Knight Moves Cafe
Cafe · Brookline ·

Knight Moves Cafe

Cafe · Brookline ·

Vast board game library, knowledgeable staff, great coffee & eats

board games
game selection
friendly staff
bring your own food
bring your own drinks
fun place
cozy atmosphere
coffee
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null
Knight Moves Cafe by null

Information

1402 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446 Get directions

$10–20

See Menu
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Cozy
Family friendly
Good for groups

Information

Static Map

1402 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446 Get directions

+1 617 487 5259
knightmovescafe.com
@knightmovescafe

$10–20 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Cozy
•Family friendly
•Good for groups
•Coffee
•Credit card accepted
•Debit card accepted

Last updated

Dec 26, 2025

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Tavern of Tales Board Game Bar to Open in Mission Hill Spring 2019 | Eater Boston

"A small network of board game–focused venues with locations in Brookline and Somerville that provide spaces to play tabletop games; these locations do not incorporate custom sound design into gameplay." - Terrence Doyle

https://boston.eater.com/2019/1/15/18183806/tavern-of-tales-mission-hill-board-game-bar
Knight Moves Cafe

Art W.

Google
We had so much fun! Sadie did a wonderful job helping us with games and food. The atmosphere was perfect—a lute player! This was truly a highlight of our trip. We will definitely be back! Thanks! 🙏

David F.

Google
Azar, our server, was lovely; and the venue is excellent. We came in on a hot chocolate crawl (though we’ve been here several times for the games and they were great), and Azar handled us excellently. We just wanted to note that the hot chocolate mix, while tasty, is a little on the sweet side, and that Azar deserves a raise.

Kaileen

Google
We've been a couple of times and really enjoyed the game selection. The cafe itself has always been decent as well. My advice would be to call ahead and confirm that there is no event going on since the website and social media aren't always correct. Today we arrived just before 2pm and, instead of being greeted, were immediately told that there were no tables for two available. When I asked to be added to the waitlist, we were told that there was an event at 4 and we should come back at 5. We had driven significantly out of our way to visit and waiting around another 3 hours would have been ridiculous. There were no mention of a private event on the website or socials. Overall, this was a disappointing experience, and I'm not particularly inclined to return.

Matt S.

Google
This place is very cool, there's a ton of games to choose from and the staff is knowledgeable about the games to give recommendations based on what you're looking for. I would recommend reserving ahead of time as space is limited and people want to be there.

Sanath B

Google
This is an amazing cafe to spend time with a group of friends or your family. They also have a massive collection of board games to try out and the ambience is great too. You can also order food and drinks and I felt it was great. The staff was very kind and I would definitely love to visit again!

Gabriella

Google
A nice spot for a fun night out with friends or family. We were able to get our names on the waitlist and come in on a Saturday night after waiting only 20-30 minutes on the list. There is an incomprehensibly large game selection that offers anything one might want. There is plenty of space and the ambiance is relaxing.

Gerrich B.

Google
A very good place to go if you want to spent an evening with friends having fun. Knight Moves allows you to test a lot of boardgames for a fair price. I came here with five friends and enjoyed it very much. You can go around and get excited about all the games , discuss which you want to play and then play some. In the end you will probably keep ln playing one game , the best you played before. I tell you , I had a great time here. You can bring your own food for a small fee and stay as long as you want. The Milkshakes a superb!

Ashley

Google
Really enjoyed this cool little joint in Brookline! Fun and cozy atmosphere with a surprising variety of items on the menu (drinks, sandwiches, milkshakes, snacky stuff). Had a great time with friends learning how to play a strategy game I’d never heard of before.
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Michelle M.

Yelp
Was looking for late night milkshakes and happened to stumble upon this place, a board game cafe! Didn't know what to expect coming in, but quickly learned you basically pay to play unlimited games. Since you do have to pay a game fee, I suggest making a night out of it to get your moneys worth. They have all the board games you can imagine, and then some...card games, two player games, etc. Everything is categorized so you can navigate pretty easily. They even have a suggestions board if like us, you don't know what to play. We came pretty late so only stayed a little over an hour...but we got our milkshakes so it was worth it. Actual place is open late some nights but they seem to stop serving food/drinks beforehand, so keep that in mind. Honestly we had fun and this is a chill way to spend a night out.
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Melody A.

