Victory Point Cafe

Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley lets you pick from hundreds of board games, ask a Game Guru for a recommendation or rules lesson, and stay as long as you like. The standard walk-in game-library fee is $8 per person, so two admissions stay under $20 before food or drinks.

Advance table reservations cost about $12 per person if you want guaranteed seating on a busy night. Staff instruction lowers the intimidation of a dense game wall on a first date.

Start cooperative if chemistry is still forming, then order food once you know you are staying. Shattuck Avenue location is easy to pair with a short North Berkeley walk afterward.