Cordial is one of my favorite spots in Madison, especially when I want a great drink without the…read morecampus bar scene. I recently tried the Aviation Spritz, made with State Line American Gin, Luxardo, Crème de Violette, lemon, Prosecco, and a fancy cherry. It was refreshing, delicious, and the perfect balance of bright citrus and sweetness. Definitely a drink I would order again. I also love that Cordial is away from campus, which makes it feel a little more relaxed and grown-up. The staff is always great, friendly, and welcoming, and parking has never been an issue, which is a huge plus. Another thing I appreciate is that Cordial isn't a loud bar. You can actually enjoy your drink, have a conversation, and relax without having to yell across the table. Great drinks, great staff, easy parking, and a chill atmosphere.

This spot is quite classy and serves the kinda cocktails that are full of fancy ingredients I…read morebarely recognize! I've been several times and the drinks are always delicious. The bartenders are nice and welcoming! It's a bit pricier than other spots in Madison, but it feels fairly priced since they are doing so much more than just cracking open a can. These bartenders are really more like cocktail artists!

We loved the ambiance, but unfortunately the rest of the experience fell short…read more We chose to sit at the bar and told the bartender it was our first time dining there. We were hoping for a little guidance or enthusiasm about the menu, but she never really talked about the food. When we asked what she recommended, her response was simply, "Snapper." Every question we asked was met with very short, one word answers. She wasn't busy. She just seemed completely uninterested. Having worked in restaurants for most of my life, I know hospitality is about creating an experience. Bartenders are representing the restaurant and helping guests feel excited about the menu. If this were my restaurant, I would be disappointed by that level of service. The food itself was just okay. The presentation was beautiful and definitely deserving of five stars, but the flavor did not live up to how impressive it looked. After reading other Yelp reviews, we also realized a 20% gratuity had already been added for our party of two. We did not notice it at the time and tipped on top of it. While that was our oversight, it made the experience even more disappointing given the lackluster service. This was our first meal on our first visit to Madison, and we were really looking forward to it. Sadly, the overall experience did not meet our expectations. I will say that our first encounter was with the hostess, and she was very friendly. She welcomed us warmly, thanked us for coming, and even made a point to tell us goodbye on our way out. She was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing experience. Great dining is about more than just the food. It is about the entire experience, and this one missed the mark.

I am from out of town and was recommended this restaurant by two different sets of people. It did…read morenot disappoint! I made a reservation on a Thursday evening but it ended up not being too busy. My server was amazing and she explained that they have a mandatory service fee of 20% added on to the total, to ensure their staff gets a fair wage. They split it between front-of-house and back-of-house, and anything extra you choose to tip goes straight to your server. I ordered the beef bourguignon, and it was divine. Hearty without being too heavy. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed my quick stop in. The slushie was delicious and the chat with the bartenders made…read moreme feel at home. This place is cute, clean, and has a great spirit selection.

Pay with cash or massively incompetent and "not able to read words good" bartenders will hand your…read morecard off to someone else and then play it off like it's not a big deal because again, they can't read words and just give anyone with the same type of credit card your credit card and then pretend it's not a big deal or a massive inconvenience to cancel and reissue a credit card. This place used to train and produce talent. Now it's not functionally literate. Totally pathetic. Won't ever return. Will tell them at tales and Portland what's happening in Madison. Total losers.

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!

Hands down one of my favorite coffee shops I've been to, and it's combined with a store selling one…read moreof my favorite pastimes, a book store. The decor is super cool and vibe-y. I wish I had stopped by later in the day for cocktails - but for now, we were here with a desperate need for coffee. There were so many cool options in the menu like the Red Bean Matcha Latte, the Fig Apple Chaider or the Ca Phe Sua Da. But of course, I had to order the Pandan Iced Latte. I absolutely loved the nuttiness of the Pandan in a latte - I'm just surprised more coffee shops don't offer it. And the perfect offset to it was the Ca Phe Sua Da, or Vietnamese Iced Coffee. It wasn't as mind blowing, but still tasty. Next time I'm in Madison, I'm definitely stopping through for some cocktails!

We really enjoy the trendy vibe of Leopoldo's and if you hit em at happy hour they have featured…read moreand discounted craft cocktails. We ordered oyster and cocktails this stop and everything was so delicious. Friendly and attentive service and the aesthetic couldn't be cooler. Who doesn't love a bookstore.

Lombardino's was the fav of my wife and her then-husband 62 years ago. (they are searchable on…read moreAncestry). She and I returned with three others Aug 27 2026. As good as ever. Love the old Italiany ambiance. (not enuf 'Italian' music). Wife and I have been to the land of her mother's birth several times. We cook 'Italian' at home. All five pasta dishes were excellent. Eggplant, Chicken, summer veggie, buccatini, & Bolognese. Tiramisu was good but not great.

