25 Best Cocktail Bars in Milwaukee

“Damond provided outstanding service. Great atmosphere. The Chicken Sandwich is truly the best ever. I’ll be back, working my way through the menu!“

“Loved my 1st visit to Bryant’s!! Old school neighborhood cocktail bar with fantastic service, vibe, great bartenders and cocktails crafted to fit your interests and tastes. Back in time with low lighting, vintage sound system and good ole cash registers. Don’t miss Bryant’s, a true one of a kind!!“

“Go here all the time. Fantastic and fun atmosphere, and is my go to“

“Royal Street MKE formally Daq Shack MKE underwent a beautiful transformation inside but the heart, quality of food and service are the same...wonderful! It's always like visiting family here, the main bartender always remembers us even though we only come a couple times a year when in the area. Food is always fresh, hot and delicious. Absolutely go if you're in Milwaukee try all the flavors they provide with the daiquiris.“

“Best Old fashioned in the state of Wisconsin“

“We dropped in for their Christmas pop-up.
They really take it to the next level! We had to wait in a small entryway for about 15 minutes before we snagged a table. Highly recommend getting there early for the Christmas pop-up.

It was worth the wait! The drinks were perfectly crafted and the decorations had me in awe.“

“Best bar experience in Milwaukee. Really talented bartenders making phenomenal drinks. Good, price-friendly, flavorful drinks! I'm really impressed with the talents of the bar service. Wicked good place for drinks and service! The bartenders deserve a round of applause 🙌 👏“

“Lost Whale is a Bay View Staple when it comes to the bar scene! It's a fantastic cocktail bar with some of the best drinks in the City of Milwaukee! Between the backyard patio and the cozy bar, there is never a time of year you can't be comfortable here! The staff & bartenders are incredibly nice and fun to hang out with. Lost Whale also now has a resident food truck in the back to keep you full while hanging out!

Lost Whale also let us rent the bar out for a night so we could host our engagement part there! I would be willing to bet that every single person we invited had one of the best nights of their life!

Regardless if you are a local or visiting Milwaukee, Lost Whale should be a bar that's on your MUST VISIT list!“

“Great happy hour 4-7pm Tuesday thru Friday. And the same happy hour Friday and Saturday after 9pm! We were so surprised when we got two craft beers and a domestic for only $10! Decorated nicely and also has pool and darts. My only complaint was that it smelled a little smokey.“

“I've never been to Milwaukee. I asked where I could get a true Milwaukee meal experience and was directed to The Vanguard. it was fantastic and Kelly was an absolute gem of a person.“

“Bartenders cute“

“I took my dad out here for Father's Day at his request. We had a very nice time. The beer selection was lovely. The lady at the bar was very nice. I think for a chill summer Sunday afternoon on the outdoor patio, it was really sweet. It's true the bathrooms are co-ed but I had encountered this in Frankfurt Germany so I wasn't fazed, but the one I went in had 1 stall and a urinal outside the stall with no privacy so be prepared for that (I didn't see if you can lock the door once you're in there for more privacy).“

“A nice taste of Milwaukee. Right on the lake, good non expensive drinks, local food trucks and dog friendly! The music is a bit loud at times so not ideal to sit inside if you want to have an intimate convo. However, the lakeside seating and the patio were tranquil.“

“This is a great music venue, and quite possibly the best Italian restaurant in town. That’s a great combo!“

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

“Great location for live music and a classic cocktail. Small intimate feel for a jazz club. Fantastic acoustics. Every seat is good. Check website for show schedule. Very nice staff. Good bartenders. Charlie Brown Christmas show is guaranteed fun. GREAT date night spot. Get a reservation to ensure your spot.“

“What a great find. Nice place, great energy. The service from hostess, bartender, waiter, and food runner was prompt, polite, and sincere. Food was excellent. The queso was flavorful, melty, and delicious paired with the lovely bread, and assortment of fruits. The empanadas were the obvious stars of the show - soft billowy outer shells that had a nice bite, filled with delicious stuffings. Dessert was great as well, opting for that sinful cookie bar with ice cream.“

“First time there! Had a great time! Was there for the whole afternoon! Such a good time! The owner takes pride in his Bloody Mary's 🙂 The bartender, Lexi, was awesome! Thanks for a great day!“

“Yep yep“

“free pool..🙂...friendly staff“

“Was my first time here and I will definitely be back! My friend and I only stopped in for appetizers and some sake but the service, atmosphere, and food was absolutely amazing. Looking forward to coming back for a more intimate occasion.“

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

“I have attended the SINGO game nights a few times with different groups of friends. Every time we have had a great time. The game is entertaining, the drinks are good as well as the food and service. Love the space and intend on returning.“

“We went there on Valentine's Day at 4pm for their tasting menu and both of us were blown away. Great service. Great views. Great Vibes. and beyond great food. The "friend, lover" cocktail was THE best cocktail I've ever tasted. Every course in the tasting menu was excellent but the Beef Tenderloin was BLISS. I don't think it's possible to cook it more perfectly than they did. Really amazing. The desserts are really impressive too. Which says a lot because I'm generally not much of a dessert person.“

“Great place inside The Market. Travis was awesome.“