Monona Bait & Ice Cream

This place is beautiful. It is right in front of lake. I thought there would be a trail too, but no. I went for a 3 scoop ice cream. cappuccino crunch, butter pecan and orange custard chocolate chips were my flavors and all were excellent flavors. Ice cream came in good quantity. Most people were going for a cone.This place is cash only. They have an atm inside.

Monona Bait & Ice Cream is a classic stop right off Lake Monona, perfect for anyone biking the Lake Loop trail! They serve UW Badger Ice Cream, which brings a nice touch of nostalgia. Yes, prices are a bit on the high side, but the charm and location make it worth it. It's one of those places that feels like a little tradition whenever you're out on the trail. Definitely a must-visit if you're doing the loop and want a sweet treat by the lake!

Ambiance + Location 5/5Treats 3/5Nostalgia 5/5 Great place to hang and vibe on a beautiful day in Madison. Across the street from a park and lake

What's not to love? This is just a good ole, unassuming neighborhood joint that serves great ice cream (Babcock and Sassy Cow) and even has a few food items. Burgers, hot dogs, cheese curds, all the good Wisconsin stuff. I even saw on the menu that they had a veggie burger... always wanted to try it but never quite made it around for a meal there. I usually just go for the ice cream.There is a ton of outdoor seating and it is right across from a park on the lake. You can order from the window outside without ever going in. I often come here on a walk with my dogs and they love getting the pets and love from everyone around them. Love that you can order a "junior" scoop, and they even divide it into two cups so the puppers can each enjoy their share. Definitely a must-visit place in Monona!!! Just remember your cash 'cause it's cash only!

Not dog friendly/rude management - lost my business.Within 10 seconds of throwing a dog bag in the trash outside Monona Bait and Tackle before ordering icecream, an employee flew out of the building to scold me and demand I dig in the trash to remove the waste at the bottom of the bin. I had not seen the sign on the trash requesting no dog waste in their trash can. It was an honest mistake, but the way this employee addressed me was rude, condescending, and honestly quite shocking. There is absolutely no need for a man to be shouting at a 39-week pregnant woman with a dog, kids, and other families around, especially for such a small and unintentional mistake. If that's how Monona Bait and Tackle treats their customers, I will stick with the Chocolate Shoppe or Michael's, even though they are a bit further out of our way.

Stopped by after a long walk along the nearby lakeshore streets. Yes it was a Saturday afternoon with lots of people out and about and they were likely not fully staffed (with high schoolers) given the recent opening after the Covid shutdown but 15 minutes to make a malt with only one customer in front of me??? My sister waited almost 25 minutes for her cheeseburger. Both were actually pretty good but a bit pricey. They need to work out the kinks... I wonder how long it takes to make bait?

We went here a couple weeks ago for ice cream and saw they also had food. Returned tonight four dinner and ice cream with the kiddo. Dinner for the three of us was only $21, and this spot is scenic with a view of the park across the street which looks out over the lake. Made it really easy to take the kiddo over for some play time after we finished eating and enjoying a treat! The staff and owner were really friendly as well! Definitely recommend this spot! It has that old times feel and even some penny candy!

Such a cute place. They serve great ice cream. There's a cute park across the street on lake Monona. There are boat docks and a kayak/canoe launching place. There's also a little beach.

A Monona Institution! One of my favorite summer activities in the evenings is riding my bike over to the ice cream shop and getting a dish of ice cream. They have a variety of great flavors and I can always find what I'm looking for. Once you get your ice cream, you can sit outside on their picnic tables, or walk down by the beach and sit near the water. Come check it out this summer!

This is one of the best-kept secrets around. An old mom and pop soda jerk counter, ice cream, and true to Wisconsin, bait shop all rolled into one. Quaint, comfortable, and with a decent selection of lunch items including a daily soup. Nothing fancy, just lunch counter fare. And what's wrong with that?The hours are seasonal, from mid-April until about the first weekend of October. So if you want get in before the season ends, make tracks!