Reviews of The Black Cauldron (Restaurant)

Lani D.

Totally enjoyed the experience, food and staff. A perfect little escape on an afternoon for us. (Sorry I can't figure out how to put a picture. The presentation was very nice.) Got it.

Laurie Peck

We had the most wonderful experience here. The drinks were so fun and our charcuterie board had the most interesting choices.

Douglas Ramsden

Great spot for an evening drink and food

Carlo Di Cola

Overall a good experience but lots of room for improvements: our order was taken 20 minutes after being seated and we experienced slow service throughout the night. It was also very warm and stuffy inside. The cocktails were truly amazing and original. The charcuterie and cheese boards were good but don't expect quantity. We will definitely return for another sample as it was a busy and hot evening.

Rebecca Kinzie Bastian

It’s hard to describe the fabulousness of this place, but it is exciting to try: From the luxe velvets and carefully-crafted cocktails to the fire tables and incredible service, everything about The Black Cauldron is as close to perfect as possible. The atmosphere is cozy, inviting, and mysterious. The seasonal food offerings are a delight and never fail to make my tastebuds jump with surprise and joy. The entertainment and special events are enchanting. And to top it off, one of the owners and most of the staff identify as women! They even offer a comprehensive list of NA elixirs that prove alcohol is not necessary for something to be beautiful, delicious, and celebratory. If you want food, drinks, and ambience that is sure to please, choose The Black Cauldron for your next date night or celebration.I can’t recommend this Nelson gem more highly.

Blaine Cook

Great cocktails and charcuterie in a super-luxurious lounge. Magic! ????‍♀️????

LAZER HAWK

Helpful service that knew the menu inside and out. Food was good as it looked, super yum.

Meg C

Lovely atmosphere - very moody and gothic. What a fantastic little find. Cocktails are quite pricey but you're definitely paying for the whole experience and I would definitely visit again. I ordered a cocktail that was not what I wanted... I tried so hard to drink it but the waitress could tell I was struggling - she happily offered to switch it for another which was such a lovely thing to do and I was very appreciative! The 2nd cocktail was amazing ❤️❤️

Jeffrey Kennett

This place is fantastic. The duck and vegetarian pate is superb!!! Also the meat and cheese boards are excellent. All the items are locally sourced steroid free and free range. All this is Nelson BC. The owner has done an amazing job.

Sage's Sparrow Skincare

Stellar food, drink and atmosphere ????????????

Lucas Hart

Really outstanding place doing something like charcuterie where the bar is already very high. The whole experience was exceptional, they have energetic owners who are clearly passionate about what they are doing, the food is a level up from anything I was expecting and the restaurant is beautiful. Highly recommend checking this place out.

Maddie Storvold

I love the Black Cauldron! A must-have experience here in Nelson. We have been for delicious charcuterie, drinks, and music before, but recently for an amazing brunch, with the best French press coffee I've had in town! I got the breakfast sandwich on a charcoal bun, and my partner got the french toast waffles. Both were to die for! The vibe is incredible- funky, witchy, and original. It's inspiring to see such a unique, high quality concept in a small town, and makes me proud to live here. Kudos to the owners & staff for making something so cool!

MacKenzie Ramsden

If a party of four is waiting at the front door to be seated, don't give the last table to someone on the phone. Super disappointing customer service. (1 star) Edit: I still feel as if new people were given space before others who were there first, but I appreciate the response despite you spelling my name incorrectly and the busy night's necessity for a reservation ahead of time. Next time I'm in Nelson I will plan ahead. (3 star)

Mia Gardiner

This place is very special. The drinks are to die for. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is warm. It feels indulgent to be here!

Chloe Melville

Bewitching! Amazing patio and drinks.

Rob Langejans

Great cocktails, great atmosphere, great food. So glad we came.

Divine• Love•Jerilee

Super chill.... Beautiful Restaurant, with amazing food. For a decent price. . . Highly recommended this place.

