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Best Bloody Mary in Milwaukee | Local Foodie Guide 2023

Best Bloody Mary in Milwaukee | Local Foodie Guide 2023

Nothing beats pairing brunch with a fantastic bloody mary, and no other city does it like Milwaukee. Whether it’s a cure for the common hangover or just pleasing to the palate, bloody marys are a staple accompaniment to any serious weekend brunch.

The best bloody marys use a perfectly balanced house-made mix, occasionally with interesting twists, and always topped with tasty snacks that make the drink more like an appetizer rather than just a strong cocktail. Here’s our list of the best Bloody Mary’s in Milwaukee!


Top Rated Bloody Mary’s in Milwaukee

Milwaukee takes the bloody mary pretty seriously. While just about every place offers them, a few restaurants stand out for offering a variety of really delicious bloody marys topped with flavorful bites and always paired with a creative beer chaser. Read below for our guide to Milwaukee’s best bloody marys.


 

patio of Wicked hop in Milwaukee - Top Bloody Mary's in Milwaukee

1. Wicked Hop

Located in the Historic Third Ward, Wicked Hop has been around for years and continues to please customers with a really cool dining experience and fantastic food. Housed in a restored industrial building with exposed cream city brick walls and two levels of dining, Wicked Hop is one of those places where locals love to take out-of-town guests.

They also have a great drink special. The food at Wicked Hop has basically elevated bar food, with awesome nachos, wings, sandwiches, and a great brunch menu.

Wicked Hop’s Bloody Mary

The bloody mary at Wicked Hop has been voted the city’s best numerous times. The classic comes with the house-made mix, a cold shrimp, mozzarella whips, a smoked beef stick, kosher dill pickle, olives, pickled mushroom, and brussel sprout, and a Lakefront Riverwest Stein beer chaser.

Some diners may choose to go with the famed “Glass” Slipper, a plastic 96oz. a boot filled with the classic bloody mary and accompanied by six chasers (price varies). If you finish it, the “glass” is yours to keep.


Bloody Mary at Sobelman's famous for crazy garnishes like cheeseburgers

2. Sobelman’s

Sobelman’s is one of the most popular burger joints in the city, and if you ask us, they have one of the best burgers in Milwaukee. The original location is housed in a historic tavern in an otherwise industrial part of town. The location aside, the burgers were so good the restaurant quickly formed a cult-like following.

It didn’t take long before Sobelman’s established two more locations in the Milwaukee area, one on Marquette’s campus and one north of the city in Mequon. The restaurant offers excellent appetizers, mostly consisting of really amazing fried foods and of course, top-notch sandwiches and burgers.

When it comes to grabbing a bloody mary at Sobelman’s, the best accompaniment is the Hangover, with Colby-jack cheese, bacon, fried onions, and a fried egg.

Sobelman’s Bloody Mary

Beyond famous burgers, Sobelman’s is also known for some of the best bloody marys in the city. In fact, Sobelman’s bloody mix is popular enough it is now offered in stores. Head over to the restaurant, though, for the real experience, where you can choose from eight different options.

They have a classic bloody mary with simple toppings, and from there, the choices get increasingly original, like getting a cheeseburger slider on top, fried bacon-cheese bites, to group bloody marys like the Beast with garnishes, sliders, and bacon-wrapped cheese balls.

The most famous group, bloody mary, takes the Beast and also tops it with an entire fried chicken. From simple to crazy, Sobelman’s has you covered with excellent bloody marys.

Sobelman’s Location & Hours:

Sobelman’s Website (all Locations)

Sobelman’s on St. Paul

Sobelman’s at Marquette

Sobelman’s North Shore


Blue’s Egg

For the most popular brunch served daily in Milwaukee, head over to Blue’s Egg on the west end of the city.

The food at Blue’s Egg ranges from simple breakfast items like pancakes, though done really well, to really creative omelets, stuffed hashbrowns, sandwiches, and super delicious twists on benedicts, like the Florentine with poached eggs, spinach, tomato, English muffin, and hollandaise sauce.

There are always daily food specials worth ordering as well, in addition to tasty coffee drinks, beer, and cocktails.

Blue’s Egg Bloody Mary

With such great brunch food, it should come as no surprise that Blue’s Egg offers an excellent bloody mary. The Blue’s Bloody Mary comes with Black Dot vodka, tangy tomato juice, spices, bacon, and a Miller Lite chaser.

The vodka can also be substituted for a veggie-infused vodka that gives the bloody mary a really unique twist. Try the Blue’s Bloody Mary next time you head over to Blue’s Egg for breakfast.

