47 Best Cocktail Bars near Franklin

“Just a great place to go and have a drink and relax.“

“Classic lounge energy with surprisingly solid bites. I grabbed a small plate alongside a drink and it hit the spot—simple, savory, and well-timed. Dim lights, old-school vibes, and a pace that encourages lingering. Feels timeless in a good way.“

“This is our go-to bar in MKE! We keep coming back because of the atmosphere — and especially because of the bartender, Bred. He’s super cool, always remembers us, and his service is amazing. Plus, the drinks he makes are always on point!“

“Great quality tequila for all the fantasic house cocktails!!“

“Hands down one of my favorite cocktail bars. Also extremely reasonable price for the quality of cocktail. It has a welcoming, cozy, and unique interior that would make for a good look and find game. They also sport a huge selection of liquors and the bartenders there have always been a great source of knowledge on some of their personal favorites if you're looking to branch out. My two favorites to get here are the JLP and the Classic Old Fashioned. Cheers!“

“Best bar in the country, no contest. If you’re in Milwaukee, you’re very lucky to have The Mothership in your backyard. And if you’re not… make the drive, catch the train, book the flight, whatever you have to do, you won’t regret it.“

“The food was excellent!! I got the bruschetta flight and it was hard to pick a favorite flavor. I was very hesitant on ordering bruschetta from a bar but this was some of the best I have ever had! I also had the chef special chicken sundried tomato artichoke on croissant with cheese. Also was amazing! Ended up meeting the chef and owners, very welcoming and good people! Can't wait to go back and try more food! Bar and basement hang out have cool vibe!“

“Great cocktails and beer, cozy vibes, and a cute outdoor patio. Dog-friendly inside and out! They also do a deal on Mondays where you get a dollar off your drinks if you bring a book. Lots of non-alcoholic, THC, and gluten-free options. They have a couple snacks, but allow you to bring in food from neighboring restaurants.“

“The atmosphere is amazing, drinks are wonderful and it’s an all around vibe.“

“I was able to try this place for the first time last weekend and it was awesome! Sugar Maple does a lot of cool pop ups. We went to the Strangers Things one. The cocktails were so fun and tasty. The staff and owner were all so kind!
Highly recommend!“

“My husband and I came from central IL for work but turned it into a date night. We had so much fun at Lost Whale! We tried nearly all of the cocktails (some twice) and fell in love with the shooters!
We're planning a trip back because we also feel in love with the area and want to explore! Thanks for a great Friday night!“

“We stopped at Boone & Crockett on a Sunday shortly after they opened. The atmosphere was very welcoming and the bartender was really friendly! We got the sazerac and a mocktail - both were delicious.
We’ve also attended events at The Cooperage and it’s always great - food and drinks, atmosphere 10/10.

Highly recommend - a Milwaukee staple!“

“Fun bar, great vibes, awesome bartenders!!“

“Great atmosphere and amazing friendly staff. Owner Ben makes sure you have a great experience!“

“I still recommend but after last night I won't be back for a while. My husband and I drive over an hour to come here when we get a date night. Last night the bartender was slow and we thought no big deal but it became a big deal when both him and the other bartender spent most of their time messing around with their drunk friend. Eventually the bartender with the long hair and beard sat next to a girl at the bar and their drunk friend and the bartender just kept stroking her hair. It was very off putting. The other bartender thats usually there(big Samoan individual?) is always very attentive and nice. This was creepy. Food was good as always but for the 1st time ever I couldn't wait to leave.“

“Stopped at potawatomi for the first time and not being much of a gambler I stopped at bar 360 to have a drink and just get a view of the whole scenery and I'm glad I did the vibe is very cool with plenty of blue lighting that gives the whole place a nightclub vibe and they were playing good music plus the prices we're not very high like I expected and they even head drink specials which we both enjoyed and overall after doing little gambling it was definitely the best part of our visit plus the bartender was awesome and provided great service so if you're looking to take a break before gambling all your money away definitely do it at bar 360 it's right in the middle of the place you can't miss it lol.“

“So the review written by "Being Still", I was there with this person. The restaurant reached out to this person through Messenger, but because they blocked Being Still, there is no way to respond to them. And they took the comments off their facebook page and blocked Being Still.... nice.... Seems sneaky to not leave a honest review up for people to see the conversations, but to only have the good ones on your Facebook page. Instead of having to go look in the review section to find honest reviews.“

