I love grabbing an evening cocktail at The Outsider. Before this week, I had only been in the warmer months, but upon learning they cover the patio and have beautiful fireplaces when it's cold out, I had to get there for a winter evening. The fireplaces were beautiful and warm. The service was amazing!! Our waitress Maggie was extremely helpful and kind. She recommended some great drinks and was great to chat with. Now that I know it's so cozy in the winter, I can't wait to come back! read more

The Outsider - Covered winter patio - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Probably one of the best rooftop bars in Milwaukee. Depending on how busy they are (which is 100% all weekend), service can be less attentive and they were doing timed tables during COVID too. The drinks are so/so, sometimes overly sweet. The food is a hit or miss - my favorite was probably the fries with aioli. You come for the views and the fire pits are a really nice touch! read more

This place is amazing. I absolutely love coming here when I can afford it. The prices are outrageous, but the view, food, drinks, and service almost balance it out. They have a great happy hour for both drinks and appetizers, so getting there when they open not only ensures you snag an amazing seat with a view, but you don't have to apologize to your wallet afterwards. If you enjoy outdoor seating with comfortable furniture, fireplaces, unique food and drink options, and an incredible view of the city I highly recommend you check out the Outsider. read more

The Outsider - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Very cute. Went on a lot of dates here with my girl. Very cute vibes during the winter and summer it's beautiful. Highly recommend, food is good drinks are better. Service is fast. read more

One of my favorite cocktail bars in Milwaukee! I love coming here in the summer time when the rooftop bar/patio is open. The have nice couches out there and a nice view of the city from high up. There aren't many rooftop patios in the city so it is nice and refreshing. I also love bringing any visitors here for a quick drink! There are some cons but none that stop me from coming here as this place is so unique. 1) The drinks are pricey. But what else could you expect from a very nice rooftop bar in a city where they don't have many of these. I've never had a bad cocktail here at least so that makes up for it. Since it is so pricey though I will never stay very long here. 2) It is always so busy when I go that service is so so slow. You can see the workers are working fast and to the best of their ability but it can be difficult to keep up with such large crowds. I've not once had fast service here. It does get annoying but I love the ambiance and atmosphere of this place that it has never scared me off. read more

Firstly, I'll say that this rooftop is beautiful, the staff were very friendly, the drinks were delicious, and it was a great place to visit during my weekend stay in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, the staff failed to give me back my debit card, and ultimately told me they had given it back to me, and I must have "lost it". It turns out in their busyness that they gave my debit card to another customer, who later found my social media and reached out. I had already cancelled the card. I leave this review in hopes that they'll be a little more careful moving forward as it's just inconvenient and was very confusing/frustrating! read more

I returned to Milwaukee for a visit and was amazed how the city has grown. For years the city was a staid, Midwestern working class city, with a fun, beer drinking culture. Today, as construction projects consume almost every block, Milwaukee has its own urbanity and sophistication. The Outsider is the epitome of this new Milwaukee. Situated on the roof of the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel, the Outsider ran the risk of being the cliche of just "another roof top bar." However, with its indoor/outdoor concept, gorgeous lighting, use of much glass, and comfortable seating, its design takes this rooftop bar to a new level. The Outsider is "world class," and would be fitting in Hong Kong, Melbourne, New York, São Paulo or London. The bar was packed on this Tuesday night with an attractive, eclectic crowd, with no Packer emblem in sight. This was a Milwaukee of silk and linen. My city has finally come of age. It was great to take in. Prices match what you are getting. Service was Wisconsin nice with a touch of class. The Outsider was what I envisioned for Milwaukee in the 1990s and urged city leaders and developers to "hip up," but the city was not ready. Twenty-five years later, Milwaukee has finally arrived. Too bad I now live in Salt Lake City. C'est la vie......... read more

