Wisconsin has a tavern on nearly every corner, but only a few can say their wooden bars and booths have been around for more than 100 years. These six spots stretch from a tiny Mississippi River town to busy Milwaukee neighborhoods, and each one still opens its doors for regulars and road trippers.
Some serve handmade pizza and Reubens, while others keep it simple with free popcorn, pool tables, and live music. If you like places where history is part of the furniture, save this list for your next weekend drive.
1. The Legendary Monarch Public House, Fountain City, WI
Fountain City has fewer than 1,000 residents, yet it holds a tavern that has been serving guests since 1871. The Legendary Monarch Public House sits at 19 N Main St, right along the riverfront stretch of town.
Inside, the late-19th-century bar and wooden seating are still part of the room. A fireplace adds to the historic setting, and the overall mood stays casual and easygoing.
The kitchen leans into Irish comfort food and handmade pizzas. There is also a full vegan menu, which is a nice surprise for an old-school tavern in rural western Wisconsin.
Families are welcome here, with high chairs and a kids’ menu on hand. Dogs can join you at the outdoor seating, and free parking is usually easy to find.
Plan ahead, because the hours are limited. The Monarch is closed Monday through Wednesday, open 5 to 9 PM Thursday and Friday, noon to 9 PM Saturday, and noon to 5 PM Sunday.
Reservations are accepted, which I would use on a summer Saturday.
2. Bodega Brew Pub, Inc., La Crosse, WI
Downtown La Crosse is full of old brick buildings, and Bodega Brew Pub has been part of that district since 1901. Look past the busy crowd and you will spot a carved wood back bar and antique booths that have outlasted generations of customers.
The vibe is quirky and relaxed, with a mix of college students, visitors, and longtime regulars. Live music and trivia nights keep the calendar lively.
Food leans toward elevated pub classics. Ozzie’s Own Reuben is a menu highlight, and late-night bites are available too.
Bodega opens at 10 AM every day and stays open until 2 AM most nights, or 2:30 AM on Friday and Saturday. Weekend evenings get packed, so a weekday lunch is the calmer pick if you want to study that woodwork.
Reservations are not accepted. Street parking is a mix of free and paid spots, and dogs are welcome on the outdoor seating area.
3. Showboat Saloon, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Most people come to the Dells for water parks, but a piece of 1907 is waiting right on Broadway. Showboat Saloon has been operating for more than 115 years.
The star of the room is an antique Brunswick back bar from the turn of the last century. Century-old wooden saloon booths complete the picture, even as the space leans into a fun retro theme.
Showboat is a big place, which makes it handy for groups. Expect pub grub, live music, karaoke, bar games, and screens for catching the game.
It opens at 11 AM daily, so it works as a lunch break between Dells attractions. Saturday night is the busiest stretch, while weekday mornings and afternoons are quieter.
Reservations are accepted. Parking is paid, both in the lot and on the street, but spaces are usually available.
4. Mickey’s Tavern, Madison, WI
Cheese curds and a 1902 wooden bar make a very Wisconsin pairing. Mickey’s Tavern has anchored Williamson Street, better known as Willy Street, for more than 120 years.
The original early-1900s bar and classic booths are still in use. Add a pool table, a patio, and live music, and you get a true neighborhood hangout.
Here is the twist on this list: Mickey’s serves breakfast and brunch. Doors open at 9 AM on Saturday and Sunday, and at 11:30 AM on weekdays.
The menu covers comfort food, and there is a full vegetarian menu. Dogs are allowed inside and out.
Parking can be tricky on this walkable stretch, so biking or walking in helps. No reservations are taken.
5. Wolski’s Tavern, Milwaukee, WI
Free popcorn is a simple perk, and Wolski’s has built a loyal following around simple things done well. The family-owned tavern has been around since 1908.
You will find it on a residential corner at 1836 N Pulaski St in the Lower East Side. Inside, the early-20th-century wood bar counter and historic booths are still holding strong.
Wolski’s is a games-and-conversation kind of place. There is a pool table, darts, and TVs for sports, but no kitchen menu and no table service.
Hours start at 2 PM on weekdays and noon on weekends. Saturday night draws the biggest crowd.
Free parking in a lot and on the street is usually easy, which is rare this close to downtown.
6. Uptowner, Milwaukee, WI
Back in 1884, Chester Arthur was president and the Uptowner was already open in Milwaukee. That makes it the oldest stop on this list, at more than 140 years.
The tavern sits on a corner of E Center Street in Riverwest. Its original 19th-century bar and neighborhood booths remain part of the space.
Live music is a big draw, and Sunday afternoons into early evening are the busiest time. Weekday afternoons are a quieter window if you want a closer look at the old woodwork.
Uptowner keeps things affordable and unfussy. Expect bar games and sports on TV, with no food service or takeout.
It is open daily from noon to 2 AM. Dogs are welcome, and free street parking is available nearby.
Six taverns, six towns and neighborhoods, and more than 100 years of history at each one. Pick the closest, pull up a seat in a century-old booth, and enjoy a piece of Wisconsin that never went out of style.
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