Kit LaTigre

Edit: after writing my review I was contacted and promptly blocked by the business (on my PERSONAL Facebook, they actually came to look for me to reply that is so invasive) that I found to be quite rude and not sure what the purpose was other than to express their discomfort to how I felt about my experience. I did not show rudeness at the time and contacted them afterwards via email directly to ask if they would be willing to offer something - anything - to allow me another opportunity to have a better experience. They chose to ignore me because I didn't complain on the spot. It was an awkward night for all of us but because they decided to reach out but not in a good way, I am reducing to one star. I realize it's a family owned business but taking things personally is never a good move when you run a business. If they offered a drink on the house it would have made a world of difference. Instead I have had an extended uncomfortable experience. Nobody should take this personally but I feel personally attacked when all I wanted was a nice evening especially for those prices :-/ Review: This place is very unique, though I had a bad experience. I found it to be quite expensive for what you get, and the service was slow considering how small the place is. The cocktails are fancy pants, but very pricy to match. The charcuterie was meh. Ambiance was very cool. When I was there an incident happened with another customer that was so disgusting and off putting we couldn't eat. The performer was watching it happen real time and did not say a word, we had to inform the staff of what was going on... they left right away but the whole thing was horrible ... We had to ask to be moved, and were not offered a drink or any kind of compensation for having such a bad experience, so because of this I have to drop the stars. Customer service could use improvement, but hey that's Nelson for you. I won't be back here. Not worth it.

Chris Chan

Came for the drinks and music, got absolutely blown away by the charcuterie plates ????

Kt W

I really enjoyed this place. We sat on the patio which was nice and shaded by trees. Fun, witchy vibe inside. Would be a cozy winter place too. Loved the wrapped dates and the olive oil and and vinegars.

Brittnee Wallin

Just had their Burger Month burger and it was phenomenal. They managed to squeeze us in even though we didn't have a reservation and the service was great

Stuart Mill

What a lounge experience. Cocktails that will blow your mind, appies like you haven't seen them before. If you are in the area you would be missing out big time to skip this sweet spot

Morgan Hewitt

Such an amazing experience!

Ava Strautman

Amazing service, beautiful decor, and incredible locally sourced food. I cannot recommend this place enough!

Alan Bunyan

Excellent food and drinks in a patio on a beautiful day

Lena Cimolai

Very inspiring experience dining at The Black Cauldron yesterday! These guys had big boots to fill at this location and have absolutely exceeded expectations! If you're looking for an authentic Nelson cocktail adventure this is it!

Chris Puzio

Service

Thomas Hurst

Dinner

Maxym Feagan

The food, the cocktails, the atmosphere and the service are all incredible. I've been a few times now and couldn't recommend it enough

Dean Smith

A remarkable one of a kind that really deserves your attention. Locally sourced ingredients, including from the bar, and taste combinations that are divine. An absolute recommend.

Jason Walsh (Golden Gecko)

Great quality hand crafted cocktails and amazing desert.

Sukhminder Singh Virk

The burger was to die for. Maybe even literally.

Thomas C

Mackenzie was a phenomenal server and her recommendations were on point. Unique, groovy ambience. Skiing is fun.

Vanessa Hoskins

Awesome dining experience. Shout out to Christian for accommodating me and my party on a busy night even tho there was an unforeseen booking error. Great service, superb food, and creative and tasty drinks. Very fun dinner, would definitely recommend!

Anastasia Feschuk

Yeah this place is amazing. Came for the drinks, stayed for the atmosphere. We got engaged today and visited the Cauldron for some nightcaps. As a practicing witch, this place was a really cool experience for me and I loved how they tied the drinks back to the magical effects of alcohol. Where I’m from (Edmonton) has nothing like this! I want to try every drink on the menu! Also, they were offering tarot readings this evening as well.

Kate Filion

What a special place to visit! The most interesting and flavourful drinks menu we’ve ever experienced. Not to mention fabulous service, though she did not share her name. The ambiance, indoors & outdoors is unique & worth enjoying your time by yourself or with friends!

Shawna Woelke

Food, service and atmosphere were all top notch!!! Also the best and most creative non alcoholic drinks I have yet to see.

Alex Philibert

Amazing place! The staff was so enthusiastic about the food, and the bartender was mesmerizing to watch as she made our drinks. The food excellent and the experiences was amazing. The Black Cauldron alone, was worth the trip to Nelson.

