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    The Milkman's Bar

    4.0 (30 reviews)

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    Check out the ice cube with the splash of strawberry balsamic inside!
    Meridena K.

    Amazing cocktails. Like really good. If you like to try new stuff, unique ingredients, this is a great bar. Plus the bartenders know what they are talking about.

    Old Fashioned and Cherry Vanilla!!
    David S.

    What an experience. This is just a super chill spot gray some food from around the "food Mall" and grab a drink. You must stop by and try the "Giggle Water" I had a great old fashioned. Service was great. And the whole feel was just right. Please you must stop by and check it out!

    Lychile
    J E.

    While in the Dairy Market to visit another restaurant, I came across this cool cocktail bar and stopped to check out the menu. The bartender working when I came was very unenthused about providing good or great service, but I decided to stay and give them a try anyway. I tried a couple of drinks, which were very nicely though of and perfectly prepared. The place has a decent vibe and the location is great for just grabbing a drink before or after dining at one of the many great places to eat in the Dairy Market. This place could easily be 5 stars, but since others have called out the bad service this bartender provides (he seriously acts like he's the only game in town and doesn't seem to want to be bothered) and I also experienced it, months later - It's time they fix this problem or deal with the 3 stars from just having decent cocktails, but nothing more to offer.

    Giggle water & Strawberry Field(?)
    Christine B.

    Fun drinks and very esthetic~ The giggle eater had little liquor bubbles (I think listed as caviar? Lol). It was so cute! But the bubbles were a little too tart for me. The Strawberry Fields or Field of Strawberries(?) uncertain of the name was so good! Light and not too syrupy. Plus, very pretty to look at Overall, a bit on the pricier side, but maybe worth it for the uniqueness of the the drinks and the esthetics. Loved the location - in a food court where you could Roam with your drink. Would try again to see what new drinks they come up with!

    Special
    Caroline F.

    Whenever we go to Dairy Market there are always people sitting at the bar, but we came on a Friday night and it was especially lively. We were still able to find seating. Bartenders are very friendly and made us drinks off the menu. Didn't absolutely love my cocktail because it was whiskey, but my roommate said it was fantastic and I believe her. She got something fruity & fluorescent blue- wasn't her top pick either, but they were all pretty to look at. Great location because there's such a wide variety of food to order and bring to your table.

    Breakfast of champions
    Abby S.

    Really cool spot! It's great to have a cocktail bar like this in Charlottesville. Their focus is solely on the cocktails (not so much on the food), but as they're within the Dairy Market you're not far from food if you get hungry. It can be tough because the atmosphere they're looking to create is a little less busy than the chaos of the Diary Market, but they have a small seating area in the back that's a bit walled off and quieter. The cocktails themselves are delicious. Highly recommend the Parts Unknown, and try their daily specials for something new every day! It's a bit pricey, but they are very high quality and it's really fun to watch them make the drinks in front of you. Definitely a cool place to stop for a celebratory drink!

    Special of the week
    Jen S.

    The milkman's Bar is a refreshing lounge style bar located in the heart of the Dairy Market. The bar curves around with plenty of seating and the lounge area is so inviting. I've been there twice on my own to work at one of the high top tables, once I ordered a cocktail special and another time I got a local wheat beer on happy hour special. The bartenders are so talented and quick to assist you with any questions. Can't wait to try one of their free wine tastings events too!

    magic water
    Jesilyn G.

    look how pretty this drink is! Ordered the magic water which is butterfly pea tea with lemon, and although it tastes mostly like lemon tea water, it was so so pretty! I had several people look and ask what it was! Rumor has it that if you squeeze the lemon, it changes color!! highly recommend if you're just looking for something as simple tasting as water, but great for a photo.

    Milk plus and rose quartz
    Aubrey W.

    I've wanted to try Milkman's Bar for ages, and they certainly didn't disappoint! This is the perfect experience for those seeking a delicious, high quality cocktail on a nice night out. The techniques and skills of the bartenders is just incredible, and watching them make these drinks is an experience all on its own. I believe my drink was called the Rose Quartz. It was perfectly balanced, and the foam on top was such an interesting textural element. There were nice acidic, sweet, and floral elements. The drink was strong, but not overly so. My partner got the Milk Plus, which was sweet, creamy and equally delicious. Overall I would highly recommend!

    The senario

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

    We went here for a fun cocktail pre dinner. Yummy. Highly recommend Fun busy atmosphere

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Nice bar and great selection but no ambiance. In a small food court. Service was ok.

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    5 years ago

    Good drinks, disappointing service. The bartender was not attentive, oblivious to customers waiting to order a drink.

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    Ask the Community - The Milkman's Bar

    Tonic

    Tonic

    4.2(97 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    High end creative food with a not pretentious vibe. The miso maple salmon and the grilled pork chop…read morewith hominy and crimini shrooms are my fav mains. Multiple layers of flavor and all the right textures. Visually appealing on the plate as well. Solid cocktail list here. I'm a big fan that they go old school with a hot toddy. The applejack brandy added to that is a nice touch. Service is excellent here. Prices reasonable given the quality of the dishes. Will be back the next time I'm in town for sure. Take out orders here https://orders.cake.net/11301553 Reservations via Resy.

    Walking up this place has great ambiance, perfect for a first date. The indoor seating was closed…read morebut the outdoor seating was great. The menu was quite promising. Ordered a cucumber chamomile gin and tonic, which left something to be desired. We started with the blackberry salad which on the menu said it also included avocado but there was none on the salad-despite this the salad was great. Our mains were good but not great. The biggest issue I found here was despite our server being very nice while ordering she NEVER checked in on us after anything arrived, never refilled waters either. So although she was nice the service was not good as there were times we wanted to order something else and one of the entrees didn't arrive as it was ordered but our server never checked in. All things considered I think I would only come here to grab a salad or appetizer.

