Hot Lunch

A nice little local spot that's a bit hidden. MadisonTap is classy without being pretentious…read more Disclaimer: I did not order food here so my review may be a bit biased. The bartender assured us that their vegan options were incredible. MadisonTap features many local Wisconsin beers on tap. They seem to often rotate the beers and keep a solid selection. MadisonTap was spacious with bar seats, tables, and booths available. The design and decor were well thought out. The crowd seems to be young professionals in their mid-20s to early 30s. I don't recall the beers I got here but I do remember prices being ~$7-10 range mark. The bartender and owner place special emphasis on being vegetarian and vegan friendly. Even one of the cocktails used vegan butter. There was a single bartender when I visited but it was a bit slow. We had a great conversation and watched Christmas movies on the projectors. Overall, solid experience. 5/5. Favorited in Madison, WI.

This was a fun find for us while we were in town. It was a bit hard to locate - we heard live music…read morebut couldn't tell if we could enter from the back. We entered from the front of the building. It looks like they feature a different brewery every month. The interior of the bar was pretty classy and new. Their patio was very cool and spacious. A great patio for evening drinks! The live music was pretty good too. Can't speak to the food however, since we didn't eat there.

Summer gonna be wild

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The Robin Room

4.6(81 reviews)

0.2 mi•Tenney - Lapham

Bartenders were very nice and helpful - they accommodated our large party on a Sunday night! Great…read moreambience and great drinks!!

I love ROBIN ROOM! I was on a trip out of the states a few weeks ago, and all I could think about…read moreeach time I ordered a drink abroad, were the artisans behind the bar at RR. Their expertise is unmatched, if you're searching for a well balanced cocktail this is the place. They're knowledgeable, welcoming, and always willing to try something different, which is something I highly value about Robin Room.

0.3 mi•Williamson - Marquette

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Atico Lounge

4.2(15 reviews)

We would definitely recommend Atico Lounge to anyone in the Madison area! We hosted a welcome party…read morefor my sister's wedding here, and the entire team was amazing from start to finish. A special shoutout to Ann, who was incredibly helpful with all of the planning and coordination leading up to the event. The staff was fantastic as well, especially Ben and Alin, who kept the bar running smoothly and made sure everyone had a great time. Our guests absolutely loved the rooftop views, the atmosphere, and the delicious food. It was the perfect place to kick off the wedding weekend, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Next time we're back in Madison, we'll definitely be stopping by Atico Lounge again!

Terrible non alcoholic / non caloric beverage selection. No iced tea and only diet coke instead of…read morecoke zero? Come on get with the times.

Cute vibes inside and lots of tables

Carne Asada and Al Pastor Street Tacos

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Guava cake

Public Parking

4.5(27 reviews)

0.0 mi•Tenney - Lapham

The best craft cocktail bar in Madison. Very experienced bartenders, an owner that knows the…read morebusiness inside and out, and at atmosphere that is unmatched in Madison. I appreciate the rotating cocktail menu. I get to try a new and exciting cocktail every time I visit PP.

My boyfriend and I happened upon this bar and decided to check it out before our concert at the…read moreSylvee and we loved it! If we were local to Madison we would probably become regulars and would love to return when we're in the area again. The bartender was prompt, friendly, and knew the menu well, able to provide detailed recommendations. I loved my Mezcal drink and thought the cup and toppings were so cute and thoughtful (red high heel cup). The flavors of the drink went very well together. The decor in the bar was so cute. The gallery wall detail, comfortable yet stylish seating. Very classy vibe but you would feel comfortable in dress wear or casual attire.

0.5 mi•Williamson - Marquette

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He's not you, but you're not here

Tiny's Tap House

4.8(5 reviews)

We stopped here while waiting for a reservation at Ahan! Such a hidden gem, total hole in the wall…read more The space was decorated so cute for Halloween. It was not busy at all on a Friday night. The bartender was wonderful to chat with and told us some fun history of the space. Cocktails were made well, and they had a great tap list. The Moscow mule seems to be their special!

Friendly and lively place on a Friday, stopped in after dinner at Feast. No real food, but…read moredelicious beer on tap, bright interior and welcoming bartender and patrons alike. Right behind the Wisco.

Entrance, darts

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Old fashioned

LJ's Sports Tavern & Grill

3.5(72 reviews)

0.3 mi•Tenney - Lapham

Stopped in for a quick drink before a concert and had a nice experience. The drink prices are…read moredefinitely a reason I would come back, and the bartender working that day was friendly and attentive. It's a good spot to stop by when you're looking for somewhere casual to grab a drink before a show without spending too much. We were only there for drinks this time, but I'd come back again.

The prices keep us coming back and the weekly bartender is great and has been here a while…read more We are just here for a drink

0.3 mi•Williamson - Marquette

Fries

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Vintage Brewing Co. Capitol East

3.9(179 reviews)

What an awesome way to kick off our road trip! This was our first brewery stop on our first night,…read moreand it couldn't have been better. The entire staff was welcoming, friendly, and genuinely seemed happy we were there. Terry was especially fantastic--super engaging, took the time to chat with us, and made us feel like regulars instead of travelers just passing through. The beer is just as solid as the food. They poured a fantastic hazy IPA that was so good I ended up taking a crowler home on day one of our trip! The burgers were excellent too--great flavor, cooked perfectly, and exactly what we needed after a long day on the road. The beer, food, atmosphere, and service all came together to make this a memorable stop. If you're in the Madison area, don't miss this place. We'll definitely be back the next time our adventures bring us through!

