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    Shank Hall

    4.0 (55 reviews)
    ModerateMusic Venues
    Closed 7:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

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    Faith B.

    BF and I saw a show there yesterday. I hadn't been to Shank in years, but it hasn't changed a great deal. Door staff gets you in quickly, which is always welcome. This was a fully seated show, which was nice since the crowd leaned older. Servers and bartenders were quick and friendly. Drink prices were a little high for the basics, but that's most music venues. The sound is sweetest in the middle of the room. Bathrooms were impressively clean.

    Posters on wall
    Bonnie B.

    Great experience. Small music venue with good sound. Friendly staff. Drinks were good but didn't notice any food for sale. Would return & would recommend.

    the band on stage with purple lighting
    Paige A.

    Intimate venue for live music. They only serve chips but encourage people to order takeout. We ordered from zaffiros which is down the street and it was pretty good! The bartending staff is friendly and there's a decent amount of seating. On street parking or lot for $3+, bathrooms are clean. Overall fun local experience. Pro tip: go to shank halls website and read about the history!

    Erika G.

    Some of the reviews puzzle me. How is Shank Hall a dive bar? How is $6 a drink in a music venue *expensive*?! I've been going here since it was Teddy's. Which is to say, 1982 or 3. I've seen a LOT of bands here and it's always a great time. I recently went back to see my pals The Wigs. The room is much like I remember it. It's a bit rearranged and cleared out a little to make more room, but it's still got the same great vibe. Drinks are $6. That's not a bad price for a music venue. It's really not. Don't EVER change Shank!

    "The problem may have been that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf." - Spinal Tap
    Augie R.

    I sometimes find other Yelp reviewers' definition of what is a "dive" a bit odd. The term "dive" gets used a lot in Shank Hall reviews, and there's nothing divey about this place. It may be a bare-bones performance space, but it's clean as can be--the bathrooms, bar, and room look scrubbed. I've been in dives--the sorts of places where you don't want to touch anything--and Shank Hall is nothing like that. What it is is a basic space with great sound for smaller performances. The walls are painted black and lighting is low (which may give some the impression of a dive bar), but no one should feel discouraged from seeing a band they love at this venue. Drinks are reasonably priced and lines of sight are great unless you arrive late for a crowded concert. Shank Hall has a few downsides. There is no parking, so you'll need to find on-street parking (or, better yet, take the Hop to Burns Commons stop just a half-block away.) Also, don't expect this to be a quiet listening room for music--depending on the band you're coming to see, the audience can be pretty loud. (But, I saw a jazz show here recently and you could hear a pin drop it was so quiet.) The other small gripe I'd have is that Shank Hall's website doesn't say anything about seating. Some shows have seats, others do not. It would be nice when you purchase tickets to know (since standing for three hours might impact my desire to see a band at this venue.) Doors open an hour before showtime, and there are always a few seats available at the bar, so you could grab those, but they are at the back of the venue and don't have the best views. Also, it is worth noting that since Shank Hall is a bar, all shows are 21 and over. Per the website, "the only exception we will make is if you are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian during the show (they can't just drop you off). AND you have to prove they really are your parent or legal guardian." So, no showing up with your friend who's two years old and claiming they're your guardian.

    The intimate Shank Hall allows you to get close to the performers, like Paul Janeway of St. Paul & the Broken Bones here.
    Mike C.

    If you've lived in Milwaukee for at least 25 years, you've seen a lot of change. And if you are a fan of live music (who isn't?), it's hard to believe there was a time before the Pabst Theater, Turner Hall, Riverside Theater triumvirate dominated the music theater scene. Before this conglomeration, Milwaukeeans were left with lesser clubs like The Globe East, Reed Street Station, The Unicorn, Sherm's Celebrity Club and Shank Hall. Fast forward twenty years and only one of those clubs remains: the Shank. I gotta tell ya, I haven't been there in years. Probably at least a decade, but that's my loss. Shank offers one of the most intimate and resonant music theaters in Milwaukee. I visited Shank Hall last night to see the sold-out St. Paul and the Broken Bones show (totally awesome, I might add). The Shank is so cozy and tight that I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. Furthermore, every square foot offers the concert-goer the same compressed, clear and euphonious fidelity. And with a capacity of only 300 people, it gives one a chance to get up close and personal with the band. We enjoyed St. Paul and the Broken Bones from only a few feet away from the stage. The stages is only about 18" high, so anywhere in the club you'll likely have a pretty clear view of the performers. Another thing I love about Shank Hall is that it is easy to get an adult beverage. Not only do they have a large oval-shaped bar serving drinks 360, but they have a waitstaff that meanders the crowd making sure you don't have to leave your coveted spot to get refreshed. I really love that. They're timely and courteous too, which I find amazing because walking through a standing room only crowd with a tray full of drinks sounds like it would be an infuriating way to make a living. Our waitress served us with aplomb. A final word should you visit Shank Hall: take in the history. On the walls are the autographed press pictures of many of the famous artists that have played there. You'll see some real greats before they hit the big time. I personally enjoyed the Uncle Tupelo version of mullet-headed Jeff Tweedy from the early 90s. After last night, I'm going to make certain to check the Shank Hall schedule with regularity. I don't want to deprive myself of Milwaukee's most intimate concert experience for another 10 years!

    From the website
    Brad O.

    Shank Hall... thank god you exist. Away from the larger concert halls sits an intimate, dimly lit nightclub only open an hour before bands play at night. The atmosphere is killer, with tons of autographed pictures of those who have played there gracing the walls, which will keep you busy walking around the perimeter to see all the names you may recognize. The interior has a smoky jazz club-like feel - dimly lit with cocktail table seating (complete with a waitress) directly in front of the stage. The miniature Stonehenge above the stage is a great conversation piece, too. I have seen many artists/bands here and each time has been a different experience. I've been one of a handful of folks seeing a legend (Frank Black) play what seems like a show just for me, and I've been part of the late night party crowd (This Must Be the Band) that is totally rockin' out. They typically charge around $10-$20 at the door. The drinks are a little pricey (not outrageous like some other venues) but they make up for it in service. The staff is attentive, helpful, and friendly. You can even take your parents here and they will most likely love it (they love seats). All this equals a dynamite music venue that you must check out!

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    Review Highlights - Shank Hall

    The acoustics and sound are always great and the size of the venue makes it comfortable and intimate.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Very unique place! Once a brothel, a speakeasy, and under the ownership of the Capone brothers,…read morethere is an immense amount of history and character to be found here. For obvious reasons, it's a Milwaukee staple. Yes, be prepared to smell like smoke when you leave here, because it is true to the name: a cigar bar. They're sold and smoked inside, and it's clear they have a following for just that. But there's more to this place, for the non-smokers like myself. A full bar of cocktails, brews, and wines. A large menu, which seemed to me like it had a lot of New Orleans style options, plus exotic seafood and game dishes. There are multiple stories of the building, each funky and dressed up in their own way. You'll find live music, ghost tours (it's haunted), decor from decades past, and even a rooftop looking over the city. I've yet to eat here but on a recent visit came for the infamous tour. Our guide was so great and led us from detailing the notable exterior parts of the building, through the basement, and each floor up from there. You'll have to visit yourself to uncover all of the stories and haunted history. Our group also grabbed drinks from the bar (which you can bring with you on tour). I had the gin martini - my favorite cocktail of all time - but asked the bartender to put it over ice, make it dirty, and add a twist. She returned with it made to perfection. Others has old fashioneds and wine, and it all went down a treat. It's probably not for everyone, but if you're looking for an ~experience~ then Shaker's is certainly worth a visit.

    Shank Hall - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

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