One of my favorite hang outs in Madison. Low key, with great staff.

Locals bar, old school atmosphere. Great bloody marys and breakfast.

I love going to brunch here! Best bloody Mary's! Food is great service is always friendly even when crazy busy! Love the outdoor patio! Always have such a great time. read more

I can finally give this bar five stars now that it is smoke-free. Don't get me wrong, I like a cigarette now and again (and again) but the airflow in this place was not conducive to anything but black lung. I love the different rooms in this bar which used to be a house. It is kind of like being at a high school house party, but with the kitchen replaced by a nice bar area. Neat-o! I came here one night and there was a group of about ten people playing violins, accordions, even a harp! Totally legit Irish music, what a nice surprise! read more

I've been to Mickey's for shows, both inside and out. Cool local dive in a hippie neighborhood. I was also able to go for brunch. I had the burger, a bloody and a can of beer. The bloody Mary left much to be desired, but the burger was delicious. Our server was attentive and accommodating. read more

Recommend the burger and mac'n cheese. Friendly atmosphere, good drinks. Sometimes they have live music going.

Stopped here on our way through Madison to canoe up north at the recommendation of other yelpers. If I lived closer, I would be a regular. This place is nostalgic and comfortable. The bartender (might be an owner) was super nice and makes a mean bloody! Sexy fries aren't just pretty - they have a little complexity from the truffle oil and the parmesan. The burger and reuben were both solid and the wedge salad was fresh! The skill of the kitchen folks comes through here...a step above bar food. Next time I am heading North, I will be stopping at Mickey's and maybe we can stay longer this time.... read more

Great pub grub. Good sandwiches for everyone including vegans (i.e. me) - the Lonestar - without the coleslaw.

Nice selection of beers and a decent menu. We had the sexy fries and they were delicious. Outdoor seating area is pet friendly, even providing a dog bowl for water. read more

First time in... Mickey Burger and Sexy Fries... Awesome! Good beer and a patio... If this was in my town, I'd be a regular...

Sat at the bar and asked for a menu. Drank my entire beer before the bartender (Matt?) asked if I wanted to order. By that time, I had lost my appetite. The bar wasn't even that crowded. The bartender was much too preoccupied trying to be fancy by flipping glasses and bottles. Not impressed. read more

Great neighborhood bar that also serves up great food. I've been frequenting this bar for about 16 years under various ownership. I remember when there was a baby fawn diarama behind the bar and when I went upstairs to go to the bathroom ( I saw a door open), I was chased out by an old man who lived there. I think it was the owner. They've come a long way since, especially now that they serve up reasonably priced food. The sexy fries have been a fave, but the most recent time I had them, they changed the cut of the potato and they were overdone. The pizzas are good too. read more

Great, laid back atmosphere with a unique layout. Attentive bartenders - make great sangria! Ordered lunch - the coconut squash soup is to die for!!!! The bloody's are some of the best we've had. We've returned several times and will continue to do so. read more

I go to the Mickeys Tavern for the atmosphere and drinks. The former hotel, turned bar is as marvelous as it can get! Each room represents different a decade with the décor and furniture you get immersed in the time the room represents. The drinks are delicious! The staff is super friendly and helpful! The food... ah, the food is not just like any bar food you have experience. Once you try their super sexy fries with the lamb burger and you will never order bar food anywhere else. It makes you a better person! read more

Worth the wait in line. The Scrambler was everything I had heard it was, and then some.

Awesome Bloody Mary's, delicious scramble, great tap beer selection, conversational bar tenders as busy as they were. So glad the previous reviews were true!!! Was totally worth the drive. read more

Fantastic food, atmosphere and service and a Willy Street staple! If they are busy and you are starving, you might want to have 1) have a snack before you go 2) go somewhere else. The patio is also fun in the summer. read more

This place is AMAZING! My partner and I have been a couple times, when we're craving a burger. I've had both a beef and walnut burger there, and both were unbelievable. The prices are very reasonable for the deliciousness that is the food. They've got a great beer selection and the environment is cozy and laid back. They also have tons of vegetarian options, that are tasty and not just the typical options you usually find. And, at last, the "sexy fries" are a special treat! I would like to try their other meals, which I would expect to be phenomenal. read more

