Bugsy’s Back Alley Speakeasy
218 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI, 53202
Bugsy’s Back Alley Speakeasy Menu
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Address :
218 N Water St
Milwaukee, WI, 53202 - Phone (414) 221-6565
- Website https://www.bugsysbackalleysaloon.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Loud
Music : DJ, Live
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : Yes
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Weston D.
I love Bugsy's! BEST happy hour in downtown MKE, IMO. Happy hour 5-8 M-F with $5 cocktails - it's the best! I love the interior, and the whole speakeasy concept is great with their deli "front" and the back alley entrance. Staff were always helpful and friendly.
(5)Sam B.
This is a unique speakeasy themed bar. We were lucky enough to catch some great live music when we visited. The bartenders were very attentive and helpful. The bar totally nails the ambiance and is a lot of fun for a drink or two. I knocked down two stars because the drinks were a tad expensive (not a deal breaker but worth noting), the bar was a little over crowded, and the regulars were a bit creepy. All in all the theme and the service makes the bar worth checking out.
(3)Angie O.
I loved a themed bar and I think Bugsy's is a fun place! Great martinis - and other drinks - and decent prices. A little on the high end but not outrageous. $8ish for a martini is not bad and they have happy hour too. Both times I have visited there is live music. It gets pretty busy on a Saturday night but after 20 mins or so a table usually opens up. seems like people come in for one or two drinks and then migrate. If you are with a group I definitely recommend going early in the evening to secure a spot. The alley entrance is fun, but I would never find it on my own. I like the dancers and love their dresses. However, during both my visits the girls just seemed..... tired. I am pretty sure it was the same two girls too. I recommend getting more girls to dance to keep the energy up! I'd totally wear the dress and dance ;) My only real complaint is that when you are done, it takes a while to settle up. The bartenders see you waiting but ignore you for other patrons. I understand the wait your turn concept but it takes like 1 minute to print out a receipt so people can be on their way.... I'll probably be back as several of my friends are big fans of this place.
(3)Carol K.
Look for the red lit alleyway and chances are you found Bugsy's Back Alley Speakeasy. While I liked the live music (on the night we were there it was a very talented guitar player who sang his way into getting me to stay for an extra drink when we were going to leave) they had these girls dressed in flapper dresses up on stage trying to dance to the guitar music which just seemed a little strange to me . . . .but I guess it's all part of the thematic! The bartenders are dressed in what looked like rubber skirts, they were so tight. Can't believe they can actually do their jobs in that garb! But the drinks were well poured and they were quick to make sure we were never in need of a drink. The theme of speakeasy continues as you leave the premises as the door looks like an old bank vault. Good crowd, good drinks and live music. It's just the theme-ing that is a little odd. It's a little like drinking at a Disney park!
(3)Christina C.
A truly hidden Milwaukee bar has the aesthetic of a 1920s speak easy, except for the bumping and grinding to 1990s top 40. Flappers danced to sublime, which created some dissonance. Once that was overlooked- the drinks were good and cheap (5$ g&t) and there were pretty ladies dancing on top of speakers. What's not to like? It's worth visiting and I wouldn't mind going back.
(3)Mike C.
Fish net stockings, high heels, and girls in impossibly taut rubber skirts. Sometimes it's hard to know what Bugsy's Back Alley Saloon is selling: booze or babes? I've never been in one, but I imagine the high-class brothels of the 1920s looked like this. It's clear there's a market for Bugsy's products: this is definitely a place for the mens. I didn't look for wedding bands on the hands of Bugsy's male clients, I don't think it would have mattered if I did, as I'm quite sure I would have seen none. Maybe that's why Bugsy's has a back alley entrance. Single guys wouldn't mind be seeing entering through the front, while married fellows duck in through the dark shadows of the back. My wife and I visited Bugsy's after dinner elsewhere. Observations about the staff and customers aside, it's a pretty cool place. I do like it's old timey decor and the live piano music. The dancers that share the stage with the pianist were dressed in the roaring 20s garb and moved with compelling style. We started the night with a glass of cabernet. For $11 a glass, this stuff was pretty awful. I've had vino from a box that I liked better. Maybe we should've left after one glass ... but we couldn't. There was something about this place that kept us glued to our stools. The entertainment was good, the dancers bewitching and the people-watching engaging. It wound up being a nice place to spend a late evening, but it's not our kind of place and I doubt we'll return. That is, unless my wife's out of town. ;)
(3)A C.
