I don't think I could love this place any more if I tried! We were staying in Appleton for a game up at Lambeau, and we found Cleo's just wandering the streets looking around. The painted window saying "Home of the Dirty Snowball" absolutely piqued my interest! LOL! Actually, it was that, plus the two giant nutcracker decorations out front that caught my eye. I'm a fan of (Christmas) holiday decorations, so I wanted to see what else they had, after spying some string lights through the window. Inside, it's like a wonderland of holiday cheer! Lights and ornaments and decorations everywhere! Sitting at the bar under the lights, I really felt like I'd discovered some secret bar under the Christmas tree! The staff were friendly, helpful, and quick with the libations! Kind of that "keep it real" attitude, but not in the rude way... in the honest and up front way! There is no food to speak of, save for a Chex-pub mix blend, but the drinks are why you want to visit! The famous Dirty Snowball is like a shake, but without ice cream, made with cocoa and related liqueur flavors (I can't remember what-all is in it, but it's GOOOOOOOD!). I highly recommend it! I also tried the Cleo's Trio, which is one part Dirty Snowball, one part Brandy Old Fashioned, and one part Suffering Bastard, I think? Not in the same glass! But, more like a flight. You get a little taste of Wisconsin or at least Appleton. Each drink is basically a full version, though, so you might need only one! I don't know what your favorite bar looks like, but if I lived in Appleton, this one would be mine. I would be in there at least once a week, if for no other reason the ambiance and the company. Great people, great drinks, and a legacy for holiday décor that I hope lives on forever! read more

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Cleo's is a must go to stop at least once in your life - the G.O.A.T. Of Christmas bars, decorated year round. The decor inside is great, eclectic antiques all around. We luckily stayed in an air bnb upstairs so it was easy to come and go and try to avoid the rush, it's often busy - a very popular place. Delicious ice cream drinks, you have to get the dirty snowball! read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Dirty snowball - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

I had heard about this place from my wife for decades but never had any reason to go to Appleton until we ventured here for the Mile of Music event. While walking the main drag we made a detour into Cleo's. Wow what an eyeful! Great fun! We really loved the vibe. The bartenders were very friendly and quick. One of our group tried their famous Dirty Snowball which they liked alot. I tried the Jingle Juice and it was very tasty. The prices were not too bad considering what most bars are charging these days for something other than rail drinks. A must stop in Appleton! read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Christmas all year long - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Girls getaway weekend for Appleton's Octoberfest! We stopped by here Saturday night and what an absolutely fun night! Who couldn't have fun when there are Christmas lights and decorations everywhere along with patrons signing together songs playing in the bar The staff was so friendly and the service was amazingly fast considering how many people were there. Most of us had the dirty snowball and it was delicious What a wonderful place, Cleo's was the cherry on top of a fantastically fun weekend! Check it out!! read more

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Such a fun place. Staff is super friendly and quick. Patrons are super social too. Drinks were delicious and the atmosphere is the best!! Especially if you love Christmas read more

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My favorite bar in the world. We come here whenever we're in Appleton and sit at the bar. The drinks are good , and they have a good selection of bourbon/rye to make REAL old fashioneds. (wink wink :) It's fun to sit around and join in the banter. read more

Love Cleo's! Great Old Fashions! Was one of my favorite "happy hours" when I was in college. Now, I go for the great drinks and the nostalgia of the "good old days". Not much has changed except there are a lot less decorations on the wall. (It has gone from extreme to maybe a little less extreme.... But still very interesting)! You got to check this place out! The best place to get a cocktail on College Avenue and the decorations are pretty funny. read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Christmas all year long! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

It feels like its Xmas time and how can one not be happy about that! How about large reasonable drinks. Oh, and what about happy and talkative patrons. Yes, and attentive bartenders that don't keep you waiting. Clean and updated retrostyle bar. Dirty snowballs are popular here. Lots of beer on tap. Full bar. Did I mention the large servings. Cash discount or pay 4% more to cover credit card fee. You are welcome. read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Festive bar! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Went on a whim due to being in area while traveling...it did not disappoint...loved the lights and vibe...and the bartender was super friendly and fun...would return if ever back in area read more

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I absolutely loved Cleo's. I loved all the Christmas decorations and lighting. I loved the patrons who were so happy and friendly as I was from out of state and it was my first visit. The bartenders were fantastic and I met some of the Texans supportive team while I was there. Very friendly, great drinks, and I love the doorman. read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Penguins over the bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

If you love Christmas, this is your place. There's no shortage of twinkling lights and nutcrackers here. Stop in for their signature snowball cocktail. It wasn't the greatest drink I've ever had but worth a try. I think it's actually a frozen White Russian. The service was nothing great and I think they're all about their regular customers but no one was rude, just inattentive to strangers. Not cozy enough for me to want to stay longer but definitely worth a look see inside. read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Cleo's is a cool pub in Appletown downtown, where the inside is always Christmas themed all year. They have Christmas lights everywhere, so the ambiance is dark with Christmas lights. Cleo's has a nice selection of beers and liquor drinks. Cleo's is definitely a cool pub to enjoy a drink or two with some friends or your significant other! read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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Def a locals spot. Bartender refused to take my drink and after 4 people (locals) I interjected and said could I please order a drink? And then she made it for me and it wasn't even good. Even the locals looked at me like I wasn't welcomed. I bartend and know you can see who is sitting at your bar but you chose to ignore me. For what? read more

