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.

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!

fawn's review is hot trash. i love it here. plus they make a great cocktail but i dunno what it's…read morecalled.

Atomic Koi Cocktail Lounge in Fitchburg, WI has potential to improve if they had the right staff! I…read morehave gone there on more than one occasion where their bartenders were rude, unprofessional, and ruined the overall experience. My husband still loves coming to Atomic Koi Cocktail Lounge because it's a laid back lounge away from the rowdier young local college students bar atmosphere that's still vibrant with an eclectic vibe with illuminated fish tanks and a fun cozy ambiance. The crowd is mostly young working professionals near the area mid 20s-30s on up that are looking to unwind and have fun with their family/friends. Atomic Koi is a fun lounge that has games like a giant Connect Four, a pool table, shuffle board, and darts. They also have a good diverse cocktail menu that has something satisfying for everyone from martinis, tropical drinks, mojitos, beer, and more. Recently, my husband suggested the Atomic Koi to show our friends and family from out of town a good time in the Madison area. I ordered a cocktail and the bartender claimed they didn't have the ingredients to make the drink which didn't bother me but I have gone to Atomic Koi more than once trying to order a cocktail on their menu and the bartenders claimed they were unable to make it or didn't have the ingredients or maybe they just didn't feel like making it like some of their ice cream drinks and it wasn't busy in the moment. I then ordered the Golden Colada which is a fun pineapple tropical flavored drink! If they are unable to make a specific drink but the drink is advertised on their menu they should be able to make it consistently if requested otherwise take it off the cocktail menu permanently because patrons expect to be able to order a specific drink if its on the menu. My husband, friends, and family were having a good time. A back corner nook opened up where some people left and we wanted to sit there as a group however there was super sticky drinks on the floor under the table nook. One of my family members asked one of the bartenders if she could please mop up the sticky floor or find another staff that could. The bartender was super rude to my family member and said she wasn't going to mop it up until closing time at 1am. Then my family member asked if she would at least get someone to pull the mop out from the back and he would mop it up himself and she refused. She should have politely told my family member "sorry I am unable to leave the bar area but I will find another staff to mop it up when they are able to" but it was her rude don't care entitled attitude which didn't leave a good impression on my family members from out of town. I went back up to the bar and spoke to a different bartender who wasn't busy tending the bar and told him the situation. He did fix the situation and mopped up the sticky floor when he was able to which I appreciated but he looked over it like he didn't really want to be there not really friendly. If Atomic Koi could consistently recruit/ retain more professional, trained, personable, friendly bartenders and actually follow through in making cocktails actually advertised in their cocktail menu , its a great spot to go to for a great drink and a fun place to unwind!

I really enjoyed my quick stop in. The slushie was delicious and the chat with the bartenders made…read moreme feel at home. This place is cute, clean, and has a great spirit selection.

Pay with cash or massively incompetent and "not able to read words good" bartenders will hand your…read morecard off to someone else and then play it off like it's not a big deal because again, they can't read words and just give anyone with the same type of credit card your credit card and then pretend it's not a big deal or a massive inconvenience to cancel and reissue a credit card. This place used to train and produce talent. Now it's not functionally literate. Totally pathetic. Won't ever return. Will tell them at tales and Portland what's happening in Madison. Total losers.

Another first-time experience in Madison, and this spot came highly recommended if you're a true…read morewhiskey or bourbon lover, and wow it did NOT disappoint! It happened to be near the theatre we went to, so we decided to stop in and check it out. They have nearly 775 different types of whiskey to choose from, which is wild! I loved that they offer different ounce sizes so you can sample a few, and they even pair it with water so you stay hydrated while tasting (smart touch). Price ranges between ~$7.50-$20.00+. The place had a cozy, lounge-like vibe and was pretty busy, but the staff was friendly and helpful. It's first come first served for seating, just like any bar. We sampled a few whiskeys and also tried their premade espresso martini. The whiskey selection was phenomenal, the espresso martini was decent, not the best I've had (it was premade), but still enjoyable (it's made with Tito's, which isn't my favorite base, but I appreciate the fresh coffee beans they used). All in all, this place is a hidden gem. Great whiskey, friendly staff, and the perfect cozy spot to escape the rain for a while. I'll definitely be back next time to try even more from their list!

The perfect chill spot for a couple, if you need a cozy booth with dim lighting & good cocktails…read morethis is it! We also loved that the football game was on and it wasn't too loud. It's intimate and the drinks are fire. We stuck with the classic old fashioned and felt they were strong and well crafted - thank you for a true luxardo cherry too! We ordered at the bar but chilled in a booth. So many whiskey options!!! Service is friendly & quick!

Another very hipster and vibey lounge that really describes Madison, WI! The cocktails are all on a…read moregun and not handmade which obliviously lowers the rating. The service is always very fast and friendly though! The extremely narrow seating along with the other seating options in the other room are very odd. It usually fill up pretty quick but the seats overlooking King St. are the best! Plainspoke is a great experience, but there are a few other cocktail bars in Madison that rank above them.

Stopped by here for a night cap. We honestly had no idea this space was here. You can almost miss…read moreit, but the entrance is to the left of Young Blood (be careful on the stairs up!) The interior was such a fun vibe. We loved the purple lighting and all the decor, made for great photo backgrounds. Also, the view is so underrated. The windows on the right side overlook King Street! The drinks were great also! Our favorites were the clear old fashioned and Miami vice. Staff were super nice. They were a little busy for a Friday night but we still got everything we ordered relatively fast. Overall great experience. So happy to have a place to go where I can order a fun cocktail!

On a recent trip down Willy Street, a buddy and I were popping in and out of spots for a cocktail…read moreas we made our way to dinner a bit further down the road. One pop in was The Wisco, and once was enough. The space is interesting with a well lit entry way featuring a few games and a lot style machines. Once you reach the bar the space gets dark before turning the corner to a pool table area along with a small outdoor patio through the side door. We bellied up to the bar for a cocktail and after a few moments were acknowledged by one of the bartenders. I say acknowledged and not greeted as she was just awful, we legit felt like we were bothering her by being there. She served us our drinks and then left us alone our entire stay, never checking back on us, even when our drinks became empty. We planned on settling in until dinner time, but after our encounter with this gem, we decided to settle up and get back on the move. The drinks were basic cocktails, no complaints there. Price was standard, however make sure you have cash, as it's a cash only spot. They do offer food, and while we were not after anything, it would have been nice to see a menu. But again, that would have taken a bit more engagement from the bartender to happen. Overall, this spot is in a good location, but next time we will keep walking.

Don't play the gambling games!!!! I hit bonus twice and didn't get paid. The bartenders didn't…read morecare.

Awesome place. The drinks were very good. The bartender had good dialogue classic movies playing in…read morethe background. All around this is a stand-up place.

This is my favorite spot in Madison. You can take anyone from parents to coworkers to a first date…read morehere and feel comfortable. Its got a great vibe, cool bartenders, and the owner is approachable and friendly.