Downtown MKE is very walkable, and the Pfister Lobby Lounge was the location for a nightcap cocktail. The bartop was busy as expected, so we sat at the lounge tables. The Pfister team had a portable TV set up for World Cup viewing which made for a celebratory scene. We ended up relocating to the bar, and Cesar and Terrel deftly served us cocktails/wine. The GF recalled that they served a salty bar snack on a previous visit, and the bar team obliged. The hotel lobby is a historic wonder of Milwaukee, and has classy energy. read more

The Lobby Lounge - Barrel-Aged Manhattan & a Rose - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I would stop in here for a drink or lite bite even if I wasn't staying here, but honestly why wouldn't I be staying here? The brandy old fashioneds are perfection, but tonight our waitress, Sarah, who remembered us and our orders from last night let me know they started a seasonal drink menu so I'm having a Winter Solstice Mule! read more

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I've always loved the Pfister, with its charm and history. Every part of the lobby is gorgeous and the lobby bar is a great place to observe it all. We stopped in on a chilly day in December to get some after work drinks, and really enjoyed the beautiful Christmas tree and people watching as we sipped. The staff was all friendly and helped us make our drink decisions, I enjoyed the pumpkin chai martini and some Parmesan fries. Everything was delicious and we will definitely be back for more! read more

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Very nice ambience! Wings were really good I requested them crispy with the mustard sauce on the side since I wanted to try the sauce but wasn't sure if I'd like it. Sauce was good and I recommend the wings! I also recommend the Brussel sprouts VERY good! I've never had Brussels before but my friend got them so I tried them SO GOOD! Didn't get a photo but get the Brussels for sure!! Service was great as well! read more

The Lobby Lounge - Wings requested crispy with mustard sauce on the side. - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Our absolute favorite place to celebrate our December 22nd anniversary. Such beautiful ambiance.... so festive and cozy. Great food! Fun drinks! And great service..... Sarah J was wonderful! read more

Friendly staff with pretty quick service. They have an outstanding selection of whiskeys. Unless it is packed to the gills, it is a pretty comfortable atmosphere. There was a conference earlier in the week, so it was packed for a couple nights. Overall, good lounge with a decent food menu. read more

One of my favorite places to hang out. I always bring guests here if they have not been before. It's a great place to kill time before an event. I love Blu (and the view) upstairs, but the lobby is more relaxed and has more food options. We got a cheese board, hibiscus jalapeño margarita, and an old fashioned this time around and everything was wonderful as usual. The service is usually good unless they are short staffed - I have only experienced that once. Usually there is a piano player adding to the charm. The Pfister is always gorgeous (especially around the holidays), and the people watching is supreme! read more

The Lobby Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I had heard that the Pfister elegantly decorates for the holidays and so planned a girls evening with my mom here right before Christmas. Our plan was to get a massage and then enjoy a cocktails and some light bites here. What a lovely evening we enjoyed at the Pfister's Lobby Lounge! The Lobby Lounge mixes up beautifully rendered, top shelf cocktails in an exquisite setting. We also ordered (and split) their cobb salad, which was everything a cobb salad ought to be and more (beautifully fresh and ample) and is served with a lovely creamy dill dressing. As we enjoyed the classic, upscale atmosphere, the lobby pianist played a variety of holiday tunes. There were some hiccups in the service (slow, and perhaps understaffed for the evening)...but, all in all, it was exactly the sort of evening we were hoping for. Get to it! read more

The Lobby Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The lobby lounge in the pfister hotel is swanky, a great place to people watch, and cozy. It has an array of leather chairs, couches and small tables, a fire place and a man playing piano too. It was a perfect little lounge, but it's open so we could also see the people coming in and out. Service was good. Cocktails were a little pricy but were also strong and tasty. We stayed for a drink before going out to dinner and really enjoyed ourselves! read more

The Lobby Lounge - Delicious cocktail! - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I love this place. Reminds me of loitering in the lobby of the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago years ago. I like to decompress with a newspaper (a real paper newspaper, a quaint old way of getting information...actually getting information is kind of quaint nowadays, isn't it?) and either a coffee or a scotch depending on what time of day it is. I get my shoes shined first at the Allen Edmonds, in the evenings there's a piano player (a real human being) and to me, this is often the best part of my week. Of course I'm incredibly well bred so I'm not sure if you'll have the same experience. read more

The Lobby Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The Lobby Lounge is excessive ambiance at it's best. Swanky and just plain decadent are some words that come to mind. In particular the Holiday's spark the best times to enjoy the sprawl this place serves up. Leather chairs and sofas are strewn across this area and it is comfy as can be. A piano sits in the lounge area and it is played for all to enjoy, really divine if you ask me. There is also a massive fireplace that adorns the interior of the Lobby Lounge. On the particular Saturday we came in we enjoyed this space and had more than a few libations while people watching and indulging in a laugh or two. Something so grand about the age and solid foundation of the Pfister. While people lined up at the elevator to get up to Blu I was happy as a clam in a shell to be downstairs enjoying the simplicity and sheer elegance of the Lobby Lounge. Great place to stop in before you head out on the town. Service is spot on and the view is one of a kind! read more

