Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery

The overall experience was disappointing. While the staff were friendly, they often seemed forgetful and inattentive, which impacted the service. From forgetting basic items like crockery and cutlery to missing our request to split the bill - it wasn’t a train smash, but definitely inconvenient. I don’t drink, so I can’t comment on the drinks menu, but I did enjoy the board game setup. It added a playful and cozy touch to the space. Unfortunately, the food fell far short of expectations. We ordered chicken sliders, regular wedges, and a fish dish. The chicken meat itself tasted like it had been microwaved straight from the freezer, the bun was actually over proofed, so instead of making a fresh batch of dough they probably just used an older batch - noticeably, the wedges were oversized and undercooked, and the fish dish was the most disappointing - poorly presented, lacking flavor, unpleasantly chewy, and had a noticeable smell. We even asked our waitress to taste the food (despite her concern about getting in trouble), and she agreed with our assessment. The manager’s indifference was especially concerning and pointed to a deeper issue with quality control and customer care. There needs to be more emphasis on the food itself, not just the aesthetics. Sadly, based on this experience, I wouldn’t return

I celebrated my birthday at Obscura Cocktail Bar with a few girlfriends and had such a great time! The vibe was fun and lively with a DJ playing, and the service was excellent. The owner, George, even stopped by our table, which was a lovely personal touch. We played their Snakes and Ladders cocktail game, which was fun, although some of the questions were a bit random and tricky. I had the cherry cocktail – small but absolutely delicious. My friends loved the Afternoon Lolly and Fizzers Float cocktails too. They gave us a complimentary bowl of sweet potato crisps, and we ordered a few bites to share — the chicken tacos, beef sliders, and breaded wings (with a really good sauce) were all tasty. Great spot for unique cocktails, a vibey atmosphere, and a fun night out.

Our recent visit was truly a wonderful experience from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel welcome and well taken care of. Every member of the team was warm, approachable, and genuinely eager to assist. We were a group of eight, which can sometimes be challenging for restaurants to accommodate smoothly, but they handled it with efficiency and a smile. They went out of their way to arrange suitable seating and ensure that everyone in our group was comfortable throughout the evening. The food was absolutely excellent — beautifully presented, full of flavour, and served at just the right temperature. You could tell that care and attention went into every dish. The overall atmosphere of the venue was lively and vibrant, making it a great place to gather with friends or family for a special occasion. If there was one minor downside, it would be that the music was a little too loud for easy conversation. However, the upbeat energy contributed to the atmosphere, and the quality of the food and service more than made up for it. Paid parking was conveniently available, which made arriving and leaving hassle-free. Overall, it was a fantastic evening, and we would definitely return. InterNations Ambassador Jerry CF Yu

An impromptu stop at Obscura for some drinks. Unfortunately, only the bar area was available and all the other seating seemed to be reserved. Nevertheless. It is something to consider. The drinks were absolutely delicious. We got to play the snakes and ladders to help us decide on a suitable drink. 🥤 a great touch.

I had the pleasure of visiting Obscura Cocktail bar & Eatery on Oxford road, Rosebank. This is my first experience of this picturesque bar and as photos will state. It was absolutely amazing. Firstly, Sifiso our host, greeted us with so much warmth and familiarity that i felt like i was a frequent visitor. The bar aesthetic is so pleasing, i pointed out to my partner that the colours used in the eatery walls & drapes are exactly the same as the decor flowers beside us! Talk about attention to detail. Lets me start with the drinks which are carefully curated to unique palettes and i say this based on what you tell the waiter or bartender. Whether your preference is Gin, Cognac, Blended alcohol etc. or whether you drink according to your travels and want to revive your taste then Italian, Japanese or Creole inspired drinks will take your mind back! My favourite drink was the Old fashioned Bourbon drink, done everywhere but perfected at Obscura cocktail bar! The food, was out of this world. The dishes have beautiful tastes that not only are pleasing to the eye but also taste amazing! Always and i mean always go for the Broccoli starter, slightly charred and cooked in Cape Malay velouté & honey. It gives a curry taste which leaves you wanting more with fresh almonds and chilli oil. My partner had the White Fish and he kept saying there is no need to visit Cape Town so often anymore. The Pork belly and Sirloin are cooked to perfection too! The owner walked in and we could tell that the bar is his well planned baby! He gave attention to all customers, i mean an owner that makes the drinks (he is an award winning mixologist) with a smile. I recommend this bar and fully request that you try it before heading off to the coast so that you can have a taste of perfection! Did i mention that their reconstructed Tiramisu is divine! Prices are reasonable and the bathrooms are clean and well taken off! Art meets, Aesthetic pleasing decor meeting delectable dishes and photo worthy tasty drinks! 10/10! Will be visiting the place again soon!

Absolutely amazing spot. Perfect cocktails, loved every dish but the Korean Panko wings and charred broccoli were my favourite. Duck with hummus was also delicate and creative, pork belly so beautifully presented. Good size portions so start with 2-3 and add as you like.

Great vibes - amazing cocktail ( whiskey sour & margarita is a must try ) and stunning service unfortunately not so great food on my opinion. We did the restaurant week menu which was versatile and reasonably priced. It’s just unfortunate the food was not amazing I would have loved it to be, the fish literally tasted like the ocean , the steak not well seasoned the broccoli salad was good ( thank you to the waiter) for the recommendation! I will definitely be back because I enjoyed the cocktails & service.

Hard to write a review when a place leaves you totally speechless! Obscura came highly recommended by a friend, and when I showed up on a Friday evening without a reservation, it was completely packed. I was immediately impressed by the impeccable service, with their floor manager allowing my friend and I to have a quick drink at a reserved table before the guests arrived. Convinced by the service, and hoping to find out whether the cocktails were as impressive as the bar setup, we came back the next day and were not disappointed. While its cocktails, amazing playlist and all round good vibes are the main draw, they make some of the best food you can get in Joburg. Thank you to our waitress, who convinced me to try the Cape Malay Charred Broccoli. One of the best dishes of my long life! Also had the Korean Panko Chicken wings, which were tender and well seasoned, the butter grilled white fish was cooked to perfection too. Every dish we ordered was executed perfectly. I literally cannot fault this place. Will be hard to get rid of me in future!