Located a stone's throw from UWM and anchoring Milwaukee's fashionable East Side, North Avenue has long been a leader in Milwaukee's nightlife options.
Cans Bar and Canteen
1815 E. Kenilworth Pl., (414) 225-0421
cansbar.com/milwaukee
This '80s-themed bar and restaurant specializes in, you guessed it, cans of beer, from Pabst to obscure Japanese imports. In fact, they have more than 30 different types of beers in aluminum jackets. But don't think this is a place to shotgun, belch loudly and smash your empty on your forehead.
Champion's Pub
2417 N. Bartlett Ave., (414) 332-2440
championspub.com
Tucked away a few blocks off of North Avenue, just east of the Milwaukee river, this tavern is a great place to escape the usual bustling bar crowds and hideout for drinks and conversation. It's modest, quiet, real, and hassle-free. Part of Milwaukee's Early Club, Champion's is a place to get a head start on your evening -- and not necessarily your drinking. As a neighborhood bar, there are plenty of unique folks to chat or play darts with. There's also an outside patio available for those warm summer evenings.
Decibel / DeepBar
1901 E. North Ave., (414) 272-3337
decibelmke.com
Decibel is a nightclub, with a dance floor, two bars and a VIP section. DeepBar is a slick vodka lounge with leather couches and a pool table. A glass door separates the two clubs.
The Dogs Bullocks
2321 N. Murray Ave., (414) 755-2094
dogs-bollocks-pub.com
Take a trip to jolly old England without leaving the East Side. Enjoy all kinds of British beers, dig into a plate of fish and chips-- or even a "Sarney." On Wednesdays, take part in the weekly Pub Triva contest and swing by on the weekends for Premier League Soccer action in HDTV
The Eastsider
1732 E. North Ave., (414) 906-0199
eastsiderbar.com
Located on the corner of North and Oakland Avenues, The Eastsider and represents an interesting cross section of the many, varied East Side interests and people. It's a hopping spot on weekends but has more of a neighborhood corner tap on weeknights.
Jazz Estate
2423 N. Murray Ave., (414) 964-9923
jazzestate.com
If you haven't heard about the Estate, don't feel too bad. It's one of Milwaukee's better kept jazz secrets. The Estate offers great jazz in a tiny and intimate setting. It may look like your living room, but it sounds like one great jazz club at The Estate.
G Daddy's BBC Bar & Grill
2022 E. North Ave., (414) 272-7263
myspace.com/gdaddysbbc
BBC stands for Bradford Beach Club. One of the East Side's largest bar and grilles, BBC's is all Milwaukee -- great food and cold beer! With live music nightly that features bands from around the Midwest, BBC is always good for a rockin' time. The two-story bar serves food late, and has 14 TVs, four pool tables, darts and foosball for your bar-hoppin' pleasure.
Hooligan's Super Bar
2017 E. North Ave., (414) 273-5230
hooliganssuperbar.com
A Milwaukee East Side landmark since 1936, Hooligan's serves the city's largest selection of micro beers, award-winning pub food and Bloody Mary's. Newly remodeled, Hooligan's is a great corner bar and an even better place to watch a Packers game. In their words, "Let our quasi competent and obsequious staff help make your visit something other than the usual."
Judge's Irish Pub
1431 E. North Ave., (414) 224-0605
A college corner bar, this is a place to get a cheap brew in the midst of a lively crowd. While the meat market vibe settles in after dusk, there's a great selection of Irish beers on tap. If you judge this bar by quantity rather than quality, you're sure to get your money's worth. Outdoor seating is available during the summer.
Landmark Lanes
2220 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 278-8770
landmark-lanes.com
There's no bar in Milwaukee quite like The Landmark, located beneath the Oriental Theatre. With three unique bars, one of the town's oldest bowling alleys and an arcade of a similar vintage, The Landmark attracts a diverse and unusual crowd. Tuesday night is the infamous Import Night, when all of their hundreds of bottled beers go on sale for less than $2 a pop. Incomparable.
