We held our 30th high school reunion at this gem of an establishment, and everything was dreamy!! The owner is exceptionally kind, communicative, and attentive to a group's wants & needs. The food and drinks were perfect, and the staff helped us with every single detail! The setting is unbeatable, and the patio was perfect!!! Thank you for everything, Alpine Inn!!! read more

Great dive bar. Beer only $3!! Visit this place before (or after) the Grandad overlook. La Crosse staple. My friend's Bloody Mary was TASTY. read more

2nd time in a row no fixings for bloody marys. If I was a bar owner I would run to the store to replenish. I guess it's not my bar. Food was ok but yet again disappointed about the bloody...only go there for the bloody and the view. Bathrooms were disgusting. Get it together....geez. read more

Service was fast, wings were piping hot, beer was ice cold. Ten out of ten would agree!

Love the location, food, fries looked unappealing, however tasted great, poor service, took 45 minutes to get our food. The bathrooms are bad and outdated, the toilet door had some satanic upside down star of telepathy's which was slightly unsettling, all around the restaurant and my experience was very good, the only reason it gets this rating is because of the food wait and the outdated bathrooms. read more

My first job out of college was in La Crosse, a few decades ago, and our after work spot was way up on top of the bluffs that ring La Crosse, and I guess it's always been called the Alpine Inn, since it opened in the 20s, but we called it "Uncle Miltie's" after the affable proprietor. Milt had a way of getting you completely loaded when you weren't looking. In winter, the poison was a "Snowshoe Grog," equal parts of Peppermint Schnapps and Brandy. Yeah, I know. Made all the more perilous while trying to navigate your way back down the winding road to town. So that was about forty years ago. . I was rolling through La Crosse last week and decided to stop at Milt's. Milt's long gone, but the Alpine Inn rocks on, and has a full food menu, as opposed to back in my day when eats consisted of pickled eggs and cheese popcorn. I went with a 1/3 pound beef burger, topped with slivered ham and swiss, and accompanied by beer battered rings. It was a good burger. The rings were OK, not spectacular. $9.25. There is some video poker and pull tabs these days. The Alpine Inn operates on a cash only basis. There's a massive outdoor deck for pleasant weather embibers. and a field for volleyball or whatever. A lot of people apparently bike up the bluff, or come up by some means of transport and hike down. Bully for them. Alpine Inn's menu includes appetizers, soups, salad, burgers, sandwiches and pizza. I hear the grilled cheese is a winner. Must be cheese from those happy cows in Wisconsin. I guess most people would call the Alpine a "dive." I call it "homey." read more

Alpine Inn - Burger with shave ham, swiss, and o-rings. - Bars Near Me - La Crosse, Wisconsin

They have changed a lot in this past 5 years, French fries where charcoal, I didn't even had a second bite of my burger. We were out fo there in 10 min read more

Cute place with nice scenery. Our food took forever. But everything was hot and it was ok. Next time I would just go in for a drink only.

We had a good time stopping in here on our way up around the bluff. Great beer, and amazing kielbasa. They also have great homemade sauce. Won $30 on their little casino games. It's not a 5 star place, but it's exactly what you need when you're out in the bluffs. Also very friendly staff!! read more

Distance to Bar - A long drive up a winding road up a bluff After living in "The Twilight Zone" of friendliness and Midwestern hospitality, the Alpine Inn was a big rock in the shoe. I really have no idea why this place always has a packed parking lot. Drinks are not the cheapest. It's not a convenient location. The decor is, well, non existent, the food was fried and just like any other bar I have been to in the area. The bloody mary's came with beef jerky, cheese, a green olive and a pickle. Yes, you read right, beef jerky and cheese. The wait staff was rude and unlikable. There are a couple of sand volleyball courts with a bar in between. I'm not sure when they use it. They get one star for serving booze. There is a beautiful view, but they do not deserve a star for that, Mother Nature does. I won't be back. read more

See all

Great place! Relaxing, friendly bar atmosphere. Great burgers, and cheese curds, but pretty much everything is good! They put their unique signature on their Bloody Mary's, which I order every time. I bring friends, and family up the bluff to enjoy! The owner, while busy will always take time to see how you're doing. I'll say this, if you're looking for predictable food, and drive-thru service, do everyone a favor and just go to Culver's. If you're looking for white table cloth, filet mignon food, go to the Freighthouse in LaCrosse, but if you're looking for great bar food, cold drinks, and a hard working owner, then the Alpine Inn is for you!! read more

A solid two and a half stars. Another classic example of a restaurant that has location and doesn't think they need to do anything else. Every square inch of this restaurant is filth... I can't believe they passed a health department inspection. However, the food was alright as long as you didn't think about where it was being made. read more

What an awesome little hidden bar on the way up to Grandad Bluff. They have nightly specials and a decent tap selection. What you will really like is the hidden volleyball court tucked in the back, butting up against a steep bluff. You wouldn't expect this at all, and there's even a second bar out back. read more

