Just Arts Salon, 181 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI Old school dive bar .Cool!
Just Arts Salon, 181 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI Old school dive bar .Cool!
Ceiling
Fooseball table
Says it all.
Great space. Divey and the perfect basement bar. Friends chill here. Guests become friends.
Danielle. Things look better after Art goes upstairs.
a birdhouse made of wood
My girlfriend (now wife) and I having our first drink together in 2003.
a neon sign for a bar
Just Art! A proprietor with character.
people sitting at a bar
a foo - pong table in a pub
interior
Joyce T.
Jan 10, 2025
We were coming from a work party so no food was ordered so all we had were drinks. Art was very entertaining and full of stories to tell. I am so glad I got to experience this gem before it is gone. I do wish we had been able to hang longer since we were the only ones in the bar at the time.
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Scott O.
Sep 29, 2024
The best dive bar in the Dive Bar capital of the world...Milwaukee USA. Art shoots straight with you and treats you right, unless you do him wrong. He speaks his mind with no filter and that is respected by the customers. Well, most of them. Milwaukee off-duty and on-duty cops are regulars. Retirement parties, bday parties, any kind of parties. Great food! Dahmer went there a few times too!
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Michael B.
Sep 2, 2023
We when here after a wedding. Immediately walking in a dog jumped up to me and started balking. I went before the wedding group and asked if it was okay to bring 20-30 last minute. The guy basically said everyone is welcome, but I'm only one here and I'm slow. He was very nice even with the very drunk people.If you're looking for interesting dive bar this is more interested than many. The guy asked me what I wanted and I was like I'm beyond good. And he gave me a water in a scotch glass and kept telling people it was vodka if it came up. The had Guinness for $8. Otherwise they had several different kinds of light beer and a decent selection of non top shelf liquor. In order to use the stall you have to shimmy/touch the person currently using the urinal. The ceiling tiles in the back look like they are falling down. They have a nice futsbol table and two picnic tables in the back patio.
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Phil G.
Apr 10, 2023
Ended up at Art's late on a Saturday after driving in from Seattle via Minneapolis. The infamous proprietor was tending bar and honed in on my ethnic heritage, making irreverent comments that were refreshing in this uptight culture. All the patrons laughed when I responded, "I didn't kill him personally," to his query regarding the following day being Easter. Of course, this is the quintessential Milwaukee bar, Art's representing the working class beer and a shot heritage of the Cream City. Just Art's made me think Henry Meier was still the mayor. Calling it a dive bar is unfair. What Just Arts lacks in slick, it makes up with character.
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Matthew S.
Aug 1, 2022
It's a dive bar. Don't go in expecting any different. The type of place that has dusty taps and a tub full of ice water housing a case of Pabst. My friend and I were lucky to have stumbled in on a Saturday night. Sit around with other great patrons and enjoy conversation, hilarious jokes, and a game of bar dice(art was nice enough to explain the rules to us). Also I have to remark at the fact that trail mix was provided and There was some food options but we didn't partake. The place may not be for the faint of heart but if you remember drinking in dives (before lavender was a beer additive) and chatting to the bartender and receiving unfiltered response, this is the place for you.
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Lori L.
Jan 17, 2020
Art has been a bartender for almost 40 years and is a staple in Walker's Point. His bar is like a random oasis where you find this cool bar in the middle of all of the new hip places. It's a refreshing change back to old school.There is no stated food menu but Art will always cook up a delicious pizza that he preps the prior night at a very reasonable price. Sometimes he just doesn't feel like cooking much and will put out a smorgasbord of deep fried goodness for free. You can't knock free onion rings and fries! Every year Art throws his Art Attack party to celebrate his heart attack years ago and serves only deep fried food.Art definitely is a character and can be polarizing if you talk politics - so don't do it! He will throw in a few racy jokes with bad puns into the mix so expect an engaging owner with witty retort. He is knowledgeable and opinionated so just have a cheap cocktail and don't discuss politics.
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Stacy B.
Nov 12, 2021
Art is amazing love this bar always a great time . He so friendly and helpful. Always a good laugh and find times .
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Michelle R.
Sep 13, 2019
A true dive bar!! Not only cheap drinks, but art (the owner) is the funniest guy. Great story teller, with even funnier jokes! Loved ending my night here, and def plan on stopping back and giving art a visit.
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Kelly S.
Jul 23, 2018
Attention people of Milwaukee. NO, attention people of the world!You need to get your booty off of your current bar stool and walk, drive, run your way over to Just Art's. [Not to be confused with Art's Performing Center - yeesh]This place is a slice of history - it's been around for 30+ years and I'm pretty confident in saying that it hasn't changed a lick on the inside since. That means that this place along, with the same owner have ridden out the 80's, 90's and today in the exact location. Art is typically still slinging drinks in the bar - at just over 70 years old, this man is a bank of glorious stories - which he will not hold back filling you in on. I met the man once and felt like I could sit there for hours sipping Miller High Life's while he tells me stories of the past as well as his hopes for the future. HINT - he wants to sell the joint, buy a RV and drive off into the sunset. While at Arts you can expect friendly service, fantastic pricing and free fries on Thursday - yes please. Two of my favorite things - FREE & FRIES. If you love trying new places, well, new old places. I highly suggest stopping in before Art bows out. You will not be disappointed.PS. They sell Just Arts Fanny packs for $7. If you don't own one when you leave, you really aren't living and I don't really feel the need to know you any further.
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Ryan M.
Oct 8, 2023
If there was such a thing as heaven on earth, Art's place would be somewhere between the McDonalds and the local gentleman's club. Do not let the worn facade fool you, the friendly confines of Art's Saloon will welcome you with cold, shaky arms. Some would argue that the inconsistent drink replenishment times, dimly lit lights, and the occasional criticism from staff (Art) would cause one to avoid this establishment. I would respond to those concerns with another question; "What more could you ask for?"Go to "The House That Art Built", enjoy a $2.50 miller light (or 6), and befriend the man that will serve you 10 one-liners before he pours your next beer.
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