“Very good food, great service. Drove 45 mins out of my way to try this place, will be back!“

“I’ve been wanting to try this place FOREVER. And let’s be honest — I’m perimenopausal and time is not exactly slowing down for me. So for our anniversary, I took no chances. Reservations open 30 days in advance, and you better believe I was poised like an Olympic athlete at 4:00 pm sharp when they dropped. The only slot left? 5:00 pm. The early bird special. Listen — we will dine at 4:37 pm if that’s what it takes. Book it. First of all, the vibe? Chef’s kiss. Mellow, classy, a little dark, lounge-y in that “you feel cooler just sitting there” kind of way. The velvety, cushy seating made me want to cancel all my plans and just live there indefinitely. And then… Carli enters the chat. Mad. Props. To. Carli. She greeted us like we were VIPs, guided us like a culinary fairy godmother, and made recommendations with the confidence of someone who knows she’s about to change your life. We trusted her immediately — as one does when greatness appears tableside. We kicked things off with shared apps: Waygu as Rockfire (buttery, melt-in-your-soul magic), Royal Flower Dumplings, Kinnickinnic Crisp Shell, and the Nobu Spicy Salmon Crispy — which Carli brilliantly suggested we sub with tuna. A visionary. An icon. A leader. Each dish somehow outdid the last. That Waygu? I will be dreaming about it for months. It was so indulgent it should require a warning label. I’m fairly certain food p0rN was invented for that exact bite. Then came the noodle debate: Pad Thai vs. Drunken Noodles. Carli said she prefers the drunken noodles, and at this point she had not steered us wrong once — so obviously we followed her lead. Now let me just say, I once took a cooking class in Thailand and made drunken noodles myself. I’ve tasted the real deal. And this version? Hands down the best I’ve had in the U.S. No question. We added shrimp, and they were light, juicy, perfectly cooked — not a single rubbery overachiever in the bunch. Absolute perfection. We wrapped it up with a hazelnut tiramisu situation. I don’t remember the exact name because we inhaled it in approximately 18 seconds. It never stood a chance. Long story short: completely, wildly worth it. My boyfriend and I live in Madison and we both agreed we will absolutely be making the drive down just to eat here again. We came for our anniversary. We left planning our next visit. And Carli? She deserves a raise, a trophy, and possibly her own holiday.“

“Super friendly staff. VERY quick order to food on the table time. Had the pork belly Benny and the carnitas con huevos and both were fresh and delicious. The hash browns (added onions) were some of the best I’ve ever had. Got an order of the French toast with Caramel and candied pecans and that was also very good. Heard they feed seniors for free on Wednesday so going to send my parents over there next week! Any place that treats seniors that was is worth patronizing. We’ll definitely be back!“

“Great tasting authentic Mexican food. Food always fresh and restaurant always presentable. Great customer service. Highly recommend. They always have the best dine in specials too.“

“Excellent Italian apricot pastry and espresso.“

“This place is really impressive! James the bartender made me one of the best old fashioneds I've ever had! You could see that James takes alot of pride in his craft. James is a true cocktail artist and we enjoyed watching himmake each drink. He really does it right! They also serve your old fashioned with a large cube of ice:) We will definately go back!“

“Stopped in for an afternoon coffee. It was fresh and flavorful. My fiancé had the espresso martini and she said they were incredible.“

“Nothing I write can capture how much I enjoyed my experience at Tied House. We just happened to pass by their beautiful outdoor garden, and I’m so very happy we decided to go in. Julia, our server, was so helpful and very personable. Melissa and Adam, the owners, were amazing. They explained their craft to us and helped us to understand the creativity and passion that goes into every cocktail. All businesses should share their enthusiasm!! I wish we lived closer so we could visit them more often! I promise that every time we find ourselves in Milwaukee, we will be visiting the Tied House!!“

