The Best Lounges in Milwaukee

Boscos Social Club

★★★★☆ 3.5 (30) • $

"The decor at Boscos was fairly nondescript with lots of black and tan, and on a Sunday afternoon it was all in all a nice place to toss back a couple of brews. They had about a dozen beers on tap and were running a $2 draft special and $5 bloody special. The bartender Brandon was welcoming and also offered us a basket of free popcorn.The bar stools were somewhat worn but comfy, and there was table seating as well.As others have mentioned, Boscos is dog friendly and during the hour we were there three dogs made an appearance.They had a dartboard, a crane, a pull tab machine and an ATM, plus several TVs for your gaming and cash needs."

Moy's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (153) • $$

"We love Moy's egg rolls!! They have a touch of peanut butter and are loaded with pork. YUM. Best egg rolls in SE Wisconsin, hands down. And when paired with their Won Ton soup, you have a filling, delicious lunch. Mmmmmm."

Stevens'

★★★★☆ 4 (354) • $$$

"We stopped here for an excellent dinner after our sailor graduated to celebrate. Easy to make a reservation for a sizable party and the food came out together and was excellent. Our party enjoyed the lobster Mac and cheese, whisky ribs, pork chops, lamb chops, salmon and sirloin steak. Everything was seasoned well and everything but the steak was cooked to perfection. Steak had a hard sear which my son didn't enjoy. Excellent service keeping drinks filled and even gave our sailor a complimentary dessert! Highly recommend this restaurant!"

Bleu Restaurant & Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.1 (154) • $$$

"This place was cool! I came on a weekend afternoon, and it wasn't too crowded. They have a lunch menu with several courses that I ordered, and everything I had was delicious. Service was great, and I'll likely be back at some point."

The Library Cafe & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (60) • $$

"This is one of my favorite places on campus. Today I got the Chicken Caesar Wrap, which was absolutely delicious. I loved the addition of tomatoes, which I don't find often in Caesar dishes. It was so refreshing and just what I needed. I also got an Iced Chai, which was also good. The people who work here are always in a good mood, and very friendly. As for the ambiance, it's absolutely perfect. They play amazingly perfect instrumental music, there are books lining the walls, and to me, it's one of the most calming cafe experiences you could get in Madison. If you happen to stumble upon this little tucked away corner of campus, stop by and get The Best Turkey Sandwich Ever! (Literally what it's called, they were right)"

Angelo's Piano Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.4 (48) • $$

"Note - It's only appropriate that a place as monumental as Angelo's marks my 200th review, just shy of my 7 month Elite-iversary.Sometimes you are lucky enough to find a place so incredibly unique that words to describe it will likely escape you.Such is the case with Angelo's. There is only 25 or so seats in the entire place, but each one is occupied by the most individual of characters. Regulars have commitments measured in decades, and the decor has not changed since their inaugural visit.The bar and it's furnishings hail from the 1950's. The mirrors and wood paneling from the 1970's and the classic cocktails from somewhere in between.And the cast of performers each have their niche too. Jerry is the resident Sinatra-esque crooner. Danny is the Irishman with a full repertoire of requisite Celtic tunes and Jose is well verse in the Latin love song genre. With enough encouragement, Angelo, the Proprietor, may be persuaded to join in the folly with one of his sentimental favorites. This, my friends, it a night at Angelo's. A night so epically original that it inspired a local filmmaker to create a short film to document just that. So as I render myself speechless on the magic of Angelo's I implore you to check it out for yourself, as some things just have to be seen to be believed!"

The Baker House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (339) • $$

"The food was great. I had Dijon chicken, my better half had filet mignon. Our waitress, Savannah was fantastic. Fabulous!! Will be back."

Libertyville's Tavern In The Town

★★★★☆ 3.9 (236) • $$$

"My son just graduated from Navy Boot Camp so tonight was a special night. He was craving steak and I found this local steakhouse on yelp. I called and they accommodated a reservation for 4. We parked out front on the street but then discovered that the entrance was actually in the rear. The exterior is nicely decorated, but was out done by the interior. The ambiance and decor was very inviting and kind of gave a speakeasy feeling. My son ordered the 22 oz Ribeye and a side lobster tail. Overall, the food was delicious and the service is impeccable. We will definitely be returning. Oh, and we really appreciate that they comped my son's meal as a way of thanking him for his military service. Big thumps up!!"

