"Bar Month" at OnMilwaukee is back for another round, brought to you by Great Northern Distilling: grain to glass spirits, handmade in Wisconsin. The whole month of March, we're serving up intoxicatingly fun articles on bars and clubs – including guides, the latest trends, bar reviews, the results of our Best of Bars readers poll and more. Grab a designated driver and dive in!

Just off of Brady Street on North Arlington Place, close enough to the action to be trendy but slightly removed from the bar-hopping scene, Balzac was seemingly made to be a first-date spot.

Vintage framed photographs adorn the interior walls and, in warm months, the outdoor patio is perfect for romantic mingling. Classy and casually elegant, with an extensive wine list sure to impress your love interest and an array of small plates that will make you appear to have a highly refined palate, Balzac offers a comfortably intimate atmosphere. 

Milwaukee readers certainly thought well of its amorous ambiance, voting Balzac the best bar for a first date in 2016. Put it this way: If your first date goes badly at Balzac, it's not the bar's fault. But if it does, there are plenty of nearby Brady Street dives to drown your sorrows.

The OnMilwaukee staff selected Bryant's, that dimly lit, old-fashioned lounge that serves up signature style and creative cocktails.

OnMilwaukee editors' pick: Bryant's Cocktail Lounge

Runners-up:
2. Camp Bar
3. Hi-Hat Lounge
4. Boone & Crockett
5. County Clare