Welcome to Madison’s #1 nightlife guide.
On this page, you’ll discover the vibrant and varied nightlife scene in Madison. You’ll find the perfect venue for you and your preferred night out. Whether you want to go all-out clubbing or if you’d like a more laid back dinner and drinks with a view, we’ve got your covered.
Enjoy!
Madison is the capital city of Wisconsin that lies in the western part of Milwaukee. It is the second city in Wisconsin with the highest rate of population and the 80th city in the entire United States. Plus, Madison is one of the beautiful cities home to some of the most educated populations in the world.
Little about the city
Named after the 4th US president James Madison, Madison City has become one of the best tourist attraction destinations for people of all kinds.
This notorious city invites you to visit their five famous lakes, famously known as Waubesa, Wingra, Kegonsa, Mendota, Monona, and 12 public beaches where you can enjoy playing in the saltwater and getting tanned under the bright sun.
Additionally, Madison is a university land where you will find students from different world places sitting under one roof and learning about art, culture, history, and science. POn a side note, when we mainly talk about art and culture, Madison city is where you can experience true art.
If you are solely into art and culture, you can visit the popular art museums of Madison. Popular art museums include the Wisconsin Historical Museum, Chazen Museum of Art, Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, and Madison Science Museum.
Culture of Madison
Madison City is a popular metropolitan city that accommodates traditions and a vast cultural diversity amongst the residents. In fact, along with a large group of American folks, Polish and German people also have extended that culture in Madison City.
Thanks to the cultural diversity, the tourists can enjoy American delicacies and art and other cultural heritage of ethnicity in case of entertainment, food, education, and nightlife scene.
Nightlife of Madison
Do you know? More than 50% of this city’s population is under the age of 30. This is an excellent excuse for Madison to be a hub of aesthetic pubs and nightclubs for people of all tastes and kinds. It does not matter if you are alone, with your lover, or friends; you will always find one or the other nightlife destination where you can drink craft beers and sizzling drinks.
So, suppose you are looking for a vacation destination where you can take a tour amidst the artistic cultures as well as party like there is no tomorrow at night. In that case, Madison City, Wisconsin, is the perfect vacay station.
Best bars in Madison
Some of the best bars that you must check out in Madison are the following:
Red Shed
The red shed is a popular dive bar in Madison that serves not only delicious food but also offers a comfortable space where you can hang out with your friends.
When you enter this popular dive bar, you will see people of all ages enjoying their meals with a glass of iced teas or beers in Mason jars.
As for ambiance, Red Shed offers a comfortable environment and friendly bartenders who are always ready to serve you the best drinks of the day. You can also enjoy the tunes of just more than one song of Buckcherry and other songs in their authentic jukebox.
Despite being pretty popular amongst the locals, Red shed is a great bar that offers cheap yet fantastic food, great drinks, and a friendly environment. So, if you are looking for a place to hang out with your friends on the weekend, then Red Shed is a great place, to begin with.
Address: 406 N Frances St, Madison, WI 53703, United States
Time: Monday to Thursday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m, Friday from 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m, and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Phone: +1 608-256-2214
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Red-Shed-102207223155689/
Mondays
Monday’s bar is a high-ranked dive bar in Madison. Why do you ask?
Well, because here on Mondays, it’s just more than drinking. Monday’s is an All-in-One bar that makes you come back for it all the time. This fantastic dive bar crafts some of the finest cocktail drinks in the town. The bar is mostly known for its top-quality alcohol services that are enough for a blackout if you are not drinking with responsibility. Yes! The drinks are that good. But wait, there’s more. After all, what’s an exciting place without exciting things to do?
On Mondays, you can play games like golf and darts with your friends while enjoying your chilled refreshments and delicious meals. It is undoubtedly a great hangout hub for young adults from colleges.
Additionally, Monday’s also offers outdoor patios where you can light a cigarette, take a sip from one of the best cocktails of town, and feel the freshness in the air.
So, if you’re looking for a place to have fun with your friends and experiment with a new cocktail selection, then Mondays are definitely one of the best choices for you.
Address: 523 State St, Madison, WI 53703, United States
Time: Monday to Thursday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Phone: +1 608-251-1020
Website: https://mondaysbar.com/
Vintage
Vintage is a beautiful brewpub in Madison. It combines many things that one would love to participate in and enjoy with their loved ones.
The vintage brewpub offers you the best-brewed beer in the town. Not only that, but you can also select vintage and tap beers, tequilas, shots of famous whiskeys like Jack Daniels, VBC Woodshed Whiskey, Jameson, and Tullamore Dew.
You can also share your first shot ceremony with the friendly bartenders in this bar. However, apart from the strong drinks, you can enjoy specialty cocktails like bloody Mary, margarita, and wines.
You can also enjoy special offers such as whisky Wednesdays where you can enjoy shorts or single mixes for $3, Wine Nights on Saturdays, tequila Tuesdays, award-winning beers on Thursdays, and special cocktail nights on Fridays.
Plus, if you are a person with a sweet tooth, you must try Vintage Brewing company’s unique desserts like Bailey’s, State Line Coffee, Pardon My French Toast, and Love you to Reese’s.