Tied with Tattooed Moms in Philly for the best bar ever award! Just go... you won't be disappointed, and you won't need alot of money, either. Have some great bar food (the sexy fries will actually make you sexier..), free wi-fi (Spike!), cheap happy hour drinks, and if you're a smoker you can light up at the adorable patio seating area outside (umbrellas!)...and remember to tip the staff well, they deserve it for always being friendly and unique.. it is a cash only establishment, so leave your plastic at home...Oh Madison how I miss you....= ^ { read more

This is one of those "I love this bar but don't go there nearly often enough" sort of places. Several rooms to sit in -- some of them feel like I'm visiting someone's grandma's house, but in a good way -- and the bar area is great. Also a good outside patio. Food ain't bad either. Love this place. read more

One of my favorite places in Madison. They definitely serve up the best bloody mary's in town. World's greatest sandwich is aptly named (add avocado!). Sexy fries are delicious. Importantly, they have good ranch here. Decent eggs benedict makes it a nice spot for brunch too. Fun, eclectic seating inside; lovely little patio outside. Only downside is they don't take cards, an obnoxiously common trend in this town. read more

Didn't realize that Mickey's had food, as the few times I've been there have been later in the evening or to see a band. Had dinner there this week. Started with a Six Point on tap (they had the Bengali IPA which was great, though I'd love to see Resin on tap) and the green chile pork, which came with 4 soft flour taco shells. The dish was excellent -- both the sauce and the pork were perfect. For an entree I had the mac and cheese with ring bolonga, one of my favorite comfort foods. Nothing to over the top, but it is hard to go wrong with sausage, noodles and cheese. My wife ordered the sexy fries, which sound much better on the menu than they were, I was a bit underwhelmed - I think I would have preferred the parmesan melted onto the chips, but still good. Loved the outdoor dining area, so I will definitely be back to try some other items. There were three waitresses the night were was there, and service was great. read more

I go to the Mickeys Tavern for the atmosphere and drinks. The former hotel, turned bar is as marvelous as it can get! Each room represents different a decade with the decor and furniture you get immersed in the time the room represents. The drinks are delicious! The staff is super friendly and helpful! The food... ah, the food is not just like any bar food you have experience. Once you try their super sexy fries with the lamb burger and you will never order bar food anywhere else. It makes you a better person! read more

The sexy fries were tasty and unique. The beer selection was pretty good and the atmosphere was great. We went at a really dead time, but I think it would be a fun bar to hang out in for the night. read more

Best patio in town. Best sandwiches in town. Great bar staff...old school vibes are a plus. No ego...they keep it real. Noticed new servers which is good...some were just awful and took forever. But service has improved. Love it there. Green chili pork is the best thing there. read more

Totally my go-to bar in Madison. Cool atmosphere, feels (and looks!) like a friend's house. Cheap drinks and food that is actually good. Sandwiches and burgers are great. They use meat from the Jenny St. Market and other natural ingredients. Cheap pool. Quiet. A good crowd. Sometimes great music, but you can escape it in the back rooms or on the huge patio in the warm months. Love this place. read more

The food was great but the people were noisy and rude, me and my family had to shout to the waitress when ordering food we had to shout to each other to talk to each other. Food was great but the staff could have told the noisy people next to us to quiet down or leave, when me and my family were talking about relatives and family matters the table over was talking about pornhub and discussing things wile we were trying to eat and no one did anything about it. I was very disappointed with how the restaurant staff didn't help the situation. We got out of there as fast as we could it was truly ridiculous. read more

