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Obstacle No. 1, Holland, MI

Obstacle No. 1

4.7
4.7
263 Reviews
$30 and under
Cocktail Bar
Quite simply, Obstacle No. 1, aims to be your place for craft cocktails in West Michigan. This handsomely appointed lounge will offer a unique combination of Basque influence in both the cocktails & atmosphere. We look forward to helping you cross that first Obstacle, over drinks of course.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 7 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Cuisines

    Cocktail Bar, Basque

  • Hours of operation

    Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (616) 994-8370

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Business Casual

  • Neighborhood

    Holland

  • Parking details

    Street Parking

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 263 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Grand Rapids / Western Michigan

    Hot spot

  • Grand Rapids / Western Michigan

    Romantic

  • Grand Rapids / Western Michigan

    Lively

  • Grand Rapids

    Hot spot

  • Grand Rapids

    Romantic

  • Grand Rapids

    Lively

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  1. Cathy

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Such a special little speak easy type bar! Loved it’s unique character! Food was delicious and ambience was so cool.
  2. OpenTable Diner

    Northern MI

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our favorite place in Holland! We’ve never had a bad experience at Obstacle No1. The drinks are amazing. Pricey, but honestly worth it. The bartenders make every drink with care and will create a drink for you if you don’t see what you want on the menu. We’ll be back soon.
  3. LakeMiGuy

    Chicago

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on February 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Just the most cool thing in Holland……that’s all! Every time!
  4. ctrigg1

    Chicago

    42 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    42 reviews

    Dined on February 16, 2023

    overall5food3service5ambience4
    Go for the drinks and enjoy them. They are phenomenal. Food from poquito is good as well. Service is top notch. Space is comfy. A great cocktail bar.
  5. JulieO

    Detroit

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was perfect. We had reservations and were seated on time. Food and drinks were very good; well worth the money. But the best part was the staff. Everyone was awesome; they were all friendly and made great suggestions when asked.
  6. JoshuaZ

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing cocktails. Attentive staff without being intrusive. Great food. Obstacle No. 1 and Poquito set themselves apart as something special in Holland.
  7. MikeL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Good service. Good cocktails. Good friends. Good times.
  8. Danielle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The drinks were fantastic. Service was fantastic. We loved the atmosphere. Wish we lived in the area because we would frequent here often!!
  9. BigJer

    Detroit

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 14, 2023

    overall4food3service4ambience5
    Great vibe! Great drinks! I loved the experience and so grateful to have a place like this in Holland with a bigger city atmosphere. Would have loved to have had a table instead of sitting at the bar. The bar seating feels a little less special especially if you’re trying to have a one on one experience with someone. I made a reservation expecting a table and got seated at the bar by the door.
  10. TaraS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We will be back soon! Perfect date night and quiet spot to experience amazing drinks. The atmosphere is perfect. We loved it!
  11. BabsC

    Louisville

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fun girls night out with delicious craft cocktails and tapas!
  12. OpenTable Diner

    Grand Rapids

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Truly unique experience that we thoroughly enjoyed! We will be back!!
  13. JoelB

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 6, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    The drinks were fantastic. Food was great. Love the ambiance but it was hard to read the menu and see the food due to how dark it is. Staff was A+. We will definitely return and will recommend to friends.
  14. luv2run0718

    Chicago

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on January 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Loved all the cocktails and great service!!!
  15. Ninni

    Naples

    28 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on January 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    This place is amazing, the ambient is so different from usual bars, it is a bit too dark for me, but the bar attender, that I think is the owner he has so much passion and love for what he does that it is contagious the little bits are perfect to have next to a nice cocktail. AMAZING
  16. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 29, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Christmas get together
  17. Lynns

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing place for a unique and delicious drink. I’ve been numerous times and I have yet to be unsatisfied with my drink.
  18. WAYNE

    San Francisco

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on December 21, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Great looking bar, but half empty and not sure why it was so hard to get a reservation. Very intense drink menu/catalog that is fun and then slightly annoying. Wish they also just had a simple list of classic cocktails. The bartenders were incredibly nice and great customer service.
  19. OpenTable Diner

    Coastal Georgia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Speak EZ style with amazing service and drinks!!
  20. Diner19

    Columbus

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Love this place. Unique cocktail lounge for awesome craft cocktails.
  21. Underwhelmed

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 6, 2022

    overall2food1service4ambience2
    First experience. Have eaten at the owners other two establishments and really like them. Bartender and assistant were nice. Ordered the Beachcomber drink $18. Excited to try it based on previous reviews. Flames were fun. Too bad the beverage only tasted like plain rum and strangely like ICE. (Like old ice that’s frosted over). Did not order food. Expecting a cool vibe but felt kinda awkward. Decor is beautiful. However no special flowers or interesting things to look at by the bar as depicted in other reviews. We were sat at the bar even though I had requested a table on our reservation. Four patrons when we arrived. A few more later. It was a Tuesday so maybe that makes it a less lively atmosphere. No Tiki Tuesday as advertised online (their own website) Pretty “meh” experience
  22. JulieC

