Parlour Nouveau

An 8-Week Game Installation at Serpentine Cider & Smokehouse

The Next Evolution of Escape Rooms.

Ten years ago, Puzzalarium opened the first Escape Room in San Diego. And we are ready to evolve the format yet again.

The pitch if you're a Game Nerd:

Parlour Nouveau is not, in technical fact, an escape room. Yes, it has hand-crafted puzzle boxes we built at our in-house fabrication shop. Yes, there is a live Puzzlemaster who will offer hints if you wish. Yes, we are an escape room company. If you love escape rooms, you will adore this, as it is an iteration on the formula.

This is a one-hour deck-building score-attack game, with an in-game currency, shop, and Balatro-inspired co-operative card game.
Your team will work together to solve puzzles to buy card packs to upgrade your team's deck, and you will use that deck to play the game better to earn more cards.
At the end, you can take that deck home with with you, which acts as a progress saver if you ever come back.

This is an escape room with a fully-fledged card game built into the core mechanics, which has food and drink built into the room.

It's a Puzzle Bar

This game has the energy of an Escape Room, with the space for socializing you'd expect over a game of Magic the Gathering or a pint at the bar.

You've never played a game like this before.

The pitch if you're a Normal Person:

Wanna do an escape room that has Cider in it?

Sure ya do!

It's a one-hour puzzle-y party game with themed decor, handcrafted furniture, and pretty lights. And ya get booze!

There will be a host there that will explain everything and expect very little from you except enthusiasm.

If you want an excuse to spend time and socialize with your friends, this will work better than a regular escape room because the pace isn't as intense, and you can relax before and afterwards at the bar!

There will be a live actor with you the whole time you can ask for help at any time.

If your team can handle playing a game kinda like co-operative Poker and like shopping, this game is for you.

An Escape Room-Related Hosted Game & Drink

You and up to 5 of your friends in a highly-themed one-hour puzzle/card game.

One hour timer

2-6 players

A glass of hard cider

Hand-crafted puzzle boxes

A collaborative card game

An IRL Deck-builder

Reserve Your Session Today.

Getting a Headcount is not necessary:
All sessions are private, and accept 2-6 players.

Only available this Summer for 8 weekends.

$55 Per Player, all reservations good for 2-6 players.

Teams of 2 not recommended, but we will not charge you extra for 2 players.

Practical FAQ

What is it?

The short answer is that it's an Escape Room with a live actor, in a bar, that comes with cider and a souvenir.

What is the long answer?

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See the above scrolling marquee.

Is there a minimum age?

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While the game itself does not have any restrictions, it does take place in a bar, and as such we must enforce a 21 and up age restriction.

Is this game ADA-friendly?

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The game takes place in an ADA-accessible bar, at a single table that is at bar-height, on backless bar chairs. The game is hosted by a human who will see you and do everything in their power to include everyone. If you can't sit in the stool, it may be a bit more difficult to play, but we will work something out to include you.

Price? Parking? Cancellation?

Price is $55 per person. There's on-site parking. Free amusement for early arrivals is available. Cancellation forfeits the $55 deposit. If you need to re-schedule or cancel, call the phone number that came with your reservation.

Am I required to drink Cider?

We are not legally permitted to hold you down and force you to drink alcohol. That is a different, more expensive service.
There are non-alcoholic options available, and you can order some food instead.

How do reservations work?

Booking reserves a private time slot, and pays for one player. Everyone else pays in-person at the event, and it is not important for you to keep us updated as to the number of players unless it goes over six.

How long is the Game?

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One hour. Plan on additional time for pre-and post game relaxation.

Is there food?

Food is available during gameplay.

What is expected of me?

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Nothing save friends and a valid driver's license are required. You will be provided everything you need.

Additional Information only for Enthusiasts

The Story of Parlour Nouveau:

Years ago, before the great plague, Puzzalarium opened a very special Escape Room. It was called The Parlour, and it was a successful evolution of what an Escape Room can be.

This unique Escape Room, a blending of in-person theater, puzzles, and board game based resource management, was to the best of our knowledge the only escape room in the city to win awards for the design of the game specifically.

But I had a problem with it.

The Parlour was an escape room, yes. But it was also, nominally, a card game. You played cards with a live actor. If you won, you earned coins, which you would use to buy more puzzles and more games to win. There was a dirty secret though:

The cards were a lie.

The cards only served as an elaborate combination lock to enter the answers to puzzles in the room. The game wasn't really a game. There was no strategy. After a brief transference to another escape room, the entire room was lost.

This changes now.

This game, if it goes well over this two-month trial run, will be the next evolution of interactive entertainment. This is going to be, in essence, a hosted board game with ultra-premium props and components.

Showing your support by reserving a time will really help.

Your support is greatly appreciated!

Gameplay iFAQ

Infrequently Asked Questions.
The following information is only intended for nerds.

How would you classify this game?

This is a co-operative deck-building economy-driven puzzle game, performed by a live actor that does card flourishes, featuring a save-game system that permits replay in the form of a physical deck you get to take home.

What is Parlour Nouveau's Design Heritage?

Parlour Nouveau is basically Parlour 2: This is what we meant Edition Ft. Balatro. In order of most to least significant, the game draws from:

Our own previous room, The Parlour
The video game Balatro
Video Poker
Deck-Building Gameplay such as Dominion
The Room by Fireproof Games

How do you actually play the game?

The exact rules will of course be explained in-person, but if you are the sort of person who loves to know everything there is to know about a thing first, then here's a brief summary of the rules you may study and strategize with ahead of time:

The object of the game is to, as a team, score as many Gems (Victory Points) as possible in a 1 hour period.
Gems are won by playing rounds of Poker d'Tessa: A special variant of Poker whose rules will be explained in person.
Players will start with a standard deck of 52 cards and three coins.
Once every ten minutes, players may play a round of Poker d'Tessa. If a round is started, all players must play the game.
Poker d'Tessa is a cooperative game about building poker hands. The more and better poker hands that can be created, the more Gems that can be won from each round. The name of the game will be working together to place cards with your teammates, but you will not be allowed to verbally communicate to strategize. If the Puzzlemaster can work out how you are communicating or what it is you are saying, there will be gameplay consequences. It is in your best interest to figure out a way to subtly and efficiently communicate card names in a way that a dealer seated 36 inches from you cannot decipher.
There will be an in-game store, with various items available for purchase with coins.
The store will contain puzzles and card deck booster packs.
If a puzzle is solved, it will award additional coins. Booster packs will offer your team a collection of cards to choose from to add to your deck.
Hints are available at a cost of 2 coins.

_{The Puzzalarium has no affiliation with the game Balatro, which is ©2024 LocalThunk and Playstack Games. They don't know we exist, but from what we can tell, LocalThunk seems like a pretty chill guy.}