As far as bars go, it was decent. It had plenty of room, the music wasn't overpowering and the drinks 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. read more

I REALLY LOVE THE FAMILY FRIENDLY DRAG SHOWS!!! They hold them once a month, usually on a weekend from 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! read more

See all

This use to be a very fun place, especially on Sundays; having a good time seeing friends on the patio bar and watching the volley ball. Sadly, it never came back after the pandemic, unlike the drag shows. On a recent visit it was also sad to see how run down the place has become. And, it was very gross to put our hands on the bar and feel it was ALL sticky! After waiting awhile for a bartender to appear, just left. The place now needs more fixing up than a drag queen! As they used to bill it, it was once truly "Sunday Funday" on the patio at FIVE. read more

There is an angry old bartender here who needs to watch how he speaks to his customers. My friend went to order a drink and immediately he said to her "put your f-cking hand down." I'm not sure why he thinks that is acceptable behavior. He also kicked my friends out for no reason after refusing service, took the beers out of her hand, and left them outside with no coat. That bartender has white hair, wears shirts a bit too revealing for his age, and clearly does not enjoy his job. I'm baffled that they allow such horrible people with rude behavior to work at FIVE, especially since we had never had a problem there before. read more

It ain't The New Bar; or Rod's. The parking lot at East Town is probably more fun. The other reviews remind me why I don't go to bars anymore. It probably takes a couple of months of looking around just to find a place to play pool. read more

Ron was so much fun....from out of town and he treated us like regulars.....we love this place

Vomit, blood and fecal matter on the stalls really brings down the charm of the place. DJ's are either really good or they think they are and are assholes even though the dance floor is empty. Only good thing going for this place are the drag shows, sometimes, and the guys bartending, which is what gives this place a very generous TWO stars. P.S. A food truck sometimes parks outside, don't get anything that isn't fried unless you want to get sick. read more

Bartender was very sweet and quick, when I asked him to make me something sweet, he made the perfect drink for me. Then I screwed myself up and got 2 Blue Long Islands first time I ever got drunk but I had so much fun. The atmosphere was amazing and the drag show was super fun read more

So much fun for a Sunday night out!! Gorgeous queens, Hot DJ and super chill vibes!! ‍ read more

Cant really review, but called to make sure they were open, they didn't answer, drove there, looked inside, everyone had grey hair. The owner said they were having some event? On a Friday night?... but it also wasn't closed to public?... So seeing that there was no one near my age (not a person below 50) I asked to just step in and look at the place before i paid. (Not like I could have snuck in, they had wrist bands and I was the only one in their 20s) He said "no it's 10$ to get in" and eyed me like it was a strange question. I paused, and then said "alright.. have a good night?" and left. It all felt very weird, walking into a gay club and only seeing old straight married couples. Then the owner really treating me like I was out of place.. I mean idk.. felt very unwelcoming in general. Maybe just a bad experience ? read more

I have been coming here since I turned 18 for their 18+ nights.... Back when it was Club 5 (I still call it that to this day - haha). I was so sad when I heard they may be closing down and was elated to hear they had raised enough money to remain open. The venue itself is clean and very open. They have a dance floor, a stage area for drag shows, and a back bar area for separate fun themed nights. We especially love it here because it is welcoming and we always meet really great people. Karaoke on Tuesdays is a BLAST! They do it in a fair manner, as a rotation, but if a new person who hasn't sung yet puts in their name, they get bumped up and have an opportunity to sing in a reasonable amount of time. People have a really great time singing and it's a relaxed atmosphere with support and encouragement rather than harsh judgment. Even the bartenders participate! Speaking of bartenders: Five has some great ones! We really love Steve in particular. He is one of the many reasons we keep coming back. He is friendly, funny, and genuinely cares about his guests. Tyler was extremely helpful on karaoke night, as well. Whenever we're not sure what to do, Five is always on our list of options. What feels like it will be a boring day always turns into loads of fun when we make it part of our plans! read more

See all

Being from the SF bay area, I am ashamed to say that this is the first LGBTQ friendly club that I've ever been to....but I think I'm in love. The vibe here is much more welcoming than most places I've been to in Madison..and seriously, such beautiful people! Glad I slapped on the makeup before I left the house. The inside of the club looks a lot smaller than the exterior suggests, but it still holds a decent amount of people. There is a large stage area/dance floor at one end and a well-stocked bar at the other (back-lit bottles..oooooohhhh). I think I also saw a lounge area with its own bar(?) near the exit. Pros: - Parking was a breeze - Patrons are sweet, bartenders are sweeter - Cheap drinks; whiskey sour did not disappoint - Great acoustics/stage set up..although I probably stood too close to the speakers (do you hear that ringing?) Con: Only the fact that all my friends bailed and I had to experience this place by myself. Whatever, their loss. Anyway, props to the owners for revamping this place. And major props for the poppin' opening night/killer line up. I will be keeping an eye out for future lineups at Five! read more

