Bongo Java East

This is likely the best board game cafe I’ve ever been to. There was a fantastic spread of board games and the food was cozy and affordable! Could definitely spends hours on end here! Food: The coffees were all very flavorful and true to their descriptions. The food is great for snacking while board gaming. Service: The staff were very friendly and that’s all they need to be. Atmosphere: The most fitting adjective is definitely welcoming. The lights are nice and bright for the board games and the walls of well maintained games tempt you into trying out new games!

Family owned shop with multiple other businesses and coffee shops in the area. We were greeted as soon as we walked in by a very friendly staff member. The seasonal and specialty coffee list is very good. The snickersoodle and tiramasu lattes were very good! There are plenty of delicious options for everyone that won't disappoint.

It’s hard to put into words how much I appreciate the staff here. I work down the street and have been coming in several times a week for a couple years now. Today, my mom (also a regular) had a medical emergency inside the store (she’s doing well, thankfully). The staff went above and beyond in helping us through the crisis and I don’t know how we could have gotten by without them. Huge thanks to Sarah, TJ, Sam, Chloe, Tommy, and everybody else I see here on an weekly basis. They do an excellent job at making the environment comfortable, kid-friendly, and queer-friendly, and I’ve never felt anything but safe and welcome here!

Such a fun vibe. From the outside, doesn't look like much, but inside... there are lots of tables to game, read, or just hang out. There is also a huuuuuuuuge selection of games to choose from. The coffee selection is fantastic along with an arsenal of non-coffee options if you prefer that route. Can get busy on a holiday, but the staff is friendly and keep it moving. The parking lot is small but there is free street parking available. Highly recommend stopping in if you are in the area.

I just left and I got the same thing I always have gotten, bacon egg and cheese bagel with a childish amount of ketchup. And it was fannnntastic. They were very nice and the coffee was great. I'm putting this place on my "weekly rotation" that doesn't exist but will.

I took a friend of mine to grab a coffee there and catch up with each other. It was my first time there, but she had been there quite a few times. The men's bathroom, as the video shows, is worth the price of admission 🤣. Plenty of colors 😁. I love all the board games and the laid back environment. We will definitely be stopping by again in the near future 🙏

Became a routine breakfast spot, but service and food has taken a downturn as of recent. Gas station quality at boutique price now.

Awesome place for breakfast and lunch. Truly unique atmosphere with about 500 games to pull off the wall and play. My favorite is Magic: The Gathering nights on Mondays. Excellent service. Great place to meet up with friends and relax.

This is likely the best board game cafe I've ever been to. There was a fantastic spread of board games and the food was cozy and affordable! Could definitely spends hours on end here! Food: The coffees were all very flavorful and true to their descriptions. The food is also great for snacking while board gaming. Service: The staff were very friendly and that's all they need to be. Atmosphere: The most fitting adjective is definitely welcoming. The lights are nice and bright for the board games and the walls of well maintained games tempt you into trying out new games!

Have been here a few times and always enjoy the drinks and board games! Tends to get a little crowded on the weekends, but I've always managed to find a table. There's a very large selection of well-maintained board games, so it's always very fun to play a few rounds over coffee or tea. Their soft pretzel with beer cheese is also delicious. Street parking available close to the cafe. Friendly service, cozy vibe.

Cool location! Perfect ambiance. Everyone is so helping, especially Sarah who bas been so lovely to assist me explaining in magic card the gathering

Such chill vibes!! If you want to go get coffee, food, & just chill, bongo east is perfect for that. The bathroom is cute as well lol

The staff is always great, there are tons of games to chose from, and the coffee is always amazing. I moved here from Birmingham alone, and this is where I go when I want to feel at home and have someone to engage with. Definitely worth the visit.

Chill atmosphere smelling of freshly ground coffee. The available board game selection was wide, and our party stuck with Punderdome and had a blast. The coffee is potent but creamy, and the bakery sweets are petite. A nice spot to treat yourself to after dinner.

