Obladee

We stopped into this wine bar while waiting to go to Neptune Theatre, and it was a lovely experience. The wine itself was okay, but the chocolate mousse dessert was absolutely delicious, so much so I forgot to take a picture. We didn’t try any of the other food, but everything we saw (and read on the menu) looked great - we’d happily return to try more next time. The atmosphere was wonderful: relaxed, cozy, and perfect for a drink with a friend or a partner. Overall, I would recommend this spot. It’s a great place to unwind and enjoy a nice evening out.

Great little bar I visited on my Halifax trip! Staff were knowledgeable and friendly, and the oysters and cheese board (on happy hour!) were so good! My server Audrey (Aubrey?) was kind and professional, could easily tell the mood of people sitting at the bar and give them as much or little attention as they needed. Great vibes, great drinks, great food, great service!

Such a delightful cozy, wine bar for a leisurely glass or two, snacks or dinner. Nicely curated selection of wines, served in proper stemware, by professional knowledgeable staff. Emma was delightful!

My favourite neighbourhood spot. The vibes are so cozy and intimate, the menu thoughtful and refreshed frequently. The staff is THE BEST! Shout out especially to Heather and Audrey. Everyone is educated and knowledgeable, while so friendly and approachable. My friend and I attend classes together and come for happy hours and jazz nights and we feel so welcomed every time! I recommend it to everyone. I feel so good about supporting such a lovely business.

Great wine bar and restaurant recommended to us by curated food tours, I had the gnocchi which were absolutely spot on, it's one of my favourite childhood dishes, there is an excellent choice of wine by the glass we had the white Rioja. It would have been 5 starts as the services as very good, the noise level was fine initially however the music was turned up twice, restaurants and bars are social places were people come to talk, music is fine it's just the level. I would go back

What a lovely little place The wine selection was delightful, very rarely do I find copper wines. Food was fresh and beautifully presented. The ombionce with live jazz music made it that much more enjoyable , though not great for conversation when playing and tighter spaces .

I came in around 9 last night and the place was packed! The atmosphere was so lovely and moody. Our wine was so delicious and our server gave us some great cheeses on our board. Thank you Ella! We will be back for Jazz night :)

Lovely little spot in town. Had three small plates and a couple of carafes of wine while listening to live jazz on a nice summer evening

What a find in downtown Halifax! After exploring the lovely, albeit touristy, Waterfront upon our arrival, we were seeking a bite to eat and a place for a drink that was intimate and a bit more local in vibe. I had read about this place and was convinced to try it after a strong recommendation from our hotel concierge. She was spot on. We walked in without a Resy and chose to sit at the bar-highly recommend. It gives you a wonderful taste of the locals here. The space is elegant and dimly lit which is nice if you're looking for a romantic spot or a place for quiet conversation. The staff is amazing... super friendly, very knowledgeable about the wine offerings and helpful in selecting both drink and food options. To our surprise, the food offerings are creative and not lacking in choice. They have the typical snack type things like nuts and olives, but also plenty of small shareable plates and even 3 larger entree size plates. My hubby enjoyed some local oysters which were served with a house made strawberry vinegar mignionette. The sweetness of the berry was delightful and really paired nicely with the oysters. He also enjoyed an "off the list" Czech white wine blend which was a nice complement to the oysters. I started with a local orange wine from Nova Scotia which had nice acid and minerality. This was perfect for the roasted beetroot dip which had a lovely walnut pesto component. It's served with crudités and the thinnest tastiest crostini. We then shared a cheese and charcuterie board. This is a nice option if you want to curate your own combination of cheese and charcuterie. The board is presented well and featured two cheeses and the duck prosciutto which was a highlight. There were olives, pickled vegetables, a seasonal house made jam and homemade horseradish mustard...yummy! We sipped on a rose from Quebec which was wonderful. Who knew Canada had such tasty wine?! We moved on to the tuna aburi which is their version of tuna tartare. Just delicious. And last but not least was the chocolate board with wine pairing. 3 house selections of chocolate: a goat's milk chocolate fudge, a dark chocolate truffle and a tiny sea salt brownie with ganache. The perfect sweet ending. My husband also thought the port and apple ice wine were quite good.

Sweet little wine bar. Got married here. It'll forever be a Halifax treasure to me. The menu rotates enough to keep the each visit fresh while offering opportunity to grab a favourite a couple times before it's rotated out for the season. The wine variety is best in the city and the service knows their stuff. You won't get fluffed into getting some bland house wine. Check it out and chat up the staff. It's a gem!