Yelp
Cute indoor space for board games with drinks, snacks and fresh made sandwiches. There are multiple walls of board games spread around the multiple rooms inside and not obvious at first glance. The place was at capacity when I visited around 6 PM on a Saturday. Looks like a fun spot of friends or couples!
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Rav H.

Yelp
Love this place! I've been once before and had a great time. There are thousands of boardgames to choose from ranging in difficulty level, number of players and subject. The cafe serves food, but you have the option to bring your own food and drinks in (including alcohol) for an additional $5 pp. The staff was incredibly nice. My party of 5 went on a Sunday afternoon and got a table pretty easily. Street parking was plentiful. Great way to spend a night with friends!
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Natalie T.

Yelp
Love it here. One of my dear friends worked here for a bit- love coming in with friends and playing games, or grabbing a hot chocolate and getting some work done

J R.

Yelp
Went to get a coffee on the weekend but we couldn't sit down at a table because they were reserved for people playing games. The coffee was fine but we had to leave as soon as we got our order.
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Melanie H.

Yelp
I had never heard of an official board game cafe before but love the concept and knew this was a must visit! And boy did it exceed my expectations! The shop from the exterior is a cute little White Castle but the inside is a jam packed game house! The people that work there are so nice and willing to help if it's your first time visiting! They have a game charge of $10 per person but allows you to play any game and lasts for the whole day! They also had really good sandwiches and I just overall loved the vibe of this cafe tucked amongst the crammed board games! My friends and I stayed for a couple hours and managed to get through 4-5 games but will definitely have to come back to try more of their selection in the future!
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Amber S.

Yelp
Such an awesome experience and super glad my boyfriend and I got to come here for our anniversary date. We're still exploring Massachusetts and this is a definite must check out place for a fun night out with friends, family, or a date! Super Unique experience: Cool board games stacked in multiple book cases throughout (only pictured 1) + Great treats, coffee, and drinks !!! Price & Worth: We payed $15 per person (not including food and drinks) but not bad considering we stayed for about 3 hours! We played 1 game because it was our first time playing it and because of the complex strategies it made it confusing at first, but fun for a 1st round. Already can't wait to go back and get a re-do! We got there around 7 but by 8-9 it was packed for a Saturday so keep this in mind if you want to bring a big group it may be worth coming in earlier in the evening. However, they're open till 2am Saturdays so you could make it a late night out! The food prices were decent, they have sandwiches, coffees, drinks, hot cocoa, brownies etc. Food: We shared a Brownie Sundae and its melts in your mouth, gone in a blink good!!!! Definetly give it a taste! Their Hot Cocoa and Coffee was also pretty good Service: We met the owner Devon, and he was beyond nice offering help picking a game and he was open to answering any questions we had. He treated every customer the same which was nice to witness. It was just him along with one other staff member serving food/drinks so it may take a bit to come out, which we were fine with as it gave us time to put the game together and review the rules, but they kindly apologized for the delay anyway. If want a fun experience, need a bite or a great place to hangout, and want to support a local business, check this place out!
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Melody W.

Yelp
Both my fiancé and I came by this place, hoping to get a drink and play a board game before heading to Coolidge Corner Theater for the midnight viewing. Imagine our excitement dwindle down to annoyance after not finding any staff available at the front and back of the house (yes, we walked to the back) for the 25+ minutes we waited around. 3 other walk-in customers also waited in line, only to end up leaving or walking about. After being unable to locate any staff members, we ended up leaving. It would not matter anyways, considering how packed the place was (on a Sat night) with no clear directives of how to seat ourselves and pay for the service. Sad to say this is a disappointing experience and we did not get the chance to experience the board game/cafe vibes of it. Lower your expectations before giving this place a try if going on a busy night.
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Isaac R.

Yelp
For 10 bucks you can play an enormous collection of games for an evening. For an extra 5 you can bring your own food and drink too!
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Sam T.