Live on North
2028 E. North Ave., (414) 765-0101
liveonnorth.com
When Lava Bar and Grill owner Bob Overmier realized that food was not bringing in the numbers he had hoped for, he saw it as an opportunity to reinvent his business and start fresh and he reopened his Lava Bar and Grill as a bar and music venue called Live.
Paddy's Pub
2339 N. Murray Ave., (414) 223-3496
paddyspub.net
You have to see Paddy's Pub to believe it. The bar is basically just a well-decorated living room with an ever present green cast to it. What makes Paddy's so great, though, is its authentic Irish charm. The beer is fresh and served at the right temperature. Of course, they have Guinness and Harp on tap. Paddy's kindly owners also work there, and you'll get a lesson on fine scotch if you ask nicely. The place is surprisingly crowded, considering it doesn't do any advertising and isn't even listed in the Yellow Pages. But that -- and the bowls of M&Ms -- just add to Paddy's unique charm.
Rascals
2311 N. Murray Ave, (414) 224-7084
rascalsonmurray.com
Rascals is known for its extensive happy hours, which run Monday through Saturday, from 3 to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 2 a.m. That's called happy day, if you ask us! It's a good place to catch the game, what with their nine televisions. In summer the front floor to ceiling windows open up to the patio along Murray.
RC's Beer Garden
1530 E. North Ave., (414) 273-1100
Once known as the East Side's first and finest beer garden, RC's closed for several years, only to resurface in 2003 with a facelift and a new lease on life. Even remodeled, it remains a little old school with a touch of college crowd rowdiness.
Red Dot
2498 N. Bartlett Ave., (414) 964-5720
reddotmilwaukee.com
Just a little ways from North Ave., the Red Dot -- along with daily drink specials -- is one of the few places in town to enjoy Poutine (french fries, white cheese curds and gravy). A secluded spot, good for a little get away and has a covered patio.
Replay Sports Bar
2238 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 431-1080
replaysportsbar.com
Always wanted that perfect sports bar to go to for the big game? Replay offers wall-to-wall flat screen TVs, a mouth-watering menu and great drink specials, making it your go-to destination to watch the game.
Vintage
2203 N. Prospect Ave., (414) 276-2303
vintagemilwaukee.com
Vintage is the East Side's newest bar, operating in the space formerly occupied by Vox. The ownesr -- one of them a great-great-great grandson of Pabst Brewery founder Captain Frederick Pabst -- not only captured the long-time tradition of the space, but added their own flare. Vintage has free pool, "man cans" (Schlitz or PBR Tall Boys served ina paper bag), along with other specialty drinks and the perfect patio for people-watching on the East Side. Plus, you can bring your pooch!
Vitucci's
1832 E. North Ave., (414) 273-6477
vituccis.com
Milwaukee's original cocktail lounge opened in 1934. Until only about a 15 years ago, this was a stodgy, old-man bar that shunned the live music and young folk of other North Ave. bars. But when a younger Vitucci took over, bands began to play in the back room and a new path was followed. Now, locals vote its jukebox the city's best, year after year. There are more than 50 different bottled beers, featuring local brew pubs and imports from all over the world. Vitucci's is available for private and corporate parties, too.
Von Trier
2235 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 272-1775
vontriers.com
Under new ownership, Von Trier is better -- and cleaner -- than ever ... and still has one of Milwaukee's most famous beer gardens. Offering an outstanding selection of bottled and tap imported and domestic beers, Von Trier also has an impressive wine and hot drink selection. Besides, there's a never-ending supply of free popcorn and the rustic German decor, especially in the back room is simply unbeatable. The beer garden is open in season and offers a truly different kind of East Side bar experience. Open daily at 4 p.m.
Yield
1932 E. Kenilworth Ave., (414) 319-1170
Named after a Pearl Jam album, Yield merges music and food; guests can hear quality music and dig into eclectic small dishes. Anyone looking to avoid the cliche "party and dance" scene can find refuge in Yield.
Y-Not III
1854 E. Kenilworth Ave., (414) 224-9668
Much like its sister bar, the Y-Not II, the "Tri-Not" is a no-frills, simple and basic bar; the perfect destination for people looking to avoid the crowds and goofiness of North Ave. and just have a good, stiff drink. Two levels give you ample room to spread out.
