Yup, I've heard it said that this is the first time that Riverwest has crossed over the Humboldt Ave Bridge! I've been here twice now, once for Monday Night Football and their free brat with purchase of a drink special, and another time for some beers with my brother. Their tap list is small, but unique. A bunch of the brews you can't find on tap anywhere else in the city. Prices are reasonable and they have drink specials during the week. The atmosphere is chill and it's more of a cozy place to have a good conversation. read more

Good drinks, nice patio and ambience, great prices. The bartenders weren't very friendly though.

It's like Riverwest finally crossed Humboldt Bridge. I love it. Before there was Finks this spot was Redroom for many years but it recently closed down. The owners of BelAir Cantina took over the lease and fixed it up. There's more places to have a seat and hang out with friends. In the back area one wall is covered with a view of the woods with a classic bar sign to the side shining down on everything. The middle table is a high top where you and some friends can huddle around while having some drinks together. It just feels good sitting in that room. One last thing, the restrooms are clean. That is enough to set it apart from enough places to tell me the management is not slacking off. read more

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Good prices. On Sundays all drafts are 3$. This is also their Happy Hour deal, so that's nice. The regular beer prices range from 2$ for a can of Hamm's to 7$ for a Saison. The beer choices range from relics (the aforementioned Hamm's along with others under the Pabst umbrella) to the hipster expensive craft brews. Their mixed drink menu looked super reasonable and tasty. The average cocktail was 5$ and I think the most expensive I saw as $7. The interior is cute. It's inside an old A-frame cottage. It's clean and intimate. There was one butcher block table on casters that I thought was a great idea. Overall it feels really cozy except for the personnel (which I'll get to later). The best part are the pinball machines along one wall. I read somewhere that they were vintage, but that's not quite right. They range in age from 1989 to 1996 but they all looked super cool. There's also a Ms Pac-Man arcade game and a Dig Dug. We wandered in after a Packers game, so I don't know if that accounts for the general ambiance, but the bar tender (a young woman) was actually one of the worst bar tenders I've seen in Milwaukee (and that's saying something). She had her back to the clientele for the most part and didn't really know much about the beers they had. Granted, there were two creepers hanging out and so maybe she wanted to avoid them, but if that's the case, then she should have another bar tender working with or some sort of presence because had I not witnessed the creepers, I would have thought she was merely a shitty bar tender. So bad bar tender, drunk creepers, exceptionally loud people comprise the negatives. Good location, cute interior, good beer selection, really good prices for the East Side, pinball make up the positives. I'm giving it three stars because I hope to go back and give it another go on a non-Packer day. read more

"I haven't been here since it was redroom" me, walking into Finks for the first time. Tucked in across from Bel Air, Redroom was one of those places I often found myself at, so I'm glad to check out its newly reincarnated self as Finks (well, its actually been Finks for a while and I'm just kind of late). So thankfully they kept the odd white circular bar top that I loved. (kind of describing this wrong), replaced the uncomfortable seating, added a craft cocktail list and some pin ball machines. it's obviously still housed in the same building as redroom, so not a ton of space but ots thoughtfully laid out. They had a $5 cocktail happy hour special and although I'm not a huge whiskey drinker (contained in the night's feature drink) it was pretty good and strong. although not on special that night our bartender also whipped up a perfect imo dirty martini. I think there was also a beer on happy hour special, and if you have "bike benefits" sticker on your helmet you get buy one get one drafts from 7 pm-? There's lots of bike parking on the side, too. use those Bar and Lounge City Tins and stop by! read more

Finks - deacons blues (need a refill) and dirty martini - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Such a great spot. Nice patio. I ordered the wrong drinks and they replaced them no questions asked. Dan the bartender is sweet and cute. And don't get me started on Kevin! read more

FINKS is awesome. I had a pleasant experience here while waiting for a table at Bel Air next door. The bartenders were very welcoming and they served us immediately. Finks has a great ambience! It's a well decorated dive bar and they have several games like pinball! I just got one beer but my first experience there was for 5 stars. P.S. You will recognize this place from the outside because of the HELLO MILWAUKEE sign painted the outside. So fun! read more

Here's the thing. We only went here because Bel Air always has a wait and they'll text you if you're next door grabbing a drink at Finks, so that's what we did. I was super excited to see they are featuring a Woodchuck tap takeover because I'm a hard cider fanatic, but when it took my friend and I about 3 attempts per drink EACH to get service, we started to wonder what we weren't doing right. We ordered from three separate bar tenders, no one better than the other. The place wasn't even busy. Typically two attractive, twenty-something young ladies get service easily in Milwaukee, but the bar tenders were to into their own conversations and sampling the beer to pay much attention to us. Just sayin'. I give it 3/5 for the variety and freshness of beer, and the cleanliness of the facility, but had to take away 2 stars for how long it took and how difficult it was to order drinks directly from the bar. read more

