Bryant's Cocktail Lounge

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TOTCSPIRITED2026JAMES BEARD2025

Winner of the Timeless U.S. Award at the 2026 Spirited Awards and James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Bar in 2025.

Bryant's opened in 1936 as a Miller tied house and turned to cocktails only around 1938, which makes it Milwaukee's oldest cocktail lounge, and it has never printed a menu; you tell the bartender what you like. Founder Bryant Sharp is credited with the Pink Squirrel, the Blue Tail Fly and the Banshee, the upstairs Velvet Lounge was added in 1968, and the room was rebuilt after a fire in 1971, gold-plated McIntosh stereo included. The James Beard Foundation named it an Outstanding Bar semifinalist in 2025 and Tales of the Cocktail gave it the Timeless U.S. Award in 2026.

1579 S 9th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204

bryantscocktaillounge.com @bryantslounge

Tue-Thu 5pm-12am; Fri 5pm-2am; Sat 3pm-2am; Sun 5pm-12am; Mon closed

Visit Website Instagram Get Directions Is this your bar? Claim it