I love this place. Unfortunately I don't make it here as often as I would like since it isn't super close to where I live. The vibe is just so great. I feel instantly relaxed when I enter. It is like going to your really cool, eccentric friend's house and drinking in their eclectically decorated basement bar room. They always have some great taps on offer. And if you get hungry you can order in a pizza from Falbo Bros next door. The music is also great and at the perfect volume. Honestly just a great place to have a drink and unwind. read more

Simply put: Fantastic. I remember going in there about a year and a half ago with a couple of friends, right when they opened--we were the only people in there! I'm thrilled to see them doing so well! Incredible beer selection (uh...Hopslam and Hop Head Red on tap?! Count me in!) and plenty of impromptu mini-concerts--like their second-Wednesday-of-the-month Bluegrass Night make it a must-visit venue. Bartenders are excellent, everyone who goes there is excellent, and the venue is outstanding. I may live up near the capitol, but I'm always happy to schlep down to The Mason for a bit of booze and some Bluegrass! read more

There is something undeniably cool about this bar. It's got a je ne sais quoi quality about it that makes it very original yet very local and familiar at the same time. It's quite unassuming from the outside and unassuming even when you step inside but there's a certain amount of quirk that comes from the details. Beer selection is wide and varied for a small place like this. This place is so unironically cool, man. Ugh. read more

I consider myself lucky to live within walking distance of one of my favorite bars in Madison. Coincidence? Oddly enough, not. The ambiance is great for catching up with friends or for a cozy date night. Dimly lit but not dark, lively enough but not obnoxious. You don't have to worry about your barmates getting distracted by tv's, but they certainly could be by the eclectic decor. Every time I'm in here I notice something I didn't see before, the colorful paint can lids hanging from a branch, neckties as wall art, a bobbing lil' head that rises and falls when the bathroom door opens. You know, the usual stuff. The staff is friendly and knowedgable, they have a very nice scotch & bourbon list and are able to offer great recommendations. If you roll in here around 10pm on a weekend you'll be hard pressed to find a seat and there's not a ton of standing-around room. I'm definitely looking forward to the summer when their outdoor back patio opens up (although I believe they also close it up on the early side, perhaps 10pm, due to being in a residential area). BOTTOM LINE: Great service, drinks & ambiance. Even if I didn't live around the corner, It would be a safe bet that you could find me here. read more

Happy to be the first to review the new small and cozy bar near the corner of Park and W Wash. Official opening is Tuesday April 6th, but I got a brief preview today. What a huge upgrade over what this place used to be. The owner-operator Bryan has done a fantastic job revitalizing this historic bar into a hip yet unpretentious gathering place. Nice craft beer and wine selection with a few cocktail and scotch options. Worth a look for sure. read more

The Mason Lounge - The Mason Chicken - Lounges Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Offers a great selection of taps ranging from all over the U.S. Many other local beer bars tend to focus solely on Wisconsin beers, which is fine, but its nice to have a Madison beer bar that refuses to only offer state brews. Often rotating between such offerings as Founders, Dogfishead, Upland, and Bear Republic, among others. Bottle selection is good too. Liquor selection looks solid but i'm not much of a liquor drinker so i can't really tell. Ok wine selection for non beer and liquor drinkers. The highlight of the place is really the interior. Cool atmosphere with an intriguing design style. Tenders seem to be fairly knowledgable and helpful. Good prices as well. I recommend stopping in if you like craft beer and are in the area. read more

I happened upon Mason's when walking to Inka Heritage down South Park and am so glad I did. While not super-extensive, the beer and whiskey/scotch menus were concise, and I mean this as a total compliment. No extraneous garbage beer, all great options complimenting a comfy, well-thought out interior. read more

This place is a fantastic hole in the wall. Great beer and wine selection, great atmosphere, the staff was really accommodating. Went there around 5 on a weeknight and there were mostly "regulars" sitting at the bar, which I always love to see. It could only get better if they served some appetizers. I will be coming back! read more

Great bar with a huge selection of craft beers that changes from week to week. Really, this place is awesome: a gem tucked far away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Madison. The ambiance is best described as quirky, relaxed, and cozy. The bar decorations are pretty amusing (a bobs hanging from the ceiling that go up and down when certain doors open, a hen roosting above the bar, etc), and the bartenders are cool. The only problem is seating. It's a fairly small place so it fills up fast. read more

