My friend Olivia and I went to Obstacle No. 1 recently for an after dinner drink. Definitely make reservations online as it's a small space. It's next door to their sister restaurant, Lovejoy. Walking in, the space is very dimly lit with a nice bar and some cozy seating. We were directed to a couch and a couple of low chairs. The menu is organized into different "chapters," with different themes for each chapter. They also have beer, wine, spirit-free options, and a spirits list. I wanted something fun, so I chose the Don the Beachcomber, a rum-based tiki cocktail that is flamed tableside. My friend got the Obstacle No. 1, which is a bourbon drink that they smoke at your table. Very theatrical and fun! These drinks were $20+ so pretty pricey, but worth it for a fun occasion. We had a nice time just relaxing and catching up. I would say it's not a great spot for a large group, but definitely a fun date night place. They have a small food menu of offerings from the restaurant next door that sounded tasty. We had just eaten but I'd be interested in their small plates. I'm so glad I got to experience this place. It feels like you're transported to a secret speakeasy when you enter! read more

See all

Have been here many times, it is a great place to bring clients after stressful meetings and relax. The ambiance is outstanding and the drinks are top shelf. The bartenders always take their time to make sure the drink or spot on, awesome service! read more

Excellent place for craft cocktails. Very dark and intimate atmosphere. It was our first time so we didn't reserve ahead but we were fortunate to get to sit at the bar. The service was excellent. We look forward to our next visit to holland to be able to come here again! read more

Obstacle No. 1 - French Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

See all

Ambiance is very cool. Dark and "speakeasy-esc" The drinks are unique and the presentation is great - we had the Obstacle 1 and the Buffalo Soldier - both were very good Service is spot on. We did not have food read more

See all

We had a reservation for my dad's 70th birthday party tonight. And received a confirmation text. Upon arriving, the door was locked and the staff refused to open to door. We called and they say "Too bad. We're closed now." And wouldn't open the door. There was another group locked out as well. They also had a reservation. We were longstanding customers. We'll never be back after ruining this special evening for my dad read more

Obstacle No. 1 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

Very cool place, albeit expensive drinks. We are in town for our wedding weekend and met my fiance's best man and his wife here yesterday for drinks. Dim lighting - I had to use my phone back light to read the menu - but VERY interesting drinks, with fabulous presentation. My fiance ordered a drink that they smoked in front of him, and I ordered a drink that they lit on fire. I've been to a lot of fun cocktail bars but this might be the place with the most exquisite presentation. Specialty drinks are about $18-20+, and "regular" drinks (mai tai, etc.) are about $14+. Expensive, especially for Holland IMO, but the presentation makes it worth it. Looking forward to visiting again next time I'm in town. read more

See all

I've now visited a few times now. Recommend a reservation. We enjoyed the apps ordered! Bartenders are very willing to get creative based on what you like which I loved. Fun spot to take someone visiting town! read more

I really like Obstacle. It's small, cozy, and dark interior reminds me of several places I've been in New York, but without the New York prices. Having sat at tables and at the bar, I think I prefer sitting at the bar. The chairs are comfy, and I really enjoy watching the bartenders make the drinks. And speaking of the drinks, wow, do they have a great selection of cocktails that not only taste great, but they also have a beautiful presentation. They also have a nice tequila selection,including several excellent certified additive-free brands. The food comes from the restaurant next door. We had the Spanish charcuterie board, which tasted good, but took almost 45 minutes to get. I mean, seriously, how long does it take to put some meat and cheese on a board? We probably would ordered more food were it not for the long wait. And were it not for the food issue I easily could give Obstacle 5 stars. read more

See all

Excellent service and drinks. Warm dark environment with only indoor seating. Would love to have drinks outside here. Good food selection too but the spirits are the main attraction here. read more

See all

Last May, I made reservations online and put "anniversary" in the notes, but upon arrival my husband and I were seated at a narrow, cluttered bar. About six dimly-lit, cozy round tables filled the rest of the restaurant, and none of them were occupied. When I asked if we could be seated elsewhere, I was told parties of two are always seated at the bar and we might get a table next time if we ask for it in the notes of our reservation. With all of their hype for providing a romantic, upscale environment, I certainly did not feel the love as a customer, so we left. After a few days I reached out to this business via Facebook Messenger, letting them know how disappointed I was, but they never replied. So, if you want to be a warm body who fills a seat for them, you're in luck. That's all you'll be to them. read more

