Stopped in about a month ago for a friend's little get together, and had a great time! Currently pregnant, so can't shed much light on the beverage situation, but the vibe is fun and pretty much quintessential Wisconsin bar. My kids enjoyed the pinball machines and the board games they had available, and it was the perfect day to sit outside on the deck. We were thrilled to find out that it is non-smoking out there, because we were able to hang out with our kids out there and just enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. I definitely plan to return post-partum to enjoy some alcoholic beverages at this fun establishment! read more

See all

This is become the go to Bluegrass bar in Madison, with live music almost every night. Positive atmosphere, affordable drinks, really friendly bartenders, and an incredible vibe. It's a default go to before high noon saloon or other places, lucky to have it as a gathering spot in Madison. read more

Up North Bar - March 2025 - Dive Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

On the dive bar tour we ended up here for som reason because it's not really a dive bar. They have plenty of good beers on tap so we would sample them and no I don't remember any names. It was a nice day so we wanted out door seating and they have a covered deck over looking the wonderful view of a parking lot. Service was good and so were the beers. It's a decent place for drinks and we had a great time here, see my pictures. read more

See all

I really like the Up North. I've been coming here for years now, so I suppose it's about time I write this review. I wouldn't call the Up North a dive bar, but it sits on the cusp of one for sure. There is a dart board that we usually find ourselves playing when we are here, a nice covered patio with tables and a tv, and a small stage area that often has live music. There are several tables scattered about, and a collection of old games to play if you're in a board game mood. We played a version of Chutes and Ladders that I think was older than me last time lol! Service is always good. There is a good beer selection. Popcorn machine usually has fresh popcorn available. They don't serve food, but you can have them bake a frozen pizza for you. Check them out! read more

Terrible!!! The bartender was rude and disrespectful. There to celebrate my brothers graduation, ruined the whole vibe. Didn't even get the chance to try anything because they created such an awful experience we left before we could get the chance. Told my brother "I thought college graduates were supposed to be smart". read more

This place always makes me feel like I've returned home to Juneau, AK but in some kind of alternate universe. Expect tacky up north decor that is pretty endearing. Also, as a bonus: pinball! Last I checked they had two pinball machines in the back corner. Service is hit or miss and never spectacular but it's a great place to catch a football game, or ring in your favorite drinking holiday with a small/med group and a decent place to catch some folky music. read more

The bar was awesome. We went before a show at the Majestic on Thursday Feb 7, and the bartender that was there before the show was awesome. When we got back, though, the younger bartender who was working kept skipping the music i paid for on the Jukebox and was fairly rude. We were playing the band we had just seen, which is a jam folk kinda group and totally fit in with the scene of the bar, but, the ass of a bartender felt the need to skip the first song I played and go on to make fun of the band as well. He did give me a dollar back to play more music and I did, but of course that was skipped too. As a bartender myself, I was shocked. If you've got a jukebox in your bar, deal with the music people play unless they're blatantly rude or obnoxious about, which we definitely were not. Other than this one asshole, the bar is great. ‍ read more

When I first walked in, I thought "Really? This is an 'up north' bar", because I've spent a little bit of time up north. But after 10 minutes or so a live musician started to play some acoustic rock and I had a chance to take in some of the quirky decor: taxidermied fowl and other critters, bottle caps glued around the recessed lighting, vintage beer memorabilia, a sloping back bar and even a collection of old school meat grinders mounted to a shelf...OK, it's an up north bar. We were staying at the inn on the property and had tickets for free drinks that were good at the Up North Bar, and this was a nice way to wind down our day. The patrons and bartender were friendly and I had a couple of glasses of Cabernet while Mr. R tried some tap beers and also ditched me to play pinball a couple of times. When we decided to call it a night our bartender made sure to let us know that we could order drinks and/or take some popcorn up to our room. read more

