Level One Game Pub in Ottawa

14 Waller St, Ottawa, ON K1N 9C4, Canada

★★★★★
(3676 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant Lounge Pub

About

Besides hundreds of games to play, this comfy hangout offers espresso drinks, beer & varied snacks.

Website
levelonegamepub.com
Address
14 Waller St, Ottawa, ON K1N 9C4, Canada
Plus Code
C8G6+RG Vanier, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
12 PM–12 AM
Monday
4 PM–12 AM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
12 PM–2 AM
Saturday
12 PM–2 AM

Services

Service options
Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Great cocktails
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Late-night food Salad bar Small plates Spirits Vegan options Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets Wi-Fi Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Family friendly Groups LGBTQ+ friendly Transgender safe space
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Paid parking lot Paid street parking Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.6
★★★★★
3676 reviews

Most Mentioned

board games (547) fun (61) consoles (48) cover charge (19) perogies (15) loft (14) gamers (13) geek (8) n64 (8) casual (7)
5 stars
2624
4 stars
800
3 stars
156
2 stars
48
1 stars
48
★★★★★
December 16, 2024

I would like to say a huge thank you to the team at level one. They certainly had some external problems but the holiday party that they put forward for us was greatly appreciated. Everybody at Lycea Productions, was absolutely grateful for the fact that they pulled together a solid party even though they did not have the permits for the room they initially promised for us. The food was fantastic and they still were very accommodating for our requirements for the party we asked for. If anybody in the future has the opportunity to rent their basement they will have a fantastic time huge shout out to the team it was a great time.

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Fantastic first time experience. Nachos were incredible and sufficient, staff were friendly, they have a good assortment of games and consoles, and the interior is superb (think old world rustic). One could easily spend a few hours here and not get bored. Would highly recommend!

★★★★★
December 6, 2024

Frun games and you.my food, though the food is pricey. Staff recommended a perfect game for what we were looking for too!

★★★★★
December 4, 2024

Gosh what a fun place to go. We went as three couples for an afternoon out for a birthday and it was lovely. The server not only was great at serving but also knew everything about board games and suggested a game we ended up loving the most! New menu is delicious and different. Highly recommend as always!

★★★★★
October 15, 2024

Went here last week and had a great time! If you like video or board games and video games and want some delicious food, I’d definitely recommend. We spent like 3 hours here last time and will definitely be coming back next time we want something fun to do!

★★★★★
October 14, 2024

Summary Overall, I enjoyed the drinks and the vibe of the place felt cozy and inviting. The staff are super friendly and the board games are organized very well with a smart indexing system. First timers should know that to play video games you must get a designated table for that. Food/Drink I tried two drinks: the "No, this is Patrick" and an off-menu drink. Both were excellent. Atmosphere This place has a really cozy tavern vibe to it. You can always hear the fun of people playing board games and video games. The pub has a huge collection of board games for groups of various sizes and ample space to walk around looking for a game. Service The bartender was super cool! She was really friendly and overall a super cool person. The staff greeting you at the door are super friendly and helpful in answering any questions I had. Value The drinks were very well priced compared to how much I had paid elsewhere around the area. Combined with the access to board games I felt this was an excellent value and wonderful place to kill an evening.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

The atmosphere here is awesome! This place has a great selection of board games and video games too! The staff here are very friendly and the drinks and food are super tasty. Lots of space in the venue as well for activities.

★★★★★
September 10, 2024

We had a great time here, we came to play some games. There are three floors, the main level has the video games, upstairs has a bar and seating area. The bathrooms are located in the bathroom. They have an organized system, you scan the QR code there are categories for how many players,types of games to choose from. If you have a hard time finding a game, they will help you. There were so many options for all ages to choose from. There was a bit of wait for the video games, but our name came up fairly quickly, we were escorted to the video game section. There are several tables with different consoles. You choose the game, staff sets it up. This was so much fun, there are food/ drink options as well. Staff was friendly!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2024

Great hangout spot. They have delicious food options and the price is right. Lots and lots of games to choose from. They are organized well on the shelves

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2024

Beautiful atmosphere, great games and helpful staff. Highly recommended.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 16, 2024

Super fun place, good clever pub food, really attentive and helpful service, and reasonably priced. It was great for a date night.

★★★★★
December 16, 2024

Friendly Staff, amazing food and drinks. Lot of video games choices. They can organise for groups also. Well be back soon

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 16, 2024

Parking: Parked at Rideau Centre Food

★★★
December 9, 2024

Used to be a great place to hang out with friends but service has been continually declining. I understand it is a busy place but waiters often will not check in on you after your initial order, our last 2 times going orders have been messed up. Combined with longer waits it s getting hard to come here

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 2, 2024

Great place to play some games. A very nice game selection. Once you finish with a game go put it back so someone else can play it (dont just pile it at your table).

