Top 12 bars in Milwaukee in 2023
Milwaukee is a brew city known for its beer, lively bars, dance clubs, etc. midnight hikes and overall a great nightlife. There are so many good bars here that you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Most bars in Milwaukee let you order a carefully crafted drink and have a laid-back conversation with the locals.
Some bars though, offer a much unique experience which will intimidate you to choose them over the others. From painting a masterpiece to whispering a password to get in, you can expect all kinds of fun at Milwaukee’s bars.
Here are the top 12 bars in Milwaukee in 2019:
1. Mo’s Irish Pub
A lively Irish pub right out of Ireland where everyone can find something to eat and drink. Mo’s Irish Pub opened in 2003 and offers genuine Irish hospitality. It’s a great place to meet new people or spend some quality time with friends. They have great draft beer and various cocktails on the menu. For sports lovers, large TV screens are installed all around the pub; furthermore, they run a free shuttle to the Brewers games. Local bands play live here on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
2. Milwaukee Ale House
A micropub in downtown Milwaukee that offers food and beer seven days a week. Milwaukee Ale House is a microbrewery and restaurant with two-story stamped concrete patio seating on the Milwaukee River. Beers from Milwaukee Brewing Co. are brewed on-site here. It’s a great place to enjoy a freshly brewed beer while watching yachts and kayakers cruising along the river. Lunch and dinner are served every day at this pub with late-night food only being served on the weekends.
3. Nomad World Pub
A tin-ceilinged tavern on Brady street. Nomad World Pub is a well-known place to watch soccer. It has limited seating, but there is a lot of place to stand inside. Nomad World Pub has two locations; Madison and Brady street with Brady street being the original one. You can enjoy live music here on Wednesdays and karaoke on Tuesdays. With its extensive beer list and the best happy hour, it’s the go-to place for soccer hooligans in Milwaukee. It’s also where you can meet many international travelers and people from neighboring states.
4. The Outsider
A swanky rooftop bar at the new Kimpton Journeyman Hotel. The Outsider opened in 2016 and is set nine stories above Historic Third Ward. Through its unique indoor and outdoor spaces, it offers double the fun and an elevated social experience. From backyard barbeques to shuffleboard tournaments, there is always something going on at The Outsider. It’s a place where you’ll never leave without a sip and would want to become an insider really quick.
5. Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge
A stylish lounge with a hipster vibe. Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge opened in 1938 and is the oldest cocktail lounge in Milwaukee. They serve depression-era vintage and creative cocktails to make you feel the history. It’s a dimly lit lounge that makes you feel cozy. Their bartenders are friendly and unpretentious, so tell them what you normally like and they’ll help you in making a selection. Their exotic lighting, plush velvet walls, and gold-plated cash registers make Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge one of the finest lounges in the Midwest.
6. Swingin’ Door Exchange
A historic pub located in one of Milwaukee’s most majestic venues, the Grain Exchange Room. With its old-school saloon-like western décor, it’s a place that lets you step back in time. Swingin’ Door Exchange has the same old-world charm like the old Milwaukee photos. They feature a full menu of classic American pub grub alongside a great selection of wine and spirits.
7. SafeHouse
A spy-themed hideaway for on-the-run agents and spying enthusiasts. SafeHouse features creative cocktails and casual fare for all hungry spies ready for a mission. Its walls are filled with spy memorabilia to attract the espionage enthusiasts. SafeHouse is family-friendly before 8 PM and has a special menu for the junior spies. It’s a place where you even have to whisper a password to get in.
8. Who’s on Third
A sports bar to watch your favorite events. Who’s on Third features a 120” projection screen for a great view of the game. It’s an official Milwaukee Bucks Bar that was featured as one of the best sports bars in America by the Business Insider. Who’s on Third serves the best wings and cheese curds in addition to great craft beers and weekend brunch. You can also ride their free shuttle bus to Summerfest or the Brewers Game.
9. Foundation
A true tiki bar in Milwaukee with a playful vibe. Foundation features a great menu of traditional and modern tropical drinks. It’s an authentic tiki bar which started off as a punk bar in 2004. Leaving the punk roots behind, now it’s a punk-free tiki bar. It’s definitely a great place to be in Milwaukee where winters last five grueling months.
10. Old German Beer Hall
A long and narrow local hall modeled on Munich’s Hofbrauhaus. Old German Beer Hall serves beer imported from the Munich Hofbrauhaus. This German-themed place lets your experience the Bavarian life right in Milwaukee. They have great beer and reasonable prices; furthermore, it’s located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.
11. Camp Bar Third Ward
A bar that brought the charm of Northwood to Milwaukee. The look of the Camp bar is inspired by the owners Paul and Natalia Hackbarth. Camp Bar opened in 2016 and has been voted as one of the top 5 new bars in America by the Details Magazine. The Milwaukee Magazine also called them the best new bar in Milwaukee. Camp Bar is a dog-friendly place, so be sure to bring your dog if you have one. Overall, it’s a good place to grab a drink while listening to country music.
12. Burnhearts
A neighborhood bar for beer nerds that never disappoints. Burnhearts is a hipster, dark and deeply secluded bay view bar that welcomes everyone with open arms. It serves clever cocktails and craft beer on tap all of which is very affordable. You can also enjoy this eclectic, cozy and fun place with a game of pool or shuffleboard.