A Michelin Guide recommended hi fi wine bar on the Chinatown and Strathcona line, where the records are curated live and the list skips additives.
Bar Gobo pours low intervention wines at 237 Union Street, on the block where Chinatown turns into Strathcona, with a Michelin Guide recommendation from 2024 on the wall and an all vinyl sound system run live from the corner. The Globe and Mail called the menu magnificent in its review.
You come here for a slow evening: a glass of something unfamiliar, a few seasonal plates, and records chosen by a human in the room. Bring a party of six and you will be rearranging someone else's night; the room is genuinely small.
The room is intimate and warm, built around vintage and modern hi fi gear with music curated by resident vinyl selector Paul. The Infatuation's review singles out the sound as the thing that separates Gobo from every other wine bar in the city.
A few seats at the counter are the best in the house. The rest is close tables that suit pairs.
Early evenings bring dates and industry people; the 10pm happy hour brings the neighbourhood back in. Google ratings sit at 4.7 across 153 reviews, which for a room this small is a loyal base.
Weekends book out. Tuesday through Thursday you can usually land counter seats without planning.
What to order
- 01
Chicken liver mousse
- 02
A glass off the additive free list
- 03
The double happy hour