Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

Another great bar I recommend in the Lake Geneva area! This place is a popping live bar and it has…read morea lot of fun things going on here. When me and my friends entered they had a scavenger hunt going on that needed to be completed and we were being targeted by all the fun shenanigans. I thought whoever created it was pretty engaging and it was perfect for a fun late night experience. Security team is really cool and laid back unlike some of the bars we visited throughout the night! There's even no cover fee which is even better! The bartenders here were very fun and social. I regret not staying here and coming back but we will all return next year

The perfect not-too-uppity cocktail bar for a night cap! Staff was quick and friendly enough!…read moreDrinks were tasty and affordable. No tvs. Live music many nights. Not great for a large group as most tables hold 4. Probably 10 tables in the whole place, and bar seats. Highly recommend!

Bar

See all

Flat Iron Tap

4.3(408 reviews)

So yummy! Great service and steak sandwich was fantastic. Little wait was worth it. Burger was…read morefab.

5 years later and this place is still amazing. I am a self proclaimed burger snob and the burger…read morehere just hits! Food is amazing. Service is amazing. End of story!

Cool ambiance at the bar!

Van Helsing Burger

See all

Cheese curds

Topsy Turvy Brewery

4.2(86 reviews)

0.0 mi

Happily stumbled upon this place while traipsing around downtown Geneva. Located in an actual…read moreformer church and across the street from an actual church. Feel good vibes inside. Top notch friendly staffers. Large list of beer with fun names that are uniquely delicious. Definitely a fun stop and will go again.

Great place to stop in for a cold beer. It's in an old church with some pretty nice stained glass…read more They have a nice outside seating area for people watching. Definitely will stop in again next time I'm in Lake Geneva.

Asmodeus Chocolate Stout

Such a cute space

See all

Main area

Geneva Taphouse

4.3(47 reviews)

0.0 mi

One of the last bars we checked out in the area before we left. This is not really a late night…read moreestablishment for those that want to bar hop. What I like about this place is that firstly it hosts many sorts of events. We weren't here late at night but we came here the morning after check out some of the vendors being featured here. The fact that it's dog friendly was even better . I like that you're able to charge by the ounce at this place. There's even food featured here too and a pretty fair price . I tried a few of the hard ciders that were featured here since I've never had that before and I'm basically hooked on their product. Bars like this are just pretty engaging. Great outdoor seating and very clean restrooms! Great place to try an array of new drinks!

Nice pour yourself taproom located in downtown Lake Geneva. I always love this style of place,…read morewhere you can try as much as you want of something and not have to pay for a full glass. While most places give you a card that you scan at each tap, this place uses a small fob. Same concept, just different product. Even better, with this one, while they have lots of beer choices, and I got to try 3 new ones, they also have several non beer options to choose from, like ciders and wine and others. Always good to have an option for non beer fans. There was plenty of seating space, both indoor and outdoor. It's located just across the street from Topsy Turvy brewing, so a good 1-2 punch to hit both for craft beer fans in town.

Another view of the inside

See all

All the different glasses to choose from

Hogs & Kisses

3.2(108 reviews)

Last time I was here was probably 20 years ago! It was just…read moreas much fun last night as it was back then. Small dance floor, but if you are in the mood to dance, do not pass this place up (after 9pm).

Fun! Great drinks. A lot of bachelorette parties, location, great music, energy cranking on the…read moredance floor.

See all

Barrique Wine & Brew Bar

3.6(321 reviews)

We stopped in for drinks after lunch at Oakfire, and overall had a pleasant experience. The…read morewaitstaff was attentive, friendly, and quick to bring everything we requested. The only disappointment was overhearing members of the waitstaff speaking negatively about customers to the hostess. The conversation was loud enough that I could clearly hear it while sitting on the outdoor patio. While I understand that every job has its challenging moments, those conversations are best kept out of earshot of guests, as they can detract from an otherwise enjoyable experience. Aside from that, our visit was enjoyable, and that's the one area I would recommend improving.