Chris Brach

Absolutely wonderful experience. Love the atmosphere. Service was top notch. Clearly the owners' have a passion for food, drink, service and details.

Cynthia Givens

Wow! Oshara is a master with a cocktail shaker. It’s fabulous to sit at the bar and watch a master at work. The cocktails she shakes up are outstanding. Her namesake drink is my new favourite.

Sonja Baines

Really delicious and amazing boards, the drinks are so creative and tasty, and the owner is an absolute sweetheart. Will be coming here many, many more times!

Roxy S

The Black Cauldron is a great Sunday date night spot - huge patio in the back and lots of mocktail/cocktail options to try. The theme is clever, but the flavour was right on. Don't be turned off by the strange sounding ingredients - the egg white is whipped into a meringue and really tasty! Desserts are supplied by the local Epiphany Cakes and wonderfully moist. Slightly disappointed the carrot cake did not have cream cheese icing, but still good. My favourite was the brownie cheesecake in the middle of the tray. Also good idea to check out the menu in advance from their website - lots of options!

DJ Anderson

This back alley treasure surprised us with its dark academia aesthetic. Jewel tone velvet lounge chairs set the mood. Accommodating staff and thoughtful presentation of an incredible selection of sophisticated cheese and meats were enhanced by their unique drink menu. Absolutely a favourite spot, will be back again soon!

Chris Seib (Queso del Diablo)

Great service, great food and creative cocktails that are also delicious. We'll definitely be going back.

Beth McD

Really enjoyed our first visit to this cocktail bar! Nice to have a bar like this in Nelson. We'd already eaten, so can't comment on the food, but the cocktails were creative, complex, and had beautiful presentations. Service was friendly and informative. Loved seeing and experiencing the genuine engagement with patrons. Would definitely recommend and a great option for locals and visitors alike. I'd maybe recommend a bug catcher or something. We sat inside but had many fly friends trying to visit :)

Gene Teichroeb

Very small space and it was too cold to sit outside when we went but the cocktails and food were very interesting and excellent quality. The decor is a bit lacking with rough curtains, plastic skulls and plastic battery powered candles on the tables and my wife's feet were sticking to the floor under the table. Not a great first impression. However the menu is full of unique dishes and the croquettes, soup and veggie board we had were all delicious. We shared evryrhing and only had the single board but we couldn't finish all of it because we wanted to have dessert which was also very good. High quality food and cocktails but one star taken off for the decor.

Robyn Missel

I will Never not love this place. 5 stars across the board. The drinks are DIVINE. The service and smiles are all so warm and welcoming. Their new menu is Top Notch. They had live music, They had an experience of a lifetime. They had drinks that made me absolutely melt and it created such a pleasant atmosphere and conversation topics! I have told everyone about this place, and will very loudly continue to ???? Love from Kelowna!

aron ashman

Excellent cocktail selection and great charcuterie, was happily surprised with the portion and balance of everything. Great fire tables for chilly nights if you luck out and get one!

Chris Armstrong

We had patio seats with our own warm fire. An amazing charcuterie board that 4 could not finish. Some delicious drinks and great company. A truly wonderful experience.

Alyson Earl

You want this place to be busy, but you also don't want a lot of people to know about it so you can always get a table! Awesome staff. Awesome atmosphere. Amazing food. Amazing drinks; especially if you do not drink! Everything about our visit was more than enjoyable! Off the beaten path, but that adds to the charm of this place. We will be back! They treated us very well.

Maria N

What a fabulous place! I wish we had more places like this one in Vancouver. Every single drink we tried was EXCELLENT! The atmosphere and service were outstanding! These guys deserve all the stars and so much more!

Tina Mirabella

We had an absolutely incredible experience at The Black Cauldron! The food and drinks were outstanding!! Christian, Jess and Stephen have truly created a unique dining experience that leaves the taste buds tingling and the stomach satiated. The charcuterie menu is genius and the creative drink menu has something for everyone. We had the Welsh Rarebit (wow!) and The Hedonistic Board (triple wow!). We also enjoyed the Aphrodisiac and Nosferatu Elixirs. The ambiance and musical selections are also brilliant. Well done to this newly inspired team of restauranteurs. I highly recommend a visit!

