Vibrant boardgame cafe with good food and drinks! Staff were helpful and friendly. Great selection of card and board games to choose from. Easily spent the whole afternoon with good company, conversation and a great many rounds of Ticket to Ride. Get "onboard" (pun definitely intended!) and definitely give this store a visit. read more

Great vibe, nicer atmosphere than most card shops but I didn't like my overall experience. They charged for basic lands, the 'matte' sleeves I bought are high gloss as heck. I'd go there to play, but I would not buy anything from them unless I was desperate. read more

Mox Boarding House in Ballard has a fantastic concept and a really cool vibe. The space is filled with a wide variety of board games you can try out before deciding to purchase, which is awesome. If you order food or drinks, they even offer a discount on game purchases which is a nice touch. We genuinely loved the idea and were excited to spend time there. Unfortunately, our experience was soured by the way we were treated by our waitress. From the moment we sat down, she never greeted us, smiled, or asked what we wanted. It felt like we were an inconvenience to her. We are not beer drinkers, but wanted to order a few beers and appetizers while playing, just to be respectful and not occupy a table without purchasing anything. When we asked if there were any lagers or less bitter beers on tap, her response was, "Do you want me to read you the menu?" -- said in a very rude and dismissive tone. We were taken aback and didn't understand what we had done wrong. Trying to clarify, we asked if they had anything similar to Bluemoon. She replied that they don't sell any "basic" beers on tap and suggested Rainier if we wanted something "very basic." The way she said "basic" felt condescending and dismissive. We just wanted to have a beer that was not too bitter considering that most places in Seattle sell hop heavy beers like IPA. We still ordered a couple of beers just to continue playing, but the interaction left a bad taste. We found a game we really liked, but instead of buying it there, we chose to purchase it on Amazon due to the poor service. If Mox is going to charge a 20% gratuity on food and drinks, they should ensure their staff treats customers with respect. The concept is great, but the experience was disappointing. read more

My wife and I have frequented Mox as our go-to game buying shop in Seattle for about two years now. We have been trying to come up with a new tradition to do on our weekends together and decided that going to Mox to play board games since our space at home is limited would be fun because the space has always been welcoming before. We looked up ahead of time and saw that the cafe was closed until 4 on Thursdays (our weekend) and so decided to stop and get drinks before going into Mox. When we got to the store we saw on the door that there was no outside food allowed, but sealed drinks were allowed so we entered with our beverages. Employees saw us enter and even commented on the games we carried in with us, and were typically warm and inviting as is our usual experience at Mox. We sat down at one of the tables in the board game area and had just barely opened the first game we were going to play when a scrawny male employee showed up out of nowhere and told us "if you're going to stay and play games you can't have any outside food or drink." I asked him if our drinks counted because they were sealed and that's what it said on the door and he said "No it says no outside food or drink allowed". I told him that's not what it says and tried to get clarification but he said "no that's what it says" and then ducked into a back room. I was content to keep playing since in my mind we hadn't violated any rule, but my wife was now uncomfortable and wanted to leave so we packed up and left. As we were leaving the same employee was standing at the door and reading the posted rules. He looked up and saw us leaving, then quickly ducked his head and scuttled away without saying anything. Honestly this has completely soured my experience on the store. This was supposed to be the start of a brand new tradition for my wife and I, who have been coming to Mox for years and have eaten and drank at the cafe several times before AND even hosted events for our social groups there. I've never once had a bad experience, but it goes to show that one employee who either doesn't understand the spirit or the letter of the rules can really screw up the situation for everyone. read more

What a cool concept! This is a board game bar/restaurant where you can try out games with your friends and then if you like them you can buy them and take them home. They had a ton of games to choose from which were organized very well and the staff was super knowledgeable about all of them. They brought food and drinks right to our table which was big enough to also do gameplay on. We tried a new game which we ended up loving. This would be a super fun place for a birthday party for your gaming friends! read more

