Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Thurmans 15

    3.5 (24 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars
    Open 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 week ago

    Thurmans 15 Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Thurmans 15

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Shuffleboard, yo!!
    Jay S.

    This is, as evidenced by all the many Grateful Dead license plates and other memorabilia, a Grateful Dead bar. You won't find a lot (or any) Top 40 pop in the jukebox. You won't find the latest craze in martinis. There is no large dance floor with loud boom-boom-boom music and tons of sorority girls grinding on each other. There is a shuffleboard table, pool tables, and a few video games. Drinks are cheap. The service is good, and generally pretty quick. The crowd is mostly laid back and pretty cool. It is easy to start conversation and not so loud that you can't have conversation. I'm not a Grateful Dead fan, but I will likely be back.

    the reflection of the clock in the window

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Great local music, great bartenders and all around great place to have a drink. They have a lot of beers to choose from.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jay S.
    275
    562
    1236

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    14 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rachel F.
    1577
    1066
    2397

    13 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nick M.
    91
    469
    452

    14 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lyn U.
    7
    12
    0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    19 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of m s.
    0
    1
    0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Best bar in Milwaukee!! Cheap drinks! Friendly faces! Even better music! Oh and I love shuffle board!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    average jukebox, but the shuffleboard and cheap pitchers make up for it.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Thurmans 15

    Review Highlights - Thurmans 15

    I lived on the Lower East for over 20 years and I made Thurman's 15 one of my favorite stops.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Swingin' Door Exchange - Carrots and Grilled Beets!! Delicious

    Swingin' Door Exchange

    (1.2k reviews)

    $$

    Downtown, East Town

    Excellent Lake Perch for Friday Fish Fry!…read more Combine excellent fare w good bartop energy and great service (Daniel) it adds up to 5-Stars. This place is not a secret as packed busy on a Friday early afternoon. The regulars were welcoming and fun. I had to have my Lake Perch fix and Swingin' Door delivered. The perch was fresh and lightly breaded. I tend to overdo it when in Wisco and had a clam chowder as a starter. The GF had the Rueben which also served as breckie snack the next day. My future semi-regular stop when in MKE.

    I was heading to the Downer Theater after work for a movie on Friday night and of course wanted a…read morefish fry beforehand. I surprisingly don't have many options in my "MKE - Fish Fry" collection that are near downtown, but Swinging Door Exchange was one of them. I was pressed for time, so I placed a to go order rather than dining in. I got the combo fish fry (two pieces of cod, two pieces of perch, and three fried shrimp) with potato pancakes. I was also very easily talked into the half rack rib appetizer. The ribs were good, even though I prefer sauce that's more sweet and smokey. Their sauce was on the tangy side with a tease of spice that really only became noticeable when the majority of the half rack was gone. If I were in the mood for ribs as my main meal, I'd consider getting theirs as an entree. The two potato pancakes weren't homemade; instead, they were premade hash brown patties that some other restaurants also serve with their fish frys. These were perfectly acceptable in lieu of homemade pancakes. The cod tasted great, but the breading didn't hold up very well. Either the fish itself was too wet or the two block walk back to my car allowed for condensation to wreck it or possibly both. The perch was not yellow lake perch but probably something like pike perch. Even though both kinds of fish and the shrimp were all good sized portions, $29 feels like a lot. I wouldn't say no to it, though, if I were dining in next time and avoid the extra cost of their takeout fee. Shout-out to the bartenders working that night. The bar area was absolutely packed, but both of the ones I talked to about placing my order were friendly and helpful even with being super busy.

    Duke's On Water

    Duke's On Water

    (51 reviews)

    $

    East Town

    Terrible Ownership, atmosphere, experience...see below. An…read moreAbsolute Joke - Duke's Is a Waste of Space and Time. THIS BAR IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE. If you're considering going to Duke's, don't bother. This place has completely hit rock bottom, and it's clear no one, especially the owner, gives a damn. The owner is unbelievably rude and has flat-out made it known in a conversation "I don't care whether you come here or not." The former owner could never. Why? Because the new owner's got other locations that funnel money into his pockets. So, your business means absolutely nothing to him. The atmosphere is nothing short of depressing. Whatever decorations once gave the place some semblance of life have been stripped away, leaving the bar looking like a rundown and that's given up on trying. No vibe, no energy, no crowd--seriously, there's hardly anyone there anymore, and who could blame them? It's painfully obvious that Duke's is circling the drain. The owner's apathy is contagious, and it shows in every detail. Even the bartenders hint that this place just isn't it anymore...ouch. The place is soulless, and it's a miracle the doors are still open at this point. There's zero excitement, no reason to ever set foot inside, and if you do, you'll regret wasting your time and money. Save yourself the disappointment and go anywhere else there are plenty of better options around the corner, or across the street.

    Very bad service , first time being here and the lady with the long red nails was so rude. She only…read moretalked to her regulars, didn't pay any attention to my group Of our friends. Then we asked her to turn the music up and she refused too. We will never be back here , maybe get better bartenders.

    Thurmans 15 - divebars - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...