Tavern of Tales: Café & Bar

Potentially my favorite experience at a restaurant. The food was very good and the experience in the game room was unmatched. Specifically, Andrea was the most amazing waitress. She was super attentive, fun, and high energy throughout the entirety of our 4 hour reservation. She was hands down the best waitress I have ever had. I would highly recommend her and would love to see her in the future. Amazing 10/10 time with friends!

I cannot recommend attending a Magic: The Gathering event at Tavern of Tales. My friends and I attended the Lorwyn Eclipsed prerelease, and the experience was stressful and poorly managed from start to finish. The Environment: The venue was overbooked and cramped. We were expected to play matches with two separate games occurring on different sides of a single round table. Navigating this space took significant time away from our rounds (a major issue since the staff were incredibly strict about match timers). The Staff: The hospitality was inconsistent. The women on staff were kind and helpful despite being clearly overworked. However, the dark-haired man running the event was snappy and hostile toward players throughout the day. Logistical Failures: Due to a payment system glitch, the staff chose to interrupt active matches to manually check every single attendee's credit card. Interrupting a timed competitive event for administrative busywork is unacceptable. The Value: A "pack per win" prize structure for an event this disorganized and crowded is simply not worth the entry fee. There are much better LGS options in the area for a fair and functional prerelease. The experience of my friends and I was so sour that we never want to return— for an MTG event or otherwise.

I was excited to find this place, and soon brought a friend there to play a new board game I recently purchased. I found out on arrival that you can't bring your own game without renting one of their rooms for $35 an hour. How does that make sense? I could go to Knights Moves to play with friends for much cheaper. Or, as we ended up doing that evening, I could go to a regular pub, and spend that $70 (what two hours would have cost us at ToT) on food and cocktails that are better than what's available at ToT.

The food is fine, the board game selection and atmosphere is really the appeal of this spot. They have a big selection of different games and rooms you can rent out for events.

Incredible drink menu with lots of unique cocktails and knowledgeable picks for beer. A couple of shots started us off and really prepared us for an awesome experience. We shared the tator tots which had the perfect amount of crunch and texture. Beer cheese is a must-have addition! The black bean melt was absolutely killer, much to my delight! The chicken in the Caesar salad was juicy and the house made dressing was delectable. Cheers to the Tavern of Tales bartender and kitchen staff for making our otherwise dreary Monday fun and unforgettable. Can’t wait for our next visit! 😁

I'm sorry but I really wanted to like this place based on my daughter's suggestion. However, the food was underwhelming and my daughter was taking is there to get the cheeseburger sliders which were not available! The excuse was that they did not receive the patties! You just need ground beef, smh. I know this is not a real restaurant but I was led to believe it was at least a pub with somewhat decent pub grub. Dude was nice and attentive at the counter but I'm just thankful I'll never have to come back!

Overrated and overpriced. A friend rented a room and I was shocked at how much we paid. We were basically renting a space to use their board games while ordering food, and honestly an Airbnb plus takeout would’ve been a better idea. one of the male staff members was pretty rude the whole night. If someone didn’t speak loudly enough for him, he’d abruptly cut them off with a “can’t hear you,” even though everyone else heard them just fine. When he brought food to the table, if people took more than two seconds to remember whose dish it was, he’d give up and say “middle of the table it goes” and walk away. He kept doing this all night like he genuinely didn’t care. If there’s a mandatory 20% tip added to the tab, the least he could’ve done was have decent customer service. It felt like he knew the tip was guaranteed, so he didn’t bother putting any effort into his service the entire night.

First time at Tavern of Tales after seeing it a while back. Super chill atmosphere, great food, and great drinks. Shoutout to Halle for being awesome and recommending her “Halle’s Tots” which were delicious and should totally be added to the menu so I can order them when I come back.And I will definitely be coming back.

