Came here with a friend on a Friday night around 8:30pm and had a lot of fun! $8 per person for 3 hours of gameplay. Games were well organized and there was a wide variety. It happened to be karaoke night, so it was a bit noisy but that was to be expected. Didn't order any food/drinks but we played Jenga and Codenames Duet. I heard that Next Level is closing on March 26th which is super unfortunate because I would have definitely wanted to return. I appreciated how they had games for different group sizes. I wasn't sure what to expect for 2 people but there were plenty of options. Great location as well in downtown MV. Sad that I only discovered this place recently - now on the hunt for a new board game cafe nearby! read more

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Amazing venue and location for a hangout with friends! Good: - Super cheap - $8 for 3 hours?? - The staff taught us how to play very patiently, and even was patient as we asked a million followup questions - The dessert was amazing- we got the trio scoop of ice cream and also got the creme brulee donut which was sooo good and cheap too! - Super cute ambiance, tons of games and all in great condition Bad: - Wished they didn't close at 10 pm! Overall this was way more fun than expected and the location is so convenient for hanging out with friends! read more

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I've walked past this place a few times and finally got around to checking it out with a friend visiting from out of town who likes games. It's unassuming from the outside, but this place is amazing. PRICING: $8 for unlimited game selection for 3 hours. They will also offer to teach you any game and give recommendations. FOOD: I came after an evening dance class and was quite hungry. I had the Asian chicken bowl which was tasty, healthy, filling and checked the protein and veggies boxes. My friend got the garlic bread (really more like cheese pizza without sauce) and the tetris totchos (cheesy tater tots in tetris shapes with salsa and guacamole). The totchos were 100% awesomeness. Kitchen closes around 9pm fyi although they were open until 10pm. DRINKS: I don't drink alcohol or soda and I don't do caffeine at night, so I'm really limited on what I can drink wherever I go. They had a nice selection of herbal tea, which I greatly appreciated. I can't tell you how many stupid coffee shops only offer overpriced mint or chamomile tea as their only herbal or non caffeine options. I had the apple cinnamon hot tea and they even filled up my cup with hot water for a second cup. They also had a nice selection of mocktails which also I swear very few establishments offer. I wanted something hot because it was cold outside, but next time would consider. SERVICE: The service was really nice and made us feel welcome and cozy. It was easy to ask questions about games. We ended up playing a silly but strategic game that's easy to learn called Boop which involves getting cat figures three in a row on a board of squares (the "bed") but you can boop your opponent's cats or kittens by one space when you place your piece next to them. Overall, a fantastic experience, the menu really catered to my specific tastes in food and drink which is so rare. Little game shop, I was not aware of your game. Well done. read more

Next Level Board Game Cafe - Tetris cheesy tater tot - Tabletop Games Near Me - Mountain View, California

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I don't usually play board games, but wanted to try something new and so glad I chose this place vs going into the city. For $7pp this was such a great place to try so many board games and not feel rushed. The staff was kind, the interior was clean and they had a decent selection of beer. I was only there for 1.5 hours but 100% will be coming back to stay longer, to try new games and hopefully bring more friends to play more games! The location is also great because its in the Downtown Mountain View area, so there are plenty of restaurants to check out for lunch or dinner. read more

Next Level Board Game Cafe - Tabletop Games Near Me - Mountain View, California

I love that this board game cafe exists in the middle of Downtown Mountain View! I've been coming here for a while now, since shortly after their grand opening. I've seen how much this place has changed since its opening, from adding more board games to their collection, opening a kitchen to order meals, and overall seeing more people embrace this board game cafe. Overall, it's a great place to come by with friends and play board games for several hours! For a flat $7 fee, you have access to the entire collection of board games the store has to offer. There is no time limit, so you can stay for hours at a time. From co-ops, puzzles, and competitive games (to list a few), you can choose whatever game your heart desires! Most recently, we came by and noticed they had Bomb Busters in their game collection. For the board game aficionados in the audience, Bomb Busters is the 2025 Board Game of the Year and has been sold out everywhere. But Next Level had it in their collection, and we finally got the chance to play it. There's lots of seating throughout, and it's gotten to the point of popularity where there can even be a waitlist if the cafe is full. Recently, their kitchen was finally completed and they now offer a menu that includes several entrees, desserts, and alcoholic beverages. We ordered some of their bowls which were $13 each, and they were not bad! Don't expect Michelin quality, but the food was good and filling enough, and it gave us a reason to stay longer. It's absolutely worth checking out if whether you're a seasoned board gamer or new to the scene! Their staff can teach you how to play the games or you can check out their events calendar to try out certain types of games. read more