Grabbed a drink before mannequin Pussy I ordered the…read moreespresso martini, definitely not made , definitely poured out of a bottle, hated it! But love the vintage, the vibe, and we will always come here

0.2 mi•Williamson - Marquette

Inside

Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap

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Bar - lots on tap and lots of options

High Noon Saloon

4.3(92 reviews)

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/

0.5 mi•Williamson - Marquette

Schedule

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Table flyer

I/O Arcade Bar

4.3(41 reviews)

Pro: Games! Cheap Booze! Clean Bathroom!…read more Con: Missing some classic games. North of downtown Madison hides this gem. Pinballs in the back, Smash bro by boardgame room, guitar hero by the front entrance, bar right in the middle. There are tons of retro games from paper boy to TMNT to MK2. Drinks are cheap, Long Island, Sex on the Beach, and beer was only 18 dollars. Freaking amazing. Do respect the neighborhood and be quiet when leaving the joint, it's around residential area.

I'm not a barcade regular, but it always tends to be something that my husband and I do on…read morevacation. I found there was a good selection of games that even I enjoyed! We did get a couple drinks and the bartender was MIA for a while so it took probably 10 minutes, but other than that we had a great time!

Outside the arcade

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Up North Bar

4.1(30 reviews)

0.4 mi•Capitol

•$

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.

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Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet

Hot Lunch - sandwiches - Updated October 2026

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Natt Spil

4.0

(262 reviews)

Fantastic vibe in this place. Great service and good drinks. The standout is the food. 4 of us…read moresplit a bunch of items. Spicy cheese wontons were amazing - the sauce was the star. Dumplings were also great - super dipping sauce with lots of peanuts (might have been a special that night). Dan Dan Noodles, 3 cup chicken were also very, very good. I am a pizza lover and I'd say the Sausage pizza with Chevre, red onion and pepperoncini is in my top 5 all time! I wholeheartedly recommend this place. Unless you are stuffy and pretentious and hippie-types turn you off.

I had previously only come to Natt Spil for drinks, but I was able to try dinner recently and it…read moredid not disappoint. I came on a weeknight around 6pm and had no trouble getting a table for 3. But it's a very small and narrow space so I imagine it can get pretty full on a weekend. The lighting is pretty dark, so it has a moody vibe. I had a vegan version of the Dan Dan noodles (Mun Duck & Tofu Noodles) and they were surprisingly creamy and had a really nice spice. I also tried the Jungle Bird cocktail, which I enjoyed.

Settle Down Tavern

4.4

(185 reviews)

Cute homey feeling bar with an atrium area as well! The inside bar feels like you stepped into a…read more90's sitcom! Large portions of food friendly staff and the bar specific IPA was so good! The cheese puppies and the pickle puppies are coated and fried just like a hush puppy and as a southerner it's the best mashup ever!

Stopped by for happy hour and ended up having a really enjoyable visit. Everything came out…read morequickly, and the staff was attentive without making us wait around. The drinks were also really good and made the stop worth it. Happy hour here is definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a casual place to grab a drink and relax. Also like that they let you fill out a post card and will mail it out for you, such a cute extra little fun thing we did.

The Bar Next Door

(61 reviews)

We drove up and saw that The Bar Next Door was attached to a Super8 motel and we almost drove away…read morebut I am so glad we said 'what the hell' and went in. Rustic ambiance with a mix of high and low table seating as well as a good amount of space to belly up to the bar. Service was excellent. The servers worked great as a team and our order was taken promptly, food came out steaming hot, tables were bussed quickly. Great teamwork. I had to have the smash burger as it seems to be a signature item. It was so good! Two huge patties. I got mine with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and sauted onions. Fresh. Delicious. Love the little crisp on the smash burger. So good. My side was a salad but I may have stolen a fry just for a taste test and they had my approval. I can't believe we almost drove away. Do not do that. Go in. Enjoy the experience.

Surprisingly nice, roomy & clean inside. I wasn't sure what to expect since it connected to a…read moremotel. Lots of tables, good bar food. Great service we were able to get sandwiches & be on our way less than an hour.

Bandit Tacos & Coffee

4.5

(97 reviews)

The tacos here are flavorful and delicious. I like that you can easily mix and match however many…read moretacos (or other items) you want to order. They have alcoholic and non-alc beverages, including coffee drinks. You order at the counter and are given a number, and then you seat yourself and grab your own water, making it a quick and efficient process. There is seating indoors and outdoors. It's a great spot!

Tacos AND coffee is definitely my idea of a great outing. We went a bit later in the day and it was…read morea bit busy. I didn't end up getting coffee but I did get the chicken tacos which were pretty good. We also tried the chips & salsas. For drinks we got the cherry daiquiris. Overall I enjoyed the vibes and food. Parking was a bit weird (not familiar w/ the area), we found a spot across the tracks by the trails.

