48 Best Cocktail Bars in Milwaukee

“I had an amazing experience at Bryants! Our server Kat went above and beyond to ensure I had a 10/10 time.

I had the espresso martini which had icecream (yum) and some fruity drink I forgot what it was but it was TASTY. My husband had a grapefruity cocktail that I sipped that I was obsessed with too and Im not a big citrus gal.“

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

“The bartender named after the news channel you wish your grand parents would turn off forever, makes the entire experience worth visiting alone. Great drinks and a fun atmosphere. Guaranteed to make friends every time you visit. Can’t recommend enough.“

“Best Old fashioned in the state of Wisconsin“

“We stopped on a Sunday afternoon. The bartender she was great. Personality and vibes were on point. Made us feel welcomed.

They had happy hour on their signature drinks and they were all delish.

I love the dive ish bar feel but the offering of craft cocktails.“

“Didn't get food there... Not sure if you even can. I got the {Name Redacted} cocktail. It was delicious. The ambiance is top tier, and the drinks are good. If you are looking for a gathering place that is a notch above, then this is the place for you.“

“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.“

“Had a very lovely time at The Mothership! Love the decor; it's quite an eclectic mix of Hamm's memorabilia and Tiki. Music is quite eclectic as well; you'll hear everything from Patsy Cline to rap. The drinks we all ordered were super tasty, but not super strong. The music is a bit too loud for easy conversation, so with a little yelling you can make yourself heard to your group of friends. Sitting outside on the patio is probably much quieter, I'd bet. I don't know if they have speakers that pump music out there. When we left by the patio door, it was quiet, but no one was sitting out there so perhaps they didn't turn the music on yet. It was early evening, like 7:45 p.m. Great place right across from the dog park, so there's your entertainment right there. I believe they had a food truck outside selling hot dogs and burgers. I wasn't hungry and I'm vegan, so I didn't investigate to see if they offered anything I could purchase - sorry Vegan friends; I've let you down!“

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

“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.“

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

“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!“

“We randomly walked in on our way to the bar next door.
I told the bar tender Matt that I like mimosa but with a kick.
He made me an absolutely amazing drink that tasted exactly like a mimosa but with a kick.
I will absolutely come back because this place has real bar tenders that actually know how to make random drinks that will hit a taste.“

“RIP-Best tiramisu I’ve ever had😩“

“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.“

“free pool..🙂...friendly staff“

“First visit, was amazing! Homemade jalapeño cheddar brat was delicious and generous size. My wife had the green goddess salad, made fresh and the vegetables were delicious. Of course the beer was great as well! Friendly staff, will definitely go back.“

“Milwaukee has no shortage of bars worth visiting. Boone & Crockett on the river is one of the few worth planning around.

The setting earns its reputation. The riverside patio is one of the better outdoor drinking spots in the city, and the candlelit interior has a warmth that the rustic, up-north aesthetic could easily feel forced in lesser hands — here it doesn't.

The drinks are classically crafted and genuinely well-executed — the kind of bar where the person behind the counter actually knows what they're doing rather than just following a recipe card.“

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

“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!“

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

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

“Meow Bar & Lounge is a terrific cocktail lounge with a mid-century modern vibe and a cat theme. The place specializes in ice cream drinks, and no one in our party was disappointed. I was delighted with the Turtleface, a THC-infused cocktail drink with chocolate and caramel.

At the time we went, early on a Friday evening, there was only one bartender working. He did an impressive job of serving the small crowd, but given the time required to mix up ice cream drinks, a little patience was required.“

“The menu was pleasantly authentic, service was attentive and the atmosphere welcoming. I look forward to going back.“

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

“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.“

“Stopped in for dinner while I was in from Chicago. Everything from the ambience, service, and food was amazing! We had the shrimp scampi, caesar salad, spicy sausage rigatoni, and the rigatoni alla vodka, with a side of their focaccia. Generous portions so we were lucky to bring some back with us! Definitely will return the next time I’m in Milwaukee! 😊“