We were out in the pursuit of some seafood, and we found Barrique near Lake Geneva. It's a small…read moreand quaint place facing the lake. The food was fantastic and they had wine for $5 a glass. We had ordered a soup flight (bisque, chilli), flatbread with burrata, crab cake, lobster roll and a poke bowl. The only dish that disappointed me a bit was the rice bowl - I had a poke bowl in mind, but you have to order the fish separately, which defeats the entire purpose of a poke bowl. There was more rice than toppings, and the dish overall felt a bit dry. Everything else was pretty good. No complaints. Service was good. Overall a decent experience.

Restroom

Soup flight

See all

Poke bowl

Lake City Social

4.0(202 reviews)

0.2 mi

Very nice location on the beautiful lake with great all-American food. The steak and sides were all…read moredelicious and so was the Caesar salad. Everyone's favorite were the yummy cheese curds that come with marinara and ranch sauces. Everyone enjoyed their dinner and I would come back here the next time I'm on the lake. Service was great especially for being able to take care of a large group. They even have a few slot machines which cracked me up.

We had a short wait on a busy Friday (summer) evening. Our waitress was kind and efficient…read more My wife had the Side Salad, topped with bacon, onions, tomatoes and Parmesan dressing. I had the Friday special: baked haddock. The meal came with five tasty pieces of fish, rice, coleslaw, and rye bread. Both meals were very tasty and reasonably priced. The restaurant was packed, filled with excitement. Our waitress checked on us three times during our meal. Highly recommended!

Bar area

Friday Fish Fry

See all

Entrance to parking lot

House of Bogini

4.7(89 reviews)

Peruvian wings. Great salad and two giant wings. Shared with Wifey and a bottle of a reasonably…read morepriced bottle of wine. Perfect light lunch. Bob Ross on TV over the bar. Mesmerizing.! Decor was really cool (Euro-ish) so was the music in background. Want to come back for more. Server never stopped smiling.

House of Bogini was a mixed bag, but mostly a great experience…read more Service: Excellent throughout the night. Attentive but also relaxed. Ambiance: Ambiance and restaurant decor was one of the highlights of the night in my opinion. Lots of neat items and decor - interesting glasses, art, couches/chairs, leather menus, etc. Food: We had the Peruvian chicken wings and the wagyu beef tacos. I thought the Peruvian chicken wing dish was quite good - 9/10. The chicken was very flavorful and the salad was a decent size and tasted good. The wagyu tacos in my opinion was underwhelming for sure. It really tasted like pretty bland meat and the tortilla chips on the side were almost guaranteed straight from a bag (Aldi blue corn tortilla chips if I had to guess ). I wouldn't personally recommend the tacos. If I were to go again, I'd get the chicken wings again, and get the hangover salad instead of the tacos. Drinks: We had the coconut cocktail, the cucumber cocktail, and I had a beer from Nicaragua. All were tasty, albeit definitely lacking punch, i.e. I couldn't actually tell you with a fact if they contained alcohol. The Nicaraguan beer was super light and I liked it. There was a beer from Czechia but it was out of stock.

Bar inside of Bogini.

Mexican pizza and wagyu beef tacos!

See all

French Lager Krobenbourg 1664

Champs Sports Bar & Grill

2.8(229 reviews)

Went here with four grandkids. We took them out to the bar outside. The daytime bartender was very…read moreaccommodating. Somehow, our grandkids finagled beef sticks from her. She taught to them like they were adults. Would definitely come back!!

It's hard for me to leave a 1-star rating, but this establishment earned that right. Extremely rude…read moreservice. Waiter was as uncaring a you could find. Restrooms were disgusting. Appears there are no corporate standards applicable to this venue. Unfortunately, I can not recommend even a little bit.

Bar area

Nachos

See all

The Bottle Shop

4.7(102 reviews)

0.2 mi

Very cute spot on Main St! Had a nice glass of wine and wish I would have tasted more but I wasn't…read moretraveling with wine drinkers so I will be back! Also loved the stand up comedy club event we attended in the attached theater. Very fun place!

