Overview

Cafe International is a tile-laying game where players seat guests from 12 different nations at tables in an international cafe. The board has 24 tables, each assigned to a specific nationality. Players draw guest tiles from a bag and place them at appropriate tables, earning points based on the number and nationality of seated guests. When guests cannot be properly seated, they go to the bar, costing negative points. The game ends when specific conditions are met, and the highest score wins.

Components

• 1 game board depicting the cafe with 24 tables and a bar
• 100 guest tiles (depicting men and women of 12 nationalities)
• 50 red chips (worth 1 point each)
• 16 black chips (worth 5 points each)
• 15 white chips (worth 10 points each)
• 1 cloth bag

Setup

1. Place the game board in the middle of the table.
2. Place the 100 guest tiles in the bag and shuffle.
3. Place chips near the game board by value.
4. Each player draws 5 guest tiles from the bag (keep hidden from others).

Turn Structure

On your turn, you must perform one of the following:

1. Place 1 or 2 guests at tables — Score points based on placement.
2. Place 1 guest at the bar — Score negative points.

After placing, draw tiles from the bag to refill your hand to 5.

Actions

Seating Arrangements

Each table has 4 chairs (2 for ladies, 2 for gentlemen). Guests must follow these rules:

• A table can seat a maximum of 2 ladies and 2 gentlemen.
• Guests must match the nationality of the table, OR be seated with a guest from the same nationality but different table.
• The allowed combinations at any table:
  • 1 man and 1 woman
  • 2 men and 1 woman (or vice versa)
  • 2 men and 2 women
  • Other arrangements following nationality rules

Scoring at Tables

For each guest placed at a table, score points based on the number of guests now at that table and their nationality match:

Guests at Table	Matching Nationality	Mixed Nationality
1st guest	1 point	1 point
2nd guest (pair)	4 points	2 points
3rd guest	Score varies	Score varies
4th guest (full table)	Higher bonus	Lower bonus

When a player seats both guests at a single table in one turn, each guest is scored separately. The player scores them sequentially.

If a guest sits on a chair between two tables, the player scores for both tables — each table is counted separately.

Jokers

The guest tiles include Joker characters (2 women and 2 men). Jokers can be seated at any table regardless of nationality. Jokers count as the nationality chosen by the player for scoring purposes.

A table that has only jokers with one nationality for scoring purposes is a valid arrangement.

Placing a Guest at the Bar

When placing a guest at the bar, the player must also draw a new tile. Bar guests score negative points:

• Each guest at the bar costs the player negative points.

After placing a guest at the bar, the player must draw a guest tile from the bag.

Drawing New Tiles

After placing guests at a table with all 4 seats occupied (full table), draw replacement tiles from that table rather than the bag.

When the bag runs out, the game enters its final phase.

Exchange of a Joker

If you have a joker at a table, you may exchange it with a matching-nationality guest from your hand, placing the joker back in your hand for future use.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Game End

The game ends when one of these conditions occurs:

• A player places a guest and the last bag tile has been drawn.
• A player has no legal placement available and cannot refill hand.
• A player places the last bar seat.
• A player draws the last guest tile from the bag and cannot draw one more.

Final Scoring

Each player counts chips. 5 negative points per guest remaining in hand at game end. The player with the highest total (points minus penalties) wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Players may not look at tiles in the bag.
• A guest placed between two tables scores for both.
• Once a table is full (4 guests), no more guests can be added.
• Players must place at least 1 guest per turn if legally possible.
• If no legal table placement is available, the player must place a guest at the bar.
• Joker exchange does not count as a turn action — it happens in addition to normal placement.

Player Reference

Turn Summary: Place 1-2 guests at tables OR 1 guest at bar → Draw to 5 tiles

Nationality Seating: Match table nationality or share nationality with existing guest.

Maximum per table: 2 ladies + 2 gentlemen = 4 total.

Points increase with more guests at a table, especially matching nationalities.

Bar placement: Negative points — avoid if possible.