Back alley cool. Like you have to know someone whose been there to know how to get in. Which is cool, I took some out-of-towners and they loved it. Period costumes (from Fredricks of Hollywood so the very young, very pretty bartender told me), men in bollard hates and women in flapper outfits. Roaring 20's dancers entertain you when you run out of things to look at, talk about or if you just want some gawking to do. Drinks were a decent price, exactly what I would expect and a good collection of period drinks (gin fiz, old fashions, etc). My only complaint was that I was under dressed and I wish they would have sent me away to go and get a more appropriate attire. If I was in anything other than a massive winter coat and jeans I would have felt better about being there. All the staff are in their get-ups and they look great and then the customers all look like Midwestern Schmucks which killed the mood. Music was great and ecclectic. No piano man, but some roaring 20's music that was mashed with some modern rap. Like the new Great Gatsby movie, Jay-Z and Ella Fitzgerald or Kanye and Nina Simone. There was some classic regular 20's jazz too but the bass bumping tunes really brought the dancers to life. Fun date place if you know the girl your dating for at least 14 dates. Any less and you'll be the creepy guy who brought a girl to this place with hot tiny dancers (hold me closer Tony Danza), any long term relationships that have endured 14 dates will have fun with the place. I'd give it 5 stars but its not quite as good as it gets but damn good. Like 4.75 stars
(4)Rick R.
I visited on a preview night, so I can't comment on how it is on a regular business night. I will just say that I think the concept is cool, with the 20's and 30's speakeasy theme. There are one or two characteristics similar to the Safe House, like the alley entrance and doors that blend into their surroundings, but there isn't a password. It is small so I imagine it will be uncomfortable when it gets busy. It's located directly behind the new Gouda's Italian Deli, also owned by the SURG group. The alley entrance is lit with small spot lights and there are bouncers and valets, if you feel concerned about the Third Ward alley entrance.
(4)Paress H.
In LOVE. I came here with a small group and walked in blindly having never heard of it or even about it and was so very pleasantly surprised and delighted! As a lover of Angelo's Piano lounge, I found this place a more modern take with a lot of novelty, but I'm okay with novelty if it includes an awesome piano player playing some of my favorites like Van the man Morrison and Ray Lamontange. The flapper babes were a nice touch and provided fun entertainment for me and my date, etc. The service was good and I got a great big beautiful glass of Malbec that I thoroughly enjoyed. We danced a bit, but the crowd was mostly chill and listening and talking amongst themselves. i want to take some girlfriends back here again and again. What a cool place that I had no idea of its existence. Why aren't people talking about Bugsy's? Go treat yourself to a unique experience and pretend you're in the prohibition days gettin weird sneaking some hooch in the back alley. You'll love it MKE- more theme bars please! :)
(5)Jake K.
I have to say first of all Joe is an amazing pianist!! This was such a fun small bar to hang out and have a few drinks with friends. Great choice of music that was played threw out the night. Only reason I didn't put "5 stars" is that I found the dancers to be a little distracting.. Well kind of awkward and uncomfortable lol I didn't feel the vibe with their "moves" but other than that I loved the bar and will be back soon!!
(4)Phillip M.
Surg, you've done it again!! A breath of fresh air! This bar has it all...atmosphere, quality drinks, and phenomenal live music. This is the type of place that keeps a city on the map and keeps people coming back for more. Bugsy's wait staff, door men and bartenders are all extremely friendly and eager to assist. Definitely coming back!
(5)Pamela M.
