Great on paper (or screen rather) and a unique, fun space with a seriously great, hip rooftop patio ...however you're not gonna like it unless you're a 21-26yo. We were staying at the Graduate Hotel that this restaurant and bar resides above and were excited about this rad looking spot being just upstairs from our room. After spending our evening elsewhere, including dinner, we returned to the hotel looking forward to a nightcap upstairs. However when the elevator doors opened it was quickly clear we misunderstood a bit. It seems that this bar is the hot spot for the just-turned-21 in college bunch, which is fine and obviously makes sense given its proximity to the school, but the party vibe, overly packed patio, and general rowdiness of the place wasn't what we were in the mood for. In summary I have to say this place is great at everything it's trying to be and if what I described appeals to you then maybe it's your 5 spot but it just wasn't for us that night. read more

The food here is below average for above average prices. You can find much better burgers at many other places. The drinks were weak. The cheese curds were ok. The fries were small helpings and just ok. The view is great. read more

Great location and theme! Reshma, our Bartender, made delicious drinks and was so friendly. We would definitely recommend!!

While in town for business, a coworker of mine took me to the top floor of a hotel. To my surprise, we were smack dab in the middle of a 'Wet Hot American Summer'! The theme and vibe of this spot is unlike any other that I have been to, and I mean that in a great way. The outdoor patio has 70's lawn furniture, and overlooks a beautiful skyline & lake. The inside has board games, and an awesome, fully-stocked bar. I ordered an Udder-Ly 75, and it was a boozy, liquid version of the Lemon Heads candy. So good! As far as food goes, holy WOW! I jumped all over the Crispy Spicy Chicken Sandwich - fried & breaded to perfection, and topped off with a delicious kimchi slaw. On the side, the sweet potato wedges were savory (especially in the chili mayo), and the cheese curds were WILDLY tasty. Prices were fair, and the bathrooms were clean. No complaints here! read more

This place is fantastic - we had nachos, cheese curds and fried cauliflower and drinks - all so delicious (we had to get more cheese curds cause we gobbled them up so fast) and topped the evening off roasting marshmallows and making s'mores at our table - so much fun - and the view of the lake is spectacular- oh, and we played a bunch of board games and laughed our heads off - thank you to the owners and all the amazing staff read more

Camp Trippalindee - S'mores!!!!! - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Super fun place to check out when you get a chance. You order at the bar and get a pager that tells you when the food is ready. There are board games to play while you wait for your food. The adult version of the Capri sun are delicious, I recommend trying it if you like sweeter/mixed drinks. For dinner, I ordered the impossible burger (which I am a huge fan of in general) but I think Camp Trippalindee missed the mark with it. It was pretty salty and plain. The fire pit & smores were the reason why I was excited to visit and they definitely did not disappoint! It might take a while to snag a spot by the fire but once you do it's worth it! You get a little kit enough for two people to enjoy the gooey chocolatey treats. Definitely will visit again, where else can you make smores by a fire in the middle of Madison if you live downtown? read more

Come for the decor and views (it's super cute!) Leave before spending too much on overpriced drinks. This is a review about drinks. We did not order any food. That being said, I really wanted to like this place. Sadly the drinks were not consistent. Our first bartender was great. The next couldn't fill a glass...no, literally, our glasses were 3/4s full. Myself and my friend ordered the slushies and they were not even close to being full. My husband got an old fashioned. He really liked the first one but the second was topped with ice to make it appear full after I watched him make it. Oh and he forgot the cherries! Cute bar, great views, but if you're going to charge $10 a drink, can you at least fill the tiny cups up? Speaking of cups, the juice box idea is cute but it's such a waste of plastic. Also the contents lacked booze and were either too sour or super sweet. read more

One of my favorite movies is Back to School. Some of the movie was filmed at UW. I'm not sure if people realize the reason for the name. The bar...ambiance is typical cabin feel; kitschy and rustic. The patio is wonderful. They have a great view of Madison. The bartenders were professional, even at the height of happy hour. I loved the jalapeño ranch with the cheese curds. The spicy chicken sandwich was delicious. I didn't taste kimchi, just cabbage. But the crispy chicken was the all star. I ordered two IPAs and got two Hefeweizen. I'd like to think the bartender would know the difference in appearance. But it was busy. Not a big deal. I overheard someone say as they got off the elevator, "It doesn't seem like this place is a secret anymore." I thought that was very telling. read more

