Paradise is the best dive bar in Madison. It has the best bartenders - shout out Taylor!…read more The food options are perfect greasy drunk snacks. There can be a long line for the pool table and darts most nights so I would bring a deck of cards while you wait.

My review remains the same: get yourself to the 'Dise and have a [five star] burger & beverage. The…read moreParadise is [dern-near] a Madison institution reminiscent of a grittier Madison of yore before the construction boom and gentrification. Service is awesome. Atmosphere: It was the Best of Dives, it was the Worst of Dives... :)

Stopped in about a month ago for a friend's little get together, and had a great time! Currently…read morepregnant, so can't shed much light on the beverage situation, but the vibe is fun and pretty much quintessential Wisconsin bar. My kids enjoyed the pinball machines and the board games they had available, and it was the perfect day to sit outside on the deck. We were thrilled to find out that it is non-smoking out there, because we were able to hang out with our kids out there and just enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. I definitely plan to return post-partum to enjoy some alcoholic beverages at this fun establishment!

This is become the go to Bluegrass bar in Madison, with live music almost every night. Positive…read moreatmosphere, affordable drinks, really friendly bartenders, and an incredible vibe. It's a default go to before high noon saloon or other places, lucky to have it as a gathering spot in Madison.

I've been to Dive Bars all over the United States including Alaska and Hawaii, Berlin, Munich,…read moreParis, etc. This is the best Dive Bar ever!!!

I have been coming here for at least the past 20 years (it's been open more than 60+) and can't…read morebelieve I haven't reviewed it yet. The past reviews outline it pretty well. A great cocktail lounge that is outfitted in everything Tiger nestled within a strip mall. They still don't take credit cards, cocktails are good as ever and the lights are still as dim as possible. A throwback to all that is good in a Wisconsin cocktail lounge. It's a great place for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap.

My daughter took me here while visiting from DC/Virginia. Server was fantastic. Burgers were…read moreamazing. Great service with Winconsin hospitality. I'll definitely go back next time I visit!!

Big fan of this place for a hang out spot with friends. It's a classic bar with a great grill and…read morelots of food options. The pours at the bar are HUGE and the food is made to order and can take some time. The clear thing to order is the burger. They have plenty of winning burgers that they showcase but they are layered with a lot. I think the best way to try a place is with a classic. So we for a bacon cheeseburger and a walleye fish fry since it was Friday. The bacon cheese burger came with the most bacon I have ever seen on a burger. Dare I say too much bacon. The burger itself was a little dry but all together kind of worked. The fish fry wasn't very meaty but the coleslaw and fries were good. Overall, solid place but it's not going to be the best food ever. It's a good place to start with friends then head downtown as the prices were super reasonable and the service was top notch. I'd round to a 3.5 if I could.

I must admit i have passed Pitcher's a million times and never stopped in-until today. Yes, the…read moreexterior isn't the most welcoming but I was completely shocked on how larger the inside is. Chock full with pool tables, dart boards and foosball tables, it is a gamer's paradise. Plenty of seating and the bar itself is expansive. With a small kitchen and grill and a solid tap lis (including swampwaters on tap, t, it checks off all the criteria for a dive bar (which is a good thing). On a recent afternoon, I stopped in for lunch. There were plenty of regulars dining and drinking when I arrived around 12:30. During the week, they have a $7 burger and fry lunch special. It was very good. While not fancy, the 1/4 lb burger was chargrilled and tasty. My beer battered fries hot and crispy. A tremendous bargain. A great bar tucked away in an inconspicuous setting. By the way, the swampwaters pack a punch so go easy on them! I will be back.

My mom always talked about frequenting Pitcher's Pub in the 70s, and that her go-to drink was Swamp…read moreWater. I finally stopped in a few months ago, and the drink was delicious! It was SO strong, which had me laughing because my mom is not a drinker! I honestly can't believe that she drank these throughout her 20s. Either way, it was really good, and now I know why it's their signature drink. I was really impressed with how expansive it is inside - lots of pool tables, gambling machines, tv's, and a long bar with plenty of seating. When I went, it was mid-afternoon on a weekday, so I would definitely like to return when the place is hopping! It definitely looks like a super fun place to hang out on a Saturday night.