Yelp
My first time at a board game cafe, and boy was it an experience. The group I visited Boston with had a couple board game fanatics, so we decided to check out this place before heading out for dinner. We were there for more than three hours, and after dinner, we came back for more. Upon entering we feasted our eyes upon set after set of floor-to-ceiling shelves stocked to brimming with board games. Old and new, simple and complex, all different types. Apparently there's even a cellar full of thousands more. It was pretty spectacular. The place had just reopened for COVID and there were groups of old timers playing games at various tables. There's a lot of space to spread out at. The tables and chairs are lovingly well-worn, and the place had a sort of charmingly cluttered organization. It cost $10 per person for unlimited games and to stay as long as we wanted to. (Also allowed us to leave and come back for the day). We chose to play terraforming Mars. The owner was super nice and taught us the whole game even though he was clearly busy and receiving a ton of business calls throughout. The game itself was very fun and before we knew it a couple hours had whizzed by. We left for dinner and then decided we wanted to go back to try another more simple game before we left. That was fun too. Didn't get to try the food or drinks, but overall seems like a fun place to hang with friends on a rainy day or to try out new board games.
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Meg K.

Yelp
Came here a bit after noon on a Saturday and it was empty, but it quickly filled up after lunch. The owner gave us a tour of the place before providing us with board game recommendations. The place itself is quaint and cozy with so so so many games! We were there for a few hours and time flew by. Pricing is pretty reasonable: $15 for as long as you want on weekends! You can bring your own food in, but there's a $5 per person charge for doing so. While I was there I got a peach smoothie, which was delicious. The AC was also broken but it was still enjoyable to be there. I'll be back!
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Cobi F.

Yelp
What a time. What a place. What a smooth Bobby. Had a BLAST playing games with friends but perhaps most surprising is my newfound friendship with Bobby Smooth who was dynamite behind the counter all night.
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Bethany W.

Yelp
Fun place to wait for friends, or just to spend an afternoon. There is a good selection of games and the coffee was good and good prices. didn't have any of the food, but it all looked super tasty. fun, relaxing vibes.
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Hanna G.

Yelp
I honestly never knew these places existed until one of my friends suggested meeting up here! What a terrific idea for someone like me who loves board games, but I'm quickly running out of space in my own home to put the countless (not as loved) games acquired. This is a fantastic way to hang out with friends and to TEST out games before purchasing for yourself. It's a reasonable price for $5 for weekdays and $10 for weekends and additional $2/person if you want to bring your own food and drinks. They also have a modest offering of their own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. We tried the hot dog, which was nothing to write home about. I agree with the other visitors that their game selection is extensive but VERY UNORGANIZED. Is it so unreasonable to ask one of the staff members whether they had a LIST of the games they hand on hand? There is no rhyme or reason to how the games are organized. They're just stuffed back to wherever fits after the patrons are done using. -1 star for the chaotic mass of games to sort through. However, if you are unsure the staff members can help recommend games for your group to try. On the weekends such as when we arrived we actually needed to wait awhile before getting a free table for a group of 5-6. Part of the space was used as a makeshift educational/art workshop for kids in the back so some of the space was unavailable. Some of the games we played while there were Smarty Party/Pants (this is such a weird and dated trivia game), Dixit, Cards Against Humanity (ugh basic game that I don't want to play again) and a Map based location game that I forgot the name of. We had hoped to try out Tokaido and Settlers of Catan but they were in high demand and another group wanted to use it instead. Anyway I'd love to come back to this place and try out a new set of games in the future more equipped with food and drinks.
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Debbie M.

Yelp
Knight Moves is super cool. They have a broad range of board games from lightweight party games to heavier games. They have both classic, popular games as well as the newest, "hot" games. They have coffee drinks, "cup of candy", paninis, smoothies and shakes. I come here for the vibes and the board games. They do also have BYOB. I love the Green Monster Smoothie . The owner Devon is super friendly and has deep knowledge of board games. While it was very busy when we were there, but Devon still took the time to teach us a game. I first went to this cafe to go to a board game Kickstarter Launch. Devon is friends with many publishers in the industry so he is able to host some cool events. This weekend it was very busy, the tables were full, and I loved that if you find my reviews helpful, please let me know
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Alex G.

Yelp
Love the atmosphere and the incredible collection of games! Great people and good selection of food/drinks. Definitely a place to check out with friends in Boston.
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Della S.

