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Wauwatosa has all kinds of bars, from beer bars to pour-yourself wine bars and more.
But when you want to settle into a long-lived neighborhood bar that’s as comfortable and relaxing as your favorite easy chair, check out one of these classic bars in the Village, in East Tosa and beyond.
Club Tap
8828 W. North Ave., (414) 257-4142
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If you're looking for the secret to keeping a bar running for 85 years, just walk into Club Tap in Wauwatosa, which opened in 1939.
The vibe is casual inside, there’s a great little patio out front and, best of all, the place is connected to Lalli’s, which makes some of the best pizza in Tosa.
Partner Pick
Colonel Hart’s
7342 W. State St., (414) 476-3070
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Although Colonel Hart’s opened in 1985, it’s continued a tavern tradition in its space that dates back to the 1950s when German immigrant and former dairy truck driver Hans Lix opened a bar here.
Nowadays it’s a great place to watch a game, grab a burger or enjoy a beer on the patio and watch Tosa life unfold before your eyes.
It’s also right across the street from Hart Park and just a quick walk from the heart of the Village.
Walters’ on North
6930 W. North Ave., (414) 249-5871
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Only slightly younger than Club Tap, Walters’ on North dates back to the early 1940s when Russell Walter opened the Tosa Tap here.
Though it’s gotten some makeovers over the years, and was bought by new owners in 2023, it still has “Cheers” vibe and still draws a cadre of regulars.
There’s macro- and micro-brews, a wing night, a comfort food night, great burgers, lots of sports on TV, bar games and more.
Leff’s Lucky Town
7208 W. State St., (414) 258-9886
leffs.com
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Leff’s has been open since 1994, partially occupying a vintage Tosa gas station, but also a saloon space that was long occupied by local tavern character Cutt Swittel.
The building dates to 1911 when it opened as Wauwatosa Theater Delight, a silent film house that cycled through a number of names – including the Cozy, Mystic, Princess and Unique – during its roughly 12-year lifespan, before becoming, some say, a shoe store fronting for a Prohibition-era speakeasy and, later, a pool hall.
If that history isn’t enough, try the wings ... and, when the weather cooperates, do it on the expansive patio, which is one of the best in town.
Hector’s
7118 W. State St., (414) 258-5600
hectors.com
Don’t let the “Mexican restaurant” part of Hector’s name fool you, while it is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area, it is also a full service bar that continues to operate even once the kitchen closes.
A savvy customer gets there before the stove is turned off at 9 and stays for the margarita-fueled fun afterward. Located near Leff’s and Colonel Hart’s so you can do your own little bar crawl.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