Had a great time at this place playing board games with friends! It was $7 per person. They have a wide variety of board games and have a great space from open tables to private small rooms. They now have an open cafe that serves meal sets from savory, sweet, and so much more! Can't wait to come here again! read more

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This was my first time at Next Level Board Game Cafe but my friends have been here before. There is a $7 entrance fee per person but I don't believe there is a time limit. There is plenty of seating around in different areas of the space. They have shelves of different card and board games. Everything seemed clean. The staff is helpful if you have questions about the games or anything else. They recently opened their kitchen and serve some light snacks and refreshments. We didn't order anything since we came from dinner. For a Friday night, there was a good amount of people playing games. It was a nice experience! Definitely a good spot to hang out with friends. read more

Next Level Board Game Cafe - Tabletop Games Near Me - Mountain View, California

This place charges a $7 fee all day, so if you came in the morning you could chill out and play games all day. I went with some friends. They have some light alcoholic and non-alcoholic food and drink options. They have a great selection of games to choose from as well as some games you could purchase. On a big shelf I saw a wide selection of games including versions of Catan, Pandemic, Cranium and Risk. A few friends of us came after an afternoon happy hour, so we chose a game that wasn't too complicated. We chose Monopoly Deal, which none of us had played before but we were able to figure it out despite having some drinks earlier. The place is big, comfortable and open to players of old ages, this is a nice family friendly cost-effective place to hangout. read more

Next Level Board Game Cafe - Tabletop Games Near Me - Mountain View, California

I've been visiting this board game cafe since June 2024 every month, and every visit is always amazing! I am so happy the kitchen got opened up, all the food I've tried is delicious, and everyone who work here is always helpful and nice. Also, it's easy to book events for larger groups via email. Definitely highly reccomend and I will be back many times read more

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I love how this cafe has a flat rate of $8 per person for 3 hours of play and then +$5 for each hour after (kinda sad they changed the pricing and policy because it used to be $7 for unlimited hours). There are plenty of different games to choose from and the workers there will explain how to play the game if you need any help. Too bad they're closing this cafe soon because I enjoyed hanging out with friends here :( read more

Such a fun and affordable spot to frequent in the Castro area! My boyfriend and here at Castro often, but we have never stepped foot in this store! I am only aware of this place because my Yelp friend Kimberly C. enjoys coming here monthly. My partner and I decided to take a peek on a Tuesday night, and it was so much fun. We loved the cozy ambiance, the friendly customer service and the organized boardgames. I super appreciate the large selection and different categories, like "for two" etc! It is $7 per person and I'd say that is a fair price! We accidentally stayed 18 minutes past closing, and I just want to apologize to the owners about that! No staff member noticed us we were past operating hours, which is a bit sweet, but I promise I would not have minded a heads-up! Again, so sorry! Thank you for your service!! We'll definitely come again. read more

Honestly, I was a little surprised to see how full this place was. We had a group of 9 of us on a Saturday afternoon, and luckily there was 1 last table we could have taken, but having such a big group, the hosts were able to give us a private room instead. While the room was just a bit tight on the short ends of the table, there was still plenty of room to squeeze 5 adults and 4 kids and play all together. Plus we could be as loud as we wanted. Since I was the first one to arrive (no reservation), and also it being my first time here, the host was really good about explaining the system and letting me claim one of the tables first (when I thought we had a smaller group). I did read ahead of time that we could bring in drinks, so we brought our boba, and also ordered a couple of sodas for the kids. I liked that they had a section for new games that you can purchase and play right away (that was fairly full too). There were a variety of games, and while we didn't need help from the hosts, it was nice to know they were there to help explain anything else. But I'm guessing private room is the best if your friends are organized enough to swing it and book ahead of time. Otherwise, the price per person wasn't bad, considering we could stay as long as we wanted and had so many choices in games. read more

They have so many games here. They have snacks, tea and alcohol that you can purchase while you play board games. It's also in a very good location that's close to restaurants nearby if you're looking for a good meal before or after playing. There's also a parking lot around the corner with 3 hours limit. The service is great and it's 7$ per person for admission that you pay afterwards. There's only one restroom though so you might have to wait before you can use it. I think this is the only drawback and may not be necessarily very clean since it's shared with people who may not have a good aim. read more

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A Hidden Gem for Board Game Lovers! Brought my little cousins here on a Saturday evening, and wow--this place was buzzing with energy! It was packed, but we were seated right away (lucky us!). For just $7 per person with no time limit, we had unlimited access to endless board game fun--a rule I absolutely love. We dove into a round of Catan: Explorers and Pirates, and when I completely blanked on the rules, one of the super helpful staff members jumped in to guide us through it. The staff here are amazing and make the experience so much better. If you end up liking the games you play, they are available for purchase at a discount which is a great deal. They've thought of everything: free water for all, bottled drinks for sale, plus a variety of snacks and candies to keep the energy going. So thrilled to see this place thriving in the Mountain View community--it's a must-visit for game nights! read more