I've been here for game nights and beers here and there but I'll have to say that ToT in the day time is underrated for studying or getting some work done! Super chill and relaxing atmosphere with great service. Decided to come here on a whim since I was feeling lost for inspiration and productivity at home, and so glad I did! I ordered the lavender matcha latte which was perfectly sweetened to my liking. I'll definitely be stopping by more for solo study dates and for documenting after long work days in the clinic.

Come for the games, but maybe not for the food. Tavern of Tales does a great job of creating a space for friends, family, or in my case, a double date to relax and play some games. It is a perk that they offer food and drink, but not what I'd expect people to come for. Most items are standard bar options although we stuck to drinks like the lavender matcha and lavender lemonade. Depending on the time of the day, private rooms are free to use but can be reserved for a reasonable price. Paired with frequent events, it is a must for any game enthusiasts.

Super fun venue for drinking coffee or tea or grabbing a bite to eat (they appeared to have cocktails too!) as you play board games with friends or family. They have at least 5 private rooms as well as general table seating in the main room. We had a relaxed time reading together, drinking cafe lattes, and conversing as well as staying dry on a rainy Saturday afternoon. I'd be a regular if I lived in the area!

Great spot to hang out with friends! They have a good selection of board games and the only charges are the drinks & food. Their drinks are honestly just okay, but for the chill vibes and cool games it's worth visiting.

We took a shot going here as something to do on vacation in Boston; this lil tavern was the perfect chill entertainment for our trip! Great mead and espresso martini, fantastic pretzels bites and apetizers, and superb, inviting servers! Friendly vibe with a good game selection for a few people looking for something easier than Magic the Gathering (which they have) and more interesting than cards against humanity (which they also have). 5 stars.

Awesome Spot. 5 Stars Service 5 Stars Atmosphere 5 Stars Food 5 Stars Games 5 Stars. Some I've never heard of. Beverage selection 3 stars.. great non alcoholic selection Only beef . Every alcoholic beverage is flavored.. every one vodka rum gin bourbon tequila. Speciality drinks... Really need the 5 basic alcoholic beverages not flavored. Jack Daniels, Tequila,Rum,Gin, Vodka. 3 Stars Extra Stars to the staff, friendly, welcoming,very personalable. Especially Jake. Check this place out.

I love board games, so of course I had to check out a board game bar. We stopped in with a group of 7 on a Friday night and only had to wait maybe 5 minutes to be seated. We played a few games from their huge collection, had a round of drinks, and some snacks (which were half priced after 9pm!). It was a quiet, chill vibe for a bar which we liked. They had separate rooms you could rent out with big tables for more serious games. We just played card games so a regular dining table was fine for us. I would definitely go back, this place is so unique!

My bartender Becca was not only hilarious, cracking GREAT jokes but she was so attentive while make some AMAZINGGG drinks! I'm defo gonna become a regular here all because of her

Ordered a BLT and they did not have tomatoes. Then the Table next to me received a BLT. Ordered lemonade but told they did not have lemons. Ordered a watered down drink called Potion of Healing. It had lemons in it.... Ordered Nutella on toast. Child received Cold toast with fridge cold Nutella with strawberry syrup. 2 Apathetic waitstaff. Didn't bother to check on us to ask if we wanted to pay. POC experience here. Let it stay half empty. Keep walking.

Cute little board game spot. The service was excellent and they did not try to push us off the table, despite it being a busy Friday night. The food was, well, bad. I guess you don't cone to a place like this for the food, so I was not terribly surprised. But the loaded nachos were neither loaded, nor in my opinion, nachos. They were just sad chips with dry cheese melted on too and a few sides. The selection of canned beers was good and interesting, but it would be nice if they had a few more draft beers. Overall, a fun night playing board games, just avoid the nachos.

Interesting experience for a bar! I had a lot of fun here with my friends, but sadly, the patio closed at 10 (city ordinances) and the indoor space was limited, so we had to get two game rooms (for our big party) I wish they had a bigger room for all of us to fit in, it was a little sad to split from half our friends since the whole point of going out together was to play games with everyone. However, we still had fun in our separate rooms and ended up staying pretty late, time flies! Their drinks are also unique and so tasty, I'd honestly go back just for the bar.

