Room Escape Artist

Update: Since this review was published, Parlour Nouveau has been granted a permanent extension at Puzzalarium

Parlour Nouveau is one of the best escape room type experiences in San Diego. Here are our recommendations for other great escape rooms in San Diego.

Half puzzle. Half card game. All teamwork.

Availability: Only running until August 3, 2025*

Location: San Diego, CA

Date Played: June 1, 2025

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 4-6

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $55 per player, includes alcoholic cider

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: The game is played on a bar-height countertop and players sit on barstools

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

The experience of Parlor Nouveau is difficult to capture in words. Even after reading the website description, I entered the game unsure of what to expect. It turned out to be a true chimera – part escape-room puzzling, part tableau-building card game.

It began calmly enough, albeit with a touch of dramatic flair. Our host was none other than the creator himself, Stevenson Streeper, wearing a dashing top hat. By the end, we were frenetically racing against the clock to perform as many game actions as possible. Though intentionally chaotic, the experience never felt confusing or overwhelming. Rather, my team was energized by the challenge.

The objective was to score as many points as possible as a team. We naturally split into puzzle solvers and game players, a strategy that worked well. Both roles were essential and designed to complement each other, and our divide-and-conquer approach allowed us to collaborate effectively and contribute meaningfully to our progress.

The name of Parlour Nouveau appears to be a callback to Puzzalarium’s The Parlour, but the games are not quite the same. This game was my first Puzzalarium game, having regrettably missed Puzzalarium’s Floor is Lava. It was worth my 2-hour drive from Los Angeles, and since this has a limited 8-week run, if this game format appeals at all to you, don’t miss it!

Who is this for?

• Puzzle enthusiasts
• Optimization lovers
• Any experience level

Why play?

• A unique game format that allowed both puzzle-centric players and optimization junkies to shine.
• It is a fun way for a group to collaborate on game strategy.
• A compellingly designed card game that would have been enjoyable even as a standalone game.

Story

This was a curated parlor-style experience that evoked the atmosphere of a close-up magic performance.

Setting

Players were seated at a specially constructed bar, while the host ran the game on its custom-built countertop. The dim lighting added a sense of mystery and intimacy to the experience.

Gameplay

Parlor Nouveau was a multi-genre experience incorporating a moderate level of puzzle difficulty, and a card game of low difficulty, but high complexity.

We were given a limited number of rounds to play the card game, with minimal upfront instruction, but the mechanics were intuitive. Points earned from each round could be used to buy puzzles and hints. Solving puzzles granted us new game pieces to upgrade various aspects of the card game. As the game progressed, its complexity and our point-scoring potential increased dramatically.

Analysis

➕ The layout of the space worked well to keep all of the players simultaneously engaged. We were seated such that we could focus on the host and each other. It was intimate and inviting.

➖ The low lighting gave the space a dramatic, almost speakeasy feel, but made puzzle solving slightly challenging for players with vision issues.

➕ The card game portion started out with only a few simple rules. As the game progressed, additional mechanics were added, increasing the complexity and strategic depth of the game.

➕ Our host was excellent at responding to our queries, and guiding our experience. His performance was critical to us throughly enjoying the experience.

➖ We visited right at the beginning of the game’s 8-week run, and a few of the game components were not completely polished. However, none of the issues were game-play critical, and our host revealed that he was planning to further refine various aspects of the experience as time went on.

❓An alcoholic drink was included in the price of the game, but it needed to be redeemed from the bar using game points. In order to optimize our score, most of my team opted to keep the points instead.

NOTE: Since this review was published Parlour Nouveau has implemented a change to guarantee a glass of cider with every ticket.

➕ The puzzle portion was designed to be extensible, and the game portion was intrinsically replayable, so players may make return visits and have a completely different play experience!

Tips For Visiting

• We visited Parlor Nouveau at its temporary location at Serpentine Cider & Smokehouse. I enjoyed the food and drinks at the restaurant before the event, and there was plenty of free parking in the restaurant lot.

Book your hour with Puzzalarium’s Parlor Nouveau, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Puzzalarium provided a complimentary game.