The Lobby Lounge - The bar of course! - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Given I was staying upstairs at The Pfister, I decided to keep dinner pretty simple and just grab a bite downstairs in the lobby lounge here. On a weekday night, while there were always folks in the lounge, it never got anything close to packed (although the bar, being only 6 chairs or so, was full most of the time I was there). With ample space in the lobby, I had my choice of tables to pick out. Service was pretty solid, with my order being taken quickly, as well as food and drink being brought out in a timely fashion. While they do serve cocktails here, don't look for anything too fancy - the menu options are all classics - and I found my Bees Knees to be too gin-forward, which really dilutes the rest of the ingredients (particularly the honey) and makes the drink feel like it's thrown together a bit too quickly. As for the food, I found it to be alright, if not all that memorable. The crab croquettes are basically like crab cakes shaped like smaller arancini; I liked the crispiness on the outside, and the crab meat tasted pretty good, but the white dipping sauce was very plain. I did the burger for my main, and while it was filling, I felt it was pretty average and not all that memorable. I went with a side salad, and that too was pretty standard as well. The vibe at the lounge is nice and relaxed, and once you get past 9 PM, having a little live piano music matches the retro ambiance that the Pfister generally projects. That said, it's a nice place to catch up over low background sound than it is a spot that will blow you away with its food and drink selection. It's convenient to those staying at the hotel, but, being someone who has not had the opportunity to explore much else of what Milwaukee has to offer, I would probably check out something else next time. read more

Man, do I love a swanky hotel bar - the Peninsula and Palmer House in Chicago are favorites. The Pfister Has two great bars - Blu and the Lobby Lounge - which are worth a stop even if you live in the city. The Lobby Lounge is small, with a clubby library-esque feel. There's a big fireplace which would be lovely to relax in front of during the winter. We chose to sit at the bar which was tended by two genuinely hospitable bartenders. Our cocktails (Moscow Mule and Old Fashioned) were made correctly and were very tasty. Prices are in the $9-10 range which is pricey but not out of line considering the location (and they come with free snacks!). It's a great spot for a before or after dinner drink. read more

My favorite Bloody Mary in town and favorite place to sit by a fire and feel classier than I really am. read more

The Lobby Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Classy, Sophisticated, and Elegant. These are three words I think of when I am sitting in the Lobby Lounge at The Pfister. I love sitting at the small bar, enjoying a glass of wine, chatting with hotel guests visiting Milwaukee and listening to their outstanding Pianist. The coolest thing is that they do all this without any pretense. Everyone is welcome here...T-Shirts and Jeans sitting next to Suits and Ties. The Lobby Lounge also has a fairly extensive food selection that includes everything from Zaffiro's Pizzas to Classic Shrimp Cocktail to A Cheese Burger with Sweet Potato Fries. During my last visit Joni the bartender was friendly, funny and extremely customer service orientated. I ordered a glass of Cava. I was chatting with another patron at the Bar when I heard the cork pop. A few seconds later I heard another cork pop and she poured my glass. When I asked why she opened two bottles, she said that she didn't think the first one was the right temperature. I was very impressed by this. Most bartenders probably would've just poured the first one figuring I would just drink it anyway. The Lobby Lounge is on the first floor of The Pfister Hotel, just to the right of the main entrance. It is spacious and very wheelchair friendly. read more

We hit up the lobby for a drink before dinner. The bar offering is pretty robust and they do bring salty snacks to munch on while you wait. There was a beautiful fireplace and piano man playing old tunes and a crept bust of Mr. Pfizer on the piano. The clientele consisted of many septuagenarians, so I felt very young. And lost Ina bit of a time warp. But the place was cozy, there were beautiful couples in love and a two story Christmas tree that warmed my heart so I am giving it an extra star! read more

The Pfister Hotel's Lobby Lounge is like an escape into another time. You can walk in off the busy city street, gawk for a moment at the ceiling in the hotel lobby, which is absolutely stunning, and then move right into the Lobby Lounge which is immediately relaxing with plush chairs, sofas, and a fireplace. This is a historic hotel, so you'll see beautiful artwork, sculptures and a wonderful old grandfather clock. You're likely to be waited on by a cocktail waitress who has been working at this hotel for decades and they have many great stories. I love the little trio of snack mix they provide complimentary. (Of course you are paying for it when you see the drink prices.) The shining star here is the pianists. Sitting at the baby grand in a tuxedo, they might look a bit stuffy, but they are so personable and really interact with the patrons. The other night we had such a great conversation with Dan Albrechtson. Not only is he a very talented pianist, but he knew so much about artists, composers, music styles and famous Milwaukeeans. You never know who you might see at The Pfister Hotel. This is one of the best places in the city for people watching as many of the performers, sports stars and politicians stay at the hotel. If they aren't walking past in the lobby, they might be sitting at the next table or perhaps the next bar stool. It wasn't that long ago, I was sitting next to Harry Connick Jr at the bar, who was enjoying the music. read more