The Outsider - Dusk - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Visited this bar on a fantastic Saturday early evening. The rooftop is great and quite large. The drinks are good. Well prepared and decently priced. The small bites are also quite good. At first it seemed that the amount of people would be kept reasonable. All the spots were taken but the flow was managed. By 830 we wanted to just close our tab and it took 30min because the bar staff were completely overwhelmed. It was 3 deep standing and the bar and rooftop was packed. If the outdoor bar was open or more staff were present it would have been a 5/5 experience but it shouldn't take 30 min standing waiting just to close. read more

Amazing food and drinks! Staff is outstanding and I can't say enough about the service. Went there for my birthday last month and it's was the best experience I've ever had. Definitely will return read more

The Outsider is my absolute favorite place to grab drinks with out of town friends. The view, the fun seating, the drinks are all worth it. It has such a fun vibe that is unmatched by another place in the city. Cannot recommend it enough. read more

The Outsider - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I first visited this bar over a year ago, pre-COVID regulations. My boyfriend and I went on a Saturday night after our dinner reservations and had to wait a bit, but it was worth the wait! The first time I visited, we sat at the bar where we had attentive service. I recently went back to the Outsider with some friends on a Thursday evening for drinks. We were seated in the back corner of the rooftop portion of the bar overlooking the city. We had a booth-like area with our own fireplace. Our waiter was great! Attentive, not overbearing. We all enjoyed our drinks! They were also doing a special menu for Black History Month with a portion of the proceeds donated to a local charitable organization. Cool concept! Definitely recommend this spot if you're a local or a visitor, you won't be disappointed! read more

The Outsider - Gimlet & Draft Beer - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

What a fun spot! The rooftop view and open feel make for a great happy hour and date spot. The Outsider recently added a happy hour that is Monday-Friday from 3-6. Food is 50% off as well as $10 cocktails and 50% off wine. For the quality of this place, this deal is really amazing. I'm looking forward to coming here more during the summer once the patio is fully opened for the beautiful weather! For food, don't miss out on the cheese curds and pork belly tacos! Both are worth getting. Service was quick and they checked in very regularly. They were great about splitting tabs and we were even able to reserve a table! Definitely a spot you need to check out! read more

We have a few rooftops in Milwaukee now, whoa! We are so cool! And I'd agree that The Outsider is the best. The layout is simply gorgeous, you won't find another rooftop in the city that's more attractive. And they give you stuff to do! Bag toss, giant connect four, shuffleboard (which I still haven't had a chance to play, yet). There is always lots of staff, and with that said, you will still probably have to wait a bit for a drink because 1) they are that busy and 2) lots of people are ordering the hand-crafted cocktails... deliciousness takes time, people. Of course they also have outside fires going and I wonder how warm these will be in the coming chilly months. They do have some food items, but I haven't yet given any a try. The only less than positives that I can mention are that the craft cocktails and beer prices (even domestic) are a bit nuts, ok kinda crazy. But, I guess there's a cost for atmosphere. Doesn't seem fair to knock them for that. I've ordered mixers that were more reasonable, so that was a better value. And then holding the line to get in. I mean, I've gotten up there after waiting downstairs once and it wasn't even that full, so I hope they knock that off and I am chalking it up to it being a brand new spot this summer. Overall, I find it tough to give The Outsider less than 5 stars. I'm not sure what more anyone could really expect they improve on. It's pretty perfect. read more

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Security told me I would get kicked out for hitting a vape in an open outdoor area. Super expensive sweet mixed drinks. Not worth the price. Mostly juice with small measured alcohol pours. read more

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

Very good drinks here - though a little pricey. The food is good, but I kind of wish they had a full dinner menu instead of just bar snack types of items. Not that you couldn't make a meal out of some of the dishes, but they're mostly more focused on apps and not a very large selection. Definitely a step up from most bar food, but it is also good enough that it makes you wonder what they could do with a full menu. The ambiance is the real draw here. The view is great and in the winter - which is the only time we've been here - the outdoor space is really nice. There are fire pits and heaters to take the chill off. Very neat place for a few cocktails. read more

