 5070 cards and 240 Hz monitors, plus simracing rigs, five PS5 consoles, a retro PS1 and two Nintendo Switch 2 units.
On top of that there is a signature bar and kitchen with pizza, burgers and sharing boards, as well as a stage with a 155-inch screen and regular events: karaoke, pub quizzes and card game tournaments. Gaming here goes hand in hand with a night out with friends, not just a solo session at the monitor.
How much does gaming at such a cafe cost
At Kinguin Esports Lounge an hour at a computer costs PLN 20, and there are packages too, for example the promo of three hours on a PC or two hours on a console for PLN 50. An all-day daypass runs PLN 120 or PLN 150, and night gaming PLN 120 or PLN 140.
Regulars can get hour passes from 10 hours for PLN 167 up to 100 hours for PLN 1337, which also come with Coins you can exchange for rewards. The venue is in Galeria Metropolia on level 2, right by the SKM Gdansk Wrzeszcz station.
Frequently asked questions
Do internet cafes still exist?
Yes, though in a new form. Instead of the cramped rooms of old, today there are modern gaming lounges and clubs with powerful hardware, consoles and food, like Kinguin Esports Lounge in Gdansk.
What do you need to play at a cafe?
In practice, just turn up. The computer, monitor and peripherals are waiting on site, and a gaming account and headset are usually provided by the venue or set up on the spot.
Can you play with friends at a cafe?
Absolutely. Modern venues have stations side by side and separate rooms for groups, so the whole crew plays together in one place.
Book a PC station at Kinguin Esports Lounge and see what a new-generation internet cafe looks like.