Crystal Corner

Dive bar. And it’s supposed to be. Don’t expect fanciness or staff bending over backwards to accommodate you. In fact, you might have to flag them down — and that’s okay. Despite my best efforts to forget the era of my life, at CC there is evidence on the ceiling and walls that Wisconsin actually allowed smoking in bars (apparently this was still within the last 10 years!). This adds to the charm (I think?). I appreciate their attempts at diverse beers on tap, however in my last two visits either my of my partner’s beer was stanky. I think this comes from unclean beer lines; it’s that sweet taste.
I really appreciate the friendly staff, as well as the handful of dollars we found in one of the bar cubbies, though it was mostly in pennies. I went for live music recently with a $ 5 cover. Music on the non-​live night was also fitting for the bar; the classics. Though I haven’t use them, the pool tables, darts, and –if I remember correctly– pinball machine add to the charm of this place. Drinks are cheap and there aren’t many places like this in the Willy St. area. It’s a good bar for a casual group of friends to drink and enjoy a night.

Not a regular.
We were in town for a night and had our Über drop us off on this street to check some places out.
The place was really hopping on a Saturday night around 7. So it took a while to get a drink and the service was fine albeit a little gruff.
I do like we could use a credit card and start a tab.
Loud, plenty of drink choices and popcorn, so it’s not too shabby.

Best live music in Mad Town.
If you see Joe, thank him!
David Day, the owner is a Madison treasure. He’s never there after 4, but that’s cool too.
The bar is circular, so no matter where you are, you’re not far from your friends.
If you’re a dick, don’t go, there’s a Bears bar downtown for you. Just kidding. All are welcome at the CCB.
Lastly… You wanna blow your mind? Watch Jeopardy at 4 at the Crystal.
a bunch of regulars who seem to hate each other watch every day. Not real fun… just very surreal.
No music, just … Just go see it.

Cool, divvy neighborhood bar. It’s cool in that it has a pin ball machine, roll-​bowling game, a few pool tables and two dart boards. Yet, it’s not so divvy that the bar patrons stare you down when you walk in.
We ordered two rail vodka seltzer for $ 7. Not bad.
Friendly bartenders!

When bartender walked up to us I asked how her day was, her response was «what do you want?» Waited 20 minutes after we finished our first round, never checked in on, so we left. Band was great, though.

Clean-​ish for a dive.

LOVE the CCB. Backstory: Though I have been many times, I have one story that stands out. The Tuesday before my college graduation, I ended up at Crystal Corner for a night of debauchery (which, among other things, involved my boss sucking Jim Beam she had spilled off the bar with a straw #classyplace).
Flash forward to the next morning; I woke up and realized my dental flipper (a la a partial denture-​type thing) was nowhere to be found. Missing two teeth and three days to graduation, I of course panicked. I figured that I MUST have left it at CCB, so I swung by early the next morning before they were open. I spoke with who I assume was the owner, who seriously didn’t bat an eyelash when I asked, «did anyone find some teeth here last night?». He apologized and then said, «nope,» as if it was a daily inquiry.
It’s that kind of place. Go. Have fun. Lose your teeth.
(I also once tried to commandeer the intercom they use to announce last call. Didn’t get too far. Oops…)

Loveeeeeeeee! Ok, disclaimer: This IS a dive bar. So do not expect anything fancy. The staff is friendly, the beer is cold and the prices are great.
I felt comfortable the moment I walked in. I came in for a drink while waiting for my table at Grampa’s. I love the regulars.

The Crystal Corner is a Madison Establishment in the truest sense of the word. I am surprised that I’m a Madison Lifer — but don’t manage to his the Crystal Corner more often. It is widely know for it’s music scene. the place hasn’t changed in decades. Atheistically it’s not much to look at — but it has a vide, it has regulars, the booze and beer are affordable — there are nightly drink specials. Tuesday night is everything Irish is $ 3. You can’t go wrong with that. Although note that the Irish Whiskey shot is $ 3… If you want that Irish Whiskey with a mixer you will be penalized an additional dollar. Perhaps this is a not so subtle message… Drink it neat or order a pint of Guinness instead.
The Crystal Corner is a drinking establishment… Food options consist of wall fries (aka chips)… Frozen Pizza or Warm Nuts… Yes sir, there is a warm nut dispensing machine behind the bar. My guess is that it has been there for decades as well.
The next time you find yourself in the Williamson St. Neighborhood and are in the need of libation, check this joint out!

It might still smell like smoke… (when was that banned)
The tunes might be aggressive… (with TouchTunes on mobile you can play All I want for Christmas and nobody will know)
The pizza might be cooked in the same counter-​top oven from the 80s (I bet they clean it)
But this place is a-​ok by me.
Quite the cast of characters, a slim tap line-​up, plenty of spirits, and a couple of wines.
And I can start a tab and throw a tip on there in one handy transaction. I like your style CC.

I hold this bar near and dear to my heart. It has been something like a home to me for the better part of six years. There’s a revolving cast of characters that have all proven to be great people, each in their own way. The staff is unique and attentive, and the live music is always a hit. Be prepared for a busy night Thursday through Saturday. Look on the wall for the drink specials ($ 6 domestic pitchers on Thursdays!) and do not underestimate the deliciousness of the Emil’s pizza. These are my people.

