We went to this new Taproom after visiting Havenswoods State Forest and had a great time. Large…read moredraft beer selection for those who like IPAs and those that don't. I had a Third Space red ale (well actually 3). The indoor space is spotless and welcoming, but we spent our time outside playing bags and Jenga. There's also space in the back and 5 acres of woods with a hiking trail! Havenswood Taproom is new, but has so much that would satisfy anyone. I hope to be back when a food truck is there and maybe a concert. I recommend checking out this Taproom and hope you have as much fun as we did.

This is a legit, top notch beer bar. The draft list is curated by people that don't just love beer,…read morebut are super knowledgeable. I'd say hands down the best craft menu in Milwaukee. The vibe in the space is also killer. Very chill place to hang and drink incredible beers. They had stuff like Cantillon and Side Project on tap - unreal. They also offer some food - there were three different pizzas available when I was there. This is an absolute MUST HIT spot if you are in the area.

We were happy to find parking super close to the front door and then dismayed to find out we had a…read more45 minute wait time with nowhere to sit or stand without being in the way of servers. We got lucky and had bar seats open up after about 5 minutes which allowed us to grab cocktails and relax. After a bit we ordered some Brussel sprouts as an appetitizer and before they could show up our table opened up. My wife chose the 2 piece cod fry with chips while I opted for the perch fry with fries. Everything was spectacular. The bartenders were jumping around each other to keep people happy at the bar and the rest of the staff get people's bellies filled with food. If you go keep in mind there are no reservations and will probably be a wait, but they will take great care of you and serve you some awesome fish!

I was heading to the Downer Theater after work for a movie on Friday night and of course wanted a…read morefish fry beforehand. I surprisingly don't have many options in my "MKE - Fish Fry" collection that are near downtown, but Swinging Door Exchange was one of them. I was pressed for time, so I placed a to go order rather than dining in. I got the combo fish fry (two pieces of cod, two pieces of perch, and three fried shrimp) with potato pancakes. I was also very easily talked into the half rack rib appetizer. The ribs were good, even though I prefer sauce that's more sweet and smokey. Their sauce was on the tangy side with a tease of spice that really only became noticeable when the majority of the half rack was gone. If I were in the mood for ribs as my main meal, I'd consider getting theirs as an entree. The two potato pancakes weren't homemade; instead, they were premade hash brown patties that some other restaurants also serve with their fish frys. These were perfectly acceptable in lieu of homemade pancakes. The cod tasted great, but the breading didn't hold up very well. Either the fish itself was too wet or the two block walk back to my car allowed for condensation to wreck it or possibly both. The perch was not yellow lake perch but probably something like pike perch. Even though both kinds of fish and the shrimp were all good sized portions, $29 feels like a lot. I wouldn't say no to it, though, if I were dining in next time and avoid the extra cost of their takeout fee. Shout-out to the bartenders working that night. The bar area was absolutely packed, but both of the ones I talked to about placing my order were friendly and helpful even with being super busy.

It gets no better than being downtown in Deer District at the Beer Garden! This is one awesome spot…read moreto catch a game and hangout. Big screen TV on the front wall and a whole lot of area to post up and chillax. We caught game 1 of the Bucks against the Celtics and found ourselves in the midst of a serious throw down happening here. Despite the long lines, we found beers and we enjoyed every minute of the game on the big screen in style! Milwaukee style! I love going to the game but something about being outdoors in the Beer Garden in front of the area that made it super special. The energy was unmatched and I was completely blown away that this venue is free to the general public to get in. Not sure if it gets much better than that. I'll be back again to check this mecca of Milwaukee out again!

I have to echo Chadwick's review - this place is awesome!! Despite walking by this spot numerous…read moretimes on ways to Bucks games during winter, I didnt understand or appreciate its true potential until the playoffs started. The beer garden, located off 3rd street next to the loaded slate, features picnic tables in front of a huge 26 foot screen. a plexiglas roof up above let's you see the sky but keeps out the elements (I watched one of the first round games during a downpour and was just fine). You dont have to buy - so it's free but if you buy a drink at the actual "beer garden" stand, theres free popcorn with your purchase. Theres also various drink and food stands .. auntie Annie's has a pretzel truck and lots of people were bringing pizza from Brick 3 on 3rd st. Security (you'll see them in bright yellow vests) has done a good job letting everyone have a good time but taking care of problems (dont be8 standing on the picnic tables please.) I've only watched away games here but walking through the area to go into the forum for game 1 of the semi finals I could tell the energy would be crazy there even for home games. it's a great option if you dont have a ticket. It does truly feel like "Milwaukees living room" The tables are communal - you'll definitely make some new friends, and the energy is just off the charts. I love how all eyes are on the tv and everyone will start chanting "MVP" or "DE-FENCE" like were actually at the game. Bango, the dancers, the drum line and other members of the bucks crew usually make an appearance on a final side note....Over 15 years ago I lamented the tearing down of the old Park East freeway and my easy freeway access....it took over 15 years, but the promise and potential of this part of the city and downtown is finally starting to be fulfilled with the Deer District. Get here and experience it for yourself!

IG: diamante.lara.milwaukee Real POVs / Real Spots…read more Hope brewing is amazing place and you can bring her dogs and chill outside and do recreational outside activities with your family or friends.

Ope Brewing is a fun bar to visit if in town! There are plenty of tables both inside and outside,…read moreperfect if you looking to host a large group. The bar also has a large parking lot in the back so you don't need to worry about parking in the area. When I went, there were also two food trucks on site which was a fun addition. I got their blackberry NA mule and it was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend checking out this bar!

Always a fun time at broken bat! They have rotating beers on tap as well as basic cocktails and…read morewine. The bartenders are always sparking up conversation and so fun to chat with. Broken Bat features dart and wiffleball leagues - which I would highly recommend!! You can also rent the wiffleball field for a fun time with friends and they have an event space upstairs as well.