Finks - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

After writing two bad reviews I have to get the negative taste out of my mouth with a review of one of my favorite bars in Milwaukee. Finks is one hell of a bar. Finks situated right across the street from Bel-Air(owned by the same people, great business move) has evolved from the place where I waited for my table to eat 8 2 dollar tacos was ready across the street to one of my top destinations when I want a cocktail or to kick one of my friends a**es in NBA Jam. The vibes inside is very cozy, dim lighting, old movies playing on the TVs, with several pin ball machines and above mentioned GOAT video game. The bartenders are all great, they are truly great at their craft, mixologists if you will. The have a list of 8 or so house cocktails, 6ish draft beers, and a decent cooler of canned beers. I recommend a cocktail to see the bartenders work their magic. Just go to finks read more

Great location for a craft cocktail and conversation. Quaint location with fun to be had. They have a fantastic patio out back with a few arcade games inside to keep you entertained. The real hit here is the cocktails. They make their cocktails the right way, especially their Old Fashioned's. Decent selection of beer. Due to the area a few to many hipsters for my liking, but eh, can't blame the bar for that. read more

Finks - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Okay, so before the outdoor patio, I might have given Finks between 3 and 4 stars. But now, with the patio, it is certainly a 5 star bar. They have set up a gorgeous, enclosed patio that has tons of space and is great for groups. Inside of Finks, they have a bunch of board/card games that you can bring out onto the patio if it is nice. I have played Apples to Apples, Connect Four and Cards Against Humanity Here. The opportunity to play games while drinking always ensures that it will be a good time. They also have pull tabs and pin ball machines inside that are themed (like Jurassic Park, which is the best one). The bartender, Jason (I think), is great and personable. Both times I have been to Finks on the weekend he has been working. I recommend going for happy hour because they have great deals on drinks, but if you go during regular hours, you should try their in-house fireball. I am not the biggest fireball fan traditionally, but this one is GOOD and definitely worth a try while there. read more

They make a great bourbon Old Fashion and have some other tasty cocktails and nice beer selection. Quaint space with outside seating. read more

If you are not a regular hipster patron at this bar stay away. The bartenders were extremely rude. I was so excited to try this place but will never be going back. Unfortunately, the blonde guy with glasses was super sweet (not a bar tender) but the two bar tenders were outright rude. If you hate your job maybe do something else that's not customer service...many many other places in Milwaukee I could recommend for a cocktail bar read more

My fiancé and I fell in love with this place years ago for the unique atmosphere and large selection of beers. They rotate their taps weekly to feature brews from a variety of craft brewers, and the bartenders are always willing to help you select the perfect beer for your evening. Also, ask for their homemade apple pie shots - they're fuckin delicious read more

Now I get it. I really do. 20's something hipster in search of the next great saison, sour, or coffee stout? 30's something graphic designer digging on a Rob Roy, a Whiskey OF press, or a Sazerac? How about a 40's something middle aged dude looking to top your all time high on Ms. Pacman? Good news, Finks has got you covered! About the size of a suburban ranch rec room, Finks has a great long bar up front and some lounge tables in back. Great cocktails and relevant beer selection await. Top shelf whiskeys are surprising impressive. OK, they may not have Pappy Van Winkle, but there is some Old Rip (12 year) Van Winkle. Love the dim vibe. Lots of board games on the table, probably a great place to spend a rainy Sunday. Be sure to bring a pocket full of quarters for the pinball machines, those old beauties don't take plastic. read more

Finks was one of my favorite bars my senior year of college at Marquette and the summer after graduation that I stayed in MKE! Awesome location (go across the street and get Bel Air tacos - or come here while you wait for a seat during the madness that is Taco Tues/Thurs). Finks is relaxed, has games you can play, and has awesome mixed drinks. Definitely one of my go to bars when I'm back in town! read more

One of my favorite bars in Milwaukee! The atmosphere is cozy and they have lots of beers to choose from. Most importantly, though, are the games! Pinball, Pac man, battleship, scrabble, and lots of comfy tables to play them at! The bartenders are great, especially Kelsey. I'd recommend this place to anyone! read more

