Stopped in about a month ago for a friend's little get together, and had a great time! Currently…read morepregnant, 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!

This is become the go to Bluegrass bar in Madison, with live music almost every night. Positive…read moreatmosphere, 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.

My first time at The Sylvee and definitely not my last. Such a cool, modern, spacious, event space…read more I got to see Maren Morris and it was incredible! The layout is great. You walk in and you have a huge bar area on the left to grab a drink, then you can walk down a few steps and it's a huge area right in front of the stage. We got standing only tickets so that's where we stood. It was awesome because you could get so close to the stage. They do have a second floor with an additional bar and paid seating that looked really nice. The sound was great, everything was clean, air conditioned, the bar staff were efficient, and the prices weren't insane. There were a lot of people there but you still had your own standing space, it wasn't a packed sardines situation at all. Even leaving was easy, it wasn't a stampede. Overall an awesome somewhat more intimate experience for a concert. They do have a parking garage for $15. We went to dinner on Willy Street before and had street parking there so we didn't need to move our car. Only a few block walk, super convenient! I can't wait to see another concert at The Sylvee!

The show was absolutely amazing and it's always nice to have suite tickets but I don't drink soda…read moreand they do not offer club soda. It's actually ridiculous what they charge for soda water. Due to my medically necessary diet I can't have soda and club soda is something that feels like a treat when we are out and everyone else is drinking soda and alcohol poo poo on the sylvee for lack of dietary accommodations that cost less than pennies.

Amazing music venue in the heart of Madison Wisconsin. We have had the opportunity to see many…read moreshows at this venue. We opted for some cozy second row balcony seating. What a joy to be able to sit back and relax take in some music, have a drink and enjoy the evening.

The Majestic Theatre is a quaint concert venue that reminds me of 80's Hollywood clubs. I enjoyed…read morean intimate Buckethead performance with 300 other fans. The theatre is clean, the staff are friendly, attentive and organized. The MGE charge rail (sponsored by MGE) is broken which was disappointing. It would have been awesome if it actually worked. I guess it's been broken for a while. I would suggest taking down the promotional signage or have it fixed.

The Bur Oak is a fun spot to catch music - great lineup of bands, perfect acoustics, nice seating,…read morefull bar, etc. Check it out!

Lacy is amazing and kind and makes the best food. Thanks Lacy!!…read more We've been many times and it is consistently good!!

I REALLY wanted to love Crystal Corner, but sadly after our recent visit, popping back by on my…read morenext trip to Madison is not looking very likely. Crystal Corner is located in the famed Willy Street area of Madison, sitting on the corner of Willy Street and Baldwin Street. Crystal Corner has the vibe of the neighborhood, as is it divey, funky, nostalgic and truly local. However, even with all those things, this spot missed the mark for me and my buddy. We swung by on Sunday afternoon for a few drinks while wandering around Willy Street. We bellied up to the bar and ordered a couple of Bloody Mary's, to which the bartender said "Oh, I need to make up some mix. I can't believe people still drink those things around here.". Which was odd, as that was about to be our third bloody of the day, with neighboring restaurants going as far as having special bloody menus. The bartender pulled a can of tomato juice out, dumped it in a pitcher, added a few dashes of hot sauce, Worcestershire and some seasonings. And that was it. She then took some rail vodka, mixed it all up, and topped with an olive and pickle. While I know this sounds phenomenal, it was in fact one of the worst bloody's I have had. Additionally, the olive and pickle were a weird, almost rubbery texture. The combination of everything was off putting...and that was just the start. Next up is the space itself. While I appreciate a good dive bar that is full of nostalgic artwork, furnishings, lighting, etc...but it shouldn't be visible that the place hasn't been cleaned since these things were added. The ceilings and floors were the worst part, with the ceiling tiles being caked with black dust and dirt. Again, being worn is part of being divey, but being dirty doesn't have to be. In addition to the the main room ceilings, the bathroom ceilings were awful, missing tiles, moldy pipes exposed and just an overall feeling of ick that is beyond a normal bar bathroom. Last, but certainly not least, was the service and vibes. They were off, and kind of weird. When we arrived, there were a few locals and regulars, and then a few folks, including us. While the bartender was friendly with us, she was very rude, uncomfortably so, to another patron when he pulled out a credit card instead of cash (cash only spot). There was a little back and forth, then he left. Even after he left, she was calling him names and such to the other patrons. Again, uncomfortable, especially as a new patron to the bar. Overall, the bloody wasn't the only thing that left a bad taste here. From the bloody to the service to the dirtiness, this place needs some love and was just not it for us.

