Paradise is the best dive bar in Madison. It has the best bartenders - shout out Taylor! The food options are perfect greasy drunk snacks. There can be a long line for the pool table and darts most nights so I would bring a deck of cards while you wait. read more

My review remains the same: get yourself to the 'Dise and have a [five star] burger & beverage. The Paradise is [dern-near] a Madison institution reminiscent of a grittier Madison of yore before the construction boom and gentrification. Service is awesome. Atmosphere: It was the Best of Dives, it was the Worst of Dives... :) read more

Chicken fingers were great. Service was not bad given how many people were in the bar. Guys next to me hit it big on pull tabs. Great experience, very crowded. If you don't like crowds, you probably won't like it, but I like crowds. read more

i love paradise lounge. this spot is a great place if you love a good dive. they also have a deep fryer so order food if you want. the food is nothing to write home about but that's the idea. it's a greasy dive bar! (their brat is so-so, and their chicken wings are so-so. i don't recommend that you go there to eat but definitely to drink and have a good time.) drink deals are good, though. and they have a pool table. the bartenders are always friendly and attentive whenever i go there. i highly recommend it. read more

Went today 6/14/25. Ordered a drink (rum and tonic with a lime for my mom) and repeated myself after the bartender said "What?" He walked away and spoke to someone at the other end of the bar. Heard the person at the end of the bar say "It's okay, man" Bartender came back and said "What the fuck do you want?" Repeated the same order. He made the drink and said "5 dollars" Gave him my card and asked for a beer I knew they'd have (spotted cow b/c Wisco) Gave him $8 tip on a $11 bill after asking him to close the tab. Would've gotten Bacardi instead of rail rum, ordered a name brand gin martini, and food, then given an even bigger tip. Go there with extremely low expectations read more

This is a fairly fun dive bar with above average food. The downside is that the bartender was about as unenthusiastic as a human can be. I asked a couple questions about the menu, and he seemed really disinterested in helping me decide what to get. Most of my questions were met with one word answers. I expected a much more welcoming and friendly atmosphere from this spot. After all, human connection is (or should be) part of what separates this kind of place from the myriad of chain burger restaurants. I ordered the cheese burger with fries and a hard cider, which were good. Ultimately, though, the only thing that stands out about this spot is that it is the cheapest option for getting food near the capitol. read more

The Paradise Lounge - Burger and fries - Dive Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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One of the best dive bars in Madison. The drink deals are crazy and there is a pool table and foosball table. If it's not too busy then it's usually feasible to play a song or two on touch tunes. They also serve food but I haven't tried it. read more

The Paradise Lounge - Drink specials - Dive Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Superb divey lounge strong spirits, positive cheer enjoy at nightime If dives are what you seek, then the paradise lounge is where you must go. read more

I've been here a few times for drinks on a Saturday night. Classic dive bar vibes. We also got lunch here because the burger was included in burger week - ir was pretty good! Nothing incredibly special, but solid taste and cooked well. Onion rings were delicious (not pictured). read more

The Paradise Lounge - Paradise Burger - Dive Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Chameleon is the best! Love you guys! Best bartenders in Madison. Great drinks. Slayer is awesome!

The Paradise Lounge is a classic dive bar which I'm sure, makes them proud. A good beer selection, friendly bartender, and a dark, "barfly" kind of vibe keeps it authentic. So nondescript outside that you might walk right past it. Look for the well-worn Paradise sign over the door. read more

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Well my work travel companion stumbled upon this little place the day we arrived for a 4 day long business trip. The place is divey. However the bar food, drinks and service is top notch. Such nice friendly local regulars frequent this establishment which made this like a little "cheers" type place that we had to revisit a few times during the trip. The fried cheese curds are delicious and you cannot go wrong with the paradise burger. If I'm ever sent back out to Madison I'll definitely come by here again! read more

The Paradise Lounge - A local IPA - Dive Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