Next Level Board Game Cafe - Tabletop Games Near Me - Mountain View, California

So many board games to choose from and well-organized by category. My kids and I spent a few hours here and had a great time. The staff were friendly and recommended several games. Will definitely return! read more

We have been anticipating the arrival of Next Level Board Cafe for a while, as we always walk past it on our way to downtown Mountain View. Unfortunately, they had to delay their opening by several months due to permit issues, so we were very happy when we walked past it one day and noticed they were open! It just happened to be the first day of their soft opening weekend! We had a fun time chatting with the owners, Rebecca and Sean, about the place. For now their kitchen is closed, but they are in the process of getting an alcohol permit and will hopefully soon have a menu offering small bites and snacks. They currently have a full wall of games you can try and a separate section where you can buy any games you may want to take home. The games are organized by type of game (strategy, party, etc.). It was not the most organizational strategy if you are looking for something specific (i.e., alphabetical), but Sean explained it is because they want to encourage guests to talk to them, so that they can get to know their customers and help guests discover new games. They have a wide range of games - you'll find something for all skill levels so don't be scared off if you're new to board games. Sean was very helpful in helping us figure out what game to try (we like board games, personally, so he asked us our skill level, similar games we like to play, game mechanics we prefer). We decided to play the Lost Ruins of Arnak, and we were excited to be the first ones to pop out of all the pieces and help them open the game. This was a brand new game to us, and Sean was very helpful in helping us set up the game and start playing. He was also able to step back once we had the basics down, and periodically checked in on us to see how we were doing. The owners are trying to organize board game meet ups and community events. We appreciate the community they are trying to build in this space. It's a great place to hang out with friends and offers more than your average restaurant or bar. It's a much needed addition to downtown Mountain View. We're excited to return and bring our friends! read more

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The location is great, and the layout of the room makes it comfortable to play any of the various games they have. Their selection is filled with familiar and unique games. The staff are friendly and helpful, and will give you recommendations and teach you how to play the games. I would come back to this spot. read more

Great service! Great prices! Great non alcoholic options too! Super fun place to hang out for casual and serious gamers

Came here on a rainy day to play some games! Next Level is a cozy and fun space that can accommodate a whole lot of different game playing parties, and the owners(?) are great about coming around to check in on folks and teach them the game rules if they're not familiar with a new game. Came with some board game newbies so we kicked off with easy pickup games like splendor and courtisans, but next time I'd love to spread out and play something more complicated! read more

Next Level Board Game Cafe - Courtisans - Tabletop Games Near Me - Mountain View, California

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This place is so cute and fun!! Definitely a gem - almost reluctant to leave a review in case it gets toooo popular, but the praise is well deserved. For $7 per person, unlimited games/hours, this is such a fun way to spend an afternoon either on a date or with a couple of friends. They also host social events so you can meet new people. There's a small selection of snacks/drinks as well, and tables of varying sizes for smaller (2-4) and bigger (8-10ish) groups. They also have a selection of games you can buy. Highly recommend!! read more

We happened to walk by this place on our way to lunch and ended up going in to check it out and spending the entire afternoon there. The space, the service and the food were all great! Our kids of ages ranging from 9-14 enjoyed it and we had an enjoyable lunch! Will definitely be back here! read more

We had so much fun there. The game collection is amazing, plenty to chose from. We had a blast! The owner is very friendly, would also help explain the rules of any game you ask if it's too hard. We went on a Friday evening. If you arrive before 7 you could easily get a spot, but if you're going after that then a reservation would be good. Highly recommend! read more

Next Level Board Game Cafe - Board game - Tabletop Games Near Me - Mountain View, California

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I'm thrilled that Next Level has moved in right off of Castro St. It's the perfect addition of an activity space, and it will be a great spot to hang out at especially on rainy days. For now, price was $7/person which is an excellent value. Love their wide selection of games, the welcoming staff (we met Sean and Becs) who were so helpful in getting us situated/advising us on game selection/checking in when we had game play questions. We tried Terraforming Mars, which had a learning curve but was fun -- this place is fantastic for games enthusiasts who want to give games a spin before buying or appreciate variety (like a candy store but for games!). They also have games for sale. I'll be back and look forward to trying the food once the kitchen gets set up! read more

Next Level Board Game Cafe - Board game options, organized by type! - Tabletop Games Near Me - Mountain View, California