Gin Rickey

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (11) • $$$

"Kathy was a great face for the business because she was very friendly and me being the only person in the place we had a conversation down memory lane because we both lived in the same area and and share the same experiences so the conversation flowed. My drink of choice is the Gin Rickey so I decided to stop by the bar called Gin Rickey and have a Gin Rickey. This is a nice bar in the old Art Deco Ambassador hotel which is almost 100 years old. The bar itself is very nice but not over the top nice and just right with that old elegant flavor from the past, basically it's a great fit for the Art Deco building. Kathy introduced me to the locally made small batch gin from Milwaukee Wi called Rehorst gin made by Great Lakes Distillery which was very good. Overall it's a nice bar to have a great cocktail and since there was no other patrons in the place to talk to Kathy's great personality turned my first impression of let's go into let's stay for a bit."

Hotel Fremont

★★★★☆ 3.5 (51) • $$

"Hotel Fremont is the place to go! Great service, delicious food and a great location...right on the River in Fremont!The breakfast was incredible...the toast is homemade...the breakfast burrito had delicious flavors Ave the Bloody Mary was outstanding!!"

Taylor's

★★★★☆ 3.7 (55) • $$

"I LOVE Taylor's! It's a great go-to happy hour spot for me and my many work and play endeavors. Also, my absolute favorite dirty gin martini can be found here. Asking for the blue cheese stuffed olives is perfection! I've searched far and wide throughout the city and, hands down, this is consistently the spot that delivers delicious drinks EVERY SINGLE TIME. Sharon and Rainy kill it slinging solid drinks and positive vibes over the countless times my colleagues and I have come here throughout the years. If you're looking for a solid happy hour spot downtown and/or love a dirty martini, stop on down to Taylor's and tell them what you're in the mood for!"

Madison's

★★★★☆ 3.6 (202) • $$

"TLDR: What a wonderful gem that is an unpretentious beautiful melting pot; all staff was genuine and having fun at work, food was gorgeous and did put up with my lower processed sugar requests, unique cocktails, and feel free to read more about their bathroom rant IN A GOOD WAY and down-low the music was incredibly on point for the vibe well done Context: I come to Madison a lot for work and family but they live in Middleton/West Madison. This was a last minute trip and the first two nights I stayed downtown on the square. I decided I didn't want the normal places so I forced my family into town for brunch on a Sunday mid-morning. Three adults and one 2 year old. Our incredible (and I mean INCREDIBLE I wish they lived in Texas so I could hire her lol) was our table staff and I think the GM or potential owner even gave my nephew (the 2 year old) a little ring pop and magnet toy to play with while we hung out so unexpected!! Taylor was attentive, super chill, and went the extra mile by admitting she had to check on a question and quickly came back instead of lying or just saying that's not their job. Taylor seriously made the experience. Then my family left and I felt bad taking a table so I moved to the bar and the bar staff took just as good care and even honored my bottomless mimosa felt so bad they gave such great service I tipped every refill lol good service is so rare now The food was extravagantly humble. The parfait was to die for and the breakfast platters were flavorful even if a "standard plate". My sister doesn't normally do locks and said the all bagel sandwich (in pictures) was very good!The cocktails - I will say I was a little taken aback by having an espresso martini with whiskey but was not upset. The spicy margarita was better than spicy margs in Texas and the bottomless mimosas were actually bottomless and they refilled with joy it just so relaxing and pleasant.Ambiance - they kept the older brick building but did the upgrades in the right place. If you look hard enough you'll notice they even put sound pads underneath the bar chairs such a small but important move in the restaurant/bar scene. The attention to the important details were incredible. Okay..... onto the bathroom...YAAAASSSSSS lol. This bathroom (women's bathroom is the one I used here) was one of the cleanest and comforting bathrooms I've ever been in even better than some 5 star hotels and restaurants!! It was incredibly clean, minimalist, they actually had a solid ceiling and closed stalls, the stone work was not cold and the gold to white marble tile was just beautiful. I cannot stress enough that the stalls were enclosed actually (we all know what I'm talking about) and the fact that you can't smell anything but clean without an overpowering bleach scent lol I can't explain it I just love their bathroom lol (pictures included). Im in love with this place. To be fair I did not try their connected ice cream shop but the doors were open and people were going in and out so I assume good things ‍"

The Bottle Shop

★★★★★ 4.7 (92) • $$

"My wife and I stopped in for a quick glass of wine and about three hours later we left with three bottles of wine, some new friends and a lot of laughter. This is a new spot for us to grab a drink! The staff here were amazing. Jody, Jenny and Beth we're all great hosts! This is a hidden/not so hidden gem! Some live music, outdoor seating area, a bar which has help yourself options and $1.50 for a pint of cheeseballs! The old-fashioned kind, the kind you get out of planters cans that have aluminum lining- the good stuff! Wonderful spot we can't wait to get back. Plus, this is not pretentious wine but accessible and at great price points. Enjoy!"