What a lucky find! I was in town for a couple of days and stumbled on this bar. Braving the cold (froze my southern roots!), I was walking from my hotel to another restaurant. On the way, I heard jazz coming from this bar, decided to stop and managed to grab a seat at the busy bar! The music and vibe were really great. The band played long sets and I was really impressed. The regulars were also very welcoming. It was a great time. The food was pretty good, enjoyed the gnocchi but I'm not sure I agree with calling it a caccio e peppe. I'd have been a little disappointed if I hadn't been enjoying the music so much. BUT the eggnog dessert was delicious. Their wine list really stood out! They have really unique finds from around the world. Too bad I was in town for work and had to limit myself! I hope to be back in a few months and will try to come again.

I hadn't been to Obladee for years and came back for my birthday with some friends and everyone had such a great time! The food was delicious - I almost ate before I left because I didn't realize there well full meals. I ordered the gnocchi and it was perfect with the wine. Our server was always there just as we needed them and had great recommendations.

The service here is exceptional and the wine and little bites they have are always delicious. Waiters will take their time to explain and suggest wines to suit each individual palette so you're not disappointed. My one downside is that it is always extremely loud here. I usually have a difficult time hearing the folks around me when I visit. It's a shame since it would be a great place to have a nice, intimate date night if it were quieter.

On a recent trip to Halifax we went to Obladee a couple of times for a few reasons...first, there is a wine from Lebanon that we've not seen anywhere else and was exquisite. We selected it from a good size wine list. Also the charcuterie is set up so that one can choose items from a selection and build your own board. Third, the service is friendly. The atmosphere is candles and dim light and the music was really good both the live music and the other music. Can't really comment on parking since we walked. But I can say we were tempted to go back over and over.

This place is great but the food is just way overpriced. Go elsewhere for a meal and just go here for the wine before or after.

One of the finest wine bars I've ever been in. I really loved it here and if it was in the States, it'd be my regular bar. The vibe is so chill, romantic, relaxed, and cool. We happened to be there during one of their live music nights, and a jazz trio entertained us while we had some wine and a nice conversation. It doesn't seem to be a noisy place, and we could hear each other easily, so it's a great spot for a date or romantic evening. The employees were very sweet and well-educated on all of the wines and foods available, which was fantastic. Their wine list is extensive and comprehensive. But if you're anything like me, you're better off with a flight so you can sample several of their wines at once. Their flights were $15, and we obviously had to try the NS "Loving Local," which featured three of their best wines from Nova Scotia. Perfect for newcomers! After the flight, we realized we loved Benjamin Bridge Nova 7, so we had a couple of full pours. The cheese & charcuterie board was just amazing. For $18 you can choose any three items from their list and customize the board to your liking. It comes with slices of toasted baguette from a local bakery, some condiments, and house-made pickles too. We asked our waitress for recommendations, and we ended up with the Prosciutto di Parma, Andouille Sausage, and I think the Aged Gouda. We also tried the Deep Sea Digby Scallops, because having seafood in Halifax is almost a requirement. They were cooked beautifully, but I only wish there were more than three! Alas. Let me put it this way: we spent 4 nights in Halifax, and we ended up here twice. You should make sure you end up here too.

Toddled in here after a nice meal at Gio, not quite ready to call it a night. It's a really fun space, retro without being too precious about it. My friend and I shared a wine flight and a cheese plate. Decent selection of wines, with some local choices and some unusual ones to try. We had a local rose which was good, and a nice Italian white, and just for fun tried an orange wine, which was a little too funky for our tastes. Cheese plate was yummy. We had good friendly service at the bar. Great place to meet for drinks with friends at the beginning or end of an evening.

Cozy wine bar. You could also ready that as small :) We did pre dinner drinks here. Extensive wine list. A few finger foods. If you sit at the bar, you can watch the lone "chef" prepare everything. Mainly charcuterie selection.

A great wine bar with a nice selection of Nova Scotian and imported wines. The outdoor seating is very nice. The servers were friendly and informative even on a busy night. A great place for visitors or locals.

Very classy, cozy place with an incredible selection of wines. Also offered an extensive amount of finger foods to pair with the wine of your choice (which I loved). Very aesthetically pleasing and even had larger table selections and couches for visits with friend groups!