Last night I thought I hallucinated, because it looked like I had died under a Christmas Tree. But then I realized I was just in Cleo's Tavern! If Santa threw up in a bar, this is what it would look like. Does a Christmas Bar make any sense? NO! But that is all the more reason to check it out! Good bartender;!excellent variety of Old Fashions! I loved the Brandy O.F. made sweet, but the regular Whiskey Sour was also good! Park Rudoloh right out front, and get in here for some loud fun!! read more

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It's a vibe! We were here for a show at the pac and I was the only one in our group who was ever here, so I had to take everyone else. There's always something fun to look at. Friendly staff too! read more

Stopped in for drinks prior to a reservation and really enjoyed ourselves. Great tasting old fashioned and friendly/knowledgeable waitstaff! Loved the cozy feel the Christmas theme gave it. read more

I went there to go see my siblings. (8 of us decided Cleo's was the place to go) a couple of nights ago. I tried to order a drink while waiting for everyone to arrive Place is cute with year round Christmas decorations.. What made me feel off was the bar back. I mistook him for a bartender. He was snippy from the start. I asked him: "How's it going?" "It's going". Just glaring at me. Arms crossed, acting dismissive. Tossing towels. He told me to" gtf out of my way. Order from the bartender!" Would it have killed the guy to be friendly? Some buff dude in a pink T-shirt. I had just come into town. To bury my Dad. Did not need some guy in a bad mood to treat me like crap. Well, I made a few calls. We as a group went to a different spot. I'd get a better barback who is cheerful. This guy was so rude. I might go back. All my friends love the place. Front of the house people need to adult when working with the public. We as a group had such a nice time. One person can make it break a business. read more

Who doesn't love this place. Fun decor and friendly staff. Our bartender super great and shared good conversation with us including history of the place. Hard to say which drink is better - dirty snowball of a brandy old fashion. I'll take two of each. read more

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A must see!! Great bartenders, great drinks, and great atmosphere. The dirty snowball, cold brew martini, and Irish Old Fashion were all great choices! read more

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Cleos is a great place to stop in while in Appleton Wisconsin! It is a Santa themed bar. It is filled with lights, decorations, and good energy! They have great drink options. Try the Dirty Snow ball! read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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Went there because of the atmosphere, definitely going back because of the service and hospitality. Such a great experience!

Stopped in for a quick drink. Bartender was very friendly and she made a great lemon drop. The decor is fantastic. Christmas 27/7.

What a fun n place for the best gens! Had a famous snowball with fast service and plenty of kind patrons to give us a seat (my arm is broken). If you haven't been here it's a must - the decoration is on key all the time! Love Cleo's! read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - The lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

This place was just down the street from my hotel and based on the yelp reviews, we just had to check it out. A Christmas themed bar? Yes, please! It's small, so I can see it getting crowded quickly, but at around 9 on a Thursday night we were able to find seats at the bar pretty easily. You can tell the place has a good crowd of regulars and a fun staff who know each other. Drinks were good. My specialty martini was $8, so not too pricey, and the bartender chatted with us a bit, sharing the history of the place. Definitely a must see when you're in Appleton. read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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Cleo's has been a mainstay on College Avenue as long as I can remember. The only difference I can see between my first visit way back in the late 70's and today is that most (if not all) of their twinkly lights are now LEDs! We stopped in for drinks after a banquet at the Paper Valley Hotel and Convention Center (or whatever its current name is). I had a couple of dry martinis, my wife had a brandy old fashioned sweet, and my adult children also ordered drinks -- though I can't recall exactly what they ordered. This I can say, they opened a tab for us, everything was properly prepared, and we thoroughly enjoyed our libations and a relaxed time together in an historic bar after a rather stuffy, formal affair at the hotel. There are a bunch of options on the Avenue, but Cleo's is an Appleton classic. The drinks are fine, the service is good, and I expect it will remain so for many years to come as it has in the past. I also hope I'll be around to see what kind or twinkly lights they have thirty or forty years from now! read more

Wanted to see this place for myself so we stopped for a drink before heading to dinner..go here. This place is super fun, the clientele, atmosphere and prices. Check this place out if you have the chance. What a neat experience. We will be back. read more

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Cleos is a classic in Downtown Appleton. It's always a blast. Ive been here many times over the years. Go here, meet friends, people watch, have fun. read more

Out of town visiting on business and had the pleasure to be invited by colleagues for a drink in this wonderful establishment. Friendly local crowd and staff, beautiful young woman tending bar. Great place to come for a night of just hanging out with friends. Felt like Christmas read more