The Lobby Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.4 (26) • $$

"The lobby lounge in the pfister hotel is swanky, a great place to people watch, and cozy. It has an array of leather chairs, couches and small tables, a fire place and a man playing piano too. It was a perfect little lounge, but it's open so we could also see the people coming in and out. Service was good. Cocktails were a little pricy but were also strong and tasty. We stayed for a drink before going out to dinner and really enjoyed ourselves!"

The Yard

★★★★☆ 4 (49) • $$

"I honestly had no idea The Yard existed as my previous visits to Iron Horse were not during patio season. Let me tell you - this is an impressive patio space!First, it's really big with plenty of casual lounge groupings - perfect for groups of all sizes. Second, it's mostly covered so even if it's a bit drizzly you can still enjoy the outdoors. Third - gorgeous plants everywhere. They've done a great job of creating divisions with plants and furniture where you feel like spaces are semi private. Outdoor TV's and heaters make this a great place to watch a game. Can you tell I really love the design here? Anyway, we stopped during the break between a wedding ceremony and receiption for a few libations. As you might expect, there's a nice cocktail list, plenty of beer options and some very drinkable wine. I was pleased to see a French sparkling at $12, but displeased that my drink was served in a crappy plastic cup and was flat. I get the need for plastic on a patio but you need to do better - there are plastic options that look nicer. (They had VCP by the glass at $22 and I wouldn't have been happy getting that in a solo cup for sure).We did grab a few snacks too - fabulous Clock Shadow curds and homemade chips & dip. Both were really good & something I'd get again. Service was pleasant but probably shouldn't have served me flat champagne. Overall, the space is a winner & I'd go back!"

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge

★★★★★ 4.5 (462) • $$

"Need a vibey spot but not really sure what you want to drink tonight? This place has got you covered! Known for not having a menu (among other really cool facts), your server will take note of what you like/dislike and will bring you one of their many drinks that they've created in house! This place is one of the coolest spots I've been to in MKE and will not disappoint!"

Una Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.7 (7) • $

"This is a corner bar that was a Chinese restaurant years back so it has a small bar and round booths which is weird for a corner bar. They have some hi tables in the middle room but it's a small bar that looks like it's having a decor crisis because it lacks decor like it was just thrown together. The regulars were an older crowd and kept to them self which was ok because I was doing research on what's in the area bar and restaurant wise to see if something interesting was around. The woman bartender was friendly and mostly talked to the regulars."

The Wine Reserve

★★★★★ 4.7 (6)

"One of my favorites in Oregon, WI! The Wine Reserve is located right in downtown in a building that used to be an old bank. The owners did a fantastic job renovating the space but keeping the charm. There is a self serve wine dispenser as well as a full bar. Light snacks are Available including cheese boards, truffles and popcorn, and they have a fabulous back patio! Occasional live music and other fun events are planned. I have to say one of my favorites is that they open early on the first day of school and the last day of school for mimosas and bloody Mary's. There is parking in the back and two gender neutral bathrooms. Drinks can be pricy... but their lemon drop is worth it!"

My Apartment Restaurant & Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.9 (22) • $

"Best little dive bar/restaurant EVA! I go here for one reason...to stock up on their Friday fish fry. It is out of this world! Meal is cheap, drinks are cheap, and everything is so good. I always stop at My Apartment with my folks to grab some fried or baked cod when I am visiting the big WI. Been going here for years and they never disappoint."

HiHat Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (87) • $$

"Like other reviewers, I would rate this lounge between a 4 and a 5. Probably the surprise of the evening while beer crawling along Brady Street and points in between. I was recommended the Hi Hat Lounge by the Nomad Pub, and wasn't disappointed. Upon first impression, it feels like you are entering a small pit area due to the large atrium that encompasses the bar area (very large bar area, in fact). The decor itself was dark, which was unusual, given that I arrived around 5:30 PM on a summer evening. The draft beers that the bartender served kept me comfortable, though. In fact, the drinks were unbelievably good! After my second or third, and fourth IPA (I lost track after three)), I had to get a burger & so forth to keep my blood alcohol level from reaching epic proportions. The food and drink prices were very reasonable. I was actually surprised once I received the bill and said to myself "Thank God that these aren't Chicago prices." My bartender was awesome, and even recommended other bars to hop into on nearby Brady Street. The venue itself looks more than just a bar, so I'll remember to bring the Mrs back for a lunch or dinner. The place projects itself as being not too loud, yet not terribly quiet either.When in Milwaukee, check out the Hi Hat Lounge."

