I. love. the. Up. North. When I lived on Willy street the Up…read moreNorth became my bar. I was never a regular at a bar until I was within walking distance of the Up North. The people that work there are really nice. The atmosphere is always calm and cozy. Very very rarely do a few drunk frat boys dribble in there if the Essen Haus is too busy. People seem to overlook it and thats a part of why I love it. The regulars that go there are also really fun. When I want to hang out with a friend and have a good conversation I go to the Up North. Its always really chill in there. There's a pinball machine if you need it. There's always drinks specials. And popcorn. Basically I have no complaints about the Up North. Its a great bar.

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!

Both the very best burger AND the cities top rated and most loved bar tender reside here…read more If you happen to be in on a night Winslow is working, you will be on cloud 9 from entry to exit. The Caribou is a place where you can experience what America was meant to be and YOU WILL suck it up and obey the cash bar only rule. No credit cards, no debt cards, no bitcoin, just cash and joy on tap. If you have a card, there is an ATM at the end of the bar and YOU WILL be patient and happier for being an adult. Tip well and honor a tradition too rare in this world.

nice spot for a cheap drink and dinner. décor is nice and the place itself is clean. Cari did a…read moregreat job at the bar--very kind and friendly! would definitely recommend. a good spot whether you come alone or with friends.

Paradise is the best dive bar in Madison. It has the best bartenders - shout out Taylor!…read more The food options are perfect greasy drunk snacks. There can be a long line for the pool table and darts most nights so I would bring a deck of cards while you wait.

Worse place ever. The bar tender was incredibly rude!!! There was a person who needed help and…read moreasked for it and instead of helping they kick them out. He was saddening to watch. This place discriminates and treats people very very poorly. I am surprised they are still in business

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 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.

Super chill spot, and the food was really good bar food. Surprisingly not busy. Only nitpicks were…read morethat the burger was a little expensive and the fries were a bit plain. Some of the best parts: kind staff, a bunch of our cheesecurds came together in one giant tasty cheese curd conglomerate (curdglometate?), and you get a free drink for posting food on social media. Highly recommend!!

Great friendly neighborhood bar with some cool colorful soccer memorabilia. Comfy booths, lots of…read moreTV's & a variety of options of eats & drinks. Fish fry is a real treat, perfectly seasoned breading & flakey fish. Fries crispy outside & fluffy inside. Onion rings were super yummy! Coleslaw was delicious, tangy, crunchy but a very small cup...I wanted more! Served with a wonderful slice of marble rye, wowed by the fresh hearty flavor. Great time, it is a dive bar so go in knowing this and you'll be fine! Enjoy

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.

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 Tavern may be one of my new favorite spots in the Madison! Located on the eclectic…read moreWilliamson Street, Mickey's is divey, local, welcoming with a tinge of new age and it works, really well. The exterior is quintessential old school dive bar from the worn paint to the old school PBR sign. When you walk in, you are quickly transported into a retro, yet new age space that features old school lighting and artwork mixed with new age neon's and a creative menu. Staff were excellent at the bar. They hooked it up and helped us choose just the right drink, and chatted us up for a while. Patrons were equally friendly, which was nice. With that, it has the vibe of Wisconsin from decor, menu, staff to patrons. We hung out in the main bar area for a while, and then discovered there was a whole other section with a pool table and more cozy style seating areas. They do offer your standard bar food, which looked and smelled good. However, we were there on a liquid diet, so cocktails is all we got, and we were not mad at it. Overall, absolutely in love with Mickey's Tavern. Will absolutely be back on my next visit to Madison!

What an awesome neighborhood bar!…read more Came here with some really cool Yelp friends the other night for a Nacho night we put together. The people at Woody Anne's were very accommodating and let us use the shuffleboard table for our food. They were also nice enough to let us bring our own food. The bartender was extremely attentive and friendly, and other patrons at the bar were very friendly too! Great local place to come to for drinks with some friends. It's pretty small inside, but they have a decent amount of seating at the bar. Bring some cash with you if you come here, as it is cash only.

Literally have no idea how this place has 4 stars. The regulars are absolutely terrible (minus a…read morefew decent ones) and basically own the bar. Good if you want to be overcharged for drinks unless you're an old man.

Wow! I was in Madison working for a few days and just happened to find this place while walking…read morearound the capital one night, and man, was I impressed! Such a great vibe and nice atmosphere! I was with a coworker and we ordered beers and found a table and watched as the locals piled in, and suddenly it was packed and hopping! I ended every evening here, the beers were cold, and even though busy, service was friendly and fast. Downstairs is great, but the upstairs is even cooler, and had an even better vibe. If I lived here, I would definitely be here every night!

Cue the music... "Where everybody knows your name!" This is the absolute vibe of Genna's and even…read morethough no one knew our name, we felt like they were at least interested in learning it. We belied up to the bar and ordered a few cocktails. The bartender was super welcoming and friendly and had the best pour of my trip! As the afternoon progressed, more locals and regulars continued piling in, each welcomed personally and in some cases were greeted by their favorite beverage. The space is divey, but not dirty. It's eclectic, local, retro and homey. Downstairs has a simple local dive bar feel, while upstairs has more of a "scene" vibe. Overall, really enjoyed Genna's and is definitely on the "visit list" for my time in town!

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.