A hidden gem in a little town/village. Let's start with the owners, they care about going above and…read morebeyond and settling for the " norm " from their higher end food selection and specials to their excellent bourbon choices, this " bowling alley" is anything but a bowling alley. Don't be fooled by the exterior or the little town that it's nestled in it's worth the stop, the waitstaff/bartenders are knowledgeable in their trade and can answer most any questions put in front of them I was impressed.

We stopped here for a drink on the way to dinner to get a small bite to carry us over for a few…read morehours, nothing fancy just a small town bar stop. The place is a bar, restaurant and 6 lane bowling alley with all locals. It's funky with the chain door handle and mannequins all over the place. For a small town bar they have a great selection of booze and a few taps of nothing super special. Drinks were as expected. We were going to do a cheese curd basket . The cheese curd basket was typical bar frozen and nothing special like beer battered so as expected. Overall it's a funky space for drinks and bar food. Service was ok with the green bartender but she did ok with another woman just workin the open kitchen behind the bar.

I love that this place is walking distance to my friend's house! The outdoor patio fills up quickly…read moreon nice days, but if you can get a table it's a great place to bring kids and dogs with the outdoor games and turf. We often bring our own games too. The best time to visit is when there is a food truck, otherwise there aren't food options. I would think you could bring your own, but I've never verified. The inside is pretty cute too and has nice vibes if you just want to hang out with a drink or two. They've been understaffed on days when it is surprisingly nice and the place is nearly full outside when they open and they only have one bartender, but hopefully with the season change that gets figured out.

This place is ADORABLE! I am absolutely obsessed with the Rusty Bee Lounge. It's right down the…read moreroad from my house, so we walk there. It's family friendly, with lots of green space outside for the kids to play, and they have yard games. The drinks are delicious, and I love trying the different specials they have. They don't serve food, but frequently have different food trucks that come, which is honestly better because then I can try places I haven't before! I can't say enough good things about the Rusty Bee. Our family loves it here!

Loved all the old school games. I felt like I was transported back to the 80's. It was such a…read morecool little arcade.

Date of visit: January 24, 2026…read more What else is there to do on a ridiculously cold day in Madison before a show that evening besides hanging out at an arcade? For just $15, you can play as much as you'd like, with a wide variety of games from classics that are even older than me (if you can believe that) to things that are quite a bit newer. Games are mostly organized by type, so all of your racing games are together, shooters, etc., which is nice for the most part, but can make mounting and dismounting some of the racers a bit tricky or have you slightly closer to a stranger than you would prefer. Most games were in good repair, though a few were not so good, such as House of the Dead 4. Would have preferred a bit more in terms of snacks and beverages to allow me to stay longer and play a bit more, but I'll just prepare better next time!

This is a local bar with local people. And most of the people in this bar rarely leave it. And then…read moreyou get the occasional tourists who wander in off the street and half the time, wander right back out. The atmosphere of the Ideal is... not the most desirable. Unflattering lighting, tile floor, uncomfortable bar stools, and it usually smells like bad breath and stale beer. Positives about the inside are the festive decorations behind the bar, the AMAZING juke box (kind of old school, flip through the CD covers deal), and they just installed two large windows in the front which helps IMMENSELY, and they always have a sweet pinball machine which rotates out every once in awhile. The bartenders are ALL top notch. Seriously. The best, nicest, most down to Earth people. Great service. They are always on top of their game and no matter how busy it is you won't have to wait long for a drink. This is a place where friends go. Everyone knows everyone, for the most part, and if you live in the 'hood, you can show up by yourself and know you'll find a friend drinking there too. Despite it's downfalls, the Ideal is a great place for neighborhood people to get together. Out-of-towners may want to avoid it and just go across the street to the brewery because chances are someone at the Ideal will scare you or ask you to buy them a beer. The Ideal is the only bar in Madison where all your dreams come true.

We went here for drinks after after our meal as we headed home. This is a first class dive bar with…read moresome colorful locals. Two pool tables, music from a cd jukebox, games etc. I ordered a Gin Rickey and the bartender was peeved like how dare you order a drink that I can't make and I explain to him how to make it, he's the guy from Iowa with glasses that starts with A. So he thinks he's clever and calls it a gin Richard, ie d#ck is slang for Richard. Now he thinks he funny and called me Richard the whole time while I was there, basically calling me a d#ck every chance he got. What a Maddison hipster doofus, nice way to treat someone's who first time in the place and the last time.

