Not much more than a decade ago, Brady St. was in the doldrums. The corner of Brady and Farwell was desolate and much of the street was run down. The Polish had given way to the Italians who gave way to the hippies and only the die-hards remained from those groups.

But within the last few years things have gone mega, with dozens of buildings being refurbished, the street getting a new look, new neighbors appearing and great shops, restaurants and other businesses taking root.

Among them have been some wonderful taverns where you can meet old friends, make new friends, hear live music, listen to a DJ or sit alone and ponder the world. Brady Street as an entertainment destination is back and better than ever. Join us as we take a stroll along Brady St., paying particular attention to its watering holes.

Angelo's Lounge
1686 N. Van Buren St.
(414) 347-4144
When thinking about Angelo's two words come to mind: Old School. Angelo's is a small lounge with more atmosphere than Miller Park. Great drinks (one of the most delicate and delicious Martinis in town), attentive and often amusing service and live lounge music a couple nights a week make Angelo's a great place to hang out.

Balzac
1716 N. Arlington Pl.
(414) 755-0099
balzacwinebar.com
Balzac food and wine bar is a great restaurant offering small plate dining and a wine and beer list that is anything but small. The staff is warm and knowlegeble. This Brady Street newcomer is dark and chandeliered, creating an intimate atmosphere for the perfect start or end to an evening out.

Circa
1754 N. Franklin St.
(414) 272-4722
You might miss this place if you're not specifically looking for it, as it's a couple blocks north of bustling Brady on Franklin Place. The old Shmidt House is a small, cozy bar with board games and a laid back atmosphere. There aren't any beers on tap, but the bottled selection is enough to get you through "The Dark Side of the Moon," or whatever else the bartender might be spinning that night.

Club Brady
1339 E. Brady St.
(414) 278-0188
What used to be Harpo's is now Club Brady, a place to dance, see a local band or just have a few beers with friends. You can play pool, shoot darts and drink a good ol' macro brew at this Brady St. anchor.

Comedy Cafe
615 E. Brady St.
(414) 271-5653
271joke.com
Milwaukee's best known comedy club, the Comedy Café is also the city's only five-star comedy club. The club features national headliners as seen on Leno, Letterman, HBO, Vibe, Showtime and Comedy Central. A voting member for the American Comedy Awards, the Comedy Cafe is all about laughs! Give their joke line a
call at 414-271-JOKE.

Franklin Place
1689 N. Franklin Pl.
(414) 278-7897
With a jukebox that aims to please everyone, there's always a variety of music pumping at Franklin Place. To keep you active there's darts, pool and video games.

Halliday's Lounge
1729 N. Farwell Ave.
(414) 278-9290
Just off Brady St., on Farwell Ave., Halliday's is so unassuming from the outside that you might not even notice it. And that's probably OK with them. For years Halliday's has had a bevy of devoted regulars and the place has a small-town feel in the middle of a big-city neighborhood. A back deck is open when the weather permits.

Hi-Hat Garage
1701 N. Arlington Pl.
(414) 225-9330
hi-hat.com
Offering a stylish and very unique environment and great cocktails, the Hi-Hat also features gourmet tapas and desserts until 1 a.m. Big Band, swing, jump and lounge music add to a casual yet vibrant atmosphere. Hi Hat's kid brother, Garage, is connected to the back of the same building and boasts great bartenders, solid music and a ever-changing interior design.

Jamo's Lounge
1800 E. Arlington Pl.
(414) 276-7101
Lodge meets lounge at Jamo's, a bar that's redefining Milwaukee's corner tap. Duck in for a martini or a Miller (or both), and chill in a cozy booth while listening to smart music and totally random décor.

Jo-Cat's Pub
1311 E. Brady St.
(414) 765-9955
Jo-Cat's is somewhat of a sports bar, but just barely. It's more a neighborhood bar, but it doesn't really fit into the category its neighbors Listwan's and the Roman Coin do. It's slightly brighter and has a more varied beer selection, and its several TVs make for a low-key spot to watch a Packers or Brewers game. Close to the area's new eateries, Jo-Cat's make a fine stop on any Brady St. bar crawl.  Page 1 of 2 (view all on one page)

Next >>

2 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on Aug. 25, 2006 at 10:49 p.m. (report)

gloria said: Does anyone remember Zum Zeppel off of Brady street near Wolski's. It's been closed for at least 13 years. They had an old fashioned phone booth and great beer.

Posted by OMCreader on Feb. 28, 2006 at 2:05 p.m. (report)

gator said: A couple overlooked: Circa- The old 'Shmidt House' right off Brady, small cozy bar with board games and a laid back atmosphere. No Tap beers. Pitch's - Humboldt great ribs and a good front bar...