Yelp
Great spot to hang out with friends, and they have a lot of games which even two people can play. You pay a set price per person and you can stay for as long as you'd like. On Mondays-Wednesdays it is $5 per person, but on Thursdays-Sundays it's $10 per person. They also have some drinks/food you can order such as coffee, tea, milkshakes, sandwiches, and pastries. You can also bring your own food/drink/alcohol for $5 a person. You can ask for water at no extra cost. For two people, a pot of tea ($5), and a frozen lemonade with peach ($6), the total came to $32 on a Saturday. There was only one person working at the counter on a Saturday afternoon, and the place got pretty packed. She seated groups first, then dealt with the accumulated food/drink orders. Somebody came in to just order coffee but she turned him away because she was too busy. The board games are on multiple shelves and there wasn't any apparent organization of them so if you're looking for a particular game then it might take some time to find. The games are in playable condition but definitely very used. The cafe itself is pretty small, so the tables are close together. The cafe is quite stuffy. I probably wouldn't order anything from the menu in the future because the place didn't seem very clean. The frozen lemonade was great but as soon as the employee turned on the blender, everyone's game was disrupted because the blender was so loud. They have donuts on display at the counter but they're not covered and I spotted some fruit flies buzzing around the donuts... I'll probably end up coming back because there aren't that many board game cafes in the area. They have a very large selection of board games, and they're open pretty late. However I'll either be eating beforehand or bringing my own food.
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Catherine M.

Yelp
This a really good and unique cafe. Devon has over 2,000 games. It's $15 to play on the weekends and it's a great place to come with friends especially if you want to try some new games. Devon is great and very knowledgeable of any type of game you were looking for. There are also snacks and many different drinks.
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Rhiannon G.

Yelp
Came here a little before midnight on a Friday night, and I must say it is very cute and very chill place to hang out, day or night. They have an insanely good collection of board games and card games and plenty of tables of different sizes for any group to hang out and play games! The food is OK, not great not bad. I got the caprese panini and wasn't blown away but the flavor is good. I finished the plate but wouldn't get another. However, the brownies they offer are awesome, truly a good brownie. The service was great, friendly and fast, however it was pretty empty when I went. I'm sure the quality of the service doesn't change with busy-ness though! All around, I would come back, and actually play games next time.
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Walter L.

Yelp
The idea of knight moves can be fun but is poorly executed when at high capacity. And tonight while the board game shop was full I did not feel respected by the person at the counter. I've been a fan of knight moves for a long time but this experience makes me reconsider my patronage. I'm not sure if I will drop by again.
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Jeff H.

Yelp
This is a great place to hang out with your friends! They offer drinks and sandwiches, tables and games, all for a small fee. The staff is very helpful and friendly and everyone there was having a good time. Every city needs a place like this.
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Maddy M.

Yelp
This was such a great experience with friends! The tables and chairs felt very cozy; the whole place had a living room kind of feel to it. The selection of games was immense as promised and time felt like it flew by. Didn't realize you can pay a $5 fee to bring as much of your own food as you want, or get café snacks-- I'll be back for a milkshake!
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Vicki G.

Yelp
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I came with a few friends a few weeks ago and I never wanted to leave. We came on a Saturday afternoon and it was pretty empty. They have an ENORMOUS selection of games; it's impossible to run out of options. The woman at the counter was also super sweet!! My friends ordered a nutella milkshake and I ordered a latte, which were both pretty good!!! Overall, the atmosphere was super cozy and nice and the variety of board games is very impressive. Great way to spend an afternoon! Highly recommend!!!
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Vivian C.

Yelp
Knight Moves is a boardgame cafe in Coolidge Corner. One nice little bonus is the half hour magic show in the back on Friday evenings - Eric Benton's Magic Test Kitchen. Magician Eric takes this opportunity to test out new tricks in front of a live audience
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Grace Y.

Yelp
Last night I hosted an event here for about 50 people. We booked out the two rooms towards the back of the cafe for two hours, and it was $300. We were allowed to bring our own food and drink, so we ordered some food and brought some alcohol to consume there. The space was a little tight, and it felt a little too warm and claustrophobic at times. The bathroom, however, is extremely well kept and comfortable. It's probably the comfiest part of the whole cafe lol. They have tons and tons of board games, most of which I've never even heard of, but they're also pretty worn and some have missing parts.
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Sarah W.

Yelp
My wife and I had been here years ago, but we got old and had kids and subsequently have no life, so it's been a while. We realized that we had a babysitter booked and had somehow... made zero plans. "C'mon," I said, "Let's go down to the board game cafe. It'll be fun! We can bring booze and get takeout and play games." "I don't know," she said, "Doesn't that sound a lot like... what we could do at home?" "It'll be different!" I insisted, "We'll be among The People!" So we got takeout from different places, brought in some beers, parked easily along Beacon Street, and headed over. You know what? We *could* have done this at home, except we wouldn't have been able to: -Try new games (with unlimited tips/instructions from a very patient and enthusiastic Devin, the host) -Try old games (Connect Four! Battleship! Totally underrated! Legit fun, especially after a drink or two) -Have ready and easy access to snacks we'd never keep in stock at home (mmm, nutella milkshake) -Escape from the loving yet persistent responsibility of parenting two young kids -Appreciate the wonderful and excellent nerdy, game-playing population in Boston This was lots of fun, I can't wait to go back!

