I noticed Kathy Griffin was performing at the Pabst Theater so I knew I had to check this theater out. The theater is in a great location within walking distance to many of the hotels. Upon entering the theater, small bags and purses were checked then the usher checked our tickets. The historical theater's lobby is ornate. There's a small lounge on the side of the main entry. This area is defiantly additional holding area. The cleaned washrooms are located on the ground floor. The ushers were friendly to show us to our seats which was located in front of the red skirt. The theater is compact with great views of the stage. Overall, I thought this theater was great and I would return for another show. read more

See all

Pabst Theater is a beautiful classic theater. Outside its gran exterior looks impressive. Inside the beauty continues. The staff were so helpful and polite. Several staff members offered to assist us to our seats. Views from our seats were fantastic. It seems all seats offer a nice view of the stage. The show started right on time and was incredible! read more

See all

A beautiful theatre with a gorgeous chandelier, balconies, busts of world renowned composers, velvet and wood interiors. I enjoyed visiting this theatre for the first time, it is gorgeous! Seeing the oldest active police band in the country at their annual concert at Pabst Theatre was a lovely experience. The staff is nice and attentive. Next time I'll have to stop by at its bar. Tip: We dined at "Mediterranean Cuisine", which is close to the theatre, and it was fantastic! read more

Pabst Theater - A small opera house - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

Magnificent old theater lit up at night, gorgeous. The Pabst sign was eye catching. Unfortunately the building appears to be closed. I understand Pabst "this Grande Lady" is a theater & concert venue and landmark from 1895. The theater hosts about 100 events per year. The Pabst is known for its opulence as well as its role in German-American culture in Milwaukee . It's the fourth-oldest continuously operating theater in the country hosting notables as pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, actor Laurence Olivier, and ballerina Anna Pavlova, as well as various current big-name musical acts. read more

See all

My favorite theater in all of Milwaukee. I have been here for countless concerts, plays, and comedy shows. The design is beautiful, especially the giant chandelier in the center of the high ceiling. 10/10 recommend if you get a chance to see a show here! Properly staffed with ushers, ticket scanners, and bartenders for a smooth entrance, guide to your seat, and chance to grab a drink pre show. read more

See all

I have had the pleasure of seeing Ryan Adams at The Pabst Theatre a couple of times and honestly, it's the perfect venue for a show like his. From the moment you step inside, the theatre feels special - a stunning, historic space that feels like stepping back in time. The architecture alone is worth the price of admission, with its beautiful detailing and grandeur. The ushers are friendly and welcoming unlike some places where its ID/ticket every single time you come in. Other owners take note - ushers make an experience feel personal and relaxed. When Ryan Adams hit the stage, the acoustics in this place were perfect--every note, every lyric hanging in the air just right. The sound really filled the space beautifully. It's a venue that feels both intimate and expansive, a rare mix that made the concert feel special. If you're a lover of historic venues with great sound, the Pabst Theatre is a spot. Bookmark this review to remind you! I'll be back next time Ryan rolls through Wisconsin. read more

Came for a comedy show, Trey Kennedy. There really isn't a bad seat in the house! We sat up in the nose bleeds but it was great! Seats are snug but that's what a historic building has. I got a mixed drink with was as expected, good. The bathrooms are in the lower level so be ready to take stairs up and down- but there is an elevator to use on all floors as well. Staff were always quick to show us our seats and to know which way to go. I'll be back. read more

Pabst Theater - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We saw A Christmas Carol at Pabst Theater last night and it was great! Beautiful costumes and amazing actors. It was quite a performance! I've also been to Pabst to see Goo Goo Dolls in concert, which was also amazing! I like the size of the theater (although I wish there were more than two restrooms available for women) and I love the history and decor. With that said, the seats are small and there is not much legroom. Sit by someone you know on both sides because you'll be cozy with them for the next couple of hours. Tip: make sure to grab dinner before or after elsewhere; Pabst only offers cookies, candy, and popcorn along with various drinks. read more

See all

Went to this theater many times for concerts or live shows and have always enjoyed the atmosphere here. From.the big chandeliers to the plush red decor to the intricate carvings on the wall, you can tell this has a place in history. It is a nice intimate place with great sound and there is not a bad seat in the house. This time we went to see Blue Oyster Cult and they were great as always. The place was nearly sold out. There are a couple of refreshment stands both on the lower level and a couple upstairs but they get pretty packed with everyone trying to get their drinks before the show. Also there are plenty of ushers to take you to your seat. I can't speak for the parking as we took a shuttle bus from Paulies Pub there. read more