★★★★
November 23, 2024

The place was amazing. The drinks were great and the service and helpfulness of the staff was very good. Going to the washroom while construction is happening wasnt great, and the stalls smelled a lot like pickles or Marijuana. I hope they renovate the stalls as well. The upstairs were really inviting for a fun time with friends.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Vegetarian options: Vegan/vegetarian burgers and other menu items Parking: Its downtown so parking is scarce. Nearby paid parking lot on Besserer or find a spot on a side street. Wheelchair accessibility: Unfortunately bathrooms are down stairs

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

Lots of selection of games to play and the staff were friendly, they checked on us lots to see if we wanted more drinks or food. Highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Great board games and fun experience, can get expensive with the cover

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

From the beginning the staff were incredibly kind! They helped me understand everything because I hadn t been there before and was very friendly! I had the teriyaki chicken poutine and it was very nice! I would ve liked a bit more teriyaki sauce but that s genuinely just because it was so tasty! The red wine base gravy was delicious with the dish. Even though I lost at Mario Party I think I definitely will be visiting again in the future! Shy guy will not be invited next time (Normal computer). If you get a drink and a meal on top of the 9$ cover be ready to spend over 30 dollars. It s delicious food but I m not huge on drinks so I d pass on it in the future. Was definitely worth giving it a try! Vegetarian options: They have indicators on their menu for what food is vegetarian! Dietary restrictions: They have indicators on their menu for Gluten free products! Kid-friendliness: There was a small family with a child and since the tables are all separate they were able to enjoy their time together as a family :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Such fun! Came all the way from Montreal and loved this game bar more than any of the ones near home. Great food, kind staff, really great drinks and obviously tons of games.

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

Amazing service, group of 50 people, we were very well received by the staff, food was great!

★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Vegetarian options: Tons! Dietary restrictions: Very accommodating Kid-friendliness: Not kid friendly. But young adult friendly Wheelchair accessibility: Not for the restroom

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

Very friendly staff who are polite and patient. They made us feel very welcomed. Huge variety of board games and video games to play. We had a great time and will be back for sure !

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

Very chill and nice. Gaminnnnng the best

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Great experience and pub idea! Think they needed to change the fryer oil. Great service Food : 4/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

My team from work decided to have a team building afternoon and thats the place we picked. It was fun. Food was good. Service was amazing. There is tons of games to pick from. Ill go back with my child for sure as its super kids friendly. Im recommending that place for friends, co-workers, family.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Very nice place, friendly staff! The atmosphere was great and I enjoyed a great round of D&D. I would totally recommend this place for a board/tabletop game night out! 2024 update: I did recommend it for my good friends birthday. I should have made a reservation but despite the seven of us being split up, a bigger table was ready for us before most of us got our drinks! Service was wonderful and welcoming! Everyone felt right at home and we were all quick to settle into our own shenanigans again. We all shared food and drinks, everything tasted so good. All my visiting Americans insist this is a must on their next visit but Ill be going back much sooner.

★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Great spot for boardgames and Drinks! Loved the classic pierogies!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

What a great place! The staff was super friendly. The atmosphere is perfect for gaming and having fun.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Our oldest is very much a board game kid so we were thrilled to come across this place on his birthday. We booked a table, his favourite game (GOT) and had a fantastic time. The service was fast and attentive, food was great (somewhat elevated pub food with gaming/Jap twist) and drinks were well suited to the atmosphere and overall feel of the place. All in all, great time and highly recommend for board game geeks of all ages. Vegetarian options: If you re lacto-ovo veggie, you will have e plenty options to choose from. Kid-friendliness: My kids are 12-15 age range and the place was quite comfortable, neat and welcoming. No loud music or foul language. Well suited for families.

★★★★
October 23, 2024

The corn salad at this restaurant is so delicious that it could make the Corn-termind of the board game world jealous! Its a real game of flavors and textures, a real winner for the taste buds. This salad of corn is the undisputed king of the platter, ready to conquer the hearts of all gourmands looking for a fun and delicious taste experience!

October 23, 2024

I was very very desapointed of the caesar salad. There was only just salad and really no cheese and nothing else. Thats make salad very expensive !!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Very reasonable price to play lots of games, with friendly staff, and reasonably priced solid poutine (thats the only food I tried)

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Great place to get a game or two. Having DnD games here is awesome, although sometimes the music can be very loud. Food and beer are very good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Had a bachelors party here last night. Friendly staff, tasty nachos, and a fun game of Munchkin Thanks!

