I've heard people rave about The Mason, and it took me far too long to finally come in here, and it…read morewas honestly entirely by accident. I was supposed to be meeting a group elsewhere nearby when our original place closed without warning. So we headed to The Mason and it was a delightful experience. It was very busy with one bartender, so it took awhile to get your drinks, but they were still well made and the bartender was very friendly. It's a small place so it can get loud when busy, but our group had a great time and we enjoyed the place. It is a dark, neighborhood type vibe. And the sealing the deal of the 5th star for this place is that they were dog friendly. My pup had a great time getting pets from customers. Great find!

I can't believe I haven't been to the Mason Lounge yet the vibe was amazing I feel like you could…read morecome in whatever fit and feel chill! The live music area was one of the coolest things I've seen and we got yummy Moscow mules. The bartender (Tracy I think) was so kind and so amazing!

I think this place could get to a 5 for me but when we went it was a colder/rainy day for a…read morepre-dinner drink so the place was white only no cool lights and it was super crazy loud and the ping pong players kept losing their ball and chasing it under tables. Maybe it was just the groups who had taken over this particular day weren't my vibe. The drinks were amazing though. Creative, fresh, loved them. I had one with blended mint and gin. We tried the jell o shot of the day which had pop rocks and was salty and fruity. Seriously one of the most interesting concoctions and was fun. Very worth the stop.

As someone who loves science and weird drinks this has got to be my favorite spot in Madison. The…read moreinside is a lot bigger than you would think from the size of the door. The atmosphere is so cool, very experimental and unique. The colored lighting against the white walls and furniture makes for really cool pictures. The drinks were amazing. Especially the savory ones. If you love bloody Mary's you'll love their garden salad cocktail. Of course we tried some Jell-O shots too. The grape was our favorite. There is also a ping-pong table in the back! Lastly, have to shout out the bartenders because they are awesome and had great recommendations!

Another first-time experience in Madison, and this spot came highly recommended if you're a true…read morewhiskey or bourbon lover, and wow it did NOT disappoint! It happened to be near the theatre we went to, so we decided to stop in and check it out. They have nearly 775 different types of whiskey to choose from, which is wild! I loved that they offer different ounce sizes so you can sample a few, and they even pair it with water so you stay hydrated while tasting (smart touch). Price ranges between ~$7.50-$20.00+. The place had a cozy, lounge-like vibe and was pretty busy, but the staff was friendly and helpful. It's first come first served for seating, just like any bar. We sampled a few whiskeys and also tried their premade espresso martini. The whiskey selection was phenomenal, the espresso martini was decent, not the best I've had (it was premade), but still enjoyable (it's made with Tito's, which isn't my favorite base, but I appreciate the fresh coffee beans they used). All in all, this place is a hidden gem. Great whiskey, friendly staff, and the perfect cozy spot to escape the rain for a while. I'll definitely be back next time to try even more from their list!

The perfect chill spot for a couple, if you need a cozy booth with dim lighting & good cocktails…read morethis is it! We also loved that the football game was on and it wasn't too loud. It's intimate and the drinks are fire. We stuck with the classic old fashioned and felt they were strong and well crafted - thank you for a true luxardo cherry too! We ordered at the bar but chilled in a booth. So many whiskey options!!! Service is friendly & quick!

Wow! I was in Madison working for a few days and just happened to find this place while walking…read morearound the capital one night, and man, was I impressed! Such a great vibe and nice atmosphere! I was with a coworker and we ordered beers and found a table and watched as the locals piled in, and suddenly it was packed and hopping! I ended every evening here, the beers were cold, and even though busy, service was friendly and fast. Downstairs is great, but the upstairs is even cooler, and had an even better vibe. If I lived here, I would definitely be here every night!

Cue the music... "Where everybody knows your name!" This is the absolute vibe of Genna's and even…read morethough no one knew our name, we felt like they were at least interested in learning it. We belied up to the bar and ordered a few cocktails. The bartender was super welcoming and friendly and had the best pour of my trip! As the afternoon progressed, more locals and regulars continued piling in, each welcomed personally and in some cases were greeted by their favorite beverage. The space is divey, but not dirty. It's eclectic, local, retro and homey. Downstairs has a simple local dive bar feel, while upstairs has more of a "scene" vibe. Overall, really enjoyed Genna's and is definitely on the "visit list" for my time in town!

This is one of the best meals I've head. Harvey ticks the box on every dimension - beautiful…read moresetting, great vibe including the music, fantastic service, great cocktails and of course the innovative, unique, delicious food. Our waiter gave us great tips in navigating the menu and experiencing the variety - and it could not have been a more special experience celebrating my brother's 60th birthday with my 91 years old dad. They have 3 Old Fashion options - we tried 2 and they were both rock solid. The ravioli and trout almandine are savory entrees that didn't disappoint. The baked potato is an innovative cloud pleaser but highly recommend sharing. And don't sleep on the onion soup - I've never experienced anything like it. The smell that emanates when you first pierce the creamy foam layer will make you say 'whoa.' Will definitely return.