Zoe Dagneault

Very fun and lovely place! Great ambiance. We sat outside overlooking the patio and the beautiful flower shop next door. It felt a little like a side street in Montreal. We had absolutely lovely drinks. Mine was alcohol free- the Burnt Field- super moody flavours and had a smoking rosemary branch. The charcuterie platter was incredible and certainly enough for a full meal for two people. The dessert platter was a little disappointing as nothing stood out as exceptional. The service was very slow and they seemed understaffed- but the staff were also very delightful and friendly which makes all the difference. We will certainly be back on our next visit to Nelson. I would suggest making a reservation in advance.

Jonathan Dumas

Amazing cocktails and great service!

Bryan Keep

Unbelievable food, so good. The vegan pàté was my favorite, you have to order it!

Greta Negrave

The yummiest cocktails I ever had!

Sydney Hayes

I had an amazing Vegan Charcuterie board and a Vegan Sour made with Aquafaba rather than egg white. I am in love with the venue, food and exceptional service! We sat outside at one of their fireplace tables, very intimate so the perfect date night spot for you and you SO or just to take yourself out!

Stephanie Pedneault

Highly recommend checking out this very cool and delicious spot. Has a very fun vibe without being pretentious at all and the food and drinks were amazing!

Julie Baron

Best experience ever! The charcuterie board and drinks were incredible. Our server, Ostara was lovely and took really good care of us. We even got a quality check from the owner. We will definitely be back. Thank you for the wonderful evening.

Sara-Anne Belanger

A truly incredible experience! The cocktails and brunch boards were beautifully and meticulously crafted. We went in with high expectations and we were completely blown away. It was the best place to celebrate my birthday! Can’t wait to go back!

Jess J

Amazing and caring service! Attention to detail in food and decor is top notch! Really recommended!

Kiefer Sikma

Great ambiance and menu

Matthew Ward

Without exaggeration, the greatest restaurant experience I have ever had. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating. The effort and passion from the owners are next to none. Easily the best kept secret in all of Canada.

Liam Tynan

Really good cocktails!! Great vegan platter also.

Karen Doepel

Meal type

Victoria Marks

If you are looking for a lil jem in Nelson this is the place!! The cocktails are so fancy and delicious! The charcuterie boards are absolutely delicious! And then the deserts…absolutely hit the spot! This is truly a special place and we will definitely be back! I definitely recommend the fire patio even late at night in Oct it was fabulous!

Bryan Karpoff

Amazing little cocktail and charcuterie bar. We were in for our staff party on Monday and it was an unbelievable experience. We had the party board and it was incredible! If you like cheese, meat and cocktails this an absolute must experience!! Christian was incredible, keep up the great work.

devon dorais

A NEW MUST VISIT IN NELSON I’ve never left a review for a restaurant before but my experience at The Black Cauldron was so INCREDIBLE and unique I could not help myself! The vibe in there is so freaking cool: A spooky, fun, little nook to sit and enjoy some good drinks, food and company. I adored the drink menu and how it had awesome options including beautiful non-alcohol drinks (I super appreciated that as I don’t drink alcohol but like to feel fancy sometimes). The quality, quantity and presentation of the food was amazing. The service just tied it all together. Our server was so polite, positive, and patient (I’m sorry I forget your name). We were asking tons of questions about the restaurant and how it came to be; he answered every single one with a smile and enthusiasm. Our waiter and all the staff I noticed hustling around were professional but still fun, making me feel welcome. Perfect for girls night with the comfy seating and delicious charcuterie board options. My cousins and I already have a reservation booked for ours! Deffinatly one of my new favourite restaurants.

Terence Trefiak

What an awesome find! I love charcuterie and this place has one of the best selections of meat and cheese ever. The cocktails are very unique and amazing. Service and atmosphere is great

Andrew Stewart

Food is always top notch, I try to stop by every time I'm in nelson

Simon

Very cool unique vibe. Staff were very friendly and the drink and sharing plate selection was very unique.

