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    Bremen Cafe

    3.2 (35 reviews)
    InexpensiveBars, Music Venues
    Open 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Bremen Cafe Photos

    BREMEN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Hipster
    Loud
    Live music

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    Reviews With Photos - Bremen Cafe

    a pinball game being played
    Mark P.

    An acid green bar that has pinball machines and hippie jam bands, sure, why not? They stock and impressive collection of pinball machines that are well maintained. Bremen is kinda like three bars in one, hanging at the bar in the front, Pinball in the middle and folk explosion phishing in the back. It's real pleasant to hang out here in the early afternoon, the regulars seem to know to to work some magic with the digital jukebox and there is always a friendly dog within reach that has the kind of skin that you can grab, stretch and roll up in like a blanket.

    Aftermath
    Patrick T.

    All in all a really awesome neighborhood bar that has a stellar drink selection, great bartenders, pinball machines, trivia nights, and free live music in the back room! SOLD! I had a lovely night seeing friends from Milwaukee including fellow Yelp CM Rachel F. She is so lucky she lives in such a fun rocking town, and it was so fun to hang in her zone! As for the Bremen it's kinda divey, but kinda perfect too! Bands have the run of the place when they play there, you run your own sound and all! The bar and band rooms are separated so you can just go to hang out or go to see the show! Met Britta, Dave, and Jason behind the bar all were wonderful and the prices of the drinks were great! They pay bands well and I loved the experience!

    Cute!
    Ivy B.

    Believable: I have friends. Less believable: I have friends that want to meet up at Bremen, sometimes. Surprise: I like it there, sort of. There's something endearing about Bremen. I can't quite put my finger on it. It's not the cruddy bathrooms, the decor or the oft-shady portion of the clientele. Those are all things I do not like about the Bremen. I'm going to focus on the things I do like. They have an awesome staff. The bartenders are all friendly, attentive and willing to go out of their way to make you happy. No joke. They have food, now, I'll be honest, I haven't eaten their food. But you know what I like about Bremen having food? I like that I have young friends, who may, time to time, imbibe a little more than their fair share, and if we're at Bremen, they can stuff their faces. Bremen has shuffleboard. If you know me you know I like shuffleboard. Sure, it's not free, but it is functional and isn't anywhere near the stage... or the bathroom. What else do I like about Bremen? Ample bike parking, outdoor seating, and it's never so packed that you can't find a place to sit down. Oh, hey- they have a huge stack of board games, too. One thing I don't like about Bremen- a brief warning... Don't let your bag/coat out of your eye-line. Srsly. C'mon.

    Marc R.

    I really like this place. I was looking for a laid back dive bar that reminded me of Cole's or the Empty Bottle in Chicago and the Bremen Cafe fit the bill. Unpretentious, laid back, and friendly with a fairly good but limited beer list. I have noticed that Milwaukee is not about having 40 beers on tap, but having just a few good ones from Milwaukee Brewing, Lakefront, and all the beers your gram-pa drank in the 1950s. I got a call from an old friend who was part of the Riverwest scene back in the early 1990s when we were all having bands play our living rooms or trying to open galleries in old appliance stores and vacant buildings in Riverwest and he said he was playing a show, and that I would love the Bremen Cafe so I headed up to my old neighborhood. So, what's it like in this place? First, my friend Peter H played a great set, and the bartenders here were great. We goofed off, talked philosophy, politics, and everything else with an interesting collection of people and drank a lot of PBR. If you can't drink PBR and not feel silly in Milwaukee where can you....right? The main act - a touring act - blew off the venue and a local band that sounded like a young Bob Dylan played instead and were downright awesome. Our bartender - a little punker who said she was bad with names - and I am bad with names too - was awesome. What to know: Cafe during the daytime/ Bar during the night time Great place.

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    5 years ago

    One of the bar tenders there is very rude to customers. Not worth dealing with it considering the alcohol.

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    9 years ago

    Nice lil place. Went to a show there and had a great time

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    17 years ago

    low key and laid back. the dude gave me $4 bloody marys with GG today, so that made me happy. pool table and games.

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    Ask the Community - Bremen Cafe

    Review Highlights - Bremen Cafe

    d! The award for Best Bathroom Graffiti in Milwaukee goes to the Bremen Cafe Mens Roo

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    SafeHouse

    SafeHouse

    3.7
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    This is a truly hidden (like, literally) gem in Milwaukee. Entrance is so hidden away in a dark,…read morecreamy street, that I wonder hours I found it in the first place. Don't expect anything. Just go if you're wanting a fun experience with puzzles and games and card games... and experience the life of a spy. I have been at different times of the week, but do find it most fun on the weekends when there are more people. It's more a fun experience than a dinner place. Food is ok, but not for the foodie. It's for the inner spy in you. Mission impossible Burger with potato chips Burger was nicely flavored, nothing crazy to rave about but still yummy. Furtive Fish fry Bit salty, and breading completely detached from the fish. But still a good crunch and the fish was very well seasoned. Broccolini salad good, nice complement to the fish fry SpyPA Told this was an IPA from Lakefront, but didn't really have the kick of an IPA. Would not get it again. So food, pretty safe. Experience - something you won't find anywhere else.