This is a cute wine shop. The ambiance gives you a cabin vibe with a fireplace, lots of sitting…read morespace with tables and sofas. They have board games and magazines to keep you occupied. The wine tasting is great. You can pick between dry sweet or a mimosa flight. I loved the red wine I had I bought it. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the wines they sale.

Wine flight

Patio w live music

See all

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

17 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Mary T.

0

2

0

11 years ago

Has to be the friendliest bar in lake Geneva!! In the daytime at least!! Only bar in town that makes a lemon shake up and it was outstanding! I saw all the past reviews and was hesitant but soon realized that the reviews were from before the new owners took over. Let me just say.. Thumbs up is all NEW AND IMPROVED! clean.. Organized and professional. I couldn't believe the assortment of spirits! What ever you like to drink they probably can make it! We had the coolest girl behind the bar who was also the manager.. She was pleasant and knowledgeable about her bar!! We even helped her try out a few new recipes for her summer drink menu.. That made our day!! A cucumber cooler? Wow! Best drink I've ever tried and week be coming back for more!! Give the new thumbs up a try and you won't go to another bar in town! They even have karaoke and live bands now. Very very pleased with our experience!! Well done new owners! read more

Bob A.

17

7

41

15 years ago

I was in town last month and missed Mike who I haven't seen in 42 years...lol Then there's was Bill Baroney, and John Rewald, and, I couldn't find them either. Then there was old goody, piper, angie, shawn, nick a. and ann zingle.. and the venture over to popeye's was empty handed....I felt like I was in some time-warp....but had to venture back to San Diego with a surprise find here! This turned out to be a great visit as I met a cutie at Thumbs Up and now she's here with me in San Diego...and will permanently move here...hmmm The yaga bombers did us in though.... Long story on this one! Hey Mike.....I love those girls in your bar! Bob from 1616 Evergreen in 1970 (next to Elmer) read more

Jennifer R.

0

2

0

12 years ago

Save your money...This place smells like trash which was the perfect scent to describe the bartender. Rude from the moment we stepped in the place and then had the nerve to walk over to our table and ask if we took $20.00 from the bar. Proceeded to laugh with the rest of the patrons as a drunken idiot began accusing us of taking his money left on the bar (even though we weren't sitting at the bar all evening) Dive bar is too good of a description...this place is what you'd find at the bottom of a maggot infested garbage can. read more

Anisha K.

141

8

5

7 years ago

If I could give this bar 0 stars I would. Horrible slow service, rude bartenders & staff, bad music, & the worst of it- a staff that promotes racism & violence. To Eric the owner, Think you have me mistaken for someone else. These type of remarks are the reason my friends & I will never be coming back. read more

Tyler Marie S.

0

1

0

7 years ago

Every time I am looking to have a fun night, this is the spot! Never had a bad experience. Great service, great drinks, and just a great time! The bartenders are so fun and the absolute best. Love the themed nights and DJ Jones is AMAZING! Even on the slow nights it's always a good time! read more

Heidi M.

0

1

0

7 years ago

Stopped in for a quick drink and was rather indecisive on my drink decision but our bartender, Juliette made a few suggestions and presented me with the best Long Island and best service I've had in a long time! Great bar atmosphere! I'll definitely be back! read more

Eric D.

0

7

1

7 years ago

By far the very best bar in Lake Geneva. It's a Lake Geneva landmark that has been in business for over 50 years and is the favorite of Lake Geneva locals. Party where the locals party..There just seems to be always a crowd having a blast at Thumbs Up. read more

Ricky R.

0

1

0

7 years ago

I love the new renovations! Looks real classy! Also the staff is great and super friendly! Love their dj's, the music is always good! Beer pong and and a dance floor perfect for a great time! This bar is a must if in or near the lake Geneva area! read more

Ashley R.

