This is easily among the most unique and playful spots in Madison for a drink! But it's also so much more than just a good aesthetic! This bar has excellent cocktails and friendly staff, featuring the kind of classy drinks I love but rarely indulge in (sidecars, manhattans, palomas, and more). Some nights they even feature a DJ! The prices are fair and the drinks are adequately strong! read more

After dining next door, we wanted to have a night cap nearby and Madison Local Motive, which is a train car turned bar, was highly recommended, so we popped over. The space is two cars, with one set up as a full-time bar, and the other a mixed space that was a dance club on the night we visited. The bar car was super cute and quaint, but also tight and cramped, especially with a crowd. The car is set up with a single person bar towards the back, and lounge seating along one side leaving small space for folks to walk and wait for the bar. The other car had the bar up front and the dance floor and seating in the back. This car had a cover, so we just did cocktails and lounged a bit in the bar car. The single bartender, while he was friendly and made a good cocktail, created a backlog of folks waiting for drinks. We waited 10 minutes in a single file line for our cocktails. I went with the espresso martini, and my pal got an old fashioned. Both tasty, but the glassware was wayyyyy too small. The line never cleared, so we did one and done unfortunately. The concept is great, but execution is lacking. I know there is limited space, but the current layout and function is not the greatest, especially on the cocktail car side of things. Overall, it was cool to experience and now we can say we have done it. read more

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This place is super cute! With one bartender and craft cocktails, you might wait a bit for your drink, but it is worth it. The location is perfect for Kohl Center events, It's really comfortable and nicely decorated. read more

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I finally had the pleasure of checking out' the train car turned bar, and it was such a vibe! I kicked things off with the Driftless Tide-gin, blackcurrant, mint, basil, lemon, and raspberry-all blended to perfection. For round two, I couldn't resist a French 75, complete with a fun twist: rock candy! Loved it. Brian and Eddison were behind the bar, and they were fantastic. Madison bars never fail to introduce you to great people and good times! read more

Madison Local Motive - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Amazing music, great service, lovely vibe. The bartenders are really kind. Delicious drinks, too!

It's a good idea. The owners seem to be working through the kinks. The cocktail menu is a lil limited. In fact the menu only lists canned cocktails - no thanks. Pro Tip - they will actually make you a real cocktail not from a can upon request. Bartender made a Manhattan. It was a bit slow in the making but turned out quite nicely. They serve a lot of their drinks in plastic cups. Something I despise. Please stop that. It's worth a stop for one drink but not two. read more

Madison Local Motive - Entrance to the left. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Went to Local Motive just for drinks one night and it was such a vibe! Cute ambiance, very Agatha Christie murder mystery feel. The bar is in a train car parked next to the Harvey House restaurant. It's only open on the weekends and we were lucky to go when there wasn't an event. The bartenders were kind, clearly had some regulars they knew well, and spent such time and precision on our drinks. I've never seen someone spent such care cutting a raspberry to fit mint leaves in it so delicately. The cocktails were complex and delicious, the seating is comfortable and eclectic with some train view films on to make the experience feel more real. I love the art displayed in it too. Drinks were not as pricey as I would have thought given the location, vibe and complexity. And the menu was bigger than I'd expect too! I highly recommend for a fun night out or even to rent the place for a theme party or event. read more

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I think this place has potential. It is on the line for being four stars but I think they need to do something's for improvement. First, fix signage. The sign on the street is very misleading and makes it seem like the bar is actually within the bike shop. Second, add ounce amounts for pours and glassware? It could even be mismatched which would add to the charm of everything in the town car itself Three, have some music playing and masks on and ready when folks enter. Fix those and I think this will be 4 stars and a cute place for folks to visit before dinner. If you're in the area it doesn't hurt to stop by and get a cute photo, but otherwise, nothing to rave over. read more

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Had a small corporate event, open house style, with about 15 people. Awesome space and great location. Prasanna in particular was very helpful and accommodating to our needs. Would recommend 10 times out of 10. read more

Madison Local Motive - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This is by far my favorite bar in Madison. I love everything about this place. They have all sorts of seating arrangements that are super cozy & comfortable [everything from lounge chairs to couches, formal tables & chairs, barstool seating... you name it, you got it], and they change up their furniture arrangements & art displays regularly so it almost feels like a different bar each time you go there. Though somehow, it never loses its coziness. There's plenty of space + set-ups suitable for both large and small groups of people to hang out comfortably. It's also easy to situate yourself according to your liking, whether that be more or less private, open/lively or less noisy/distracting, cozy/informal or traditional/proper, etc. The walls are always covered with art displays [often featuring local artists] that spark conversation and provide entertainment if you walk around & appreciate it. In the summer, their outdoor area is just as lovely as the inside, and they manage to keep it all clean & tidy despite the gazillion surfaces/fabrics across the space. Local Motive has everything, making it suitable for practically any occasion. Also, the staff are super friendly/welcoming and are quite pleasant/insightful to converse with. They make fantastic cocktails using unique flavor combinations and will customize drinks upon request if it's possible. They seem like genuinely nice people, and I've never seen them treat people with anything but the upmost respect & politeness. Don't be fooled if you don't see them on Google maps... Just walk up the steps into the train car on the right side of Hoffman House, and if you catch them when they're open, you won't regret stopping inside! I drive through the parking lot on the other side of the train tracks to grab coffee from Panera frequently, and I'm always excited whenever my night is still free and I see their "Open" sign lit up in the window. Highly recommend Local Motive! Really glad I found out about this place. read more

A top notch venue for small-ish (less than 50 ppl) parties! Such a cool location and great vibe. Staff is incredibly helpful and responsive. They made it very easy to book, pay and ask questions. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to reserve a spot for an intimate gathering. read more

We had a wedding shower event at Local Motive with about 40 people in attendance. Ed and Brian were very accommodating to our requests and everything went as expected. The venue was quite spacious, even though we were close to maximum capacity there was more than enough room to move around and mingle with all of our guests. We utilized the bar and I worked with Ed in developing a menu to ensure there was enough variety for everyone. We catered in Ian's Pizza and Local Motive staff had plates, napkins, and utensils ready to go. Overall, it was a great experience from planning to execution and the venue is quite charming and unique! read more

Hosted a corporate retreat at Local Motive - the train car with natural light was the perfect inspirational setting for our small team of 12. Staff was incredibly accommodating including AV rental of a 65" TV on a moment's notice. We brought in a catered lunch from Panera next door which made the experience very affordable. Highly recommend this space for anyone looking for a unique venue! read more

If you are looking for a unique, yet versatile place to host a small party or get together, I would highly recommend the Madison Local Motive. I recently hosted a surprise birthday party there and Prassana was awesome to work with. It has a great sound system, tables, and chairs, and the decor is very modern. . read more