place is lit and has great espresso martinis ! highly recommend to friends as a stop on a night out!

I liked the cheese curds and the mushroom flatbread. The potato with some spicy tomato sauce was a little weird, the roasted chicken was a little dry and the brownie cake with ice cream (the brownie was a little hard or stale). The short ribs were not as tender, the mashed potato could use a little bit of salt/seasoning. Service was not very good. In fact, it was very bad. read more

Sat at the corner of the bar with my husband on a Saturday night. Our bartender was awesome and attentive. The drinks were excellent and watching the mixologist at work was entertaining in itself. read more

The Botanist Social - Mixology at its finest. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

You can either have dinner here or stop in just for drinks. Either way, we have loved visiting The Botanist 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. read more

fantastic ambience. The service was kind and efficient. I am obsessed with the decor. I do wish that the there was more seating at times. If you are eating I highly recommend making a reservation! ordered: raspberry mango sangria read more

The Botanist Social - drink at the bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Very nice environment and good food! Great drink selection as well. Service was prompt and helpful. I got the short rib pasta and crème brûlée for dessert read more

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This place was amazing!!!!! I'm not gonna lie I walked past this place about 3 times in the last 2 days because I thought it was a vegan restaurant. I accidentally found it when I was googling restaurants in the area. We got there right when they opened and was seated right away. The inside is niiiiiiice. Our server was a real sweetheart. The food came out fast. We also had drinks. I had a pain killer and my roommate had a pineapple express with a shot of THC. Both were very good. As for food I had the burrata salad and the forest mushroom flatbread.u roommate had short rib pasta. Everything was phenomenal. This place is great. The energy is great. I will definitely come back in the future. Also the menu has a lot of gluten free options. read more

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Went here for a date and the vibe was incredible! Very low lighting and the bartender was hilarious. Did not end up getting food, but would definitely go back to try again! read more

The Botanist Social - Drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Definitely recommend this lovely restaurant for dinner! We have Overture tickets and wanted to grab dinner and they got us in without a reservation ( on a Friday night) and the food, service, atmosphere and vibe all make this experience great! We will be back! Prices are great and worth every penny!! read more

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This is such a fun spot for a nice dinner and drinks with family or friends or even a dimlit date spot. A larger group upwards of 10 people could definitely stop in. The interior decor and vibes are so pleasing, and definitely would say to dress the part, I would feel out of place showing up casually dressed. The menu items are pretty pricey, but each dish was phenomenal. We got a mushroom flatbread, patatas bravas, and cheese curds all to share. My favorite was the patatas bravas with a nice spicy marinara and garlic aioli flavor combination. I didn't have a drink but my roommates each tried a different one which were aesthetically pleasing. We also absolutely loved the brownie cake - a nice gooey, crispy, chcolatey brownie (which appears to be a lava cake but it is not) topped with cookies and cream ice cream. Basically all the things you could ask for from a brownie!! read more

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Cocktails are A+! Love the atmosphere! The bar is quaint but lovely and the back bar is lovely! The ladder to retrieve bottles out of the beautiful lighted shelves is fantastic! Good was great and service was outstanding! read more

Landon and Allinah mixed us up the best espresso martini that I have had anywhere. Gotta give them a try!!! 5 stars!!!

If this is the only place left with open reservations, skip it. Trust me. Service was cold.. the server clearly didn't want to be there. I got the short rib pasta. Pasta was the wrong kind. It was the incorrect pasta and was way overcooked. The short ribs were so freaking tough. Flavor ok but short ribs were not chewable. The poached egg was awful. Like scrambled whites with water and a tiny chunk of nasty yolk. The server asked if I wanted a new one. I told her no. Those cooks don't care, obviously. I don't want another half-assed egg. No thanks. Drinks were blah. I had the shy girl and it was stringent and not easy to drink. Seriously, these cooks don't care, it was obvious when our food came out within 15 minutes after ordering and the restaurant was full. Skip it. read more

Allinah and Landon were absolutely amazing! So welcoming and friendly, and the best espresso martini I have ever had. 10/10, can't wait to go back read more

Second time visiting last night and again, worst customer service. Got sat down and within the 20 min of waiting the waitress past our table numerous times without acknowledging us. When we saw her take a drink into the back, I approached the bartender and told her we were waiting for drinks and asked her if she could get her coworker to help us. She went to talk to her co worker and came back to us to tell us they are done with serving tables. We immediately left, telling her they have poor customer service and she responded with an immature and classless, "Hope you have a good night." Will not be going back. Advise - hire good staff who are attentive and give actually customer service. read more

Best girls night place! Abbi was the best server! She was helpful and gave good recommendations too!