This place is awesome!!! Great indoor activity to do while in Nashville! I got the tiramisu latte and it was good. They have a big selection of board games for you to play for FREE and a good amount of tables. I will definitely come back next time I come to Nashville

I think I just found my new go to shop. Bongo has the best combination of work space and social space. All of my favorite coffee shops have one thing in common, they make me feel comfortable and safe. Which may be a lot of pressure, but if you frequent coffee shops, you know what I mean [iykyk]. They offer a small lunch and dinner menu, while also providing house made coffee shop pastry essentials. The staff is laid-back and inviting and were able to help me decide between drinks and snacks. I enjoyed an infamous lemonade mouth which included all of my favorite things and a delicious cream cheese danish (I was in a small utopia, honestly). There was plenty of space to work, but I would stop by here with some friends in between errands. They are open from 7am-10pm, which I thought was very nice for college students or fellow night owls. My one and only small grievance was for the parking lot. It's small, y'all, but there are a few neighborhoods, nearby.

Great for groups or family who enjoy board games-'they have 'em all, and they're free to use. Food is basic, and coffee is great; just like their other establishments Fido and Bongo Java on the West side. Friendly staff and fun, engaging atmosphere!

Such a cute spot! SO MANY GAMES and a really fun vibe. ALSO THEY HAVE VEGAN PASTRIES AND THEY ARE YUM! The macaroons were delicious and the cake was good but a bit dry. Def would come back!

So many choices! Right now our favorite Is the hot cider, and the cold brew with maple infused foam. Yummy!! As long as you wear a mask you can step right up to the window and order your goodies. Blueberry muffins is a must in the mornings but don't miss out on the many lunch opportunities as well. Very happy to have this convenient coffee place in the neighborhood. They have also extended their outdoor seating in case you like to rest your feet with your coffee.

Very cute Coffe place , very busy and fun. You can come eat drink coffee but games and play them , put puzzles together and spend the day here. Easily accessible and very cute. Didn't see a lot of plug sccebikitu for studying but definitely come here to have fun. Drink made very well and piping hot. Great Nash Coffee

Stopped by here this morning to quell a craving for a Lox Bagel. That was my mistake. Do not bother, as the Lox Bagel here is not up to snuff in any way (more on that in a moment). However, the place itself is very cute with lots of seating and good-vibey feels all the way around. I'm personally choosing not to eat indoors at present, but hopefully soon I can come here and hang out to play a board game with some hot drink and decadent pastry in hand. The staff were very welcoming and chill on a Sunday morning (I appreciated them being there). And their coffee (I'm sipping it now) is solid. I just got the drip and it's smooth, not bitter-Starbuckish-jo (I do frequent Starbucks but try to support local coffee shops as well). But that bagel. First, it's not the good kind of everything bagel, it seemed grocery store level. It was hardly toasted and they put greens on it. My fault for not asking them to omit the greens, but the fact that they were wilted added insult to injury. I ended up picking them off while getting cream cheese all over my fingers. Definitely not what I was hoping for, although I ate it given I was hungry and I paid for it. In the long run, the bagel will be forgotten (already has been). I like it here and will be back to try something else on their menu and get myself one of their fancier coffee drinks.

GREAT place for the group to get together for games and caffeine! While seating is limited inside, there are a few tables out front, and plenty of picnic tables outside. Best part... TONS of game selections to choose from inside, or bring your own. If you want to "try before you buy" a particular game, this is an awesome place to see how much you like that game "you've been dying to play." Some of the tables are super cool because they have cup holders built into the table... those are hard to come by, so get there early for premium seating inside! The tables are nice and wide to accommodate games like Catan or Ticket to Ride, so you'll have plenty of room to spread out with your game and your coffee! BONUS: They serve Bongo Java coffee selections, and they have a SOLID menu for "the hangries!" Food menu is on the counter, so if you're looking for it on the menu boards, you won't find it there (like me). We had the Jenny Appleseed and the Gobbler - both DELISH turkey sandwiches. I also had a Warm and Fuzzy Latte (Bongo Coffee) to wash it down (Vanilla, Honey, and Cinnamon). EXCELLENT! You really can't go wrong with the Bongo Java. I have heard, but can't confirm, that the Bongo Java is cheaper here than on Belmont's campus or 12 South. The Bad News: Parking.... Yeah, what parking...? You'll have to plan to park on the street or in the paid lot across the street (it was $6 when we were there). This is kind of a bummer because the area has some unique eateries and other "walk about draws" which can making parking tough. This gets a MUST DO for board game enthusiasts with a quality coffee addiction. Super fun with a casual atmosphere for relaxed gaming. Have fun!