I've been coming to MIckey's for a while now. Definitely not every day or even weekly, but I'd say usually at least once a month. They have an awesome brunch and all-around great food in general. I have never had a bad experience with their waitstaff. They are friendly, attentive, and quick. But, now I can't say that about all of them. I was there this past weekend on Saturday the 27th, and the service I got from this particular server (who I recognize as a server at La Brioche, as well) can really only be described as appalling. A friend and I were there in the afternoon and it was pretty busy. I don't know why, but as far as I can tell, she was the only one working outside. (I don't know why her manager wouldn't think to put more people on considering how nice it was and considering that they had set up all the tables and chairs.) I would have been willing to give her the benefit of the doubt if she hadn't been so incredibly rude to us. My friend and I know the deal: grab your own water or coffee, grab a seat, they do the rest. We sat at our table for maybe 10 minutes waiting for her to approach us, but she never did. I hate to be someone who waves at a server, but finally I had to because she never even stopped to greet us, and she rolled her eyes at me and kept right on walking. To say the least, I was irked by that. Finally, she stopped and just said, "Drinks?," but in this tone as though she were annoyed with us personally. I told her I wasn't sure what I wanted to drink, but would like some water and that we needed menus. She told me, "You can get your own water and menus over there," pointing towards the back door. I told her there were no glasses and she told me, "We're working on that." Completely put-off by her attitude, I said okay. She was starting to leave when I asked about the scramble du jour. I kid you not, she told me, "I don't remember, it's on the board inside," and then walked away. So, after going and fetching our own menus and water from inside, and waiting what felt like another 10 minutes for her to come take our order, she came up to our table abruptly, interrupting my friend who was talking, and demanded, "Know what you want?" My friend began and chose one thing, but then second guessed herself and decided to change her order, at which point she informed us, "You need more time." She actually began to walk away and I had to call after her to come back. I told her I would order and give my friend a few more seconds to decide. After we ordered our food, she began to walk away. I had to yell after her again, "We want drinks, too!" Again, I kid you not, she told us, "You might as well get those from the bar because I have like 10 drinks to make before I get to yours." My friend and I were dumbfounded. When we got back to the table, our waters had been cleared and we just barely caught new people trying to take our spot. She noticed this while walking by and said, "Oh, I thought you left." And, as if this entire situation couldn't get anymore unreal, at one point while serving food to the folks next to us, she grabbed our table settings (ketchup, S&P, jams) and put them on their table. We waited a while for our food, but we were expecting that. The kitchen is small, but they always do a great job. Our food finally came, and she set down a tofu scramble in front of me rather than the du jour I had ordered. I informed her of the mistake and she informed me with hostility, "Well, the patio is noisy right now." I didn't know what to say in response. She continued, "I can have them remake it, but it will take just as long if not longer for it to come out. Just eat the tofu." My friend and I looked at each other in disbelief. My friend offered to trade plates with me, but I declined. I actually settled and ate food I didn't order. I had never tried the tofu before and it was delicious, but on principle it was simply outrageous I had to settle at all. My friend and I were going to have more than one cocktail, but fed up, we decided to go somewhere else. We had to flag her down to get our check and when she finally brought it back to the table, she had included our drinks on the tab (the ones we had to get ourselves, which we had paid for at the bar.) So, we had to flag her down again, and seemingly annoyed, she told us she would fix it. Needless to say, when she brought the correct bill we didn't want to wait around anymore, so we left some money and got out of there. The tip reflected exactly how we felt about this entire experience. Inside, while I was waiting for my friend to use the bathroom, she walked by and sneered at me. I'm not saying I won't eat at Mickey's again. Quite the contrary. But, if she is serving, I'm sitting at the bar. Good grief! Confidential to our server (if you somehow, miraculously, see this): get a new line of work. You are not cut out for this. I don't like feeling like shit while I eat brunch. read more

I've seen too many people being kicked out for no good reason, have experienced less than decent customer service, & the employees lack professionalism. If you're not apart of their 'inside group' it takes a while to get service. Being cash only is inconvenient as well. I, myself, have messaged them with complaints & never have gotten a response. A lot to work on here. read more

I grew up in Madison, and have lived out of state for the past 7 or 8 years. But man, I have yet to find a bar I like better than Mickey's. I truly believe this is the best bar in the entire world. Every new bar I find I compare to Mickey's, and they all come up short. So why is Mickey's Tavern the literal best bar in the entire world? Great food, great alcohol. (The prices are especially great coming back to visit Madison from the coasts.) Great patio, it's wonderful to be able to smoke while I have a cold local beer. The inside of the bar is large with ample seating, and great homey decor. There's a pool table. The bar is large enough that if there is a band playing, but you are looking for a more low-key evening you can find seating in another room. But the real reason Mickey's is the best is how friendly the atmosphere is. I always feel like I am attending a pleasant party every time I go there. People are just nice. Not midwestern fake nice, but super fun to talk to if you want. But, of course, you don't have to. read more