Came here after work one Thursday with a friend and had such a fun time! I had passed this place many times and had been wanting to check it out for a while. The vibe of the place is so chill and fun. Loved all the variety of games you could play! They also had private game rooms that it looked like you could reserve. Food was great bar food! They had a good selection of small bites and sandwiches. We shared the garlic and parm pretzel bites and they were SO delicious. Highly recommend. We also split the turkey sandwich and enjoyed that as well. With both, you really can't go wrong. I will definitely come back here. Great spot to come for drinks with friends and I love that they provide something to do as well!

Love this place. A board game spot with good food. They have a bunch of little events going on throughout the week with some of them including discounts. There's a decent game selection, and a lot of them are unique. I've discovered a few new favorite games here. There's no fee for regular game play and they have private rooms available as well - but I can't speak to those as I have never done one. The snack food is great. You get a large amount of pretzels for the price. Chips and guacamole was also pretty great. Their drink menu is diverse and fun. I have yet to be disappointed by a drink. They have a fenced in outside playing area as well. This spot will definitely be in my rotation of night out activities for as long as I live in Boston.

I really enjoyed the wide selection of games they have! It's really fun to bring a group of friends to chill, drink and play for sometime. Their selection of drinks are good. Sometimes it gets quite busy but overall, a great place to

Definitely recommend TOT if you're looking for something different and wholesome with a group of friends! The concept here is really cool. There's a cafe / waiting room outside where you can buy food (of course there are tots available, ha ha) and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The place was quite empty which surprised me. But super clean, new, and modern! You reserve your game beforehand on Resy (we reserved the game Tokaido for 4 people on a Sunday afternoon). When our group all arrived, we headed into a small game room (looks like a conference room, but with a game table set up!). You can take food/drinks in the game room and order them there as well. I was impressed with how the game was set up perfectly already with even an interactive soundboard in place. Our game host Ben was fantastic at explaining the game (they're all trained to do their job well) and also incredibly patient dealing with our long decision-making periods and terrible jokes. The gameplay itself was cute, fun, engaging, and competitive. I'll definitely come back for another game sesh next time I visit Boston! This is a totally fun activity for the days you're tired of going out to a random bar and no one wants to host at their apartment.

Food- just got a couple of drinks, east of the the sea or something which was very sweet beware. Next was a gin based drink called Final Seance which was also sweet and really tasted like coke in the end. Saw tables getting their hummus plate which seemed popular Service- very fast. Only thing that could be better is the host seemed a little pushy when we didn't order anything but we just sat down 2-3 minutes ago. Ambiance- was a lot of fun! People seemed to be having a blast. The games were also decent but wish there were more mainstream and duo player games. Popular game was Codenames

A group of 3 of us went here tonight for a good time. I liked the board game selection and they had a local beer on tap that I enjoyed. The food was alright! We got the tomato soup, flatbread pizza, and pretzel bites. While the food was good, we were a little put off by little things we wanted that they didn't have. The only whiskey they offer is jim beam honey... ew. They only have three beers on tap, and they don't have a lot of food options. The pretzel bites needed yellow mustard and they didn't have any. Just honey mustard! Everything was more or less reasonably priced... service was inattentive and hard to flag down. We played one game and left for somewhere with a bigger selection of drinks.

Such a neat spot, where you can play board games, drink, and eat snacks! The vibes were great, and our waitress was very warm and personable. The Parmesan pretzels and cheese dip were to die for, and we highly recommend it! Unfortunately, the Turkey sandwich was left to be desired. -- The bacon was burnt, and the presentation was just sloppy. I know it's not a high end establishment, but for something that is overpriced, the sandwich could be well put together at the very least. It really didn't have to look the way it did. Anyway, we had a good time, and I will certainly come back again!