★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Great spot to hang out and the food is varied and good. Staff has less knowledge about the games then other board game bar/cafe I have been to before. And the food prices were a little on the expensive side.

★★★★★
October 23, 2024

Even if I or anyone in my friend group had a large collection of board games and a dedicated private space to play them in, Id still want to visit Level One sometimes. The food is great (though not the gummy dice), the mood is fun, the selection of board and cards games is diverse and ranges all the way from Candy Land to Cards Against Humanity to Axis and Allies. The price is also great; as of this review it was at $9/person to stay and play, and the main food options are around $20 each. I highly recommend to any sized group that likes gaming.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Amaze.... Balls. Definitely check this place out... If you enjoy board games, great drinks, and or retro games. Ill be back!! Simply one of the best game pubs in the world

★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Talk to the game wizard! Loved the helpful and ever-present staff. $9/person just to be there. Board games were fun. Unbelievable amount of choices! Food was ok/edible and expensive. Drink choices were plentiful and good enough to quickly add up to a pricey evening. Parking: CF Rideau Centre parking garage P1 at the corner of Besserer St.

★★★★★
September 23, 2024

Came here for my one year wedding anniversary dinner and absolutely loved the vibes of this place. Stayed here for 5 hours just playing games, having delicious drinks and amazing food. Everyone there was super friendly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

I had an amazing time at Level One Game Pub! The atmosphere is cozy and perfect for a fun night out with friends. The selection of games is incredible they have hundreds to choose from, so there s something for everyone, whether you re into board games or card games. The staff were super friendly and helpful, always around to assist with game recommendations or to explain the rules. It really adds to the welcoming vibe of the place. The food and drinks were great too perfect for snacking while you play. Overall, it s a fantastic spot to relax, have fun, and enjoy some great company. I highly recommend Level One Game Pub to anyone looking for a unique and entertaining experience!

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Super fun spot, I love the massive selection of board games. We ordered some food as well, the quesadilla and the nachos, both were pretty good, standard pub food. I believe they have some special drinks too, they make their own tonic water which is delicious in a gin and tonic! Will be back soon for some more games

★★★★★
September 23, 2024

The food here is surprisingly very good for a game pub, and the staff are all super friendly.

★★★★★
September 23, 2024

Awesome, personalized service terrific vibe in a historical building

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Fun place! The game wizard was very helpful to fuide us through new games. . The Thai nachos were really really good. . *** Not a dan of the mixed bathroom if the urinals are all open and stalls are not from floor to bottom. Felt unsafe and the dudes with us felt weird about it too. Wheelchair accessibility: Accessible yes. Not the bathrooms though.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Good food. Good people and staff. Amazing atmosphere. Loved it!

★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

The experience was definitely next level. The staff are so kind and helpful to try and make your time worth it. A must try for sure, with the huge variety of games. But I can promise youll stay longer than you think!

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Cute bar in a gorgeous old brewery building. Lots of options for games and consoles. Definitely a good time. Factor in the start and play fee when going. Stay long enough to make it worthwhile. Service : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Such a good time. Perfect balance of being left to your devices (literally) to play console games (any console really) and board/card game suggestions. Props to literally everyone on shift tonight, but special shout to Kayla for being such an awesome host. Coming back weekly, Im in Amazing! Also dont go here expecting foie gras or whatever, be realistic. I had fries and thats it because I was busy drinking and gaming, but I will say regardless every dish we had slapped. Love the vibe, love the aesthetic, love the service front front to back of house. Thank you so much for taking such good care of my group

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Went for my wifes birthday with 2 other couples weve known for 20 years. The food was amazing. Very good! The drinks went down easy and very tasty! One of the staff recomended a game to us and we played it for hours. We all had a blast and created new lifelong memories! I would really recomend this place to anyone! Thank you to the staff of Level One!

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

I have a soft spot for this place now, feels like my happy place. The waiters/waitresses were absolutely amazing and very helpful with really cool game suggestions - it s like they could tell what everyone needed and were quick to get things done. I loved that they had the paper menu option cause QR codes really tire me out. The atmosphere is always great and so are the food and drink options.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Excellent service from very friendly staff. Went during the day; it was quiet - the perfect spot to unwind after work and talk about nerdy things.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Awesome experience. Great time with friends. Both board games and video games. Staff are excellent!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Highly recommend!!! I just moved to Ottawa and I was looking for a new board game cafe thats got great drinks, friendly staff, and is queer friendly and I hit the jackpot on the first try. I will definitely be back a lot, I expect. I particularly love the non alcoholic cocktails and would really love to see more added. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Excellent service. Great beer menu with local craft beer. Other patrons vibing positively. Go!