0

1

0

7 years ago

If you're looking for a party Thumbs Up is the spot! Great group of bartenders, yummy drinks, and welcoming atmosphere. Fun parties on the weekend with drink specials & good music from the DJ's. There is always someone out on the dance floor! read more

Kirsten J.

0

1

4

7 years ago

Thumbs up is absolutely the BEST place to be in lake Geneva. The staff is incredible and definitely make sure you enjoy your time there. Hands down everyone's favorite bar for dancing and great drinks! read more

Steve T.

4

1

0

8 years ago

Went to go see a movie next door at the Geneva Theater. Sophia our bartender was awesome and helped make a rare night out with my brother from MKE even better! Great service, nice folks! read more

Eric D.

40

15

28

9 years ago

Best bar in Lake Geneva! This is the place where the locals hang out and that's for a good reason.. Stop by and you'll understand! :)

Paul W.

0

1

0

9 years ago

Friendly bartenders, great music and cold drinks. What more could you ask for in a bar. Always have a good time over at Thumbs Up.

nicole r.

0

1

0

1 month ago

What a joke of an establishment, over the years has been nothing but disappointing. Requests.

Jennifer P.

0

1

0

7 years ago

Kyle is the best bartender in Illinois AND Wisconsin =)))

Jonathan M.

0

25

0

15 years ago

More like Two Thumbs Down

Monica D.

0

8

0

12 years ago

Divey, cheap, stinky.

Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva - bars - Updated September 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Parking near Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

BEST of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Restaurants near Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

BEST of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Desserts near Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

BEST of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Things to Do near Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

BEST of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Coffee near Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

BEST of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Brunch near Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

BEST of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Happy Hour near Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

BEST of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Shopping near Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

BEST of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Dinner near Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

BEST of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Bowling near Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva

People found Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva by searching for…

Best of Lake Geneva

Things to do in Lake Geneva

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Thumbs Up - Lake Geneva also viewed

Evolve Bar at the Grand Geneva Resort

3.4

(17 reviews)

We met family at Grand Geneva's lobby bar over the weekend before heading on the Trolley of Lights…read moretour. The bar was very busy, which was expected for a Saturday afternoon during the holidays. I patiently waited in line for a good 20 minutes and when it was finally my turn, the bar tender made eye contact but then took the order of a male who had just approached the bar rudely between customers and when the bartender looked up at the scowl on my face, she said you're next. When she finally helped me, I ordered 3 glasses of wine, a beer and a soda. When she served the wine, they were in plastic cups and said sorry we ran out of glassware; for a place I'm paying $18/glass, you surely should've asked first before pouring into a plastic cup. I was not happy but she didn't seem to care; my card was on the bar already so she took it and away she went. I have been to Grand Geneva many times in the past, even worked there for a few years, and I expect a heck of a lot better. Very disappointing.

I enjoyed spending two days here at Grand Geneva. The Evolve Bar was my go to spot since I was…read moretraveling alone. Service was top notch! My food was always brought out quickly and well done. The drinks were all cold. The atmosphere was splendid. There was even a night they had a pianist performing. It was a fantastic getaway. I highly recommend!

Hogs & Kisses

3.2

(108 reviews)

Last time I was here was probably 20 years ago! It was just…read moreas much fun last night as it was back then. Small dance floor, but if you are in the mood to dance, do not pass this place up (after 9pm).

Fun! Great drinks. A lot of bachelorette parties, location, great music, energy cranking on the…read moredance floor.

Main Street Tap

3.8

(17 reviews)

Everyone seems to know everyone here. An average local bar. You've got your horse playing, laughs,…read morejokes, drinking. You got darts on the walll. Roll the slots and hit the tunes. It's a shame the place isn't lit enough and the sigh outside isn't as inviting as the regulars. Mostly frozen pizza for bar, food, and a full bar. Nothing too exciting here unless you're a regular. Staff was friendly and attentive. Plenty of free parking.

great service and awesome Tacos. we look to get there to try a few of their other weekly specialsread more

Pirates Cove

4.1

(53 reviews)

Went for the Friday Fish Fry! Did not disappoint.... Fish was delicious! Service was excellent and…read morethe place is decorated to match the name! People are friendly and welcoming!