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I'm so disappointed that the cheesecake they served came without the fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries that were advertised on the menu. The berries were the whole reason I ordered the cheesecake and I think it was messed up for Mox to serve it to me without telling me first that they didn't have the fresh fruit to go with it. If I had known they were out of the fruit, I wouldn't have ordered the cheesecake in the first place. To make matters worse the server wasn't even apologetic until I specifically asked about the missing fruit. The cheesecake cost more than everything else I ordered put together so it was frustrating to receive something that I didn't even want to eat. Thankfully the other people sitting at my table enjoyed the cheesecake because I didn't take more than one bite. I ordered the side Caesar salad and appreciated that there was a small portion offered on the menu. I loved my iced oat milk mocha. It was creamy and tasted deliciously flavourful. The staff at the front were really nice and my friends and I had a great time trying out new games and hanging out. I wish Mox served french fries, I was really craving them and wish they were on the menu. read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - Disappointing Seasonal Cheesecake - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is genuinely one of my favorite spots in Seattle because there's a mix of board games, community and food! There is everything from a tournament room to a family/children's section so I feel like it's very versatile and the games are free to rent. The food is also worth checking out because you might end up spending way longer here than you expect. I tried the pretzels for $14 and overall it was worth it. They have some other things. I would like to try like mac & cheese and tater tots but it is a really nice ambience and the employees are genuinely so friendly and give great suggestions. Unfortunately, my only con is that parking is so hard to find, because the spots in front and access to the buildings all are always filled. read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - pretzels - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great selection of board games, and a fun environment to play them with a solid drink menu. Can't recommend the food. Had the nachos and pretzel bites and they both were surprisingly mid. read more

5 stars for the unique experience and 3 for food. My group of 5 came in on a Sunday afternoon and waited 10 minutes to be seated. The food menu is odd and all over the place with no theme. There's Vietnamese, Thai, and Mediterranean all in one menu. My group and I ordered soft pretzels & queso and vegetable & hummus plate to snack on as we played games. The shareables we ordered were alright and I wouldn't come back solely for the food. The vibes are fun with all the game options! We played 2 games over a ~75-90 minute period. Few places like these exist, and I will be back for the games and vibes. Food here is just a plus. read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - Vegetables & hummus plate and soft pretzels & queso - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The Friendly Local Game Store for Seattle. Mix is a great place to play games hang out with friends and support your local Magic the Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, Board Game, and Miniature Game communities. They have a large selection of products and a very friendly staff. I absolutely love this store. read more

BF suggested this place for games. We played Mancala, had some beer and wine for $9 each, ordered a Reuben sandwich ($19) and Pork Bratwurst with sweet potatoes hash ($17). Portions were not too bad (forgot to take pics since we were hungry). They have games for sale but also games to check out and play. Fun place to have a date night to play games. read more

We didn't have any food or drinks here, but we had a delightful time playing two recommended board games- Boop (cute cats but confusing) and A Little Wordy! The bathroom was clean and there were interesting candles to purchase alongside your usual board games/cards. read more

Great place to spend time with family. Lots of games to borrow while having dinner. We bought a couple games we liked to take home with us.

Pros: Awesome to be able to try new board games with food and drinks. Staff are always nice and don't rush you at all. Good beer selection. Cons: Limited food menu. Wish there were more options. read more

FUN FIND !! My husband + I had our date night here + WE LOVED IT ! We loved the game options you can play while dining, we loved the music playing, we loved the crowed, the venue was clean + well lit, and the staff was kind + attentive! Great selection of food + beers/wines. ( I would love if they had a couple specialty cocktails :p) This will definitely be a go to spot for us ! The selection of games is expansive - games galore aka board game heaven . The venue feels like a more inclusive space. The dining area where you can dine + play games felt in someway intimate + romantic even though the venue was full (it did not feel like it was as full as it really was ) . As for me, I want to actually spend time here as opposed to many geeky spaces that can feel a bit dank, dark, +musty. Out of all the Seattle board game shops/café I have visited, this is the best by a long shot. Highly recommended for a date night, night out with friends or with family ! read more

great place to burn a couple of hrs in seattle. we had so much fun playing board games on a rainy day. they have nearly everything this is THE place to get board games. read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Whoever came up with the idea of a board game cafe/bar/hangout is a genius. Mox has leveled up the concept by creating an absolutely lovely environment to hang out, drink coffee, eat food, and try games. I've been to a few of these bars before, and I've got to hand it to Mox - they surpassed my previous experiences and expectations! If you love games, head to your nearest Mox and check it out! The food options all sounded good, though we just had tea while we played - a LOVELY Sunday afternoon! (Game recs: Wingspan Asia and Barenpark) Extra park - if you bought something at the restaurant and then stayed to play a game, they offer 15% off whatever game you played! Very cool bonus. read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - Wingspan Asia - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great customer service for the shopping experience. As someone who has to make a return, it was fast and easy, too. I'll always check this guys out when I'm in town. read more

the game store is so cool! love the d&d dice selection. at the restaurant, my girlfriend and i shared the grilled cheese bites (came with tomato soup), and the chicken bacon ranch sandwich (we added a side caesar salad). all the food was AMAZING. best tomato soup i've ever had, and the grilled cheese bites tasted great and were nice and soft. but the chicken bacon ranch sandwich was definitely the best part, especially the "tavern bun" it came on. great service too! i love how the whole staff is in-character. 10/10 will definitely be back! read more