The Pabst Theatre is such a lovely and beautiful venue in downtown Milwaukee. For the past ten years we have been going to the Christmas Carol, it's now a yearly family tradition. Each year the production is changed up a little bit to keep it exciting and fresh. Many of the cast members are the same year after year and they are wonderful performers. Milwaukee is lucky to have the group of theatre's and lively theatre in our city. We enjoy each year and support theatre and live music. Enjoy read more

See all

The Pabst theater is located in downtown Milwaukee. There are plenty of parking garages that are around at an affordable price. It is a smaller theater which makes it great for a concert. Getting in was quick and they had plenty of employees helping you tp find your seat. I purchased seats in the lower balcony and they were comfortable and there were no obstructions. The acoustics in the theater are amazing, so hearing the performer you could really hear them. They are handicapped accessible for those that may need an elevator. The bathroom is located in the basement with plenty of stalls. They have bars on all levels I visited the lines move quickly. It's a perfect size for a big enough yet still feels intimate theater. read more

See all

Visited Pabst theater for the first time last night to watch the Spiderman Symphony show! Upon entrance, the theater was pretty small, but had multiple levels for seats. The staff were friendly and the theater was clean. Popcorn ran around $6.50 and they also had cans of beer for $8-$9 each. I was super excited to watch the symphony perform and had high expectations. The symphony absolutely crushed it and blew me away! I had watched the 2023 spiderman movie in theaters, but having a live orchestra was a completely different experience. There was even a DJ on stage who absolutely crushed it. Overall, was a good experience, would recommend. read more

See all

i went here with my best buddy pals Jasin and gio it was great! Jasin loved the comfy seats, and my plump friend gio liked the food

We love visiting for A Christmas Carol every year! It's the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. The decor is gorgeous and the shows are so fun! read more

See all

I love the Pabst theater for its quaint and old-school theater vibes. Any spot in the theater will give you a good view of the stage. The check-in is always seamless. They have two bars to order drinks at when you get inside with a sneaky, happy hour for 30 minutes about an hour before show starts. read more

Great old venue with a lot of charm and personality. Love the location, near so many bars and restaurants for pet and or post celebrations. Parking available right below the theater is nice too. The Pabst is prefect for a concert or show. Great acoustics and sight lines, along with relatively comfortable seating. (Especially happy that seats are not too tiny and have good leg room... I'm 6'4"!) Bathroom situation could be better... like all old theaters, not convenient and expect lines. So glad this place is still cranking out entertainment. Good job Milwaukee! read more

Pabst Theater - Colin Hay (Men at Work) - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Great pint sized venue to see your favorite artists, not a bad seat in the house, has a capacity of approximately 1300 people. 3 levels, plenty of bars to choose from, friendly service, an elevator exists if you struggle with stairs. The only thing about this venue that seemed off was that the men's room line was way longer than the ladies room line. I have never seen that before, it was a first, not sure why; and it did not matter which bathroom you tried, it was the same at all of them. Parking nearby is a non-issue, easy to get in and out of town, one of the great things about Milwaukee. read more

Pabst Theater - Living color & Extreme - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This beautiful, historic venue is always such a treat to visit! We probably come here once or twice a year to attend a concert or show, and most recently we had the pleasure of seeing A Christmas Carol. The show itself was absolutely incredible, but this five-star review is truly for the theater. It's elegant and antique, timeless and charming. I've sat in a few different sections, and every seat offers a solid view. They're not the comfiest seats of all time, but that's only because we're used to modern, plush, movie theater seats these days. The concession stand is conveniently upon entry to grab drinks or snacks before a show. They offer beer, wine, seltzers, cocktails, hot cocoa, water, and soda. Something for everyone. This time around we felt inclined to grab a bucket of their butter popcorn. Theater acoustics are wonderful. Ushers are all around and very helpful with getting you where you need to go. Bathrooms offer plenty of stalls, so it's speedy at intermission despite everyone using it at once. Parking is not at all ideal but, hey that's downtown Milwaukee for ya. It's a bit of a bottleneck in-and-out with the big crowds, but once you're in, it's nothing but enjoyable. We'll be back! read more

I hadn't been to the Pabst in decades until a recent show with my mom. The theater is still as stunning as ever. There is a convenient concession area to get drinks right upon entry. Entry was pretty fast with a quick purse check and a walk through a metal detector. No COVID screening was being done. The old school seats are not extremely comfortable, but I've sat in worse. The ushers are extremely helpful. Acoustics were good. There was a long wait trying to leave the theater which grew irritating. read more