Holy smokes this was one of the best experiences I've had in a long time! I stopped in here randomly with a friend on Saturday night around 630. They were able to get us seats at the bar. The drinks are so fun and so delicious and strong! We just loved everything we had. The bartenders were fantastic! Friendly, easy-going, and so helpful. The vibe is very big-city swanky. Dark and elegant. I didn't take many pictures since we were too busy enjoying ourselves. I had the no time to die, fantastic. I don't love bourbon but this was so well balanced. I also had the otra palabra. I love mezcal and this was one of the best mezcal cocktails I've had. We ordered a bunch of food and were able to eat right at the bar. My friend has a severe dairy allergy and they accommodated no problem The food was also all fabulous! The chicken adobado tacos might be one of the best things I've ever eaten. The flat iron steak and chorizo skewer was also unbelievable. We will definitely be back and I can't wait to bring my friends and husband here! read more

Obstacle No. 1 - No time to die and pina verde - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

See all

What a cute little place! Interesting menu that didn't disappoint, and the innovative cocktails just added to the fun. Would go back! read more

Obstacle No. 1 - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

This place was downright cool. Much cooler than I expected. It is very dim lit and small.. but the service and drinks and food were all super amazing. Five stars easily. My favorite drink was the Planter's punch and I loved the papas bravas, lobster croquetas, and the Barcelona "bread service". We sat at the bar which was lit up under the counter and also being able to be up close and personal to the bartender making your drink made the experience 50x better. My friend made a reservation for the two of us which allowed us to be seated immediately. The food is definitely tapas style (from next doors Poquito) and the drinks are absolutely delicious. Can't wait to come again and try more items. read more

See all

Finally got to try Obstacle No. 1 and we LOVED it! Stopped by here right when they opened to grab a drink and bite to eat at the bar. They have a great selection of bourbons. The Obstacle No. 1 cocktail was fantastic and they smoke it table side right in front of you which is really cool. We tried the smoked bacon wrapped medjool dates filled with goat cheese and pecans with a sweet and smoky glaze. They were melt-in-your-mouth good! Also, tried the tiny Barbacoa tacos which were delish. The beef is super tender and flavorful with caramelized onions, perfectly paired with a crunchy shell. Delightful! We can't wait to go back! read more

Obstacle No. 1 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

See all

Fun experience but we have had as good and better drinks at other local breweries and restaurants. The bar tenders are great and the atmosphere is nice. read more

Obstacle No. 1 is a quiet, intimate space near the farmers market. The drinks were interesting and delicious as was the whipped manchego and marinated olives. I have no idea how Manchego is whipped, but it was excellent. The place wasn't busy (it was late afternoon midweek), so we were efficiently waited on by the bartender. read more

We would have liked a "is this your first time here?" Speech. That would have helped us to understand how the menu is split up and also would have tipped us off to the fact they have attached flashlights to help read the menu. I liked the dark ambience it felt more relaxed and cozy. A couple got there a little later than us and the server did explain things to them . Service aside from the initial sit down was excellent. Drinks are quality which they should be for the cost and they seem truly crafted, Just watching them make some drinks was entertainment. We kept asking what's that? A reason to go back. read more

Food was great and drinks were awesome. Price point was just slightly on the high side. Would definitely visit again. Hospitality and staff were excellent. read more

See all

Excellent service and experience! They happily accommodated our request for a reservation for 8 on a Saturday evening (note I called weeks ahead). Our group ranged in age from 28 to 70 and every one of us found a drink we liked - they even will make a custom drink based on our preferences! These bartenders are true mixologists and put on a good show sometimes even with fire depending on what you've ordered. This place is very intimate and cozy with low lighting and velvet lined booths. Plenty of street parking available and fun for all parties over 21! read more

See all

First let's start that this is NOT an actual restaurant! It is a great, high end bar. The cocktails a delicious and fun to watch them make it. I had Don the beachcomber- it was refreshing and not super sweet. The rest of my friends had various drinks. Everyone enjoyed their drinks. The food is just appetizers from the restaurant next door. It was good but we thought this was a sit down full meal. A tip to share is the place is super small and they even have reservations at the bar. Don't plan on getting their early for a drink. This is not that kind of place. read more

Been to Obstacle 1 several times, the last time we had the slowest service. After being there for an hour we had one drink and during that never had any interaction with bar tender. Also, ordered food when we ordered drinks and the dude forgot to put in our order and didn't remember at all when we closed out tab. The place wasn't even busy, do better when you charge $20 a drink. read more

Sit at the bar and watch the show! These guys are the real deal - like artists with every drink they make. The darkly lit ambiance and limited seating truly make it feel like you have found your own secret hideaway, and inspire great conversations. Don't miss out on this one! read more

Drinks were amazing and the food was A+ Thursday night Bartender with the dope stache was super helpful and very friendly. We really had a great time. read more

