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The Outsider

3.9 (230 reviews)
Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 2 months ago

The Outsider Photos

THE OUTSIDER ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - The Outsider

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Reviews With Photos

Rebecca G.

Cool place for drinks, chill upscale vibe, bathrooms are actually clean even though they're packed. Loved the drinks. Tried a few different ones. It's my second time here and both times staff was super attentive and fast to order our drinks. We came out for my daughter's birthday and they brought her a birthday shot for free with a little candle inside of it. I ended up missing it on camera, but it was still super sweet gesture. Definitely recommend coming here, especially in the summertime when they open up the patio.

Rooftop sunset
Karen S.

Five stars just for the space. This is a great rooftop bar! I can't think of a rooftop with better ambience. We stopped by on a Saturday evening and caught the sunset. There are plants and lights and heaters and a partial roof. Perfection! We had the old-fashioned, really good, but no cherry which was a little disappointing. We also had the spicy wings. They were good, crispy outside but not spicy. And we tried the walnut dip. It comes with crackers, cucumbers and carrots. It was fine, but nothing to dream about. The service was a little slow, but our server was sweet. She might have been new to the job. The people we were with assured us it's not normally like that. Go for the atmosphere, your won't be disappointed.

Frozen Framboise Sherbet Pink Cloud Summer
Jenna K.

Great spot for a cocktail with excellent city views. Nice outdoor seating and variety of options. Cocktails were tasty, like how their specialty cocktail menu changes.

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Ahmed H.

Went to The Outsider recently for a surprise birthday party. This was my second time visiting but it's been years. I gave them a 4-star rating because while the ambiance/vibe was a 5, the food and drinks were a 3. The staff did a great job of waiting on our party of 20+, making sure we we had water and could order. I personally had a mojito - my go-to drink - after learning that their house cocktails are pre-mixed, which was the first red flag. The mojito ended up being very sugary like it was loaded with an artificially-flavored mixer. The food was meh too: undercooked wings with delicious but pricey $12 fries. I'll certainly go back, because the vibe is unmatched but on a full stomach.

Meagan M.

The perfect rooftop bar! This our go-to spot. The atmosphere is fun and the views of Milwaukee are great. The drinks are so nice and it's relaxing to sit by the fire. Indoor and outdoor seating, so perfect for both winter and summer months. I have been here several times! It is usually pretty busy, but there is also a lot of seating. Highly recommend checking this place out!

Nicole L.

We came here for cocktails before dinner, and there was absolutely no third Ward parking because of the art festival. Bummed that we finally found a spot and the rooftop garage doors were closed. Still cozy vibes with the fireplace and couches, and very prompt service. I decided to try a happy hour drink - the "TEA SESH" only $10 for "JEFFERSON'S BOURBON, PEACH TEA SYRUP, LEMON, HONEY, PEACH BITTERS." Very refreshing and a light bourbon drink. My fiancé got the frozen Framboise Sherbet (the raspberry frozen drink with blanco tequila, oat milk, orange and lime juices.) He really enjoyed his too, and lovely presentation. Always love the outsider, and you MUST try the new beer battered cheese curds. To die for!

Aperol Spritz
Jennifer N.

A solid place for drinks, vibes, and views! A bit on the pricier side but you're definitely paying for the rooftop experience. I went in the spring while it was a bit chillier outside, but they had enough warmers where we were sitting that I felt very very cozy. I'm looking forward to coming back in the summer to experience the open patio!

Adrienne D.

The Outsider is one of Milwaukee's best rooftop bars. The service is usually spot on. And, they don't offer your everyday bar food. You can get chicken karage, spam masubi, and other bites here at the Outsider. I highly recommend that everyone ventures out here in the Summer months. The view and clear skies are to die for. The Outsider is perfect for groups. You can have a solid group of 4-9 people seated at the Outsider. The outdoor seating is very comfortable and there's little fire pits scattered throughout the rooftop.

Bar area
Dominique J.