One of the most known/unknown places in Madison. On top of the Graduate Hotel, there is not much buzz about this place yet when my Mom was in town visiting, we were surprised on the number of people that were there. Decorated in a "camp" theme, CT has both indoor and outdoor seating. Cocktails are structured and named around a camp theme but were fun to drink while seated outside. We didn't have a chance to eat. The only drawback is that with only one bar and at times, the bartender's can be swamped. read more

Absolutely love the atmosphere here. This is the perfect hangout spot throughout the year! On a summer day, you can tag your group of friends to enjoy a drink and games out on their patio. Otherwise, burgers and cheese curds over a game of jumbo Jenga, UNO and Connect Four would do just the trick! My definition of having a good time. read more

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Very modern and trendy. I always seem to be looking for more rooftop bars, especially in Madison, but this one is a good stop. There is an indoor dining area as well as the outdoor patio, which makes it nice for whatever mood you're in. I've never tried the food here, but have heard nothing but good things about it. It's not the cheapest place to get a drink downtown, but prices are about what is to be expected at a trendy rooftop bar. Overall, it's a good stop if you're looking for something different downtown. Be careful on when you're going because the place isn't very big and fills up during popular hours. read more

I like the kitschy decor and theme. It's camp o'clock here year round, with a great deck area for s'mores roasting to top. We sat at a table with oversized jenga...I love all the games they have available! Unique ambiance is a solid 5 stars. Service was fairly efficient, although ordering food a the bar felt crowded and awkward. We messed up in not ordering the boozy juice boxes, which I'll likely come back for. The real knocker for me is the food quality. For $9 I'm expecting exceptional curds. Don't hold your breath, they're a little too chewy and breaded. The chicken sandwich with kimchi slaw looks magazine quality but tasted a little dry. I kept comparing it to chick fil a, which for a third of the price is much moister and tastier to me. The fries were well, just fries. Nothing special food wise. Side note: happy to see they're serving the impossible burger for veg heads. I'll be back for drinks, views, games, and s'mores. Food prices and quality make me hesitant to make this a dinner spot. read more

Food was not good. The bar person got my order wrong and the salad was dripping in dressing

Great little spot atop the Graduate Hotel. The flavors coming out of that tiny kitchen were way beyond our expectations. The grilled wings are a huge hit. Tom and Hillary (Bartenders) were perfect hosts during our two visits. Monday night Trivia!!!! Good times. read more

Camp Trippalindee - Fritz felt like a king - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Let me first start of with the good: The bathrooms are gender neutral and very clean. The ambiance inside is a fun camp feel with flannel booths, tons of games and their fun things. The patio area is super beautiful as well, with a great view of the Capitol. The good stops here. The bad: This place was overpriced and not what was expected. The drinks we ordered came in juice pouches, which sounds fun but they were room temperature (not refreshing after a long day walking through downtown). Also, the drinks were prepackaged. I watched the bartender take off the screw top, squeeze some out and then add a weak shot of alcohol to each pouch. For a person who lives to reduce waste in this world, it was hard for me to feel okay drinking a beverage from a non-reusable bag. We ordered a couple drinks and a nacho to share and did not get the nacho for 15 minutes. By then we had choked down most of our over-sugared bagged drinks. The nacho was labeled "shared grub" and when it came it was enough for maybe 2 people. The nachos were nothing to write home about with mostly broken chips, some ground meat and luke-warm cheese. Overall would not come back. Nice try, but paying $8 for a juice pouch and $7 for a nacho was not worth the view. On a lighter note, the canned Sprecher Root beer was great! read more

Camp Trippalindee - Nachos "to share" and a bagged alcoholic drink. Poor. - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Fun place away from some of the college craziness down on the street. Campy and a throw back to rural bars back in the day.