“You know what they say about first impressions, right? This place!!! Wow!!! To say I was impressed from the moment I walked in would be an understatement. From The smiling Hostess, to the table services… and then wait for it….. the FOOD!!!!! Outstanding, delicious, like yes, I am raving about this place. Ms. Freda was amazing from start to finish. I had #16! The white rice and beans, with the chicharrones, a thinly cut steak, a sausage chorizo, salad, plantains, and a taste of the yuca frita. OH MY OH MY OH MY!!! My hope really is that this place makes it for years to come and expands to other parts of the city! The design of the place has a vibe that invites you in to stay awhile. To enjoy the flavors of the food entries offered. Each one I have to imagine just as good as what I had. This being my first time there I left with a happy heart and a happy tummy! With a mind made up that I will be back! For more of this delicious and wonderful experience! I invite you to come. You won’t be disappointed! I promise!“

“All you can eat sushi? C'mon! Who can say "no" to that!? And it's good too!“

“Great service - Cameron took excellent care of us!“

“A neighborhood bar that tries and comes out on top. Other bars just exist but this place keeps it going.. Its got great food and Pool tables and more than just the water'd beer and rail shots behind the bar. Cider and seltser selection is a little different too“

“I love everything about this place! The owners are amazing. The staff is amazing. So cozy and inviting. The drinks are creative and change every season. It’s a great place to hang out.“

“Leaky Leek with the customer service is the best thing that happened to bartender since the ‘99 and 2000’s. If you haven’t stopped into Wall Street Stock Bar (WSTB) on 219 south 2nd street, you’ve done yourself a disservice of experiencing an extraordinary service of a mixologist that can eyeball a perfect taste that will breathe soul & life to the most simple drink that you’ve previously tasted.“

“We went to Riley’s a few weeks back, and it is hands down one of the best smashburgers I’ve ever had. It’s surprisingly easy to hold and not overly messy like some smashburgers can be. And the Riley sauce is a must.

Beyond the great burgers, they’ve got cheap drinks and plenty of fun options. I’m excited to come back when it’s warmer and check out the patio.

Only regret is not getting a picture as my food disappeared before I even thought about it.“

“This is like any neighborhood bar, with a lot of locals and other nice people! The bartenders are always friendly and have lots of tables for small groups to gather to have fun! They don't serve food though, only frozen pizza and salty snacks!

Parking: They have a parking lot and if it's full, there is also street parking!“

“Great food & customer service“

“If I lived in Milwaukee, I'd eat there all the time. Loved the eggplant.“

“Great food.. awesome people.. family friendly atmosphere 💕💕💕“

“The manager was super helpful and friendly Thank you“

“an amazing dining experience! food and wine list on point, and the atmosphere is amazing! 10 out of 10 would recommend!“

“Such a fantastic place! Great food, everything was so delicious. Fresh tortilla chips, the best I have had. Beautiful decor. Bright and lively atmosphere. Fresh breezes flow inside on nice days with sliding doors open. Cute patio. Conveniently located. Awesome staff. Definitely a favorite to come back to. Thank you Pattie!“

“The lavender margarita is amazing for summer!! Also Joey was super kind, and great service!“

“Great food and service! There are lots of options at different price points, so there is something for everyone!“

“Came here for an early dinner and wasn't disappointed! Our waitress was very nice and attentive, the booth we sat in was HUGE and comfortable, our drinks were good and our food was tasty! We ordered the chicken schnitzel sandwich and reuben. Would definitely love to return and try other stuff - oh and the cheese curds are 10/10, couldn't get a picture because they went so fast!“

“I have been going here for years. The fish fry is EXCELLENT and I have NEVER been disappointed. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!“

“China Dragon is the best Chinese food I've ever had in my life and I can say I've been all over Wisconsin New York Omaha you name it I had the orange chicken and wasn't dry it was hot and had a little spice to it they put loving and you can taste the onions the green peppers the broccoli which I didn't think they would put in and it taste like it was smoked on the grill is this is an amazing place it's I don't even want to give you the secret out cuz it's that great they deserve 5 Stars they put love into their product they make and it's the best place I'm glad I found it I will be going there all the time amazing five stars for sure.“

“my husband and I went there tonight for his birthday. the food was really good but I want to brag about Robert our server. He is the best server I have experienced in a long time. we never once had to flag him down to refill our soda. If we blinked we would miss him putting a fresh basket of bread out for us. Our empty plates never sat on our table for long before Robert walked by and swooped them up. kudos to Bravo! for hiring Robert. I would definitely come back if I was guaranteed him as my server. Robert thanks you so much for the excellent service you provided, and I hope we left you a great tip, you truly deserve it“