Love this place!! The town of New Glarus is really picturesque to begin with and they have some great little shops to browse before or after (or both) a trip to Puempel's. Also the New Glarus Brewery is located on the outskirts of this little burb and it puts out some might fine brews (Spotted Cow, Fat Squirrel and my favorite seasonal beer the Back 40). On to Puempel's though... The place is very old with original murals on walls. We stopped in for lunch and first we shared a cheese plate that comes with a basket of ritz crackers - not to worry though as the the cheese is so good that any kind of cracker would be just fine. We had a selection of brick, cheddar, baby swiss, and, thanks to the two men in our party we had to get some limburger (very stinky cheese that tastes a little like ammonia). The barkeep explained that that is why she always puts the limburger on it's own piece of paper. A couple of us ordered the soup of the day which was vegetable and the other two ordered the chili. We split a brat (which was a little on the small side) and a liver sausage sandwich. Another interesting thing about the place is all the dollar bills stuck into the ceiling. There is a trick to doing this and believe me it is not easy. On a previous visit I was able to 'stick 2' while none of my companions had any luck. It's all in the proper position of the quarter, the thumbtack and the dollar bill and, of course, the wind-up. We had a couple libations as we played some cards. Friendly people, friendly place. Don't miss it if you are in - or even close to New Glarus. It's worth a day trip even. read more

Puempel's is housed in one of the oldest buildings in New Glarus. The walls are lined with murals of Glarus, and the ceiling is dotted with dollar bills. You'll be happy to know, and I am more than happy to report, that one of those dollarz was mine before I contributed to the commonweal. Here's how it's done: Politely ask bartender for a fifty-cent piece and a tack. Pierce bill with tack and wrap the bill around the coin for some heft. Throw your bill towards the heavens until it sticks, taking care not to catch a tack in the face if gravity gets her way. Celebrate wildly. Puempel's is more bar than eatery so the food is mostly sandwiches handmade by the bartender. Sure, it isn't a restaurant-grade maneuver but it is endearing to witness. After you line your stomach let loose on every single variety of New Glarus beer on offer. Then muster up the moxie to chat with the locals and buy a t shirt with lederhosen printed on it. read more

FANTASTIC! I can't think of a better word! We were in New Glarus to go to the Brewery since we love their beer. While we were there the lady at the counter handed us a New Glarus coupon book. We flipped through and found Puempels. It was a "buy a cheese platter and get a beer free". Since we were in Wisconsin and love beer and cheese we gave it shot. Best idea EVER. It is such a hole in the wall and a fantastic place. You can tell the place has been there for awhile and very historic. We talked with the bartender for awhile and she gave us a run down of all the local beers. Even got us hooked on a few we've neevr heard of. If you are ever in New Glarus I can't recommend enough that you stop in for some drinks. It's not so much a restaurant as it is a bar. The best part is that they seem to really support small, local brewery beer. It's a lot of fun and the people will sit and talk with you even if you're from outta town, or state (as in our case!) read more

I came in to grab a Spotted Cow and wanted a cheese appetizer. The waitress recommended the cheese curds, staying that they are "to die for". I decided to give them a shot (even though they are not breaded). I then watched her place old cheese into the microwave and sprinkle Lawry's seasoned salt all over them. The consistency of the cheese was akin to a rubber tire. It literally bounced when I tossed it onto the tray. Beer was great, but would not recommend the cheese curds. Blegck! read more

Went to have a drink and lunch. When we arrived all tables were being used. Ordered a build your own Bloody Mary and a table became open. We made our Bloody Mary and sat at a table with a menu, and no one every came to take our order. We finished our drinks and left with no lunch. Not sure why, there were 3 in our party. read more

Come here for the drinks, history, and company, don't expect much from the food. My guy and I wanted to check out the super historic landmark here and needed a quick bite before going to the brewery, so this seemed like a perfect option. The bartender was super friendly and funny, and this place definitely had a nice community vibe- many people knew each other. The murals, dollar ceiling (look up!!), decorations, original bar all gave this place so much character! It was really cool to see. We ordered sandwiches, which are made off to the side, but they were nothing special. My turkey sandwich was just turkey and bread, cheese was extra. It came with a bag of chips too and was $5. It did the job, but definitely needed some more kick to it (like a tomato!). I'd definitely be up to come back for a drink in the future! read more

This place has so much heart. By far the best tavern I've ever been to. I don't write a lot of Yelp reviews, but his place is amazing. Chuck & Matt made our night. Great beer, wonderful experience, and reasonable prices. We love this place and will come to New Glarus just to visit. read more

This "olde" place is definitely worth a stop when in New Glarus. Fascinating​ history​ and friendly bar staff included!

