At first glance, the place presents itself as a neighborhood dive--a worn-in local haunt where the…read moredécor is secondary to the conversation. But the illusion fades the moment a Bloody Mary arrives at the table. This is a bar that takes its craft seriously. The cocktail was thoughtfully prepared and balanced, revealing an attention to detail rarely found in establishments trading on casual charm alone. The atmosphere is equally compelling: lively without being chaotic, welcoming without feeling manufactured. It possesses the kind of authenticity that cannot be designed or replicated. In an era of increasingly curated hospitality, this remains a genuinely local gathering place--unpretentious, distinctive, and unmistakably its own.

We like our walleye and eggs for breakfast, and decided to try out the Squirrel's Nest. It is a…read moresmall establishment with a bar to the left and seating area, to the right, with two smaller tables on the side of the bar. We arrived about 10:00 am, and it was packed. It was very loud with people talking, due to the small space. We sat at our table and waited awhile for a server, but didn't know if we needed to order at the bar. After a while, a waitress arrived to take our order. She was very joyful and friendly. We both ordered the walleye and eggs, which included hashbrowns and toast. My husband added cheese and onions on the hashbrowns at no extra cost. We also ordered a Bloody Mary, which came with a chaser. They arrived with a spear of mozzarella cheese, pimento olive, smoked sausage, and a dill pickle. The walleye had a nice thin crust and the eggs and hashbrowns were cooked perfectly. My better half said that he didn't taste any onions in the hashbrowns and they used American cheese, which made them runny. It was a good breakfast, and we enjoyed our time there. However, due to the loudness, we probably won't go back, as it was hard to have a conversation. Be aware that they only take cash, but they do have an ATM in the building. This establishment definitely had a great atmosphere and service, with friendly staff.

FYI - Cash only! ATM on site…read more Had a delicious cheeseburger and fries! It was cooked to order medium rare and had so much flavor. Fries were really good too! They have quite the variety of burgers. I'll definitely be back!

Players Sports Bar has the best burgers in town when you are on the hunt for the ultimate burgers!…read moreTheir burgers are massively huge/filling, well seasoned, and deliciously made with love! Players Sports Bar & Grill is a fun, casual, cash ONLY, typical Wisconsin neighborhood dive bar nestled in the Atwood neighborhood of Madison, WI. They have a great beer selection, classic bar games, pool tables, and ping pong! This place has plenty of tvs to catch your favorite sports! It was super busy when we arrived on Wednesday night. It seemed to be a diverse crowd of neighborhood locals, blue collar, younger folks, and just people having a great time! It's a great place when you are craving greasy, fried, delicious bar food, and snacks! They serve not only burgers, but cheese curds, wings, and lighter far like salads. They need a round of applause for coming up with some of the tastiest unique burger creations ever such as their Poker Ho Burger, Lotza Motza Burger, and Players Burger. My husband and I were blown away by the burgers! My favorite is their Big Daddy Burger with a side of onion rings and my husband's favorite is their Lotza Motza Burger with fries! The Big Daddy Burger is made with Bacon, Ham, Swiss & American Cheese with spicy garlic mayo. It is served hot, made fresh, juicy, made with a huge 1/2 pound well seasoned patty! The side of onion rings takes it to the next level being fried hard, crispy, golden brown, and hot out the grease! The Lotza Motza burger which is a super fun burger made with Deep Fried Mozzarella Sticks, Vito's garlic sauce, pepperoni & Mozzarella Cheese. Its like eating an appetizer and burger all in one! Players Sports Bar is your casual dive bar hooking you up with delicious bar food but don't expect sit down type of service or what you would expect for service at a restaurant. You have to order at the bar. Players Sport Bar is a great option if you are looking for a fun, casual dive bar serving up delicious rememberable burgers!

Waypoint for the win! Back again for another great round of apps and drinks!…read more Sunset was beautiful and bugs stayed away until Sun was completely down. Server was super friendly and helped move us inside for finishing up our drinks.

My friend ordered the salmon dinner and it came out DRENCHED in some kind of sauce, as was the…read morebroccoli. She was unstoppable to distinguish what she was eating. The other person ordered the brisket quesadillas, which was tasty but very soggy.

Go here and ask for Cheryl's dry run wings. She's a delight and the crowd is friendlyread more

A stellar example of a Madison dive bar, unpretentious and friendly. I recall the food was ok too.read more

Great music, iconic atmosphere, friendly people -- feels like home yet with live blues music,…read moredelicious food & beverages.

I really wanted to love this bar, but it unfortunately missed the mark for a women's sports bar…read more There was very limited women's sports memorabilia on the walls, and what was displayed leaned more toward men's sports, making it feel no different than a generic bar. Because of that, it's hard to see how this could be labeled as a women's sports bar at all. About half of the beer taps were down, making the tap beer options limited. The overall atmosphere felt unwelcoming, and for a newer bar, I would have thought they would try to acknowledge their guests to make them feel welcome, to help drive return business. Unfortunately, we will be going to a different bar to watch the rest of the Women's NCAA tournament. We came with a group of 10, specifically to watch the UConn vs. Notre Dame women's basketball game, and asked if the game could be shown on the big screen. We were told yes, but then saw the screen being put up without any explanation or communication about what was happening, which was confusing and frustrating, leaving us watching the smaller screens around the room. With more attention to detail towards being a women's sports bar, better marketing towards being a women's sports bar, clearer communication when necessary, and all taps working for a better beer variety, this bar could be much better.

Love this restaurant!! The wait staff are patient and…read moreefficient. All the dishes I've ordered here are outstanding. Most recently I stopped in for lunch on a Friday. Tried the (only on Friday) perch. My order came with four nice-sized perch pieces, potato choice, roll and coleslaw. The beer-battered perch was out-of-this-world outstanding! Incredibly fresh and tender, with a nicely seasoned crust. So good! A+++

This weekend I was in the area and checked out Off Broadway Drafthouse. Surprisingly, it wasn't…read morepacked despite the packer game on a Sunday afternoon. I was greeted by a friendly host, sat at the bar and promptly greeted by the bartender. Lots of fun options for draft cocktails with creative names and many use local spirits. I opted for the Birria sandwich, a newer menu item. It has a spicy sauce and generous portions. It was calm and cozy at the bar which I appreciated after a busy weekend.

A full bar, with many beers on tap--and knowledgeable bartenders--that is sure to please. Check…read morethis place out for live Irish music. The friendly, comfortable atmosphere makes you want to stay, and come back.

Extensive selection of craft beers in all styles here. Prices are reasonable and the service is…read morevery friendly and attentive.

I'm a vegetarian and love Reubens. This is the best vegetarian Rubin I've ever had. Actually, it…read morewas vegan and it was still the best! So was the potato salad that came with it. Cool restaurant with a cool vibe.

Finally got to try The Weary Traveler, it did not disappoint!…read more Easy street parking found on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Walked in to a friendly greeting & were seated right away. To drink I ordered a watermelon refresher-tasted like summer! We shared the Goulash, Walleye Sandwich, & Prime Rib Dip. Every single bite was delicious! The garlic fries were crispy & flavorful. I appreciated that their full menu is offered during brunch. Can't wait to come back!

They used to have the best green chili mac n cheese I've ever had but switched it out with white…read morecheddar mac to be more kid friendly. Very disappointed in this decision.

Outstanding burgers--I kid you not. Excellent walleye. Very good service. I wish it were closer to…read morewhere I live. Looking forward to returning.

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