I've heard people rave about The Mason, and it took me far too long to finally come in here, and it…read morewas honestly entirely by accident. I was supposed to be meeting a group elsewhere nearby when our original place closed without warning. So we headed to The Mason and it was a delightful experience. It was very busy with one bartender, so it took awhile to get your drinks, but they were still well made and the bartender was very friendly. It's a small place so it can get loud when busy, but our group had a great time and we enjoyed the place. It is a dark, neighborhood type vibe. And the sealing the deal of the 5th star for this place is that they were dog friendly. My pup had a great time getting pets from customers. Great find!

I can't believe I haven't been to the Mason Lounge yet the vibe was amazing I feel like you could…read morecome in whatever fit and feel chill! The live music area was one of the coolest things I've seen and we got yummy Moscow mules. The bartender (Tracy I think) was so kind and so amazing!

This place is your classic dive bar with its 'regular ol crowd'... small menu with bar food basics…read more(mostly fried) and full bar with a limited tap (8 typical Wisco beers). I didn't try one but they are famous for the Depot Bomb, which is $5 all day every day. Bartender works quickly with both handling the kitchen and serving drinks. I love the nod to Badgers with the red tin ceilings and W's posted throughout.

Nice dive bar! The staff here is very friendly and so are the locals. Great place to meet up with…read morefriends or to watch a game. Great prices on drinks as well as food.

One of the funnest outdoor places in town. The atmosphere is fun and they get some really good…read morebands playing there. Bring your bug spray and a chair for the outdoor music.

This place actually exists, and not just in Peter Griffin's world…read more Tucked away next to a supper club on a little peninsula on a lake in central Wisconsin is indeed, a tiny bar called The Drunken Clam. You won't run into Peter here, but you'll meet other delightful people -- locals and vacationers. Most of the time, it's closed, but on the rare occasion that you find this building open (usually a weekend evening during warmer weather), it's a bit of a delight. Owned and operated by the people who run Twin Shores next door, this little building has a tiny, crowded bar with one table, and several outdoor tables. The drinks here are the same as the drinks at Twin Shores. It's a perfect spot for an after dinner drink when you want to sit outside and breathe in the fresh lake air on a warm summer night.

Dogs welcome on the patio! Great food for a great price in a really comfy atmosphere. Great…read moreneighborhood place - even if it's not your neighborhood! Worth the drive.

Hadn't been here since it was relaunched as Badger Tavern. I heard good things about their food, so…read morechecked them out for lunch. If you're there for food and not the bar, just take the immediate right turn into the separate dining room. Menus are on the table, and a server will quickly appear for your drink choices. I love that they serve fish fry (or grilled) every single day...not just Friday! I tried the grilled Walleye sandwich, which was fantastic!! The fish filet was fresh and tender and nicely seasoned. The hoagie bun was above ordinary as well, soft yet sturdy, and had a homemade element. Sandwiches do not have a side automatically included, so we ordered a half order of onion rings to share. The rings were just average. My husband enjoyed his brat with sauteed onions. He said it was very good. We will return!

Great service. Arrived late with our dog and they happily seated us outside. Food and drinks were…read morereally good. Overall just a pleasant evening - so glad we stopped in.

This weekend I was in the area and checked out Off Broadway Drafthouse. Surprisingly, it wasn't…read morepacked despite the packer game on a Sunday afternoon. I was greeted by a friendly host, sat at the bar and promptly greeted by the bartender. Lots of fun options for draft cocktails with creative names and many use local spirits. I opted for the Birria sandwich, a newer menu item. It has a spicy sauce and generous portions. It was calm and cozy at the bar which I appreciated after a busy weekend.