Love this place. Great customer service. Chuck always has a smile. Serves a good drink and of course Spotted Cow. They have soup and sandwiches. Cool murals on the walls and the original back bar. read more

I stopped in at Puempel's after a day at New Glarus Brewing and dinner at Glarner Stube, so all I was looking for was a beer to finish my evening. It was a weekday evening and the place was nearly deserted which was fine with me. I liked the hole-in-the-wall feeling of the place. It has one of those old fashioned floor plans with a long wooden bar on the left and a few tables on the right. The walls are covered in large hand painted murals that look like they have been there for a very long time. As others have mentioned, the ceiling is indeed covered in dollar bills that people have thrown up there with tacks. I don't really see the appeal of it. Perhaps it seems more fun when you are a drunken tourist. For me the ceiling fans blowing them around made it seem a little like there were flies moving around up there. All four taps at this place were dedicated to New Glarus Brewing, which is just what I was looking for. In the mood for dessert, I had a Raspberry Tart beer and my wife had Two Women. We sipped our beers and chatted about our day in New Glarus. This place turned out to be a nice end to our day. My review of 3 stars is not meant to be a negative reflection on this bar. I simply did not spend enough time here to say whether I am a fan or not. read more

Bar tenders were very friendly and the owner personally took his time to teach us about New Glarus and the beer. Next time I get to New Glarus this will be my hangout! read more

This place is nothing fancy, but it has an old school Wisconsin tavern vibe that I love. The service was prompt and friendly, and the bar menu was very tasty. I would definitely go back! read more

Great little place in a cute town. The pulled pork sandwich and chili were really good. We would definitely go back. Fast and very friendly service. read more

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Great and historic bar. The building has only had 3 owners since the place opened in the 1800s and everything has been preserved beautifully. Murals on the wall from 1913 are still in excellent shape. Still trying to figure out why there are so many dollar bills tacked to the ceiling, but they do say that the money is donated to charity. Great New Glarus beers on tap, and a menu of munchies like cheese curds (of course). Staff is super friendly. read more

We loved Puempel's. Came here 3x in the course of one day (don't judge). Reasonable beer prices (with all New Glarus Brewery's offerings on tap and in bottles) and very friendly bartenders. I loved the mixed crowd - we're 20 & 30-somethings drinking and there were families eating sandwiches, seniors playing cards, etc. A really welcoming gathering place. An area near their bar smelled like wet dog and then I realized I was near the sandwich area and it was limburger. SWEEEEEEET! It was kind of awesome. read more

Went here for the Bloody Mary bar on a Saturday morning. Was not disappointed! My only complaint was the cheese curds were microwaved.... other than that it was a great historic bar! read more

Authenticity is here to stay! Drive down to the scenic town of New Glarus to take in this bar from 1893. Go thirsty, so maybe do some walking around the cute little Swiss town first. Visually there is a lot to take in, original painted murals on the wall are beautiful and have a great history to them, dollar bills on the ceiling, gorgeous old wooden bar, ahhh breathe in easy. The beer: They have all the great New Glarus Beers on tap. I think I could just stop there, but they do have sandwiches, cheese plates, etc. to snack on while you drink. They do have a full bar and fabulous Bloody Mary's as well. Every time we have visited the bar staff has been friendly and very informative about the bar's history. Absolute must visit! read more

What a great place!! The old charm of the building is only the beginning of what makes this small place awesome. Don't be deceived by the limited menu. Everything on it is delicious and at a very generous portion. Add New Glarus beer fresh on tap and you get a 5 star! Stop in if you get the chance...you will be better for it! read more

Definitely need to work on their service. Beer is good and cool. Well basic, the food is very good and well prepared. When you think of attentive service this is not what you thinking. It can be slow, I ordered soup which i never got, and in the middle cheese country area ordered Swiss cheese on my sandwich, which was absent. I've been here before and it's been much better, I was very disappointed today. read more

As soon as my wife and I walked into this dark little pub, we were met with jeers from the locals. We are from nearby Chicago and hoped to find a nice place to have some food and a beer after our brewery tour. This, apparently, is not the place to find a welcoming crowd that appreciates visitors spending money and enjoying the day in their otherwise beautiful town. Head to Toffler's Pub a block away to avoid the harsh vibes! read more

Waited 15 min and no service. There were 3 people sitting at the bar and no one at tables. We sat at a table & didn't even get a glance never mind a hello. Had to walk out. I wouldn't return. read more