Stopped by for coffee and saw all the game playing going on. Tons of games on the shelves to borrow and play. A fun place to go with friends to hang out. Good food, coffee, tea, and beer.

Coffee and wood was good. Took a very long time to get my coffee after ordering. Some menu combinations seem odd and made to reduce the amount of ingredients need on hand. For instance the BLT uses mixed greens.

Very hipster coffee shop with board games to choose from. Tables are game decorated(ie pawns painted into one table( with cup holders on the corners. Good baked goods and coffee and tea selections along with food menu and tons of games. Large inside that's pretty chill at least on a random late October Friday around 1pm. Bathroom has interesting artwork on the walls and there are pictures and a lm event calendar on the walls inside the cafe seating area. Also some outside seating in the front, and funky bar/coffee tenders. A bunch of people either working or on dates hanging inside sipping on iced coffees. Good vibes.

Ordered a sandwhich and burrito and the food quality was less than poor. The sandwhich had one very thin slice of Turkey, 2 spinach leaves, no Mayo or mustard and the bread was soggy and never toasted. The burrito was cold and not fully cooked. Terrible food quality and no one there to answer a phone to try to make it right before posting this review.

Can you duplicate this venue where I live (Richmond, VA)? I love this place! Such a cool, relaxed vibe. Even the bathrooms are fun with painted mural scenes. They are clearly popular, since there was a steady line for the hour we were there. The place is big, though, so you should be able to find a table. I really liked the everything bagel with lox, cream cheese, red onion and caper. Coffee was good too. We looked through the huge assortment of games and opted for old school, Trivial Pursuit. A fun way to start the day.

Bongo East is a solid spot to drop by for your morning (or early afternoon) brew! I tried the iced latte and appreciated the price. Very affordable. The quality was a bit lacking and the taste of non fat milk strongly overpowered any coffee flavor. The espresso was average in terms of strength. Right now their inside isn't open for dining or working, but on a nice day you can sit outside in their grassed area :)

Very cute coffee shop in what appears to be a rapidly changing neighborhood, I believe it's Historic East End? Good coffee but horrible WiFi. I'm town for a bleisure trip. Nice easy vibe with good music at a very reasonable volume.

I visited Bongo East on a Monday early afternoon and the seats were pretty crowded. Luckily, they've got these really nice swings outside! I ordered a large hot latte and sat on a swing. It's a really great swing area on a large field that I think they rent out for events! Another awesome quirk was the restroom. All of the walls had some interesting murals painted on it. It made me want to stay and look at it all but of course that is a little societally unacceptable. Swings and restroom aside - the coffee was great! I ordered a latte, it was good but not the best coffee I've ever had. I would definitely recommend coming here to do some work or catch up with a friend on the swings!

I never thought I'd be one for a board game cafe, but here I am! During our stint in Nashville, when the rain gods were laughing at us with the constant precipitation, we ended up coming here on back-to-back days to pass the time. What I like about places like this is that is has something for everyone. You want games? Cool, they have over 300 table top games for you to play. You want 100% organic coffees and teas? They got you. Local craft beer? Yep, on draft. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menu? Gotcha, sport. The space is fairly open though on a rainy afternoon this place was constantly slammed. Luckily we were able to snag the six-top table both days, so we ended buying lots of caffeinated beverages and played favorites like Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, etc. I believe they have two locations and this particular one in East Nashville sits in a popular area of town. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the mood for something different!

This place is great! Support game stores!!! We spent a few hours here. Great coffee. Great specialty sodas and snacks. Tons of games that you can play for free and then plenty for sale at competitive prices. We'll be back next time we're in town! Thanks for a fun time!

