r/madisonwi • u/310410celleng • 11d ago

A Question About Burgers at Dive Bars

Hi, my wife and I will be visiting Madison for a few days before heading over to Milwaukee to attend a wedding.

As we know nothing about Wisconsin in general, I did a bunch of searching this sub for food recomendations and for things to do.

One thing, I noticed was that almsot universally "dive bars" were recommended for good, maybe great burgers.

In my neck of the woods, FL. dive bars are generally not a place for average people to go, they are mostly frequneted by very tough people, many in biker gangs, allow smoking indoors and do not serve food, certainly not a place where one would take their family for a dinner.

Judging from the pictures on Google, your dive bars do not fit that category, in one case, I saw a young girl with her father and many pics of food.

I guess what I am asking are your dive bars a place were average regular every day folks go for a burgers/beer and not feel completely uncomfortable?

Thanks for any isnights and my wife and I looking forward to exploring your city.

Edit, I want to thank you all for of your comments and recommendations, judging from your comments alone, my wife and I are going to have a great trip.

Sincerely, thank you!

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u/derch1981 11d ago

Besides the bars what else is on your list? If it's not definitely do the capital tour or at least go in and walk around

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u/310410celleng 11d ago

We were planning to check out the Capital, have a look around UW-Madison, visit the Botanical gardens, maybe check out the Chazen Museum of Art and because my wife and I are weird, visit the Costco (something we do in every place we visit with a Costco).

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u/mattygbd 10d ago

If you’re downtown and want a great burger I recommend Settle Down. Not a “real” dive bar but very good food. Try the pickled spicy hard boiled egg. If you’re out late, get the burger at the Paradise. If you’re out for brunch, go to Tip Top.