This is an amazing place. The beer list is phenomenal, changes all the time and has a great mix of local and national selections. The atmosphere is warm and quirky in a way that feels incredibly genuine. The bartenders are incredible and make everyone feel welcome. No kitchen but delicious pizza from next door and also goldfish crackers! Best bar in Madison. read more

This is one of my favorite bars in Madison. I love the jazz ensemble on Tuesdays and the beer list is varied and comes with a very knowledgeable bar staff. I like a place that can confidently recommend something. There is just enough quirkiness and no bullshit. It is comfortable and cozy and I feel like there quite possibly is a hidden passageway in there I might get a glimpse of if I play my cards right. read more

Great relaxed atmosphere. Fantastic beer selections and the bartender was amazing at offering suggestions based on our preferences. Quirky decor and a great variety of people to keep things interesting. It's become our favorite bar in Madison. read more

From lemon drop to IPA, this place is the real deal!

Excellent tap beer selection, including several European and West Coast beers (e.g. Franziskaner and Rogue). Very good bourbon selection as well and the pours are not stingy. Best of all, it's a perfect place for a conversation. Even as it fills up, it is not too loud to hear your friends (cf. The Coopers Tavern which is often deafening). The decor is just right, comfortable and not fancy. Couches and armchairs are a nice touch. According to the Cap Times review they close 90 minutes before bar time, so don't go after midnight. read more

1 bartender at 9:30 pm on a Saturday? Not impressed. Good beer selection but that doesn't help if you can't get your paws on one of them.

This is a real American bar. Great music, decor, lighting and of course cocktails. If in Madison, it's not to be missed.

Favorite bar in Madison. Vast beer selection, delicious drinks made to perfection, interesting decor sans television, lovely outdoor patio, exceptional staff, above average music, great prices, Falbos is next door read more

This place is awesome. Live music, relaxing atmosphere, and a great place to have a good time with friends. Go there and give them all your hard-earned money, because you'll like what you get in return. And you can get Falbo Sticks delivered to your seat? As if it could get any better than that. read more

Yelp claims: "Outdoor Seating: No." The Internet is a den of lies, don't trust it!! I too thought the Mason didn't have outdoor seating and wasted two whole summers avoiding it on this account. In fact, they have a wonderful little back patio/beer garden with picnic tables. read more

What a great addition to the neighborhood! While the Rustic Tavern may have it's time and place, The Mason Lounge is a quirky, comfortable, and classy place to get a glass of wine, hard to find beer (Magic Hat #9 on tap?!), and a nice selection of bourbon and scotch to boot. The bartender was knowledgeable and friendly without being pushy. I will definitely be going back. read more

Went on a Thursday night for an hr. Great atmosphere and service. I loved the home-y feeling, perfect for catching up with friends. Good beer selection. read more

Rotating beer menu is nice. The atmosphere is the real draw - you're stepping into the set of a Wes Anderson movie when you visit.

By far one of the coolest places in town. The beer selection is fantastic, bar staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the vibe is fantastic. Check out the cool patio out back! read more

This place is the first place I've given 5 stars to. I don't give these out lightly. The Mason is a great mix of atmosphere and nicely curated list of craft beers. The place is dark and has hand-picked furniture and art, and hosts a couple of live events each week. There's a nice little patio in the back, as well. It is the perfect (as far as I'm concerned) combination of dingy, post-industrial Chiquita and thoughtfully selected craft beers. Also, there are no TV's, which makes it a bad place to watch 'the game', but a great place for a conversation. Gold Fish crackers available for a nominal fee; you can bring in pizza from Falbo Bro.'s. read more

I am giving this place 5 stars ONLY because the bartender Crystal there was the best bartender I have ever had. She was attentive and made us some of the best drinks I and my friend have ever had. Sadly she left and a bearded bartender took her place who was anything but nice, I would definitely stay if Crystal was there. If you see a. guy with a beard... Just leave he won't give you the time of day. read more

just heard of it and have to stop in, for sure. Was @ the Nitty Gritty for a b 'day mug, while Alex spoke of this place!!!!!!!

