This is one of my favorite rock n roll clubs/bars in Iowa! Located right off the Mississippi where the boats are docked to shore, this is a great place to cast your anchor and hang out for a night and watch some music! When entering the bar you might think you are in a different land, and in a different time! It feels kinda like an Irish pub in a dungeon! But there's a pool table so you know your safe! There are two long bars one on the side room where the music is and one in the main room! I have been here numerous times of the past 10 years and the bar tenders always seem to be the same. And they are great! Prices are great too, you can get your fancy whisky or craft brews, but they also carry cans of PBR, and Old Mil for us on a budget! The music room is great, it has great sound, and Aaron H. who has booked here for years brings in great stuff, a totally curated room of music! The locals just come here cause there is live music and they usually leave satisfied in their choice cause Aaron has great taste! I have been lucky enough to play here a few times and every time I have had a great time! They have a great back patio as well, but like I said they are right off the Mississippi so it might get kinda buggy sometimes! This is a total gem if you find yourself in Dubuque! read more

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Old school vibe here. We randomly came across this place after we went to Vinnys for supper. Then we randomly ran into out of town friends. We had a blast. Its not anything fancy here just a nice casual bar. read more

Cocky arrogant bartender that ignored anyone older than 25. Then my wife said my husband's birthday is in 45 minutes. He shrugged his shoulders and walked away without a happy birthday or an acknowledgement. Then ignored empty glasses before we said FU we are going to the best bar in Dubuque - Paul's!! Oh and did I mention overpriced!? read more

My original review is below, but they officially lose 2.5 stars for now being a cash only place. Not sure why; perhaps they don't like paying the Visa/Mastercard charges. And that's fine. But it means they don't get my money. So good luck, Busted Lift. I'll take my credit/debit card elsewhere. ____________ One of the best places to hang out in Dubuque. A great beer selection (I consider myself to be a bit of an expert on such things) and the prices are wonderfully reasonable. The place has a cool vibe; neither a 'college bar' nor a place for old dopes like me, it is, instead, a place that seems to cater to all different types of folks. There are two long rooms, with plenty of high-top seating. The music can get a bit loud at times, but most times you can actually talk with the persion to whom you are speaking. It's very much a go-to spot on Lower Main. Try the Coffee Stout. Thank me later. read more

Excellent beer selection, usually cool music both live and recorded. Shuffleboard table tops it all off. read more

I msut say compared to the numerous bars in Dubuque, I fancy this one as at least a top five place. I really don't like drinking miller, bud, coors, etc... those taste horrible and the lift has decent bottles and a great selection of tap beers. I love their ciders. Sometimes they have live bands and may charge a five dollar cover. However, that almost always grants you a drink token so really your not paying much cover at all. And, we should support bands anyway if we can. They have a digital jukebox which can be overpowering at times, but most of the time people play cool music. Bad news- they soemtimes don't turn off the house music from the bar when a live band is playing. I still don't understand that. I answered a few questions with different answers. Yes it could be a hipster bar, but it can also be a hippie, dive, casual, hang out, and cool hole in the wall too. It ahs guinness posters and lots of stone walls, which gives it character. I have seen people in crappy clothes and even nice clothes too. They have this fun ring game where you need to angle and swing a ring to land it on a hook. A simple game but nice to spend some time. I am also part of a group that tries to play traditional Irish music once in a while and the Lift is an awesome place for that. Sure it may not seem like the best bar to come back to again and again at first glance, and if your travelling from out of town there are a lot of options, but this place I would happily choose just for the crowd alone compared to most Dubuque bars. P.S. Some people spoke of only being cash. I agree cash bars can be annoying BUT the last two times I went they accepted debit and credit cards by using the little "square" device for phones or Ipads. So maybe this is no longer cash only? All in all I am happy to share a conversaiton over a pint at the lift. read more

I love this place. The atmosphere is so great because there are plenty of nooks to find for a more intimate feel, but the place can also get packed with people for a really fun night. Of course, the shuffleboard is one of my favorite things about this bar. I also love that TVs aren't on and blaring; instead you can always hear good music over the speakers and great conversation. read more