After one visit I'm just not a fan. The vibe in here from the patrons and kind of the staff, but more so the patrons, was really strange. The guys felt like creepy gawking douches. As a former bartender, it appeared inhumane to make these girls dress the way they are and to work hard behind a bar. It was awkward. They looked uncomfortable. The other girls dancing on the bar poles were even worse. Their dance skills were not impressive. They had a guy playing music, one man band type deal and he was pretty good -- tipped him a few bucks after one and done. Wouldn't go out of my way to hang out here.
(2)Whitney N.
This place is such a hidden gem! I was out for a bachelorette party and we ended up here per a recommendation from some loclals and if not, I would have never known about it. I would love to come back here. The atmosphere and decor made it that much more enjoyable.
(5)Lisa A.
Texts received in my phone: "you wore me down. I'll go to bugsy's back alley saloon with you. That British guy I work with wants to come with too." So for reasons I don't completely understand, I had trouble getting anyone to go here with me! Even said British guy bailed for soccer at the last minute. A more darkish safe house with a speak easy theme--people, I have to go to this! I did finally prevail in getting a trusty friend to accompany me as we trotted down a cold dark alley of the third ward on a weekday night like we were on some crazy covert Nancy Drew misadventure. Sure, it was early and we could have entered through gouda's italian deli but what fun is that? As a kid, alleys always conjured up images of nefarious goings-on & general trouble making. "You kids know you're not supposed to be playing in the alley!" and what not. Bugsy's just FEELS more authentic and speakeasy-ish than the Safehouse. Intuitively (probably from months of looking at yelp photos) I found the wooden little deck and inner "vault" entrance that finally leads you into the small bar. Inside it's done up in perfect dark wood saloon fashion. The drink menu is a thoughtful mix of beers, wines, and drinks you'd expect such as sazerac, sidecar's and old fashioned's. The music went from country ish (ugh), to Frank Sinatra (felt appropriate) to R.Kelly's "bump and grind" (now the dj is speaking my language.) Truth be told, as mentioned by others, minus the employees we were the only females. That being said, everyone including the female manager did a great job making us feel welcome and comfortable. We were looking for bar food and although they don't serve any, one of the waitresses went next door to goudas to purchase veggie paninis and subs for us. Were there dancing girls and '20s style tiny outfits? Yes. Am I the type who would let that stop my nonstop gossiping, philosophizing, and pontificating over after work adult bevys? Hell to the no. It reminded me of the dancer girls in every club / lounge in Vegas. If thats going to bother your sensibilities (you know who you are) than I'd go elsewhere but I thought it was overall classily done and fit the speak easy theme well. On a late Friday or Saturday night (they had a door man out back by the time we left) I'm guessing they get more female customers, and we both commented we'd like to go back and see what its like then. Glad I finally made it!
(4)Mike M.
I wanted to like this place. It's a great idea, and the decor is pretty spot on. The alley entrance is perfect at setting the mood. There was live music and.....ladies dancing on the bar in lingerie? Wait what? That's not really a speakeasy style. I want classy dames in long dresses, or flappers at the least. It just felt so glaringly wrong. Terribly cheap and exploitative. Now, I don't mind looking at women, but really, it's just gratuitous here, and it actually made me like this place less. It ruined pretty much everything else for me. The drinks were ok, and the prices weren't crazy, but that stuff really doesn't matter when I didn't even want to be there anymore. Lose the slutty outfits, they're not needed.
(2)Ryan P.
This place is like a classy Hooters. Think cute girls exploiting their assets, but a little more swanky. Bar - cool in design, I like the decor and piano. The speakeasy concept is cool, but Shakers & The Safe House are much better. Service - Really poor. Arrived early on a Saturday night and to wait a while for a drink. Half the limited seating was open but reserved for a group arriving later. Drinks were ok, but overpriced for MKE.
(3)Nicole O.
Great gem located literally in an alley way near/ in the 3rd ward... Look for the valet sign if this is your first time. Intimate space with themed followed throughout the bar. Live entertainment, (go-go) / "cab-beret" dancers. For first impression the space was full of a good crowd the hostess seated us at a table. We grabbed drinks from the drink menu... The cocktail waitress was very accommodating and made sure we received a drink that we enjoyed! We tried a drink off the menu that the pineapple was bad or the drink just tasted really bad, but either way she took care of it and replaced our drinks with something else , along with ordering us a round of shots for the mishap. I always feel it's more important how you handle a situation than the situation itself. Live music was nice but did not feel like it was a good pairing with the go go dancers... At least tonight... but overall the place is great and would recommend checking it out! Will be back again soon!
