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    The Milkman's Bar

    4.0 (30 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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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 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!

    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!

    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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    7 months ago

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

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    3 years ago

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    3 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

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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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    4 years ago

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    Ask the Community - The Milkman's Bar

    Review Highlights - The Milkman's Bar

    The milkman's Bar is a refreshing lounge style bar located in the heart of the Dairy Market.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    Smyrna - BEET SALAD bitter greens, hazelnuts, cacao nibs, kaymak, pomegranate vinaigrette

    Smyrna

    4.7(116 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Went tonight with my daughter who is a total foodie! The…read moreservice was very personal with our server knowing every detail. The managing partner also came by our table very casually and friendly- I just googled their bios and its very interesting. So I wasn't sure I would like everything we ordered- I only wanted the beet salad. It was amazing!!!!!!! We also had the dip trio which I liked the hummus best with yummy bread. My daughter, her friend and her mom LOVED the calamari and said it was light and delicious. Lamb kebob was tasty. Desert chocoholic was scrumptious and the lemon granita was light and interesting with homemade cotton candy that we laughed looked like ratchet barbie hair but tasted so light. Absolutely delicious!

    SERVICE We came in for a belated Valentine's Day dinner,…read moreand the staff immediately seated us when we got int. Everyone was friendly and professional without being too formal. Our server served us waters and let us peruse the menu. Most spots will have the waiter come by and ask you how things are, and our waiter didn't come by at all after setting down the food which was interesting -- not good nor bad but probably were also busy. AMBIENCE The space felt upscale but still easygoing, which made it perfect for our Valentine's night out. There's no dress code, but most people looked like they'd put a little effort in, matching the polished but comfortable vibe. Loved the open kitchen all the way towards the back by the bookshelf area gave the room some energy without making it feel noisy. Definitely struck a great balance between date-night fancy and laid-back cool and casual. FOOD We started with the Beet Salad Ribbons and the Meze Trio. The beet salad mixed earthy ribbon-sheet beets with hazelnuts and a bright pomegranate vinaigrette that surprised me! Loved the pairing of the beets and cheese and hazelnut crunch. As a texture fan, this really hit the spot! It was colorful, fresh, and really well balanced. The Meze Trio had charred eggplant, a yogurt-goat cheese dip, and a seasonal hummus. Each had its own flavor and texture, and everything felt super fresh and well-seasoned. Favorite was the seasonal hummus. The yogurt-goat cheese dip was good but definitely sweeter than I personally perferred! The Calamari was also quite good and had decent number of chunky pieces that weren't just breading. The only small letdown was the pita bread since we had more dips than pita left. We expected refills might be complimentary, especially for a place like this, but they weren't. Not a big deal, just something that stood out in an otherwise smooth and thoughtful experience! The Manti Dumplings were a highlight too -- probably so much handwork in making these look like they do! The Sharondale mushrooms gave them a rich, savory flavor, and the pepper butter sauce added just the right touch of spice. The burger was also great -- juicy, flavorful, and paired with house fries and an amazing urfa pepper aioli. You could tell both dishes were elevated but still comforting, showing off the chef's fine-dining background in a really approachable way. For dessert, we shared the Baklava Cheesecake and a Chocolate Hazelnut special. The cheesecake was unique -- cheesecake filling sandwiched between baklava. It was delicious but not what I was expected! It was creamy and nutty with pistachio layers, and the chocolate dessert was incredibly rich without being heavy. Both were perfect finishes. We even took home the leftover goat cheese dip because it was that good. Overall, pices were a little on the higher side ($23-$29 for mains, $14 for dessert), but for the quality and thought put into every dish, it felt worth it and would come back again for a special occasion! This was definitely elevated ambience and the food was well executed in our opinion. I can see the hype! Definitely not a spot I'd frequent often but for the special days -- this is it to impress your date or family!

    Photos
    Smyrna - Bar

    Bar

    Smyrna - Meyer Lemon Granita (with strawberries and Turkish cotton candy)

    Meyer Lemon Granita (with strawberries and Turkish cotton candy)

    Smyrna - Manti Dumplings

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    Manti Dumplings

    The Milkman's Bar - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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