Kevin Wall

Definitely an experience! Drinks are good and the service was great

Abby Egeh

Very much enjoyed this place. Tasty drinks with a witchy vibe, who wouldn't enjoy? I would suggest the staff refrain from bell shaped long sleeves.. I get the whole witch theme but call me crazy for not enjoying sleeved dipped in my drinks! Otherwise a lovely experience.

Sherry Jonn

If I could I would give this place a higher number of stars. The place is a beautiful old home, with lots of amazing charm. We had a nice little table outside on the deck under a really old maple tree that would be beautiful in the fall. The owner Christian was a very gracious host, came over to check on us, gave us a bit of history of the place as well as of his journey to owing the restaurant. While he was chatting with us a wasp took a liking to my husbands drink and he replaced it promptly. We did not even notice the wasp (the joys of eating outside!). When our charcuterie boards came out he personally explained all of the items. We did two of the individual boards so that we could try many items, all things on them were amazing! The cocktails are very unique as well, a refreshing change to the usual offerings at other restaurants. We also had a really nice dessert board, we ate every bite. I highly recommend this place for a unique experience!!

Justice Marks

This place is a must if you visit Nelson!

Katelyn Ostle

Came here for a drink and a quick snack and it was absolutely incredible. The witchy vibe was a total thrill for our family, everyone was really sweet with our kids, and the vegan platter we got was phenomenal. Definitely a must-visit. Can’t wait to go back.

Hannah Warren

The Black Cauldron is one of my all time favourite restaurants! The owners put so much care into curating a beautiful menu with all local ingredients. The alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink menu is extensive and everything is absolutely delicious. They have an amazing vibe and the staff are some of the best in town. Highly recommend! I go at least once every two weeks, if not more

Wayne Stephen

World class cocktails with a unique, artistic flair. The staff were very knowledgeable and happy to explain the many complexities of their drinks, house made ingredients, and mixology techniques. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who appreciate fine beverages or even just art in general.

carli winter

The food, the cocktails, the staff, the velvet ????????????

Russ Warwick

Dine in

Timmy Morris

hip, friendly, creative menu, gorgeous patio.

Lynnda Smith

Wow, just wow. This place is mind blowing and one of a kind. The service was impeccable and the owners were circulating when we dined and they were absolutely lovely and knowledgeable, their passion is obvious. If this place was in Vancouver they would be booked up for a year! A true gem. You're lucky, Nelson!

alex markus

The boards were lovely the service excellent the recommendations charming well thought out an exceptional.. world traveller worth the visit

Logan Hart

Black Cauldron is a place for new friends and old. We have celebrated a few milestones there recently and will be back soon to enjoy their careful and detailed service, masterfully curated charcuterie, and a collection of cocktails that you will have a hard time deciding between.

Todd Mansfield

Because skiing is awesome and food is great.

Lauren Carry

Had an amazing time here! The cocktails were tasty and I loved all the names. They have clearly put a lot of attention to detail in their decorations and menu. Loved our meal as well, got to try quite a few things without breaking the budget. My favorite was the devils on horseback and the blue cheese stuffed olives! The staff were all so friendly and welcoming and presented lots of knowledge around their menu Will definitely be back next time I'm in Nelson!

Ron Forest-Smith

Where to start? Having already spent a couple hard days of dining and drinking (positive hard) in Nelson BC, we checked out the Black Cauldron on the advice of some of the locals. Six of us descended on the place thankfully with reservations as when we got there they were sadly turning people without reservations away. (Overheard the staff making a couple recommendations for other places that seems to be the norm for the entire town...if we can't help you let me tell you who can!) The Black Cauldron is strictly a charcuterie place so if you want fried chicken, this is the only way you'll be disappointed. We sat down, and as I was still suffering from near alcohol poisoning due to sampling many venues these past few days, I went for a non-alcoholic cocktail...it seems they are able to make a drink to match your shirt if it's colourful enough! (See pic below). The Midsummer mocktail was incredible and for the second time since we hit Nelson I had a taste of flavours I had never had before. We then ordered a few appys prior to the main course including the Duck Pate which was excellent, and, a Welsh Rarebit that was a work of genius art. The taste was decadent to say the least and I was caught rubbing my hands in glee at the thought of the upcoming main course. We went with the party board that says "enough for 6". It includes everything the Black Cauldron serves from their Mains on one board and was unbelievable. So many meats, cheeses, olives, and vegetables, that it not only served six very hearty appetites but we COULDN'T FINISH IT ALL! The owner talked me into trying the blue cheese, promising that it would set me back on track to wanting to try more. (I despise blue cheese...it's up there with mushrooms and brussel sprouts, one of my three NOPES!) Being a good guest I did try the blue cheese and it blue me away. Yes, I will start giving blue cheeses a try again. This is another of Nelson BC's best restaurants to try, and we will be back!