Its nice friendly bar. One or two rude bartenders. Interior needs work .fair price, drinks are great impressive shows you can't tell it's a gay bar unless you attend a show. Ince you get past the place needs work it's great. (This review is independent and free of influence of the business or members of the elite scam squad. I was not paid for this review or given free product or a party as the elite "scam" are! ) read more

Not Military friendly. Very rude staff. Did not feel welcoming to outsiders. Looking for a fun Gay bar, go to Milwaukee (this is it) or Wisconsin Dells (the reef). I drove two hours to club five and left before I got my first drink. read more

FIVE can be a lot of fun, or it can be a mess. I will focus on the fun. Pretty much every time I have been here has been fun. They have drag shows that are entertaining, they offer dance classes for Line Dancing (lol!) and Zumba. Dart leagues, ping pong tourney's, karaoke - this place is buzzing with activity. In the summer they have foam parties which are a lot of fun as long as you're okay with inhaling a small amount of foam - it's inevitable! On Saturdays it can get rather full, which makes it more difficult to grab a drink or move around freely, but that's just typical night club. The whole place got a pretty extensive makeover a few years ago, so it's actually pretty darn nice in there. The location sucks, that's it's only real downfall. It's set far away from downtown, or any other real bar scenes that I would want to find myself in. read more

Came up for Chicago just for the night. Made this my stop after Woof's was dead. Walked into a show with drag queens who FUCKING S L A Y. so that was the start to my hype! The hot ass bartender. (didn't get a name) but he was a THICK-BOY with a beard and short cut hair. His voice and eyes! OMG - someone find me this man! PLEASE! The drinks we kinda large and kinda strong - which for the price I was paying - I wouldn't have it any other way. They wanted me to turn the "eff" up. The music selection was perfect. I got to shake my ass, and see ass get shook. They played Cardi, Nicki, Cardi, Nicki, and Cardi again - I was feeling myself! And the dance floor was a decent size for a turn up. So that was another great thing. BUUTTTTTTTT - the way the DJ ended my night was so shitty playing some wack songs that we all got off the dance floor and sat down. LIKE END MY NIGHT WITH A BANG AND NOT YAWN!!! MAKE ME WALK OUT SHAKIN MY ASS NOT MY HEAD! read more

One of Madison's staple gay bars. Lots of events throughout the year, Madison's premier stage for drag, the bar offers volleyball leagues in summer and fall, reasonable drink prices, and the place is cleaner in recent years than ever before (this place used to be pretty grungy). The only thing keeping this from being a five star review is that the owner doesn't like getting involved in many charity events outside of drag. But if they do, it's gotta be held at the bar. Fun place. Wish they were open every day of the week. Their hours say they are online, but that's a lie. read more

Literally the best LGBTQ+ Establishment in Madison. The Bartenders are all experts and super friendly and helpful. Dave runs an impeccably clean and safe establishment where all people are safe and included. I go every weekend with friends. The best performers and entertainment in Madison. Definitely recommend it! read more

FIVE is a historic gay bar that has set a standard in the community of Madison. The community out reach to LGBTQ organizations, as well as growing the burlesque & drag communities has established FIVE as a hot spot for creativity and support. read more

FIVE Nightclub - Burlesque Show on April 14th, 2018 at FIVE - Dance Clubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My friend took me here one time because there was some show that was going on. There were people here who were friendly, but the employees and bartenders wasn't as much. The bouncer in front seemed like he had a power trip. He questioned me in regards to the legitimacy of my license since I look younger than my age. He eventually let me in after I proved to him that I was over 21. Never encountered such difficulty getting in a bar. Besides from the slow service, the bartenders were really slow and gave me a couple of drinks that were not what I said. They also had some attitude, which I don't know why since I was being polite. Never coming back here again. read more