If you're in the Madison area (near the State Capitol), I definitely recommend this place for a fun/chill dive-bar atmosphere. When we walked in, we immediately heard the Smoking Popes playing on the sound system and saw a bunch of people shooting pool and having a good time. Service: The bartenders were awesome- they were quick to get our drinks/food started and were super patient with my group and the many times we went up to redeem our "cardboard crack"- aka Wisconsin lottery pull tabs. Drinks: reasonable prices and great selection. I'm a huge fan of ciders and they had my favorite- which I don't find very often at dive bars (it's usually the standard Angry Orchard or Redd's which I'm not a fan of). Food: food choices were simple and seemed frozen. The mac n cheese bites were incredible! The chicken strips were kind of salty but the plus is that their kitchen is open late. read more

The Paradise Lounge - Menu - Dive Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Be warned! While this is a great local dive bar it doesn't seem welcoming to non locals. Went for bit to eat upon suggestion from a local after a concert Arrived asked if kitchen still open was told yes. Went up to bar to order food and drinks. Was completely ignored by wait staff. Walked by us and started chatting with a local completely ignoring us and couple behind us. After 10 minutes we left. Very negative experience which is a shame as its a cool bar. read more

A great dive bar for everyone in downtown Madison WI! Good food for sure--it's in Wisconsin so they use BUTTER; the service is terrific--sit at the bar already--not sure there are many tables in there anyway. Meanwhile, you can't beat the prices, unless MAYBE McDonalds--even then that's the low end of McDonalds menu....Bartender is friendly, nice mix of ages, orientations, races. A fun feed late at night....very cool! read more

Great bar food. Excellent brat and curt fries. Good regular bar atmosphere. Mason jars for drinks a nice touch. read more

After the joke of the American on tap we wound up at this cool dive bar. It's a narrow place with a pool table, foosball table and gambling machines. The place had lots of wood tables and booths. Flat screen tv's with in eye view. Regulars were coming and going while we were there. The staff and regulars were very nice to the new people. The place attracts a diverse group people and had the feel of a nice hang out place. The place is narrow with lots of wood tables and booths. There was your typical small selection of draft beers. Zombie dust was on tap for our tour. If you look at my picture you will see a grill on the left right next to where people sit at the bar. They do have food but I didn't try any. This was a genuine cool dive bar and I would be back. read more

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I called and ordered a simple takeout meal of a cheeseburger and fries. When I walked in I couldn't get any help from any employees while they were taking shots with customers. After about 10 minutes if sitting at the bar and being ignored I finally got my food. But of course when I got home I found out there were no fries in the box. I had called back several times and they kept hanging up on me. I went back the next day and they would only refund the price of the fries. Another time I was eating inside the bar and I had received and finished my burger before I even got my fries. The crew at night has some pretty terrible service. Not so bad for lunch though. read more

I know this is classified as a dive bar and usually I love a good dive bar but this one was super disappointing. A) The bartender never stopped complaining, loudly, about everything. From the way the beer was pouring, to customers getting too drunk the night before, to management not being specific enough, and about how poor tips were, and on and on. Since it was 3 in the afternoon and there were like 4 people in there, it was really off-putting. B) The beer lines are dirty. The beers are foamy and buttery tasting. The lines need to be cleaned. C) The food was pretty good. No complaints, really. We had the cheeseburgers and some fries and onion rings. I just wanted to like this place more. read more

Go late for fried cheese curds. Leave early before they turn the lights on. read more

The Paradise Lounge - Dive Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I Love the Paradise. The music is loud, the food is no frills fantastic, and the beer selection is on spot. This is the dive with attitude (my favorite). The Paradise burger is fantastic! The best burger in Madison. The lightning is really low, probably because you don't want to see what is going on in there. The jukebox is always full of Slayer, Pig Destroyer and all the things I like. This is my go to when I'm in town. Eat up, drink up, and buy the bartender a shot. This place rules. read more

The Paradise Lounge - Dive Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Looking for craft cocktails? Homemade tinctures and bitters? Mixologists wearing vests and ironic mustaches? Well, keep moving because the 'dise has none of these! What is does have is pure divey goodness. Cheap beer. Cheap (and strong) drinks. An interior that hasn't changed in at least 20 years. They also have a grill/fryer that serves up not a bad cheeseburger. The clientele can be pretty varied which only adds to the charm. What I like most about this place is that it leaves all pretense at the door. It is a bar and grill. No slick marketing. No "themes". Just booze and food. And who can argue with that combo? read more

