Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge

This place is just beautiful! While you are walking inside for the first time, you might think you are getting in a house, but no! You are walking into a time machine, my friend!
This lost in time bar has managed to stay in businesses for 70+ years by not only having their own culture of self preservation, but also by delivering an excellent customer service, and a formidable product (sound robotic much?). I guess it is hard to describe this experience, the place is awesome, they will take care of you, and your drinks ARE WARRANTED TO BE GOOD; of course you can’t come here expecting to have $ 5 drinks, for the most part they are $ 10 or more, but that’s ok! Because you are paying for good quality.
The ambience is very seductive, and the music is too.
Just don’t ask for a menu, there is none, tell the guys what you like and they will make you a drink that will excite your taste buds ;).

The best bar I have ever been to in my entire life, and I mean that with no hyperbole. A+ everything.
You tell them what you flavors you like or what you are in the mood for, and they make it for you. No menu, each bartender has memorized thousands of drinks.
One time a friend got a bad drink here, because he was an idiot, and told them he wanted it to «be as sweet as possible» as a joke. They did not think it was a joke, and he got the sweetest drink I have ever tasted. This was entirely his fault.
Go on an off day, they can be very busy during peak times.
If you are flying out of MKE, it is a very cheap cab ride from here to the airport, and the prices/​quality are much better here than in the airport lounges.
If I lived in MKE I would probably be an alcoholic because of this bar.
Oh, and they have an amazing vintage Mcintosh sounds system that sounds just fantastic.

Fantastic cocktail lounge– best I’ve experienced in a long time. My bartender Jeff served me some classic tiki cocktails and I loved that Bryant, has they’re own twist on a few of them.

Some friends and I went here to celebrate one of our birthdays. The bartenders were friendly and the drinks were delicious. Such a unique experience too. They have hundreds of cocktails, but no menus, and they can make you the perfect drink just by asking a few simple questions.
There’s a 20s feel to this bar, it’s extremely cozy with plush booths and muted mood lighting. We went on a Wednesday night and when we first arrived there, around 6pm, we were the only patrons in the bar, but as the night got later, the bar began to fill up. If you’re in the market for a fun night out with delicious cocktails, this is definitely the place to go!

My favorite cocktail lounge. Love the personalized cocktails, friendly, knowledgable staff, and the old-​time atmosphere. This is the place to go for the most delicious cocktails. My friends and I come here many times a year and it’s never a disappointment!

Took my partner and his family there for a Sunday night and it was simply an amazing experience! The waitress was fantastic and we had a great conversation, and the bartender did a wonderful job creating our drinks. This is definitely a place I recommend everyone try at least once in there life. I personally can’t wait to go back!

For the best mixed drinks in town… this is where you need to go. Drinks that I can’t get anywhere else and some classics.
We came for a girls night and it was indeed a FULL NIGHT of fun, laughter and trying multiple drinks. We went for the «Depression Era» drinks and ended up ordering almost 1 of each of the drinks. It was 8 ladies and we just had such an awesome time.
The atmosphere is a bit different from what we’re use to but it was so laid back that no one complained. Good, chill, good company and the bartender’s weren’t afraid to join in on some of the conversation when we asked weird questions.
Good times

For my 400^th review, I’m going to one of my favorite spots in town.
You know that *guy* in highschool? The cool one? You know the one. He was widely liked. He didn’t try too hard. He knew what he was doing and just made everything look really easy?
Bryant’s is that guy.
The staff at Bryant’s know that it’s the coolest spot in town, and they’re not trying to hype themselves up. They’ve got whatever you like, and can make you whatever you can dream up. Ice cream drinks, fruity drinks, strong drinks. Whatever. It’s dark, it’s moody, it’s sexy. Sure, the prices are a bit spendy, but eff it, you’re gonna get one of the best drinks you’ve ever had, and it’s probably one you’ve never heard of. All of the new cocktail spots try to capture what an old soul bar like this has in spades.
Come sit at the bar and chat up the tender.
Come have a drink or three and listen to jazz.
Come to a Milwaukee staple that will hopefully be here for a long, long time.

This place is a must go for an after dinner drink. The atmosphere is great, it is dark and has a great vibe. The staff is very friendly and patient. Since the don’t have a menu, they ask you what you like and they make something for you. The first time I was there I told them I like peanut butter and banana and they made a great ice cream drink with rum. The second time I got a grasshopper, again great. I decided to get a second drink last night and ordered something cherry on ice. They gave me what they call a «rail splitter». It was cherry brandy, whiskey and a little of their lemon mix. WOW. It was good. The people I was with got brandy old fashions sweet, they said they were made great. The prices here are very reasonable too. The drinks are big and ours ran about $ 7 for cocktail and maybe $ 8 or 9 for ice cream. I highly suggest a stop if you are in Milwaukee looking for a drink.