Pabst Theater - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

What a stunning venue. We came to see Kathleen Madigan perform (who as her AMAZING self), and everybody was so kind and nice throughout the venue. We met Robin, the stage manager, who couldn't be a more pleasant person. Loved everything about this experience. read more

The interior of the theater is ornately detailed and impressive. The staff, save for a few ushers, were not impressive. One of the middle-aged women tending bar couldn't perform basic arithmetic, almost gave me back too much money in change, then chose to tip herself from my change without my consent. When I repatriated my money, I swear, she was starting to cry because she was frustrated and not good at her job. Last I saw her, she was being consoled by a male colleague. That woman was a fine representation of the staff, generally. I have no intention to return. There are other nice theaters in the state with better staffs. read more

Historical ambiance & great drinks. I've seen many shows here and keep coming back! We took a short Uber from our hotel so we didn't have to deal with parking. If you end up on the 3d floor it may be a little challenging to hear a comedy show. read more

Pabst Theater - Theater - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

we went to the Kathleen Madigan show on 4-26-25 which included Ron White the evening started out nice. My wife and I both in our mid 60s were told ahead of time that the being taped and we couldn't leave until the end. My wife did her best at about 15 minutes before the show she just couldn't hold it anymore and was either pee her pants or leave so we were both thrown out of the show because she couldn't hold it any longer. read more

I haven't been to the Pabst theater since I was a child. MiAD had my daughter's graduation there. Because of Covid restrictions we had to wait outside until about 20 minutes before the graduation. MiAD did several that day. The students were seated below and the families in the balcony. We weren't spaced out at all and they weren't checking tickets. To get to the balcony there were stairs that weren't lit at all which made them difficult to navigate. The view was pretty decent though and I wouldn't mind coming back to see a show. The original architecture is pretty awesome. read more

See all

Came here at Christmastime for A Christmas Carol. I can't think of a more perfect venue to enjoy some classic Dickens than at the Pabst Theater (in the US, anyway!). It's wonderfully antique and it's gilded, red curtained stage is magnificent. The entire experience charmed me rather utterly. I've heard that the gallery seating isn't the best, but we had floor seating and were completely happy with our experience. They had a snack bar offering a variety of snacks and beverages during the show (that you're welcome to bring to your seats). I wouldn't hesitate to come to a show here again. Get to it! read more

Pabst Theater - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

The gilded age! Great beautiful older theater, and the Pabst/Riverside/Turner Group brings a great stable of artists to the Pabst. There are a few bars in here, offering a few craft beers and lots of other local brews, and service is fast. Get there early if you want to stand in the pit, as they close that off to patrons way too early (then seemingly let even more people in later). They also keep a somewhat arbitrary count of people sitting on the first floor, so that can sometimes be closed off too. Just get there earlier if the first floor is your jam. I like to stand in the pit, close to the stage, but there's not a bad seat in the house. I recently sat on the first floor, and just FYI, there seems to be a "tradition" of people standing for the whole concert (acoustic solo opener included). The acoustics here are great, and I never hesitate to see a musical artist I like at the Pabst Theater! read more

See all

Was able to get last minute tickets for the Nikki Glaser comedy show. It was my very first time at the Pabst, and I really hope it won't be my last. First of all, the building is stunning. It's so ornate inside and it's just a really beautiful place to see. The drinks aren't super expensive, especially for a city, which is nice as well. There is really not a bad seat in the place, it felt more intimate. And of course, Nikki was hysterical! read more

Pabst Theater - a stage with stage lights - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Always love coming here for A Christmas Carol performance and supporting the great legacy of Captain Fred Pabst-- no city of MKE without him and others read more

Absolutely beautiful theatre! My daughter's dance team participated in a competition here and the only drawback was the downstairs, which was where the girls' dressing rooms were, was very cramped for so many dance teams. It was also creepy. You take the stairs down to what feels like a dungeon, go around a corner, down a few more stairs, etc...and theatrical stuff was everywhere, leaving even less space for makeup, costumes, changing and all the girls' stuff! It's much smaller than the Milwaukee theatre where we were last year, but no one realized this ahead of time. Yet this would not be the average person's experience in visiting the theatre. It's just that now we know! The venue itself looks historic with older fixtures, but again, it's beautiful. I really think it adds something to downtown Milwaukee. read more

Pabst Theater - The lighting fixtures and stairs going up to the balcony - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