East side, dimly lit, divey bar with a chill vibe. Beer and cocktail list is small but sufficient. A group at another table was playing a board game, while other groups were just there to hang out and socialize, which I think this place is perfect for. I would go back. read more

Plays Banana Phone by Raffi. Update: And ran PBR once but whatever Also has a patio. Update: has Lonestar. Ran out of it. read more

What a fun spot! Finks has the kind of bar energy I always want. Not too loud and not too quiet. They have nice bar seating, booths and an outdoor patio (summer come quick)! Cocktails are delicious and reasonable. They have pinball, Ms. Pac-Man, and a plethora of board games. Perfect for a relaxed night out! read more

Came on a Saturday afternoon, and it was really dead, but still had a lot of fun. The bartender made really good old fashions, we were able to hear each other talk, and on top of that, they had Arcade games to play...great thing to do while drinking. Don't like games, don't worry, they have good drinks to pass the time. read more

Happened to stumble upon this bar and I left amazed. The bartender Dan was one of a kind. Striked up great conversation and enlightened me on all the drinks he was making. I will definitely come back for Dan. Also, Covid friendly bar and abides by all social distancing rules. A+ read more

Love this place! Dan is the best bartender. He knew exactly what drinks to serve us. Will definitely come back

Great, new bar in Milwaukee! Or, by new, I mean "new to me". We rolled in here late night, and had a couple of cocktails. It's a typical Milwaukee neighborhood chill bar, and for that reason, it earns my praise. I'll go back here. read more

Finks has the good fortune to be located a few blocks from Brady, but across the street from one of the most popular dining spots (Bel-Air), which keeps a steady stream of people flowing in while they're waiting for their tables, and also keeps them from getting completely swamped by Brady Bar Traffic ™ I come here usually around once a week, and unless it's a Tuesday or Thursday (Bel-Air's $2 taco night), it's usually busy, but not crowded, meaning you can get service quickly, and the bartenders are extremely friendly and knowledgeable. There are two main draws for this place, the first of which is their mixed drinks. While their beer selection is pretty decent, every mixed drink I've had here has been PERFECT. I refuse to get an old fashioned anywhere else. If you watch the staff make the drinks, you can tell that nine out of ten times, it's second hand nature, pure muscle memory. The music is good, the atmosphere is friendly, and they're always down for a round of bar dice (my weakness). If you're looking for a new spot to go on a date, have a chill night with friends, or even just waiting for your table at Bel-Air, Finks is definitely a spot to check out. Oh, yeah, the second draw... They serve kettle chips instead of stale popcorn. read more

Finks gives you a northern Wisconsin bar feeling with a modern twist. It's the perfect place to have cocktails and conversation at a reasonable price. They have spectacular happy hour deals that includes $4 classic cocktails. The cocktails are original and tasty, and Finks provides a wide variety of choices. I wanted all of them. My boyfriend ordered the Kentucky Coffee and loved it, while I enjoyed the Apple Bourbon Sidecar (HIGHLY recommend). The beer prices are competitive at $3 for taps during happy hour, and it wasn't overly crowded at 7pm on Friday while we waited for our table at Belair Cantina. I will definitely return. read more

I only come to Finks when I'm waiting for my table at BelAir, but I wait for a table at BelAir very frequently. The bar itself is really cute (see pictures uploaded by others). There's some pinball machines further back. They'll have a movie playing on the tv by the bar. The crowd varies, since its a random assortment of people waiting for cheap tacos, and is sometimes full of bros. The vibe here is weird and not really cohesive, but I'm down with it. I have always had great service here, and it's easily my favorite part about Finks. The bartenders are attentive and I've never waited too long to get a drink (and because of it's size and proximity to BelAir, you better believe it gets busy). Everyone working here is really nice, which sounds like a weird thing to say but I get the "good people" feel. If the service wasn't outstanding, I would be giving this place 3 stars. There isn't anything that really stands out about the drinks here, besides the fact that they actually carry Boxer which isn't necessarily a plus (yet somehow I usually end up drinking one). read more

Finks is hands down my favorite bar in Milwaukee. The bartenders are friendly, great happy hour and constant beer specials, along with a really cool vibe that caters to busy weekends and chill weeknights. read more

My go to place. The staff is friendly and attentive. They're working extra hard with covid protocols, and it shows. Love it here.