Great place. Breakfast was very nice. I recommend the PBG (peanut butter/banana) wrap with the frosting-like dip -- very tasty!* The breakfast burrito was solid, though I felt it was lacking a little in the flavor department. It comes with salsa, though my little cup was about half full (I'm an optimist! ) My wife and I enjoyed our iced coffees -- "Into the Wild" was a refreshing, lavendery iced coffee. My cold brew with sugar free vanilla ($.60 up-charge I later discovered ) and some almond milk tasted dandy. Also worth noting... -On a Friday am around 10am it was pretty crowded (however, not unbearably so). The staff does a nice job keeping things moving. -BJ East is a board game player's paradise! The most board games I've seen in one place since Toys 'R Us! -Parking is very limited in front of BJ, but there are some side streets nearby where you can park -- you just may need to walk a couple minutes. *Just pretend calories are fake news.

Great board game café with a massive selection of games and a modest selection of beers, plus a couple wines. A very economic option as a pint is just $5 and there is no fee whatsoever for the games! My only qualm is that the kitchen closes at 9 pm on weekends.

Such a wonderful place to vibe, laugh, and enjoy a drink... of any variety! They have coffee, wines and beers. This hipster cafe has all the classic favorites , unos, battleship, connect four, cranium, monopoly, card games, trivia games, games for parties , games for pairs and so much more. Outside there was a quaint swing set for you to enjoy as well. A friend and I were driving around town and quickly gazed through the window and witnessed "game point", and we could not resist. We were so excited to enjoy a beer and laugh at our controversial battle of Connect Four. We would easily invite friends in pairs, in groups , or enjoy a quite cup of coffee. We LOVE IT!

My oat milk lattes have been really good from here! There's lots of seating and games galore, but it never felt loud or crowded!

One big Hell Yes for Bongo East!!!! I stayed in East Nashville for only 3 days and spent 2 of my mornings there. Their coffee and food is delicious and it's a great place to hang out, with all the games you'd ever need. The egg sandwich is super good as well as the PBG wrap. Miss it already.

This is probably the busiest bathroom I've seen in the greater Nashville area. It's kind of quirky but in a way that caters less to us gentrifying hipsters. Some highlights: V accessible bathroom cause there's zero steps to get to it, you've just got to head to the back of the shop. Also it has a large layout w lots of space. Yay! The water flow in the sink was excellent and there was instantly warm water. Score! You have the urinal option, which I wanted to try but I forgot my funnel Also you aren't bored while using the facilities. Thanks Bongo!

On our way to the Grandel Opry, we stopped at bongo East for a quick breakfast burrito and breakfast bagel sandwich. We appreciated their organic fair trade materials. They're located in East Nashville far from most of downtown area. You will need a car to get to this place. The café was filled with a lot of man buns and laptop workers. It seemed like the sit down place that you go to relax and spend most of your morning. It had a large hipster vibe, though that seem to be true of most of east Nashville. The cafe offered gluten free options and cute card games.

Bongo has a great selection of rotating espresso drinks, beer and wine, and then a great staple list of "typical" drinks. They also offer a decent sized menu, but don't expect any fancy dish to be served. For a coffee shop, price and taste are what I expect aka not super cheap but not expensive either. Staff are super sweet and personable too. I would not recommend this place for super studious works (although I see many here doing so) because of limited plug ins and the volume level (everything seems to echo and carry). But that's just my opinion. Fun place to grab a drink and play some games (check out game point which is attached), while catching up with some friends.

Wide selection of fun games and tasty food and drink options. A great atmosphere as well!

If you want a place you can hang out at and have some beer and/or coffee, this is the place to go! I got a matcha latte and it was decent. It was a bit powdery and it had some residue which wasn't a good sign. But it says a lot--this means they use actual matcha powder. They have plenty of board games to purchase and walls of board games to play while you sip on your drink. If you want a temporary escape from reality and hang out with your friends, I would highly recommend this place.

Loved loved loved this coffee shop! I wish I'd had enough time to sit and enjoy one of the many games that lined the wall! The coffee was awesome and the red velvet cake was a true southern treat

My girlfriends and I came here for some coffee and tea because our boyfriends were watching sports across the street. I love the open concept of this place, it's very comforting! I ordered an iced tea and it was less than $2.00. They had a large menu of seasonal drinks that sounded delicious. There were a lot of people playing board games which is a fun concept in general. Great coffee spot!