After you get off the elevator on the 7th floor of the graduate hotel, you're greeted by a fantastic view of Madison and a place with a nice 70's camp vibe. Upon entering, it's not immediately obvious if you're supposed to seat yourself, and then it's not clear that you are supposed to go order at the bar - there is no wait service. Luckily, I had read a few other reviews, so I knew what to do. Our group ordered pretty much everything on the menu - because the menu is VERY small. I'm all for places having a limited menu of items that they do well, but the menu was a little too small. First, the good stuff: the cheeseburger was decent. Not great, not terrible. Simple item - beef, cheese, "special" sauce and a bun. Pretty difficult to mess that up. The "juice box" mixed drinks were a cute touch in line with the overall theme. Cheese curds were average. Now, for the bad stuff: the chicken wings were a disappointed - not very good taste and they weren't fully rendered. You can get better crinkle cut fries at Culver's (and they won't charge you $5 for a handful of fried). Finally, the horrendous: the chicken sandwich was absolutely disgusting. If you're deep-frying a boneless piece of chicken, you can't leave the skin on... the result was a flabby layer of undercooked skin directly under the fried exterior. Just gross. I suppose, though, the last time I had fried chicken that disgusting, I was actually at a camp, so maybe this was an attempt to be consistent with the theme. The sweet potato fries are too big and raw in the middle. On top of all this bad food, when I went to fill up with water at the water station, there was gum stuck to the inside of the bottom of one of the cups. Given the limited selection, it shouldn't be that difficult to execute on the premise. I hope that Camp Trippalindee cleans up it's act. read more

This is super fun spot. Their trivia is lively, and the drink specials (cheap margaritas) available directly before trivia begins are a fun way to ease into a weekday evening. Their food menu is limited, but I'd say there is something for everyone. The portion of nachos is enough to share for an appetizer, and they can do the chili with meat on the side. The outdoor patio is definitely the spot to sit, yet we'll see if they keep that area open over the winter... I'm thinking no. They do have heaters outside, though, that help during these mild, autumn nights. read more

Come for the atmosphere, NOT the food. We were so excited to visit Camp Trippalindee. A rooftop restaurant with awesome views and a camp theme? Yes, please! However, our experience wasn't great, and we left seriously disappointed. Atmosphere: There's an awesome patio area on the rooftop, offering seating, fire pits (you can purchase a s'mores kit from the restaurant-- pretty cool, and board games. The inside of the place feels like your grandparents lake house up north. It's very 70's/kitschy, with paneled walls and old school outdoors equipment and forest themed decor. Overall, super cute, homey, and just...comfortable. Some of the drinks are served in Capri-Sun style pouches with curly straws, which is a really fun touch. Food: A really limited menu, which would be fine if the food was good, which overall, was not. The sweet potato fries are really thick, and weren't cooked all of the way through. These basically tasted like quartered sweet potatoes that were half-baked. The dipping sauce for these was tasty though. The chicken wings had great flavor, but I couldn't get past the fact the fat wasn't rendered, leaving them really chewy. Two of us had the crispy chicken sandwich. The breading was crispy and tasted good, but something about the sandwich was off. I peeled the breading back and saw that the meat was a skin-on chicken thigh, and the skin hadn't been removed or cooked down. It was literally a flap of chewy skin covering over half of the meat. It was inedible and just, well, gross. The manager did offer a $20 gift card, which wasn't expected, but was very much appreciated, even though I'm pretty sure we won't be returning. I will say that the cheese curds weren't bad, and I was told the burgers are okay as well. A side note: be sure to check your water glass, as our friend's had gum at the bottom of his. Oy! Overall, I'd say come for the atmosphere/drinks and not the food, which as I noticed on our way out, was what many of the patrons were practicing. read more

Came here for Monday night trivia and had a grand ol time. This place had somehow gone under my radar until I looked up things to do Monday night and this came up. Honestly I really love the setup, it's on the rooftop so you get beautiful views, and the indoors is really swanky. It's decked out in a mix of 80s memorabilia and up north cabin decor, which may seem odd but that's part of the charm. Also they have a ton of old school board games which is super cool! We played battleship. There are also a ton of interesting old school books about Wisconsiny things. There are no waitresses here, only bartenders and cooks. You place your order with the bartender and they give you a buzzer that buzzes when your order is up. We had the Monday night special 4 dollar margaritas and they were decently made. Their menu is rather limited especially if you have any dietary restrictions. We split the nachos which are interestingly served in a paper bag but we're actually delicious; however I can't speak for the rest of the menu. Definitely check them out if you want a fun quirky dinner and it's worth it just to see the views and decor. Monday night trivia is worth a look too! read more