Back in Boston and heard they also have morning cafe and breakfast sandwich & pastry service. They are featuring George Howell coffee and hand poured! When we were there on a Tuesday morning few tables were already occupied by working professionals. Heard from the staffs that weekends are popular with local residents and students living nearby coming to study. Love the soft music and ambiance, friendly staff, high speed internet, great coffee and food! Have to come back for the bar service!

There was a misunderstanding in terms of a Meetup group, which happens and is not the fault of the venue. The aggressive attitude of the manager Rudi and the bartender are the fault of the venue. I walked out within a minute of arrival. I suggest you look elsewhere for an enjoyable experience.

A relatively new and unique establishment. They offer a limited bar, do to their category of a cordial bar. Their main attraction is the games they play. This is similar to the establishments that offer escape rooms. This one though has game rooms which you go in and you can either play against each other or play with each other to solve whatever the game is. We decided to do a murder mystery and out of the three of us, we all made final level but only one of us actually completed the final level. A member of their staff sits in the room with you and operates the game and sometimes offers game hints. This is a new concept and opened only a few months ago. If your looking for something different to do, you should give this a try. It may not be for everybody but a good time for those that like a little bit of competition. They only offer street parking.

We as a group of 4 played Mysterium here upon their soft opening. It was really fun! Staff here is so nice to guide you through things. Very cozy environment too. We had the first batch of good coffee here! Def will come back again :)

having games are fun, but if you're here for food, think twice. i was restricted to the late night menu so their wider menu might be different but it was just frozen foods that were heated up in an oven (wouldn't be surprised if it was microwave), put on a white plate, and insanely uncharged. you might be better off buying your own board games, buying some frozen snacks, and having a night in. the service was great, so no hate to the team at all. but it's really not worth it at all.

The bartender truly sucked, but the atmosphere is nice if they just hired a new one. They have solid cocktails and fun activities, just a shitty bartender on Friday Nights, watch out for this guy.

Very clean space, charming décor, and extremely friendly staff. The prices are beyond reasonable. We got pretzels, chips, and a sandwich, and the loan of a board game and a night out cost us honestly less than what the movies would have.

Very fun place. The food was tasty, the games were fun, great ambiance and the staff was very helpful.

Ate once. Paninis were fine. After serving and putting my life on the line, I was denied access. Previously I've been a combat medic, in Afghanistan, Iraq and I just returned from the Ukraine. All I wanted was a quick drink. Wouldn't disturb anyone. I wasn't allowed at the door, found another establishment which served me politely. Very unprofessional. Only reason for two stars is because they know how to make a basic overpriced panini.

It's kind of nerd heaven. Combines a boutique bar and a LGS. Events are plentiful and scratch a lot of different nerd itches. Gaming spaces are stocked and very cool. Outdoor space is lovely and off the street. Plenty of free use table top games of all kinds. They sell Magic cards right at the bar, which, dangerous for me personally after a few drinks, but so awesome. Cocktails are good, drink variety is good, hot drinks and alcohol are all top quality. Food is tasty, though pretty high in price for the portion sizes. It's still high quality also, but if you're looking for cheap pub food to take the edge off after drinks or a big meal after a long day you're better off going for a slice at one of the cheap late night pizza joints (there's a few in stumbling distance) or to one of the taco places near by to get a bigger meal. Hosts and wait staff are super cool. Regulars that I've met are really good people. Bartenders/management seem like they openly hate each other but it's never reflected on any customer interactions other than feeling awkward to watch. Probably the coolest aspect is the Discord presence that really helps coordinate events and find games. Honestly, it's easily my favorite place to hang in all of Boston.

I had always been a little skeptical of this place - only ever see people playing cards in here - but I stopped in for a drink when I was waiting for a different reservation and I was very happy with the experience. The food looked good (but I didn't try any) and the drinks were phenomenal. Clean little bar and I will definitely be back!