Fink's is a great place to stop for a drink or two while you're waiting for a table Bel-Air or even to start a night out with friends. They have a long bar with stools, a few tables in the front and bigger tables & booths in the back. They've got big TVs for sports or Netflix movies when nothing else is on, and a pretty impressive collection of pinball machines and a few other video games. Along the side of the building there's also a small outdoor seating area. I'm a big fan of their old-fashioned (brandy, sweet, with cherry is my go-to) for $6, which is pretty reasonable. They have a few beers on tap that rotate and a respectable selection of bottles, organized on their menu by type of beer - which is always a nice touch. They also have cans of Hamm's for $2 if you're not looking for any frills. Whether it's the old-fashioned or the chill ambiance, something keeps coming me back! read more

One of the things I love about where I live in Riverwest is the easy walk to multiple happenin' neighborhoods (isn't that what they're always looking for on House Hunters?). In the winter, the only problem is the cold walk home so my boyfriend suggested we bar hop our way home, which serves as a great way to stay warm and get a sneak peak of neighborhood bars we haven't been to yet. Forgive the long intro, the point of which being that it would have taken me a while to select Finks as a destination if we hadn't been walking by on our way home from dinner on Brady. However, I'm glad we stopped in! Finks is just the right size with a decent beer selection and FIVE pinball machines. I also appreciated the moderate lighting and volume as I get a little sleepy in dim, noisy bars, #seniorstatus. I will be back to Finks with my pinball quarter stash soon! read more

Finks - Five machines! Yess! - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Finks is one of my favorite places to visit. The bartenders are friendly and very sociable, making the experience there even more enjoyable than most bars around. read more

Great bar. I don't know why you would go anywhere else. The two bartenders were quite hospitable and clearly loved what they did. Update: Barstools generally flush with the bar. read more

This was the absolutely WORST service I've ever experienced. The bartender was SO RUDE. Refusing to get lemonade. Refusing to give our friend a glass with her beer. And swore at my boss when he grabbed a barstool. There was a much better way to do that than swearing at him and almost starting a fight with a patron. I get the service industry is short staffed but a simple explanation rather than, "I'm not doing that" would go a lot further. I will NEVER be back there. Biggest mistake (besides picking this place to go) was not getting the bartenders name as I would be calling the manager/owner it was that bad. read more

Right, so I am newish to Finks. I was impressed with the outdoor seating and the overall setting. However, I feel obligated to comment about the bartender's lack of service. Instead of politely letting us know the beer fridge was not self-serve, he told us "stop digging around in the fridge" in a very abrasive and uncouth fashion. I understand the stress of dealing with crowds, but the bar was pretty much empty, and the bartender never acknowledged us as customers. There are so many ways to address a client who is unfamiliar with the bar. Unfortunately, this guy couldn't be bothered to let us know he would be with us in a moment, regardless of the sign on the fridge... I will be back at Finks, but this simple misunderstanding could have been addressed in a better, more efficient manner. read more

The efficiency of service at this fine establishment is incomparable to the vast majority of bars. In fact, the efficiency is so superb that I myself feel guilty often for not having the impetus to have my order mentally prepared when I approach the bar. They don't make me feel bad ever though; the shame is self-imposed for being a sedentary guest at this staple of Milwaukee. Bartenders of Finks, I apologize for my ineptitude when you work so hard to keep me fulfilled in a timely manner. #godblessamerica read more

Went back the other night and was disappointed. Perhaps it was just the bartender who half-assed my drink. He threw the cherry and orange on top of my old fashioned..... So I muddled it myself (MacGyver style) and made do. Despite how much I love an OF, I wasn't impressed, so I looked at the menu of fancy drinks trying to decide what to try, all were in the $10 range but it was happy hour (not a very good one). Anyway, I asked the bartender about a few ingredients and as it would turn out all those fancy pricey drinks were mostly fancy nonalcoholic ingredients.... Call me a lush but no thank you! I ended up just ordering another brand OF this time I specifically asked him to muddle my fruit. You shouldn't have to special request for your drink to be made properly, especially at an OF bar. read more

Finks has a cozy hip feel without being pretentious.Finks has some great pinball machines and Ms. Pacman which is a favorite among the homies. Finks has wonderful cocktails but they are a bit pricey and a bit small but they taste delightful. For a small place there is a lot of seating. I wish they had more cider and wine to choose from. Great neighborhood bar. read more

Finks - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Little cocktail bar we briefly stopped at last week. I forget the cocktail I got but it was good, and only $8. They had pinball machines which was cool. Not too many seats so be aware. Not super memorable but at the same time not bad by any means read more

Visiting town, walked up from downtown for the pinball. Well worth it. Pinball machines are in good shape, cocktails are solid, prices are good, music is good, far enough off the beaten path that you skip most of the amateurs, I'd definitely come back or become a regular if I lived here. read more

Finks - Bars Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin