Written by Annie Shi
Few locations are as iconic in tabletop roleplaying games as the tavern. Long before the first dungeon is conquered or the first dragon takes flight, many campaigns begin with a simple scene: a warm room, the clatter of mugs, and a group of strangers sharing space for the very first time.
The maps below highlight a range of taverns and gathering places that work beautifully as an opening scene for your campaign, or a recurring social hub throughout your story. From peaceful inns to eerie pubs and even cyberpunk bounty bars, these battlemaps help create a memorable place for your players to relax and roleplay in between quests—or begin the journey that might just change the world.
1. Cozy Beginnings — Ages of the Vale: Coaching House
Few maps say “start of a campaign” quite like this Coaching House from the pastoral Starter Village series. A warm dining area, a taproom buzzing with conversation, and a tidy bar ready to host any party of wandering adventures. Out back, the stable yard is neatly kept and perfect for mounts or carts waiting to be escorted through goblin-infested forests.
This map also includes a cellar map and an upstairs floor, where fully furnished guest rooms offer a range of sleeping arrangements, from private chambers to shared bunks.
2. Gloomy Gothic — Twisted Tavern
At first glance, the Twisted Tavern looks like a normal roadside inn—a little gloomy, sure, with its dark wood planks, gnarled wooden bar, and dark cellar. But linger a moment longer. The rugs bear eye motifs that seem too real. The shadows gather oddly at the walls. And you can’t shake the feeling of being watched…
Run this map as a normal tavern in a bleak town, or lean into its strange variations to create a creeping horror adventure. With its many variants, this tavern can shift its tone to serve as either a simple stop on the road or the unsettling centerpiece of a darker adventure.
3. Seaside Downtime — Lizardfolk Sushibar (Beach)
Bright, breezy, and utterly charming, the beach variant of this Lizardfolk Sushibar is powered by wind turbines that keep fresh fish plates rotating around the dining area. A wooden boardwalk encircles the structure, surrounded by clear blue tides, and there’s even a spot for catching your own fish before handing it off to the kitchen.
This is a great map for lighter sessions, like a festival arc or beach downtime. Beneath the relaxed, atmosphere though, there’s plenty of room for story hooks. The chefs might be experimenting with dishes made from dangerous sea beasts, for instance, and something beneath the waves may not appreciate becoming tonight’s special.
4. Elegant Hospitality — Fey Vineyard
Sun-warmed marble, vines curling around tall pillars, and a magnificent centaur statue presiding over the bar—this Fey Vineyard tavern just exudes elegance. Round tables dot the luxurious interior, and every detail suggests refined taste.
This is a beautiful setting for noble intrigue and political entanglements, where the beauty all around makes any hidden danger feel all the more unsettling. The vineyard’s owner might ask the party to investigate a creeping blight threatening the harvest, or the wine itself might induce disturbing dreams in those who drink it. An upcoming harvest celebration could also conceal deeper rituals beneath the music and laughter.
This map also comes with a scene illustration, perfect for showing players their approach through the lush, endless vineyards.
5. Mist and Mystery — Haunted Dockside Tavern
Dim lantern light ripples across black water, and plush seating lines the walls while quiet creaks echo from the docks outside. This Haunted Dockside Tavern feels welcoming enough to sit down for a drink, though there are plenty of hints that something is not quite right.
This tavern is absolutely perfect for a pirate campaign or a ghostly investigation. Sailors might whisper rumors of ships that arrive without crews, or figures seen walking the docks long after midnight.
This map also comes with a scene illustration showing the fog-cloaked tavern exterior, perfect for setting your campaign’s tone before the players even step inside.
6. Lanternlit Drama — Wuxia Tavern
Bright red rooftops, an open courtyard, and luxurious decor create a tranquil gathering space inspired by classic wuxia settings. Guests can dine and gamble beneath hanging lanterns, and at the center of the courtyard sits a statue that watches over this Wuxia Inn.
Yet one chamber hides something more troubling—a shrine glowing with crimson light and piled with unusual offerings. This map is perfect for the kind of wuxia story where a lively roadside inn hides something deeper and darker beneath its welcoming surface.
7. Enchanted Revelry — Fey Tavern
Built within a hollow tree, this tavern glows with stained glass light and vibrant plant life. Behind the bar, an enormous iridescent moth tends a bubbling flask, brewing something shimmering and strange.
This map is perfect for whimsical fey encounters and brews with questionable side effects. Perhaps a mischievous fey lord has shrunk the party down to insect size, forcing them to navigate this strange environment while searching for a way to reverse the spell.
This map also comes with an animated scene that brings the bartending moth and their glowing brew to life.
8. Dangerous Deals — Hell’s Cocktail Lounge
Red velvet booths, plush carpeted floors, gothic decor, and a giant devil’s head looming over the bar—this lounge is unapologetically dramatic. Barrels of red liquid are piped across the room while fiery lights filter through the towering windows.
This map, of course, works wonders for stories set in the Hells, and is the perfect backdrop for high-stakes negotiations with devils and other powerful patrons. Deals can be struck over elegant drinks, while every inch of the environment reminds everyone of the cost these bargains may carry.
This map comes with an illustrated scene that drops players directly into the heart of the unsettlingly gorgeous lounge.
9. Shady Contracts — Bounty Hunter Tavern
A low-lit casino and bar clearly built for business over comfort, this Bounty Hunter Tavern hums with untold tension. Metal grates and exposed wiring frame narrow walkways above gaming tables where patrons can gamble, trade rumors, and keep one hand close to their holsters.
This map is perfect for gritty sci-fi campaigns like Cyberpunk RED, or other sci-fi TTRPGs where mercenaries, smugglers, and bounty hunters might gather between jobs. A new contract flashing onto the screens could spark a race between rival crews, or the party might come here searching for information, only to learn that in this place, respect is earned at the card table.
10. Interstellar Messhall — Mothership Canteen
Bright overhead lighting reflects off sterile white floors; rows of tables line the central Mothership Canteen. Nearby, a kitchen hums with activity, and surrounding rooms contain crew bunks, meeting areas, laboratories, and stations that keep the ship running.
This map is perfect for sci-fi starfaring campaigns such as Mothership or Alien RPG. Let crews decompress here between missions, share rumors about colonies, overhear corporate secrets—or strange noises in the vents—and build a sense of calm before the alarms inevitably start blaring.
Didn’t find what you were looking for?
Czepeku’s library includes over 8,000 hand-drawn battlemaps, with countless variations across different biomes, seasons, and weather. Whether you need a cozy tavern for character introductions, a windswept desert ruin, or a storm-soaked mountain altar, there’s a good chance that map exists that brings that moment to life on your VTT.
If you’re searching for a specific type of location, the tag system makes it easy to explore the collection. Browse for more tavern maps with tags like tavern, urban, building, shop, and the like. We’ve also put together a guide to help you navigate the library:
👉 How to Find the Czepeku Map You Need
Looking specifically for more places like the ones in this article? Check out the Taverns series, featuring more taverns and taprooms designed for different genres and stories.
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