Obstacle No. 1 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

Hands down best cocktails we have had outside of NYC or San Francisco - menu was creative, drinks were spectacularly prepared and ambiance / service was on point. Wish owner / mixologist would come to Detroit for a pop up sometime! read more

Obstacle No. 1 - Cool interior and even better drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

If I could put more than 5 stars I would. Without sounding like I'm bragging, we have frequented many great cocktail places in the world, between Japan, France, Italy, and across the US. And this place, in freaking Holland MI, easily makes my top 3. The Cocktails are unique, well thought out, seasonal, created with a gastronomic approach by a master of his craft and extremely well executed. And the owner even took the time to stop by and talk to us about his experience and ideas. Absolutely loved that place. read more

Obstacle No. 1 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

See all

This bar is so unique and the drinks are amazing! I had the Obstacle 1, which is a smoked Bourbon drink, my wife had the Beachcomber, a Tiki Rum drink. Simply delicious! The bartenders were awesome and put on a show, see the pictures. read more

See all

This place is ideal for date night. LOTS of ambience. Too dark to take pics of the food. The wife and I are Catholic and not eating meat on Friday's so we stuck with the meatless options, which were thankfully plentiful. We had the Champiñones A La Española, and the Shrimp & Scallop Ceviche as well as a couple of super great and unique drinks. Will definitely come back next time we're in Holland. If one the owners would be so kind as to send me the Ceviche recipe; I'd be eternally grateful . I could eat that every day and never tire of it. read more

and the food....oh goodness, don't even get me started....alright, alright, you got me. We. are. OBSESSED. The goat cheese with bread, Brussel sprouts, 36 hour braised beef to the decedent chorizo scallops is mouth watering with a dash of I'll dream of this later! Don't skimp out. Yes, yes, pricing is pricey but do you honestly put a price on a experience plus good food? Ummm, no, you don't! So splurge on the damn bill! I promise, you will not regret it! I'm a frugal as it comes, but ya'll, this is worth it all! We got the Obstacle No 1. Fiancè said it was the best drink ever. I had the Headless Horseman, drool worthy. Then good to follow (which you already know) & more drinks! We then had Blackbird & Muggle Blood. Holy smokes....can we take these people home with us?! These are the best! Anywho- enjoy yourself, and indulge. It's worth it. read more

Can't wait to go back, best vibe in town, very professional bartender. If u like sth a little unique, this is the go to place for that. read more

Obstacle No. 1 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

See all

My husband and I are so happy we found this gem in Holland. At the far end of West 8th Street lies this cozy and posh bar. The lighting is dim but your eyes will adjust. The cocktail menu has chapters! It's easy to get lost in the menu and hard to pick just one! After a while I asked for the bartenders, JP, help. I told him my likes and I could not have been happier. The presentation was perfect for a drink called Bear Necessities. The food menu comes from one of its sister restaurants Poquito next door. We had the burger and empanadas. Empanadas were good but the burger was fantastic. There is a limited dessert menu and I highly recommend the churro bread pudding. I don't usually like bread pudding as I find it soggy but I love churros. It was perfect and not soggy at all! I also have to shout out to JP again. He was so kind and helpful. He really loves his craft. There was an older couple in there as well and the woman loved her drink. He was kind enough to write down the recipe and even offer to sell her one of the handmade syrups necessary for the drink before they left town. read more

Obstacle No. 1 - Bear Necessities with empanadas in the background - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

Small and intimate setting with low lights. The cocktails and food were delicious. We had the pleasure of traveling to Barcelona last summer and Obstacle No. 1 definitely brought us back there. We ordered the papas bravas, warm goat cheese, chorizo crusted scallops, and maple glazed pork belly. The papas bravas dish was very similar to the first one we tried in Spain so that was fantastic. Everything was beautifully plated and full of flavor. The drink menu was extensive and the 4 cocktails we ordered were all great -- very unique and complex like you would expect from any high end cocktail bar. It was a pleasant experience because the bartender would also come over and explain what to expect with certain drinks. Would love to come back here again! This place is such an unexpected gem in a small city in Michigan. read more

See all

Our family had convened in Holland from out of state for a reunion and to celebrate my husband's 40th. Obstacle stood out to me a place he'd really enjoy, but I had to finagle a large group (10 of us) that included 4 kids (ranging from ages 2-9). The team at Obstacle went above and beyond. As soon as we walked in (10 of us with 4 kids) to this quiet, dark and moody space, I felt like maybe we had made a huge mistake. Though, instead of any sort of attitude, they offered us the table next to our booth because there wasn't a res there for another 2 hours. That gave us more space for the kids to stretch out. One of our kids was in awe of the bartending team and they were so kind to engage with him and the others in conversation. The fancy mocktails and sodas made them feel like they were a part of the celebration. And for the actual cocktails? Out of this world. We have some aficionados in our family (no experts but they can name current and past winners at Tales of the Cocktail, have visited a number of the notable establishments, and they own and often use both Death & Co. books when imbibing at home). They were absolutely blown away and now I wonder if we are all moving to Holland. read more