★★★★★
August 23, 2024

Great place great staff

★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Honestly, its one of my all-time favorite spots in Ottawa. Its a 7$ entry fee and can pick from hundreds of games. They also have great drinks and food, especially the nachos. Every time I go, I have a blast and always end up staying for hours. Great for a group or for a date. Update: Prices went up, quality went down, and service stayed great. The Stay and Play fee is now $9. Nachos have probably about a third the amount of cheese they used to; while that didnt stop me from devouring them, its a lot closer to tortilla chips and dip than nachos imo. That being said, the loft (or level one) remains one of the best spots in the city for a group to get together and truly have fun. If board games and drinking are your vibe and you have a decent amount of cash to spend, Id recommend this place. If you want to save a buck (or thirty), Id recommend buying a game at Walmart and hosting a board game night at home.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

What an amazing gem just a couple blocks from my work! Such a cool old building with amazing atmosphere and an insane amount of games to choose from. We will definitely be going back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Literally evey game available... food very good as well

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Went with a few friends on a weekend and the place was really busy, so I was worried that it would impact the service and number of board games available to play. Thankfully, this was not the case at all. They have a TON of board games to choose from that are helpfully sorted by category. You can also ask their staff for recommendations, and they even have a game wizard who can help teach you the rules if youre playing a game for the first time. As for the service, the waitstaff was really on the ball. They came by often enough to see if you wanted any drinks/food that you never felt forgotten. The food and drinks themselves were great and cost similar to a regular sit-down restaurant. They do tac on a $9 fee/person for playing board games, but the games are well-cared for, and they try to proactively damage-proof them, so I feel like the cost is justified. Perfect place for a night out with friends or a cool spot for a date night if youre a board game/video game geek!

★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Cant speak to the food, since I didnt order any, but the drinks were very sweet and the bathroom/downstairs smelled horrible. Good selection of games otherwise, just very expensive per person.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

It gets loud very loud sometimes very quickly, but its by far my favourite eatery in town. They make fun cocktails, have good party food, make just the right amount of table visits, and you can bring your own boardgames. Parking: Recommend carpooling, bussing, or Ubering, if youre far out; Rideau is annoying to park near. Wheelchair accessibility: Sadly, only has stairs from what Ive seen, but the first floor is also a bar, and has gaming consoles.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Staff were very helpful in choosing games and attentive when checking in on drinks/food. Although we didnt order food, they have a great drink menu and so many games to choose from. The memes downstairs by the washrooms cracked me and my husband up! The overall vibes and aesthetic of the place was excellent. Would definitely recommend!

★★★★★
August 23, 2024

Wow awesome

★★★★★
July 23, 2024

The best! You can NOT be disappointed. Best service ever! Everybody is so nice.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Video games, board games, and good food with alcohol. What more do you want

★★★★★
July 23, 2024

Stopped by for lunch and enjoyed the double smashed burger with salad. Wow!!! What a great taste experience. Service was excellent as well. Highly recommended. Parking: Capital parking 2 short blocks away

★★★★★
July 23, 2024

Great atmosphere and extremely reasonable prices to play the games

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Great food. Great staff. Great games.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Incredible experience! Staff were so great and the food was delicious! 100% coming back! Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

I come to this place fairly often, and I even came with a large group from the university once. The staff are always kind and accommodating, and they are very knowledgeable about the various games. They have a great selection of games, and are very good at finding replacement pieces when something is too damaged or is lost in a game. The food is decent, its not what I come to the place for but they always have some good options. The single time that we got bad service (our order didnt get sent to the kitchen properly), the staff were super kind, brought us a complimentary dessert, and waived the time limit on Friday nights since we didnt get our food for over an hour after we were supposed to. These things happen, and I was very happy with how it was handled.

★★★★★
July 23, 2024

Our food order of specialty nachos, triple fry platter + bbq perogies was awesome! Exceeded expectations! Server was cool and really helpful with board game instruction. All staff were very friendly. I had a nice afternoon with my son and his friends.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Lots of games to choose from and the food was great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

We had a great time and the staff are awesome!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

I accidently spent 4 hours here for dinner because I was having so much fun playing the awesome collection of games they have

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Fun place to hang out with, especially if you are a gamer. 100s of board and video games, decent pub-style good (nachos, fries, burgers, chilli). Friendly atmosphere for an informal gathering

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

Always a good time! Me and my partner visit it often for date night, but have also celebrated my birthday here before. Their game master are all very helpful. For food, I love getting the Crispy Chicken Nachos - good for sharing or next day leftovers too!