I. love. the. Up. North. When I lived on Willy street the Up North became my bar. I was never a regular at a bar until I was within walking distance of the Up North. The people that work there are really nice. The atmosphere is always calm and cozy. Very very rarely do a few drunk frat boys dribble in there if the Essen Haus is too busy. People seem to overlook it and thats a part of why I love it. The regulars that go there are also really fun. When I want to hang out with a friend and have a good conversation I go to the Up North. Its always really chill in there. There's a pinball machine if you need it. There's always drinks specials. And popcorn. Basically I have no complaints about the Up North. Its a great bar. read more

This is, I'll be honest, kind of my favourite kind of bar, and a redeeming aspect of my stay at the Ruby Marie. On my way towards my (obviously haunted) room one night, I heard a live band playing a beautiful cover of Tom Petty's Time to Move On, so I went alone to the Up North Bar instead, seeking a little dose of courage from Tom and from the taps of delicious local Wisconsin beer. The bartenders here are nice. Deeply friendly and and chill and nice. And it's easy to chat to anyone in this bar, folks are friendly and easy going and I guess it's a Wisconsin thing? But listen, I went to some places where the folks were as cold and pretentious as one might expect from a different sized town, but here at the Up North everyone was cool. Play the dice game, you could win a free beer or a pile of cash. Check out the vintage bar back, a massive piece of art-deco carved wood with long lights that has it's exact match at a bar in Montreal! Obviously, this bar is part of my extended spiritual home. read more

This place is cheap and full of character. Both times that I've been here, the ATM has been broken. That's super annoying. But, they take credit cards so no harm, no foul. Bartenders are friendly. I like the bloody mary here. Bathrooms are clean. There's a nice parking lot in the back (but it's almost always full past 7pm on the weekend nights). I love how small and intimate it feels, compared to its larger counterpart, the Come Back Inn. All in all, this is my kinda bar. read more

Hopalicious. The Up North is a Madison institution, a wonderfully unpretentious, homey, solidly good neighborhood bar. Stocked with a selection of local beers on tap, free peanuts and popcorn, they also have darts and a number of large screens covering sporting events. The floor is covered with peanut shells, which is a Wisconsin-Illinois thing, so be warned. read more

I love this place. The bartenders are knowlegable and friendly, and the atmosphere is great for coming to hang out with friends. There is a great schedule of live music to check out, free popcorn and peanuts, and plenty of places to sit. I will definitely come here again read more

I wasn't here long, but long enough to be utterly charmed. It's cozy, kitchy, northwoodsy, and even Christmasy in August. What more could you ask for in a little pub? Oh, you want a charming secret-garden type outdoor seating area open to view the summer stars? Well, you get that too. A great tap beer list and free popcorn and peanuts? Check, and check. Live music? Uh huh, yep. Love it. read more

I can't believe it's taken me this long to visit! Even though I've been next door at the Essen Haus and Come Back In during my years at the UW as a student and then living and/or working in Madison, my first time in the Up North was just this past Friday. It is a really nice, comfortable, cozy place to get a drink. The decor is what you'd expect given the name, but it isn't too over the top. They had a three person band (violin and guitars) the night we we there doing originals and a few covers. And I saw they had a patio which I'm guessing would be awesome on summer nights. Overall just a great relaxing experience and hopefully it won't take as long for me to get around to my second visit as it took to make my first! read more

Great dive bar to hang out with great people and grab a cardboard pizza. Great tap list with rotating taps regularly. Bartenders are friendly and enjoy making customers happy. All around a fabulous place to hang out for happy hour and snack if you end up staying longer than intended. read more

9/26/13 My wife and I stopped in at the Up North Bar. The place is a bit dusty and gritty. The service is sometimes slow. That said every Thursday night from 9pm to 12am you'll catch local legend Catfish Stephenson playing his steel guitar. For that reason alone I must give them 4 stars. They offer some cheap drinks too! I was downing 7 & 7's (Seagram's Seven & 7 Up) @ $2.50 a pop. Enjoy free popcorn and peanuts. Play darts and/or watch a game on one of their TV's. read more