Wow I did not know I needed this in my life!! The games here are so entertaining and the sound effects pair up perfectly! I highly recommend playing Mysterium (for the spooky crowd), Resistance (competitive), and Tokaido (relaxing). Clearly, I am in love with all of their games and recommend coming to try them yourself! Also side note, the game masters are amazing! I love how I don't need to spend 30 + minutes just learning how to play the game and can just dive right in. The loaded tots are also scrumptious as well as the cocktails! What's not to love?

Really fun place! I love the concept of having a game master. The immersive sound experience is super cool too! I reserved a room for 2 for Tokaido and had so much fun playing. I've seen the game in board game cafes before, but was intimidated by how complicated it looked. Not a problem here! You can also bring in drinks/food from the bar, just in case you needed something to nibble on. The cocktails we tried were super good! So much love for this place. I definitely want to come back with more people!

Staff are so accommodating and fun to play with! Mysterium was our first game and was a thoroughly enjoyable experience! Tots were missing during the soft opening but the pretzel bites and coffee were all I needed

I had just left a speaking engagement at Simmons College where one of our Congresswoman were in attendance. The feeling I had after the special occasion was an exuberance filled with hopeful bliss. I wanted to walk up to the main street of Tremont to catch a Lyft ride but needed a warm place to wait for 15 minutes. I bypassed about 5 other places to finally look at Tavern of Tales and say "Ok this place looks warm, inviting,people are eating and sitting. I knew maybe I couldn't sit so I would buy tea or drink so I could patronize the restaurant and not make it a rest stop. I had a few things in my hand and took my mask off during the walk from Simmons. As I attempted to open the Door to Tavern the guy "Tim" allegedly a POC. I try not to use that word for everyone who is non-white because I am an Obvious person of color who faces the blatant discrimination, so I do not use POC for beneficial reasons.. but Tim gave me a look like I had the plague, so I assured him I have a Mask and will be putting it on before entering . So after I am locating my mask, a group of Caucasian Males came behind me a party of 5? And entered with no mask and a warm welcome. So I said to myself "hmmm" ok Let me just put on mine because the majority do have visible mask, minus one of the workers. Well I didn't get a welcome like EVERYONE else after me but I told "Tim" I will sit at the bar and I am alone.. Tim rolls eyes, maybe he has allergies? But I sit down and he ask me what I wanted to order or drink not in a friendly tone. So I ordered tea. Let's flash fwd . I was asking questions about the establishment and met with one worded answers and an attitude like I was annoying them. So I got up to walk to the side to peak and see how big the place is as my tea steeped. TIM yelled "LOOK IF YOU ARE GOING TO WALK AROUND YOU NEED TO PUT A MASK ON! Yes he yelled it, instead of calling me back to the bar.Where I walked was 4 steps from my seat. Everyone in turn looked at me.. so I sat down and I said, what about the worker who is walking around with no mask? He said I will address it when I see him, I said he was just in your face? But I let it go Then "Mark" another worker came up on the side of me to pick up an order for the private room in the back, I tried to engage Mark as he sat there waiting for something asking him about the Tavern of Tales and how big is the place and how to book the game room..he was rolling his eyes, Bobbing his head, and moving his hands like "Just Google it" why ask me? Then I got silent after his actions and we had an awkward 1 minute of blatant looking at each other in the eyes . I was so happy when My Lyft came I feel so horrible in this place, it was icy, and I FELT LIKE I WAS NOT WANTED OR WELCOMED AND THEY HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT, THEY DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO ACT OR PLAY IT OFF .I was so shaken I told my Lyft driver who happened to be a Dark Brown person like me, we cried and swapped stories of past experiences and How racism is not Over .it is only over to people who do not look like us or go through the experience..Tim is Asian and considered a POC but I didn't expect him to treat me any different but I would hope that he would know that he doesn't have the POWER OR PRIVILEGE to act the way he acted towards me. This is why I am very careful with the whole we all ARE POC and face the same things ..NOT TRUE! There are levels to this but that is a whole other topic. They treated me mean, the other patrons were chilling but the guy who was two seats down from me, I know he felt awkward and he felt the atmosphere by the way he kept looking at me..It is a shame in 2021 that Brown People still can't walk in a restaurant in Massachusetts in a community that is diverse and be Welcomed.. I will never go back there. Thank you Tim and Mark Yes this Tavern does have Tales!

