1. At Random
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
The answer to this question is clear to me – I’m an At Random man through and through. Ever since I first visited this Bay View cocktail lounge, it’s been my go-to for fancy drinks and unmatched atmosphere. When you step foot inside the moody, mid-century, red-lit interior, you feel as though you’ve walked into a film (something between Martin Scorsese and David Lynch). There’s a real satisfaction to be found settling into a booth and ordering a drink, with Sinatra on the stereo. I’m not much for the ice cream cocktails At Random’s well-known for (I must maintain my figure, you know), but I very much enjoy their classic old fashioned. 2501 S. Delaware Ave.
2. Buckley’s
ABBY YEMM, MEDIA EXECUTIVE
I always order the off-menu Paper Plane. I’m not even sure what’s in it besides gin and magic? My dear lifelong Milwaukeean cousin tipped me off to this treasure. 801 N. Cass St.
3. Bryant’s
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
If, like me, you are not very experienced in this department, Bryant’s should be your answer. The staff of this timeless menu-less lounge are extremely helpful in helping you find the cocktail you didn’t know you were dreaming about. I recently went there after dinner and rambled through a half-dozen disjointed data points of what I enjoy and was feeling like and was rewarded with an absolutely perfect concoction that was something between a manhattan and a chocolate martini. They are WIZARDS. 1579 S. Ninth St.
SOPHIE YUFA, EDITORIAL DESIGNER
Bryant’s is my favorite, hands down. I love the menu-less ordering – it’s fun and exciting not knowing what they’ll bring me. I’ve never been disappointed there. You’d be hard pressed to order something that they can’t make. The interior is cozy and intimate, low-lit. Very comfortable.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
4. Odd Duck
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
Odd Duck is mostly known for its food, but it also has a fabulous selection of cocktails – and mocktails, if you, like me, are not partaking at the moment. I was there recently for a dinner (which was also delicious!) and got a tasty mocktail – the #176 Ghia berry aperitif – that was also beautiful, an important piece of the cocktail experience in my opinion. The vibes in there are great, too, and if you sit at the bar, you get to hang out with the cool bartenders as an added bonus. 939 S. Second St.
5. Blu
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Hey, it’s me again, Archer – the guy who picked At Random up above. Turns out my fellow MilMag staff members do not partake in the forbidden nectar as often as one might expect from a bunch of journalists, and so I’ve returned to fill out this list with further spots to enjoy a cocktail. Blu on the 23rd floor of the Pfister Hotel is another stunner. Obviously, the big draw here is the view of the city from up there, but the drinks ain’t bad either. 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.
6. Lost Whale
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Me again. I have another one for you. I first went to Lost Whale in Bay View when they hosted a The Last of Us pop-up in 2023. As a big fan of the video game, I was mostly there to indulge my post-apocalyptic fantasies, but the cocktail lounge quickly hooked me. It’s a cozy spot, where the bartenders whip up inventive and quirky cocktails of all types. Go here for a taste of interesting. 2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
7. Foundation
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Hi. Archer again. I have another bar for you. Foundation in Riverwest is one of Milwaukee’s best known tiki spots. It’s got the classic look and the classic strong drinks one would expect from a tiki joint. Last time I was there, I shared a volcano bowl, which was essentially what it sounds like – a big bowl of flaming liquor. This is very much the vibe of the place, and I fully enjoyed it. 2718 N. Bremen St.
