The Castle: Restaurant and Bar

As a family who loves to have a family game night this was the perfect place to change up our normal routine of snacks & games at home. The popcorn was a table favorite, & the kids got to end the night with milkshakes. As a family of 5 who goes out to dinner often we can honestly say the cost of playing the games didn’t affect the bill as much as we thought. We read so many reviews about people complaining about the fee, but to be perfectly honest tonight didn’t cost us anymore than if we had done dinner & an activity somewhere else. We spent 3 hours here & everyone enjoyed our evening.
Definitely a new favorite family night out.

I wish I had this cafe near my home. This place is perfect for everyone who loves board games. They also offer a large selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. We didn’t try their food, however, the earl grey tea and cappuccino were good! Service was slow because they were understaffed. We were not hungry so it wasn’t a big deal for us. The game selection was also great. We played a new game (Everdell) and had a great time. We ended up spending almost 4 h there. The retail section offers popular games. I wish they also have samples to play with. Overall, we had a great time!

The thing about the castle is, it’s more than just a cafe/restaurant/bar, and while all that stuff is great, it’s become a staple “third space” in the community. It’s a place that fosters this community by hosting weekly events like trivia which my team and I are regulars at, burlesque shows, gaming meetup nights, magic the gathering events, and literally so much more! There’s always something going on and it’s just plain ol fun! For the local nerd, and for someone wanting to branch out and meet like minded folks, this is the place to go. Look at their calendar and there’s bound to be something that catches your eye. And beyond that, it’s awesome that the owners Kevin and Rin are so involved and hands on with their business (even if Kevin disqualifies us every week for our trivia team names 🧡).
Really, go to the Castle!!!

My friends and I do trivia events at the castle every week! It's a great place to meet with friends, eat, drink, and play games. Their event schedule is packed so there is always something to do. The staff and the atmosphere make every visit a win!

We LOVE the new location. This is a great place to try new games. There is a huge selection and it's a great place to spend with family or friends. The pretzels were so good, we had to order more!

Got the Poke rice bowl and the Mac n Cheese. I really enjoyed the poke bowl even though I wouldn’t call it exceptional. My gf wasn’t a huge fan of the Mac n cheese, from appearance it looked like something a child would really enjoy. Both of us agreed the fries were super good and wishes there was a truffle option.

Service was a 9.8/10
Servers were really kind and did a good job.

Drinks were a 10/10
Got the maple bourbon milkshake and the shadow over caramel and they were both delicious

Atmosphere for a 6/10
Atmosphere was definitely off. Mainly because of how the bar and restaurant was split up. Also I think this place suffers pretty significantly for charging for games. In particular I think games should be free with drink purchases. I’m simply not gonna pay 12$ to play connect four with my girlfriend and had games been free we would’ve likely gotten more drinks and desert

Big fan of the location (and food) upgrade! Breakfast tacos are bomb. I got the bacon taco with an espresso. Just a quiet, perfect morning surrounded by games 😊

This place is amazing! They have a very cool vibe, while simultaneously exuding a friendly atmosphere that's approachable for casual card gamers and RPG devotees alike. I loved seeing a group of teens enjoying games one table away from the family out for game night and the eight adults engrossed in an intense strategy game. The Castle truly had unique appeal for anyone who enjoys games . . . and I'm fairly certain they have any game you can think of!

The food was delicious, with several gluten free options (if anyone is wondering). They have excellent lattes (with df/allergen alternative options) and a refreshing lineup of cocktails. You can enjoy apps, get bottomless popcorn, have a meal, or even order up a plate of fresh house made cookies . . . the menus are even written entertainingly! I highly recommend this place for any size group interested in fun interactive time well spent.

This place is awesome! A huge game wall, great atmosphere, and the food is fantastic! Good dairy free options too like the poke nachos, pretzel bites, and the Bahn Mi sandwich.

A fun, easy going place perfect for a family outing with our kiddo. We love the comfortable vibes and great food. Best chicken fingers in town according to the kiddo! Full bar is a huge plus too. Amazing selection of games new and nostalgic. Also Love the new space!

I love boardgame cafes and this one is another enjoyable spot to add to the list! A nice assortment of games to choose from ranging in difficulty and sorted in a way to find what suits you and your party needs. The food was also good! My boyfriend and I visiting Salem were happy to find this spot and will be back next time we visit!

The Castle is nothing short of a Beverly institution. Since moving to their new location next to Odell Park, they’ve added a casual downstairs bar and are open early with hella nice coffee and the most underated breakfast tacos on the North Shore.

As the famed historian Baron Von Lamar once said, “What is life without seriously good breakfast tacos?”

Don’t sleep on their dinner menu either. The fish & chips is fabulous and at just under $20 is a solid $10 less than Mission Boathouse, and you don’t have to eat with anyone named Chad.

Why pay $15 for a two-hour movie when a $6 game fee lets you embarass your friends in Camel Up for four hours straight?

I’m fairly certain I have left a review for The Castle before, but they have moved to a new location and I want to share how lovely they are! ((I wrote this up weeks ago but procrastinated on posting - but you know what, new year, new me!))

Of course, I should be transparent: I am friends with the owners and have been a supporter of the business since it was merely a gleam in the founders’ eyes. So am I biased? Yes. But to quote my mother whenever she says she is proud of me, “Just because I’m biased, doesn’t mean I’m wrong!”

Are the french fries amazing? YES.

Is there a great variety of games? YES.

Are the drinks delicious? YES.

Is the staff friendly? YES.

These are objective truths in which no bias can appear.

But I write today to commend the staff for specific actions they have taken in recent weeks and to share just how wonderful they are and to urge you to go visit them at their new location!

Situation 1: Fun Drink
I went to The Castle to support the fundraiser they had for the families of Lewiston, ME. Like several of those who work there, I have connections to Maine and wanted to be a part of the fundraiser. So I hit the bar!

But, as typical, my desire to support a cause through purchasing drinks significantly outweighed my ability to hold said drinks. After drinking a whisky smash, perfectly-mixed with what I think I remember accurately as apple cider, I scanned the list of seasonal drinks longingly, knowing that after one I had hit my limit.

Turning to the bartender, I asked, “Could you make a mocktail version of the apple cider mimosa?”

Instead of saying no, he jumped to the challenge and experimented with the ingredients, testing out how he can best make a mocktail that tasted great.

And guess what? It was delicious. And I appreciated so much the extra effort he put into making my very off-menu order.

Situation 2: Birthday
Did I write “It’s my birthday!” in the instructions on my online order? Yes, of course I did, that’s what you do. Did I have expectations of special treats? Yes, a few extra fries.

Did I expect an entire tiramisu cake??? Of course not! It was a wonderful, delectable surprise.

Now, I know what you are thinking: “Hurr durr, I’ll just say it’s my birthday so I can get a free dessert too!” And to that I say “NO!” Do not commit deceit to take advantage of those who delight in making people’s days. Seek not undue advantages, but be open to the little graces of the hours and days. Grace is not earned or expected - it is a gift, a surprise, a tiramisu when you expect a few fries. It is candles and smiles and sweet messages written by strangers who want to light up your day, however briefly, on a cold and rainy November evening.

So if you are wondering where to go, where to eat, what to do, I say, “Go to The Castle in Beverly!”

we were able to go to the soft opening of the new location, and WOW. The Castle was always an amazing little spot, but their new location is absolutely incredible. The menu is expanded and really leveled up - we tried the poke nachos, pulled pork tacos, and fish n chips. Everything was delicious and really well priced. The drinks were great (full bar now!) and the service was delightfully snarky - just how we remember it ;) Cant wait for this to become our go-to spot in town!

The Castle is a fantastic place to visit, there is a huge selection of board games to play, an awesome drink menu, and good food (really enjoyed the poke nachos and chicken tenders!)

Update: the new location is even better! With the outdoor patio overlooking the park, i feel like I’ll come here even more often just to hang with friends, not only to play games. Also the fish & chips are so good! I love this place so much ❤

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I’m so grateful The Castle exists! Such a wonderful, inclusive, communal space to meet new people or bring friends to play board games, trivia, and eat tasty food.

not only is the food great but the vibes as well. i love the creative idea of a boardgame cafe and so did my coworkers 😝 we had so much fun here!! the service is really chill and they basically leave you be/ you can even order completely through the QR code at the table. they do charge a small amount of money per person to play the games, but trust me its worth it!

The staff is always kind and helpful, even on their busiest days. Trivia is always a blast, especially if you write Die hard for all of your answers. Sahrry Kevin

Wonderful experience!!! The food was all super tasty and the owner is a true gem! He was wonderful and friendly. Coffee was fabulous and the popcorn was poppin! We're from out of town and went here on a whim for coffee and were extremely pleasantly surprised at the amazing and welcoming atmosphere!! Would give 6/5 if i could!

This is one of my favorite spots to go to spend quality time with friends and family! The food is always delicious and just what you want to snack on while you're playing board games. My go-tos are the pretzel bites and the pulled pork sandwich. (Oh, and don't forget the bottomless popcorn!) They have a very well-organized selection of games, so it's easy to find what you what to play or try out. The staff are very helpful as well if you ever have questions about gameplay.The setup of the café is cozy but not crowded. And make sure to get yourself something sweet or a fun coffee drink! it really adds to the experience.