It looks like an average corner dive bar from the outside but wow, was this a fantastic place a see…read morelive music in Madison! Heads up: cash only at the bar. Come prepared. Bartenders were very nice. Tip them. There is an ATM near the restrooms if you run out of cash. The acoustics are fantastic and I loved the St. Patrick's Day weekend concert! It was packed, but we still found space to dance. Plenty of free street parking. I'm not used to that as a Chicagoan. That was a nice surprise.

The Cardinal Bar is both retro and classy. Stopped in for some pre-dinner beverages and listened to…read morethe live conga band get set-up and play their first few songs. The service was really good with cool bartenders and a mellow vibe. Didn't try the food although it is on the menu. A bit further from campus, the CB seems to be a place catering to a more mature crowd rather than a UW student bar.

The decor is so cute and I really liked the food options and NA drinks! Parking is a challenge so…read morewe parked in the Essen Haus lot then walked over. We arrived shortly after they opened and it was excellent: great service, great vibes. We were so relaxed. We visited on a dancing night and even though we stayed at our table, it was so fun to see people of all ages, sexualities, and wardrobes coming to and from the dancefloor. Once it got busy, the bartenders were really struggling. It seemed like most of them were new because they kept asking one of the bartenders questions. One of them didn't even know where to find the drink I ordered (it was on the menu, and in the fridge in a can). Once all of the employees are as seasoned as the one they were all asking questions to, I think things will run much more smoothly. It also turned into a big party atmosphere which was fine with us, but many of the tables that were relaxing when we arrived were gone shortly after the music started. So just choose your visit time based on the type of experience you want.

What a cool spot in Madison! My friend took me here on a recent visit, and I'm so glad we went…read more Tucked in a strip mall, this place is unassuming outside, but the neon sign hints at the magic inside. When you walk in, the dim red lights and vinyl and moody bar set the scene instantly. We were seated right away - no line - on a Saturday evening. The decoration and ambiance inside is top tier! I got a mocktail with cardamom and cinnamon, and it wasn't my favorite - but that's okay. The food was a hit! They change the menu seasonally, and it had just changed. We split the pimento deviled eggs which were delicious. We also shared the spicy noodles and they were amazing - such incredible flavor. We didn't have enough room for pizza but were eyeing the St. Louis style one. The butterscotch pudding was phenomenal. Vibes were great and such a cool place to hang out!

Pros: Vibes. Walking into this space feels like you're leaving the rest of the world behind, in a…read moregood way. Service. Friendly, attentive and well informed without being overbearing or stuffy. Mid: the menu. It's all been fine buuut Cons: overpriced. It also gets too loud in here to have a conversation at times which is annoying. The space and menu also feels a whole lot like Natt Spil. I don't think it's owned by the same people but I don't know--maybe a little shady?

Worst service experience I've had at a restaurant. I came…read morehere with my parents bc we were looking for a bar with pool and darts and this one was almost empty and had a nice atmosphere. Drinks were not bad. When we were playing pool, a ball got stuck at the end of our game, and when my mother went up to tell the bartender woman she offered a replacement. My mother asked if we could play again on the table and she said yes, but the cue ball got immediately stuck. My mother asked the woman for a replacement ball or a refund, and she suddenly became really rude and said that she warned us that would happen and was raising her voice at us halfway across the room (again, not crowded). So we left. Also, my mother had not been drinking with us, and we had been in there for about half an hour up to that point. Really weird

Here's my thing - for a bar called Red Rock you should know what you're getting yourself into…read more Country Music, cheap drinks, and bar food. Knowing that, this place is great, especially on Tuesday when there is line dancing and wing specials for 50-75 cents each (the price has fluctuated over the past couple of years). Their fries, fried pickles, southwestern eggrolls, and ranch are all solid. So, knowing this - I'm all for it. If you're expected a gourmet burger from here, go elsewhere, but some snackable foods and cheap drinks, sign me up. Happy Hopping