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

Great place to hang out and play games with friends and family. The game wizards are exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Excellent service, atmosphere, and board game choices, but the food is more limited and not as good as it used to be.

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

Loved this place! The game wizards recommended amazing games! The drinks were delicious as well! Had the best cosmo here! 10/10 would recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

It was a fun 3 hours with food.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

I recently celebrated a friend s birthday at Level One Game Pub with a group of six. The vast selection of games caters to all interests and skill levels, and the fun, casual layout of the place makes it easy to relax and enjoy. We shared nachos and fries, both of which were good, and our drinks were enjoyable too. The service was excellent; our server was attentive despite it being a busy night, and the Game Wizard provided great game recommendations and explanations. However, the cost is a notable downside. The $9 per person stay-and-play fee is quite pricey, especially for larger groups, when most people will only be playing a couple to a few games depending on how long you stay. Overall, Level One Game Pub offers a great experience for anyone looking to combine gaming with good food and drinks. Just be prepared for the per-person fee. It s a fun spot for a unique and entertaining evening!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Wish we could this place sooner. Great place for games and great staff. HUGE selection of games and nice website to help find different games.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Went here for an afternoon get together and staff was so friendly! They helped us understand some of the rules of certain games we were confused with, suggested next games to play as well! The tri fry appetizer we got was delicious however slightly pricey for what you get. Parking: There is no parking lot attached to the pub so you need to find street parking or a parking garage nearby. Wheelchair accessibility: You could probably get a wheelchair in the front doors however the bathroom is in the basement.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

We had dinner in this beautiful place divided into different floors where, in addition to eating and drinking, it is possible to play (video games, board games or card games). The environment, entirely made of wood and exposed brick, is also fascinating. We opted for a table with a maxi TV connected to a games console (a Playstation 5, I dont remember exactly, but perhaps there was also an Xbox option). You pay a small fee per person to play. Then with the support of a staff member, you choose your game and youre ready to go. I think it was the evening that our daughter enjoyed the most of the entire holiday. Great fun (depending on the game) for both children and adults. The cuisine is also very good: hamburgers cooked to perfection and tasty, with a side dish of a delicious mixed salad composition. It was also the first place (and the only one) where we tasted Poutine, a super typical dish of these areas, a sort of mappazzone of French fries immersed in other ingredients (the main one is a sort of broth sauce congealed meat, to which different variations can be added - we took the one with melted cheese); its difficult to finish the dish and the taste isnt exactly unforgettable, but then again wherever you go... Conclusion with a good slice of dark chocolate cake. The beers on offer are excellent. Very friendly, smiling and helpful staff. Fair price (we were not charged for our daughters playing fee). Definitely highly recommended for spending a different and fun evening with friends and family.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Always have a good time when I go. The servers are all pretty knowledgeable and always friendly! This place gets pretty busy, made a reservation which was perfect. Got a table with gaming consoles vs the usual. Still broke out a board game tho! Stayed for the full 3hrs without even realizing, time Flys when your having fun.

June 23, 2024

This place left a sour taste in my mouth since the last incident. I organized a school event a while back and had about 30ish people attend. We talked to the owner to arrange at a night where they were less busy (to be considerate) and he gave us a deal. We met in person, he was super cool with it. The event went well.. to say the least until the next day. My friend and I (the organizers) get this very threatening email from the owner, also cc ed to the school s department telling us that of the two patrons last night walked out without paying their tab and they have camera footage and will go to the police if we don t pay. The total missing tab was 30 dollars.. technically, it s not our job to keep an eye on students as we just brought customers in? Keep in mind there were other customers that night. Everyone had their own tab, that s how they wanted the whole thing to be billed that night. Maybe there was a mix up or people forgot to pay, not unusual at bars. We weren t going to point any fingers so in any case without any objection, we responded right away to the email and came in and paid the tab right away. When we did he was all cool and understanding with us. Not sure why he decided to fire off an aggressive email to the department without talking to us. We even left our numbers with him the day we came in to chat so he could have easily got in touch with either of us. And we left pretty late in the night of the event to make sure everyone got out and the tab was paid. So there was no indication that we were unreliable people. Anyway, not sure if it s still the same owners since it s been a while, but I won t be coming back personally lol. No shade to anyone else who loves this place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Love this place. We always have a blast. Foods good, drinks good, fun games. Dont be afraid to ask the staff anything. They work there and know a few games to suggest by what youre in the mood to play. Bring friends and order one group app at a time lol. I havent tried everything on the menu but what I did get was great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Fantastic idea! Games, Drinks and Food all at the same place. Great place to hang out with a group of friends indulging in good food and games while experiencing an amazing time. Service is a little on the slower side but they can t be blamed as they are usually really busy running around constantly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Great place to spend time with friends and family! Loved the concept of game night out!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Very good board game selection! Food was really solid!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