Mr. J's Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (10) • $$

"The atmosphere is cool, relaxed and a dandy time. Running into old friends, singing your favorite tunes and meeting new people is what I got from Mr. J's. The waitress's are ok, but the bar food was actually GOOD! Lol. The waitress was a little lackluster, and looked a bit worn down, unlike my last experienced here. The fried party wings are juicy and tasty, so yummy. The sausage / pepperoni pizza took me back to my childhood, great memories of the best pizza topped with delicious cheese. They have a parking lot with a security guard, but it was full by the time we came, however, there was plenty of street parking available. I didn't like the security search down at the door. (But I guess it's necessary) they checked my purse and my body before letting me in... again, I guess I should appreciate it, it's for my own safety after all. The guards were not friendly. (Which is the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5) The MUSIC WAS GREAT!!! A female DJ played a variety of songs, covering the 60s, 70s through today's music, I really enjoyed myself. Oh, they also have a dance floor, so feel free to "cut a rug" lol. . Perfect place for social gatherings. Have a great attitude and have FUN!"

Truth Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.8 (19)

"I had the onion Rings and wings! They were impeccable! The vibe was awesome and the drinks were strong! Sunday night Karaoke is definitely a vibe!"

The Lounge At The Delavan Lake Store

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"Great little spot for ice cream. Great flavors reasonably priced. They also have Delavan themed merchandise. Don't pass this place up if you want ice ctream"

Burnhearts

★★★★☆ 4.4 (135) • $$

"We did not have food. Hence the four stars. But the drinks were good and the service was wonderful. We sat and played a game of scrabble. We had a very fun time and really enjoyed the vibe. I recommend the hot buttered rum to take the chill off on these cold winter days. We would definitely go back to hang out and have drinks."

State Fair Inn

★★★★☆ 3.7 (21) • $$

"State Fair Inn was a fantastic option for Fish Fry this past weekend. The place has a very vintage supper club vibe with plenty of food options for even the pickiest of eaters.Service was a bit slow, but we were in no rush and they were certainly friendly. I had the pan fried lake perch - so yummy! The meals are served with soup and salad - very supper clubby - right? The vintage decor, dimly lit lighting and vinyl clad bar stools are a clear indication that this place has seen some days! A hidden gem for sure - I would recommend stopping in!"

Franky's Newport Lounge

★★★★★ 4.5 (37) • $

"I live nearby and The Newport offers delicious takeaway pizza. You can either make it at home or they'll bake it for you to go home. Or, eat at the bar too, of course. I though, had things to watch on TV and needed to return to my couch. Seriously. So much cheaper than a delivery pizza. Available late at night. A crispy Milwaukee cracker crust. I think I had a kiddie cocktail while I waited. Ohh yes, she even asked if I wanted the pizza cut into squares or triangles. C'mon. Squares. Obviously."

The Lynq Ultra Lounge

★★☆☆☆ 1.5 (2)

"I believe Lynq owns City Social because I seen several workers wearing this logo shirt in addition to me not being able to find a yelp profile for City Social. Nonetheless it's a no for me. I'm from out of town and we tried this establishment and was so irritated by how slow the staff members move. Waiting over 20 minutes per drink. Having to constantly remind the server things was just awful them have to pay a 18% gratuity is absurd. Even when we requested our bill we waited over 20 minutes to pay and we were ready to go. Never again!!!"

Monarch Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.9 (25) • $$

"Met a friend from out of town here to catch up and converse. Another place that I bookmarked that I finally decided to check out. I was in the mood for a couple drinks and an appetizer and they have pretty good happy hour specials. Happy Hour is Monday - Friday from 430-7pm and half off all drinks and appetizers!! Cant beat those prices and great ambiance and atmosphere. Parking can be a little difficult but it's worth it. The calamari was decent, flavorful, roman style with tomatoes, capers, and lemons. Nice size portion. It was tangy and flavorful. The bartender was really cool and poured with a heavy hand but I am not complaining . I had three top shelf drinks and a appetizer under $30. Can't be mad at that! Had a good time and would be back again. Until next time"

The Garden Lounge

★★★★★ 4.6 (9)

"The Garden Lounge is a relatively new addition to the downtown West Bend scene. Not sure if they're shooting for cocktail lounge or morning coffee stop. It seems like they will for at least the time being try to wear both hats. They have a nice selection of coffees to choose from. They also have a nice selection of specialty alcohol drinks. The staff was quite proud of using a computerized pour system to mix every drink the same way each and every time. My votes still out on the computer made drink. We all have our favorite bartender for mixing a drink a certain way, not sure how I feel about developing loyalty to a machine. The owners did an incredible amount of remodeling to make the Garden Lounge what it is including a poured concrete bar top. A really nice upscale atmosphere for downtown West Bend. A definite worthwhile date night or after dinner destination. There are no windows to the outside, making it the perfect spot to transition from morning coffee into day drinking and being blissfully unaware it's the middle of the day They offer homemade frozen pizzas and a handful of appetizers to boot. We tried the wonton wrapped cheese sticks and rangoons. Both went quite nicely with a few cocktails. Welcome to West Bend Garden Lounge & good luck with your future."