Way too expensive!!!! We went for a night cap and asked for a quality glass of wine at a reasonable price. We were suggested a wine which was less than adequate and cost $20 plus a glass.

Super expensive place, wine is nice platters are expensive for what you get.

I've been here a few times but went this recent time specifically for the Jazz night on Wednesday. Here's the issue: The place is the size of a postage stamp with cramped seating when it's full. The area near the front entrance where the musicians play takes up 1/4 of the room. Also, the cooking area is actually attached to the bar in the same room which creates a lot of heat and odors. Most of the food offered is not cooked or heated so it's not constant. I would like to see more premium offerings by the glass, either on the regular menu or via Coravin, this is a wine bar after all. I understand bars and restaurants have to make money but not every glass has to be profited at 1/2 the price of the bottle. It would also be great to have Jazz on nights other than Wednesdays, but so far no venue in Halifax is willing offer Jazz on the weekend.

It doesn't take much to realize that this new addition to our city was MADE for me. Wine, cheese and bread? Sign me up. We checked out Obladee with a group of five that then grew to about eight as the night progressed. While there are no reservations, we were able to grab one of the few tables before it filled up (5:30pm on a Saturday). The table had a dangerous slant to it - especially once filled with red wine - and the floor had a suspicious slippery spot, but all was forgotten once we saw the dozens of wines available by the glass, all listed between $6.50-12.50. The servers seemed to work nicely as a team and were all knowledgeable, attentive, and ready to refund our glasses if we didn't like their recommendations. But of course, their recos were to die for. We ordered a smaller board that was fun to share as a group before the owner mistook me for someone named Christophe which then led to a night pretending to be a european gigolo. All in all, Obladee was the restaurant experience that just kept on giving!

Absolutely lovely experience, wine tasting was very good and a great presentation by Jacob!

Went to have the NS wine history flight. It was good and informative, however the server didn't seem very interested or passionate about the subject. It wasn't bad service, and the wine was delicious.

Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. It was a weekday afternoon. I'd had lunch, but wanted to have a glass of wine, pop the laptop, and get an hour or two of work done. Walked past Obladee. Decided to give it a go. Found it charming, cosy, well-styled, warm, and interesting. I was quite happy to plop down on a stool at a long bench near the back. The server was also charming, and brought me a generous glass of the wine that I asked for. I got the wifi password and started to work. It was all so comfortable, and tasty, that I ended up staying longer than I planned. I had 3 glasses of wine, sampling from across the diverse menu. I had some olives and a small dessert for a snack. I was there long enough to hear their funky Christmas playlist loop. I was the only one in there at the start, as it was only about 2pm. Others trickled in. I'll be back, and soon. Obladee is the perfect (for me) combination of stylish and relaxed, with interesting quality wines, good snacks, and a big-city atmosphere.

A small group of us went in for some celebrations and I felt like we were given the royal treatment, but that was just how good our server was. He chatted to us a bit while we waited for the rest of our group to arrive and listened to what we liked out of a wine and what we didn't. The sampler he brought us to find the bottle we wanted was honestly so hard to choose from because all of the wines were so delicious! To go with our wine, we had the cheese board and holy moly that was tasty! I don't think you can go wrong with cheese, meat and wine. Especially when the majority of the food on our platter, if not all, was Nova Scotian! I wouldn't hesitate to go there again, I loved everything about my experience!

This place is a great date spot! Lots of selection and great atmosphere! Plus the service is top notch! If you love wine, and lots of it, you need to try this spot! There is a range fit for anyone and everyone, you can spend 10$ and up depending on taste and preference! But every choice is awesome! The staff are here to help, as I am anything but knowledgable in the world of wine, other than I like to drink it, the staff help me hone in on what I'm looking for! They also have food which only compliments the wine, aka cheese and meat boards. The difference is that the cheese and meat selections are equally amazing. One of the best charcuterie boards in halifax! The only reason I have not given 5 stars is I feel the need to return and do more investigation... Which is really just an excuse to come back! So let's go!!

What an amazing experience!!! A large group of us were just at Obladee for a wine tasting. Not only were they very responsive via email, but they were very accommodating for us. We asked for something a little out of the ordinary and they nailed it. They restaurant itself is warm and inviting. The staff were all wonderful. The chocolate and cheeses that were chosen were perfect and the wine was amazing. Stephan, our host for the night is not only very charming, but very knowledgable. I HIGHLY suggest Obladee and it's wonderful staff for a great evening out.