IPA and cheese curds in an old reliable, definitively Dive Bar favorite here in Madison. It's been awhile since I've been here and not much has changed.   Great (mostly Wisconsin beers) on tap; great service; sports on the TV; and assured heartburn from the delicious fried menu items. Brats and burgers are good. Don't skip trying the cheese curds or onion rings. read more

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I came in after a concert on a Sunday night (when, for some odd reason, many of their neighbors were closed - my guess is that the city shuts down for spring break... or something), there were actually a handful of people in there around 11:30pm. After a weekend of partying, I was mostly there for some hydration and to catch up with a friend from out of town (staying at a nearby hotel). The atmosphere wasn't quite 'paradise' ... more like a log cabin with some darts and pool tables. Their signage is pretty vintage, food options listed on a classic sign in a few places throughout the bar with those individual letters to create each item. The only thing I found to be paradise-like, was the fact that their grill was STILL OPEN! Yes, a bar with a grill, open past 10pm. I think she said they will keep it open until 1:30am or even close. Yes, it's bar food... but you're looking at cheese curds, deep fried broccoli bites, and in my case - I got their last ham and cheese sandwich! The bartender was very nice and friendly. She was especially knowledgeable on what was on tap, even giving great suggestions on what we may like. read more

For bar food this place gets 5! It's exactly what it says, a dive bar. Small and dark... but great food at decent prices Paradise burger amazing and huge. Must have the delicious crinkle cut fries with it. I'm lucky to work near by. The staff is super accommodating and pleasant. I call in orders ahead of time to dine in. Best bar burger . Chicken wings, tenders and sandwiches are also good. read more

Five star bid! This joint is almost the perfect dive bar. Located right on capital square near a couple of either seedy joints.. this stretch of street seems stuck in time! Inside, it's a classic horseshoe bar with the two level "Drink Area" bar, a pool table, jukebox, and DARK lighting! Trust me, you couldn't tell day from night sitting in this joint for a million bucks. Clientele ranges from locals & college kids to tourists & tinder dates looking for a shady spot! Beers and drinks are dirt cheap and they have food to boot. Bartender was EXTREMELY knowledgeable about the area and gave us many good suggestions, TIP WELL! Talk later read more

Really wanted to like this place but the Bartender was super rude and unaccommodating. Shamrock next door was great tho.

Great little dive. The people make the bar what it is. Bartenders were drinking on their break like it was their last night on earth, great vibe! read more

Paradise is right. Loved this little slice of local flavor just beyond the reach of the college scenesters. Visiting Paradise prompted my friends and I to discuss the differences between a "dive bar" and an "old man bar". I'd more properly classify Paradise as an old man bar because 1) It was full of old men when we went and seems like exactly the kind of place you'd find your grandpa in 2) It's a little worn and shabby, but its not gross and dirty 3) It has none of the trappings of the false, nouveau "dive bars" that cater to a more yuppie clientele. Drinks are cheap cheap cheap ($4 for a large pint, they also have specials and happy hours) and they had a nice selection of local beers on tap. Bartenders were friendly and funny. Fried cheese curds were delish (but how could fried cheese not be delicious, right?). Really loved this bar as a low key place to just have some beers with friends in peace. It was pretty quiet when we went during the week, but seemed to be picking up steam around 10pm when we left. Side notes: There is a pool table, dart board, and digital juke box. They also sell a few snack items, and apparently cigarettes by the pack. read more

Came in here on a Thursday afternoon a couple months ago and haven't been back. Definitely a locals bar, and the vibe was just a little off. I love dive bars, but this one just struck us as a little bit strange. However, they did have pretty good happy hour specials if that's what you're looking for. read more