Good atmosphere, fair prices, but over the last 15 years of going to this bar a few times a year one thing has remained the same - pretentious, unhelpful, cooler-than-thou jackasses behind the bar. If you're not a tatted up hipster be prepared to wait a long time for your drinks. But I keep going back so it's not all bad. read more

Horrible customer service, waittess treat us very poorly the minute she hear us talking in spanish. Perhaps she felt unsecured or she simple dislike us for that reason; we would never know. The worst part was her manager, she pretty much asked us to leave because her waitress told her she fell threatened by us. We understand Mikeys is a dive bar but that does not meat they should trash you for not speaking only English. I know I should probably just shrug and accept the changing times with Trump. The problem is, I can't. This is about more than an bad attitude. It's about losing a sense of difference, about ignoring this is suppose to be a diverse community. read more

We went to Mickey's for a second try on 4/14/21. First time the food was good but the service was indifferent. This time was far worse. It appears that if you're not one of the regulars, you get the Dick Cheney treatment, as in "GFY!" We arrived at about 5:30 pm, sat at a table in the bar. No waitstaff showed for 10 min. so we got our own drinks at the bar. Waited another 5 min. and a waiter showed, then disappeared for another 5 min. before taking our orders, which were the two specials. Our food finally arrived at 6:58. No "sorry we lost your order," no offer of a comp. drink, and not even a thank you. And frankly, the food wasn't worth waiting for. We did get a big dose of GFY and we won't be back for more. If you're not a regular, be forewarned. Easily the worst service we've ever had in Madison. read more

Love this place, and come here almost every week with my knitting group. The mac 'n cheese is high quality stuff made with good cheese, so I recommend trying it even if you're not a fan of Kraft (I'm not!). read more

The decor is cool, the food and drinks, OK, the patio lovely. Just don't be in a hurry.

Best pulled pork in town! You have to try the sexy fries...and do it when you can sit on the back patio and have a few drinks. The bartenders are usually crabby but the servers are always awesome! read more

Mickey's can be great, but sometimes frustrating. If you sit in the back rooms and it's not busy, there's a chance that the staff will forget that you're back there. Actually, I've had the staff forget I was there while I was sitting at the bar, too. But other than the occasional lapse in service, Mickey's is friendly, cozy, the food is great, and their beer list is typically very good. It doesn't hurt that it's at the intersection of two bike paths, either. One caveat - the outdoor patio allows smoking, so you might find 9 out of 10 tables taking advantage of that fact. read more

Really disappointed. I normally love this bar, great place to hang out a grab a few drinks. The staff is never overly friendly, but I think that's kinda their "thing." A friend and I went there on a Friday night a few weeks ago to get some food and drinks. It was around 9:30 pm, it was busy, but nothing crazy. We found two seats by the front window and got comfortable. My friend went up to the bar to get our first round of drinks and grab some menus. He asked if we could place food orders at the bar or if a server would come to us, the bartender told us a server would be with us shortly. Fifteen minutes went by and no one had come to take our order, so I went up to the bar to try and place our food order. The bartender would not take my order and told me that a server would be with me in a few minutes. I pointed to where we were sitting, just so there was no confusion. We waited another 20 minutes and no one came over to us, the bouncer then proceeded to kick us out of our spots because a band that was setting up needed to put their stuff where we were sitting. There was no where else to sit at this point, so we just gave up. I wish the bartender would've been able to take our food order. I hear the food was great and was sad that I wasn't able to try it. read more

The best service I have had in a while. We came in the afternoon on a Tuesday and it was pretty busy. The bartender was taking tables and bartending and still found the time tell us about the place. Being first time customers, this was important to us. She described specials and the menu throughly before whisking away to attend to others. The ambience was fun, colorful and eclectic. The space was cozy and compartmentalized, seemed a perfect fit for the area. The menu made me hungry to look at though we didn't try anything. We did see Mac and cheese come out in a skillet and all decided we would be back for that. Before we left, the bartender informed us they have brunch on Saturday and Sunday. I will be back to try that as well! read more

one of the first bars in madison, it has also been smoking the longest. this bar has had smoke in it before wisconsin was a state. aside from its smoke, mickey's has hipsters that float in the air as well. the interior design is cool and the music is fair. cheap beer and mesh back hats are everywhere. read more