I like The Mason Lounge so much that I not only made it the location for episode 1 of my new web series BEER PEOPLE, I named the episode after the lounge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UhYWeYSi-o read more

Unless you've been tipped off before walking in the door, you'll likely be quite surprised (in a good way) when walking in off noisy and not-so-scenic South Park into the Mason. Great tap selection (with a few I haven't seen elsewhere in Madison) and also an interesting and solid booze menu. Super comfortable, friendly bartender, eclectic and fresh music selection. Was too quiet considering it was a Friday night, although things picked up a little around 11. I'm hoping that local loyalty and word-of-mouth will allow the Mason to survive longer than previous bars in this location. read more

this bar is great. it's cozy and divey and not crowded... and all of those things considered, they have a pretty solid beer list. i was so stoked to see magic hat #9 on tap! i love the quirky art and installations on the walls and around the bar. i really like this place and will definitely be back. read more

My local watering hole. I've been coming to this quirky lounge for several years since I moved to Madison. It's safe to say this is by far one of my favorite bars in Madison. Live jazz on Tuesdays and other folk/bluegrass music on select Wednesdays with special shows occurring occasionally. Very interesting decor, I always notice something new when I go there. Be sure to keep your eyes on the trinkets above the bar that are attached to strings the move when people open doors. Beer selection is incredible with a rotating tap list (maybe 60-70 different beers available). They also have board games and cards you can play with at the end of the bar. Beautiful beer garden behind the bar that almost seems like a secret. It's usually a one man/woman show in terms of service, but they always get your orders in on a timely manner and rarely have to ask for your name twice. All in all a hidden gem in Madison. You won't be disappointed. read more

This is a sweet spot in Madison if you like beer! The space is great for hanging out, and you can even play the games they have in the corner, or bring your own cribbage board. They have rotating taps, and seem to always feature a beer I've never tried before. They do not have food, but you can always get delicious pizza from Falbo's next door. read more

really great beer bar. If I were trying to design a place, it has a lot of the features I would want - great beer list, decent prices, great atmosphere, unobtrusive but cool music. The only problem is this place hasn't been discovered yet, but honestly is that even a problem? It's probably the best place I've found to unwind and have a drink in the Vilas neighborhood without having to deal with undergrads or hipsters. read more

Nice chill bar. Away from the hoi polloi. Good selection of whiskey and beer (rotates). Lemon drop is very good too. Good atmosphere, can get loud as the night goes on. read more

Great atmosphere, good beer selection, yummy snacks, and friendly bartenders. Will definitely be recommending this place and coming back.

This place has the best beer selection on tap on the west side of Madison with an ever changing, hand picked selection of great micro-brews from around the country. Prices are good and the service is great and friendly. The atmosphere is relaxed and a good place for talking with some friends or meeting new people as the music is never cranked up to where you can't hear people talk. read more

It's simply a great bar. Great staff that are both skilled and genuinely friendly, superb drink choices in both beers/wine and liquor, and a chill atmosphere that provides a space to connect with people. Best bar in town. read more

Great tap selection -- several beers that are hard to find elsewhere, and served out of mason jars! Cool decor, comfortable seating, A/C in the summer. Overall really great place to grab a glass of beer or wine. read more

A great bar you probably haven't heard of. Couches, good music, great ambience, and excellent selection of beers on tap (most served ice cold in a mason jar). NO pretentions, just a cool place to hang out. Can actually have a conversation with some friends there. read more

Great cozy feel and great beer list. Much cooler inside than you would think from seeing the outside.

We went to the Mason last night for the first time, and as the other posters say, the atmosphere is great. I love the decor, and the selection of drinks is good - excellent tap beers and everything seemed very reasonable. The service last night however, was AWFUL. We sat at the bar, and were basically ignored by the bartender the entire night. We always tip well and we weren't ordering anything annoying to make (i.e. bloody marys). We make eye contact and say hello & please/thankyou rather than just rattling off demands, so I don't think any of our behaviors should have pissed the guy off. He seemed much more interested in hanging with his pals at the other end of the bar. When a friend came to join us, we had to try to get his attention to get served... repeatedly. it was not that busy, either. I will try this place one more time in the hopes that it was an isolated incident... because in other ways it is the perfect place to meet for drinks and I really enjoyed the music selections and the fact that there was no irritating television. read more