Never fails, Bryant’s is the best. The finest bartenders in Milwaukee, hands down.
I like whiskey and was in the mood for something strong but that wouldn’t knock me off my chair. The bartender in this case made me a «7 Day Fool», which involved bourbon and walnut liqueur, I believe. VERY good.
As ever, great music. Lovely clientele. Talented and professional staff, courteous service, amazing atmosphere. Warm and fuzzy. I would have loved to stay forever.

Had a Brandy Old Fashion Sweet that was good. Other drinks ordered were a Grasshopper and a peanut butter-​banana ice cream drink. Everyone enjoyed their drinks. It is very dark inside but I felt it to be calming. There is no menu so I suggest ordering a standard drink or if you’re adventurous give some ideas what you like and let them whip you up something. If you go online they do have some names of specialty drinks to order. Had to touch wallpaper as it was a velvet texture!

What a unique experience! I am so glad my friend recommended a drink (or two) after dinner. Bryant’s is not much to look at from the outside, as it looks like an ordinary white house, but then you walk through the doors and it’s like being transported back in time. Bryant’s, established in 1938, has kept its authentic feel. There is two stories, but I didn’t make it upstairs during this night out. There is an aquarium behind the bar, and you’re greeted cheerfully when you walk in. There is NO drink menu. You simply tell the server what you like (liquor type, flavors, style of drink, etc.) and they concoct something fabulous!!! Over 400 signature drinks, you will NOT be disappointed! Me and my friends cozied up in a booth, sipped on our delicious drinks, and had a merry old time :-) I said I like rum and strawberry, and ended up with a blended hurricane drink called Mystery Mark, YUM! It was huge!
This place has HISTORY, proudly being Milwaukee’s oldest cocktail lounge. You must experience this time travel with your significant other… or a group of friends, especially if you’re looking for a swanky time and a cool experience. Can’t wait to go back and try more and more unique cocktails.

Disregard the location and put this amazing place somewhere else and you are going there once a week. It is like a Milwaukee secret nestled on the near south side. Make an evening of it and go bowling at Koz’s before or after your cocktails.
No menu! What? Tell them what you want and they will concoct something to your liking for a reasonable price. There are the standards like a grasshopper or something else fluffy with whipped cream.
The bar is dimly lit and hearkens back to the Rat Pat days where you should be easily singing a Sinatra song. The upstairs opens later when it fills up and it does tend to fill up quickly. There are tables in the back of the bar or just belly up to the bar.
Bryant’s is a gem! If you love At Random in Bay View you will love this place minus the menus.

I visit Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge a few times per year, usually when someone is celebrating something.
Very little has changed because when something is already great, why would you change it?
Actually, I think the lighting is actually a touch brighter now than it was during my first visits more than 10 years ago, I think.
The music is still great, which is typically a variation of Jazz or something from the Rat Pack.
The drinks are always great and arguably the best bartenders in the city work here. I say that because there is no drink menu. You walk in and name a drink you want or tell them what you want to taste in your drink and they’ll make it.
On Saturday, a woman tried to describe the drink she wanted. She went on for at least 3 minutes rambling about flavors and textures. The bartender made something to those effects and she liked it. I probably would have tuned her out after 20 seconds, as I actually did since I wasn’t making her drink.
We ordered a Brandy Alexander and a drink that was called a Tornado. We didn’t order the Tornado. We asked for flavors and something that would be lit on fire, and the Tornado arrived, with the flavors requested.
I love Bryant’s! It is truly a Milwaukee hidden gem!

The moment you walk through the door, you’re greeted with an ambience made up of serious (and much appreciated!) attention to detail. Velvet walls, mood lighting for days, vintage registers, crooning tunes, and tie-​clad bartenders. The bar top can hold a good amount of people and there are also some cozy corner booths, but I haven’t enjoyed the view from those yet because I could see myself falling asleep in one after enough bourbon and fernet martinis.
All of the smooth ambience supports the continued experience that is, the cocktails… because duhhh. They have around 450 concoctions that are on the hush, so they don’t give you a menu (and also because that’d be overwhelming). The bartenders are super knowledgable and very personable, so tell them what type of liquor you vibe with and any other palate preferences, and they’ll make sure to whip you up something you’re happy with. For such craft cocktails, the prices are pretty standard and they have a $ 5 old fashion happy hour from Sunday-​Thursday, 5 – 8. I have never left this place feeling anything other than goooooood.
Bryant’s definitely delivers an experience and is a historic Milwaukee establishment you need to check out.

Truly special. I like to get the vintage vibe of a city when visiting, and I got some solid recommendations for Bryant’s, which was spot-​on. My boyfriend, who grew up in the MKE suburbs, and I stopped in while home this Christmas. It was very dark, a few strings of lights, an ancient cash register. Pretty sure we were the only tourists in there. A younger trio got ice cream drinks on one side of us, while a couple (maybe just friends?) talked existentially about love on the other side. We Shazammed James Hunter’s «Carina” – perfect.
In a real cocktail bar my first drink is always a Sidecar (a good bar will not make it too sweet), Vesper (too strong) or an Aviation (too purple). So my aviation was perfect. Next I let the bartender choose. He asked if I wanted to stick with gin, and did I like herbal flavors? Sure. Posted a photo of the result, I believe he called it «The Brain Grave.» He kind of mumbled the ingredients, then when I was like, ‘What?’, told me he couldn’t really disclose it. I like that, especially because I couldn’t pinpoint them myself. A true mystery and experience, a nice memory. I had to get a third so I asked for another of his choice. I think he kept with gin for the «Love & Happiness.» I couldn’t remember who sang that song… Al Green, he said… I could have stayed there all night!