Just what Milwaukee needed: a great rooftop bar! Unlike other rooftops I have tried, you can actually get a great view of the beautiful Milwaukee! View of Holm Bridge? Check. View of City Hall? Check. View of the Third Ward into Walker's Point? Check. Beautiful foliage around your view of aforementioned areas? Check. I'd give this place five stars on the view alone, but the Outside still has more. They offer amazing snacks and a very extensive (though a bit expensive) drink menu. They have games like bags and Connect 4 on the rooftop as well as couches and other very comfortable seating. Wait staff was very good and very nice. It took three times to successfully get up to the rooftop thanks to a busy night and a work event blocking off the whole thing. But third time was the charm! It was a breeze getting up on a weekday at 7:30pm. I'll most definitely be back, probably arriving early (like 4pm) to get up there if I come on a weekend. read more

This place has amazing views and ambiance, there is SO much potential, but falls short in my opinion. Been here twice, both times the service was lacking. If these servers ever become first responders we're all doomed. First time I went was the middle of the week, a bit busier but not packed. Could kind of understand an impact to service. Second time was a Monday, it was dead. Still, it was 25 minutes between server visits and I waited 15 minutes for my drinks. The food is good, although I would really like to see a few more options. With all the drinking you can do here, having options that carry substance would be great. Also I know it's Wisconsin, but more vegan / vegetarian options would be great too. read more

The Outsider has created a pretty fantastic atmosphere at their rooftop bar. It's classy, hipster, and comfortable all at once. Beautiful outdoor wood furniture, games (shuffleboard, corn hole, jenga, etc), and a extensive drink menu. The cocktails are expensive, but expertly crafted. The one I got had so many different interesting flavors - like nothing I had tasted before. The food seems pretty overpriced, and not interesting enough to justify the price, which is why this place isn't five stars for me. (Housemade saltines? Beef jerky? Potato chips? No need to reinvent the wheel here...) Overall this is a wonderful place to hang out, have a drink, and enjoy life. read more

The Outsider - Chill vibes - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The outsider was one of the first places that my boyfriend and I had tried since moving to the Milwaukee area. We were amazed by the ambience that we encountered upon reaching the ninth floor of the journeyman hotel. That's not even to mention the amazing cocktails prepared and waiting for us on the other end. My favorite cocktail at the outsider would have to be the hot and bothered which has a perfect blend of cinnamon glacé ending with a spicy kick. I also tried the garden of xochi cocktail which was also very delightful. My first visit to this rooftop lounge, I was wearing jeans and a flannel on a Thursday evening which I would not recommend considering most of the guests were rather dressed up. All of my visits to the outsider since then with the exception of after a Brewers game, I have tried to dress a little bit more elegantly especially on one of the weekend evenings. However I don't think anyone minded the jeans and flannel otherwise. The service is a little dodgy at times likely because of how busy this place can get on a fair-weathered evening however the servers themselves are extremely pleasant to interact with. I'm very excited because I have some friends from Indianapolis visiting this weekend and all of them are very eager to visit the outsider. Can't wait to show my girls my favorite spot in my new city for a cocktail! read more

The Outsider - Hot and bothered cocktail - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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BEAUTIFUL. I have no idea why there are not more rooftop bars in Milwaukee, but there needs to be more! Rooftop bars elevate the entire experience of just ordering drinks from a nice restaurant. There are plenty of seats inside and out, but the view is what you come for! Perfect spot to bring a date or your best friends :) I ordered the La Frida which came with a pretty red flower on top. It was delicious and I would definitely order it again. Service was super friendly and very attentive especially with having gone on a busier afternoon. read more

The Outsider - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Fantastic! I feel like a tourist in my own city here! The view is stunning. You see: the Hoan, a sunset, the river and all the beauty of industrial warehouse MKE. My friend and I had a couple of delicious drinks but no food. My buddy had the Beefeater gin, Blackberry Bramble and I had a simple ( yet complex tasting) Rehorst gin on the rocks. Mmm. That gin. The bartenders were warm and attentive, the drinks are reasonably priced and the rooftop experience was simply incredible. Gas firepits dot the area and the atmosphere was so inviting. I can't believe I've never been here before but I will be back! read more

