Bar Olivino

I came here during the summer for an awkward/​intense/​interracial date on a Saturday night. The other person recommended it when I told him I only drink white wine and the wine (they only have one white) was very good. The scene was predominantly people of color (minus my date) and lots of 90’s R & B and hip-​hop. During the course of the night, they did venture off into 70’s funk and some 80’s (can’t remember what. I’d had 3 or 4 glasses of wine by then because #awkward). It had a really nice vibe though. I even considered going back alone but when I pass by now, they always look like they’re closed. Not sure what’s going on, but if they reopen, I’ll certainly go back. The server (don’t know her name) was excellent. While I can’t speak for my date, I never once felt odd for being The Queer Interracial Couple in The Straight Bar. We probably weren’t read as queer though because #humans. Anywho, I’m a fan. That Ralph Tresvant really made me feel at home. I hope to go back sometime with somebody who knows the words to «Sensitivity.»

I hate to write a bad review, because the wine was delicious and the cheese & bread and olive snacks we had were generous and tasty, but the environment really rubbed me the wrong way. I’m all for a neighborhood bar where locals hang out and everyone knows everyone, but not at the expense of good customer service. It took a little time for the bartender to realize that we actually needed service from her, and when she finally paid attention to us, I was given a generous wine tasting. But then she went back to speaking Italian to her friend and it took another several minutes before I could interject and mention that we also wanted to order some food. Fine, no big deal, I wasn’t in a huge rush.
We went to Bar Olivino because it has good reviews on Unilocal and is a WINE BAR which to me is a place you can always rely on for a peaceful, relaxing vibe. The absolute last thing I was expecting was a group of 12 people to come in all of a sudden and start shouting at the baseball game that was on the TV in the corner that I failed to notice upon arrival. I’m not sure I understand why there is a TV in a wine bar, but the noise was really the issue. I literally could not hear myself think, and this is not a big space, so the commotion was just a few feet away from us. I tried to tell them it was getting a bit loud and I had a bit of a headache, (which was true, and I probably shouldn’t have been drinking wine, but that’s besides the point) and I was met with mockery. The noise continued and finally my partner and I decided to get out of there. On the way out, all the people said «I hope you feel better» in snarky tones and gave us the finger as we left.
I was shaken and upset by this experience and will not go to Bar Olivino again. I hope that the owners figure out what good customer service is and that if they want to grow their business, they might have to cater to the needs of customers they don’t already know.

Olivino Bar is a great little getaway from all the hustle and bustle of the big bars. The atmosphere is cozy and the Hostess/​Bartender/​Life Saver Nikki is the best. The drinks are well crafted and the music is trance like. So if ur in the Fulton section of BK, I suggest u check this great little gem out

Niki, the bartender is FANTASTIC! Cozy spot to grab drinks and light bites…

Went to Bar Olivino on a date. Nice, cosy wine bar with a decent collection of wines and a great atmosphere. Nice intimate seating in the corner or communal hangout at the bar with the other patrons. The bartender was very friendly and accommodating. I would definitely come back.

Need a place to unwind relax and simply let go Bar Olivino is it. The crowd is always warm and inviting, mixed with a good adult beverage of your choice the night can only be right. One the best bartenders Tuesday and Wednesday as far as I know in Brooklyn period. I’m sure the rest of the week is covered with awesome bartenders as the head of the team makes Olivino more inviting to everyone.

OH SH*T! they have liquor now. booze. hooch. nectar of the devil. I can certainly swill back enough wine to numb my unhappinesses, but as they say: liquor’s quicker! I LOVE a martini and or a cocktail (or a few), so sometimes I’d skip going here to get the stronger stuff elsewhere. now when I’m craving the hard stuff I can stop here on my way home. wish me luck in my future 12-​step program please.

This is a very nice place to relax and enjoy a good cheese and wine pairing. Small and intimate. Great place to socialize. The bartenders are always pleasant. Nice brooklyn establishment.

I was dismayed to read the review below, because Veronika is a fantastic bartender and the sole reason that I go to Olivino. I used to frequent another bar where she worked, but when she moved to Olivino, so did I. I also know that I am not her only loyal customer – she’s got plenty of nice people who are regulars wherever she’s worked, who give a bar its nice, homey, welcoming vibe.
And Olivino definitely has that vibe. It’s cozy and intimate in a minimal, rustic way, with music that’s the perfect mix and volume to add a great atmosphere without making it impossible to have a quiet conversation. The wine is great, the bathroom is clean, and it’s the kind of place where you want to hang out relaxing and sipping for hours. The clientele is a great mix of ages, men and women, and ethnicities, which is also really nice.
I am soon moving from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and plan to make Olivino my regular spot.

Beautiful people here!

I came here during the week right after work. I was waiting on my date and stopped in here for a quick drink to pass the time. It was empty, with only 2 ladies at the bar. They were engaged in a conversation with the bartender. I ordered 2 glasses of wine and caught up on some work.
Quality wine and probably the most intimate and cozy space I’ve been to in a long time. I will definitely be back.

Great neighborhood wine bar. Great place to grab a glass after a hard days work or for a pre-​dinner drink. The staff is always knowledgeable and willing to share the expertise or to turn you on to something you have never tried before.