I have been told that Bryant’s was a great place to go for drinks. My wife and I stopped in to celebrate a friend’s birthday.
It was a bright and sunny day, but you would not know that from inside. It is a dark place lit by the warm glow of small orange lights. It gives you the feel you stepped back in time to the era of the classic lounge of your grandparents.
The bartender that we had was pleasant. When he wasn’t mixing drinks, he was carrying a great conversation. A little about the drinks, Bryant’s does things a little different. There isn’t a drink menu to pick from. Instead, you tell the bartender the types of flavors that you like, and they make a drink based on what you tell them. My wife told our bartender that she liked Southern Comfort and fruity flavored drinks. He made me a concoction called the Kismet. It was topped off with a small flaming piece of fruit. I however had the Moscow Mule, served in a copper mug. You will be asked for a small deposit, as people have been know to walk off with the copper mug. I however was able to get our bartender to waive the deposit, assuring him I wouldn’t walk off with the mug. Our bartender explained that they have some 450 drink recipes, don’t worry I didn’t try them all… lol
Our friends ordered an ice cream drink and were kind enough to let us sample. I will say I have never had such a tasty and well crafted ice cream drink. This is for sure on our list of places to return to.

I do a lot of «one night only» towns and try my best to check out the local scene as best as I can. I usually reach out on Twitter to find some recommendations from Unilocalers in the area, and while I was in Milwaukee recently, Bryan’t Cocktail Lounge was recommended.
While I did my research, I was intrigued by drinks that were lit on fire, and also drinks with ice cream in them. How could I go wrong with a place that doesn’t have a menu, lights things on fire and has ice cream?!
When I arrived, the place was pretty quiet. I think there were only one or two people sitting at the bar in the dimly lit room. The bartender was chatting with one of the other people and instantly pegged me as an out of towner. He gave me the standard intro that I imagine he gives a lot (and would give several more times throughout the evening while I was there). It was the «we don’t have any menus but can make over 400 drinks. Tell me what you’re in the mood for and I’ll take care of you.» I commented about the drinks I had seen on fire on Unilocal,and the only question he asked me was if I wanted blue or purple. I opt’d for blue, and I’m still not entirely sure what it was, but it was on fire, it was sweet, and it had alcohol in it.
This place is kind of awesome. Make sure you give it a try!

I was told by friends that Bryant’s was a great place to go for drinks. Were they ever right! My husband and I stopped in here to celebrate a friend’s birthday, and we were very impressed.
When you step inside Bryant’s, you’re stepping back in time to the era of the classic lounge of the 50’s and 60’s. Jazz music plays in the background, and the place is dimly lit with orange lighting. The curved, cushioned bar and the booths complete the atmosphere.
The bartender that we had was very pleasant. Not only was he a good conversationalist, but he really knew how to make a good drink. Speaking of the drinks, Bryant’s does things a little bit differently. There is no menu to pick from. Instead, you tell the bartender the types of liquors that you like, and they will make a drink based on what you tell them. I told our bartender that I liked Southern Comfort and fruity flavored drinks. He made me a concoction called the Kismet. I could taste the Southern Comfort, but I wasn’t sure what else was in it. It was fabulous! It even came with a flame atop a piece of fruit.
To finish off your visit, I highly recommend one of their ice cream drinks. Our friends ordered one that had raspberry in it and were kind enough to let us sample it. Oh. My. God. It was heaven in a glass. We will for sure be back for future visits.

Not too busy on a Tuesday Night so we got lots of attention from our bartender. This was my first time so I wasn’t sure how to go about ordering something unique, but the bartender was very helpful and made me and my wife some cool drinks!
I fricken love Hendricks Gin so I had asked for a Hendricks Gin Fizzy (like Frank Sinatra and the boys drank back in the 50’s & 60’s) she told me that a «fizzy» is usually made with an egg white, they can not longer serve drinks with uncooked eggs, so she did the next best thing. It was refreshing and tasted great… I would highly recommend trying this! I also tried a concoction of Bourbon, Bitters and Ginger Beer (and some other stuff!). It was good too! Wifey went the more fruity road, and had something grape that was lit on fire and something red that tasted like a sour Tom Collins with strawberries. Neither were for me… But she liked them, especially the fire one!
Unfortunately I had a Bloody Mary before I came and I was driving so that was the end of my experimentation for that evening, but I will be back for more another night… This time with a driver or in a cab!