A group of us (6) went for our first time tonight and everyone had a great experience. Fish fry was…read moredelicious and service was outstanding. We will definitely be going back.

Inn Between

3.9

(74 reviews)

Best bar on lake delevan Very busy in summer…read more Small menu Great service Great bartenders

Great food and absolutely wonderful staff. We love the ambiance and beautiful lake views. Indoor…read moreand outdoor seating year round!

Owl Tavern

4.3

(123 reviews)

The codfish dinner was fabulous! The ambiance was cozy & nostalgic! Per Joan, normally the Chef,…read morewas our bartender today said the original restaurant/bar was opened in 1908! We will be back

OMG!! Chef RC killing it in the kitchen. Homemade and fresh! Please bottle the ranch and tarter…read more Huge walleye! Awesome potato pancake. Pretzel roll is a welcome twist on traditional rye. Get there early or they might sell out. Walleye was out by 7pm. Curds...that pull and that ranch. Might be the best in the area. Both bartenders took great care of us as well! Parking can be a challenge. But remember to respect the homeowners and don't park in front of their driveways or garages.

Brandy's Old Fashioned

3.8

(54 reviews)

Made a last minute reservation at Brandy's and so happy we did! I would recommend reservations…read morebecause it was busy but since we were only a party of 2 and reservation was late we were thankfully able to get in. Supper club ambiance which is fantastic. We sat in bar which has great energy and a had a nice booth. Our server, Logan, was excellent. He was smart, funny, quick and the perfect amount of attentiveness! Thank you Logan! We ordered cheese curds which were delicious... we had ranch and their signature sauce to go with. Walleye fish fry was great ! You can get fish fry any night. Broasted chicken was very tasty as well! I had a Brandy old fashioned pressed which I gulped down and thoroughly enjoyed! Looking forward to returning!!

Last night we decided to try Brandy's Old Fashion for dinner…read moreThe restaurant is warm and inviting we were seated right away in a nice booth The waitress took our drink orders and served them with a relish tray which was very nicely filled with very fresh and crisp celery carrots radishes and a dipping sauce We ordered the cheese curds which were crispy and creamy all at the same time very tasty little morsels indeed We ordered ribeyes for our main course it came with your choice of potato and a medley of zucchini squash and carrots The meals were delicious We totally enjoyed our dinners Thank you for a Great Dinner

Zenda Tap

4.4

(19 reviews)

I agree with the other reviewers - this find was epic. It is the quintessential Wisconsin bar in…read morethe middle of nowhere. All the patrons were incredibly friendly. We nestled in to play a few games of pool and ended up playing with some locals and also the owner by the end of the night. We will absolutely be back to this joint. They have a massive outdoor area with a giant fire pit and crazy amount of seating. This place is very popular with snowmobilers as it is on the snowmobile route and bikers frequent this place often. We had a little bite to eat by ordering an appetizer basket before we left , it hit the spot. 10/10

Stopped in here for lunch met both of the owners very nice people clean facility. Nice outdoor area…read morein the back. Food was good. It's a nice bar. It's got that old school Wisconsin feel.. definitely be back and they have a great diamond pool table, which is open!

Farmer's Inn & Tavern

4.4

(7 reviews)

PHENOMENAL BAR! Always extremely well taken care of by the bartenders! Everyone is so friendly! You…read moreI'm just can't beat the atmosphere! There pizza is also a plus it's so good You just can't beat a good ol local bar

Fun place! Regulars are funny! I think a guy named Bill is one of the regulars. Supposedly a really…read moresmart man who ssid no to Mensa once. They were fixing the game room area that night but the jukebox was working n there never was a dull quite moment. Music was blaring all the time!

Whiskey Ranch - Delavan

4.6

(61 reviews)