“Excellent Italian apricot pastry and espresso.“

“We had a great meal here last night. Great cocktails and their limited wine list fit did the trick. We ordered everything to share. Watermelon salad, spring rolls, tamarind carrots and the beef satay. All outstanding. So fresh and vibrant. Dessert was also delicious. I also thought the prices were very reasonable. Can’t wait to come back!“

“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.“

“Great beer and food, and Brandon was an entertaining and informative tour guide!“

“Just had lunch at Vier North. Everything we had was delicious and the service was great. Try the pulled pork sliders, some of the best I've had in the area.“

“Shockingly good and unique cocktails. They fill a much needed gap in Milwaukee's cocktail scene right now. Their bartendeners really have a passion for the craft and the neighborhood. I can't speak to their spirits themselves, but what they do with them puts them as a top destination for anyone looking for cocktails.“

“This place is an excellent spot for drinks with friends or loved ones for any occasion. The diverse mix of customers and staff creates a welcoming atmosphere, where you’ll find a little bit of everyone in their own private, spacious sections. I was seated on a garden style terrace, decorated with meticulously planned and vibrant plants of all kinds that surrounded me. The terrace showed off exceptional lighting, making it an ideal spot for a cocktail photoshoot. There is no food on the menu so dont come hungry the drinks are delicious and strong. They are also very pricey for the service provided! Overall the service drinks and experience was great!“

“I took my daughter-in-law to Blu at Pfister for Victorian tea. We each enjoyed one pot of tea from a selection of 15 different teas. We had 3 layers of food to enjoy, savory and sweet including scones, cucumber sandwiches, salmon and crab, turkey, pesto, red pepper along with various desserts with chocolate, fruit. We definitely needed to go boxes! Enjoyed the great views of the city and great service. We also each ordered a mimosa too!“

“Got the haven sandwich and lox bagel which were both yummy. The matcha was decent too. Came here on a Sunday morning/early noon and a DJ came to play some vinyl records and the vibes were great. Ample amount of seating and big picnic style tables that are large enough to play games with friends.“

“We ate here this morning and loved the food“

“This was a fabulous hidden gem! We grabbed drinks here before dinner. The rooftop was super cute. Smaller than expected from pictures, but we were able to walk right in and snag a table on Friday night at 6 pm. Lots of fun drinks on the menu to try!“

“Sofie is a great New York speakeasy style lounge with live music and djs on the weekend nights. P“

“I always look forward to Thursdays here after work. The music is always on point, the vibes are great. The bartenders are very efficient and welcoming. The rest of the staff and security are great also. One thing I really appreciate is how safe and comfortable they make the environment. I never have any worries while im in the establishment. Definitely one of my favorite spots to go and have a good time“

“Came to Milwaukee for a day, visiting from Chicago. Three kids and three adults. The kids were hungry (as always) so we stopped in here and we were greeted by wonderful staff and the food was delicious. We felt so welcomed and despite our large party (and very demanding 4 year olds), staff handled all of our requests and questions with ease. Thank you for an enjoyable and wonderful meal!“

“What a view! Il Cervo is on the 9th floor of the trade hotel! I came in for brunch and had a great time! Just need some warmer weather I'll I'll be back for the patio! I was greeted by George, the General manager, when I arrived.He was very hospitable and made sure I had everything I needed. Thanks again!“

“Great food & customer service“

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

“Went for the first time today for a doggo lunch date with muh fur baby. Wonderful staff and quick service. I noticed negative reviews complaining there was dogs, well no crap it’s the business model and there’s an actual picture of a dog on the door and logo. ANYWAYS price is a little steep but when I got my food holy cow it was delicious. And I love that they have dog friendly menu items available as well. The place is super clean for the amount of guests and animals that come through. Loved that the food pickup and service area is separate from dining. The only downfall was I did pay for pickles and there wasn’t any but I didn’t even notice it until I devoured the first half of my food. No big deal. I ordered the steak sandwich and strawberry limeade which I also love is made by hand with fresh fruit. My dog is now sleeping in a food coma as am I.“

“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.“

“Absolutely love Bittercube“