My friend scored a last minute dinner reservation while I was visiting, and I'm glad she did! We…read morecame for dinner with a group of 4 on a Sunday. The restaurant was beautiful and the service was amazing. I appreciated that our waitress was very knowledgeable about the dishes on the menu and what ingredients they contained, which is perfect for anyone with allergies or dietary restrictions (like myself). We were seated near the open kitchen which also added to the dining experience. I tried: - Scallop toast - I really enjoyed this. It was mild, not fishy tasting at all, and the brioche was toasted very well. I'm not a huge seafood person aside from sushi and poke, and had never had scallops before, so I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. - Ricotta Raviolini - I was not a huge fan of this, which was especially disappoint since it was my main entree / the most expensive on this list. It was essentially a folded sheet of pasta with a tiny bit of ricotta, topped with barely cooked asparagus and snap peas. The menu also lists lemon infused olive oil, but I didn't taste that at all. The parts of the raviolini with a good amount of ricotta were delicious, but the dish overall was bland and tasted like raw asparagus and peas. My friends also tried it and none of them liked it either. - Baked Potato with The Works - super simple and perfectly executed. It comes with bacon, which we got on the side since I don't eat red meat. Potato was fluffy and salted perfectly, with a good amount of other toppings. My friends who do eat bacon said it tasted more like ham than bacon, and they actually preferred the potato without it. - Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding - Loved it. I love bread pudding and chocolate pudding, but never thought to combine the two. It was delicious - soft, not super sweet, and great portion size. I would recommend sharing, it's pretty rich which can be overwhelming at a certain point. - Flightless Bird mocktail - this was one of the best mocktails I've tried. It has a black tea base but tasted more like a regular cocktail without the alcohol burn rather than tea. Everyone at the table enjoyed trying it too. Despite the raviolini being a miss, the rest of the food, service, and ambiance made this such a wonderful dining experience that I can't wait to come back and try more.

I really enjoyed my quick stop in. The slushie was delicious and the chat with the bartenders made…read moreme feel at home. This place is cute, clean, and has a great spirit selection.

Pay with cash or massively incompetent and "not able to read words good" bartenders will hand your…read morecard off to someone else and then play it off like it's not a big deal because again, they can't read words and just give anyone with the same type of credit card your credit card and then pretend it's not a big deal or a massive inconvenience to cancel and reissue a credit card. This place used to train and produce talent. Now it's not functionally literate. Totally pathetic. Won't ever return. Will tell them at tales and Portland what's happening in Madison. Total losers.

As far as bars go, it was decent. It had plenty of room, the music wasn't overpowering and the…read moredrinks were not overladen with alcohol (some gay bars are 90% alcohol, 10% soda or whatever. It would have been nice to have 2 bartenders working the main room during the WI Leather Pride event I'm not sure what happened but the bartender they had was literally running the whole time trying to keep up. The parking lot is a mess. I mean, literally a mess. The pavement was uneven, broken and needs some maintenance. I hope they have that on their future improvements. It might sound I didn't enjoy FIVE but I did. I kind of wish we had more of these in the Twin Cities.

I REALLY LOVE THE FAMILY FRIENDLY DRAG SHOWS!!! They hold them once a month, usually on a weekend…read morefrom 7-9pm. And politely ask for families to close tabs & exit for the next adult drag show to start at 9:30pm. I really want this place to continue its offerings so hear me out (below) on why I chose a low star review). Drinks are super reasonable, just as other review posted. And bar staff (and everyone else there for that matter) are extremely friendly and respectful. They offer free popcorn on the backside of the bar (help yourself)! And pizza for the late night cravings. The reason for my 3 stars (should really be 2 but I truly want to promote this place in hopes they keep it going and can pay for a deep cleaning... lol). I get it's a late night spot, but I'm very conscious when it comes to bathrooms. I don't think these have been cleaned in years. If they weren't half as bad as they were at 7pm -- I'd be willing to give it 3.5 stars. Clean them up right and I'd give it an EASY 5 stars. I hope the owners/managers hear me out on this one!

You can either have dinner here or stop in just for drinks. Either way, we have loved visiting The…read moreBotanist Social. For dinner I recommend the Salmon bruschetta, mushroom risotto (soo good) and the crab cakes. The drinks are simply sublime. Gin is the spirit of choice here and you can get it straight up or mixed in a cocktail while watching the bartender. If gin isn't your thing, they have other spirits as well including a very thorough whiskey offering. I have been here now about 10 times and each time I am surprised by the drinks and entrees and each time I am greeted with excellent friendly service.

Came to Botanist Social for a cocktail and dinner before a game…read more Walked into the cool vibe and decor and got a nice welcome from the hostess as well as the waitress. I had the clover club cocktail and it was delish. Nice and refreshing and not too heavy. CLOVER CLUB Gin, raspberry syrup, egg whites*, lemon We shared the butter's salad and it was a nice mix. BURRATA SALAD Peaches, tomatoes, burrata cheese, sweet vinegar dressing I had the Campanella pasta as the main and it was very savory. Noodles could have been a bit more al Dente. CAMPANELLE PASTA Campanelle noodles, braised short rib, poached egg, balsamic drizzle Service was good throughout, our server did several check-ins. Cool spot. Small food menu but would come back again.

Great drinks nice place to come and chill out. Wish there was more cigar choices found something to…read moreenjoy. Was asked the right questions for my Old Fashion.

Great place for reasonable priced cocktails and craft beer. And of course a great cigar. I brought…read morein my pipe and tobacco and it was greatly encouraged. No cigarettes though as I was fine with that. Great service and drinks and a great place to chill.

I have been coming here for at least the past 20 years (it's been open more than 60+) and can't…read morebelieve I haven't reviewed it yet. The past reviews outline it pretty well. A great cocktail lounge that is outfitted in everything Tiger nestled within a strip mall. They still don't take credit cards, cocktails are good as ever and the lights are still as dim as possible. A throwback to all that is good in a Wisconsin cocktail lounge. It's a great place for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap.

This is such an iconic Madison bar. The tigers, music and usually the clientele make it worth the…read moretrip.