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I went once before and the service was terrible. It triggered me so much I vowed to never return, but apparently I'm not as strong willed as I thought and I was dragged there socially. Maybe I went in with a negative mindset from my first experience, but the service was shamefully crappy yet again and didn't do anything to change my opinion. For real, why do businesses hire staff who act like jerks? read more

Atmosphere wise this is one of the top bars in the city to visit. Located on the 9th floor of the Kimpton journeyman Hotel this is where you go when you want to show off for company. Super Swanky bar with a rooftop outdoor patio view of the city, fire pits and tons of couces and lounging type chairs available. Also numerous TVs and games available to play. I've been here quite a few times and I'm not crazy about the prices of the drinks or even the quality of them. But the atmosphere up here is so dope I can't help to want to keep returning. Food is available here although I have yet to try any. Pretty huge array of liquor and local beers available on tap. I tried the Dillionare as a drink which I wasn't that pleased with. Housemaid paloma was also not that spectacular. And you'll be a lot more pleased with the price and just soaking up the atmosphere. read more

Food was great, drinks were tasteful as well. Rue was our server and her customer service was beyond amazing ! The only thing I did not like was that the customers do not have control of the fireplace, it's already a hot summer night and all though the fireplaces are beautiful they should be kept on low for hot summer nights. I asked manager if they can turn one off and they refused because of policies. Shorten our stay, we planned on staying longer but it was too hot for us to enjoy. Maybe try getting a middle table if you don't want to be around the heat, because why go inside and not enjoy this beautiful view. read more

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Outstanding, inventive bartenders willing to share a taste of their creations. Awesome space with an "outside " area covered for winter with a warm and inviting fire pit. read more

It's no secret Milwaukee lacks rooftop venues. If you think we have a lot, venture to any other larger city and you will see we are lacking. Having the Outsider is such a special gem to this city. When it first opened, I visited several times and it was hardly busy. Now, you can attend on a Wednesday night and have trouble finding a seat. The service is always super nice, albeit a little slow on a busy Saturday night. Understandable, but was tough for us last Saturday as we had dinner reservations we needed to make and were waiting on our bill for quite some time. My advice: don't head here in a hurry. Spend the evening relaxing, and the service will feel stellar. They are kind and accommodating. Food is very good. I have had a few of the bites but enjoyed them. Drinks are awesome too. My only complaint is the wine is a tad expensive. You can hardly get a glass for less than $14. Seems high compared to their other prices. See you soon, Outsider! read more

The Outsider - Mini Tuna Tartare Tostadas - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Awesome place if you want to relax and talk with a friend. I went on Friday night and it was really busy. Took me about 30 minutes to get the attention of the server, and then she was a hostess, so she had to find a server. Met some really nice people there. We looked at the stars with the SkyMap App and saw the Big and Little Dipper. Hope to get here again soon, but I would like to find a less busy time. read more

The rooftop bar was a beautiful space and the drinks were absolutely delicious but the service was abysmal. Immediately it felt like we were inconveniencing our server by being there, he was rude and condescending when asked questions regarding drinks. The server had come back to ask if we wanted to close out to which we responded that we would like another round of drinks. The server then said that it was the end of his shift and that we needed to close out because otherwise "he won't get paid". One would think he could add one last round to our bill, but apparently that wasn't his perogative read more

Dope rooftop bar in the city. I've had the pleasure of being here both in the winter and summer seasons. In the winter they have a nice covering and in the summer they provide full patio access. There are tons of connect 4 games all over the place, lots of fire pits and seating. This would be a great date spot or work happy hour. Drinks, as expected, are pricey but made well. They definitely don't come strong so it's not a pregame or turnip place - you definitely come for the ambiance. read more

I travelled to Milwaukee for business this past week, and this was one of my favorite places! A very comfortable roof top bar where the view was incredible, the drinks were great, and the music created a great atmosphere to enjoy good energy! Would highly recommend for a classy setting to enjoy casual drinks! read more

Great atmosphere, plenty of seating options and the views are nice from the rooftop. Even while very busy the service was on point.

