Best Restaurants with a Vibrant Bar Scene in Madison

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodIndianPizzeria

Regions

Madison

Neighborhoods

FitchburgMadisonMiddletonSun PrairieVeronaWaunakee

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Accessibility

Wheelchair access

30 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

1. Merchant

3.9

Excellent(1615)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Madison

Booked 35 times today

Merchant is Madison's energetic industrial-chic cafe, craft cocktail bar and late night destination specializing in no-nonsense, affordable fare and drink steeped in old school culture and soul.Our menu features elevated American classics like shrimp cakes, steaks, burgers, and mac and cheese. As Madison’s first craft cocktail bar, our drink list includes twists on classic cocktails using fresh ingredients and heritage spirits, fresh innovative non-alcoholic drinks, and wines from boutique producers, fresh beers on tap, and heritage beers.

2. Lucille

4.6

Exceptional(1205)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Pizzeria • Madison

Booked 38 times today

Lucille is currently open for indoor dining! For large group reservations (15+ people), please email us at info@lucillemadison.com or give us a call at 608-283-0000 for availability. We are excited to have you in!

3. Eno Vino Downtown

4.8

Exceptional(2264)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Bistro • Madison

Booked 43 times today

Eno Vino Downtown has a vibrant bar scene, as reflected in its reviews. Customers rave about the 'great vibe', 'creative food', and 'specialty drinks'. The bar area is described as 'inviting', and the place is highly recommended for 'happy hour'. With a 'vibrant' ambiance and a 'great atmosphere', Eno Vino Downtown seems to be a popular spot for a lively bar scene.

4. Rare Steakhouse

4.7

Exceptional(2003)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Steakhouse • Madison

Booked 24 times today

Rare Steakhouse is a vibrant bar scene due to its extensive selection of craft cocktails and wines, as mentioned in reviews. The ambiance is often praised as high-class, unique, and comfortable, with one reviewer noting, 'The classic appearance of the use of wood, lighting and table setting creates a warm, comfortable mood.' Moreover, the happy hour discounts offer a lively atmosphere.

A photo of Draper Brother's Chophouse restaurant

5. Draper Brother's Chophouse

4.5

Awesome(255)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Madison

Booked 12 times today

Step back in time to 1867 when the Draper Brothers founded their renowned meat house in the heart of Madison. Their passion for quality and taste quickly made them the region's go-to destination for the finest cuts of meat. Nestled within the walls of the iconic building that was once home to the renowned House of Wisconsin Cheese and Blue Marlin, our stunning interior design celebrates the building's rich history while introducing a new level of elegance and sophistication to Madison's culinary scene.Sink into our plush, comfortable seating, bask in the warm glow of soft lighting, and enjoy impeccable service that attends to your every need. If you're looking for an intimate evening for two, a celebratory night out with friends, or a sophisticated venue for a special occasion, our restaurant provides the perfect ambiance to create unforgettable memories.

6. D’Vino

4.7

Exceptional(723)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Contemporary Italian • Madison

Booked 7 times today

Wine/Cicchetti (pronounced: che-kett-ee) BarFine Italian DiningIrresistible little snacks of every imaginable configuration from the varied regions of Italy. Eat them at the bar with an ombra (shadow) of wine with an aperitif. Fine Dining Menu Also available Wed-Sat-Classic Italian favorites and daily chefs specials including Chicken Parmigiano, Sicilian Steak and Shrimp Scampi. Sunday Supper 5-8:30PM Patio Reservations now available, in cases of weather changes we will do our best to accommodate seating at available tables or bar.

7. CIRC

4.1

Excellent(192)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Madison

Booked 3 times today

Located in The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club, CIRC serves contemporary American cuisine.

A photo of The Madison Concourse Hotel restaurant

8. The Madison Concourse Hotel

4.5

Awesome(69)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Madison

Join us for a special holiday brunches in our Grand Ballroom!

9. The Statehouse

4.5

Awesome(1230)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Madison

Booked 36 times today

Join us at our signature restaurant, The Statehouse, or simply stop in to catch the sunset over Lake Mendota while enjoying a cocktail at the bar. Located at the corner of Langdon and Wisconsin, you’ll be comfortable in our inviting dining room and regaled by gorgeous views of the lake and surrounding area. Our beautiful restaurant serves regionally sourced, Modern Midwestern Cuisine. Augie's Tavern offers classic cocktails with new twists, an extensive wine list, and of course, the best Wisconsin craft beers.

A photo of Palette Bar and Grill restaurant

10. Palette Bar and Grill

4.7

Exceptional(527)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Madison

Booked 9 times today

Palette provides a colorful dining experience with an American inspired menu and seasonally rotating cocktail selections with an emphasis on seasonal colors and flavors. With a patio on East Washington directly across from Breese Field we provide a lively pregame destination. Located in the former Mautz Paint Company warehouse sharing the space with Hotel Indigo. We kept our buildings architectural features intact while updating the space with contemporary design elements and nostalgic touches. We wanted to keep the space faithful to its roots; filled with hues of colors and textures reminiscing of times when the East Washington corridor was a booming industrial area in the city.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

C
Cassidy
Chicago / Illinois •1 review
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
The food was AMAZING and the outdoor seating was so nice
More info
MerchantPrice: Expensive• Contemporary American• Madison
•
3.9
K
Ken
Cincinnati / Dayton •57 reviews
4.0
Dined 5 days ago
Service at the bar was exceptional. Food was pretty good but not great. I should have stuck with the ribeye but instead went with the NY Strip (not my favorite cut so my mistake not yours).
More info
Draper Brother's ChophousePrice: Very Expensive• Steakhouse• Madison
•
4.5
N
Nicole
Wisconsin •3 reviews
4.0
Dined 7 days ago
Enjoyed our dinner, my steak was over charred but still delicious. Service was great and we will be back.
More info
Rare SteakhousePrice: Expensive• Steakhouse• Madison
•
4.7
R
Robin
Wisconsin •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jun 19, 2025
Eno Vino is one of our favorite places. The food and the services is always excellent. The drinks are amazing! The view from anywhere in the restaurant is also amazing. We’ve never been disappointed at Eno Vino!
More info
Eno Vino DowntownPrice: Expensive• Bistro• Madison
•
4.8
V
Vicki
Wisconsin •4 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jun 17, 2025
Tasty food and exceptional service! Always a great stop if you are visiting downtown Madison.
More info
LucillePrice: Expensive• Pizzeria• Madison
•
4.6

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Vibrant bar scene

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