If you are looking for an escape room in Palm Beach Gardens, The Escape SoFlo is definitely a different kind of experience. Our family has visited more than once, and after trying three of their rooms, I feel comfortable saying that this location will be a great fit for some groups and not the right fit for others.
We have done well over 25 escape rooms as a family, and I have learned that not every escape room is designed the same way. Some rooms follow a more traditional puzzle flow where the clues build naturally from one step to the next, while others allow clues to be found and solved in a less structured order. Then there are rooms that require a much more abstract way of thinking, where the puzzle connections are not always obvious even after they are explained.
This review is based on our personal experience with three rooms at The Escape SoFlo in Palm Beach Gardens: Through the Looking Glass, Nightmare in the Gardens, and The Upside of Down.
Our First Visit to The Escape SoFlo
Through the Looking Glass was our first escape room adventure at The Escape SoFlo. There were six of us for that visit: my husband, our two sons, our daughter, my son’s girlfriend (now daughter-in-law), and myself. It was also my daughter-in-law’s very first escape room experience.
Through the Looking Glass was a great introduction to escape rooms. The theme was colorful, creative, and fun from the moment we started. There were bright neon details, black lights, glow-in-the-dark areas, and a whimsical Wonderland feel that made the room memorable.
I love a good riddle, and this room delivered in a way that felt challenging but still logical. The puzzles made sense, the clues felt connected, and everyone in our group was able to contribute. That is one of my favorite things about a good escape room: each person has a chance to spot something, solve something, or notice a detail someone else missed.
Through the Looking Glass Was the Standout
Through the Looking Glass is the room I would recommend at The Escape SoFlo. It felt the most traditional to me, while still having a fun Alice in Wonderland theme and creative visual effects. The room had personality, but it also followed the kind of escape room flow I enjoy most.
The puzzles were not easy, but they were fair. There is a big difference between a room that makes you think and a room that leaves you wondering how you were ever supposed to make a connection. Through the Looking Glass stayed on the right side of that line for us.
It was also a nice first escape room for my daughter-in-law because it gave her the fun, exciting version of what escape rooms can be. She was able to experience the teamwork, the problem-solving, and that quick-moving feeling where the hour seems to fly by. For families, couples, or groups who want a creative but still enjoyable escape room in Palm Beach Gardens, this is the one I would choose.
Escape rooms are a fun alternative to the usual dinner or movie night because everyone has to participate. You are searching, talking through clues, sharing ideas, and trying to beat the clock together. That kind of shared challenge is what makes escape room adventures so memorable for our family.
Why the Other Rooms Were Not for Us
After such a great experience with Through the Looking Glass, we were excited to try more rooms at The Escape SoFlo. Unfortunately, the other two rooms we tried did not give us the same experience.
Nightmare in the Gardens was the first one that left us frustrated. There were five of us during this escape room adventure: my husband, myself, and our three kids. Even with a lot of clues, we did not finish the room.
The issue for us was not that the room was simply difficult. We have done plenty of difficult escape rooms and still enjoyed them. The problem was that the puzzle logic felt overly abstract. Even when the owner tried to explain the connection between some of the clues, the answers still did not feel intuitive to us.
That made the experience more frustrating than fun. Instead of feeling like we were getting closer to solving the room, I felt annoyed and ready to leave. That is not usually how I feel in escape rooms, even when we are struggling.
Our Experience With The Upside of Down
We recently tried The Upside of Down, which is based on Stranger Things. For this room, there were four of us: my husband, my youngest son, his girlfriend, and myself. I should mention that I have never watched Stranger Things, so that may not have helped my experience with the theme, but the room itself looked interesting.
We did complete The Upside of Down, but we needed a lot of help along the way. The second part of the room felt a bit easier, which helped, but the overall experience still had that same overly abstract puzzle style that did not work well for us.
Again, it was not just about needing clues. I do not mind hints when a room is challenging. What frustrated me was that some of the clue connections felt too far removed from how we naturally think through puzzles.
For someone who loves very unconventional escape room design, this may be exactly what they enjoy. For our family, it took away from the fun because the room did not have the same natural rhythm we have enjoyed at other escape rooms.
Not Every Escape Room Is for Every Group
One thing I have learned after doing so many escape rooms is that every location has its own style. Some escape rooms are very visual. Some rely heavily on locks and keys. Some are tech-heavy, some are story-driven, and others are built around riddles, observation, or unusual connections.
The Escape SoFlo describes its rooms as escape rooms or “mental traps,” and after trying three of them, that wording makes sense to me. These rooms are not always the traditional escape room style some players may expect. They seem to lean more into unusual puzzle paths and abstract clue connections.
For me, Through the Looking Glass had the right balance. It was creative, colorful, and unique, but the puzzle flow still felt enjoyable. Nightmare in the Gardens and The Upside of Down felt too abstract for the kind of escape room experience I personally enjoy.
Is The Escape SoFlo Good for Beginners?
This is where I would be very careful with my recommendation. I would not choose Nightmare in the Gardens or The Upside of Down for beginners. If someone is new to escape rooms, I think these rooms could feel confusing and frustrating rather than fun, and they could actually discourage someone from wanting to try escape rooms again.
A beginner-friendly escape room should help people understand how clues connect, how to search a room, and how different puzzle types work. Through the Looking Glass did that for us. The other rooms did not.
If you are booking your first escape room in Palm Beach Gardens, I would personally recommend Through the Looking Glass only. If that room is not available, I would look carefully at the descriptions and think about whether your group enjoys abstract puzzles, unusual clue connections, and rooms that require a less traditional approach, or look elsewhere.
For a more traditional escape room experience in the area, our family also had a great time at West Palm Beach Escape Room, Time Travel Escape Room, and Legends of Xscape, which may be a better fit if your group wants something that feels more classic.
My Honest Take on The Escape SoFlo
The Escape SoFlo is not your typical escape room, and that can be either a good thing or a frustrating one, depending on your group. Through the Looking Glass was amazing and remains one of the rooms I have happily recommended. It was colorful, creative, and fun with great riddles and clues.
The other rooms we tried were not the same experience for us. Nightmare in the Gardens and The Upside of Down both felt overly abstract, and that made them difficult to enjoy. Even with clues, some of the connections did not feel natural to us, which left us frustrated instead of excited.
My honest recommendation is simple: book Through the Looking Glass if you want a fun and creative escape room in Palm Beach Gardens. Skip the other rooms if you are new to escape rooms, prefer traditional puzzle logic, or get frustrated when clues feel too disconnected.
Escape rooms are supposed to be challenging, but for me, the best ones still make you feel like the answer was there all along. Through the Looking Glass gave us that feeling. The others did not.