Was really excited to check out tavern of tales after they had been "hibernating" all spring! Especially since food was half off for a reopening special and it's right in my neighborhood! Unfortunately, it was pretty mediocre. Our sandwiches plus one beer was around $20 which was a great deal but I wouldn't pay full price for this. I bit into the chicken sandwich at one point and hit a bone so I have to take away a star for that. Everyone was very covid safe however and maybe doing the gaming experience would improve my opinion of the place. However as of now I wouldn't eat there again.

Amazing place! THE best place to host game night or a DND session in all of Boston. Food is great and the drinks are always creative (they also have some of the best coffee in the are)

The staff is super friendly, the trivia games are well organized and are thoroughly enjoyable, and I'm really excited to be checking out their board game/table top games in the near future. Being new to the city, I'm really excited to have found such a charming new space to come back to!

This is my new favorite place to go out. Even with just me and my partner we still had a lot of fun with our game experience, and our game master made it super easy to understand the rules. He even explained another game we played afterwards on our own. There's a great selection of games to play and the food and beer are just icing on the cake. Definitely a must visit for anyone who loves board games or wants to try something new.

Tavern of Tales was a blast! Staff are all super friendly, prompt service, and the game room experience is one of a kind. I went with 3 others and we played two hours of games. Pricing is very reasonable. This place is for everyone! If you don't want to play in a game room with a game master you can always hang near the bar and play card or board games there. I'll be back!

Great interactive staff. Food was delicious and the game was simple, but fun. Overall, a fun place to take 4+ people.

Great place to play Commander on Wednesdays or whenever -- delicious drinks (boozy frappe) and good sandwiches also. Already met some fun ppl to play Magic with -- hopefully they will stay open past 10pm soon :)

Fun atmosphere, Great Food! A lot of fun! The board game selection was amazing. I enjoyed the Zoom Meeting coffee drink, it was a great start to my morning!

Reserved a private room for our group, it was awesome, the employees were super accommodating and knowledgeable on the games. Great food and drinks. 100% will be back.

Went there during their soft opening! Staff are super friendly and they guided us through games. The music effects are also so good. Overall a great experience at ToT, and certainly will come back again!

Super nice staff, great food and drinks and the games are always a hit!! Definitely a great first date spot or a nice place for a fun night with friends!

I have been to Tavern two times with friends. The first time, we hung out in the bar area and played some games. Staff are great, very attentive and willing to explain rules. The second time, I dropped by for the St Patrick's Day event. We were able to try out Mysterium and Forbidden Island (both cooperative but they have competitive options for people who are less bitter than I am about losing) for free in the game rooms, as well as participate in the raffle. Completely loved the experience and can't wait to come back after this coronavirus situation subsides. Drinks are decent. Really like the Flower Child beer and the ice coffee is solid. Hoping that they increase food offerings in the future!

In loving memory of pepperoni flat bread pizza. We all have fond memories of you. You helped us through the times when we were hungry. You were always available to us and you always had great taste. Haters probably said you were a square but you were just well rounded. Never bitter just cheesy, in a good way. Many of us will miss you even when we try to pretend we don't. Others will come along which may try to take your place but they will never be pepperoni flat bread pizza. R.I.P. pepperoni flat bread pizza :(

Amazing little spot for nerds to gather and do what they do best....nerd out. Really nice selection of food and drink with some of the best boardgames and facilities available for adult gamers who dont want to play in a steamy game store basement.

Excellent experience and food. Game was fun and service was fantastic. Wonderful time.

While the immersive games are not open yet due ti COVID-19, the cocktails and the food are great and amazing for the price! Really love the tokyo sunrise, not too sweet but enough sweetness to get me going