Great bloody Mary, even better dog friendly brewery. They host great events and there's also a…read moresuper fun wiffle ball court in the back that's available to rent.

My husband heard about this place and was excited to bring me to check it out. We had a full day…read moreplanned on a Saturday and it began around 2 pm with our first stop here at dream lab. We were greeted by Shawn, our barista who had friendly, chill vibes. We asked for his suggestions and ended up choosing the pistachio latte and the espresso drink. Shawn told us to find a seat, I was delighted to see there were tons of spots to choose from. We ended up sitting on the main floor at a very large wooden table that would be perfect for playing games with a large group of friends or family. Shawn promptly delivered our drinks and they were delicious. Besides the drinks, the music and ambience were great and we especially liked the gift area with art, t-shirts, books and more. The sign saying "you are f#ucking magick" resonated as we left in great moods ready to take on the day. We will be back soon!

Excellent atmosphere. Gorgeous art, great music and delightful drinks. This place was awesome and…read morecan't wait to go back. Also very comfy seating.

5 stars all around - from their seasonal drinks, to their patio and large fireplaces, and their…read morefriendly staff. This is a must stop if you're feeling like sitting on a patio and trying a variety of delicious drinks. They also do little food pop ups throughout the year, partnering with other local businesses!

Stopped by for a post dinner drink and to catch up. They definitely boast a lot of cocktail…read morecreations and take pride in their homemade ingredients. Their current winter "Port No 6" menu has drinks starting at $12 but you can tell they put a lot of care into each creation. We stopped by on a Wednesday before 6pm and they did offer $2 off tap beers so I got a zombie dust tulip for $5. Not bad! Staff are friendly but things may move a little slower due to the care they put into their cocktails. This is definitely reminiscent of island vibes. Wait for a good drink and relax at the bar or outer patio (which has heaters in the winter). Street parking is pretty easy to snag, even around dinner time.

Third Space Brewing occasionally hosts 'pints with a purpose' evenings where you can go, enjoy a…read morepint, and know a portion of the proceeds is helping out a local nonprofit. We attended such an evening where the proceeds from our pints were supporting Islands of Brilliance, a local nonprofit offering creative programs for autistic and other neurodivergent students. Third Space was featuring their peanut butter brilliance, which is an American style porter, for the evening. My beer buddy and I both ordered their peanut butter brilliance and enjoyed it in their tap room/brewery. There's plenty of seating so even on a bustling Friday evening we were able to get our beers right away and find a spot to enjoy them. Love this spot and while it's a little more magical in the summer months when you can enjoy the outdoors, it's a great oasis in the colder months as well. Get to it!

This is not a bad space for beer fans I'm sure, but I was here for a private party in their back…read moreroom area and cannot review the bar. While the space opens up wide, it is not air conditioned and at the height of summer it is hotter than Hades inside. They have fans, but they just push the hot air around. While I was there they had a seafood food truck parked outside, but it was hard to imagine a worse choice for a day where raw seafood would sizzle as soon as it left the window. I can't comment on service, since I didn't interact with any staff. I'm sure in more temperate weather this is a fun hangout, but man - not in summer.

This is do not miss place - somehow I have missed this on every trip to Milwaukee...including at…read moreleast a dozen on the same street! How does this happen? Thanks as always to Yelp for finding OGBH - because this place is AWESOME! We wanted to sit at the bar, but the bar was busy, so we grabbed a table in the other room and the bartender came to us about 4 minutes later and said there were 2 spots at the bar! So, we moved to the bar and thoroughly enjoyed the next 3 hours - we might still be there, if it wasn't for the Brewers game we had tickets to! We enjoyed several different beers on tap, talked with the bartenders - specifically Mitch and Sarah and of course the other people at the bar. We enjoyed the OGBH Brat - for sure the best brat I have ever had. The bun is perfectly warm and toasty, the brat is delicious and full of flavor and of course, it's snappy! We even tried the bavarian pretzel with the yummy cheese! I love this place - I don't have to search for anywhere else to go now that I have found this gem!

I love OGBH! Whether it's a sporting event night in downtown or just a random night, it's a great…read moreplace to stop in for a (root) beer or two. I'm not a beer drinker myself, so I always go for a liter of the root beer. I'm not even a huge root beer fan, but it feels fitting when I visit here. I love their chicken schnitzel tenders. The ranch here is so well-flavored and compliments the thin breading on the tenders.

IG: diamante.lara.milwaukee Real POVs / Real Spots…read more The food and atmosphere is great, a whole bunch of seats are available. Perfect place for the spring and summer

Took a tour here on a Friday and really enjoyed our tour guide's humor. There were lots of families…read morehere. There was a polka band and they guys walked around singing to all the tables before their set started. Super cool. They have a small kitchen. I was disappointed to learn that they don't make their special flavored cheese curds on Fridays, but the regular ones were just fine and enough for our table to share. There's a little deck in the back that overlooks the Milwaukee River that we were able to enjoy on a beautiful, unseasonably warm day. Overall a nice time here. One kind of weird thing that happened here, which I only mention because it didn't seem like our tour guide was able to handle it in the moment, and they definitely need a system in place to handle guests that are making the rest of the group uncomfortable. There was a guy who kept turning around and staring at people, fidgeting in a way that I recognized as agitation, and kind of pacing. All the parents who had kids in the group realized there was a problem and even though we didn't know each other, kind of formed a line in front of the kids. I'm sure it was a one-off, but there has to be a way to deal with guests like that. Also a little weird that kids over the age of 12 have to pay for the tour, but each of their soda drinks took two tokens, while the adults only used one for beers.