Their ticket policies are discriminatory against solo tickets. I received a Spotify "pre sale" notice for the Katharine McPhee and David Foster concert in May. This was while I was recouperating in the hospital from a surgery. I was about to purchase a premium front row seat in the balcony. Just as I was about to hit "purchase," my doctor walked in and I abandoned the process. A day later I went back and, now that the Spotify pre-sale was no longer valid, I was unable to purchase only ONE premium ticket; the system would automatically put TWO into my cart. So, I reached out to the Pabst Theataer, thinking this was some kind of bug in the website. WRONG! The Pabst associate told me "premium and front row seats are ONLY for couples." Seriously?!! If I have the money and am willing to pay, I should be able to buy ANY ticket, except those reserved as handicapped accessible. I live in Chicago and have never run into such a ridiculous policy at any Chicago venue; if you have hte money, you get the seat; you don't have to be half of a couple. This is why Milwaukee will always remain the hick town it was 26 years ago when I moved out. Also why Hicksville will never be able to attract the top tech talent that other cities do; smart people won't put up with disciminatorhy polciies. What's next, Pabst Theater--yha gonna say woman can't buy premium tickets?? Good riddence, I have also sent a note about this policy to the website of the individual performers, letting them know why I won't be attending their MKE event, even though they are one of my absolute favorite acts. read more

Beautiful & elegant theater. The old world craftsmanship will blow you away. The main hall was very clean & wonderfully kept.

I'm surprised I haven't reviewed this theatre, as I've been here many times. I've been here for concerts and stand up comedy. There's almost not a bad seat in the entire place honestly. The only real down fall is that the incline on the ground floor is gradual, therefore if you're short and someone tall is sitting in front of you, then it kind of sucks. But other than that, I actually really like this theater. It's small, but still a decent size. It's easy to find, although parking can be frustrating. Bathrooms are a decent size and seemed to be kept very clean. There's also a bar, which I can appreciate. read more

Pabst Theater - Milwaukee Police Band - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

What a beautiful venue for a fantastic band like the Mavericks. No complaints from us!!! Everyone were so nice and helpful. Great concert great sound!!!! Thank you again and We definitely be back!!! read more

Pabst Theater - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Historic venue with amazing architecture, although stairs inside the concert hall are not that well lit.

Saw a Christmas Carol with the family. Fantastic setting at the historic Pabst Theatre. Great performance. Professional acting, sets, sound system, music. read more

Pabst Theater - Pabst Theatre a Christmas Carol. - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See all

Brought my Husband here for his Birthday to watch the Ron White Show. Easy parking, good acoustics, captivating Theater. Given the right bookings, we will definitely return! read more

See all

I had been to the Pabst, in my pre-Yelp days, to see Alton Brown, and I remember how awestruck I was by the architecture and decor of the place. The red velvet everywhere complimented by the gold leaf everywhere else, was just so beautiful to me; VERY Victorian era. Then I walked down to our seats. In the balcony. OMG....you best be sober if this is where your seats are! I am not afraid of heights and I never get dizzy, but I had just a little touch of vertigo getting down to them. Once I was seated, I was perfectly ok, as I was for the rest of the night, but WOW! the steepness of that balcony.....I'm glad I wasn't wearing heels! On my most recent visit, I was there to see the symphony and my seat was on the floor, center. Again, the beauty of this theater is a feast for the eyes. I really don't think that there is a bad seat here! The acoustics were great both times, as was the lighting, room temperature, bar service.... I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the Pabst! I utilized the underground parking that the Pabst shares with the InterContinental Hotel and only paid $8! That was a nice surprise, as I was expecting at least $15. There are many bars and restaurants within a short walking distance of the theater, and the riverwalk is right there too, making a pre-show dinner and post-show moonlight stroll along the river the perfect bookends for a romantic evening. 67/2015 read more

See all

Historic. Iconic. Comfortable. Great sight-lines. Cocktails available! As with any old old place, restrooms could be more plentiful... Great Sound System ... saw Kathleen Madigan, who got this midwestern crowd rockin'! She is hilarious and I could watch her everyday. The lead-in comedian was also great, though his louder voice and faster speech caused a slight reverb in the sound. read more

Pabst Theater - Beautiful!!! - Music Venues Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

One of the best venues I've ever been to. It checks all the boxes for both practicality and character: easy parking, comfortable seats, great view, perfect size, comfortable temperature, easy in/out, great sound, but also gorgeous deluxe red and gold colored seats (fit for royalty?), gorgeous chandeliers, good cold beers, and just plain beautiful both inside and out. We saw Simple Minds here, and it was the perfect venue for them. With the top notch acoustics, the size and arrangement of the venue, and the stage, It felt like they were playing to you, rather than at you. read more

See all

Beautiful venue. Watched A Christmas Carol this year. It was an excellent show! The cast was amazing the set was phenomenal.