This bar is so cool and unique! On top of that, the drinks were amazing!  I had the Obstacle 1, which is a smoked Bourbon drink that they smoke right in front of you. I also had a tequila drink (I forgot the name) but it was phenomenal! We were there with another couple and we explored the menu and none of us had a bad drink. The bar tender/craftsman explained everything that they were doing and it was just an experience that I highly recommend! The food was pretty yummy too so that was an extra bonus! Can't wait to go back! read more

I can't believe this place hasn't gotten a review yet!!! I am honored lol. But in all seriousness, this place blew away my expectations. I was really excited for this restaurant to open up and we finally had the chance to try it out. This is an upscale cocktail bar so be prepared to pay the price, but you should know that the minute you walk in. The ambiance is romantic, modern, and overall stunning. It is smaller, so I would probably recommend making a reservation on Open Table before coming on a Friday or Saturday. I had the Lincoln's Favorite cocktail, would HIGHLY recommend it! Our server's name was Bethany and she was incredible. She was extremely knowledgeable of the different spirits and was vert helpful. This place is great for a date night or a get together with a few friends. Thanks for a great night! read more

Obstacle No. 1 - Lincoln's Favorite and a Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

More than just a bar. This place makes art in cocktail form. Great ambience, only surpassed by the amazing drinks presented. By far the best whisky sour I've ever had, and they carry Blackened whiskey from Metallica \m/ read more

Obstacle No. 1 - Blackened whisky sour (with egg whites) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Holland, Michigan

See all

I went to Obstacle No. 1 to have a cocktail before heading to the Taste of Holland at the Holland Civic Center. The first thing I didn't care for was how extremely dark it was inside. I like a good mood lighting but it was SO dark. I had to use my cell phone to read the menu. The cocktails are really expensive there. The cheapest cocktail I could find was around $11. I ended up choosing a more expensive cocktail because I found out that they smoke it at the table. The cocktail was DELICIOUS!!!! Super great! I hope to have it again sometime. But I probably won't be back for months to a year because it's so expensive! Also- keep in mind that this place has no standing room and takes reservations. read more

An amazing experience beyond description. 10/10 would recommend. Josh, the bartender, has an uncanny ability to know exactly what you're taste buds are wanting. We loved everything from the atmosphere, libations, and the small plates. Everything goes above and beyond. Make reservations and make this a stop for sure. You won't be disappointed. read more

Had drinks there last night with two other couples. We were all blown away! Fabulous and imaginative cocktails that were expertly crafted, including the No Time to Die, Vesper Martini, (homages to James Bond), Smoked Obstacle No 1, and Vodka Gimlet. The Craftsman explained each drink in detail. BTW, the food was spectacular as well, including the paella and hamburger! All we could talk about the next morning was the drinks and food we had. My wife and I have travelled throughout Europe and the USA searching out the world's best bars. Obstacle No 1 is certainly near the top and is worth the trip to Holland in and of itself!! We'll be back!! Giorgio and friends read more

So first let me say, I have drank in some of the best dive bars in America and a lot of super swanky joints from NYC, Chicago, Aspen, Vegas, and Los Angles. I travel for a living so I have hit some craft cocktail spots in my days. Obstacle No. 1, located in sleepy Holland Michigan is on the top of my great joints to grab a drink. First let's start with the vibe, this place belongs in Soho in NYC. The music is great and the decor is fantastic. The seating capacity is small so I suggest reaching out and grabbing a reservation. Next comes JP, The mixologist, bartender, mastermind be all the great drinks here is one of the nicest guys you will meet. Watching JP work his magic behind the bar is quite a scene. We had 6 for drinks tonight that ended up being dinner as you can order tapas from their restaurant next door. I highly recommend ordering dinner here and have at least two drinks, if not three. Obstacle one is now a must stop for me when I am vacationing In Holland. read more

See all

Hands down, this is the best cocktail bar that you can find! JP, the bartender / drink crafter / magician, provides an incredible display as he prepares your beverage. This lounge is for you to slow down, enjoy company, and most of all, enjoy the most amazing drinks. Be sure to ask JP for a recommendation, as he is the one that wrote the menu, and is so in tune with flavor profiles. I highly recommend Obstacle, and so glad that we have them in town! read more