It doesn't look like much from the front entrance on Main Street - actually, it looks like a constuction site that's been forgotten. But walk down the stairs, and you'll find a whole different story. The bar is actually two long, narrow rooms that run side by side. The limestone walls give the place a distinctly cavernous feel, but it's a cozy, inviting kind of cave - not a cold, vaulted-ceiling kind. I especially like the glassed-in cozy room with a couple of old sofas to chill out in. If you're a shuffleboard fan, you're in luck - the Lift sports a genuine, old school shuffleboard table in addition to pool table and dart boards. Near the back you'll find an old elevator shaft that's the inspiration for the tavern's name. The bar is relatively serene during the week, but on the weekends the place fills up to the gills with college students. Great place to grab a pint of Guinness. read more

If the Busted Lift was in my hometown, it would definitely be my pub. There is a grade entrance off of Main Street, or you can go downstairs from Vinny Vanucchi's Italian restaurant above. There are two long rooms (remember to step down), there are niches in the limestone walls blackened by candle smoke and dripping with wax, but it isn't drab or dreary at all. It is warm and inviting, the staff is friendly and the beer selection is top notch. There is pub trivia on Tuesday and a Traditional Irish seisun every other Thursday. Stop in for a pint. You won't be disappointed. read more

Great bar! Awesome atmosphere and good crowds always on hand. Usually a band playing a good mix of music on Friday or Saturday nights, typically a drink special accompanies a band. Drink prices aren't bad and the staff fits perfectly with the atmosphere. Must see in Dubuque! read more

This bar is AMAZING...They have an amazing assortment of beers to chose from.And an outdoor patio that you can sit in and drink and socialize with the locals..And the bartenders are the best!! Mr. Matty will tell you all the best restaurants and stores in the city,he seems to be a vault of local knowledge.The one young lady Theresa is the friendliest person you have ever met.And her smile just brightens up the world.And the owner seems to find the best bands around to play. This is a must see tavern. read more

Lots of beers on top but not a whole lot that was really grabbing me... Was here during Halloween weekend so it was pretty busy and I may not have got the feel of what it's like on a typical Saturday night, but it didn't seem like it was anything too special. If I was in Dubuque I'd come back but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. read more

Great beer/cider selection,good selection of music playing, laid back feel. They lose a star for being cash only, but it was a funky place (in a good way), and I could see this being where we go to hang out when we feel like going to a bar. read more

First to note - no longer a cash-only bar. I've used my debit card each time I've gone. 1) Hard to find unless you know where to look - it's in the basement of a restaurant and doesn't have an easy-to-see sign on the street. 2) If I'm going to go out and drink in Dubuque I will go here because it's one of the few bars that has a good craft beer selection. However the beer is limited to a single distributor which is unfortunate - it means multiple taps given to breweries which limits the range (I guess I was spoiled in Cedar Rapids which has several good beer bars). And they need to clean their lines more - the first time I went the Matilda I ordered smelled like a dirty diaper. 3) Recently went for a local folk act - it was a good venue to listen for music but hard to see the band unless you wanted to stand right in front. read more

The bartender is a joke! Rude beyond means. I asked for a drink apparently not served and he rolled his eyes and said ask again. Then his buddies all show up and is way more concerned with their rude and loud behavior. We are trying to watch a band....hello! The two different taps I tired tasted terrible! Then the second band comes on and he cares more about the front row than his customers. Terrible service...amazing music..amazing atomosphire ..take your pick! read more

So many nooks and crannies. The ambiance is amazing especially when trying to get hopped up enough to make bad decisions and you want people not to see you. read more

Great bar. Good food. Do downstairs to this place and you'll feel like you are in the shoot em up bar scene from "Inglorious Basterds". Perfect place to have a drink with your buddies or a very cool girl that doesn't mind the feel of a rock wall basement with great atmosphere read more

The only bar that I would go to in Dubuque, IA. Great music and atmosphere.

The Busted Lift used to be an awesome bar with a good selection of whatever you want, great clientele, and good service. I was there the first day it opened and have had great times there over the years, but with the change of ownership it is TERRIBLE. Its very "clicky" and if your not in that group the service is beyond poor, quite literally the bar tender has no experience and actually makes fun of and pushes clientele to leave. I'll never go back and in talking with my friends they are ALL saying they have had the same experiences since the change of ownership. By all means check it out for yourself. read more