29 Best Cocktail Bars in Madison

“I went here with a few of my friends and had a BLAST. The ambience was just amazing. There was very nice, dim and colorful lighting. Lots of board games were available as well as a free snack table full of tasty looking treats. My friends I had played an overwhelming amount of rounds of Sequence while we sipped on our very unique and I am not quite sure how else to put it other than 'exotic' drinks. I was experiencing flavors I have never had before and loved every moment of it. I highly recommend letting the bartenders just do their thing for you!“

“My husband and I ate here for our fifth year wedding anniversary. It was absolutely perfect. We sat at the bar which gave us an amazing view of the kitchen. The service was impeccable. The food and drinks were sublime. The atmosphere is so warm and inviting. It was one of the best meals we’ve had in Madison. We will definitely return!“

“Classic must try pizzeria. Absolutely delicious, they come up with great pie ideas and they are ALL hits. Their service is impeccable and their excellent cocktails give the experience the cherry on top . To add to that the prices are super reasonable. Great atmosphere, can't recommend this enough. It's become a go to return spot over the years, wether I go for a nice dinner with my partner, or getting "fancy" pizza and drinks with friends, this is the place to go.“

“Absolutely amazing. The sushi is so fresh and the flavors are unique and delicious. I’ve come here a hand full of times for special occasions and it never fails to impress! The cocktails are also phenomenal.
We love!! Highly recommend.“

“Stiff drinks and a loose time“

“We thought this place was a gem! The bartender Jon was able to make a Ramos gin fizz and hit it out of the park!“

“One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time! My husband and I had a great date night. Fabulous meal, service and atmosphere.“

“I never tried a Moscow mule before until I went on a trip for a family reunion. I tried a sample at total wine and more. Let me just say this company’s mixed drinks are fabulous!!! I absolutely love the Moscow mule and the old fashioned. I’ve tried other brands Moscow mules and nothing, nothing compares to this company’s Moscow mule!!!! I tell people that are looking for a good drink to try, I tell them to try plain spoke’s drink because they don’t disappoint!!“

“We recently had the pleasure of dining at AmarPeru today, marking my first experience with Peruvian cuisine, and it did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance struck us as both elegant and inviting. The decor was sophisticated, setting the perfect tone for a delightful meal. Upon our arrival, the executive chef greeted us with a warm smile, which immediately made us feel welcomed. With our excitement, we dove into the menu and decided to sample a variety of dishes: lomo saltado, paella, ceviche mixto, truffle yuca fries, and anticucho. Each dish was a masterpiece, showcasing just the right balance of flavors. We savored every bite, feeling completely satisfied yet still we left a room for dessert. We chose to indulge in alfajores, arroz con leche, and pisco tres leches. She even has us try the passion fruit juice and one of their specialty dessert. Desserts were the perfect ending to our meal, the ideal balance of sweetness and texture that we wanted. Overall, our experience at AmarPeru was fantastic! We left feeling full and happy, already planning our return to explore more of their culinary offerings. It was a wonderful opportunity to immerse ourselves in a different culture's cuisine, and I can't wait to go back! Highly recommended for anyone looking to try something new and delicious. Thank you to the chef and the entire team for crafting such a delicious meal. 🫶“

“Update: We came on a Monday, super empty, but that's 100% not the issue. There is one new bartender that I've never seen before who was very rude. She had a Bass Pro Shops sweatshirt and hat on. She scoffed at everyone in my group for ordering mixed drinks off the menu like it was an inconvenience for her while there was no new customers. It took her at least 5 minutes and the drinks we got tasted nothing like what we ordered, yet she was looking at the drink instructions the whole time. Hated the attitude, still love this place. I will not be staying in here if I see her bartending again.

Old: LOVE this place!! The vibes are always excellent and the staff is super helpful :)“

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

“The catering order placed for our holiday lunch was simply amazing. Legit best value for the price, great flavor, and those homemade sauces are a true chef's kiss. Def. recommend!“

“Cozy atmosphere, great food and drinks!“

“What do I recommend? EVERYTHING!“

“Took my daughter to this 60’s inspired cocktail style restaurant, to celebrate her birthday. We both agree that the overall vibe was sensational. The staff was amazing with our waitress being kind and courteous, as well as prompt with service. The menu is rather eclectic with various options, so there is something for everyone. The design of the place is thoughtful with the music matching the vibe. I am excited to see what the future holds for Lola's!“

“Cute atmosphere. A little overpriced. Chicken Taco way over seasoned . Recommend adding simple tacos for children or others that enjoy the basic taco. Bandito delicious ! I’ve never been where you have to pay for chips & salsa . Adding in fountain soda would be a plus .“

“What an incredible experience! Everything from the drinks, food, service and atmosphere was amazing. We cannot wait to come back again. Gabe was an incredible server - personable, knowledgeable, funny, and had the best timing (he just knew when we needed another cocktail). I cannot recommend this place enough!“

“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.“

“Ive been going to the Bonfyre for years and I really love the place. For the past year it has been infested with gnats or fruit flies or whatever they are. . You cant take a sip or a bite without waving them away. Its annoying as hell and gross. Its not a one time thing, I go there often and its not getting better. This afternoon I stopped in for a couple of beers and some calamari appetizer. I love their calamari! I used to, today I got a massive plate of breaded bread. And swatted flies away the entire time. I'm not giving up on Bonfyre but if they cant fix the bug problem soon I'm done. I stopped by Badger Tavern before going to Bonfyre, the parking lot was packed as was the entire street so went to Bonfyre. Bonfyre was pretty empty. The atmosphere at Bonfyre should and could be a 5 star...get rid of your bug problem!“

“Love the rustic indrustrialized interior. The outdoor beer garden is absolutely charming with grape vines and lights. Staff are all very friendly and attentive. Really enjoyed the Strawberry Fields cocktail and the freshly made Ellsworth cheese curds. Can't wait to go back and try more!“

“Vibes was good and the bartender/owner(?) was super personable and knowledgeable!
I tried their Married with Children drink (a new drink) and it was very refreshing. There is also an upstairs that you can reserve for private events.
I can see myself hanging out here with my friends and having a fun chat! Definitely check this place out!“

“It’s an amazing place to celebrate.“

“It's hard to know where to start. First they have Guinness on tap they have harp on tap they have some incredible drink selections but let's go away from there and go to the food I only had the basically the fish and chips the batter was incredibly light it was not greasy it didn't detract in a fish the fish inside was amazing the chips were great decent french fries fresh as opposed to cook for 2 hours before the coleslaw was superb they've been a two slices of rye bread with it the rest of the menu looked very good it had sandwiches anywhere from 12:00 to $19 main meals anywhere from 22 to 42 or higher market price steak whatever that means in English and the appetizers look amazing so I'd recommend it if you're going to be in a first class hotel in Madison Wisconsin which isn't going to happen to everyone and barely happen to me I recommend this place it's got aesthetics and Keith and they do wear masks“

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

“Fabulous place, omg the view of the capital is amazing“

“Went here for a date night and have to admit it was fantastic. It was close to closing time but there was no rush from the staff and service and food was excellent. We had the papa's eggplant parm and the badger spicy chicken sandwich. Both were excellent and very large sandwiches. Definitely would recommend to anyone.“

“Awesome free chips and yummy margaritas. yummo“

“Food and Service were great!“

“Absolutely loved the food choices. Everything was fantastic. The location was awesome and atmosphere was very fun.“