It's "Madison Week" at OnMilwaukee.com. We sent our editorial staff to check out bars, restaurants, retail outlets and cultural venues in order to uncover some of the best of Wisconsin's second-largest city.
MADISON -- After consuming a hearty and delicious dinner at The Old Fashioned -- the college kids call this "securing a good base" -- the OnMilwaukee.com crew hit the town for a long night of good music, strong drinks and general merriment along the State Street booze trail.
There were seemingly endless bars and clubs to choose from, but here are the six that stuck our fancy. And of course, we understand that this isn't a comprehensive Madison bar guide. It's just all we could pack into one night. Please add your favorites using the Talkback feature below.
Natt Spil
211 King St., (608) 258-8787
The evening began at Natt Spil, a cozy nook of dark wood booths, red lighting and a wood-fired brick oven serving up specialty thin crust pizzas. The renovated historic building is long and narrow with French doors on the front of the building, allowing cool breezes and bright light during the summer months. The interior considers even the minutest detail; from a Chinese inspired aluminum ceiling to former industrial machinery built into the wall. The food and drink menus change seasonally and incorporate interesting international flavors focused on fresh ingredients.
The extensive drink menu is loaded with tempting spirits, including beer, wine, bourbon, cognac, tequila, scotch, cordials and martinis and more. We ordered a round that included an Emerald Isle stout, a couple fizzy Jamaican rum drinks and a hot toddy before heading across the square on to the Tornado Room.
The Tornado Room
116 S. Hamilton, (608) 256-3570
tornadosteakhouse.com
The Tornado Room turned out to be a good mid-way stop in our evening. Once through the door of this classic cocktail lounge, we piled into one small U-shaped push button booth to relive Rat Pack-like glory. The Tornado is Madison's version of Milwaukee's At Random, but replace kitschy with cool and you get the idea. This is the kind of lounge where you order cocktails, and with a creative menu including a drink names twigs and berries, it's hard not to get silly.
Perhaps the most charming part of Tornado is that despite its proximity to State Street, it couldn't feel further from the college party vibe. Its large restaurant in back feels elegant and intimate and is hailed as one of Madison's best steakhouses.
Paul's Club
212 State St., (608) 257-5250
This bar is a true State Street establishment, attracting a young, energetic crowd looking for a party atmosphere and the opportunity for a bomb shot or two. It's hard not to remember this place; it's got a giant tree breaking up the center of the bar. It's real, but no longer alive (we asked). Another big draw is the jukebox, with ample good-time artists such as A Tribe Called Quest and The Strokes.
Paul's can get a bit crowed on a weekend night, but if you're looking for a lively good time, what could be better? If chilling out is more your style, opt for the cozy couch section and strike up a conversation.
Genna's
105 W. Main St., (608) 255-4770
gennaslounge.com
Genna's is a two-story bar that feels a bit more mature than Paul's Club. That's not to say it was quiet nor boring, but the crowd here was a healthy mix of students, young professionals and middle-aged people. The place was comfortable, had a pretty decent beer selection and when a band struck up in a window-lined corner of the room upstairs, we couldn't help but be reminded of the days when Milwaukee's The Nomad booked shows. If you're there during the day or early evening, a spot upstairs ensures a stunning view of the capitol building.
State Street Brats
603 State St., (608) 255-5544
statestreetbrats.com
It was quite cold during our tour of taverns, and State Street Brats provided us temporary warmth while we plotted our next move. It was late on a Thursday night, so the multiple TVs were devoid of games, but it was clear that this was the place to be for any and all local sporting events. We ordered a cheap pitcher of Miller Lite and hit up the Mrs. Pac-Man machine before deciding on an appropriate night cap.
High Noon Saloon
701 E. Washington Ave., (608) 268-1122
high-noon.com
We ended our bar crawl with a cab ride to catch Fever Marlene and The Blueheels at the High Noon Saloon, a great venue a few blocks east of the capitol on Washington Avenue. Although we got there too late to see the hometown band, we did get to see The Blueheels and soak up some of Madison's live music scene. Being a group of music lovers, no trip through Mad Town's nightlife scene would have been complete without a band and luckily we picked one of the state's most exciting ones to close out our bar-hop.