If you want a nice vibe, with good music and bar bites and view overlooking the city then this is the place for you. It's definitely a spot to get dressed up and enjoy your evening. The bar bites are delicious and the service is great. This is my favor rooftop in Milwaukee.

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11 months ago

Got engaged/ proposed to here! The staff was great and gave us free champagne for a toast!

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3 years ago

Good ambiance for outdoor bar; service: nothing special. Drinks: ordinary. Food: none

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Ask the Community - The Outsider

Is the patio dog friendly? We're looking to stay at the Kimpton and hoping to have a place to grab drinks in the hotel?

Is it a 21+ rooftop bar?

Yes, IDs are checked on the way into the bar area

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Review Highlights - The Outsider

Unfortunately it was pretty cool outside so this rooftop bar was enclosed to keep out the frigid weather.

Mentioned in 31 reviews

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Agency - Inside

Agency

4.4(22 reviews)
0.7 miEast Town, Downtown

Wow! This may be the best cocktail bar in the city. It is a full vibe that must be experienced…read more Craft cocktails in a charming, warm, inviting space similar to a Victorian era home back in the 1900s. Service is impeccable. They do a tremendous job of explaining the menu and food options in detail, and ensure you have a great experience from start to finish. The drinks? Nothing short of amazing. They vary the featured cocktails menu every 8 weeks, so most likely you'll get a different experience every time you go. However you can always get your classic cocktails like Margaritas, French 75 and Martinis. They also can do any drink NA which is the first of its kind in the US. They have an option called dealers choice, where you can pick the spirit and flavor profile of the drink you want: spicy, sour, floral, smoky etc. no limits! You write down on a card what you want and they craft you a cocktail based on your selections. They also offer a variety of food pairings to go along with the select, featured drink you order. We got spring rolls, a braised, pork infused doughnut, and an incredible bone broth that still has me in a tizzy. Fair warning: it's small and difficult to get a reservation - don't try your luck walking in, this place is a hot ticket and you won't be able to get in without a resy, which could be weeks or months out. This is a true gem of a cocktail bar, and is as good as anything you would find in New York or Chicago.

A fun spot to have a couple of expertly crafted cocktails located in the Dubbel Dutch hotel…read more Reservations are needed. Nightmare was a good start-Rye based and as the menu states, served room temperature (warm), while the French 75 a hit as well. The Dealer's Choice option as either a single or combined version is fun. Choosing a set # of liquors, flavor profiles, tastes and level of alcohol was a chance to list your favorites but leaving it up to a master-and ours were both memorable.

Photos
Agency - Big Big, water

Big Big, water

Agency
Agency - The Sea Witch

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The Tin Widow - Tin Window

The Tin Widow

4.7(107 reviews)
0.7 miWalker's Point
$$

We stopped in on a whim after dinner out in the deer district. Driving home when I saw the holiday…read moreinflatables and I thought if I can find a parking spot, we are going in. I had heard about the Tin Widow's holiday pop up being one of the best area, the hype was not wrong. From the entrance to the ceiling and walks, this place is the definition of deck the halls. Unless you get here right when they open it early in the holiday season, I would expect a crowd. The drink menu is so fun with holiday themed drinks served in matching glassware. You can even purchase the glass/mug for an additional fee. A lot of the cocktails looked to be batched cocktails which help with the bartender's efficiency. Highly recommend making this place a holiday stop. I'm also curious to stop in after the holidays to experience it without all the holiday decor.

Stopped in for their Miracle on 2nd St holiday pop-up. We only had to wait about 5-10min for a…read moretable, but it does get busy fast, especially on weekends. They had several seasonal cocktails in special festive cups, which you could also buy to take home. I got the Cheery Cherry Chocosaurus, which was good, but pricey for what it was. Almost all the seasonal drinks were $15 each and didn't seem too big. The venue itself is medium sized, but feels crammed quickly. There's more people let in at a time than there is seating, so you have to move fast to get a seat. I'll likely come back during the summer to try something else.