Came for the first time during Madison Burger week with my wife and kids. Both my wife and I ordered the "back to school burger." Was very good! Cooked perfectly. No kids menu so we just ordered an appetizer for my daughter...nachos, were very good...she loved them. Bar tender and cook we very nice and helpful. Have cool homemade adult juice box drinks that taste great. Service was very good. We spilled our drinks right after we got them and the bartender replaced them at no cost...something that was not expected but very kind. Awesome rooftop view is a huge plus. We will definitely be back whether it is for drinks, food or both read more

Camp Trippalindee - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

What a cool rooftop dive bar! Came here for lunch during a conference in Madison. Ordered some fried cheese curds (when in Rome...) and a brat. Both were pretty good; I really liked the dill dip that came with the cheese curds. Board games and games of the 80s-90s strewn about the place along with the flannel wall paneling really brings you back to the summer camp vibes. If I ever came back here I'd love to come back for drinks at night-the view is awesome from here. read more

Camp Trippalindee - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

What's not to love about this place?! I went here for dinner one night in June--some of my thoughts about the experience: - The theme is great. It's kitschy and nostalgic and just wonderful. The outdoor patio has little fire pits, string lights, and lovely views of the city; the inside has its own charm, with tables that can accommodate both small and large parties. There are also a ton of board games and other activities to occupy your time. - The food was excellent. I may be more stoked about the food because the restaurant serves the elusive [vegan] Impossible burger, which only a handful of places in Madison currently serve. The burger was delicious, and the presentation was delightfully consistent with the restaurant's theme. The drinks were good--I ordered their house margarita and it did the job. - The restaurant is somewhat new and hidden from view (at the top floor of the Graduate Hotel), so it wasn't too crowded when I went there (a huge bonus). I think it's one of those rare hidden gems in Madison, so I'm a bit worried it'll become a bit too crowded once more people discover it exists. The only criticism I would make is the lack of table service. You have to order at the bar, which I imagine won't be a very efficient system when the place is more busy. Other than that, though, it was great. read more

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Really great burger. Usually I don't like special sauce, and would have asked for it to be held or put on the side if I had noticed it on the menu, but it was excellent. Sweet potatoe fries were more like wedges, but were well cooked and the dipping sauce was great. There is no wait staff, as you order from the bar and receive a pager which lights up to signal you to collect your food. Patio is super neat for the evening or on cooler days. There are board games to play, but we noticed a lot of them are missing pieces, rendering them useless. read more

A straight up bar and a fun place to hangout with friends, but it's not a restaurant and there is absolutely zero table service. Everything is ordered at the bar, you pick it up, you bus it and it's pretty clear that they are more focused on making drinks and not making food. Our food took forever and it was just okay. We all had burgers which were pretty good, but for $9 I was expecting more from my burger. The crinkle cut fries were done well...crispy, seasoned and it was a generous portion. The sweet potato fries though were a complete miss; cut too large, mushy in the middle and just not good. The only good thing I can say about them was the chipotle mayo that came with them was delicious. The dinner winner were the cheese curds. Perfectly breaded and the jalapeño ranch had enough kick for most but wasn't overpowering. Great theming and the interiors are on point from the elevator lobby to the bathroom. It really transports you and it is what makes this bar. I also want to add that if you care about the environment then maybe this isn't the place for you. All the food comes in disposable containers, plastic silverware, individual packets of condiments, and the single use adult juice box cocktails that come in the equivalent of an IV bag with a bendy straw. So much plastic and so much waste. I hope they at least recycle the glass soda bottles. read more

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A really fun, "campy" rooftop bar and grill. Great drinks, perfect camp food. A must visit in Madison.

