Looking to try the best cocktail bars in town? From sangria to boozy ice cream drinks and handcrafted cocktails, Milwaukee has you covered.
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top cocktail bars in Milwaukee, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture next time you're on the hunt.
1. Bryant's Cocktail Lounge
Topping the list is Bryant's Cocktail Lounge. Located at 1579 S. Ninth St. in Historic Mitchell Street, the lounge is the highest rated cocktail bar in Milwaukee, boasting 4.5 stars out of 322 reviews on Yelp.
In the 1940s, the Pink Squirrel, a blend of gin and apricot, was one of three drinks invented here, according to the lounge's website. Featured on "Best Bars of America," Bryant's has a speakeasy vibe and a rolodex of more than 450 recipes that include tiki-style drinks, boozy milkshakes and more. Play it safe and order a vodka gimlet or let the bartenders work their magic. End the night with a round of ice cream drinks.
Yelper Summer M. wrote, "There are no menus at all, so you get to tell (the bartenders) exactly what you want in your cocktail. I can't say enough about how fun this place is!"
2. La Masa Empanada Bar
Next up is Lower East Side's La Masa Empanada Bar, situated at 1300 E. Brady St. With 4.5 stars out of 280 reviews on Yelp, the cocktail bar, which offers empanadas, sandwiches and more, has proven to be a local favorite.
At La Masa, the drinks are as varied as the empanadas: bottled and draught beers plus a good wine selection. Many Yelpers are fans of handcrafted cocktails like the Mula, Masa’s version of the Moscow Mule (made with ginger-infused Stoli, allspice, cinnamon and lime) and La Masa Sangria (Tempranillo, brandy and fresh seasonal fruit).
3. Santino's Little Italy
Santino's Little Italy, located at 352 E. Stewart St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the cocktail bar and Italian spot, which offers pizza and more, 4.5 stars out of 122 reviews.
Locals flock to Santino's for its happy hour specials — $3 wine, beer or mixers and $5 sangria. You'll find more than 20 bottled and draught beers, 13 before and after dinner spirits and over 30 wines. If you're feeling adventurous, try house cocktails like the Sophia Loren or Sicilian Sangria.
Yelper Paul V. wrote, "Two of my favorites are the Godfather and the Old Fashioned Italiano. Their house red wine is also excellent!"
4. The Tandem
The Tandem, a cocktail bar and Southern spot that offers comfort food and more in Triangle North, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 87 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1848 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. to see for yourself.
On the menu, find classic martinis and mojitos plus Tandem originals like Tipsy Pineapple (lime, vodka and ginger) and Lindsay Heights punch (vodka, orange and berry).
5. At Random
Then there's At Random, which has earned four stars out of 171 reviews on Yelp. You can find the cocktail bar at 2501 S. Delaware Ave.
There's nothing random about At Random, a Rat Pack-inspired cocktail lounge. The 1960s decor — poinsettias, tinsel and vinyl booths — strikes the right ambience for enjoying playful tiki cocktails or boozy ice cream drinks. With classics like Almond Joy, the Grasshopper and the Cadillac, you're sure to find one to make you wink and smile like Ol' Blue Eyes himself.
Yelper Jeff C. notes, "Your ice cream drink arrives in a glass reminiscent of an ice cream shop, topped with whipped cream and a tasty cookie. After 53 years, it has mastered the art of the well-made drink."