Alpine Inn - Secret volleyball court - Bars Near Me - La Crosse, Wisconsin

Make no mistake, this is what many would consider a dive bar. And you would be right in many ways. It's not fancy. It's not trendy. But what it is is a welcoming fun bar for the local and the traveler alike. It's a limited menu but hot fresh food. Arguably, one of the best Bloody Mary's I have had in my extensive Bloody Mary past , made from scratch with pepper infused vodka. A small but good assortment of beers on tap and interesting assortment of flavored vodkas. Try the honey garlic wings and fried pickles. read more

Still a great place to visit for a few beers after heading to Granddad's. Reasonable prices, good service. Great curds, onion rings and general bar food. read more

Perfect place to relax on a sunny day - cheap drinks and a patio in the sun overlooking volleyball court. No frills type of place but no complaints. This bar is true Wisconsin! Highly recommend the dill pickle chips. read more

Alpine Inn - a table with a beverage and an umbrella - Bars Near Me - La Crosse, Wisconsin

The Alpine Inn is a totally run down bar just shy of Grandad's Bluff. Nothing fancy here, but if the weather is nice, there's something just right about sipping a Spotted Cow while sitting out on the decaying deck, listening to silly jukebox music and enjoying the views of the decrepit volleyball courts below. On the menu: Mark 1, Mod 0 bar food (burgers, cheese curds, onion rings, etc. and all decent). There's no wait staff, so put your order in at the bar. The kitchen is a wee flat top and 2 tiny fryolator baskets, so it will be a while--maybe a long while--before your order is ready. No worries: grab a bag of peanuts and enjoy your beer, they'll call your name when your order is ready. I can't explain it, but The Alpine Inn is more than the sum of its parts. Worth a visit, I say. read more

It could be such a cool place. The location is beautiful as is it front of the building. Once inside it all changes. I had the feeling that I was in the mess hall of some crappy summer camp. The view out of the back windows is overshadowed by the 2 sand volleyball courts below and also by visible the storage area that is a complete mess. I did not see anything on the menu that I could, or would dare to eat, so I had to go hungry for a bit longer. The Bloody Mary's were quite good, so they get points for that. Because this place is a bit of a drive for almost everyone, it seems that they should shine it up so that people would want to throw down their cash- but instead they let it sit there like a stagnant pond. Maybe nobody has told them that they can strive above mediocrity. read more

They wouldn't let me farm. I usually farm. Life is easier, simpler. There's more money in farming, alas, no farming.

Yes the Alpine Inn is a dump and my wife and I love it. It's a typical small town Wisconsin bar. You place your order at the bar and they bring it to you table. Good burgers, cold beer with a good view! The staff was friendly and helpful making hit a great place to stop for a quick burger and beer. Just remember it is a cash bar so leave your debit card at home! read more

Great little bar tucked into a corner on the road to the bluff. Could be called a dive bar- friendly and welcoming.

Went in a few times with my boyfriend who was determined that he wanted the Alpine Inn to be his go to local bar. He's not a local, but he has a little place that he goes to regularly in his town and was looking to find one here. So we ended up going to the Alpine a couple of times over the course of a few months. We ordered Burgers a time or two, it's greasy bar food and there isn't really any way around it. Mixed reviews on staff. I've gone in and had people behind the counter who didn't seem to care about taking our order. I've also gone in and had awesome bartenders who were happy to come down and chat with us and be social. Nice little place. It's not somewhere I go out of my way to go to, but it's a cool little joint if you want to stop out somewhere for a greasy burger and a drink read more

so to quote my brother, who also loves the alpine inn: "What are people expecting a surf and turf with white table cloths? A bunch of uppity fools. It is La Crosse for crying out loud." read more

Awful, I will never eat here again! The bar staff were incredibly rude and I had to wait for over an hour for them to cook a burger. It was a very greasy over-salted patty at that! Save yourself the heart burn and skip it. read more

Great burgers. Cold ass drinks and a view to boot. Stop here for volleyball sun thru thurs. Jim is a great guy to know and appreciates his customers. read more

fried food: 10/10 beer: 9/10 mixed drinks: 9/10 pull tabs: 5/10 (I lost) bloodies: 10/10 read more

Beautiful setting, kind of a dump. If this place had a little bit of work put into it, it would be beautiful. The staff was very nice and attentive. The burger was good and not too expensive. I didn't get to sit on the patio because it was a little too cold, but I am sure it would be amazing. I will definitely be back, but I won't drink too much because the drive would be super dangerous :) read more

Back to the Alpine Inn for my annual visit. I was in there four times and enjoyed a Bluff Burger, a double Bluff Burger, the Cajun Burger and the Cajun Chicken. Every day I had a spicy Bloody Mary with a Summit Oktobrfest chaser with lunch. (They pour their Bloody Marys stiff so good discretion is advised) I have finally decided that the beer batter fries are my favorite. I also tried the "Blue Balls" appetizer, which is a deep fried cordon bleu combination. Those were okay, but kind of spendy. The sandwiches were all solidly good.The double Bluff Burger did not maintain structural integrity and almost totally came apart while I was eating it, but I narrowly avoided disaster. I meant to order a Cordon Bleu burger sometime this trip as well but I forgot. I prefer Kayser rolls to regular hamburger buns. I know that Kayser Rolls are slightly more expensive, but bread is the foundation of any good sandwich. The Alpine uses regular hamburger buns so there is room for improvement there I think. The sassy bartender girl on Saturday was very severe and wouldn't give me any extra cubes of pepper jack cheese for my Blood Mary(s) but she did divulge that the secret to the Bloody Marys at the Alpine Inn is (1.) Organic vodka from the jug with the peppers floating in it; (2.) Pickle juice; (3.) Liberal dashes of "Pleasoning" seasoning, which is made in La Crosse. (4.). Moderate applications of tabasco sauce and worcestershire sauce. When I come up to the Oktoberfest Races I stay in Sparta. My favorite route to Granddad Bluff is to take Hwy 162 south from Bangor, and then either stay on 162 or take County Hwy JB south to Hwy 33 and then head west on Hwy 33 through St. Joseph to County Hwy F and then north to the Alpine. Very pleasant to drive around the back roads in that area on a sunny October day when the trees are beginning to turn color. The City of La Crosse has a nice network of hiking and cross country ski trails south of the city. There is a trail head for the southern end of these trails right across from the Alpine Inn. That might've always been there, but now there is a sign and a big map posted that wasn't there before. Beware -- the trail at this point goes straight down the bluff and it's rough going in spots so be aware. read more

Awesome food, bloody Mary's and service!! Volleyball pits for the kids to play in. Beautiful view too!

Perfect place to stop by after the Grandad Bluff. Terrific pizza and great beer. The service is great and friendly. Would definitely recommend. read more

I haven't ever had any of the food here so I can't speak to that but as a bar it is really a neat place. The drive to it is very scenic and the concerts here rock. The main detractor is parking. There is very little so during events people end up parking all over the place and the cops end up showing up and issuing tickets. The Alpine started a bus shuttle a while ago so if you are going up for a concert try and find out where they are picking up at. read more

Best company ever found in La Crosse! Great food, great prices for drinks and of course service is 10/10! I know it's a short review, but trust my word, you'll have a good time at this tavern! read more

The beauty of the Alpine Inn is that it is NOT all shined up. . .it is down home people and fun. . .it's Wisconsin people. . .cheese comes with everything. . .including the occasional bloody mary. . .the sand volleyball pits are an amazing addition. . .I have not been there in a very long time but I thoroughly MISS the Alpine -- LaCrosse living at some of its best! read more

This is a great tavern. It has you normal bar food (the deep fried macaroni and cheese bites are awesome). It is your no frills type of Midwestern place that has great music at times, great drinks, and accepts all people. It is a little off the beaten path, but who wouldn't go the extra distance to a place they enjoy. It is to bad that fancy California people cannot appreciate it, hell I am going there this week! :D read more

Maybe these others had a bad day! We find the food is great, not too salty, not too greasy & the service is great. We walk in, sit down & within 10 minutes the staff is right there, depending on how busy they are. The drive up is one of the most beautiful drives in the area. The view of both of the valleys is remarkable. The volley ball courts are used all spring, summer, & fall for tournaments by students & other teams!! The bar staff is very friendly all the times we've been there. read more

I would rate this place as less than one star if that were an option. I went there with a friend on a beautiful day. There were just 4 people in the bar and we got terrible service. We were not even greeted. We walked up to the bar and they asked " U Gonna Order Food?!" We told them yes and we would like to sit on the deck. We were told we could but we would need to order at the bar. When trying to place two simple orders the server was getting confused and asked us to repeat everything three times. Not even kidding. Then after ordering our food was eventually served to us at the deck. The server just plopped the food down saying nothing and walked away. I ordered a fish sandwich and it looked disgusting. The bun was frozen. I took it inside and they told me that the bun was fresh and not frozen. Even though three people felt it and agreed, it was cold! I asked if it looked edible? And the waitress just shrugged. They told me they could warm it up, but i didn't really want to eat it after strangers have been touching the food. They did take it off the bill but it was very awkward to still be charged 20 dollars for food for one. Who wants to eat alone? Still had to pay for the bill using the ATM machine b/c they don't even accept debit cards in the year 2010. And I got charged 2 dollars to even use their ATM. I spoke with a drunk guy claiming to be the manager and he didn't even seem to care that the customers were not happy. They gave my nasty fish sandwich to a drunk customer at the bar. Not to mention the deck looks like sh**! Chairs on top of the tables, tables not cleaned, ripped chairs, nasty picnic tables. Don't plan on going there with nice clothes on b/c they will get all stained from after sitting on there patio chairs. Their table toppers of upcoming events were not even up to date, they were from October of 2009. We left and they didn't even say thanks for stopping or bye!! read more