Stefanie Z.

Yelp
Everything about this place is right up my alley! Welcoming, cozy atmosphere, delicious tea and paninis, and so many games!!!
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Lisa Z.

Yelp
I came here in a group of 8 people in the hopes of a board game night. It's $5 per person M-W. There are sooooo many video games here that it's impossible to count how many the store owns. My friends and I played avalon mostly and 1 other game towards the end that I can't remember. The place closes at 11p. Everyone seems to order the mango smoothie or the hot chocolate. The hot chocolate js reeeaaally yummy, not too sweet. The whipped cream on top is a bit too sweet too. Would definitely come back here to have game night with my friends.
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Kathleen L.

Yelp
This place was a total serendipitous find! So cool there's a space to play games with a homey living room cafe/coffee shop vibe!! Who knew how many thousand of board games there are?! And what a fun group activity!!
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Yesung S.

Yelp
Cute place to go on a date or just with a few of your friends! My boyfriend and I came in the middle of the week when it was slow, but I know it can get really busy on weekends. The location is a little small, but it has a cozy house vibe that makes it fun. I haven't tried any of the food, but the water came in cute little goblet cups. There are so many games! Honestly I only knew like three or four of them, but it was fun to learn new games. There's a lot of meter parking outside.
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Victoria C.

Yelp
A boardgame cafe right around Coolidge Corner making it a perfect place for a fun game night with friends. I came here on a Saturday night with a couple of friends and we got a table in the back and were pretty excited to find some new games to play. The guy at the counter told us it was $10 admission and we could come and go as we'd like as our admission rate is for the entire day, which I thought was pretty cool to know. All of the shelves are packed filled with different types of games, so we looked around and all picked out a board game that seemed interesting. We encountered a few problems with missing pieces or instructions, so we couldn't play any of the games we originally picked out. Thus, we were on the search for a simple game that had all the pieces and instructions to follow. There is a smaller shelf of games, which seemed to be quicker games compared to the large board games on the other side. We found better luck here and played Sparkle Kitty and Cobra Paw. Both games had all the pieces and quick directions to learn how to play. I'd definitely like to come back when I have more time to learn how to play different board games.
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Mina G.

Yelp
Came here at night. 1st time trying board games and it was a ton of fun! Tons of games I never heard of. Staff were friendly to recommend and explain games. It's 5$ per person and an additional 5$ if you bring your own drinks. Atmosphere was friendly and it seemed always packed. I think most people spend several hours there. Fun would try again.
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Aviva G.

Yelp
Such a fun, cool little spot in Brookline - highly recommend! And the owner is super friendly!
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Rick G.

Yelp
This place is pretty cool, with the exception of running into an escaped mental patient here one month ago I have never had anything less than a great time here! Pro Tip---This is for all the rookies, when you show up and are searching for a game to play, DO NOT crowd/distract other people that are seated already playing games, its poor form. Tell'em Rick sent you, chill out, and have fun.
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Rémi M.

Yelp
Went yesterday with my brother and girlfriend. And was pretty disappointed. The guy at the front desk barely welcomed us, keeping his headphones on his ears. We asked him what kind of games would match our needs and he picked 3 he handed us...then went back behind his desk: no explanations, just an implicit "leave me alone now". He never checked in to ask if everything was fine and we spent 1h just trying to understand the rules of the games. Also, if you want food or drinks be prepared to spend $7 on a milk-shake. Prices are quite crazy. I understand that this is how the business is making its money but be reasonable... I was expecting better given the reviews and how welcoming the one in Somerville is. On the bright side, there are a lot of games and the decoration is great although we feel that it used to be better and plastic tables are slowly replacing the old-fashion stuff. Too bad.
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Jennifer W.

