The Brewers postseason is heating up at American Family Field. And, of course, you'll probably want to meet up with friends before or after the games – so to help you out, here is a list of bars in the area around the ballpark.
To keep things simple – and close to the stadium – we limited our list to establishments operating near the stadium.
As always, if you have a favorite spot to prepare for or celebrate a Brewers' victory, feel free to post it below.
4th Base
5117 W. National Ave., (414) 647-2368
4thbase.com
If you're not planning on tailgating, you might want to stop at 4th Base for a meal. The food is leaps and bounds ahead of the traditional bar fare. And, if you're just looking for a drink, this "upscale" neighborhood tavern won't do you wrong.
Balistreri's Bluemound Inn
6501 W. Bluemound Rd., Wauwatosa, (414) 258-9881
balistreris.com
Balistreri's has a shuttle to the stadium and some of the best pizza in town. If that's not enough, it's also often got College Dave Mikolajek behind the bar. Slam dunk. (Read our Hidden Gem story here.)
Dugout 54
5328 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 259-1200
dugout54.com
After the passing of Derry Hegarty, his Bluemound Road tap became Burke's Irish Castle and now it's Dugout 54, which serves a full menu, including wings, burgers, apps, salads and more, as well as a selection of craft beers on its 32 tap lines.
J&B's Blue Ribbon Bar and Grill
5230 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 443-1844
jbblueribbon.com
J&B's dishes up burgers, wraps, sandwiches, wings and more, along with a pretty impressive beer list, a short walk from the stadium. Like most nearby places, J&B's runs a free shuttle to Brewers home games. Unlike most nearby places, J&B's has bowling alleys in the basement.
Kelly's Bleachers
5218 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 258-9837
kellysbleachers1.com
Kelly's Bleachers is a good spot to watch big games: big screen TVs, numerous smaller ones, and they know enough to turn the music off and the game sound up. The walls at Kelly's are decorated with Wisconsin sports mementos. A notable one is an autographed picture of the almost forgotten Bonnie Brewer. Kelly's offers a shuttle to every home game.
Lucky's Ice House
4238 W. Orchard St., (414) 672-0320
facebook.com/luckysIceHouse2022
With almost a century in business, this hidden gem is older than the baseball franchise down the street – but thanks to some new owners and a refreshed new interior, the neighborhood tap doesn't look like it. The Brew Crew-centric bar comes with cold brews, plenty of TVs on the walls, some bar games and an evolving menu – now with a new Friday fish fry. Plus, if you're thinking the Crew needs some extra luck, where better to find it than a place with "Lucky's" right there in the name.
Magoo's on the Mound
5841 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 257-3210
magoos.biz
Formerly Steve's on Bluemound, Magoo's on the Mound is a spacious sports bar with a shuttle to the ballpark and all the classic barroom amenities – darts, pool, air hockey, foosball, big-screen TVs and video games. This is probably the top place on the west side as far as bar games are concerned. Grab a stool and enjoy the game. Or, catch the shuttle and head to the yard.
McGinn's
5901 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 475-7546
facebook.com/McGinnsSportsBar
Belly up to McGinn's, just west of Hawley Road, to find some of the best wings in town, free popcorn, a full menu and lots of TVs tuned into a variety of games.
O'Brien's Pub
4928 W. Vliet St., (414) 453-6200
obriens-irishpub.com
O'Brien's is a good choice after a Brewers game – it's a little less crowded than spots closer to the stadium, but also a little farther afield. The bar has a shuttle, but parking can be a little scarce – especially if softball season is underway across the street at Wick Field. (Read our Urban Spelunking story here.)
J. Leinenkugel's Barrel House
1 One Brewers Way (Miller Park), (414) 902-4201
frontrowmilwaukee.com
The stadium's own on-site bar and restaurant is newly refurbished and rebranded as J. Leinenkugel's Barrel House and includes an on-site five-barrel brewhouse that will brew beers exclusive to the venue, which boasts a full bar, full menu and great views of the field. Read a preview here and see a progress report here.
Rounding Third
6317 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 475-1982
roundingthirdbarandgrill.com
A favorite spot for baseball and football fans alike, Rounding Third offers a slew of TVs and a back room that went smoke-free well in front of the ban. Catch the shuttle or just stay and enjoy the game on the HD screens. Wings are just 30 cents when the Brewers score more than 10 runs and win.
Story Hill BKC
5100 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 539-4424
storyhillbkc.com
This is the place for combination baseball fans and gourmands. Inventive and delicious seasonal American food at lunch and dinner (and brunch on weekends), plus 21 beers and eight cocktails on tap, plus an on-site wine and beer retail shop. No shuttle.
Valley Inn
4000 W. Clybourn St., (414) 344-1158
Facebook.com/The-Valley-Inn
A great little family-owned neighborhood bar tucked away just east of the stadium in the Miller Valley. Acclaimed burgers and, after games, you'll find a lot of stadium workers there, including, occasionally, some of the team's radio announcers. (Read our Hidden Gem story here.)