I really loved this place , excellent wine first and foremost with a very knowledgeable sommelier /Bartender and charming host . The food is excellent and a real surprise ( Mackerel pate and small house charcuterie) in its uniqueness and flavours . Living in Toronto I wish this city had such a place .

Great place to go for a date or a girl's night out. Came here with a few coworkers a few weeks ago. Lovely intimate atmosphere. This could either be the type of place to dress up to go to, or just go casual. They have a great wine selection and a small menu with appetizers, desserts, and of course charcuterie. The server we had was very knowledgable and helpful when deciding what to get. I ended up getting the charcuterie plate with gouda, goat cheese and peppercorn salami to split with friends. I also got the feta mac and cheese and the flight of wine which had 3 glasses. The charcuterie plate was the best I had in Halifax. The pear relish was my favorite part, the red pepper jelly was also amazing with the goat cheese. The peppercorn salami had a great kick and was great with the dijon mustard. The feta mac and cheese wasn't so great... It could have used some more seasoning or salt or something, I would have liked to be able to taste the feta more, but the sundried tomato was the dominant flavor. I can't remember exactly what I paid, but it was more than reasonable. Our server was charming and lovely. Would be a 5 star rating had that mac and cheese impressed me.

This is a unique spot in Halifax. There aren't many wine bars around, and this one has a fun casual atmosphere with friendly staff. Excellent selection of wins, with some draught too. Happy hour specials are nice.

Enjoyed a night of jazz and local wines. Wonderful atmosphere and professional and personal staff.

Discovered new wines by trying their white wine flight. Vibrant music and smiling servers. Really small place with spiral staircase down to lower level used by the musicians. Great ceilidh for our anniversary celebration!

I've seen the signs advertising the opening of this wine bar for weeks since I arrived in Halifax, and was happy to be there just a few hours after opening day on October 18, 2010. I admit I'm not a wine person (ask me why sometime), so I stuck to some Garrison brew. I did try a platter of carefully chosen cheese and charcuterie from the Maritimes, however, and loved every minute of it. The owner herself took the time out to explain to me the different toppings, like the delicious chutney. She also really appreciated our feedback. The place is decorated with class, and has a soft, quiet atmosphere ideal for getting to know someone. While there are a few kinks to work out (keg trouble!), I'm positive Obladee will be a successful new venture in the city.

This place is the bomb. Family-owned and operated quiet and relaxing on a weeknight. Very Intimate and the staff know their shit. Speaking of the staff, they're awesome; sweet and friendly. We kept coming back and didn't find anywhere better for what we were looking for.

I heart Obladee Wine Bar. This place was so needed in downtown Halifax. It's so lovely to head down for a glass of wine after work or start an evening there before heading out to dinner. They have an excellent selection of wines by the glass, covering many price points. I love that their wine list is ever changing, so there's always something new to try. The servers have always given excellent recommendations if I'm unsure. And the charcuterie boards are fantastic. You can choose a combination of meats and cheeses, which are provided with bread and condiments. These boards are the perfect size for sharing with a couple friends, and the combination choices are almost endless. You'll find a lot of local meat and cheese options, and even the boards themselves were made in the province. The atmosphere, both inside and on the sidewalk patio, is conducive to both intimate chats/dates and group conversations among friends. The service has always been very friendly, fun and so helpful. You can tell a lot of time, thought and heart went into creating this place. Halifax is lucky to reap the rewards.

Oh, Obladee, aren't you just fabulous? Sometimes I worry that Halifax doesn't deserve a place this good. Excellent service (most of the time. I've had one very bad experience, but I'm certain it was a one-off), good prices, and a wonderful atmosphere. I'm a sucker for dimmed lights and conversation. The location really couldn't be better, too. Close to everything, standing out as a little gem on a fairly drab part of Barrington.

I can't believe I'd yet to review Obladee! I'm a huge fan. I'm not a big wine drinker, so you'd think this place might not be my cup of tea (or glass of wine - I don't know, there's a crappy pun in there somewhere). Not so! I don't think you can ever go wrong with a glass of bubbly and, of course, a cheese plate. Holy crap, do I love a cheese board from Obladee. They're probably meant to be shared, but whatever - just eat light all day and then hoard one for yourself. That's healthy, right? I also suggest asking staff for recommendations. They're super knowledgeable and always happy to help.