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The Tin Widow - Interior

Interior

The Tin Widow
The Tin Widow

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The Pharmacy Bar - Hea-Ting & Coo-Li Hing

The Pharmacy Bar

4.5(14 reviews)
2.2 miEast Side, Murray Hill, Lower East Side

Such a great little bar situated inside of the Crossroads Collective! Surrounded by a bunch of food…read morevendors, it's the one spot you can wet your whistle. Here you'll find plenty of brews on tap, wines, and a solid line up of canned drinks/seltzers. Most notable though, their house cocktails. I opted for the cocorita and was definitely a fan! If you like coconut flavor and margs, then you're in for a treat with this one. So refreshing and even comes with shaved coconut on the side of the glass. If tequila isn't your thing, they've got ya covered with all the other concoctions -- from a sunshine martini to a Gillian's island rum mixer. And even if you prefer NA, there's drinks cleverly called "placebo effects" for ya! Love the sprawling bar, with plenty of seats, that's right in front of the big open doors letting the fresh air in. Friendly faces behind the bar too. Look forward to returning!

The Pharmacy Bar is located inside the Crossroads Collective Food Hall. Accidentally ended up here…read moreas a place inside we were looking for wasn't open. The bartender was super friendly and we had a nice chat about this place and how a lot of the restaurants in the building use this as a test kitchen before they get their own place. Back to the bar, it's such a cool concept because it shows recognization to how the building use to be Oreintal Drugs. They have a wide variety of drinks to choose from from coffee, beer, wine, cocktails, non alcoholic drinks. Literally, whatever you imagine they have you covered. You can get food from any of the local businesses inside so the combinations are endless for pairings.

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The Pharmacy Bar
The Pharmacy Bar - Hurricane

Hurricane

The Pharmacy Bar

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Hill Valley Dairy - Bar view

Hill Valley Dairy

4.8(19 reviews)
0.6 miWalker's Point

Seems like a quintessential Wisconsin place to be, a cheese bar paired with your favorite wine or…read morecocktail. This place is pretty neat! It'll turn you into a cheese connoisseur if you're not already one. I fell in love with Gouda cheese as soon as I took a bite. We tried a classic cheese flight board and red wine only flight to pair with the different types of cheese. They made it into a gluten free spread so we had four types of cheese in lieu of the seasoned dried meat and gluten free crackers. The place is inviting, has nice decorations, great for going on a date or a casual catch up with your bestie. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. They knew so much about wine and cheese, I would want a whole Documentary on cheese. You can also purchase cheese and other goodies to go! Come on Thursdays, they have a discount on cheese boards!

Date of visit: March 28, 2026…read more This was our second stop on a birthday date night and was a lovely little find! While the menu is limited and not cheap, staff were very friendly and walked us through everything before we selected a couple of things to try. Pretty much all of the cheeses and accoutrements were fantastic! One of the cheese on our plate was the espresso version of Bellavitano, which happens to be one of my favorites, so that was a nice little bonus for me. In addition to the board, we also went with the ricotta bites, which featured one sweet and one savory option, both of which we also really liked. The shop is cozy and if this was somewhere that I lived walking distance from, I could totally see myself coming here fairly regularly and having a little cheese and ambiance. During our time there we saw both couples on dates and old friends gathering for a drink and a nosh, all of which I found just wonderful. Really the only thing keeping this from a five star review was that the side items, such as the crackers were not plentiful enough for the cheese. I know that ratio can be hard to nail but it was not quite on the mark here, unfortunately. However, that would not be enough to prevent me from returning!

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Hill Valley Dairy
Hill Valley Dairy - Shop area with more cheese and cheese lover gifts. Viewing window allows you to see them making the cheese.

Shop area with more cheese and cheese lover gifts. Viewing window allows you to see them making the cheese.

Hill Valley Dairy - Hill Valley Dairy

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Hill Valley Dairy

The Outsider - lounges - Updated May 2026

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