Descriptive phrase: grungy neighborhood hangout bar.
Three of us stopped in Crystal Corner on Willy St for a quick drink while we waited for our seat at a nearby restaurant. There was some outdoor sidewalk seating, and the inside was surprisingly filled for a Friday around 5. It’s dark inside, where you’ll find a large oval bar in the center with scattered seating around it and a stage in the back. The bar was littered with half-​drunk beer glasses, most abandoned and covered with a coaster to indicate their owners would be returning. Most people seemed to know each other and were all jovial.
There were posters up promoting upcoming live music for a number of lesser-​known but hip and unique bands. A+ on that end.
Unfortunately their beer glasses were notably either dirty or run through a poor washer. On top of that there was a squadron of ants marching around our table eating things on the floor.
Crystal Corner gets points for their musical tastes and friendly atmosphere, but needs to do a bit better on their hygiene to get me to come back for more than a bottled beer.

Lovely, warm atmosphere. I’m an out of towner who stopped in during a bit of rain and ended up staying for two excellent bloody marys. Definitely seems to be a «townie» bar. It was like a new season of Cheers with folk calling out buddies names as they came in. I’ll be back!

Horrible customer service. No respect for customers who aren’t locals.
COMPLETE bias against people who don’t look like the typical «willy street» crowd. I.e. Possibly homeless non vaccinated types.
Don’t go here unless you want to get judged and not served a drink.

We stopped in here for an after dinner beer and I really liked it. It’s not a fancy place but is your classic neighborhood bar. There was a lot of seating around the large bar and plenty of tables surrounding the room. The bartenders were great and the beer was delicious. Crystal Corner is a great place to hang out at.

Daily specials! Kitschy holiday décor this time of year (Bucky’s wearing a santa hat!). Love to sit by the «window» into the bar. Friendly patrons, always end up striking up conversations with others! Looks like they also serve pizza.

Be still my beaten liver. We have indeed stumbled upon the alcoholic’s Shangri La. I went here every single night but one during my fortnight in Madison. If this isn’t one of the 5 best bars I’ve been in, then I don’t know bars. And damn it, I KNOW BARS. I loved my nights at the Crystal so much that I was inspired to compose a sonnet about the place. I call it:
LONNY’S SONNET 46
Shall I compare thee to a Maker’s Mark?
Thou art as classic and as wonderful:
The staff was surly and the lighting, dark.
Pool, darts, live music, not a moment dull:
I drank, and laughed, and danced, and eased my mind,
Though years of drinking has left my mind dimm’d;
Still I dare not stem my brain cells’ decline —
I’d rather they be bourboned, whiskeyed, ginned.
But thy eternal last call shall not fade
Nor lose possession of the tab I owe’st;
Nor shall I kiss and tell, if I get laid
By a drunk lass who makes my member grow’st.
So long as I have cash, and you’ve whiskey
So long l drink, and give tips to Patti.

Neighborhood bar with a steady clientele. Drinks extraordinarily strong to the point of being gross. Really nothing else positive to say about it.
Lots of bands I like end up playing there, no idea why as it barely has enough room for a bar band that draws nobody, with a real local band the place is packed and poorly oriented for watching anything.
The main thing it has going for it is inertia.

The Crystal Corner should impress, as the place has grown on me after being a regular patron for only a matter of months. I’m usually very picky when it comes to bars, and few of them enter my ⁴⁄₅ star league. The Crystal Corner is also not the typical bar I would frequent, but it has all the right elements to just make it one of those places worth being at.
What amazes me the most about it is the variety of ages and personalities. On a typical weekend night you’re bound to see everyone from the punk gother, the trendy hipster, the preppy 20-​somethings, the middle-​aged cougars, and the averge joes. There’s a good reason why everyone is there though, and its that the setup and atmosphere is perfect. From music that is almost always spot on for your mood and at the perfect volume (sure that’s all relative but it just seems right to almost everyone there), to a long circular bar where you can schmooze with your electric peers, the Crystal Corner has got it going on.
The bar itself definitely resembles the typical neighborhood bar as others on Unilocal have mentioned, with a few TVs and an old hand-​me-​down feel. But aside from that, it’s unique in almost every other aspect and promotes good times. If you get bored of just socializing and having drinks, they have a few pool tables where you’re bound to catch a game, and darts for those of you who like to do that sort of thing. Prices for drinks are reasonable, although nothing here nor there.
The only drawbacks that I’d say (and nothing to take away a star) are the lack of comfortable chairs and the always busy bartender. If you can deal with that, you’re in for a treat.

Sketch-​tastic. Just take a look at the neon lights and you won’t argue.
This is where the east side meets willy street with a little downtown thrown in the mix. The crowd is very entertaining– anyone you could think of could be in at a given night.
Lots of beer, darts, and pool. All things considered, it’s a pretty solid place. Plus — it brings back the innocence of smoking: a vending machine with candy cigarettes.
Recently though– did the beer get more expensive or is it just me?