Sundown has amazing prices and great service. Carol is great and was fine with making a custom…read moredrink! Highly recommend.

We were looking for breakfast and a good Bloody Mary and friends recommended the Sundown Saloon…read more Jen was super friendly and makes a great bloody and Sam's breakfast did not disappoint. We'd definitely go back and would recommend you give it a try!

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.

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!

We went here for drinks after after our meal as we headed home. This is a first class dive bar with…read moresome colorful locals. Two pool tables, music from a cd jukebox, games etc. I ordered a Gin Rickey and the bartender was peeved like how dare you order a drink that I can't make and I explain to him how to make it, he's the guy from Iowa with glasses that starts with A. So he thinks he's clever and calls it a gin Richard, ie d#ck is slang for Richard. Now he thinks he funny and called me Richard the whole time while I was there, basically calling me a d#ck every chance he got. What a Maddison hipster doofus, nice way to treat someone's who first time in the place and the last time.

A really fun bar on Atwood Ave, the Ideal has been around for years and hosts local artist Jo…read moreJensen on Gallery Nights in spring & fall. You can also find her art for sale there! Strong drinks, colorful characters, yummy bar food & a cozy feel where you come-as-you-are to meet friends and share a toast.

Love this place! Came back with my dad for a scotch flight and a few martinis. Got to talk with the…read moreowner Scott who was amazing! Knows his stuff behind the bar. I highly recommend taking a look at the extensive martini list and giving a couple of them a try. They have weekly specials too-- Wednesday is $6 Martini night. Say what?!? Yes, you heard me correctly-- top quality martinis (shaken not stirred) for under a Hamilton!!!

Came here before a show at the opera house and was so happy to be greeted by ms. ELKE. This is a…read moresmall spot and the lights and dim but the drinks were great. They also have a bunch of board games to keep you entertained. But the best part was Elke.

Charlie is horrible - if I could give zero stars, I would!…read more The bartender, CHARLIE, immediately questioned the validity of one member of our party's out-of-state ID, even though she is 26 years old and provided legitimate identification!While we understand that checking IDs is part of the job, the interaction felt accusatory and unprofessional. Things only got worse when another person in our group ordered a sweet Old Fashioned--a classic Wisconsin drink--and Charlie responded with a disrespectful comment about how "you really are new at drinking- it's past 8 o'clock!" Giving a hard time for ordering a mixed drink. When we expressed our concerns about how we were being treated, the conversation became argumentative rather than constructive. The final straw was being told to the 26 year old- "I'll serve you, but I won't take responsibility if you get caught," despite no valid issue being identified with the ID. At that point, we decided to leave rather than continue the interaction! We will not be back! Never bring your family visitors to this bar.

Good bar, good prices, cold beer, good selection of deep fryer classics. My favorite were the dill…read morepickle cheese curds they are a must order!

We ended up there for a birthday party a large group of people and they seem to handle it. Well…read moreonly two employees there. The drinks were made very well and we would definitely go back there. It's not your run of the mill bar. It's a specialty bar and they make unique drinks that are awesome. Definitely will go back there again.. the only thing I could suggest is that maybe they put in snacks that even if you purchase it bags of pretzels, bags of popcorn, peanuts, etc.

A quick stop for a drink before heading over to the Stockton Opera House to see Charlie Parr. This…read morebar just happened to be right around the corner from the venue. Decision made! I love the bars I've discovered since I moved to Milwaukee. Most with a classic feel, slightly dim with quirky decor. This bar is no different. There is always something new to check out and explore. I loved that my drink had a doily as a coaster. A very good cocktail menu. I found something quickly. It was relatively quiet since we arrived kind of at an off time. but there was a small talkative group of regulars (seemed to be?) at the other end of the bar. The service was somewhat sluggish. The bartender chatted with the regulars and overlooked when we finished our drinks. I never want to be that people who yell at a bartender or is aggressive about having a drink now. Did we waited longer than usual? Yes. But nothing major. And the exceptional cocktails were worth the wait!

If you happen to go to rip's bar, make sure you take a local from Waunakee with you. With a…read moreWaunakee local, you will have fun and meet new people. If you go alone, you will not be looked at talk to or even acknowledged..

Best dive bar in town. Mel is the best bartender I've ever had the pleasure of meeting…read more Good music, good people & no judgment. If your fortunate enough to shake some dice you'll know what I mean. Have a better time each time I drink here!