They have a great selection of board games and plenty of tables to play games. In comparison, Mox feels more competitive and less welcoming compared to Zulu's. I get a sense that most workers are just there to work and don't particularly enjoy small talk. There is food available, which we didn't get to try, and a sit-down area to enjoy it. The bathrooms are located on the right side of the restaurant portion. You may need a code depending on when you visit. read more

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This Cafe has gone severely down hill since opening many years ago. I love Mox and Card Kingdom as it has been a staple for the nerd community for a long time now. Stopped in for a father's day treat and the disappointment was great. Our waiter, without introduction, went straight to business and asked "you guys want any drinks?" The drink selection is good but the food is pretty limited. The Cafe was fairly noisy, not because of the customers, but due to the employees. We settled on getting a couple appetizers including the Tokyo corn dogs and the Tavern Mac and Cheese. Food came pretty quick which made sense. The corn dogs tasted of frozen quality but covered in sauce and mayo. The Mac and cheese was a travesty. Bland al dente past covered in flavorless melted cheese. Beechers Cheese is literally in the same city folks! Thankfully we waited to order mains, as we chose not too after first tastes. With each poorly constructed appetizer costing nearly 20 dollars, returning will be out of the question. read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - Tavern Mac & Cheese - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Can whoever set the prices at this joint PLEASE explain to me HOW and WHY a double espresso is $10? That is actual robbery. I feel like I got robbed. Also messed up that it was already in my hand being sipped before I was told the price. Other coffee drinks are normally priced so why was the espresso a rip? I asked other coffee places in the area how much a double espresso was just to see and every place I asked was half the price. Honestly shameful. I hope someone from Mox sees this. read more

Looking for some board or card game fun with some friends? Looking for that perfect gift for that board or card game friend or family member? Ready to let out a geek shriek with the sheer number of games here? Mox can do all that for you! We came to partake in some board games and the front end staff were very helpful giving options, suggestions and brief how to play info for games to play. They have the open boxes right at their counter, free to check out! We played a few rounds of different games returning them each time. I've not had food from here but there is a menu of food options as well as drinks to have while playing. There is plenty of space, with tables of varying sizes, including outdoor seating to sit and play at depending on the size of your party. You can even sell cards here. The guy is a bit shrewd but I guess that comes with the territory I suppose and it really is a cool offering they have, exclusive to this particular Mox. Whether you're looking to buy or just try out some games, this is a really good place to do that. Be it regulars or first timers. The staff are welcoming and I'd recommend it for friendly activity. read more

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The food is so mid, but I guess that isn't why you come here! Very large game selection, and the store is well stocked! Maybe only get like sharables like pretzels and drinks to support them while playing, but I wouldn't recommend the entrees too much! This place is def worth a visit though! read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - Wingspan - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Mox is the place you go for your gaming needs and wants. You can find the gamut of RPGs, card and turn-by-turn games, miniatures, and even previously played ones. There are places to paint miniatures, tournament tables, and much more. For gaming, this is your place and geek heaven. There is a dining area in the style you might find in your standard adventure game. That's where it fails. Running a retail operation is different than running a restaurant. Casual fair, with lots of veg options, drinks, and snacks. You are welcome to bring your own games or they will provide them. The food was lackluster, and my falafel was soggy at best. Everything costs extra. Service is tricky. While they want you to stay game and eat, the wait staff becomes impatient if you do not do both continuously. It makes the experience sub-par. If there were signs that said,"One drink per hour" or the like might help to relieve the expectations. Rating the parts of Mox separately would be more fair but that's not possible. Go for the gaming, avoid the dining. read more

A very impressive games store. I've never seen one so well organized and well done. Usually, they're are just thrown together haphazardly in a large room read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - Menu. Drinks 2 - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is like a nerd's heaven. Board games, Dungeons and Dragons, all that nerdy stuff. They even have a "pub". They have a variety of board games, they will probably have whatever you are looking for. They have magic cards, areas to play, paint your little figures. You know, nerd stuff. We didn't get actually food, but just a charcuterie plate. They had Italian soda's but the soda machine was broken. It's just seltzer water with syrup and cream, but oh well. Service was alright. Even though I'm not a gamer, I thought this place was pretty neat. I'd love to take my friend there. read more