I don't go to dive bars very often, but Paradise Lounge is going to be my choice going forward. I don't really have too much to say about the Lounge. The drinks are super cheap, the food is ok, and they play a lot of metal music. Since I'm a metalhead, the music gives a much-needed break from the top 40 music playing at most other bars that makes me feel out of place. Plus, it's not blasting, so you can still hold a conversation without yelling or eavesdrop on other patrons if that's your kind of thing. Like I mentioned, the food is ok, but this is a dive bar and not a gastropub. The curds are too breading-heavy for me, but their signature Paradise burger is solid. I found the bun to be too toasty for my preference, but there's bacon, cheese, and grilled onions on it, so I'm happy. I'd say that the food is a little better than the public pool concession stand that I worked at in high school. If you're interested in trying something new, stop by Paradise Lounge! read more

This is basically the only acceptable bar to go to in Madison, WI if you are not a hippie or college student. It is dingy, it is gross, the bartenders are surly and these is a distinctive 'dise smell that permeates your clothing and your soul. I love it like a second home. The drinks are cheap, the place is LOADED with interesting people, (read possible criminals? senators with their escorts? other assorted ne'er-do-wells? who cares?) the music is loud and Misfit-y. The bartenders aren't THAT surly and some still remember me some 5 years after leaving Madison. They make the drinks strong, and they are FAST!It gets pretty packed after 9 on any given night, so I recommend getting there early. Around noon is acceptable. The food's pretty top notch. It is your typical bar fare, but if I hear another person rave about the 'dise burger, I may have to abandon my vegetarian principals to find out how awesome it is for myself. Luckily, I will always have the the cheese balls, which are vegetarian-ish.Thier greasy, stringy, melty dipped in ranch cheesiness has me missing Wisconsin on a semi-regular basis. For the vegans in your life, there are green olives. Soaked in vodka. Just eat them. 5 years and 3 trips back to Madison, this is the place I have the airport cabbie drop me off first. read more

5 star for diviness! So you sit with some of the regulars, or stare at their photos above the grill, and you'll realize why people come back. During the afternoon, the tvs are quiet and people whisper during the games, only to pipe up on commercials. Michelle's first day was mine as well. She didn't know the prices but it didn't matter for the 9 patrons there. The regulars gladly accepted her, as did her neighbor from upstairs. Large bar area for the many house flies that were speeding through the air. Nice place to drink, though I'd rather not dine there with the flies about. Sorry. Cheap? Sure. Hospitable? Yep. The heavily tattoo'd chef was very friendly discussing baseball nonsense from me and the others. Hell, he even got in on a friendly conversation I had with some other Chicagoans there. Plus, they serve their drafts in fantastic mason jars with handles. Stools are broken in and are sturdy. The regulars make this bar. Drinking Hamm's on the corner and offering advice to visitors with a smile and no venom? A guy could get used to it. And the ATM forgot to give me a service charge. (oh and flat screen tv's? I saw one, the big on in the center in the back room...the rest were box's.) read more

[NOTE: I'm reviewing this as a foodie, and someone who doesn't consume alcohol on a regular basis. Also as a foodie who went into this take out experience without realizing this was listed as a "Dive Bar." Because I'm an observant male human like that.] So it was a little off-putting to walk in and see the circle of counter space surrounding the bartender. And it was a little awkward walking up to him and asking for my takeout. And I basically just wanted out of there asap. He didn't do much to assuage my uneasiness either, since he never actually said a word to me. Are bartenders usually that much of a hardass? As a non-bargoer, I just kind of assumed all bartenders are part time therapists and best friends as well. Probably my naive Christian college experience talking. Take that paragraph as you will. Anyways, the burger I ordered. I got the Paradise because, why not, it's safe, and this is the Paradise Lounge. (Side note: I was SEVERELY disappointed that their lunch menu did not carry over to dinner. I'm sure there's some marketing or ingredient pricing reasoning behind it, but there were some tasty looking burgers on that menu that I basically wasn't allowed to try because it was 8PM. Dumb.) Let me just say, the entire way home, my car smelled AWFUL because of this burger. Like, I had no desire to open the box encasing whatever fowl-smelling creation Mr. Grumpypants handed me. Do it for the Yelp, though. And (thank God), it didn't taste nearly as bad as it smelled. But, it was unremarkable. Just another burger. Honestly feel like I could have got the same thing anywhere else - and probably a larger one, too...This thing was tiny. But I mean, it was palatable. So that's always a good thing, I suppose. My advice: If you're like me, and not trying to drink away your Friday or just have a good time with friends (AKA, you just want some local grub), go during lunch and try one of the burgers I wasn't able to. read more