The staff were very friendly and accommodating and knowledgeable about the games on offer. Even when packed they put me on a call list and texted me when a table was available. I had a great time and cannot recommend it enough.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Lots of games to choose from but since Im a massive baby I opted for Battleship and Connect 4. Riveting I know. Cozy environment for games and eats. Our server was super accomodating, didnt catch his name but it was the bearded guy with the glasses (unsure if that narrows it down). Ordered the Wild West Poutine as my first meal in the city. Didnt disappoint! A true poutine? Perhaps not. Filling and delicious? Quite. Will be back for another chill evening next time were in town.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

The games are awesome and their food is also great.

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Great service and huge selection of games. Love the no rush atmosphere during the week.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

This place is incredible! I only wish I could have stayed longer. A friend, my wife, and I stopped in for a quick bite before heading up the street to see a show. I ill definitely be back to play some games! Oh, and the food was excellent!

★★★
May 23, 2024

Ive been going there just over 5 years. I love the place it helps me relax once a week with friends,lover and family. Almost no complaints this is truly a special place the atmosphere, choice of video games / board game is more than satisfying. Price is only 10$ if you wanna play which is very reasonable. The only problem recently is theres a tall girl in the staff whos always pretty rude or passive aggressive in the way she talk you can tell shes been working there for a while she was training new employees the other day, so its worrying. She works often and makes us uncomfortable everytime we come we try to avoid her. At first we tought she was having a bad day, but its all the time. I gave 3 stars out of 5 just because of her it truly ruins the magic of your experience.

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

We stumbled into the pub after a full day of rainy Ottawa citytripping, tired and craving a good time. And did we find it! A warm welcome, an immediate seat at the bar with a swift promise of a table, fantastic cocktails (take a moment to gawk at the creativity of the menu!) and a wonderful selection of games. The staff is super attentive and kind, tends to every need and checks in frequently. Our favourite moment was the game sommelier recommending and explaining Earth to us, after which we lost ourselves for 2+ hours in competitive ecosystem building. A great place for board game, pop culture and cozy evening people alike. PS: no need to play an actual board or video game, you can just as well ask for a dinner table and enjoy the lively atmosphere (but I will say that enjoying their luxurious collection definitely adds to the experience!). Vegetarian options: A nice spread of vegetarian options, both usual suspects and interesting new paths to explore!

★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Level One Gaming Bar is a lovely restaurant that offers well presented and good food. You can pay 10 dollars more to borrow board games and video games while you eat. They have a giant variety of board games including multiple copies of the same one so multiple tables can play the same game. I went to the restaurant as a part of the cast and crew of We Are The Water. We had a large amount of people but the servers did their best to accommodate. I ordered chicken tenders and fries with a Coca-Cola. The coke came first in a glass with a straw and ice. It took a while for our food to come in, though this is understandable as we had a large group. The waiters were Polite, Down to earth, and easily approachable. All were willing to answer my questions. The restaurant had free wifi and an online menu, so bring a phone. The chicken tenders were well presented and tasted good. Whenever I asked for refills I would get my drink back within 5 minutes. Their bathroom is only accessible by stairs. The waiters regularly checked in to make sure we were enjoying our meals and if we needed anything. I went down to the first floor and they had video games. With a wide variety of consoles, from Nintendo 64, a Will U, a PS5 Xbox 360 and more. The screens were good quality and offered a wide variety of video games to play with several controllers available. Though some of the controllers were not the very best, they still worked well and I had a fun experience with my cast mates. So much fun infact I forgot I ordered a white chocolate cranberry brownie and they forgot to give it to me. They made it but forgot to deliver it. While I was settling my gaming check, my main waiter realized this, apologized and had it remade fresh very quickly since the other was sitting out for a while. He put it in a to-go box since I needed to leave. And finally the atmosphere was great, everyone in there seemed happy and cheerful. Overall this was a good experience and I would recommend this place to a group of friends visiting Ottawa. I would not recommend going alone.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Very cool place to go with friends to eat, drink, relax and play almost any kind of games.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Went here for the first time to celebrate a friends birthday and had an amazing time! All the staff are so cheerful as well as attentive, we were constantly checked on to make sure we understood our games and our drinks never had a chance to run dry! Amazing staff and amazing atmosphere! The selection of card/board/video games was also crazy for the price point! Definitely recommend this place and Ill be back for sure!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Fun! A lot of games and good food. 10/10

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Amazing staff, extremely knowledgeable. We drooled over the food. Also they had my drink of choice, Kraken.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

The food is delicious, they have many board games and video games too, it is excellent and I love it, the service is excellent, everyone is very friendly

★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

A lot of games, and great service.