We came to town for a quick visit and came to Botanist Social two nights in a row! We had a great time... Alex was an all-star mixologist! He made spectacular drinks we ordered and had even better recommendations that were creative and delicious! read more

The Botanist Social - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Beautiful looking gin-focused bar on State Street, I was excited to bring my gin-loving friend and try The Botanist Social for the first time as well. The hostess was so kind as to explain their program, their focus on gins, and also using Death's Door brand as a default. My friend went with a G&T with Hendrick's and I ordered the Paper Airplane and asked the bartender what gin she thought might go well with that. She kind of did the "well we have over 70 gins, I don't know" routine. Isn't that part of working at a gin-focused bar, to have a few recos when asked? Seemed off putting, so I went with Hendrick's as well! The Botanist is a beautiful low-lit place for a date, girl's night out, a pre or post-show Overture Center Drink. Thanks to the lovely Hostess for being so very helpful! read more

The Botanist Social - a candle lit in front of a bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Fun place to come for drinks & apps (not sure if I'd go again for dinner)! The drinks are pretty nice, especially enjoyed the "shy girl". We also had the cheese curds & forest mushroom flatbread, both of which were delicious. We didn't love the fingerling potatoes as much though. Overall, it's a pretty cool atmosphere, so I'd likely come again for drinks & snacks/dessert. read more

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Alina was the best bartender ever, great vibes great spot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lovely place!! The atmosphere is amazing. I got the Pappardelle Steak and Mushroom pasta. It was good. The steak was a bit big for my taste. read more

The Botanist Social - Pappardelle Steak and Mushroom Pasta - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This was one of the worst dining experiences I've had in a long time. Service was poor from start to finish--our water glasses were constantly empty, and it felt like we were forgotten most of the night. Not the experience you expect from a $100 date night. The restaurant charges a 3% fee for using a credit card, which is absurd at a place that presents itself as upscale. On top of that, the most alarming issue was when our waitress brought our entree to the wrong table. It sat there until the other diners told her they hadn't ordered them. She then immediately brought the same plate to us, and we had to tell her we weren't comfortable eating food that had been served to another table. This is a clear health code violation. She took the plate back, but returned just minutes later with the food split on two plates. There is no doubt it was the same food. Totally unacceptable. Aside from that, the entree (a short rib pasta) took about 30 minutes to arrive, despite not being a complicated dish. We were also swatting away flies and gnats the entire meal, which just added to the discomfort. To top it off, the waitress took my card to pay without even giving me a copy of the bill to review, so I had no idea what I was being charged for until after the fact. This restaurant seriously needs to re-evaluate its service standards and basic food safety practices. I will not be returning. read more

This place is cuuuuuuute!!! The ambiance and dim lighting with the candles kind of makes you feel like you're in another time. The staff was friendly and the drinks were refreshing! read more

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I'm a big gin fan and they knock it out of the park on that. Great bartender and service. However, it's a bit dark and depressing in there and when I think of gin drinks I think of sunny outdoors summer days. This didn't fit. read more

Great vibes and the kindest bartenders. Alina was so lovely and made delicious drinks!

I had been wanting to eat at The Botanist Social for quite some time, so I decided to finally make a reservation. Located right by the Comedy Club on State, it was a short walk from the parking garage. I was in awe from the moment I walked in - the greenery on the walls and the plants in glass vials by the front door really made you feel like you were eating in a greenhouse. We were 30 minutes early for our 6:00 pm reservation, but planned to just have a drink at the bar while we waited. The hostess informed us that we could be seated right away, however, so we did that. It was great that they were able to accommodate us! The waitress was prompt, and I ordered Summer Vibes for my first drink, at her suggestion. It was delicious - a mix of gin, lavender, lemon and honey, it really did give me summer vibes. Once you order something, they begin to prepare it immediately, so I held off on ordering an entree just yet. I opted for the crab cake, and it did not disappoint. It was moist, flavorful, and the remoulade was the best I've ever tasted - and I'm from Maryland! It was time to order another drink, so I chose the Proprietary Knowledge - a mix of vodka, blackberry, lemon, lime, rosemary, Campari and soda water. It was a little strong, not that I should be complaining, and I did enjoy it, but I liked my first drink better. I decided on the lobster roll with truffle fries and truffle aioli for dinner, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! My only complaint was that the contents of the roll were almost like a blended crab salad, and the texture was weird for me at first. But it was delicious! Especially with the toasted bun - it was just the right amount of buttery! The truffle fries and aioli were the real star of the show. I ended up taking half of them home, along with the sauce, so that I could have them today. I will definitely be returning to The Botanist Social! read more

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Botanist Social is one of my favorite cocktail bars in Madison. The interior is beautiful and I've always loved my drinks here. The tapas are delicious as well! read more

Botanist social is an exceptional place to grab a cocktail in downtown Madison. If you are a gin fan like myself, they're known for their variety and expensive selection of tasty gin. They offer a variety of house made of craft cocktails, as well as several THC beverages for those who enjoy those. Additionally their food is delicious and the ambience is fantastic. read more

Amazing experience with high class service bartender Dylan was excellent with his service and very kind communication Will definitely be coming back !!! read more

Absolutely loved this new downtown restaurant !!! The decor and vibe is amazing, feels like I am at a restaurant in Chicago not Madison. It's located in the same spot where Icon use to be. Awesome location, right across from the Overture. Great place for excellent service, food, and drinks. Cute spot for date night or girls night. Ordered the rosemary shrimp skewer, house foliage -autumn, forest mushroom flatbread, and vanilla panna cotta. Each of the dishes were beautifully presented and tasted so good. Can't wait to go back and try the other dishes on the menu. read more

