Cocktails, wine bars and dives: drinking in Madison for grown-ups.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Madison for grown-ups.
Genna's Lounge on West Main, the dim Capitol Square dive next to the Orpheum since the 1970s, runs cheap brandy Old Fashioneds and free popcorn on a long bar.
Signature drink: Wisconsin brandy Old Fashioned
Food: No kitchen, free popcorn
The Plaza Tavern on North Henry, the State Street campus bar that opened in 1930, runs cheap beer pitchers and the legendary Plazaburger under the neon clock.
Signature drink: Beer pitcher and a Plazaburger
Food: Plazaburger, fries, bar food
The Old Fashioned on North Pinckney, the Wisconsin-tavern flagship on Capitol Square, pours hundreds of Wisconsin beers and the brandy Old Fashioned standard.
Signature drink: Brandy Old Fashioned sweet, the city's standard
Food: Wisconsin supper club menu, fish fry, cheese curds
The Coopers Tavern on West Mifflin off Capitol Square is the city's craft-beer-and-Wisconsin-pub flagship with a fish fry, sausages and serious tap list.
Signature drink: Wisconsin craft beer with a fish fry
Food: Gastropub menu, mussels, sausages, fish fry
Mickey's Tavern on Williamson Street, the east-side music and pinball bar, is a Marquette neighborhood institution with a strong burger menu and late kitchen.
Signature drink: Wisconsin tap beer and a cheap shot
Food: Burgers, sandwiches, kitchen until late
Maduro Cigar Bar on King Street off Capitol Square, the second-floor cocktail lounge and cigar room, runs classic cocktails and a hand-rolled humidor.
Signature drink: Classic cocktails with a cigar pairing
Food: Bar snacks
Gib's Bar on Williamson Street, the small craft-cocktail bar in a converted Marquette house with couches and an upstairs lounge, runs classic cocktails.
Signature drink: Old Fashioned, Negroni and classic cocktails
Food: Bar snacks
Lucille on King Street off Capitol Square, the Underground Food Collective's wood-fire and cocktail bar, runs classic cocktails with the kitchen open late.
Signature drink: Whiskey-forward and brandy cocktails
Food: Pan-Latin pizza and shared plates
Merchant on South Pinckney just off Capitol Square is the Mulligan family's downtown cocktail bar with a gastropub menu and long classic-cocktail program.
Signature drink: Craft cocktails from the Mulligan family bar
Food: American gastropub menu, charcuterie, sandwiches
Settle Down Tavern on South Pinckney from Sam Parker, Ryan Huber and Brian Bartels is the city's new-American tavern with a deep brandy Old Fashioned list.
Signature drink: Wisconsin brandy Old Fashioned with a high-end pour
Food: New American supper club menu
Mickey's Bait Shop on Williamson Street, the Marquette dive and Mickey's Tavern sibling, runs cheap drinks and weekend live music near Willy Street.
Signature drink: Cheap tap beer and a brandy shot
Food: No kitchen
High Noon Saloon on East Washington, the city's flagship Americana and indie live-music room since 2004, runs nightly shows and a bar program until late.
Signature drink: Wisconsin tap beer with a show
Food: Bar food, sandwiches
Ohio Tavern on Ohio Avenue, the east-side Wisconsin neighborhood tavern, is a longtime local with bar pizza, Friday fish fry and brandy Old Fashioneds.
Signature drink: Brandy Old Fashioned and a tap beer
Food: Bar pizza, Friday fish fry
State Street Brats on State Street, the campus bar since 1953, runs Wisconsin red and white brats and Spotted Cow taps for game-day Badger crowds.
Signature drink: Red brat with a Spotted Cow
Food: Red and white Wisconsin brats, burgers, cheese curds
The Rigby Pub and Grill on East Main just off Capitol Square is Madison's British-pub bar with a long European tap list, whisky bottles and fish and chips.
Signature drink: Imported European tap beer and whisky list
Food: British pub menu, fish and chips, burgers