A cute board game cafe -- it's half board game store and has a seating section too. The store half has an UNREAL selection of all the classic and a ton of new games! Everyone is bound to find something they'll enjoy. We came with a group of ~6 for the café to order some food and drinks and play some games. They had a decent selection of beers and ciders and the Brussel Sprouts were tasty and easy to share. I wish they'd had more games to check out while playing, though. A lot of the popular ones were taken and the suggestions were pretty complex to understand. That being said, I'd definitely come back with a smaller (and more patient) group and I could see this being a super fun time! read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - Beer - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Basically just Pokémon tcg scalpers with a physical space. $70 for a prismatic booster bundle? Get out of here, you scalpers. If you don't know, retail on the bundles is $27. That's a 259 % up charge. Dont bother coming here if you don't feel like getting ripped off. I won't be back. read more

I love this place. Gives an instant sense of belonging. We got a table for 4 and played a tower defense board game. At least 6-8 beers on draft. Comfortable seating. No judgment. Great crowd read more

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It's a board-gaming, magic, and war-gaming grail store; has been for years! Food varies depending on season but it's above average. Rent a room for a catered birthday DnD session, sit in the restaurant and borrow a game to play, try Friday night magic if you have never, or throw some dice and plastic soldiers down on the war tables while ordering drinks! Prices are good, some things are below MSRP which is nice for those of us gamers on a budget! read more

Found this place online while planning my visit to Seattle. It looked unique so had to check it out. The Cafe is attached to a board game store. While you eat you can check out board games and play at your table. We didn't play any games but enjoyed the food. Customer service was good and the food was delicious. read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - Grilled cheese - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Love this place! Such a cool place to meet with friends and play some games. Plus the restaurant serves you when you're using the tables in the store if you go and ask for a number. I love coming here! read more

I love this place. It's perfect for dates; the staff are so knowledgeable and cool; the idea is just fun! I tell literally everyone about this place and that they need to tracks to Seattle to hang here. read more

An unexpected experience for a non gamer, that was positive. Showed up here today, battling traffic at rush hour. Our Singapore friend specifically asked to come here, to get some gaming cards no one else offered. So, I thought this was a restaurant with a few board games. As I walked in, wow, this is a total experience. Rooms dedicated to playing games. Tables of people playing games. A whole store, full of games and merchandise. A case full of fancy dice and even dice earrings. Gaming asserories, gloves, clothes . Recognized how wrong I was, with the wide variety of everything a gamer could want. At the risk of sounding like an nongamer, what incredible variety and dedication to games. this place offers. My Singapore friend wanted specific cards, so she needed to go online at their computers to access cards. My friend and I went to the bar to hang out. A lovely variety of drinks were offered, we went with the non alcoholic lemonade. Helpful staff. Lots of snack type food and many different kinds of beer. This place was packed, not a lot of places to sit. One of the very few restaurants I have ever been to, where people played games while they ate. There was a reader board outside, listing the game events for the day and times. They had quite a few games, approximately five different game events. There was a Pokémon event while we were there. The Mox staff had one room for this event and a moderator to help run the games. Our Singapore friend was very happy with her overall experience. If you like to play games, this certainly is a great place to come. If you are lonely, you can come here and find a really unique and large place to be welcomed. read more

Awesome place for board game fanatics! We went in thinking it was just a board game store but then noticed people playing games at the tables in the back. Upon asking the worker he recommended a game to us and said there was no charge (whattttt?!) We got to try out a game we had never heard of and had a good time I wish they had a place like this in LA. The restaurant/ bar area wasn't open when we came but I'm sure that would only elevate the experience read more

After years of hearing about Mox Boarding House, I accidentally walked past it while visiting Seattle and I'm thrilled that I stopped in: this is a beautiful game store. Their curated selection of tabletop games is phenomenal. Their tournament facilities look fantastic, although I did not have time to shuffle up and play with anyone. And the food in the cafe was surprisingly great, and not just for a board game cafe. On my next trip I intend to visit for a Magic draft. read more

I absolutely love the concept of this place! It's a perfect place for dates and hanging out with friends. You get a table at the restaurant and once seated, you can go back to the game area and request a board game. There's a lot--from classic games like scrabble to more complex and modern board games. The food is okay. I wish there were more options. I had the cheesesteak sandwich and it wasn't what I imagined. I was hoping for a more traditional one. The tomato bisque felt more like marinara sauce. Their Brussels sprouts though, it was cooked very well and perfect dressing on top. read more

Mox Boarding House Seattle - Philly Cheesesteak and Tomato Bisque - Hobby Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

How have I been here for so many years and never knew of this place??? There are hundreds of board games to choose from. Watch out, you might get stuck here for hours and hours just playing games with your friends. We ran through so much food and beer during that time. All board game rentals are free and if you're overwhelmed by the options, the staff are very well knowledged and can even help pick one out that suits your group! Coming back again (and again)! read more

Always super fun to stop by Mox Ballard when in the area lots of great stuff to browse staff is friendly and helpful! read more

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