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VIBES. This place is your nighttime fairy adventure with a little bit of spice. I came for a late night drink and some snacks and they were suburb. Truffle fries are *chefs kisses* A little small for the price but a nice light snack. Now the drinks are phenomenal. The orchid in my photo is edible and so so sooo delicious! It soaks up all of the flavor. I can totally see myself coming back for a GNO celebration or a classy date night, night cap;) Happy celebrating and getting a pinch of spice. read more

The Botanist Social - Summer vibes - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Cool vibe and great creative drinks. Sat at the bar and was impressed with the creativity of the drinks. Didn't eat but the food looked equally as creative. read more

Ambiance, menu options, and gin selection are top notch! Our waitress was attentive and knowledgeable on the cocktails and menu. The seafood entrees were excellent and crab cake appetizer was to die for! The only downsides were that you can't make a reservation for more than 5 people online. Also, they have no working phone number so we had to go in person to make a reservation for 6 people. read more

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Great cocktail lounge on state street. We made a spontaneous stop here and are so happy we did! Our first try was at about 8:30/9 on a Friday night but there was no seating available. We came back about 10/10:30 and it was only half full-the bar was the hot commodity at that point. It's a dimly lit, beautifully decorated spot. We sat at a two top and were promptly greeted by our waitress, Madeline. She was so kind and provided helpful insight and answered our questions. They have a decent size cocktail menu but also have a full bar. The bar tenders looked like they knew what they were doing! My Paloma was great and my husbands whiskey sour was his favorite drink of the weekend. We will definitely be back. We didn't have dinner here but the dinner menu looked delicious (mushroom risotto, yum!) read more

The Botanist Social - Paloma - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Had a lovely dinner here with friends last night and am so happy to have yet another good restaurant to choose from when dining out! This is a gin-based cocktail bar and even if you aren't a huge gin fan, you should probably try one of their creations! They were excellent. Our group tried the Bees Knees, Summer Vibes, Shy Girl, Last Word, and the (not gin) Wisco old fashioned. Hard to pick a favorite, and my old fashioned loving husband proclaimed his to be possibly the best he's had. The chef's special flatbread was gyro - it was excellent. Crispy flatbread and the most tender meat. The chicken lettuce wraps were very tasty as well, but saucy and messy! I had my eye on the short rib with smoked whipped potato and root veggies. The short rib was tender and fell apart with a fork, and I devoured every morsel. The root veggies were one mushroom which I didn't expect, and one carrot, and couple of Cipollini onions. I didn't detect a lot of smoke in the potatoes, but the sauce was nicely seasoned.The price point is a bit too high and I'll likely try something different next time as I'm not sure it was quite worth it, but it was good and I'm glad I tried it. Our group also tried the shrimp risotto which looked fantastic, and the mushroom and steak pasta special which had a pleasantly earthy taste and was perfectly portioned. The service was excellent and prompt. It is a dark romantic vibe inside and as we were seated close to the door we were thankful that they let the curtain at the entrance fall closed to help keep the draft down. Tip - $5/person deposit on your reservation. read more

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I've gone here for cocktails before but never for dinner. So when I was invited out for dinner I was a little nervous but my friend assured me that the food was really good and boy were they right. I ordered the Grilled Sirloin Steak which included chimichurri, squash and garlic mashed potatoes. I believe that this was the best sirloin I've ever had. It was moist and seasoned perfectly. The garlic mashed potatoes were creamy and the chimichurri and squash were perfect. The only thing I would change would I wouldn't sit at the bar but a proper table since it was a proper meal lol. I will order this again! read more

The Botanist Social - GRILLED SIRLOIN STEAK Chimichurri, squash & garlic mashed potatoes - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I was really looking forward to trying this spot as I love a food gin cocktail. I love the decor and how "green" everything feels. The ambiance is great. I tried two different drinks. One of them being the classic bees knees. It's one of my favorites; however I was disappointed by the cocktail here. It did not seem to have the right balance that I'm used too and was too citrusy for my liking. The other drink I tried also had an a overpowering citrus flavor too it. I may give it another try in the future. read more

The Botanist Social - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place has a great ambiance, and a decent old fashioned despite their emphasis on gin. If I go back, I'll try something gin based. On the expensive side, but a good place for a drink or two. read more

Went here for the second time and it was amazing as usual. Gorgeous ambiance and fancy chill vibe. The lobster roll is classically delicious but those cinnamon sweet potato fries are the thing of dreams! The cocktails my partner and I got were delicious, though admittedly pricey. And my partner's pork dinner was apparently scrumptious. Still no complaints! So good! read more

The Botanist Social - Bee's Knees drink and something about Santa drink. Both absolutely delicious! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Recently had dinner there and it felt like the ac was not on. At least 80 degrees inside. Made for a fairly uncomfortable experience.