I don't think this can be called a dive anymore now that the TVs are flatscreen jobs. I was told by a friend that this was going to be all punks and bikers but it was just normal folks--not that there's anything wrong with that as I'm too old to hang around with the former types. Being used to Chicago prices, I almost choked when I ordered cheese curds and two beers and got change from my 10. I finished the night off with a can of Hamm's which I believe cost $1.50 All this within view of the Capitol? Paradise. read more

The burger is the way to go! I'm a burger snob and to find a dive bar who has an amazing burger for cheap, can't beat it. Not including their drinks... I like craft beer but I will go down on cheap beer(PBR) on a Saturday for $6.00 a pitcher. This will def be my chill spot. read more

This bar is probably the best dive bar in the entire capitol area. They don't have a great beer/drink selection, but is this really where you'd go to take advantage of such a thing? What they offer instead is an interesting atmosphere, diverse crowd, weird layout, constant soundtrack of classic/ hard rock and thrash metal being played from the jukebox, and pitchers of PBR that cost $5.50 (a great deal considering that tall boys can run as high as $6 in some of the more outrageous nearby establishments). All in all, it's a reliably enjoyable place to visit. As a side note, my personal opinion of this place was marred last year when this guy sitting near my party produced easily the worst-smelling fart any of us have ever experienced. It was so terrible that it caused an immediate spell of silence upon our table, as we could taste it in our mouths and it made our eyes water. I will never again be able to think of the paradise without thinking of this incident, but I did not consider this in my review. read more

If you can get to the 'Dise before there's nowhere to sit down, it's one of the most fabulous dive bars on the planet. If you can't find a seat, you might as well leave. I dare you to try to have a beer while standing there. It's quite the unpleasant experience. My top 3 reasons for loving the 'Dise: 1) Slayer, old school Metallica, and Interpol on the jukebox. 2) Incredible fried cheese curds (here, they're called "cheese balls"). 3) $1.25 longneck PBR's on Wednesdays. read more

The 'dise is closest thing Madison has to a punk bar but no worries, this place has just about zero pretension. Dark and probably dirty (it's really too dark to tell), this bar is known for it's no frills atmosphere and tasty bar food. Stop in and order some cheap beer and a burger but don't expect to be 'seen'. The patrons are too busy staring into their drinks. read more

I've been to the 'dise plenty of times, but since I went twice on Saturday, it seems about time to review it and all its divey glory. Everything is crazy cheap, they've got a varied juke box, cute two-person booths, and a fairly open space in the back of the room. Also: mason jars. Saturday was my first time eating at the Paradise, despite hearing raves about their burgers for years. On trip number one, we stopped by because a friend in our group had met up with us late and hadn't gotten lunch with us. He ordered and a grilled cheese, cheese curds (or, as the 'dise calls them, cheese balls), and fries. Too much for one man, he shared the curds & fries with us. The cheese curds were breaded and cheddar, and delicious albeit nothing special. The fries were crinkle-cut, crispy, and so, so good. I could have eaten the entire basket myself. Nom nom nom. My second trip of the day came with wanting to grab a late dinner between a movie and a concert next door at the Frequency. I ordered a cheeseburger, and my friend ordered a Paradise Burger and a diet Coke. Mine was $5, hers was $5.25. I have no idea how that worked out, but she totally won. Though very, very tasty, my $5 got me a bun, a slice of cheese, pickles, and a patty. Her $5.25 got her a drink, and my basic burger plus carmelized onions, tomato, and lettuce, plus, I believe, bacon. Again - no idea how her burger cost less than mine with so much more (especially because it was 9:30 on a Saturday - not a happy hour special), but next time I will definitely be ordering that instead. read more