If they'd allow it, I'd own a table. Not one person could ever sit there. Better yet, I'd have a tent and live there. Okay, I may be exaggerating but holy cow this place was designed and opened just for me. The lights are dim, the wait staff are awesome and knowledgeable, and their cheese and meat selection are to die for! It's a fantastic place to go with some friends and catch up, or to go to wind down after a busy night or week. Honesty is the best policy and I'd be lying if I said you could get a seat, but really the wait is worth it! Also, the seating is different; you do have your tables, but once they are filled up, you're left with a long table. This means, that if you need to get out you're disturbing strangers-- which isn't always the most comfortable task. Lastly, it is a bit on the costly side-- but your getting cheese and meat, I'd pay with limbs.

How do I love thee, Obladee? Let me count the ways: 1) You bring a touch of class to a part of Barrington that needed one 2) You have a delightful and lengthy selection of wines by the glass 3) Little plates of nibbles? Cheese and Charcuterie? Need I say more? 4) Gorgeous furniture 5) Amazing ambiance 6) Truly friendly wait staff who go out of their way to serve with a smile and who remember your orders from visit to visit 7) Did I mention the wine? 8) And the cheeses from everywhere? 9) And the Duck Prosciutto? 10) The way they really engage with customers on Twitter. And so many more. I really love the place. I do.

Adorable and cozy wine bar located in downtown Halifax. Great place for a date or catching up with friends over a glass of wine and their cheese board. Highly recommend!

Confession: I want to pretend I'm a regular at Obladee. 2nd Confession: I have a cheese problem. For reals though, I've been wanting to hit up Obladee for a long long time. The fabulous Aimee from the lovely Food Je t'Aimee, met up with me there after work for some flights and boards. The atmosphere of this place just oozed wine to me. Wine often makes me feel mellow and floaty. I sense the same kind of feeling through their atmosphere. It's really neat! Nice and dark with tea lights accentuating the menus and a great view of barrington. The menu can certainly be overwhelming if you haven't been there before or don't know what you're doing. No prob bob, the service is bang on too. I let them know I was new and they were great in answering my questions and telling me whats up. Flights are super neat because you get to taste 3 different wines. Boards are even neater because you get baguette, relish, olives, and your choice of 3 cheeses or meats. If you're looking for some amazing cheeses you have to check Obladee out. They have a kick ass cow's aged smoked cheddar. My favorite wine from the flight? Sonoma-Cutrer Chard :) Another neat aspect here is that they have a good selection of both local and imported cheeses/wines. Always a great to see. Why not have a little bit of Spain and NS in one bite.

Obladee! Oblada! As a wine lover, but not a connoisseur, I've wanted to check out Obladee ever since it opened. Often walking by, seeing smiling faces sitting in their seats in front of the huge street view windows, sipping their wine, laughing, having such an awesome evening - I wanted that! Well, it took one of my best friends to quit her job and get another for me to go to Obladee, to celebrate! The space is smaller than you would expect, but they did a really good job optimizing each and every corner to make it not feel so congested. We lucked out and landed ourselves one of those awesome window seats! Our server, Stephan, was great! Super friendly, personable, attentive and knowledgeable! He recommended one of their wine flights. If you love wine, and love trying different or new kinds of wine this is a great option for you! A wine flight consists of three 2oz glasses of wine. You can get a red flight, white flight and a local flight (all Nova Scotian wine!) for $15.00! They had a special on Zinfandel when we were there for $12.00, so of course we all went with that! Each flight comes with a description of each type of wine you're about to indulge in; Stephan also explained them all too us, so that was even better. Two of us are big charcuterie board fans, so of course we had to get one from here! Offering both vegan and vegetarian options, you have quite a few choices to build your board. We are neither vegan nor vegetarian... we choose the duck prosciutto (from Ratinaud French Cuisine) and the Andouille Sausage (from Sweet Williams) the board was also filled with fresh bread, pickles, beets, cheeses, mustards and jams! The duck prosciutto stole the show, it was so tasty!! For a wine flight, 1/3 of a charcuterie board and a single glass of Malbec my bill was about $35.00 (with tip!) See you again, soon, Obladee!

Always great service with very knowledgeable staff. They have a beautiful selection of wines in a very cozy, elegant corner location. Whenever I am in Halifax I make sure to meet up here for wine, cheese, and good conversations.

I'm not going to lie. I've been dying to check out Obladee Wine Bar ever since I heard they were coming to town, but it took me way longer to get there than I had hoped. Finally the perfect occasion presented itself and my girlfriends and a couple of their mom's headed to Obladee after dinner. Despite being packed we were able to snag a table in the front window after a couple of ladies graciously scooted over to accommodate us. The wine list had something for everyone and our waiter was fantastic in helping us make the right selection. I highly recommend the wine flight. It was a great way to try new wines that you would normally not be drawn towards. Not only that but they come in cute little wine glasses that have their own rack. Everyone loves things when they're mini - and this is no exception. The decor of Obladee is fabulous. They have done a stand up job in turning in what could be an awkward room and turning it into a true gathering place. The communal table forces people to get cozy, enjoy great wine, and maybe even engage in conversation with someone you just met. Obladee welcomes a wide range of ages through it's doors but still maintains a great vibe that doesn't feel meat market-esque. A big hats off to the crew at Obladee for bringing something fresh to Halifax and far exceeding our expectations!

I am in love with Obladee! This is definitely a place to stop by, tourist or regular (or me, semi tourist!). I had a great time here and am so happy my sister suggested we check it out. There is a fabulous wine list, fabulous atmosphere, great service and delicious cheese! There is really nothing more I can ask for for a Saturday night destination. We arrived at just the right time and got one of the seats in the window, which apparently is the best seat available. They also have a small patio on the side, but it was a semi chilly night so our seat was ideal! We were greeted immediately by a really friendly server who spent a lot of the night chatting with us, and was very personable. The service was prompt but not overbearing. We ordered some wine flights, mine was a red and my sister enjoyed the "Nova Scotian" local flight - you'd think as the tourist I would have gotten this one, but I can't resist red wine! We also both ordered a cheese and charcuterie plate, which was the perfect size for one (even though they recommended two for our group of three, but we were hungry!). The cheeses and meats were delicious, and the accompaniments were the perfect additions. I also love that they have the option of ordering matching cheeses to your flight! Overall the night was pricey but as an occasional destination, not over the top. If I lived in Halifax, I'd be a regular - but I'll have to suffer and just come when I visit!

I think the reason Obladee is rated so highly is because it's viewed as so unique in the Halifax nightlife scene. Taken at its actual value (food, wine and atmosphere) it is a decidedly "meh" venue; and there are in fact better options. Onyx is the first one that comes to mind - the interiors are more chic and the service is just as friendly with the added benefit of not coming off as arrogant. Plus the wine selection is just as extensive. As for the Charcuterie cuisine, I've heard that Ratinaud French Cuisine specializes in the experience. In short, Obladee is a centrally located wine bar with mediocre food and sub par atmosphere - there are other options in the city and I recommend people try them out.

This place is a gem. Right in downtown Halifax = win. Serves a huge selection of wine = win. Great for meeting friends = win. Perfect for foody nibbles = win. Price point is a little expensive = not really a win. Staff = total winners. Despite the price, which can sometimes be a little steep, this place is truely fantastic. And to be fair, it can only tend to be pricey if you are there for a long evening drinking more expensive vino. The cheese and meaty boards are really quite good and you get to choose a lot that is on them. Worth coming here for sure, meat your mates, eat, drink and be merry!

Awesome service and great food. We had various flights of wine and beer and our server knew his stuff and we learned more about the drinks than we expected! The fudge is a must have. Meat and cheese boards were very tasty with the pate a happy surprise. Did I mention the fudge?

For someone who craves amazing wine, super flattering lighting and generous salty-sweet charcuterie boards, I was so stoked when I discovered Obladee in Halifax. The staff is upbeat and cool and the restaurant itself is situated on a busy corner where you can watch people fly by while you relax and get tipsy. For those who cringe at the sight of a first date, you might want to put your blinders on. This place is full of people about to score. Try the flights!

I wanted to wait a while before reviewing Obladee, knowing I would be spending much time there. Any new establishment needs a bit of time to work out the kinks (fair enough, I'm not picky). So with that all said, I've been to Obladee a dozen times over the last 2-3 months - so yes I'm a fan. Excellent wine, knowledgable staff, LOVE the concept of the boards (I've been screaming for charcuterie in Halifax since my introduction to it 3 years ago in Boston), the decor is very contemporary yet warm, and the light fixtures are to DIE for (if you're into that sort of thing). Oh and the crowd is excellent. If you are a young / urban / professional and have no desire to mingle with children or listen to obnoxious music, you will enjoy. There are however 2 things to caution you about. 1 - they don't have a POS system (as of this post) - so the whole method of payment involves the patron having to go to the bar to pay. When there are line ups - it's frustrating and frankly annoying. For those of you who know me, momma don't wait in lines.. ;) 2 - the service (while I now know the staff so they're excellent to me) I've been told it could be better. I've had many folk tell me they've had to beckon staff to take their orders.. and have been frustrated when they notice bar staff mingling amongst themselves behind the bar when the shop is full. All that said, Obladee is an EXCELLENT addition to Halifax. I suspect it will be here for a while.

