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Bay View is a neighborhood that is constantly evolving, but loves its history. While the buildings may be growing higher, and plenty of new faces move into the area, the charm of Bay View’s bar scene is one of its constants. There’s a wide variety of unique offerings, if you’re looking for a night full of music and entertainment, or just a place to belly up, play some pull tabs and watch a game. While there’s certainly way more than what’s on this list, here are five Bay View bars, all with different feels to them, to make your way to:
The Newport
939 E. Conway St.
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While there’s a popular Facebook group called Bay View Town Hall, The Newport may as well be the actual Bay View town hall. It’s one of those places where on any given night, you’re likely to run into someone you know, whether you’re a regular or not. The bar begins to fill early in the day with an older crowd, and continues to skew younger as the sun goes down. By night, the atmosphere is entirely different, with plenty of people gathered to watch sports on the many TVs or to sing along with the jukebox. You’ve likely played in their softball or volleyball leagues, and if you haven’t, you know someone who has. It’s a corner bar that feels quintessentially Milwaukee from the moment you step in the door.
Cactus Club
2496 S. Wentworth Ave.
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If you want to look at Bay View’s evolution, you can look at Cactus Club as a prime example of how the neighborhood is transforming. Situated just across the street from the rich Italian history of Club Garibaldi and Groppi’s supermarket, the bar that was once a country and western joint in the 1950s now hosts anything and everything from community arts workshops to punk, electronic, hip hop and death metal shows on any given night. With a wide variety of drinks, including plenty of N/A beverage options, it truly has become a community hub. Do yourself a favor and read more about the rich history of the building here.
The Highbury Pub
2322 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
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On any weekend morning in Bay View, you might hear a collective yell bellowing out of the windows of a bar on Kinnickinnic Ave. Don’t worry, everyone is (mostly) fine; they’re just watching their favorite soccer clubs at The Highbury. For the right fixture, The Highbury can fill to standing-room only capacity to watch the best players in the world on a smattering of TVs on both levels of the bar. Other times, it has the charm of a European pub, with decorations of clubs and competitions from all over the world, and a feel-good atmosphere every time that you walk in the building. It’s rare that you’ll walk out of The Highbury with a frown, unless of course your team just gave up a game-winner in extra time. Even then, the atmosphere of The Highbury on match day is one that you absolutely have to experience, even if you’re only a casual fan.
The Mothership
2301 S. Logan Ave.
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If you want cocktails without the pretense of most cocktail bars, The Mothership is your spot, plain and simple. It’s the kind of place that you can get a fancy drink but still have the charm of being at a Bay View corner bar, and nobody is going to look at you sideways if you order something a bit more complex. On the other hand, there’s also a cheap beer calling your name, or a Bucks game on TV more often than not during the season. Leave your inhibitions at the door and make sure you make a visit to The Mothership.
At Random
2501 S. Delaware Ave.
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It’s a Bay View staple, but one that everyone needs to try at least once. At Random feels like “the old neighborhood,” but carries a legacy of serving cocktails and their famous ice cream drinks with the charm of feeling like you're in a previous decade. Recently, the facade of the building has undergone a much-needed facelift, but the appeal of the corner bar, and their drinks, is timeless. Need a first date spot? At Random. A night out with your relatives? At Random. If you ask just about any Bay View resident what bar might be the most beloved in the whole neighborhood, whether they frequent it or not, they’ll tell you it’s this one. Bay View has a tendency to cherish its historic buildings, and no bar may be more revered than the one that sits at the corner of Delaware and Russell.