Wonderful and unique place in downtown Mountain View to play games and hang out. The entry price of only $7 per person for an unlimited amount of time is such a great value, especially when you can choose from such an extensive collection of games. The staff members are so friendly and knowledgeable, and will periodically check in to see if you have any questions about a game or if you need recommendations about what to play next. They also have a selection of games for sale--we've already bought six in the past year! Looking forward to when their kitchen will be ready, but in the meantime, they have snacks for sale. read more

This small business, which opened its doors in November 2023, has quickly become a cornerstone of our community, especially for those of us who cherish tabletop and board games. Next Level Board Game Cafe has created a welcoming haven for enthusiasts, providing a safe and inviting space for people of all ages to gather, connect, and indulge in their love for gaming. What sets them apart is not just their wide array of games or their vibrant atmosphere, but the sense of community they foster. In a time when many of us have struggled to reconnect and build new friendships, they've made it easier by hosting regular weekly and monthly events that bring people together in meaningful ways. The impact Next Level Board Game Cafe has had on our local community cannot be overstated. They've not only survived the challenges of the post-lockdown world but have thrived, building a loyal following and creating a true gathering place where friendships are formed over shared interests. In a city like Mountain View, where spaces for genuine community interaction are rare, they've filled a unique and much-needed niche. I believe Next Level Board Game Cafe embodies the spirit of what makes Mountain View special--a place where local businesses can create lasting bonds within the community. read more

It is a lovely locally owned business! They have so many fun games and are very accommodating!

Fantastic place to play board games at a very reasonable cost of $7/person for as long as you want. I met both Rebecca and Sean and they were super friendly and very helpful. No food as of yet so stay tuned for that, I'm excited to come back here to try other games. There are no reservations available for the regular tables, but there are some bigger areas you can reserve that will cost a bit more. read more

$7 all you can play! They have great selection of board games. Staff is super friendly and actually provide instructions/tutorials to new games. Made the process of learning new games super easy. read more

Our family visited this board game cafe for the first time yesterday in celebration of one of our friend's birthdays. The kids had such a blast learning how to play new games, all thanks to their very attentive staff. Their staff periodically rotates throughout the store offering age appropriate game suggestions and explains the instructions to you. It was great to see so many tables packed with people playing and spending quality time with one another. We definitely want to come by again in the future! read more

Next Level Board Game Cafe - Learning a new game - Tabletop Games Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Amazing employees, amazing vibe, amazing selection, and amazing value. I went here with 2 friends and managed to spend the whole afternoon learning catan. When we left, literally all of us were talking about how this is a great place and we can't wait to be back and for their cafe/kitchen to be open. read more

This place has friendly staff, a great selection of games for a variety of board gamer levels & player numbers, and regularly hosts weekend meetups to teach folks new games. All these perks are not free, but the fee is worth the amenities offered. PS. It's conveniently located close to a free parking garage and downtown food places. read more

Super cool place to hangout! They have such a cool selection of games for everybody. The staffs were really friendly and happy to help you select games. My wife and I came at 2pm on Sunday and was able to find a table and we spent the whole afternoon playing 2-people codename. It got really crowded around 4pm I think people had to put their name on waitlist so definitely come early on weekends! read more

Awesome game selection, fun vibe, and friendly staff to help explain a new game I'd never played. Definitely recommend!

This place is an awesome new gem in downtown Mountain View. Staff is friendly, they have a nice selection of games and the vive is cozy and fun. Can't wait for the kitchen to open! read more

Had a wonderful experience at the Next Level Boardgame Cafe in Downtown Castro! At $7 entry fee and a wide range of games to choose from, this was so worth it and exceeded my expectations. I'm glad I attended one of the community meetup events. It was much smoother and easier to find groups of people to play with than I thought, even though I came alone. Rebecca and Sean were also very nice and knowledgeable about the games and were very supportive with helpful tips through the different plays. read more

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Such a cool concept - you go in with your friends and can play unlimited board games for only $7/head. We were greeted by one of the owners, who was very friendly and suggested a number of different board games from their large and diverse collection. She even walked us through all the rules and setup of the game, so we could start playing right away. Then we worked on a big collaborative puzzle that they have set up for anyone to work on. This place has a great vibe for a friend hangout, date night, family outing, or birthday party. Can't wait to come back! read more

Next Level Board Game Cafe - Tabletop Games Near Me - Mountain View, California

Excellent service and great game recs. My friend group found decrypto from Sean's recommendation and it is amazing!

Such a great place with friendly staff that really took to the time to teach us a new game (Wingspan! Had been wanting to learn that for a while). The overall vibe was really friendly and fun and inviting. Can't wait for them to have beer/wine and some food soon! read more

Super friendly staff and chill atmosphere. The staff even offered to teach us the rules of the games and gave us great suggestions for our little group. I really appreciated that the games were separated by type. It made it very easy for us to narrow down on a game choice. read more