Having read the other reviews of Obladee, I can add little other than validation to what others have noted. It is a great place that satisfies a segment of the Halifax market that has been ignored. I'll get my negatives out of the way first. I am not a fan of the communal table. It seems to me that a wine bar would be more of a couples/small group space and that the area would be better used if it was carved up into 4 or 5 smaller surfaces. But maybe that's just me. Also, as others have noted, paying your tab can be a bit of a pain because they don't yet have a proper bar POS system - hopefully they are making lots of money and can invest in one soon. Finally, I have had coworkers complain about difficulties getting served, though I have not had that experience myself. With that out of the way, let's move on to all the great things about Obladee. The wine selection is fabulous, and they have 30+ choices by the glass and many more if you want to buy a bottle. Even better, their choices are based on quality and value, not just what some wine store is trying to flog at the moment. Add to that a good profile of Nova Scotia wines and you won't be thirsty. That segues nicely into the other thing I really like about Obladee. Their snacks are mostly local/regional and all I have tried are of very high quality -- this isn't stuff you find anywhere else. Much of it is artisinal and available only at the Farmers Market. Huge kudos to them for supporting our local producers in such a major way. Obladee has a very comfortable vibe to it. Early word about it was spread by social media and as a result the typical crowd is one that is in tune with that sort of thing. The proprietors are friendly and appreciative, and the staff helpful. It all just feels right to me. I don't go downtown to drink very much any more, but when I do, this is my place.

I think I love this place. No, no thinking is required. I LOVE this place. Obladee is becoming my de-facto drinking establishment for more than a few reasons: 1) Service. Hands down, the best staff around. They love chatting with their patrons, and even when the noise level is rising, they catch the funniest parts of your conversation. I guarantee you that they'll have something funny to add to your conversation. 2) Atmosphere. There's not a lot of places that I'd consider having a drink solo, but this is one place I'd feel 100% comfortable. Everyone's got different thoughts on this, but the bar is a great solo location, or meet some new people at one of the larger seating areas. Basically, there's only a couple tables that seat a small number of guests, so you are bound to meet new friends. 3) Food and Drink. Great picks of both wine and awesome chartucerie selection. Since it's a one-of-a-kind option in Halifax, they really have free reign on what they offer, and it's nice to see the offerings get freshened up as the seasons change / as time goes on. This is now my favorite place to bring out-of-town guests; they are always impressed, and it gives me another excuse to stop in!

I finally made it to Obladee this past week and I am sad that I missed a whole year (as they are celebrating 1 year this week) of their goodies and wine. A small group of us visited last week all enjoyed a glass (or 2) of wine and shared a cheese & charcuterie Boards. Our 2 cheeses (a cheddar and a gouda) and a Honey Kielbasa all worked wonderfully together and stood up on their own. The additions of olives, pickle, mango chutney and the perfect loaf of bread all enhanced the flavours yet again. The wine was also very good and they offered a nice selection. Personally I had the Blomidon Rosé, which for me was a safe choice because I am not a regular wine drinker. On my next visit I think I will take advantage of the Flight option and get to try 3 new wines to help find a new favourite.

Good for Halifax! You got a wine bar!! WHOOT! It took honestly, wayyy too long. To start, I have a lot of positive things to say: - Great wine with local and world wine selections - Prices are surprisingly reasonable - OH.MY.GOD the bread and olive oil platter.... just oh.my.god - The staff are amazing - friendly, efficient, knowledgeable - The washroom is really nice As you can see, I really do like Obladee.... I love wine and I'm overjoyed with there being a wine bar -finally- in Halifax. Now my quarrels with the joint... Lighting. I understand that the lighting is all about the ambiance of the place, but when you can't read the menu because it's so dark, then it becomes an issue. Perhaps more overhead dimmed lighting along with the candles would work best. Also, this place is quite a popular spot so seating for groups can be difficult and awkward. Best for a group of two or three.