The up north is great! it's cheap and they usually have Yukon jack. one time I got sick from eating the free peanuts so they only get 4 yelp stars. read more

Nice beer selection and they also feature local bands on certain nights (with no cover charge)! It's a little bit divey, but there's also a charm to it. Bonus: free popcorn and peanuts read more

Came in last night with a couple friends, some of us may have been a little obnoxious but the bartender was very friendly! He even offered to bring out my pizza to the patio when we walked outside. I didn't catch his name but he was also very attentive. I have never been here before so it was a fantastic first experience! I also like the décor of the place :). read more

Great bartenders! Great music. One of my favorite places to hang in Madison! Great location, and the hotel Ruby being above the bar is unique and adds to the atmosphere. They have 2 decks to drink and enjoy the outdoors. They play the packer games outside as well. Really cool spot. read more

No reviews for the Up North? I guess it kind of is the red-headed step child of the three bars on Wilson Ave. But I think this was my favorite of the three! It has a nice outside patio to sit at, a good beer selection, and TVs all around to catch whatever game you fancy. It's just a cozy neighborhood joint, but I had a lot of fun here. read more

An awesome bar on all accounts. It really does feel like you're drinking in a wood-paneled tavern in Northern Wisco! Nonetheless, it's a hip place with lot's of cool people and great beers. The day we were there a guy was cooking up 40lbs of free ribs!! I wasn't expecting much, but they were some of the best ribs i've ever had...they were a weird fusion onf jamaican/Indian/Brazilian. Overall a great place to a have a couple of brews and eat some peanuts. Oh yeah, the back deck was an excellent spot! read more

Great dive bar. perfect set up. live music and tvs and peanuts. good people watching.

Neat little bar withheld bonus of being on the first floor of our hotel. They have plenty of local brews on tap. It takes some coercing to get the bartender to talk about the beers, but then they will give you small samples. The also have popcorn and peanuts to eat. read more

I love the up north. It has a nice up north feel to it (hence the name). Kinda townie but not too bad and I prefer townie bars anyways. People and bartenders are really nice. They also have great live music nightly and good prices on booze. read more

I have always had a good time at the up north... Until a bartender named phil started. A few friend and I had been drinking playing darts in the back of the bar. After having a few drinks and playing a few games of darts. I decided to close my bar tab, I payed with my card and got my receipt. It only consisted of the bar copy. I asked for my copy and the keep became upset? Idk why because I thought it was a regular thing. I preceded to ask him about the receipt and he told me I had to leave.. He became very worked up and upset over this simple issue. I was then told to leave by the owner Neil, who did not care to notice that I was only trying to get something as simple as my receipt. I work in the service industry and if I treated a paying customer like this I would have been fired, if not demoted. Take note the up north is a good bar unless phil is upset with u. read more

Almost invariably the service here is bad, from skimpy pours to sour bartenders. I've probably been here 10 times, and this has been the case more often than not. I suppose they call it a "dive bar" for a reason. Also their X-men pinball table really needs cleaning. read more

Great bar. Free peanuts, taxidermied heads & fish on the walls, good beers, good prices, & good music.

A friend was staying at the Ruby Marie when I was visiting Madison, so several happy hours were spent at Up North. What's not to like about reasonably priced drinks outdoors, accompanied by free salty fake-butter flavored popcorn and free salty peanuts? Plus, Up North offered some of the best dirty hippy watching I found in Madison. Fascinating stuff. Sort of as if Pig Pen (in Peanuts, you know) grew up, got high, dropped out, got dreadlocks, and OD'ed at a Dead concert and forgot his way home a few decades ago. Where else can you go and overhear an exegesis about the times one soiled oneself while under the influence of drugs from one wearing an Occupy banner who just graduated college and is taking the summer off to follow Lollapalooza? Truly a champion of the 99% and an indelible impression of Madison, together with the countless recall Walker posters that the sore losers won't take down. read more