An excellent cocktail lounge-type atmosphere (Stoughton level) with extensive liquor selection and…read morevery knowledgeable & friendly bartenders. Extensive selections of most liquors. I'd say they specialize in bourbons but still have many Scotch and Tequila/Mezcal choices, for me anyway. I'm not an Old-Fashioned drinker but am told they are excellent. A small but select tap beer selection as well. I believe they are currently open Thursday-Saturday. Check their website.

A quick stop for a drink before heading over to the Stockton Opera House to see Charlie Parr. This…read morebar just happened to be right around the corner from the venue. Decision made! I love the bars I've discovered since I moved to Milwaukee. Most with a classic feel, slightly dim with quirky decor. This bar is no different. There is always something new to check out and explore. I loved that my drink had a doily as a coaster. A very good cocktail menu. I found something quickly. It was relatively quiet since we arrived kind of at an off time. but there was a small talkative group of regulars (seemed to be?) at the other end of the bar. The service was somewhat sluggish. The bartender chatted with the regulars and overlooked when we finished our drinks. I never want to be that people who yell at a bartender or is aggressive about having a drink now. Did we waited longer than usual? Yes. But nothing major. And the exceptional cocktails were worth the wait!

4.5 First off let me…read moresay this is a really cool, intriguing space. Right on State Street, but once you walk up into the space you wouldn't be able to tell. Not to turn anyone off from checking it out, but think bougie club house. Exposed brick and wood paneling, bar and high top seating, a few little coves with couches and golf/football/soccer (strong golf theme) simulators ($45/hour) and a private area with another simulator ($100 room fee, $200 food/drink minimum). We came for drinks, but we did order the Bacon Wrapped Dates (not stuffed with cheese but comes with a delicious red pepper purée) and Buffalo Chicken Dip (served with bread & tortilla chips for those of you who are gluten sensitive/free). Fair prices and decent food, which is the opinion of myself and two other foodies. A lot of potential, but they're just starting out. I'm excited to see what the future holds for them. Also, if you get a chance, grab a chat with Adam!

Came here for my birthday with the girls and had a fun time! The space was clean, trendy and open…read more There are a total of 6 simulators (1 in a private room) and many sports options, to my surprise! The simulator rate is $20/hour (weeknight rate). Plenty of seating at the bar--along with a lounge'y space with a cute backdrop for photo-ops! I recall four beers on tap, and no drink specials. However, the menu did have a variety of "upscale" bar food! We ordered a fair amount but I only remember eating the curds (3/5) and fried green beans (5/5), which was my fave! PROS: I loved that we were able to try a variety of activities at our own pace! Each area had seating, enough for 6-7 people (sofas or bar stool/counter). Alcohol wipes were available. Music level was good and lighting slightly dimmed--great ambience! We got to chat with Collin (the owner) about his vision and learned that the simulators can pretty much play anything! This means events held here can be both adult AND kid-friendly--woo hoo! Just try not to bring a stroller here, as it's on the second floor with steep steps. Looking forward to more events here...and to what becomes of the outdoor space! CONS: We came on a Tuesday, so there was only one person working the bar + kitchen. Service was a slow as it got busy, and later into the night. There are only two private restrooms (which were nice and clean!). I can see this being a problem, especially for a place that can hold 100+ people. Will be back for more indoor fun!

Met a friend halfway to watch the game. Its It's quite large inside, with a lot of seating and…read moresports memorabilia around. We enjoy lunch and a fresh drinks. Will definitely stop again

I highly recommend this place for get togethers. Clean, spacious, good…read moreacoustics, delicious food, great service & good specials.

Pleasantly surprised. Read the name and that's exactly what you get. Good sized inside, reasonable…read moredrink prices and the bartender we dealt with was great. We play in a dart league there some nights so while somewhat forced to visit last night I would surely come back. I like the "old" feel it has. It doesn't breach dated, no that's not what I mean by old. Its a nice neighborhood bar. Perfect place to come and just hang out on a weekday after work.

Oh hi, divey small-town Wisconsin bar in the middle of Park Street! Overlooked with its…read morenon-gentrified exterior, it's next to the Pizza Hut and down the street from the Mason Lounge and Falbo Bros. The inside features wood paneling, ESPN-tuned TVs, and a few games. The bar has a small selection of taps, liquor, Old Dutch potato chips, and packs of cigarettes, despite the smoking ban. As would be expected, the drinks are cheap: two Spotted Cows and a PBR tallboy came to $9.25. The bartender, Ben, was great, doling out the appropriate mix of sarcasm and friendliness, and by the end of the night had offered to take me to a Brewers game and invited the entire group over for dinner. Said a friend, "Now THAT is a bartender."