Vintage offers a friendly and casual bar stoppage where you can enjoy the perfect midwestern hospitality and an ambiance that takes you back to the ’90s. So, if you are looking for an authentic yet affordable place to enjoy your night with your lover, then Vintage is an ideal destination for you.
Address: 674 S Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53711, United States
Time: Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m, Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Phone: +1 608-204-2739
Website: https://vintagebrewingcompany.com/
The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company
The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company is another famous pub known for its tasty food and fabulous drinks.
In this bar, you can enjoy popular drinks like Passion Peach IPA, John Jacob, Black Earth Porter, German Pils, Scotch Ale, Devil’s Lake, Emerald Isle Stout, and more. In addition, the Great Dane offers large halls, outdoor patios, and private bars where you can drink and enjoy yourself without worrying about anything.
You can also give a try to their famous Great Dane Pub Wings, Brew Street Tacos, Caesar wrap, grilled cheese, turkey and avocado, Pub Burger, and Wisconsin Style Cheddar Mac.
And, when we talk about the Great Dane’s ambiance, it will surely brighten up your evening with warm lights and a happy crowd.
But, along with that, you can also enjoy yourself while playing big buck hunter, darts, pool tables, and Shuffleboard with your friends and families. They also offer multiple TVs and comfortable couches so you can relax comfortably and watch sports or music videos.
If you and your gang cannot decide where to spend their evening after a long tiring day, then giving a try to the specialties of The Great Dane is what you must do!
Address: 123 E Doty St, Madison, WI 53703, United States
Time: Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Phone: +1 608-284-0000
Website: https://www.greatdanepub.com/
Best nightclubs in Madison
The following are some of the best nightclubs in Madison where you can dance and drink the night away after a tiring day:
Five Nightclub
Five Nightclub is a popular LGBT-friendly nightclub and bar in Madison City. Here you unleash your inner party animal on the large dance floor and enjoy first-class themed nights and drag events.
Looking at the fantastic features that this popular Nightclub offers, one can say that Five Nightclub has something or the other for people of all types. It is also a hot spot for those who want to experience the sizzling sexy male dance events along with drag shows.
Speaking of which, the ambiance of this Nightclub is musical and comfortable altogether. You can enjoy Latin dance nights and the DJ spinning the ultimate playlist of the decade. Plus, you can also enjoy yourself at the bar and fill your tummy up with some of the best comfort foods prepared by Five Nightclub before showing off your moves on the dance floor.
You can also get free parking, restrooms, an outdoor patio where you can drink, smoke, and enjoy the music, and friendly bartenders who are always ready to serve you the best drinks of the night. Five Nightclub also hosts charity events, Annual drag pageant contests, and private parties.
So if you and your friends are looking for the ultimate Nightclub where you can dance, sing, and enjoy yourselves, then Five Nightclub is where you must head towards.
Address: 5 Applegate Ct, Madison, WI 53713, United States
Time: Monday to Sunday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Phone: +1 608-271-1768
Website: https://www.fivenightclubmadison.com/
Liquid Nightclub
The liquid Nightclub is a popular musical hub that offers some of the best international DJs spinning popular hits of the decade for you.
Here at Liquid nightclub, you can enjoy a modern dance floor along with a VIP area and four individual bars. Mostly known for its DJ specials, Liquid Nightclub has proudly earned one of the best Electronic Dance Music hubs.
Regulars of Liquid Nightclub have gotten the chance to dance to the rhythm of famous DJs like Hardwell, Avicii, and Waka Flocka Flame. So if you are into music and your world revolves around EDM, Pop, or Hip-hop, then Liquid Nightclub has got your back in downtown Madison.
So, enjoy your weekend dancing and drinking with your friends in Liquid Nightclub, Madison.
Address: 624 University Ave, Madison, WI 53715, United States
Time: Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Phone: +1 608-257-1122
Website: https://liquidmadison.com/
Best food to eat in Madison
If you are at Madison, three must-do things will eternally satisfy your trip to Madison. Number 1, explore the aesthetics and art of the city; Number 2, party hard in some of the hottest nightclubs in Madison.
And last but not least, for Number 3, try the famous culinary delicacies that define Madison City. Some of the best dishes include The Graze Burger, Heritage Tavern’s family-style pork, Ian’s Pizza mac ‘n cheese pizza, and Babcock Dairy’s ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any late-night pubs in Madison?
Yes, there are more than just a few pubs that offer late-night drinks to you.
How old do you need to be to enter clubs and bars in Madison?
You need to be 21 years or above if you wish to visit bars and clubs in Madison. However, you can enter bars with your parents or guardians.
What is the best time to visit Madison, Wisconsin?
Even though you can visit and enjoy Madison’s art and culture anytime, May to August and September to November is the best time to roam without worrying about the summer heat.
Conclusion
If you plan to take a break from this busy world and enjoy your holidays, then book your tickets to Madison City, Wisconsin.
Here, you can not only enjoy the world of art and literature but also take a bath on the beaches and sip the best-quality alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with your close friends.