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Very courteous and professional service, good beer, and good selection of games

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

brisket burger got me going AWOOGA also s/o to Brandon the game wizard. just an outstanding fella Food : 5/5

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Large selection of boardgames for all ages (and attention spans)

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Great building, great games, and great staff! Everyone is enthusiastic and helpful in finding that new game to play! Thanks, love coming here!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Great service, food is awesome and great games!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

If youre a gamer, this place is a gem! They have a board game section and videogame section. Their food is delicious (get the chicken nachos! Im still craving them!) Their drinks are great and they all have geeky names to them! I enjoyed my time there with my husband and his friends. Ill be returning for sure :)

★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Loved our drinks and overall loved the idea. There were so many board games to choose from. The only downside is its very packed and we ended up having to wait a bit for a table.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Best gaming Cafe Ive ever been to. Huge selection of boardgames. Food and drinks are good too. Drinks wise I get the Boneshaker and my fiancee gets the Venelope Von Schweetz. The wait staff have a super sharp memory given Ive only been there a handful of times but they remember my preferences. Theres a Thursday Boardgame Night thats really fun. Only thing Im not the biggest fan of is the $9 fee to sit. I get that they have a huge library to maintain and limited space, but it does deter me from visiting more often. Would be nice if either the fee could be absorbed based on buying food and drink or something like a yearly membership fee. Just some suggestions.

April 23, 2024

I enjoyed my time but one of the servers (Indian or Guyanese girl) was extremely rude from the moment she greeted us, she made us all uncomfortable. I would definitely recommend training her on customer service. Other than that the other servers that helped us out were absolutely amazing and kind. You can see a big difference in her service versus everyone else s! Will definitely be back though, she just killed the vibe lol

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Reserved a spot for video games on a Sunday afternoon. It was quiet when we arrived but soon got busy. Enjoyed playing a variety of PS2 games, very nostalgic. If you book a video game spot you can also play board games if you wish. The Southern fried chicken nachos were great and a good selection of drinks too

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Such fun! Loved the collection of games. Had a great night with friends. Food is also good!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Very nice place for games! On the other hand, to eat, it would be better to go elsewhere if you are looking for something more elaborate.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Loved the vibe and the decor. Service was excellent as was the food. Only complaint would be one of the most classic board games, Sorry, is in the sorriest (pun intended) state.... Definitely time to replace it Great concept, looking forward to coming back on my next visit to Ottawa.

★★★★★
April 23, 2024

The staff are extremely friendly and attentive. They were helpful with teaching and recommending games. We had a great time. Vegetarian options: The vegan burger was delicious and very filling. Parking: There is a pay lot kiddy corner across the street.

★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Last i was here it was still the loft, but still a great spot to hang and play games.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Food seems slightly overpriced, but some items are shareable. Cocktails are on the expensive side but there are more reasonably priced items on tap or by the can. The real reason you come here however is to play the games, and theres a huge selection! Dont come here to play old boring ones like monopoly, try something new. The staff are knowledgeable and they all can help you.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Love the atmosphere here. All staff are friendly, ams enjoy the dnd nights they hold.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

They have almost all the board games you could think of, and the staff is always so helpful and welcoming, even when the place is full, which is often the case! I suggest trying their unique house-made dice candy.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Almost too many games to choose from. Great beer selection Dietary restrictions: Varied menu Food : 4/5 |

★★★★★
March 23, 2024

An amazing vibe. Incredible food. Console games, board games, DnD, and top quality food.

★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

It was very fun but the wait time was a bit annoying especially since there was nowhere to wait inside. We were made to leave and it was freezing. The food wasnt the best but it was good

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

We love this place when we visit Ottawa - great to explore new board games or play an old favorite.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Good place. Lots of games. Helpful, fun staff. Food was good. Very easy to spend a lot of money - I guess thats normal these days.

★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Played a game of Battleship with a friend. Time warp.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

A unique experience that I highly recommend. The small fee for board game access is entirely worth it, especially with bigger groups. Even if you come just for food, they have some very good pub fare, as well as the best ginger beer Ive ever tasted. All in all its a great place to come for group get-togethers, and the unique atmosphere will keep you coming back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Good food, good beer, and a great environment to try out some new games. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, and can recommend a game or help get you started without reading the rules several time over.

★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Its cool and all but the fact that you have to pay to be there is not cool. We consumed and the bill was $175+$45 for playing... Other places we have been you consume and thats it... Dont think we will be back...