I've mentioned in a previous review that every time I go to Milwaukee for business (about once or twice a year) I stay at the Pfister. The lobby lounge is a great place to sit and enjoy a glass of wine with co-workers, chat with the bartender, and enjoy a snack. You might also run into a basketball, baseball, or football player, depending on what season you're in. Heck, I was staying there while Johnny Depp and Christian Bale were in town shooting Public Enemies... I spent a lot of time in the lobby lounge trying to catch a glimpse. (I have no shame.) The atmosphere is beautiful, but not pretentious. Everyone is welcome, and the staff at the Pfister is personable and friendly. They are used to having people from my industry and company, and know that we frequently come in from out of town. I look forward to enjoying a drink there soon! read more

Incredible cocktails and wonderful bites! The staff is extremely professional and pleasant. Especially Adam, the bartender! He treated us like royalty and made us the best manhattans we have ever had in our entire lives. Plus he is EXTREMELY good looking. I recommend it. A+ read more

We stopped in every evening for drinks & snacks. It's right off the lobby, so it's nice to able to enjoy the architectural details of the magnificent lobby. The service was excellent & the drinks were great! read more

The Lobby Lounge - Yummmm! A great chocolate martini! - Lounges Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Classy spot, knowledgable interesting bar tenders, live piano in the evenings! Great cocktails from scratch, including their bloody. Great place to relax and mingle with interesting folks from all over the world and Wisconsin. You might even see some sports players and celebrities as they ALL stay at the Pfister whenever in town. read more

Try the Bloody Mary's I like mine without the alcohol but it is wonderful. That is the only Bloody Mary I found that has the full garnishments. I like to take the drink in slowly and look at the fine details of the lobby's ceiling. Just sitting there peaceful and unwind after a long week is great. read more

Great place to warm up; cool down; kill some time between meetings; listen to some live piano; enjoy a nice drink or great coffee. Grand old hotel - great service - and very comfortable. Large gas fireplace in lobby. And they allow dogs to stay. Great hotel nearby lots of Milwaukee fun. read more

Five stars for Valerie alone.....I would add more for Dr. Hollander playing "Rhapsody in Blue" during a Gershwin medley if I could!!!

The lounge and Essie (Ellie??) saved me and my friend from the remnants of a poor dinner nearby at Zanetti. We came here for champagne and dessert for my birthday. It was a delightful way to end the evening. I was treated to chocolate cake and a round of the birthday song... Yea! Thank you! read more

If you are looking to spend $10 on a cocktail, this is your place! The perfect spot to seen and be seen at the Pfister. Good late night menu for when you stumble back to the hotel with the munchies. read more

This has become my favorite stop immediately after checking into the Hotel Pfister. I just love how comfortable every area is. I have been here with a group of 6 and as a couple. I have enjoyed both. I think what makes this hotel lobby the best is a combination of things. First, the staff is excellent. They are well trained and amiable. Second, the surroundings are oppulent. While most hotels try to look oppulent, this hotel actually is. Real marble, real wood, real fireplaces, real brass, etc. Your eyes will notice the difference even if you can't quite figure out why it seems so much more pleasant. Every place I have sat has been extremely comfortable. Third, the food and drink selections are delightful. Even a simple cup of hot tea seems more pleasant when served with real china, spoon, hot water in a glass carafe, etc. The complimentary snack mix is served in a silver bowl and refreshed quickly by watchful staff. My husband loved The Pfister Burger he ordered, it came with Brie cheese, yum. Last, the ambiance is perfect. The piano music, the fire, the hustle of guests arriving and yet none of it is ever too loud. You can hear the murmurings of people talking around you, but you can't hear what they are saying, so it feels very private at your own table even though tables and couches are seemingly close together. It's cozy and private all at the same time, which is why the ambiance is so nice. I can not wait to go back. read more

We live in the Third Ward, thought it would be nice to ride the Hop over to the Pfister and have a drink in the lobby lounge on the Sunday evening before Christmas. The Lounge was packed, but we were able to get a table rather quickly. That was the only positive of our 20-minute experience. The table we sat at was piled high with glasses and dishes. We never once got an acknowledgement from wait staff that they knew we were there and waiting to be served. To our horror we listened as the group next to us couldn't get their wine delivered because when the waitress arrived, she couldn't remember which wine was which and had to return to the bar to be reminded. We counted one bartender and 2 servers total on this busy holiday evening -- no management of the chaos in sight. We left after 20 minutes and were embarrassed to think of the number of out-of-town visitors who were having the same experience we did. The next night we could not help but contrast this to a delightful stop in the bar at the Ambassador in Chicago. It was Christmas Eve, the bar and adjoining restaurant were packed, but there were an abundance of cheerful servers, the mood was festive and the service was very welcoming. read more

Favorite downtown Milwaukee hang out. Great service. Good beer selection. More lite fare options than Blu which is upstairs. Good place for afterwork gathering to catch up with colleagues. read more