    My sister loves SafeHouse, so I was excited to finally check it out with her. The staff do a great…read morejob staying in character, which makes the experience fun, and the cave-like atmosphere and decor are really unique. The fries were great and the thunderballs were simple but tasty. The tacos were okay, just a bit heavy on the guacamole for my taste. Overall, it's a place to go more for the experience.

    Photos
    SafeHouse
    SafeHouse
    SafeHouse

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    The Fox & Hounds Restaurant & Tavern

    The Fox & Hounds Restaurant & Tavern

    3.3
    (523 reviews)
    22.8 mi
    $$

    We just finished with our party of 12 for a Sunday Brunch…read more Amazing selection of breakfast foods and dinner foods. Most of our guests were from out of town and thoroughly enjoyed not only the selection but the quality. Excellent selection of breakfast items, fresh fruits and freshly cooked vegetables that were not soggy and gross. Good chicken, fish, prime rib and more. Of course a large selection of desserts too. Seniors are offered a discount which was a pleasant surprise. All in all a great experience!

    Second time here in the last couple of months…read more Food: As much as I love the history of this place, the beautiful woods surrounding it, and the charm of the building, I have been very disappointed by the quality of the food. Unfortunately, this second dinner was even worse than the first. The rice was undercooked, the short ribs were dry, and the scallops were gritty. I realize that, for some people, the Buy One, Get One promotion is a big draw. However, I suspect that the menu prices are inflated to offset the BOGO savings, so it doesn't end up being much of an actual benefit. My wish is that they would focus on improving the quality and consistency of the food and charge prices that appropriately cover their costs while still allowing them to make a profit. I don't think we'll be coming back anytime soon, which is sad because there is so much to like about the location and atmosphere.

    Photos
    Chandelier of bottles
    Chandelier of bottles
    Prime rib dinner
    Prime rib dinner
    Dining area

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    Dining area
    Shakers Cigar Bar

    Shakers Cigar Bar

    3.9
    (285 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Luxury

    Shakers was great, I stopped by for a cigar and really enjoyed my visit…read more The building itself has such a fascinating, albeit largely morbid history - from its time as a brothel, an Al Capone connection, and of course a modern tie-in to serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer (the owner allegedly saved the stool Dahmer used to sit on), this place does NOT have a bright past. Fast forward to today, and the dreadful history didn't bring down my experience. They have an okay cigar collection near the host stand, and a great space to smoke/relax. There's a range of seating, from an outdoor patio, to tables near the front windows, to a bar, to more dimly lit seating toward the back...and a rooftop to boot. Lots of options! Their drink menu seemed extensive, lots of spirits and beer/wine available. Pricey, but I guess that's part of being a cigar bar, especially one that's also storied institution. Service was excellent, great staff that were friendly and very helpful. If you like cigars and don't mind a smaller selection, this place is an excellent option for a low key place to smoke and unwind.

    Very unique place! Once a brothel, a speakeasy, and under the ownership of the Capone brothers,…read morethere is an immense amount of history and character to be found here. For obvious reasons, it's a Milwaukee staple. Yes, be prepared to smell like smoke when you leave here, because it is true to the name: a cigar bar. They're sold and smoked inside, and it's clear they have a following for just that. But there's more to this place, for the non-smokers like myself. A full bar of cocktails, brews, and wines. A large menu, which seemed to me like it had a lot of New Orleans style options, plus exotic seafood and game dishes. There are multiple stories of the building, each funky and dressed up in their own way. You'll find live music, ghost tours (it's haunted), decor from decades past, and even a rooftop looking over the city. I've yet to eat here but on a recent visit came for the infamous tour. Our guide was so great and led us from detailing the notable exterior parts of the building, through the basement, and each floor up from there. You'll have to visit yourself to uncover all of the stories and haunted history. Our group also grabbed drinks from the bar (which you can bring with you on tour). I had the gin martini - my favorite cocktail of all time - but asked the bartender to put it over ice, make it dirty, and add a twist. She returned with it made to perfection. Others has old fashioneds and wine, and it all went down a treat. It's probably not for everyone, but if you're looking for an ~experience~ then Shaker's is certainly worth a visit.

    Photos
    Shakers Cigar Bar
    Shakers Cigar Bar
    Shakers Cigar Bar

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    Bremen Cafe - bars - Updated July 2026

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