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Fun place to go when you and your friends are low energy and want a cozy place to hang out. Every Board games you can think of. Also the food and drinks are delicious! Highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

One of the best places to have fun in Ottawa

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Amazing place, had a great time with my wife and boys

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

A great place to spend an evening with a non-banal meal. A fantastic selection of games for any age category and preferences. Three evening hours fly by in 15 minutes)

★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Awesome place to come and play games! The staff were very knowledgeable and friendly, and the amount of games that weee offered was awesome! Just found it got a little pricy when getting food and playing the games all added up afterwards.

★★★★★
February 23, 2024

Level One Gaming Pub in Ottawa is the place to go!!! with friends - and no one will be bored. We celebrated there our 14-year-old sons BD party with classmates. We booked 3 gaming tables and stayed for about 5 hours, including gaming and dinner. Four parents decided to stay and join the party because the place looked and felt cool and wonderful and we all had a great time, regardless of age. The food selection was limited but adequate, prices $$$; the staff super friendly. Parking: Serious limitation is the parking, very hard to find a spot near the Pub, yet, have to go often to add money to the parking (pay by phone option was not working for some reason).

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

I had my beers and lots of fun. Will definitely be back! For new visitors, book your table in advance, this place is packed in weekends.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

amazing place

★★★★★
February 23, 2024

Haven t been yet but a gentlemen named Simon was very nice on the phone and answered all my questions with patience thank you!

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

This is a great spot with fun games and a nice space to get together with people. My only complaint is that the food took so long to come! They were busy but on a weekday night it shouldnt have taken an hour to get food. The food was good though and the servers and game wizard were very friendly. The food was definitely overpriced but it was also really good so I wouldnt take off a star for that. Vegetarian options: Great that they specified and were knowledgeable about which dishes were vegan.

★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Great little gaming spot to come with a group! They have a massive selection of both board games and videogames, making it easy to always have something new to play. My group came on a Saturday night without a reservation, and as it was quite busy, we were put on a waitlist the staff was super kind and courteous in letting us know, and texted us not long after to tell us that the table was ready. The price of the cover charge has gone up quite a bit over the past couple of years $9 just to sit and play, which isnt cheap if youre only going for a few games. Food is quite expensive for what you get. Bruscetta is meh bread too crunchy, small portion. Overall nice atmosphere, but getting a little too pricey for a casual night out.

February 23, 2024

Extremely overpriced for what they offer. Sad meals served by sad people. Dirty, smelly, overcrowded, just really really awful pub.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Great beer selection, good food and fun games.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Awesome place, awesome food, awesome games. Loved visiting and would go back again

★★★★★
February 23, 2024

Great game selection, knowledgeable staff, fun atmosphere, regularly scheduled community events, and a surprisingly good menu thats totally nut-free, with lots of vegan options!

★★★★★
February 23, 2024

Great selection of games and staff are available to help teach you how to play new games. There are also fun themed drinks!

February 23, 2024

Before I start this review Id like to note that my partner and I have been to this establishment tons since 2021 until 2023. Including our anniversary. My original review was 5 stars. But after tonights service I had to make a review. My husband, our friend and I went to level one. The first time we had been here in over 10 months after returning to Ottawa and I will say the night was awful. We entered the restaurant at around 10:10 pm, where we were seated and then we wanted to order our food instantly. But we were forced to wait. When we finally got the chance to order, our food was not put in and we waited from 10:20 until 11:15 for our food. By the way we had to go over to the kitchen and tell them that our food had not come at 10:54. During our time no one came to check on us, the table that got sat after us got drink refills and new orders three times before we even got our food. Oh and on top of that there were servers having a party behind us. Some clearly off the clock, but others were on and instead of asking how we were doing they were hanging out on shift. We were ignored all night and yes they did comp our play fee but after the very charred over cooked food, everything should have been comped. We were the only black people in the restaurant and we were ignored all night, on black history month. Our experience was an absolutely awful mess and we will not be back at that establishment any time soon. Im not saying is racist, Im just saying its a bad look. $85 for poor service, a tucked away table and mediocre food, if I knew how bad this was going to be. I would have went to jack Astors. At least the service there actually checks up on you.

★★★★★
February 23, 2024

This place was extremely fun and I m definitely coming back! It had a great variety of games and note that you have to pay 9$ to play. The atmosphere is cool and there are plenty of tables usually packed with big groups. The best part of my experience was if we ever had trouble understanding a game, we could call a games master and he/she would explain everything in detail plus help us get through the first round of the game. I can t speak much of the food as I didn t eat anything but my friends definitely enjoyed the food and hot chocolate.

★★★★
February 23, 2024

Should have more healthy food