Yelp
There aren't too many board game cafes, so this is a nice place to spend a few hours with some friends, especially if you don't own many board games yourself. I went on a Friday, and it was $10 to get in, and apparently it's a few dollars to BYOB/BYOF. They have some snacks and drinks available. I bought a milkshake (they have vanilla and nutella), and it was quite good, though it was a bit runnier and sweeter than I thought it'd be. Would still recommend though!
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Greg Y.

Yelp
As another reviewer previously described, this cozy gamer spot is your living room away from home so make plans to stay a while and play some games! Mon-Wed it's a $5 admission fee, and Thurs-Sun is $10. The biggest change is that they now charge an additional $5 to bring your own food and drinks in (it used to be $2). Their boardgame assortment is pretty large but they don't appear to be in any particular order so just take your time and look for the game you want! The cashier will typically direct you to an appropriate table based on the size of your party. Staff has been pretty friendly in all the times I have visited -- sometimes there will be someone wandering around and checking in to see whether or not we need anything. I think if there was someone who would offer to help us find a game from time to time, that would improve everyone's experience drastically. I'm quite impressed with the restroom in the back of the room too. For a place this size to have only 1 restroom, it's well-kept. Anyway, 4/5 stars because the increased price for bringing in food and drink seems a tad unnecessary to me. I'll still come with my squad though because a gamer's gotta game.
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Samuel K.

Yelp
A cafe... FOR BOARD GAMES! You pay a one time fee for the day and you can play allllll day (or night, on the weekends)! They have an impressive collection of board games- many different kinds and genres of games for your enjoyment. Monday-Wednesday: $5 Thursday-Sunday:$10 Whenever I come here with a couple of friends, we pay the one time fee and play all day. You can also BYOB and drink as you're playing board games.
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Damien S.

Yelp
To call this the best tabletop game cafe in Brookline is a bit of an understatement. After all, it is the only tabletop gaming cafe in Brookline. But let's not allow semantics to overshadow the sheer breadth of board games, fireside warmth and incredible baked goods found within its Beacon Street nook. To say Knight Moves has more games than your entire collective nerd clan who just raided their extended nerd clan's garages and attics is an understatement. We played Ticket To Ride and Beardos and our neighbors played Star Trek: Catan, which left approximately 276 other options for you to peruse. Or I could just share their list: http://knightmovescafe.com/game-library/ To say the cocoa is rich and creamy, and a full tray of assorted (and reasonably priced) cookies, jam bars, chocolate covered pretzels, cakey brownies and anise-flavored gems disappeared within moments would be, in fact, two independent understatements. To say the entry fee ($10; Mon-Tues has a $5 special running!) is high for a fly-by, but a steal for a long night of intense board gaming with friends, is a collective understatement. To say the staff makes you feel like family, only more welcomed, is... well, you get it. For so many understatements, I can't say enough. Free pizza on Wednesdays!
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Emily L.

Yelp
Knight Moves: Board Game Cafe is warmly welcomed to Brookline and Boston - this is a place that offers something for everyone: standard board games (Clue, Scrabble, Connect Four), unique intense games (Settlers, Lord of the Rings, Dominion), a relaxing lounge, coffee & pastries, free wi-fi, and an all around amazing warm smell that greets you when you first walk in. I stumbled upon this lovely cafe about three weeks ago and I was fortunate enough to meet the owner, Devon. Upon entering the cafe, he warmly greeted us and gave us a quick tour of the place. There are two huge bookshelves stacked with board games and a chess board is set up near the front window for any Board 1, superb chess players that are ready to show off their moves. The cafe is still growing - on 12/10/2013 the cafe received their license from the Dept of Health to serve coffee and pastries and I think the owners are hoping to serve other food and beverages by the end of the year. Aside from coffee, the owner did go out of his way to mention that they will be offering hot choc and tea. If you're just looking to chill in their comfy lounge, admission is free and there's complimentary wi-fi! There is an admission price for those that are interested in playing the board games - $10 for those that are just stopping by and checking it out. For those that are more serious, you can become a member of the cafe for $15/month and admission is reduced to $6 per trip plus you get one free beverage per visit. If you want to play board games all day, everyday, you may want to purchase the premium membership for $120 per month - which buys unlimited admission for the month and complimentary snacks and drinks. The cafe has a partnership with Eureka - so for anyone that is in dying need to own the board game that they spent 10+ hrs playing at the cafe, they can just go across the street and buy it! http://www.eurekapuzzles.com/ I know that the owners are hoping to host events and Devon was kind enough to offer me a very generous discount since I had mentioned that I was part of the Big Sister Association. On 12/10/2013, my little sister and I took him up on the discount and we spent about 3 hours just relaxing and playing some board games. Devon was super cool and even looked up some words to see whether it was legit for scrabble points. The cafe is still doing some soft openings but I know that they are going to be open till 11 PM during regular business hours. If you want to make sure that they are open, check out their website and give them a call before heading over - http://knightmovesboston.wordpress.com. I look forward to coming here on a regular basis with friends and family!
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Debra L.