    Photos
    Tonic - Marinated mushroom open-faced sandwich, trout rillettes, on the patio

    Marinated mushroom open-faced sandwich, trout rillettes, on the patio

    Tonic - Crispy potatoes with Aleppo pepper ricotta, preserved lemon, and mushroom powder

    Crispy potatoes with Aleppo pepper ricotta, preserved lemon, and mushroom powder

    Tonic - Botanically inspired craft cocktails

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    Botanically inspired craft cocktails

    The Alley Light

    The Alley Light

    4.3(346 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    •$$

    I live in Los Angeles and dine out frequently. Visiting Charlottesville to see my son who is an…read moreathlete at UVA and I wanted to take him to a "nice" dinner after a big competitive day. First of all, I love the speakeasy style "alley" entrance of this restaurant. No signage and you'll walk right by the alley if you're not careful. Very cool. Second, once you're inside, the custom cocktails are amazing and the food is delicious. You order "tapa style" for the table to share and it all comes out as it may. I like that a lot, and it keeps dinner engaging and interesting. I enjoyed the chorizo and chickpea crostini, as well as mushroom crêpe and the beef tenderloin. My son's favorite dish was the pork belly. The simple salad had a tangy vinaigrette and was refreshing. Instead of cauliflower augratin, I was really envisioning a cauliflower scallop (potato) style dish, which I think Chef should consider. I feel if the cauliflower was scalloped and integrated with the cheese and cream in a way that would melt in your mouth, it would be more delectable. this was my second time here and I would come back again and again. I really love this place. Five star experience!

    One of my favorite spots for a date night in Charlottesville. It's a small place, but we've been…read morelucky enough to grab a couple of seats at the bar most times we've stopped in. Cocktails are rotating and seasonal, but one of my all time favorites was the peach whiskey sour made with local peaches, and a coconut jasmine (gin?) drink that was the Dealer's Choice option. For a light app, I really enjoy the goat cheese and fennel. The ambiance is cozy and upscale, and the staff is incredibly attentive and knowledgable.

    Photos
    The Alley Light - Tiny and stunning room.

    Tiny and stunning room.

    The Alley Light
    The Alley Light - Grapefruit and Guava Soda and 1890 Absinthe Martini

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    Grapefruit and Guava Soda and 1890 Absinthe Martini

    Pikasso Swig - Pressed Flower Lamp

    Pikasso Swig

    4.7(19 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    Drop in to craft and enjoy food and drink - I love this concept! Pikasso Swig executes this well…read moreand offers an encouraging and low stress environment to get creative for both adults and kids. You drop in and can choose from a variety of crafts (painting, wood burning, glass etching, string art, knitting, wreath making, etc) and instructors walk around and guide you through your project. If you come in a group, each person does not have to do the same craft, allowing the opportunity to explore different interests. Our group did a combo of glass etching, wood burning, and string art. Craft pricing ranges from $20-40. The food and drink menu is reasonable, offering cheese/charcuterie plates, paninis, bruschetta, pastries, wine, beer, ciders, and non-alcoholic beverages. I enjoyed the Monet - a panini with strawberries, Nutella, and Brie; it was warm and melty with a mix of sweet and salty. I am definitely not an artist but enjoyed our afternoon at Pikasso Swig and am happy for this addition to 5th Street Station!

    I went to this place with my 2 friends and 2 of us decided to split the glass tile coasters. When…read morethey brought out the tiles there was not many colors to pick from and the colors they did have, some of them only had 1 or 2 tiles left. The tiles were also not even so when placing the tiles on the coaster some were more raised than others. I'm not sure how a coaster is functional is it's not flat leveled. We ended up just not doing a craft because the other options just weren't worth the money. Our other friend did the flower pressed lamp and they didn't have very many flowers to pick from. We also considered doing the ceramic painting but all of the ceramics were very childish and looked like they were created by amateur.

    Photos
    Pikasso Swig - Painted Virginia tote. LOVE

    Painted Virginia tote. LOVE

    Pikasso Swig
    Pikasso Swig - Cheetah Christmas 2025

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    Cheetah Christmas 2025

    Rooftop Charlottesville

    Rooftop Charlottesville

    2.9(7 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    I visited this rooftop midweek this summer during my time college touring. I stayed at the Doyle…read moreHotel below the restaurant and had a phenomenal time watching the sun set against the blue mountains in the distance while we enjoyed the ambiance of upstairs. This gorgeous place for meeting and enjoying human connection is primed with enough space to hold a small school. There are high top tables for the onlookers, booths with built in fire pits for the social groups, multiple bars for the solemn types and an enough TVs and energy to uplift anyone! The view of the city in the summer was slow and sleepy by the time we got up there. So we paired the views with some of the best offerings I had in any city in Virginia. Take a look at the photos I captured for free drools and envy

    Huge rooftop area. Inside and outside bars. It looked like they had food but we were there for…read moreafter dinner drinks. We sat at the outside bar. The drink menu had anything from beer, wine to elevated classics. They also had a summertime tiki drink menu. Choices are great but it seemed to overwelm the bartending staff. It's either the staffing levels or the layout but this place can't handle a large crowd. Everywhere you looked was empty glasses. The staff we interacted with were friendly. It was our bartenders 1st full shift. Felt bad for the guy. Nice views in every direction. They just need help.

    Photos
    Rooftop Charlottesville
    Rooftop Charlottesville - Dad Joke & Notorious P.IG.

    Dad Joke & Notorious P.IG.

    Rooftop Charlottesville - Menu 2025

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    Menu 2025

    The Milkman's Bar - cocktailbars - Updated September 2026

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