Your Trip to Milwaukee: The Complete Guide SEE FULL GUIDE prev next Your Trip to Milwaukee: The Complete Guide Weather & Climate Milwaukee Airport Guide Hotels in Milwaukee Neighborhoods to Know Public Transportation Top Things to Do Free Things to Do Things to Do With Kids Skiing Near Milwaukee Milwaukee's Best Beaches Parks in Milwaukee Milwaukee Museums 48 Hours in Milwaukee: Itinerary Day Trips From Milwaukee Best Food to Try in Milwaukee Restaurants in Milwaukee Nightlife in Milwaukee Milwaukee Breweries Your Trip to Milwaukee: The Complete Guide close Overview United States Wisconsin Milwaukee Milwaukee's 6 Best Hidden Bars Written by Kristine Hansen Instagram Kristine Hansen is a Milwaukee freelance writer specializing in food and drink, design and travel. For several years, she has covered Milwaukee—as well as other Midwestern destinations, including Detroit—for TripSavvy. Tripsavvy's Editorial Guidelines Kristine Hansen Updated 09/11/19 Share Pin Email Neighborhood watering holes and speakeasy-style bars are a great place to soak up authentic local culture--and Wisconsin craft beers, of course. 01 of 06 Barnacle Bud's Barnacle Bud's View Map Address 1955 S Hilbert St, Milwaukee, WI 53207, USA Get directions Phone +1 414-481-9974 Web Visit website Those lucky enough to own a boat can dock just outside the restaurant, which is hard to find as it’s tucked into a marina, bordering Walker’s Point and Bay View. Once you’re seated at a picnic table with your fruity cocktail in a Mason jar, surrounded by nautical décor, you’ll swear you’re in Key West and not Wisconsin. Food options here are your typical fried food, with a special focus on seafood and raw-bar items. 02 of 06 SafeHouse Visit Milwaukee View Map Address 779 N Front St, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA Get directions Phone +1 414-271-2007 Web Visit website Sporting a spy theme, even the food items at this downtown restaurant-bar carry espionage names, like the Bourne Identity Salad and Cuban Missile Crisis Sandwich. To enter, you first have to reveal the secret password and if you fail, then you’re asked by the crabby hostess to perform a few silly tricks...which are filmed and aired for the restaurant patrons. 03 of 06 Wolski's Tavern John December View Map Address 1836 N Pulaski St, Milwaukee, WI 53202-1611, USA Get directions Phone +1 414-276-8130 Web Visit website Spend enough time in Milwaukee and you’ll slowly start seeing the “I Closed Wolski’s” stickers plastered on car bumpers, a testament to how popular this bar is with locals. It’s in a curvy, short alley just off of Brady Street and a great place for cheap beer, and to either play bar games or watch a sporting event on television. 04 of 06 Bugsy's Back Alley Speakeasy Bugsy's Back Alley Speakeasy View Map Address 218 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA Get directions Phone +1 414-221-6564 Web Visit website As its name suggests, this Third War bar with an alley entrance is all about channeling the speakeasy era with classic cocktails like a Sidecar or Sazarac and wait staff dressed like the Roaring 20s. Hungry? Food from Gouda’s Italian Deli includes meatball sliders and the Bambina Greta sandwich. Continue to 5 of 6 below. 05 of 06 Paddy's Pub Paddy's Pub View Map Address 2339 N Murray Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211-4404, USA Get directions Phone +1 414-223-3496 Web Visit website Booze Hounds 4.2 One of the best places to sit in this bar is not the bar itself but the adjacent courtyard, covered in ivy and past an iron gate. It’s a quieter place than most East Side bars, even if you must sit inside on a cold night, where the vibe is more residential than it is commercial, with live music every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and collectibles hanging on the walls. 06 of 06 Art Bar Art Bar View Map Address 722 E Burleigh St, Milwaukee, WI 53212-2104, USA Get directions Phone +1 414-372-7880 Web Visit website If you’re a fan of art and drinking, then this Riverwest bar is your place. Art exhibits rotate often and border on quirky, such as Peeps or Barbie dolls as props. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit