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.

We had a table for 6 in the outdoor dining area at 10AM today. The food was excellent and…read moreplentiful. The service was outstanding. We are fortunate to have this in Chico.

Fantastic and friendly spot to catch a wide variety of jazz. We are lucky to have this gem. On…read moreweekends they host "Cool School" for musicians ages 7-19. A city treasure.

This was my first show at The Sylvee. I had heard a lot about it, but I finally got to see what it…read morewas all about. And OH, I was not disappointed! I got to see the Static-X/Sevendust/Dope show, and fortunate to enjoy it from one of the few suites (far from the mosh pit!) that line the perimeter of the viewing area. The location: If you love downtown, this is a great location. If you fear downtown Madison, well, sorry. The good news is you can find decent (or free) parking nearby without getting lost in the mess of one way streets and chaos. The better news is that there's no shortage of places for your "pregame" efforts, whether you are looking for dinner or just a cocktail. The venue: The Sylvee is clean and tidy. You can tell it was built for the best concert-going experience. Plenty of room to move about, good bathroom situation, and numerous places to find a beverage. Up by the suites? Even better, with a special bar and bathroom situation just for them. And the bars have a great selection of craft/local beers. Overall the technology in the venue is great. The sound is excellent, and the lighting is on point. I know a lot has to do with the act that is in town, but Sylvee seems to have what they need to put on a good show. Now, you won't find Aerosmith or KISS coming by to do a show here, but you can find some pretty sizable acts performing here. If you find a show in town that really trips your trigger - and it's at The Sylvee... book it! You won't be sorry.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Great club decor and atmosphere. Best "Old Fashions" in the city (the ones at the bar "The Old…read moreFashioned" admittedly are pretty good). Enjoyed the Thursday night 5:30 Latin Jazz -- no cover!--and a great vibe to dance to later at night.

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.

Mickey's is a proper local pub, right on Willy Street,…read moreRegardless of your sex/age/race, it's a great place to meet, We were told "you must try the food & sexy fries", We weren't disappointed, they weren't telling lies, So next time you're in the area, relax and follow your feet!

Mickey's Tavern may be one of my new favorite spots in the Madison! Located on the eclectic…read moreWilliamson Street, Mickey's is divey, local, welcoming with a tinge of new age and it works, really well. The exterior is quintessential old school dive bar from the worn paint to the old school PBR sign. When you walk in, you are quickly transported into a retro, yet new age space that features old school lighting and artwork mixed with new age neon's and a creative menu. Staff were excellent at the bar. They hooked it up and helped us choose just the right drink, and chatted us up for a while. Patrons were equally friendly, which was nice. With that, it has the vibe of Wisconsin from decor, menu, staff to patrons. We hung out in the main bar area for a while, and then discovered there was a whole other section with a pool table and more cozy style seating areas. They do offer your standard bar food, which looked and smelled good. However, we were there on a liquid diet, so cocktails is all we got, and we were not mad at it. Overall, absolutely in love with Mickey's Tavern. Will absolutely be back on my next visit to Madison!

Great drinks nice place to come and chill out. Wish there was more cigar choices found something to…read moreenjoy. Was asked the right questions for my Old Fashion.

Great place for reasonable priced cocktails and craft beer. And of course a great cigar. I brought…read morein my pipe and tobacco and it was greatly encouraged. No cigarettes though as I was fine with that. Great service and drinks and a great place to chill.