Yelp
Where has this been all my life? Knight Moves is literally board game heaven and if it were big enough, I'd probably move in. We went on a Friday night and it was love at first sight-of-mountains-upon-mountains-of-board-games. They have everything from my favorite strategy games, such as Settlers of Catan (and all the expansions) and Puerto Rico, to games that I play with kids when I babysit, such as the card game Sleeping Queens. If there's a game you want to play, they probably have it, and even if they didn't, they'd pick one out for you based on what you like and teach it to you and you'd have fun anyway. The only potential hole I could see (but didn't confirm) in their collection would be vintage games such as Operation or Guess Who, but who knows, they might have those too! This is how it works: You show up, pay $10/person, and play for as long as you want, literally. According to their website, you can even leave for a few hours, return and play, leave for another few hours, and resume playing without having to pay another $10--you're covered for the whole day. The staff are all super friendly and have mastered the art of concisely explaining a complex board game. You can BYOB or you can buy some coffee and pastries. I can't speak to how good they are because I didn't order any but while we were there, there were even two patrons who were apparently just there for the coffee and presumably the ambience of other-people-playing-board-games--the possibilities are endless. The only downside is that the space is undeniably small--with only roughly 10 table surfaces, all of which are on the smaller size, I foresee them becoming too awesome for their own good before long.
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Quynh Nhu D.

Yelp
Oh man this place is fantasticular. Finally got to come here since my school club was interested in playing some board games. The 8 of us played for hours and it only cost us $20? Are you out of your mind? It was so great to have a plethora amount of games to choose from, picking a game to play was the hard part. Actually learning how to play some of the game was also hard but the owner kindly walked us through. I totally won most of the games, go me. A cozy place with a really really cool clock. I want that clock. The front is kind of small if you have a huge line waiting at the cash reg it might be hard to move around but there is a much bigger space in the back for large group. We only had time to play through 4 different games, but will definitely come back to try others! BONUS: they sell gift certificate! BRING ALL THE FRIENDS!
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Suad M.

Yelp
For anyone who enjoys playing board games, this place will be life-changing. I don't quite understand how there isn't a month-long wait list to get in. The world needs more nerds. But I digress... I used to host game nights at my place, which were always challenging, because games are expensive, no one could agree on what to play, and well... you gotta clean up and organize some drinks / snacks if people are coming over. At Knight moves, you get the joy of a game night without the hassle of hosting. There is a cover per day, which is negligible considering the number of games available here exceeds 1,000. You can play a new game every hour. The atmosphere is very cute, and there are soft drinks to be served if needed. You can even bring your own food / booze for $5. I hear they host meet-up nights, and would absolutely join if my schedule allows. Go Knight Moves!
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Josh C.

Yelp
This place is pretty legit. They introduced me to Ticket to Ride and now I'm addicted. Food is good, when they have it. I think the atmosphere is almost a little too lax. There's not a lot of consistency in terms of when you pay, how coffee refills work, etc. It makes me uncomfortable to not know what the expectations are of the customer. The game selection is insane!!! So many games!!! And the best part is they will teach you how to play- no more reading rule cards! Have literally spent hours upon hours here.
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Seth D.