(5)Brad K.
What makes this place unique is that they really really take the Speak-Easy thing serious. Down to every single detail. The problem is, I'm not sure people going to a bar really care about the most specific details - or even notice them. From the entrance, to the bathroom, to the wall decor, to the lights, etc etc this place has everything that (I could imagine) would be in a speak easy saloon. It really feels like you are in a secret place, but not in a creepy or uncomfortable way. It feels like you're at an exclusive party or club, in a movie, or in a dream. Don't read the rest of this if you haven't been there - spoiler alert - just take my advice and go. Because the Italian deli was closed we had to go literally to the back alley to get into this place. I tried to go to this place before, but it was closed - however I tried during normal hours and it's really awesome when the Deli is open. The first time I went here I walked in the deli confused and asked where Bugsy's is, and she pointed to a door which I though led to the back of the deli. It led to a hallway that almost looked like the hotel hallway from The Shining. Reading my friend's awesome tip on foursquare that said "take the elevator to the 5th floor" I came to the end of the hallway and did indeed notice an old school elevator with the metal sliding door things. I pressed the up arrow on the elevator only to realize the door started to open. A fake elevator but secret door and then just like that you're in the bar. Pretty awesome! But the bar was closed then, so when I went on a Friday night you had to enter through the back alley. Through the back alley and up a platform is a bouncer behind a door who takes your ID. As you hear really nothing at all you enter through this door that looks like a trap door and the atmosphere party sound and vibe hits you like a jet wind. I've made it in. With the bar on the right, and a piano playing acoustic singer guy to the left you start to gaze at the weird ladies or go go dancers or whatever they are on the bar. Unnecessary? Perhaps. But not annoying. The bathroom decor, the setup, the fact that there are no windows, and the server's costumes are all completely in tune with the Speak Easy element. But the whole time we were there I couldn't help but notice one thing and one thing only... .. The people. Where am I? When I walked on the plaform did I go through a magic door as if I had the map to Hogwarts? I'm not sure how it happened but it seemed like I transported into a lounge in the middle of an expensive area of New York City. As if there was an event I unknowingly barged in on, it seemed like everyone in the bar was.. well .. rich. Everyone in the bar was overly dressed for a normal bar, and wearing clothing items that probably cost the same as my monthly car payment. Suede sport coats, fur jacket vests, sweaters with scarfs, etc etc. Where do these people come from? I didn't even know these people existed in Milwaukee, as I have certainly never seen them before. Confused, and after 12 more ounces of liquid courage I decided to approach one of these creatures and ask them if indeed there was an event going on. And like I anticipated, I was talked to as if I was somewhere I wasn't supposed to be - but I did in the process confirm that I was not at some exclusive event. Either way, it was so crowded in the place you could barely move. And there sits the reason I can't give Bugsy's 5 stars. It's not really in their entire control the crowd they bring in - and maybe it was an unsual night. Hopefully that's the case, and I'm sure I'll give it another try to see that through. But in the meantime I'll still wonder where this crowd came from.
(4)Joe P.
