We made a stop at @tablewineshop this week to try some new wines and purchase some…read moreChristmas presents. I tried the flight which includes four glasses of their signature wines. My family members shared a bottle of Ercole Barbera Del Monferrato 2021. The shop is beautiful and has such a relaxing vibe. I loved the blind date wine bottles, where you pick the bottle without seeing it but instead based on a small description. A great surprise where you can find a new wine love. Table wine is the perfect spot to drink, shop, and find gifts for wine lovers.

I think we may have popped into their old location on Atwood but their new location with their…read moreoutdoor wine garden is a very nice. Having been here for a Yelp event I wanted to given it a try with my wife in tow. It happened to be the night of the Make Madison Music event and they had a very nice band under their pergola in the garden. Fortunately the rain had ended so we were able to enjoy the band with our wine. The wine store itself has a nice selection with reasonable prices. They were not doing flights this evening because of the Music event so I got a glass of wine. I wasn't ready to pay $12 for a glass so I got a 1/2 glass of a Douro Rive Portuguese wine for $6. It was good but a 1/2 glass is really a small pour. I guess if you are just selling wine you need to make your money somehow. My wife got a Poppi soda? and really enjoyed it. I think if you buy a bottle you can drink it on-site but there is a $10 corkage fee (need to double check that). That may be the way to go next time...

Still my absolutely favorite cocktail place downtown. The decor is fantastic, and I love the old…read morelooking tvs playing movies. The menu didn't have exactly what I wanted but I talked with Atticus and he made me the perfect drink, something on the menu with a bit of spice added. 10/10

Really cool little cocktail lounge that is perfect for the city of Madison! The vibes are super…read moreretro, funky, and hipster. The bartenders are always amazing too! This is my go to recommendation for an espresso martini in the city! It is always super yummy here. It is definitely worth the stop!!

We live in Virginia Wine Country and travel for wine all the time. Wasn't expecting anything along…read morethose lines for Madison. Was thinking more beer with cheese. But here we were mere steps from the Capitol building in an oasis for wine. Square Wine is an amazing stop for wine lovers to have great wine at the bar or buy retail and hang out with fellow wine loving customers and staff. Rarely do you get high quality experience combined with a non pretentious atmosphere, but the Square Wine team has it nailed. We will be back for sure the next time we are in town.

Square Wine Co is our favorite! We love to stop before or after a date night around the square. Or,…read moreif we need a bottle as a gift staff are amazing at finding something perfect.

Great spot near the Capitol! Cute spot with NYC vibes. I was traveling alone and asked to sit at…read morethe bar. As soon as I sat down, I was asked what I wanted to drink and if I was dining at the bar. I ended up ordering a Negroni Sbagliato since I rarely see that on a cocktail menu. It was very well made. Kudos to the bartender, Warren! He also explained the nightly special and I ended up ordering the pasta dish and the fennel salad. The pasta special was so yummy and the tomato sauce reminded me of my Italian grandpa's sauce. The owner, Dino, checked on me and told me a little about himself. Dining solo can be hard, but I'm thankful that the staff here made me feel comfortable. It was the best meal I had on my business trip and will definitely recommend to anyone traveling to this area!

Absolutely fantastic meal. We ordered family-style and tried a lot of the menu, and nearly…read moreeverything was excellent. The carbonara was a standout, and the octopus and calamari were some of the best we've had. The steak was cooked perfectly, and the tortellini was another favorite. Great food across the board and a perfect place for sharing several dishes. The only misses were the house Cabernet, which was disappointing compared with the quality of the food, and the lack of any non-dairy milk option for coffee. It's 2026--having oat or almond milk available feels like a pretty basic expectation at this point. Those are small criticisms of an otherwise excellent dinner. We'd absolutely come back, especially for the carbonara, octopus, and calamari.

I was out and about, exploring Madison, and Merchant looked like a cool place to stop for happy…read morehour. I sat at the bar, and Mi took great care of me. I had dinner plans, so I just wanted to stop in for a drink and snack. They have some really good offers for HH and their cheese curds are half off. I had never had one, so it sounded like the perfect time to try. I got a glass of wine and the curds. They came out quickly, hot and fresh. It was a big bowl of fried cheese. They come with ranch and hot honey, and apparently they recently won best cheese curd at the cheese curd crawl. They were super tasty. Well seasoned, perfectly fried, and kind of chewy. I am not on the hot honey frenzy train, but I tried it and thought it paired well, just wasn't for me. The ranch was tasty though. Even the happy hour portion was hefty and I couldn't put down half. A little wine and cheese on a beautiful day, just makes for a good experience. They were making some pretty interesting cocktails behind the bar, and it is definitely worth coming back to try out their other options.

Wanted to sit outside for dinner and came across Merchant. Waitress was quick to come over with…read moremenus and water. We started with the cheese board for $32.00. Let's say not the best board I've ever had. Very light on the cheese for the price. Wouldn't order again. Cheese curds were tasty. My husband at the steak which came rare had to return to cook more. The fries were over cooked. My son had the Mac n cheese with chicken that he enjoyed. We also ordered a salad which was fresh and tasty. The menu was small but a nice place to come and have a drink after work then move in for dinner.

The self serve Bloody Mary garnish bar was 100% worth it for brunch. They had meat sticks, pickled…read moreeggs, pickled veggies, hot sauces, etc. It was basically an appetizer. Food was also very tasty. Service was friendly and there was a large parking lot. Would definitely visit again if in the area!

This is a nice supper club that is away from downtown and has parking. We were sat in their main…read moredining room but apparently theirs an upstairs I don't know if that is for parties or the public though and then the have a large bar area. The area is very moody lighting and even has small lamps on each table. Our server and staff were great and everything came out timely. We got an old fashioned and a sangria. The sangria is strong but you won't know it until you stand up. We started with the cheese puppies and they had a fantastic pull to them. Some of the best version of cheese curds I've had in a while. My husband and I both had salads and the bowl was too small for the salad but it was a decent salad I do wish the cheese was sprinkled on top as it ended up going to the bottom of the bowl. For an entree I had steak frites. Fries were solid and the cooking of the steak was good with the charcoal but it didn't have much flavor. The chard on the side was also good considering I've never had it. For dessert we had the valentine special chocolate cake and again it was good but nothing super special. We didn't stick around the bar too long but enough to get a winning pull tab. I would come back for the bar tenders they seemed chill.

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!

When flying out of Madison, Wisconsin make sure to buy transportable Spotted Cow beer...only…read moreavailable in Wisconsin. If you are flying late, look for Jennifer @vinoteca who will serve you well. She is super professional and loves her job! She is a find.

$22.50 for a glass of mediocre wine. No tapas available, but pizza not bad. Service is terribleread more