What a HUGE disappointment. On a Friday night, there was a $5.00 cover charge; you got nothing in return. Why the cover, I asked. Because there's going to be a DJ! Ooohhhh! How original & exciting. This was a Friday night at 11:45pm, still didn't see a DJ & there were 14 people in the entire bar! Lame ass boring..... There were also 4 large buckets around the pool table because the ceiling was severely leaking..... Went back the night after on a Saturday at 11:45 pm....& there were 12 people in the whole bar....YAWN.....the staff is as friendly as Gila monsters, & 5.00 for a simple bottle of beer? Don't waste your time, people! read more

Wasted an Uber here when they said they were open. If they say the are open until 2 am and they are closed by 11:30 there is a problem. Fix your google hours read more

Wow, this place is amazing! By far Madison's most diverse Nightclub...gay, straight, bi, drag queens, twinks, bears, cowboys, etc. It just works here. Friendly bartenders, great drink specials, Madison's favorite DJ's and an amazing patio. Check it out for yourself. read more

See all

What a cool place. I went for Sunday fun day. Met some of the nicest and unique down to earth peeps in Madison. You can tell the bartender, Craig, really cares about his following and patrons so that was very nice. Prices were cheap for sinks and I would definitely come back for dancing. I love sports bars like this. Ice cold beer, volley ball, kick ads bartenders, and actually bar guests that are friendly to first timers. I really need to come back and support this establishment. Oh and there is an adult toy machine complete with naughty prizes, lights, music, and a grab claw. Yeah, guilty, I played it and won:) read more

FIVE Nightclub - We won a vintage vibrator from the naughty naughty machine - Dance Clubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Not open to others. Very offended if you don't know strangers pronouns. Not terribly open to strangers unless they think your attractive. Which my friend was not interested so they stopped being nice to my friend. We're not going back. read more

I've been at this club a few times for various events...like birthdays, bachelorette party, and drag shows. There are several areas so if one area seems crowded, you can move on to another. Since I was there last, they have outdoor seating and sand volleyball. This is not my first choice for a bar outing but I've had fun here and its open to all. If there is an event going on there may be a cover charge but it is usually about 5-10 dollars. read more

Great, unique, and diverse performers. Friendly staff, plenty of parking. I give it 3 stars rather than 5 for two reasons: 1) the location is a bit out of the way, making it a bit inconvenient to get to and 2) a friend of mine had their coat and keys stolen after leaving them in the coat room. read more

Any time I've gone to Five for an event, Dave & his staff are so accommodating. The ballroom/performance space is perfect easy access to the main bar. Good location, great parking. If you are looking for an event space, consider Five. read more

I love this place have been going ever since i moved to Madison in 2006. Yes the place has had it bad times when Plan B came and was "the place" everyone wanted to go until they realized that everyone there were total douchebags. Yeah i said it people. Not that I am saying that everyone is angels that go to 5. No sir you always have your bitchy parton here and there. We are talking about the lgbt community.Anyway, the club has evolved but the friendliness and community of people that have been regulars since the jurrasic period remains the same. I feel less judged than at plan b or sotto. Drinks are reasonable for a gay club. The people are what make this place one of the best in madtown. read more

This place is a staple in the Madison gay community. Always a fun place to see drag shows! Drinks are priced well, and you get a lot for your money. The Bartenders are always fun. We have played sand volleyball here for a couple of years now and it is so much fun!!! read more

A very diverse crowd and not just one clique, scene or group. As a former bar manager/bartender i was impressed by the look of bar, crowd, atmosphere and specials. Location is not 5 star but the rest of what the bar is all about makes up for it. Would be great if more people could get to place with more easier location and shorter distance from downtown. Did you have a bad night maybe or just wrong drink ? It happens but the overall picture is a good place. read more

Don't even try to get in this place if it's after midnight! The guy at the front door will tell you he can't find the owner and says they are at capacity even though a ton of people are leaving...smh read more

Happen to be in Madison for business and I wanted to see a drag show so I came across five, nice gay bar friendly staff I guess

Five is a staple in the Madison scene. Wonderful staff, fantastic atmosphere, and always quality drag and burlesque shows at this venue. I always feel safe and loved here. The drinks are also real stiff and a great value. Such a truly wonderful space with incredibly kind, friendly, and fun staff serving the LGBTQ community. read more

I LOVE this place! Attentive staff, great bartenders. They do a good job at keeping the space safe and friendly. I always feel 100% comfortable here and always have an excellent time! read more

I'm from Milwaukee and haven't made it to Madison in a while...but I have to say these bartenders are SPOT ON. They are friendly...attentive...attentiveness this is the place I will revisit when I come back...!!!!! read more