Descriptive phrase: speak- (and drink-) easy. Bugsy's Back Alley Saloon just opened up in the Third Ward, and it's a neat addition to the area. We came by this past Tuesday night. The only indication that you should head down a deserted alleyway across the street from SPiN is a sign indicating valet parking. As you get closer you'll notice a big purple light above a neat, industrial doorway. That night a doorman was there to greet us. The entrance-way lends itself to forming a line to get in, and the interior door is hidden into the wall. The owner's sure did a number on decorating this space. It still has the smell of fresh wood and stain, but it's actually a bit nice. There's two raised areas, one for seating and one for a piano. We were surprised that on a Tuesday night there were three female dancers in skimpy, but not tacky, outfits, rotating dancing around the piano. We sat in an area in between these two. There's also a bar (two TVs, only one on that night), and another area enclosed in metal gates. Behind the bar you'll find barmaids decked in flapper dresses. The servers that night were very nice and friendly, but they need a bit more experience behind the bar. They weren't familiar yet with all the different types of liquor they had, but they still made a mean Sazerac ($10). Katie K. also enjoyed their Old Fashioned ($8), and another friend had three of the French 175. Music was varied, starting out very old-timey and jazzy, but moving into modern R&B. They keep the lights down, but that adds to the ambiance. If you're adventurous, you might want to try to find the hidden entrance off Water Street. Overall I had a great time on my first visit to Bugsy's. Drinks were good an reasonably-priced. Service was fine. Ambiance was unique in Milwaukee (think a classy Safehouse). I think it'll be a hit in the Third Ward once word gets out. It's small, though, so get there early.
(4)Ali M.
Bugsy's is an awesome place to go on the weekend if you're looking for some good, live entertainment while you sip on some cocktails. I have been to Milwaukee a few times in the last 6 months and each time I have gone to Bugsy's. The piano player that was there the last few times was incredible and made my night there so enjoyable. He has a great voice and played a plethora of music ranging from every genre in the book. However, the only downfall to the place were the "live dancers." They were distracting (and not in a good way.) The place would be so much better without dancers. I would have been back the last time I visited Milwaukee, but I brought along some friends of mien and I didn't think the dancers created an environment they would enjoy. They made me feel awkward the last time I was there, and kind of ruined my vibe.
(4)Laura B.
Great concept. I really wanted to like this place, and agree with other reviews regarding how beautiful the bar is, but everything else is wrong. I tried the Happy Hour $5 martini Zelda; I guess you get what you pay for, and I seriously doubt there was any Grey goose vodka they advertised as one of the ingredients. Watched the bartender - she used rail hootch to make a $ 10 margarita Cadillac, instead of the Cazadores specified and Patron oranj. I caught her and asked which tequila she was using - she said there must have been a mistake on her menu. wow, that's lame. Music is totally wrong - punk, indie and rap. And the dancers look sad. I think you're good if you order the $3 happy hour bottles of beer, but this speakeasy is rigged.
(2)Kristina K.
Awesome concept! This place reminded me of the speakeasies in Chicago and New York, which make for a unique night out. You have to walk through the alley over by Hinterland, and there is an obvious red light signaling where the entrance is. We got there around 11:30pm and were able to get a table for four with a server. Not too shabby! There was a live band playing a great selection of music. My only complaint is that because the space is so tiny, they have to turn the music down a notch. I had to literally sit in my friends lap and speak into her ear for her to understanding anything I was saying. I get it - it's a bar, but it get's annoying when you have to constantly scream, "WHAT??!!" It's not fun when you have to sit and stare at each other because your voice has become so hoarse! Finally, whether this was the fault of the security or just quality control issue...There was a group of people who were ridiculously inebriated and proceeded to drop 2 bottles (in the course of the 10 minutes they were there) on the floor, which smashed glass everywhere. For a small bar, there were shards everywhere - not a good situation as you are trying to walk past this hot mess of a group. I want to go back for sure, because it's a cool concept. Just turn the volume down a bit...
(3)Brian M.
Highly disappointed. I had high hopes for this place. I heard from a friend about this cool new SURG speakeasy being designed by FLUX. I figured with that combination, how could one go wrong? Well FLUX certainly did an awesome job designing the place. It was magnificent down to every last detail. Unfortunately, that magnificence was overshadowed by barmaids in underwear. The exact same period feel could have been achieved with 50% more clothing. The whole, "I'm serving your drink in a corset" was really a bad move. Then this corset-wearing barmaid served up an atrocious old fashioned. Then, the half-naked dancer on the stage. I couldn't wait to get out of there fast enough. Advice to Owners: This place has huge potential, but you will significantly limit your market if you keep it the way it is. Get some clothes on those girls and I'd probably be back.
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