Elie's Cafe

4.4

(36 reviews)

We were looking for a hearty breakfast before we headed to The Great Taste of the Midwest beer…read morefestival and this place was right down the street from the hotel. We arrived and were told we could sit anywhere there was an open seat. The place reminded me of breakfast restaurants I went to in Buffalo when I was growing up; just had that nice homey feel. Our server was great our food was hot, fresh and delicious and the prices were very reasonable. We ordered the sirloin steak and eggs, corned beef hash and a classic breakfast plate. My steak was seasoned well and cooked to perfection; my eggs were just as ordered too. The rye toast was warm, crispy and slathered in real butter. What a great find!

Your regular breakfast diner. I got a corned beef hash and i love that it's homemade. There wasn't…read morea lot of flavor though, but cholula easily fixed that. My waitress was really attentive and the atmosphere was cozy. Good for eavesdropping on elderly customers' cool stories!

Madison's

3.6

(218 reviews)

Came here with our food tour through Madison Eats- we had a pork carnitas taco that was super good…read moreand then the wings with brown sugar & spices. Both were so delish! Would totally recommend coming here if you're in town visiting.

Such a good restaurant! It has a smaller menu but various options for everyone. There was plenty of…read moreindoor and outdoor seating and the staff was so kind! There was some very fun drinks that made the instagram :) The restaurant was fairly empty when we went but still had a lively ambiance at the bar. The restaurant was not wheelchair friendly, so just keep that in mind! And parking can be tricky- parking garage is likely the best option when going around supper time.

Ba Lao

(12 reviews)

Ambience great place to go to grab a tasty and causal meal with friends - I've loved everything…read moreI've eaten from here so far! I'm hoping they bring back the fish fry special - that's been one of my favorite dishes there so far Ahan has been a favorite for a while now and Ba Lao is an extension of that which we are so happy to have in town now too!

This place had been on our radar to give a try. We noticed that they had a happy hour so we went…read moreearly on a Friday evening - the place was empty! Only three other people were showed up during the hour or so we were there - perhaps it gets a later crowd. The bartender/cook greeted us and got us menus. As others have mentioned the small space is done in a fun and funky decor. My wife ordered one of their happy hour specialty drinks which she liked alot - it was sort of an alcoholic Asian Arnold Palmer. I opted for an Asahi beer. The food menu is super small maybe five or six items total. We got the summer rolls (their version of a fresh spring roll) which my wife enjoyed. I got their version of a brat which had Laotian spices and topped with lots of tasty stuff. The bun was super fresh. I really liked it. We also got an order of wings (6 for $18). They were full wings so really the equivalent of 12 wings in most bars. The sauce was good as was the rub but overall they were just OK. Fun concept but given the small menu not sure we'd return.

Remington's Tavern

(12 reviews)

Probably the best burger I've had in years. The cajun fries had just the right kick of spice (not…read moretoo much). Relaxed atmosphere. Our waitress was perfect! (Wed @ noonish)- sorry I did not note her name. So glad we stopped here!

Wanting to venture further we went to Cross Plains to try Remington's. It is a nice Main St tavern…read moreright on Hwy 14 so a decent amount of traffic. They've done a great job to attenuate the noise with a wall and a nice outdoor bar and serving area. We went on a Thursday night and got seated right away. The service was prompt and the food was good. I had the Remington burger and my wife had the Detroit style pizza. The burger was good, with very good Cajun tots. Overall tasty and comparable to a Culver's double. My wife was a big fan of the pizza. I tried a bit and can concur. It was the better of the two. I recommend stopping if in the area for good food and cold beer.

Mickies Dairy Bar

4.1

(444 reviews)

•$

It had been decades since I last had breakfast at Mickies. With the recent publicity about the…read morelong time owners retiring and new folks taking it over we thought we would give the place a try - especially before the students all return to campus. It was a bit after 8am on a Friday morning and the place was hopping but we were able to grab a booth. The wait staff was hustling and eventually got to us. The service was very good from that point onward despite the fact that the place was packed by the time we left. The menu is on the back wall or via a QR code (never my favorite). They also have menus on the wall from the 50's which are eyeopening given today's prices. We started with a cherry milkshake that was not only delicious but huge so two of us split it. All three of us opted for their breakfast sandwich which you can build with many different variations - way more than most restaurants. All three versions were tasty. The side of yanks (American fry potatoes) were just OK but I didn't order them. Thumbs up and we will need to return sooner rather than later.

Classic delicious diner brunch foods. *CASH ONLY* they have an ATM inside…read more They greeted us at the door and were friendly and quick throughout our meal. I had the american cheese omelet with bacon and toast. My one complaint was that the bottom of my omelet was a lil burnt. Otherwise everything tasted exactly how it looked. We also got a vanilla shake. It came with extra straws and long spoons. I would personally recommend using the long spoons to consume this shake since I tried using the straw and it was difficult. Perhaps someone with stronger lungs would have more success. The shake was very sweet. Overall, had a lovely time. Will be back to try some of the sweet dishes next! Thanks :)

Fairchild