I love the couple who runs this game cafe! They're always so friendly and welcoming. Their food is amazing, the milk tea is phenomenal, and there are so many games to pick from. I keep coming back over and over for the last few years. Feels more like family than just a place of business. I have nothing bad to say, highly recommend! read more

Everyone needs to go here. Amazing place with tons of games. We went here for just a little bit of time we had to fill, but not only were the owners extremely nice, food looked great, and the absolute massive library of board games is phenomenal! We will certainly be back, and in greater numbers. read more

ticket to play cafe - Social Clubs Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Ticket to Play has delightful owners who know how to interact with you whether you're a social butterfly or a natural shut-in. Combined with a surprisingly well executed menu (especially given the constraints of their small kitchen and nature as a small business!), Ticket to Play serves a remarkable dining experience. Attentive staff make the whole purchasing experience delightful - simply order your food, grab whatever you want from the cooler, and they'll track your tab. Just remember to close out before you go. With delicious sandwiches and their signature soups, Ticket to Play is a solid option for a casual lunch, and that's not really even the point! No, the big draw of the cafe is the board game library. For a minuscule $5 fee, you get access to their well maintained collection of a few hundred games, and expert curation and recommendations. Are you a big time board gamer and know that you prefer dice placement games with engine-building aspects? They'll help you find something. A casually player just looking for some brainless fun with friends? There's an entire shelf's worth of party games they can recommend. Wanting to introduce your significant other to the world of board games? The selection of 2-player games has matches for any skill and/or complexity level. read more

This place is excellent! Truly a favorite in town. The Food: The food is freshly made and delicious. There's a good selection and prices are very reasonable. The drink selection is great, especially if you are a tea enthusiast. Even regulars have plenty of options to keep things interesting. Service: The staff are charming and personable with great recommendations for food and games. They also have a great memory for old faces! It is the gathering place of choice when out of town friends come to visit. Always worthy of a sizable tip! Ambiance: The feeling of the place is relaxed, casual, and comfortable, as you might expect. With the kitchen in the back and the quiet murmur of other patrons playing and learning new games, it really brought to me memories of holiday family gatherings (the fun kind haha). read more

Attentive staff, great board game selection, good food and drink selection. A great way to play some board games you might not normally own.

I honestly can't say enough good things about Ticket to Play! Since Robin and Nathan opened TTP, it has become a bit of an obsession for us and our friends and it is our go-to for some relaxing weekend activity, especially as Oregon winter weather sets in. We are always welcomed and accommodated with open arms, the game selection is excellent, and the friendly company and conversation is the best! And seriously, the food here is super tasty--Nathan's past experience as a chef certainly shows in the tasty array of salads, sandwiches, daily soup specials and flatbread pizzas they offer. Oh, and did I mention cheese plates? And that they serve Willamette Valley Pie company hand-pies? And have beer on tap? (Ah-hah! Now I have your attention!) So, not only do we love geeking out and playing board games for hours, it's always a pleasure to be in the company of other people who do too. What truly makes TTP special is that the café is Nathan and Robin's passion. They want to provide a wonderful, family-friendly service to the good folks of Salem where you can eat delicious food and play fun games in a safe and comfy environment with cool people. Nathan will happily give you a review of any game on the shelf or teach you how to play it if you're new to gaming in general. And if you're thinking about diving into the magical realm of board games by purchasing some for your own collection (my wallet just cringed a little!) TTP is a great way to "test drive" some of the games you've been eye-balling before you spend all that cash. Sure, Salem has Wild Things Games downtown where you can also go play (and don't get me wrong, I love that shop and think it's fantastic!) but TTP manages to provide a much more curated café and gaming experience whereas Wild Things is much more store-focused and gaming times are geared towards specific events such as Magic the Gathering and Pokémon tournaments. And that's another thing I love about TTP...if you're at a shop where you're sitting around with a bunch of teenage boys playing Pokemon, it's not really the vibe most of us adults are looking for on a Saturday night But going to TTP feels like playing from the comfort of home without having to do any of the cooking or dig out your extra folding chairs. Other things to note are: 1.)TTP loves kids and they manage to make it a great environment for people of all ages to enjoy gaming! While it's not strictly a kiddie place where adults feel uncomfortable, there are lots of games for older kids as well as a play room for toddlers to keep everyone happy. This is a family-run place that encourages both families and non-parents alike to enjoy themselves here. 2.)They have great hours and are nice enough to be open as late as midnight (which is nice for us big kids if you want an evening out). And even though it can get crowded and hard to find a table on a Friday or Saturday night, you can always rent the private game room for a small extra fee where you can really settle into your favorite RPG! 3.)They have special events! Looking for a unique place to go to a paint party, attend a "Learn to Play" night or enjoy a fun and peaceful New Year's Eve party? TTP is your venue! In short, TTP is the perfect and unique entertainment option you're looking for when your friends say "I'm bored! Let's do something different tonight!" They won't be sorry if you take them to TTP--you'll just get to say "You're Welcome" for introducing them to a new obsession! read more

One of our favorite spots in Salem. The food is made fresh and delicious, and they are doing a great job with takeout during closures from pandemic. We cannot wait for it to be able to open back up for game play and eating in house. Oh and the owners are freaking awesome and so nice!!!! I highly recommend. read more

ticket to play cafe - New Years Eve 2020 and winners of door prizes! Super fun night!! - Social Clubs Near Me - Salem, Oregon

So much fun! I came with visiting family and we got dinner and played two games, it was a great way to have quality time and all the food was delicious. I got the veggie sandwich which was excellent. My sisters got the flatbread pizza and the soup of the day, both of which they raved over. My aunt got the quesadilla and my mom got the grilled cheese, both yummy. They have regular sodas but also some more interesting bottles. There were so many games to choose from to play there, plus if you love it they have some games for sale, too. The staff was super nice (even took photos of all of us together) and I can't wait to come back read more

ticket to play cafe - Staff said this game was popular - Social Clubs Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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Great sandwiches! A unique and delicious take on the Cuban! Wife and daughter had the vegetarian sandwiches and loved them too!

First time hanging out there today. It was awesome! Yummy food and it's a very welcoming atmosphere. There a bunch of games to choose from. If you are into fantasy games you'll feel welcome for sure. Sat and played Phase 10 with a new friend. Great experience! read more

Great game selection and rentals! The good was great, fresh, and the staff was friendly. Can't wait to go again.

Great place to eat and play games. Huge ever growing selection of board/card games. Great sandwiches and soups. Friendly atmosphere. We play here almost weekly. You can call in reservations to be sure and get a spot, but most of the time walk ins are fine. read more

I stopped in by myself on Saturday afternoon just to check things out. I was warmly welcomed and ended up ordering a delicious lunch to eat while I looked through the games. The veggie sandwich was assembled on a soft, crumbly roll and was full of feta, pesto, red peppers and crisp fresh cucumbers. The daily soup was perfect--sort of a combo veggie soup/chili. The games include all of the hot titles (Terraforming Mars!) and the tables are big enough to spread out on and still enjoy a meal. What a great place to spend a lazy afternoon! read more

Their game selection is huge and their California sandwich is amazing. It has become our go-to date night place when we are in Salem. We have even gone there with our kids and they played in the kid play room for hours. I love this place. I wish I lived closer. read more

Awesome fun place. Good food, great owners. Great assortment of games. Will definitely return for more good times.

This place is a MUST VISIT! My husband and I try to go whenever we have a day off together and it is so much fun. I tell everyone I know about TTP! Amazing food, lots of gave variety. Robin and her family are all so wonderful read more

Went here with my sister and daughter, all the games we saw were like w.o.w/ d.a.d type card games there is only a couple family board games. So we decided to leave and go do something else, when we told the lady that we were gonna go she was kinda rude and just said "ok then". read more

Great place to play board games and have some good local ciders and beers. The couple that owns this place are sweet and helpful. I love this place! read more

My husband and I had a very enjoyable long afternoon playing an assortment of board games and eating delicious sandwiches. Robin was very helpful with her game suggestions when we voiced wanting to try new ones. Nathan makes a delicious sandwich and their house salad is baby spinach with fresh vegetables on top, not just iceberg lettuce salad mix from Costco. And make sure to snag one of their homemade chocolate chip cookies for .75, super yummy. The atmosphere was laid back and easy going and we never felt rushed to exit. It was a great afternoon. We'll definitely return. read more

Wonderful owners!!! We had an excellent evening playing sequence and enjoyed some delicious root beer!