I went to the Outsider yesterday for my birthday. The server Shannon was by far the worst server I have ever had in Milwaukee. We asked for 2 tables near each other since we couldn't have a 7 top table due to COVID. Before we could even complete our sentence she interrupted "NO" assuming we were going to ask for a fire table. Then once we sat she said we would get a server. We didn't have one after about 5 minutes so I proceeded to go to the bar. She told me I need to go back to my table "because I have a server" My friend then inquired about the table of 10 in the corner. The server responded, "that's the owner!" Which it wasn't. Overall terrible experience! read more

I have never left a review before this, however, my experience here was hugely uncomfortable. I understand that some hotel bars may have certain protocols in place to protect their reputation, but having security stalk women alone at the bar is not appropriate. I am a single, young woman. I was meeting a friend at this bar at 5:30pm and I arrived first. I got a single glass of Prosecco, paid and tipped with card. The bartenders were lovely and cheerful and the space was lovely and cozy. I took my glass to a couch in sight of the elevators. Within a few moments, a security guard came up to the bar and stood aimlessly behind me for the entire half hour that I was waiting. He did not walk around, or appear to have any other goals. He was facing and staring directly at me the entire time and showed no intentions of leaving. My friend was running late and I was extremely uncomfortable that this man apparently had nothing else to do but observe me, so I left as soon as I could. read more

High end bar in the Kimpton hotel with city views, fire pits, TVs and outdoor and indoor contemporary seating. Nice spot to lounge with a group. read more

The Outsider - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Enrique was our bartender and he was AWESOME! The cashmere season was incredible. One of the best drinks I've had. Bartender recommended! Super sweet and cool. Vibes here are so awesome, mini Chicago. Chill rooftop with incredible views. I'll be back for sure! read more

The Outsider - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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This place came highly recommended by a friend as well as a couple of Uber drivers. We are always up for a good rooftop bar, so let's do it. It's 9 stories up, not too high, but you definitely get a nice view of the city. We ordered a couple of beers and looked at the menu. We hadn't had lunch so we were hungry, my buddy decided to order pretty much the whole appetizer section. It was a bit ridiculous, but why not? We ended up getting the Harissa Spiced Beef Jerky, Mini Tuna Tartare Tostadas, the Ellsworth Fried Cheese Curds, Beef Empanadas, Root Beer Braised Short Rib Sliders and the Crispy Pork Belly Tacos. The Harissa beef jerky was good, nicely spiced a tiny kick, tasty. The tostadas were actually delicious. It was tuna, salsa and lemon cream on a nacho chip, a little over priced, but probably my favorite taste of the bunch. The curds were good, fried cheese, I mean it's delicious. The empanadas were easily my least favorite. They tasted frozen, everything else tasted pretty fresh, these did not. The sliders were very good, not fatty. The pork belly tacos were ok. I always find pork belly too fatty, but the flavor was there. Great views, attentive service. This was a nice place for drinks and a few bites. read more

The Outsider is one of those places that you love to hang out for the evening! But if it's a nice day/evening be prepared to get there early or stand in line because it is the place to be in downtown Milwaukee for the bar scene. The Outsider has hip music, fire-pits, top-notch servers and of course a beautiful rooftop view. The Outsider feels like a chic bar you would find in Soho with cool wood, metal and industrial lighting. You will see all kinds of dress code here, jeans, suits, dresses.....although I feel mostly comfortable when I am a little dressed up when we stop in for a beverage. Great drink menu which are not cheap but not over the top either. I love their late night pizza's.....fresh and delicious. If you find yourself downtown check out The Outsider for a little Third Ward flair! read more

Such a cute vibe!! I love bringing friends who haven't been to MKE here. This bar has the perfect vibe for a nicer night out, or date night! Drinks are a little on the pricy side, but totally fine if you're just planning to have one or two. The view is ridiculous, and it's beautiful at sunset read more

The Outsider - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Fantastic ambiance, staff and drink selection. Their winter menu is really fun right now. It's a fun spot to people watch, sit by the fire, and take in the third ward on the balcony. Drinks and apps are a bit pricey, but worth it. read more

The Outsider - Winter Sangria - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin