We have a great time every time we visit high noon saloon. We usually sit in the very small seating…read moresection upstairs but occasionally get down right to the band on the floor. This time we opted for upstairs seating and went downstairs to grab a couple of drinks just prior to the show starting. The beverage service is generally prompt even though at times there can be a long lines. The biggest joy is hearing these small bands perform and hoping for them that they make it to the big time!

A lovely 400 seat capacity venue complete with a loft that features tables and chairs. From the…read morestreet, the space is available for lease, but on the backside it's all business. The wife and I were in town and had come to see Not Quite Brothers (Iowa) which have a phenomenal mixed set list that covers more decades than their age would suggest. In fact, I'm pretty sure the majority of the crowd were older than the band. Regardless, a good time was had by all. I'm pretty sure this Saturday night show was wrapped up and had a bow put on it by 10 or 10:30pm. I would totally come see a show here again and would totally see NQB again. One interesting thing to note about NQB, is that once they hit the stage, they played non-stop until they were done, no breaks, came back for an encore set and done \m/

I REALLY wanted to love Crystal Corner, but sadly after our recent visit, popping back by on my…read morenext trip to Madison is not looking very likely. Crystal Corner is located in the famed Willy Street area of Madison, sitting on the corner of Willy Street and Baldwin Street. Crystal Corner has the vibe of the neighborhood, as is it divey, funky, nostalgic and truly local. However, even with all those things, this spot missed the mark for me and my buddy. We swung by on Sunday afternoon for a few drinks while wandering around Willy Street. We bellied up to the bar and ordered a couple of Bloody Mary's, to which the bartender said "Oh, I need to make up some mix. I can't believe people still drink those things around here.". Which was odd, as that was about to be our third bloody of the day, with neighboring restaurants going as far as having special bloody menus. The bartender pulled a can of tomato juice out, dumped it in a pitcher, added a few dashes of hot sauce, Worcestershire and some seasonings. And that was it. She then took some rail vodka, mixed it all up, and topped with an olive and pickle. While I know this sounds phenomenal, it was in fact one of the worst bloody's I have had. Additionally, the olive and pickle were a weird, almost rubbery texture. The combination of everything was off putting...and that was just the start. Next up is the space itself. While I appreciate a good dive bar that is full of nostalgic artwork, furnishings, lighting, etc...but it shouldn't be visible that the place hasn't been cleaned since these things were added. The ceilings and floors were the worst part, with the ceiling tiles being caked with black dust and dirt. Again, being worn is part of being divey, but being dirty doesn't have to be. In addition to the the main room ceilings, the bathroom ceilings were awful, missing tiles, moldy pipes exposed and just an overall feeling of ick that is beyond a normal bar bathroom. Last, but certainly not least, was the service and vibes. They were off, and kind of weird. When we arrived, there were a few locals and regulars, and then a few folks, including us. While the bartender was friendly with us, she was very rude, uncomfortably so, to another patron when he pulled out a credit card instead of cash (cash only spot). There was a little back and forth, then he left. Even after he left, she was calling him names and such to the other patrons. Again, uncomfortable, especially as a new patron to the bar. Overall, the bloody wasn't the only thing that left a bad taste here. From the bloody to the service to the dirtiness, this place needs some love and was just not it for us.

It looks like an average corner dive bar from the outside but wow, was this a fantastic place a see…read morelive music in Madison! Heads up: cash only at the bar. Come prepared. Bartenders were very nice. Tip them. There is an ATM near the restrooms if you run out of cash. The acoustics are fantastic and I loved the St. Patrick's Day weekend concert! It was packed, but we still found space to dance. Plenty of free street parking. I'm not used to that as a Chicagoan. That was a nice surprise.

Dane County's only black owned bar, nightclub, or music venue. One of maybe two jazz clubs in…read moreMadison. Pretty horrible that both of those things are true in 2019. Madison makes it very very hard for both music venues and black owned businesses. We're lucky to have Cafe CODA. Hanah John Taylor, an internationally respected jazz musician and Madison icon, opened this venue to fill the void. It's gorgeous, both spacious and intimate, with a decent stage and sound system and a full bar. He draws a who's who of local musicians, some up and coming, and some out of town acts. Covers are reasonable. To my knowledge no food is served but there's usually a popcorn machine available for free, and many restaurants within walking distance. Some nights offer jazz or funk jams giving musicians an opportunity to sit in. Biggest downside is that there is no offstreet parking, a common problem for Willy St businesses. I wish I had more free time to support Cafe CODA more. If you do, or are looking for a comfortable place to see live music, or even just an east side watering hole, stop by and support Hanah, minority owned business, and local music. Madison needs more places like this.

Fantastic and friendly spot to catch a wide variety of jazz. We are lucky to have this gem. On…read moreweekends they host "Cool School" for musicians ages 7-19. A city treasure.

Lady of Peace at the Sylvee. Fun show and great atmosphere…read more The dunk prices are a bit steep but it's a music venue so it comes with the territory. Friendly staff

We mainly come here for the concerts, so I'll definitely be back whenever there's a show I want to…read moresee. The atmosphere and live music are usually a highlight, although the drink prices are pretty steep. Tonight's service was not quite as good as what I've experienced here before, and the performance itself was decent but didn't really stand out. Still, it's a convenient place to catch a concert, so I'll be returning for another show.

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.

The Majestic Theatre is a quaint concert venue that reminds me of 80's Hollywood clubs. I enjoyed…read morean intimate Buckethead performance with 300 other fans. The theatre is clean, the staff are friendly, attentive and organized. The MGE charge rail (sponsored by MGE) is broken which was disappointing. It would have been awesome if it actually worked. I guess it's been broken for a while. I would suggest taking down the promotional signage or have it fixed.

Amazing music venue in the heart of Madison Wisconsin. We have had the opportunity to see many…read moreshows at this venue. We opted for some cozy second row balcony seating. What a joy to be able to sit back and relax take in some music, have a drink and enjoy the evening.

Lacy is amazing and kind and makes the best food. Thanks Lacy!!…read more We've been many times and it is consistently good!!

The Bur Oak is a fun spot to catch music - great lineup of bands, perfect acoustics, nice seating,…read morefull bar, etc. Check it out!

Great club decor and atmosphere. Best "Old Fashions" in the city (the ones at the bar "The Old…read moreFashioned" admittedly are pretty good). Enjoyed the Thursday night 5:30 Latin Jazz -- no cover!--and a great vibe to dance to later at night.

The Cardinal Bar is both retro and classy. Stopped in for some pre-dinner beverages and listened to…read morethe live conga band get set-up and play their first few songs. The service was really good with cool bartenders and a mellow vibe. Didn't try the food although it is on the menu. A bit further from campus, the CB seems to be a place catering to a more mature crowd rather than a UW student bar.

Constant classic! I love living around the corner from mickeys because it's the easiest good meal…read morearound. Vibes inside are gorgeous and good for a sexy pic & the staff is always so chill. You gotta get sexy fries and then hang with friends outside it's unbeatable!!

Mickey's is a proper local pub, right on Willy Street,…read moreRegardless of your sex/age/race, it's a great place to meet, We were told "you must try the food & sexy fries", We weren't disappointed, they weren't telling lies, So next time you're in the area, relax and follow your feet!

Great drinks nice place to come and chill out. Wish there was more cigar choices found something to…read moreenjoy. Was asked the right questions for my Old Fashion.

Great place for reasonable priced cocktails and craft beer. And of course a great cigar. I brought…read morein my pipe and tobacco and it was greatly encouraged. No cigarettes though as I was fine with that. Great service and drinks and a great place to chill.