This was the place to go for my first old fashion! It was so amazing - I ordered it sweet with brandy ( apparently it's a Wisconsin thing! ) rather than whiskey and it may just be my drink of choice moving forward. They also have a mystery shot each night and ours tasted like bacon and maple syrup - wasn't my favorite but for $1.50 - it was well worth it! If you like Christmas - you'll love Cleo's as they have every inch covered in Christmas lights and decor. It was packed for a Wednesday night but well worth waiting a few minutes for a drink! read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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Awesome old people bar that young people also gravitate towards. It's a Christmas themed bar--year round. Weird right? But in a cool way. Their specialty drink is the "suffering bastard" which contains about 20 shots of alcohol--seriously. Always a good time here. Get drunk, talk to cougars, leave with a full wad of cash...Classic Appleton College Avenue bar. Ho Ho Ho read more

I believe Cleo's Brown Beam has been around for over 50 years. Cleo no longer owns the bar and unfortunately is no longer with us, but you'll spot her picture behind the bar. The bar has very friendly staff and continues to serve good drinks at reasonable prices. A must stop for everyone! read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

We stopped here while staying at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel down the street. Cleo's came highly recommended by someone who used to live in the area. It was hoot! The staff was fun and gave great service. The drinks were delish and strong. The decor is AMAZING. I posted a pic on Facebook and people asked if were in a casino. Yes, Cleo's is sparkly and full of lights like a casino, but it's so much more! Christmas everywhere. Kitch everywhere. There is something eclectic on every available horizontal and vertical surface. My mom would call it clutter. I call it awesome. Here's the kicker though -- the place is SUPER clean. None of the brick-a-brack has dust on it as one would expect. I even gave the finger test on a couple picture frames, just because I couldn't believe it. I complimented the owner on it and she said they have to work it all the time. Great time at a great place. I will definitely be back. read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

I love this place. It's a small local bar. The whole inside has Christmas lights & decor! The bartender was really nice & accomodating. We ordered mojitos & they were delicious. I'd come back if I lived closer. read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Christmas lights & decor inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

4 years later, my update relates to how damn tasty the Old Fashioned's are here. I managed to have 3 in about an hour 45 minutes. Wow. Friendly 'tenders that don't mind chatting. I normally end up in front of the juke box for an hour so when I first arrive. This past weekend was no different. Great crowd and atmosphere. read more

How you manage to raid Hobby Lobby's holiday section and make a bar freaking awesome is beyond me but this place has somehow pulled it off.

We stayed overnight in Appleton last Saturday night and Cleo's was by far the best place we went all evening. The bar was crowded when we got there around 11 and thinned out by the time we left around 1am. It was mostly an older crowd. The music was on point playing a wide variety of genres all night from Hank Williams Jr to All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey. The drinks were very good and inexpensive, especially if you're coming from the Chicago area. They had a mystery shot that was $1.50 - I was terrified to take it but it ended up being pretty good and we had a couple rounds. The dirty snowball is a must! It's kind of like a vanilla milkshake but it doesn't have the thickness and richness of a normal milkshake. I could have ordered a couple without feeling overly full. The bar itself was intricately decorated with Christmas lights and seemed very clean for the amount of decorations that could possibly collect dust. I will definitely be back when I'm in the area again! read more

Cleo's Brown Beam Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

I looooooooooooove this bar! It's so cute and welcoming and the best part, it's Christmas themed. As soon as you walk in, the bar is lit up and decorated like Christmas. From top to bottom, with bulbs, garland, and nutcrackers. The bartenders and the staff are very friendly and talkative. The cocktails were good, I loved the blood orange margarita. I would absolutely come back to this bar. read more

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Very cute dive bar in a homey town. I probably won't ever be in Appleton, WI again, but this was the highlight of my visit there. A drink called "A Dirty Snowball" like an adult milk shake - and the strands of Christmas lights everywhere - the staff was nice too. If you are in town, stop in. read more

I dig this place, and damned if its holiday decor isn't the spitting image of the Cleo's on Armitage in Chicago. So much so I had to ask the gal working there if there was a family relation of some sort (there isn't). Way too unlikely to be a coincidence. Anyhow, it's a nice kinda old-schooley bar. Not a dive by any stretch, but the dim lighting, red naugahyde stools, and borderline kitsch everywhere is sorta homey and reminds me a little of a relative's bar of sorts. The juke is average but they were spinning some pretty cool sleazy blues when I walked in, which was much more appropos. As it ends up this place is sort of a local institution, and understandably so. It was an older crowd when I was in there, definitely not a college scene...wasn't a sickly barfly scene though, just regular folks but not really a corporate after work scene either. I found it pretty agreeable and plan to go back again before I leave town. read more

I'm lucky enough to travel for trainings regularly. My last training brought me to Appleton, Wisconsin. I always try to go to unique places in the city in at. I asked around and almost unanimously the answer was the same, Cleos. This place is a mix of the bar from the Cheers TV show, where everyone knows your name, and a dis functional Christmas get together. There are Christmas lights and decorations absolutely everywhere. There are a few TVs showing basketball games and 80's and 90's music playing. I think I'm in heaven. Everyone knew everyone and the bartenders were fantastic. The drinks were cheap and well made (try a dirty snowball). If you're ever in Appleton give this place a try! read more