    Grand Rapids

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 1, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    I love the atmosphere and have introduced many friends and yesterday my daughter to Obstacle. I feel transported to a big city and enjoy trying the unique cocktails. Food from Poquito is an ideal accompaniment. I do wish the lighting was more conducive to reading the menu with expedient ease. Also, I have never had the opportunity to sit beyond the bar despite efforts to do so. I am a senior citizen so negotiating the bar stool is a bit of a challenge. When I made a reservation yesterday on Open Table, I had the limited choice of 4:30 or 5:15 at the bar and thus expected a busy place. However, as my daughter and I entered at 4:30, we immediately noticed no one else in the seated areas and maybe one or two at the bar. For the almost two hours we were at the bar, the venue remained sparsely used making us wonder why we weren’t given a choice. Frustrating…
  23. JasB

    Las Vegas

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 15, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience2
    Not our typical experience there this time. Brighter atmosphere and the staff was not as engaging as typical. Not bad, but not the same as what we've become accustomed to. I typically don't mind paying a premium price for a premium experience. But this time, we paid the price and got an average experience. There are a lot of cheaper options if I wanted average!
  24. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 13, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food, service and ambience were outstanding!!
  25. DoryS

    Grand Rapids

    13 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience5
    Very fun atmosphere. Bartenders were very pleasant. A good time!
  26. BrettVeen

    Detroit

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on October 23, 2022

    overall5food5service3ambience5
    Great little spot. Worth the reservation, but service was hap-hazard and uncoordinated. Once they get in a groove I can see this place doing well.
  27. BethW

    Milwaukee

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome drinks, food, atmosphere, and friendly and knowledgeable staff.
  28. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2022

    overall5food4service4ambience4
    Great ambiance, specialty cocktails for everyone’s taste and small plate appetizers to enjoy with your drink.
  29. Megan

    Grand Rapids

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 14, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The drinks and food were incredible. On the pricier end, but definitely worth it. There is no other place in Holland like this!
  30. KerryD

    Grand Rapids

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 11, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Never disappoints! My favorite go-to spot for celebrations!
  31. Eater

    Detroit

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a fabulous time at Obstacle 1. The drink named after the restaurant was amazing if you’re a bourbon lover! It was a quiet setting with a few tables. We came in rather loudly but they seemed okay with that too! The food was good we had the goat cheese - delicious, truffle fries and the Brussels sprouts. Everything was tasty and then we split a dinner too. The servers were friendly and efficient in spite of them being short handed in the kitchen. The hostess was super friendly greeting us and checked in with us often to be sure all was okay. We will definitely return!
  32. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 8, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great drinks, food , and service. A little too dark to read the small print menus. A little pricey. Loved it no one the less.
  33. BgbJep

    Indiana

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 7, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was absolutely perfect!!! Food, drinks and service!!!!! Can’t wait to go back!
  34. stephaniew

    Detroit

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I’ve heard great things about obstacle no. 1, so glad we were able to get a reservation. The drinks were amazing, as well as the food. We will definitely be returning.
  35. TimothyD

    Nashville

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Great for a date night and wonderful drinks! Highly recommend!
  36. Mimi

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 2, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great drinks, friendly and chill atmosphere. Coming back soon!
  37. BRBH

    Grand Rapids

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on August 31, 2022

    overall5food4service4ambience5
    Great craft cocktail bar. The drinks are unique and the bar tenders are very knowledgeable.
  38. GordonM

    Washington DC

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2022

    overall2food4service2ambience2
    Expect great drinks in a unique atmosphere. Expect your reservation to be modified without notice. Expect slow service. Expect uncomfortable seating.
  39. Brandi

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 26, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Overall experience was great! It was a bit dark in there. Food was great. Drinks were great, but pricey.
  40. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2022

    overall2food5service3ambience4
    The “gate-keeper” has terrible people skills and her approach is rigid and unfriendly. I appreciate they want to limit guests to 1.5 hours but they are also trying to create a vibe that doesn’t mesh with that short period of time. If you are going to push people try doing it in a friendlier way. We were shocked by the almost nasty reaction when we tried to order more food and drinks with only “20 minutes left on our time” and were told they wouldn’t be able to accommodate that request!

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Obstacle No. 1 is rated 4.7 stars by 263 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 7 times today
Google Map for Obstacle No. 1

92 W. 8th Street, Holland, MI 49423

Additional information

  • Neighborhood

    Holland

  • Hours of operation

    Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Cocktail Bar, Basque

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress code

    Business Casual

  • Parking details

    Street Parking

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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