Cailea Davis

Absolutely worth every penny! The energy, ambiance and quality of this place is truly magical! No worries rain or shine the umbrallas are stellar and provide great coverage to sit outside and enjoy the rain around you while warming up around a mesmerizing fire in your table! Our group tried the majority of cocktails and wow all unique and dosed in skill, great flavours and epic presentation. From smokey reveals to fire lighting you are sure to be amazed. I might recommend the server pick up some extra skills to entertain the group to even boost the experience more! Such as more conversation more exciting descriptions with cocktails and board selections, make it fun and engaging and your tips are going to sky rocket! Thats just friendly feedback the experience was awesome and this place is only going to flourish with time ! Highly reccomend !

Mahala Morris

Amazing place to have a date and experience a neat concept. A little on the expensive side (and quite slow to get drinks) but it's well worth the experience. It's a perfectly curated menu and the staff are super friendly and open to answering questions. We asked for a "dealers choice" of cocktails and they were all hits!

Lara Vado

The Black Cauldron is the perfect place to go for amazing food, locally sourced ingredients and great service. Have already made plans to come back we loved it so much. The mocktails blew us out of the water!

Justine Yiu

If you’re in Nelson, this place is a must! Amazing ambiance, delicious food and drinks, plus it’s very affordable when splitting with a group. Came here on a Tuesday evening with friends and booked a free tarot reading, which was fun. Normally it’s supposed to be a one on one, but she was kind and let my friend join (even did a speed read for her). If you’re in a group, make sure to book multiple sessions so everyone who wants to can have a turn. Tried the mocktails, which were such a delight. Highly recommend the Virtuous Sour. Incredible floral citrus flavours. Lots of depth. Also had the Root Chakra, which was beety goodness. Wild Blossom was very refreshing. Those two tasted like it would have been better with alcohol, while the VS was fantastic on its own. Had the all cheese board and vegan board. We did doubles of both and it was a lot of food for four women. The vegan board was overflowing with pate and black hummus. Mmmm. They also pile the bread basket high, which I really appreciate. The fig jam and tomato jam is so goood. Curried chickpeas were addictive. The marbled maple cheddar was incredible. Also had pancetta on the side and it was flavourful. Patio seating was wonderful. The ambiance is truly exquisite. If you’re in the area, book a reservation. Definitely worth coming to. Will be back again!

Jamie Robinson

Excellent casual sharing plates

G M

A must visit in Nelson. Drinks and food are spelltacular.

Hamish Melrose

Visited as a couple for a birthday celebration and was highly impressed. Deserving of their 5* status! The charcuterie boards are carefully and elegantly curated with an excellent range of local products. The capocollo (coppa) and bresaola were of such a high standard I was surprised to learn they are produced right here in BC rather than imported. Thank you for a lovely evening!

Steve Blank

Most depressing place to spend money. Had high hopes, but was so depressing didn't even order another drink. The charcuterie was good, however the ambiance and service left a lot to be desired. Was hoping this would be the baker street highlight but was disappointed. Better off spending time at backroads brewery, enjoying a Margarita at the Mexican restaurant or a good brew at mikes place at the hume. Won't go back and sad that we wouldn't.

Clive Brown

Booked a table for a lunch business meeting. Service and food were impeccable. Layed back atmosphere, stunning food, wait staff will put a spell on you! Will make this our go to place in Nelson.

lania cook

Exceptional cocktails and they may have found a way to make me a fan of blue cheese

Cam H

Such a great restaurant. Date night? Perfect. Family visiting? Definitely. Want to go be an absolute heathen and eat all the craziest cheeses and meats you can? Do it. This place is fantastic