Great affordable local coffee shop! My go to spot on my morning walks, best in east in my opinion! No

On my walking tour of East Nashville, I came across Bongo East. Cool coffee stop with parking right in front near 5 points. They have a sign that says you can't be on your cell phone while you are ordering - LOVE THAT!. They also have this whole section in the back that seems to be a board game rental area. Plenty of tables and the most board games I have ever seen. I'm not sure how it works, but it definitely looked like fun. I heard that they also serve beer, but I only had an american and a super yummy chia pudding from their refrigerator case. Both delicious. Good coffee, plenty of seating and games! What is there not to like?

huge fan of this spot. been coming for years but just started posting to yelp so it goes. the energy in here is always upbeat and lively. a good start to any day. i love coming here to eat, write, read, and people watch. met some dope souls here. food and coffee is great honestly and all of the staff are friendly always.

This may be the coolest place ever for me. And Catan nights?! I will absolutely be coming back! I loved the staff, environment, food, coffee, all of it.

Awesome coffee and tea beverages, but such a long line. Love the fun drinks!

Stopped in for a couple of breaky sandos and a coffee and it did not disappoint! Staff were friendly and helpful in solving my indecisiveness when ordering. 10/10 recommend.

Cute little place. The menu looked so good I was bummed I didn't have time to eat! Walked here from our Airbnb and got a the salted caramel cold brew with cold foam. I'm usually a tea drinker and they did have lots of tea options but the walk had me warmed up so a nice cold brew was refreshing!

OMG board game lovers delight! I have never seen so many board games in a single place before. Even though we went here for coffee, i wish we had come for the games. The cappuccino and matcha latte were amazing. Jealous of the people who get to come here often

My friends and I go here all the time! The coffee drinks are great. They offer seasonal specialty drinks. The beer is also good. They have 1000 games you can play! The food is always perfect. I recommend the breakfast burrito. The hummus plate is also great - very fresh! I also highly recommend the adult grilled cheeze sandwich. The service here has never once been anything other than great! Also, they serve mimosas in the morning. LOVE THIS PLACE! Local treasure!

We were staying in East Nashville for a business trip and needed a good spot for breakfast. Bongo East popped up on Yelp as being close to us, so we checked out the menu. There were close to two-dozen breakfast items and they offered a lot of variety. We decided to go and we were very glad we did. The food and drinks were great. I ordered an iced mocha and it was perfect. It was just the right amount of coffee and chocolate without being too sweet. The lox bagel is enough of a portion for two, and was also delicious. We also ordered the taco bowl, which was very tasty. We had enough left over for a second meal practically. The other surprise was that they had tons of boardgames! I think they offered over several hundred board games. So, if you have the time to sit and hang out, you won't be bored or leave disappointed. Really enjoyed the space and would recommend to anyone. Staff was also really friendly.

This place is a great spot in East Nash. Lattes are delicious and huge selection of games to choose from. We loved it so much we came back the next day!

Great patio outside area and dog friendly but the coffee was bitter and watery. Not worth the almost $15 for two drinks.

I am in Nashville for a bachelorette party. My flight arrived a good four hours before everyone else and I decided to check out Five Points for a few hours. I was told by Uber driver that we were going to the 'hipster' part of town - East Nashville, and according to Yelp, he also dropped me off at the most hip coffee place in the city. Thank god I didn't wash my hair today and chose to wear a black wide brimmed flimsy hat and combat boots (seriously). For what this place has to offer, it does its job well. Great coffee, and a good place to read or laptop browse for a few hours. I would say this isn't the best place is you're looking to study intently- People watching is distracting and in general there are no nooks or crannies that you can stick yourself in to have some privacy. It is great for what it is- a little hide away to grab some coffee to start your morning and do some reading with a generally quiet crowd that keeps to itself. The baristas weren't assholes to me but maybe it was my hat that helped me blend in ;)