Good vibes, great deals and extravagant eats landed on top in The Daily Cardinal’s 2024 Local Bar Guide awards.
Back from a nearly decade-long hiatus, the Cardinal’s annual bar guide saw 16 bars compete for five awards — Best College Bar, Best Cocktail Bar, Best Food, Best Atmosphere/Vibe and Best Weeknight Special.
In the end, four bars emerged victorious across the five categories.
Read on to see the winners:
Best College Bar: Monday’s
A strong performance from a bar with even stronger drinks gave Monday’s the coveted Best College Bar Award. Located at 523 State St., Monday’s is best-known for its generous pours, free popcorn and lively holiday lights criss-crossing the ceiling. If you haven’t tried it yet, grab some friends and spend a thirsty Thursday at Monday’s.
Best Cocktail Bar: Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè
Is it a speakeasy, a hidden gem bookstore or a steampunk coffee shop? With its unique vibe and a rotating menu of rich drinks at not-so-rich prices, Leopold’s has quickly become a favorite among college students and community members alike looking for a classy cocktail joint. Give it up for the Best Cocktail Bar, and take a trip down to Regent Street to give it a try sometime soon.
Best Food: Vintage Spirits & Grill
Speciality burgers and sandwiches stacked high with flavor carried Vintage over the finish line for the Best Food award. If that’s not your vibe, don’t worry: Vintage also has a delicious BBQ mac and cheese, colorful loaded nachos and a laundry list of other dishes to choose from. Make sure to wash your food down with a pint from Vintage's expansive tap beer list.
Best Atmosphere/Vibe: Vintage Spirits & Grill
And they’re back! With a patio along University Avenue, cozy booths and inviting string lights, Vintage locked up the Best Atmosphere award. It’s the only campus-area joint to snag two Cardinal honors. Make sure to play some foosball and get some fresh air next time you visit.
Best Weeknight Special: Whiskey Jack’s Saloon (Thursdays: 25-cent rails 7-8 p.m., 50-cent rails 8-9 p.m., $1 rails 9-10 p.m.)
No other bar near the UW-Madison campus has deals quite like Whiskey’s Thursday special. With just $10, you’re set for the night when you head to Whiskey’s. What’s better than $1 rails? Fifty-cent rails. What’s better than fifty-cent rails? Quarter-dollar rails.
See a full spread of the winners in our latest print edition.