Mavericks Cocktail Lounge

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"Mavericks is a nice cocktail lounge in the heart of downtown Hartford. It's unfortunate you almost have to be seeking it out to get there. It's located along highway 60 in the basement with another bar above it. There's currently no real signage on the outside and you have to hope you find the door. The low key visibility kind of gives off that "safe house" vibe.The people were friendly and the specialty drinks, a bit on the pricey side but were delightful with flavor. The price of the drink was justified in watching the mixologist take the time necessary to make each creation.Welcome to Hartford Mavericks. I hope the community stops by to give you a try."

This Is It

★★★★☆ 4 (72) • $

"We had a great time, mostly because Ray was a great bartender! He was super hospitable to us and makes a great mixed drink!"

The Outsider

★★★★☆ 3.9 (207) • $$$

"I'm really not sure why I haven't reviewed The Outsider before now, seeing as I have been here dozens of times. But saying that should give you some idea of how much I enjoy this place. The Outsider is a really solid spot for an evening out. It is located on the rooftop (9 floors) of the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel. You will have to enter the hotel to get here, but hotel staff are very used to directing people towards the elevators that lead to The Outsider. The space itself is wonderful - great views of the city, a variety of seating options, lots of comfy couches, and a large bar area. The Outsider is open year round. Even in the dead of winter, they manage to keep the majority of the bar open with the help of heating lamps. The Outsider has an extensive drinks list. You will find your typical fare here - beers, wines, typical rail drinks, etc. But there is also a list of house-designed cocktails. These drinks are seasonal and are inventive and enjoyable, although quite pricey. In fact, I would say that The Outsider is generally one of the more expensive bars in the Milwaukee area. You are certainly paying for that rooftop view. For the cocktails, the price point feels fair, as these drinks are very nicely presented. But the price point is certainly quite high for the beers and wine. A couple things to make note of:-The Outsider on a weekend in the summer is going to be insanely busy. Come prepared-People usually come dressed in nicer clothes. There is no dress code officially, but you won't see many people in sweats here. -Service is a bit varied. Sometimes the servers will come to your seat to take your drink orders. Other times, you have to go up to the bar yourself. I think this is largely dependent upon their staffing and how busy the bar is on that day."

BLVD Kitchen and Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (20) • $$

"Conveniently located in the Marriott hotel. They have a simple menu, which can be billed to the hotel room.I enjoyed an early breakfast the American, which was just what I needed to start the day. Happy I didn't have to leave the hotel to look for a place to eat."

Clementines Tavern MKE

★★★★★ 4.6 (10)

"Hadn't been since it was fixed up but it's a perfect neighborhood bar. Definitely was busy during a Sunday night packer game. The bar is circular so everyone could converse together if they wanted. Also has pool tables"

Sebastian's Steak House

★★★★☆ 3.7 (58) • $$

"I got a few recommendations for last dinner at Fon du Lac. I decided to go to Sebastian since I'm very partial to meat and steak. It very interesting place. It was in the plaza building. The ambiance is quiet and dark. It was a bit outdated feel. The server was nice, not too attentive though and she forgot my mushrooms soup. I ordered cheese nuggets for my appetizer because why not I'm in cheese country! For main course I got the 10 oz prime rib - medium rare because I do like my meat mooing a bit with roasted asparagus and mushrooms soup.The cheese nuggets OMG sooo good! I can't stop eating. Fresh, crispy, a bit salty cheesy goodness. It came with ranch dip which I feel not necessary. The prime rib is prime rib. Cooked the way I like it with au jus on the side. The shocking is the asparagus. They very generous on the portions! Actually nuggets portions also good with $6. I expect few pieces of asparagus but this like they gave you a bundle of it. The soup mushrooms delicious! Creamy goodness and each spoon it has actual sliced mushrooms! Like big slices not little chunks! Quite surprising. I'm glad I asked for it. I'm so stuffed and brought some leftovers for breakfast."