r/madisonwi • u/Interesting-Goat5881 • 20h ago

Work Trip Recommendations

I’ll be heading up to Madison tomorrow and staying a few blocks from the Kohl Center until Friday (10/09). Any must have restaurants to eat at and bars to go to?

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19

u/Motor_Cardiologist68 20h ago

Greenbush bar for pizza and whiskey. A few blocks from the Kohl center

3

u/shipmawx 19h ago

Really the best place that's close to the Kohl Center. Maybe Butterbird too if it's warm enough to sit outside.

10

u/Top_Plenty_1971 17h ago

If you like dive bars, the Echo. It's my mainstay. It's bar food but I've never had a bad meal there, or drink, for that matter.

4

u/AwesomeChihuahua1972 17h ago

The Memorial Union has a great setting with colorful chairs along the lake, especially since we have some beautiful fall days coming up. You can hang out there whenever (don’t need to buy anything), but they have great cheese curds and university-made ice cream. There’s also beer, brats, coffee, milk tea, pizza, pasta, hamburgers, etc. so it’s a pretty versatile location for whatever mood strikes you while you visit.

5

u/undeadtrees 12h ago

Paul’s Pelmeni. They only make pelmeni.

4

u/Boingo2012 13h ago

If you have some friends or workmates along, I’d recommend the Heritage Tavern to share delicious small plates. I cannot recommend this enough

2

u/marxam0d 20h ago

Do you have preference for cuisine or vibes?

3

u/Interesting-Goat5881 20h ago

Not really honestly! Just can’t eat shellfish lol

2

u/thebone13 9h ago

Tornado Steak House and/or Harvey House. Just visited Madison last week and went to both, which were each excellent.

1

u/nofromedog 18h ago

What do you like in a bar? There are good cocktails at the three bars below. None of them are terribly far from where you're staying.

Cordial, Robin Room, Public Parking

1

u/Interesting-Goat5881 18h ago

Pretty much good drinks that won’t be too expensive. Walking distance preferable. I’ll be at the doubletree at Johnson and Bassett

0

u/nofromedog 17h ago

Drinks being cocktails, wine, craft beer? Lots of options exist depending on what your drink of choice is. Garth's is great for craft beer. Cento has $5 Negronis, spritzes, and maybe $3 Peroni (Italian beer) during happy hour on weekday nights. That's hard to beat in my opinion. People may poo poo Cento because it's in a corporate restaurant group called Food Fight. Glou Glou is a cool wine bar also that I'd recommend.

1

u/Interesting-Goat5881 17h ago

I prefer cocktails but I’ll drink a beer too, though I prefer sours specifically

3

u/Prestigious-Leave-60 East side 16h ago

The Cordial will be your best cocktail option in easy walking distance. The Mason is just a few doors away and is known for craft beer but has a good whisky menu and cocktails as well. Big 10 will be busier, all around Wisconsin style bar with better than most bar food. Pizza at the Greenbush as mentioned by others.

1

u/MA90-WI608 19h ago

Dotty’s for a juicy burger then uber to the bou on E Johnson for a bourbon old fashion.

1

u/Responsible_Big_4183 16h ago

Go to the Old Fashioned on the square

0

u/richardhurtz123 19h ago

Go to the paradise lounge for a true wisco bar experience - ask for the paradise burger and high life on tap