Like another reviewer I see, I also came with a Living Social for two glasses of wine and two cheese «platters». What came were two glasses of decent Lab wine, a tiny basket of bread with olive oil, and approximately 3 oz. TOTAL of two cheeses (I know because I cook and excell at the «eyeball it» method of weighing). The value was poor: a rip-​off even for the paid amount of $ 13.
That said, the owner and the atmosphere were friendly. And the extra-​aged gouda had some surprising chocolate notes in its predominantly salty tastes. Because I love a cheese that bites me back, I also asked to try the strongest blue they had, which was one I had never heard of before. But I’ve had more pungent blue at places like Cheese on 62^nd in NYC. This saddened me despite the wine in my bloodstream. The bread saddened me more as it did not taste fresh at all. Maybe they wanted me to feel down so I’d order more wine than was covered by my deal?
I am mainly frustrated by the false advertising — «platter» should mean more than one cheese, and some seasonal fruit, nuts, or even just a healthy sprig of arugula. The whole visit made me feel like Oliver Twist in the orphanage: «Please ma’am, I want some more!»

Just ok.
And I’ll explain why–
Bought a Living Social deal for this place.
For $ 15 we were supposed to get two glasses of wine and two cheese platters (***note the word platter). That is all supposed to be a $ 37.00 value.
Nope.
When we arrived at this cute place on Friday night, we were notified that we could only choose a glass of house wine. White, red or rose– not bad choices for the different types– but still would have been nice to pick our own wine from the menu.
Now the best part– when I ask the bartender how many cheeses we each get in our said cheese «platter»…she replied you each get one cheese. Hmm. ok, so then does it come with some good accoutrements like almonds, fruit, maybe honey or membrillo? NOPE– just the two very small pieces of cheese– 3 slivers of day old baguette and a drizzle of olive oil. This does not a cheese platter make!
Misrepresentation!!!
Won’t go back– feel like I was tricked and there are way better places closer to where I live.

I moved away from Bar Olivino over a year ago and still make the trip back from time to time. It’s a special little joint and occupies a spot in my regular rotation of favorite wine bars.
I stopped by here for a glass of wine or two at least once a week when I lived a few blocks away. Met some of my neighbors, engaged in great conversation, and learned a bit about wine from the knowledgeable folks who tend the bar.
It’s a tiny place so the selection reflects that… you’re better off elsewhere if you want to meander around an extensive wine list. But come here for the cozy, intimate, neighborhoody vibe and some limited but well-​curated selections.

You would need a library to cover everything that has happened in Olivino worth note. It was really cool when they opened. I was a fan of the wine shop prior to the bar opening. Great! I’m a wine drinker! And the place is «nice» without being the slightest bit douchy. How it manages that when so many others in NY have failed is beyond me. You can go with friends and drink it up and hang out. You can go solo and snuggle up to a good book. And what makes both better? Wine. Baby. Wine. An assortment of cheeses that compliments the selections for the evening. You feel welcomed there by the bartenders as well as the owner when she is around. Bar Olivino quickly established itself as a neighborhood staple.

I don’t know why this place doesn’t have more reviews. This place is perfect! I enjoyed a few glasses of wine and some cheese plates with a girlfriend one weeknight. Sweet bartender, light atmosphere with lots of windows and pleasant energy, and an array of seating for a cozy spot. We sat at the bar. The wine was good, the cheese was taste with bread and oil and the olives were quite yummy.
Bar Olivino is hard to spot from the street (tiny sign off the the side), but it’s a great option for an intimate drink with a friend or a date.

I’ve walked by this place a million times over the past year but never stepped in until recently. A friend and I were hemming & hawing over where to go to brunch; it was hot & neither of us wanted to walk too far, so when I remembered I’d seen a sidewalk sign for sandwiches outside Bar Olivino (around the corner) I suggested we check it out.
Definitely a great choice. At 12:30 on a Sunday the place was basically empty, so we got to chat with the owner for awhile. After only opening at night and serving cheese & charcuterie for years, she just started adding more items (like the aforementioned paninis) and opening during the day. They offer free wifi as well, so it’s a great alternative to the crowded Outpost or places on Dekalb.
Anyway, on to the food: I had a panini with blue cheese, fig jam, and spinach; I inhaled it in about three minutes. My friend had the cheddar/​tomato/​pickles, which was just as delicious. The paninis are small for a restaurant, but they’re the size of a normal one you’d make at home and are plenty filling — and they’re only $ 5. We also had a variety of cheese, wine, and olives, and everything was great.
I’ve been a fan of Olivino for awhile (see my review) and I’m glad I finally wandered in to Bar Olivino. Everything was reasonably priced, and it’s definitely an establishment that this stretch of Fulton St should take advantage of.

Most boring wine bar, I have ever been to. All customers are dead as zombies. Absolutely no energy in this establishment and serving room temperature white wine is unforgivable. Two thumbs down! Definitely a management problem with just as dull staff.
They need to get the chip off of their shoulder, for soon no one will be spending any chips at all there.

I feel lucky to live so close to such a great, cute wine bar.
The bartenders at Olivino are always knowledgeable and friendly, offering suggestions and even tastes if you can’t decide which wine to pick.
Its a great place to meet a friend for a glass of wine and great conversation. The atmosphere is nice, at night they often have candles burning. It would be a great place for a first date.
Reccomended!