Super fun rooftop bar! Sweet view, quirky decor. The drinks, food, and service were all good. I highly recommend this place

After years of hearing about this place and never going, I finally ventured up to the roof of the Graduate Hotel last night and - WOW. I love this bar. Perfectly cheesy, lake themed Wisconsin bar. Queer staff, good snacks, and cheap beer. My partner and I shared the sweet potato wedges while we played a round of battleship and enjoyed a brew. I can't wait to visit this bar again. I'm only sad I've missed out on all these years of visiting this place! read more

The food and aesthetic here are seriously incredible, fair prices, amazing food, friendly staff, and it feels so cozy and welcoming and nostalgic! the spaghetti and meatballs and sweet potato fries were KILLER read more

Camp Trippalindee - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This place is amazing. Food is so good. Drinks are fun. If you can sit outside it's very nice. They have games and blankets. Great for families too. Loved it! read more

The only good thing about this place is the view on the patio. No wait service to be had on the patio. The floor tiles on the patio were floppping up and dangerous. The drinks are not a Wisconsin pour and served in a juice pouch! Really? The food was so so. I had a burger and split it with a friend as we expected a third to a half pound burger. McDonalds patties are bigger. Will not return. If you are a visitor, look elsewhere for good WIsconsin food and service. read more

This the coolest bar! My favorite in Madison for sure. I love the fire pits outside. Great camping themed drinks. I have had their food a few times and it was delicious. read more

While the ambience was pleasant and they had decent bathrooms, the "juice" alcoholic drinks were a complete waste of money-- bitter and grossly sugary, almost no alcohol added. The nachos "to share" were barley enough for two people to enjoy. The view was nice, the decor was tacky but fit the overall camping theme. read more

Recently discovered Camp Trippalindee and I was pleasantly surprised. This bar/grill "aka summer camp" is an amazing spot to chill with friends. It is located on the 7h floor of the Graduate Hotel with its own private elevator and gives great views of Lake Mendota and the Capital. The whole place is decorated so that you literally feel like you are in a summer camp. The name is based off of the 80's movie "Back to School" which was based on the University of Wisconsin - Madison campus. They have a indoor and outdoor space with tables and plenty of board games. The outdoor space has fire pits and you can purchase a Smore kit which includes marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker which is 4$ to make over the flames. I got the chicken sandwich which was very tasty and better than what I expected - would definitely get again! My friend had the fries and said they were delicious. I am literally waiting to come back to this place- very chill and relaxed (like summer camp). Both times I've gone it hasn't been too busy- it's a well kept secret but gaining in popularity fast! Check it out soon!!! read more

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One of the best burgers you'll find in a bar. Their cheese curds is also pretty good. The view around sunset is amazing.

Games abound, good drinks, fair food, awesome environment, wonderful view. Nice place to take people who haven't been back to Madison in a while. read more

Just ok. Went here a couple weeks ago for the first time. I was surprised to see it had been redone from a swanky rooftop spot to a casual seat yourself style bar. You order at the bar and grab a pager and find a table. It was super packed and there wasn't any outdoor seating left. The indoor decor feels like old camp/log cabin decor. We got burgers and cheese curds which were very good. But Moscow mule was very disappointing. Our food took a very long time to come out and the condiments station needed refilling and no one came to do it after we asked. I probably won't go back here. Although the view of the lake is nice, lots of better spots for a burger in town. read more

Super fun place for families! The whole vibe just feels like summer camp. Mac n cheese was unreal. The s'mores were cute but it doesn't come with a lot of marshmallows, chocolate or graham crackers. Enjoyed the juice pouch cocktails! read more

really enjoyed our visit. We had the nachos, old fashioned, and spicy margarita + made s'mores on the deck. Loved the camp games available to play, the decor, the guests and the staff. YAAAASSSS. read more

Loved the old school camp theme, rooftop view and fire pits, the ambiance spot on! Had a burger (delicious), Horseradish bloody (also delicious) and an adult pouch drink, I think it was called the Sconnie Punch? or something like that..it was decent, quite boozy. We came in a group of about 6 with one kid and were able to eat our meals and keep her entertained at the same time. The plentiful supply of board games is perfect for kids and adults! read more