If you judge Lombardino's from the outside, you might not expect much. It looks like a place that's…read morebeen around forever, kind of unassuming, maybe even easy to overlook. But once you walk in, it's a completely different story. The service was excellent. Our server was friendly, helpful, and had actually been to Rome, which made the conversation more interesting and added a nice touch of authenticity. And the food? Way beyond what we expected. Everything was well done and felt like a real step up from what the exterior might lead you to believe. You can feel the history in this up close, the statue at the entrance of the Trevi Fountain almost pulls you in before you even realize what you're looking at. The detail is incredible, even with the wear and mineral buildup from years of flowing water, it actually adds to the character. Standing there, tossing a coin over your left shoulder, it's one of those moments that feels a little touristy... until you do it. Then it just feels right. Like you're taking part in something that's been going on for generations. Simple tradition, but a pretty cool one. This place is a bit of a hidden gem. If you haven't been, it's absolutely worth checking out.

Totally Whimsical!…read more My partner came here for a drink before our last date night. Such a fun spot with eclectic decor! Madison needs more places like this! The vibes are spectacular, and make you just want to sink in and read a good book. I love this part of Madison!! The only thing to keep in mind, is that the drinks are a tad on the pricey side. Expect $12 plus for a small cocktail. They are definitely worth it, stop in, have a drink, then go out for dinner.

Still my absolutely favorite cocktail place downtown. The decor is fantastic, and I love the old…read morelooking tvs playing movies. The menu didn't have exactly what I wanted but I talked with Atticus and he made me the perfect drink, something on the menu with a bit of spice added. 10/10

I was so excited to try this place and I must have great intuition because it was ammmmmazing…read more Don't think twice- just go! Heavenly food.

It was our first time here, so we asked for seats at the bar, which looks directly into the…read morekitchen. We had so much fun, and we could see that all of the staff were also having a good time. Nothing but positivity, and it transfers into each and every delicious dish! We absolutely loved the complimentary cheese puffs (Gougeres). It was the perfect start to a fantastic meal. I enjoyed a starter of beet, walnut and cheese tart, and my dining partner thought his French Onion soup was stellar. I chose Monkfish stew for my main dish. It was incredible....silky, savory broth with melt-in-your-mouth monkfish plus tender shrimp and asparagus. The bread served with the stew was so delicious to soak it all up. My dining partner thoroughly enjoyed his Bistro steak with king trumpet mushrooms. The mushrooms were so elevated and so delicious. We shared a side of charred carrots and thought very highly of them, too. We closed out our epic meal by sharing one slice of Gateau Basque cake. It was served with a side of a tart cherry compote, and together this dessert was perhaps THE BEST dessert outside of France. Incredible! Sitting at the bar, our server was bartender Nina W. She was entertaining and didn't mind all of our ongoing questions. She added a another level of true enjoyment to our experience. Just as we were finishing up our dining experience the orchestrating chef stopped over to introduce herself. Once Annemarie said her name, I knew she was one of the founders of Lallander and next-door Bloom Bake Shop, having been a customer ever since their first bakery in Middleton. I told Annemarie how impressed we both were with the food, and how all the staff seemed so happy. She said something like a restaurant is only successful with good people. It seems she is keeping her people, and her customers, very happy.

Came to Botanist Social for a cocktail and dinner before a game…read more Walked into the cool vibe and decor and got a nice welcome from the hostess as well as the waitress. I had the clover club cocktail and it was delish. Nice and refreshing and not too heavy. CLOVER CLUB Gin, raspberry syrup, egg whites*, lemon We shared the butter's salad and it was a nice mix. BURRATA SALAD Peaches, tomatoes, burrata cheese, sweet vinegar dressing I had the Campanella pasta as the main and it was very savory. Noodles could have been a bit more al Dente. CAMPANELLE PASTA Campanelle noodles, braised short rib, poached egg, balsamic drizzle Service was good throughout, our server did several check-ins. Cool spot. Small food menu but would come back again.

I liked the cheese curds and the mushroom flatbread. The potato with some spicy tomato sauce was a…read morelittle weird, the roasted chicken was a little dry and the brownie cake with ice cream (the brownie was a little hard or stale). The short ribs were not as tender, the mashed potato could use a little bit of salt/seasoning. Service was not very good. In fact, it was very bad.

The best craft cocktail bar in Madison. Very experienced bartenders, an owner that knows the…read morebusiness inside and out, and at atmosphere that is unmatched in Madison. I appreciate the rotating cocktail menu. I get to try a new and exciting cocktail every time I visit PP.

Such a cute cocktail bar! I tried the drink "He's Not You, But You're Not Here" and if you love…read morecucumber, I would definitely recommend. I love the ambiance of the bar and it would make a great date spot. The bartender was also so nice, my friend wanted a drink but was allergic to one of the ingredients, so the bartender whipped something similar up and my friend loved it! Great drinks, great people, great vibes.