50 Best Bars in Madison

“I can’t wait to go back the next time I’m in Madison and share how amazing this restaurant is with other people. Came with a friend for her birthday and our server Ronan was just the best! All of the appetizers we shared were amazing, as was my friend’s pork entree. Unfortunately I didn’t care for the pasta dish. It had no flavor/salt and the texture was too thick. My friends tried it too and agreed so I just didn’t eat it and shared with my friend. After our plates were cleared the GM Emily came over because she noticed my food was not eaten. I told her about the pasta and she handled everything beautifully. Afterwards we sat at the bar for martinis and the bartender Veronica (or Victoria sorry) was amazing as well. Halfway through my martini she replaced the glass with a fresh chilled one and added more olives 😄 if that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is. At the end of the day, service can absolutely be more important than the food, and this restaurant is a shining example of some of the best service I’ve had in any restaurant.“

“My ex boyfriend took me here for my birthday once and I fell in love with it. The king salmon and the chocolate babka are amazing! 10/10“

“Good drinks menu but the food was so-so. Flavors unremarkable. No information on the menu for those who are lactose or gluten intolerant which is easy to flag on menus these days. And the random delivery of small plates, which was to be expected, could have been a little bit more even for our table of four. And worth letting us know, when we order, which dishes might take quite a bit longer to prepare and deliver. Nice ambiance and good lighting. 3/5.“

“The food here, the pizza specifically, is excellent. The service, looks like it varies due to the servers personal perception of your party. She dotes on young people, seems to ignore older couples, maybe cuz she is young. Saves on the tip money though. I would stop again if I found myself in Madison just for the pizza. Might get it to go and save her from being bothered to wait on us.“

“I hosted my wife’s 40th birthday here and it was a fantastic experience! The game selection is awesome, the service was friendly, & the atmosphere was enjoyable for the adults and children. We will definitely be back & so will our guests.“

“The bartenders are very friendly and professional, the drinks are great and the prices good“

“Our favorite spot before Badger games. Friendly staff and great atmosphere!“

“Amazingly fresh seafood and beautifully done steaks with equally great side dishes, large enough to share! Go early and take advantage of their fabulous happy hour drinks and apps. Always a good time and a local favorite. Top notch service as well. Recommend for a night out, date night or special occasion.“

“Very cool hole in the wall spot. Vintage curio decor. A classic neighborhood watering hole with many, many beer and cocktail options.
No food, but there's Falbo Bros pizza next door and you're welcome to bring your own food/order in.
Their patio is a great little secret.“

“the People there were so friendly and easy to talk to service was spot on! summer sausage sandwich was so good. variety of sandwiches and burger to chose from we'll be back“

“This place is a true hidden gem! Doesn't look like much from the outside, but walking in - holy cow! Give your eyes a moment to adjust because it is very dark, which makes it hard to see the tigers, and there are tigers everywhere! I had a few beers and got great friendly service from Alyssa and Teddy - awesome bartenders! I saw them make a few fancy drinks that looked delicious, but I had to head out. If you are looking for a bar that is unique, this is a MUST STOP!“

“I had the lunch enchiladas and they were the best I’ve had in a while! True authentic Mexican flavor and style!“

“Hidden gem for private parties in Madison. Amazing, friendly & helpful staff, clean & visually interesting atmosphere. We had a blast! Thank you!“

“Good prices on great beer. There is a budget craft draft. Service from Randy St Bernardus is great, and folks are friendly. Lots of cool breweriana and a small selection of bottles and cans that rotates. Nice selection without being overwhelming. Accessible by bike and transit. Shady patio

Parking: Take transit, walk or bike.“

“how can you go wrong, awesome menu, lovely bartenders & great cooks... I'd be surprised if you have a bad thing to say here“

“What do I recommend? EVERYTHING!“

“I enjoy the overall square footage“

“Great selection and fun location! Love their diverse collection of pinball machines.“

“Been to cask and ale multiple times over the past few years. Great atmosphere, great bartender with knowledge, and good vibes! Would reccomendation to have your unicorn pour“

“I’m perpetually impressed with the quality of food at Dextie’s. The staff is like family. Incredibly professional, personable, and friendly.“

“I recently visited Momos and decided to try their strawberry mojito. Let me tell you, it was absolutely amazing! The combination of fresh strawberries and the perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess made it a refreshing and delightful drink. Not only was the strawberry mojito fantastic, but the overall ambiance of the place was also wonderful. The cozy atmosphere and friendly staff (ANA) added to the enjoyment of my visit. I highly recommend Momos for anyone looking for a delicious drink and a great place to unwind.“

“Was a great time will go back for sure“

“The best burgers! Just a great old bar.“

“Okay this place is KILLER for tacos. The scorcher, the New Guy, and the Old guy tacos were amazing. Just had the nachos for the first time and I'm pretty sure I had an out of body experience or something. So good. My friends said the oysters were good too. The only thing that I had that was not a culinary masterpiece was the Islander taco. It was just bland by comparison to the other yummy stuff there.“

“This is become the go to Bluegrass bar in Madison, with live music almost every night. Positive atmosphere, affordable drinks, really friendly bartenders, and an incredible vibe. It’s a default go to before high noon saloon or other places, lucky to have it as a gathering spot in Madison.“

“I'm not much for the downtown thing but this little place was awesome last night. Super rad bartenders with great stories :) Also, I got pretty drunk, which is cool.“

“Always a fun place to go. Love the atmosphere and staff.“

“Plaza burgers are the best! The plaza sauce and the pickles are what make them so tasty! A downtown Madison must stop.“

“Great neighborhood bar and grill with lots of great food options. I've been here a number of times and the first thing you notice is the size. It's a big place with lots of fun stuff - Pool, Darts, Foosball, Golden Tee. They have a large bar area too with a great selection of taps and bottles to choose from. The food is delicious. I usually get the burger with cheese curds. Both are amazing. The Chicken Club is one of my favorites too. Recently I tried their chicken wings and WOW - I didn't know what I was missing. Full of flavor and cooked perfectly. The staff is very friendly and lots of fun. Fantastic place to watch Sports too as they have lots of HUGE TVs. Great energy during Packer games. Ask about specials too as they often feature unique food and events.“

“Came for St. Patrick's Day specials. Did not disappoint. Highly recommend. Delicious corned beef special. Very friendly staff. Great service. Convenient location.“

“Laid back, comfortable, welcoming.“

“! Not a big menu but the burgers were Great!1st time there! We would eat there again“

“College visit with the daughter and we dined here with friends on Saturday 28th Sept and being originally from the UK, and seeing the fish and chips were haddock (not cod) I immediately had to have them and they were the best fish and chips this side of the “pond” having put up with 12 years of “just ok” fish and chips, these were amazing. Not only were the fish and chips good, but every dish was a winner. I am now praying my daughter gets into the college as I will be a regular here.“

“Hopped by after happy hour margaritas & tacos across the street. This spot was an awesome no-frills bar. They’ve got a private room in the back, two pool tables. Juke box, pull tabs, tv on for football games (the lions were playing so I was tuned in). Beer on draft and also cans. Bartender was easy-going. The only pic I took was in the bathroom stall, haha. There’s a male bathroom and a female bathroom.“

“If you like hole-in-the wall townie bars this is your place. Busse's has the feel of a rural wisconsin bar. Their food is limited to frozen pizza & bagged snacks, but they encourage you to order from the fried chicken place next door (if it's open).“

“It’s an amazing place to celebrate.“

“it was great😎 i just love relax on this place“

“Be cognizant of what you order. You can still get regular mixers and beers for a reasonable price (pshhh they even have deals sometimes). The food is actually very good, just pricey for what it is, but it's a frickin' movie theater what do you want?Treat it like you would any bar and tip well. These guys work hard. :)

Parking: Lots of.

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes.“

“Plaza burgers are the best! The plaza sauce and the pickles are what make them so tasty! A downtown Madison must stop.“

“Great food! Stopped after a college tour. Friendly staff!“

“One of my Madison faves!!!“

“Nice little venue with good drinks and food.“

“we came in close to close and were treated every bit as warmly as the first customer. the burgers were delicious, the old fashions were fantastic, the staff so friendly,with great service. we'll be back! your new friends from baraboo edie and doug haney“

“Great room, location was unmatched right on the water, and fun events!“

“good place, good drinks, good food, great atmosphere!“

“Very cool place if you like calm, and not crowded. The bartender was very nice. The people (aka guest) very nice. Small bit enjoyable. A place for awesome communication, worth partying in small groups, or alone. Rather than party scenes that are over crowded, ect“

“Always amazing here. Food , atmosphere, staff, and great cocktails to boot.“

“Best bar in Madison! Drinks are cheap and good, bartenders are so nice and helpful, and bouncers are hilarious. Music is good typically. Bathrooms are comparable to most college bar bathrooms— nothing to write home about but it’ll get the job done. Come in for a good time!“

“Friendly service! Good food & drink options! Would like to see chips & a pickle spear added to sandwich’s, a little light for the price. Breakfast sandwich was a good deal - again pickle spear would liven it up!! Pickle spear in the bloody would be nice too! Ha!!“