Yelp
I have been here several times and it was my most recent visit that prompted this review. The owner/founder lady was incredibly rude and made my recent visit very uncomfortable. She forced us out of our two player table and harassed us to leave after finishing a single game. I don't think I'll be coming back again because of this experience. On my recent visit I went to play with a friend (2 people). We arrived around 5:00, which is pretty early. Since we're both board game novices, we asked the owner/founder (a lady who I had never met before) what two player games she would recommend. She seemed overall very impatient and frustrated and more concerned about making sure we swiped out cards at the iPad for the $10 cover charge. Previously, I had gone in larger groups where the barista would show us what games were available and briefly explain them before having us swipe, in case we didn't seem interested. She recommended Splendor, which turned out to be a great choice. We got to sat down at the two seat chess table by the window, which is by far the best spot in the cafe. Our first game ended up being just about two hours long and finished around 7:00. The owner sat at a table right next to ours on her Macbook pro, and kept giving us mean glares and looking over our shoulders every 10-15 minutes, like we were going to steal pieces of the game or something. This unnerved me quite a bit, as I didn't know what I did to upset her. After we finished, the owner immediately hawked over to us, took the game away from us, and then asked if we were going to stay and play another game. We were not immediately sure yet, as we wanted to take a bathroom break and see what other games were available. What really upset me was that she then got very rude when we said we were staying to play another game and instructed us to move to a much smaller table in the back with two tiny stools, so that her friend could take our table by himself. When I tried to get a larger table (really any other spot), she protested saying those tables were for larger groups. This did not seem right, as there were several two player games going on at the larger tables. At this point we decided to leave, since it was clear the owner did not really want us to stick around any longer. The only pros of this place are the ambience / environment and the large selection of board games. The ambience is really the best part of this venue and the only reason I'd ever consider going again. Otherwise, the owner is incredibly unfriendly and the cover charge of $10 is not justifiable. If the cover charge included a free drink/meal, I think it would be OK. Realistically, we've ended up playing some of the same board games each time, and so in some visits you pay more in cover charges than it would cost to buy the game outright. Try out a few board games on your first visit then buy these and play them for free at any cafe.
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Lauren K.

Yelp
Really really fun board game cafe right on the C line. Came around 7-8 pm on a Saturday night in a group of 6 and there were still plenty of tables available that could seat all of us. However, there was an issue with the register at that time so we had to pay cash. Luckily there was an ATM nearby because who carries cash around anymore?! The entrance fee is $5 a person, and you can stay as long as you wish which is fantastic. However, if you are bringing any of your own food or alcohol in, the price goes up to $15 per person in your group. We brought some chips and wine so we all paid the higher price. I think it's great that they allow you to bring in your own booze, but the price increase is sort of steep and if I had to do it over again I'd probably just sneak some wine in an opaque water bottle and forego the snacks. The cafe does offer some pastries/desserts and a few hot/cold drinks (espresso, milkshakes, etc.) if you so like. Knight Moves had more games than we could think of, and over the course of about 3 hours we played What Do You Meme?, Clue, and Scattergories. The cafe didn't get really busy until 10 pm at night. My group had such a fun time here and will certainly be back. Only thing that bothered us was the heat!!! This cafe is definitely not air conditioned. It was almost unbearable when we arrived at 7, but got worse as the night progressed and more groups packed into the space. The staff was nice enough to give us a carafe of refrigerated water, thank goodness!
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Trin B.

Yelp
This place was much sweeter when you didn't have to pay to play chess. Otherwise it's cool.
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Megan O.

Yelp
This is a very cool place, I have been twice with friends. We came here this past Saturday night with 6 people and arrived around 8pm, roughly. We brought booze and snacks so it was $15 per person and they were only taking cash that night, so someone had to go across the street to the ATM. We got a nice round table for the 6 of us. There weren't that many other people when we arrived but after we got there, more and more people started coming in. They have so many games, a lot I've seen/played before and tons of ones I have never seen too! If you love board games this is definitely a place you have to check out. The staff person knew a lot about the games and was making recommendations for anyone who asked. The first time I came here was in the fall, and it was a comfortable temperature in there, so coming in June this time I was not expecting the heat. There's apparently no AC in the place so it gets very warm/muggy in there, only getting worse with more people coming in. It wasn't even very hot that day. This is a great place to hit in cooler months but I'd think twice about coming back in the summer.
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Shauna H.

Yelp
The game selection cannot be beat, and the atmosphere is fun and laid back, setting the perfect mood for either a lazy afternoon or a fun date. Speaking of dates, choose your games wisely! I had a guy take me here for a first date and he mentioned the game Splendor, but dismissed it because it's too complicated, takes a while to learn, and he felt bad about the prospect of beating me all night. Needless to say, I kicked his ass all three games, and he was so sore and emasculated that it was clear there wouldn't be a second date. I returned a few months later with another date, and I beat him all five games of Splendor, but he had a blast anyway. Guess which guy I'm marrying next year ;) Moral of the story- definitely go to Knight Moves, and definitely play Splendor, but try to avoid playing with egotistical manbabies.