Walking into Puempel's is like walking back in time. Yes, it has a "hole-in-the-wall" feel to it that comes from being a New Glarus institution since 1893. There are not many taverns that can boast being around for 119 years. Imagine if the beautiful Brunswick bar could speak. Oh, the tales it could tell... Yeah, I was bowled over by the murals and the rich history of the place. But, is it a good tavern?? Absolutely! The bartender was great. On our second visit, I asked her whether years of cigarette smoke had yellowed the murals. She then took the next 10 minutes and told me the history of the murals and the bar and showed me the old photos at the back. I came in for a couple of cold ones and got a personal guided history tour. Wo can beat that?! (By the way, the murals were yellowed due to a coat of varnish which was applied to preserve the.) The booze is great and cheap. Three New Glarus beers on tap which is cool but what is a mind and tastebud blower is the Bloody Mary. Holy Cow! Our bartender threw everything but the kitchen sink in those glasses. One of the best Bloody Mary's I've had in a long time and at $4 a real deal! We didn't try the food since we were already full. It looks like they have a limited sandwich menu. Puempel's is a great place to enjoy a few libations and good company in a historic setting. They are a solid 5-stars in my book. read more

Wow. Go, just go. I had the pulled pork sandwich with apple slaw and a locally brewed hopped-up cold beer. I have smiley dreams about repeating this meal, but I don't live close enough to swing back by. I'm considering divorcing my husband, leaving my family, and moving closer. Homewreckers! read more

This bar beats any others in New Glarus. The place has amazing character: hand painted murals from the early 1900's, a wooden frig that still works, and beautiful old wooden bar. We were in town to visit the local large brewery, but this far out-passed the brewery for fun and entertainment. The locals are playing a card game called Jass (pronounced YAS) while having their daily beer and the bartender pleasantly put up with all our questions about the history of the bar. Although other there is a large brewery, a winery, and a bar in town that are rated higher by Trip Advisor, do not be led astray! Puempels and the Duerst Guest House were the highlights of our stay in New Glarus! read more

You have to stop here if coming near New Glarus. Place is old, but not a dive. It is a classic tavern. Murals on the wall over 100 years old. Local food and beer products. I had a basic sandwich on rye w/ ham and cheese. The beer was very cold on tap. read more

We walked in, saw the waitress taking an order for the only table with people at it. We had only an hour, but the place was pretty empty, so figured this place would work. Wrong! We were ignored, and only after we walked up and inquired, informed that we needed to order at the bar. Then the waitress proceeded to take the order of some people who walked in just a few seconds before. read more

Had an awesome time. The Italian beef was excellent, the service was great and the beer was cold. The owner was very kind and sat down to chat with us. This place is a must stop when going to new glarus! read more

Great Bloody Mary bar on weekends for $5. Ambience at its best!!! A lot of history here.

Bro and I came here after the brewery tour and found a dive bar meets local museum. The place is filled with so much history and character. In addition to the typical New Glarus beers on tap, they also have Ham's, which makes this place a winner in my book. The food options here are limited and simple, so go some place else if you're looking for a full meal. I recommend stopping by for a beer and walking around to look at the artwork and historical stuff on the walls. read more

Very friendly bartenders that gave us excellent service and provided some good-natured ribbing to our group of visitors. They had Moon Man, Staghorn, and Stopped Cow on tap and cheap drink prices all around. Hope to visit this place again if/when I return to New Glarus. read more

I have been going to New Glarus for over 25 years and never miss Puempel's. It has a charm that is unmatched if you have old fashioned, simple tastes. The staff and the locals are friendly and the drinks and food are reasonably priced and tasty. I knew Otto who grew up in the apartment over the place and owned it for 50 years. No finer man could you find anywhere and the current owners are worthy successors. New Glarus is a great getaway and Puempel's is a must stop. read more

I came here after a tour of the Brewery since we had coupons for a free beer if we bought a sandwich. This place is definitely more bar than restaurant so if you have it in your head that you are going to go to a sit down restaurant you will probably be a little disappointed. Fortunately I read some reviews and knew what to expect. I got a BLT which was very good (the bacon in Wisconsin tastes much better than bacon in NY and to me bacon is flippin fantastic so you have to imagine how good this bacon is!) The BF ordered a roast beef sandwich with lettuce tomato and onion. His sandwich was even better than mine! We got a small bag of chips a pickle and our free pint of Spotted Cow. How much did all of this set us back? $4 a person! What?!?!?! Since we got off so cheap and we were very intrigued by the dollars on the ceiling we each had to try throwing our dollars on the ceiling. Me being a wussy little girl took four attempts to get my bill to stick. The BF being all man got his in one try. All in all it was a great local pub with local beers for cheap. We had fun and I love coupons! read more

They were out the of cheese plate,cheese curds, pulled pork! I thought we were in Wisconsin, what no cheese.. The brat was average and the bag of chips and pickle reminded me of a high school football game food. read more