West Milwaukee Location (original)


front of Cafe Benelux - Rooftop bar and top rated bloody mary's in Milwaukee

Cafe Benelux

Cafe Benelux is a Belgian-inspired restaurant and bar in the Historic Third Ward serving up an enormous beer menu and really tasty low-country-inspired cuisine. The restaurant itself is also awesome, with abundant indoor seating, cafe-style seats lining the sidewalk, and a rooftop dining area perfect for drinks in summer.

Food ranges from brunch items to interesting burgers and steaks, making Cafe Benelux the perfect spot to please everyone if in a larger party. The beer menu is also awe-inspiring since it seems like they have hundreds of beers to pick from. However, if you forego a beer on your trip to Cafe Benelux, you may just end up with one of the best bloody marys in the city.

Cafe Benelux Bloody Mary

Cafe Benelux takes their bloody marys really seriously, which may come as a bit of a surprise since the beer options take precedence. There are actually seven different bloody marys to pick from, all with different levels of heat, toppings, and liquors. The Traditional is simple yet delicious, with a house bloody mix, pickles, carrots, and olives.

From there, the options get more creative, like the Southsider, with peppercorn-infused local Rehorst vodka and jalapeno-stuffed olives. The Milwaukeean is also great, with local vodka, bloody mix, horseradish, beer, bacon, and cheese curds. For a nice selection of creative and well-made bloodys, head over to Cafe Benelux.


Comet Cafe

Located on Milwaukee’s east side, Comet Cafe is a retro diner, dessert stop, and bar all rolled into one. The kitchen opens early and runs through midnight, serving up creative spins on classic diner dishes like meatloaf, along with a bunch of interesting vegetarian and vegan options, in addition to great breakfast foods, like tofu scramblers, jonii cakes, sandwiches, and burritos.

The double-sided bar at Comet also provides great drinks and drink specials, like Tuesday $4 classic cocktails and Wednesday buy one get on whiskey specials. On Sundays, though there is always a line, Comet transforms into one of the hottest spots for brunch in the city, especially since they offer free bacon.

The Bloody Mary

The bloody mary at Comet Cafe is one of the most popular drinks they serve, especially on Sundays, since it pairs so well with free bacon. The vodka bloody mary has a house blend, adds a touch of Guinness beer, and is garnished with bacon and other pickled treats. The $7 bloody also comes with a 7oz. mini Miller High Life, which you’ll need since the bloody is a bit on the spicy side. If you don’t mind waiting for a bit to get a table, head over to Comet Cafe for some awesome food and a really excellent bloody mary.


County Clare Irish Pub

County Clare Irish Pub is attached to a small boutique hotel on Milwaukee’s east side. When it comes to the best Irish pubs in Milwaukee, County Clare definitely makes a strong case for being number one. The cozy interior comes with a warming fireplace, wood booths, and a small but comfortable bar.

Their regular menu features Irish staple dishes, like shepherd’s pie, and they offer a full brunch menu on weekends, offering classics like a full Irish breakfast with bangers, black and white pudding, Irish bacon, tomato, mushrooms, and brown bread with a choice of potato. Along with tasty Irish beers and craft cocktails, County Clare Irish Pub also has one of the best bloody marys in Milwaukee.

County Clare Bloody Mary

The bloody mary at County Clare is certain to cure just about any hangover, especially when coupled with any of the brunch items. The staple bloody mary comes with a house mix, smoked beef stick, a red potato, cheese, olives, a pickle, and lemon wedge, comes in an awesome goblet-style glass, and comes paired with a beer chaser choice. For an interesting twist on the classic bloody mary, try it with Guinness beer and whiskey instead of vodka.


roll up doors of Merriment Social in Milwaukee - Top burger joints

Merriment Social

Merriment Social, located right between Walker’s Point and the Historic Third Ward, is one of Milwaukee’s most popular restaurants. With a lengthy bar and abundant seating, and really neat garage doors that let the fresh air in during summer, Merriment Social boasts a great environment with a top-quality menu to match.

Their dinner menu features great burgers, sandwiches, various types of fried chicken, and really creative salads. The restaurant also has a tasty brunch on weekends. Try the fried chicken with waffles, topped with honey butter and maple syrup, and you definitely will not regret it ($18). Beyond great food, Merriment Social also has a great cocktail list, boozy shakes, and of course, a wonderful bloody mary.

The Bloody Mary

The bloody mary at Merriment Social is simple but really tasty. Topped with traditional ingredients, like olives, pickles, cheese, and sausage, the house mix is a bit spicy but well-balanced and really delicious.

For something a little more unique, try replacing the regular vodka with either the jalapeno-infused vodka or the rosemary and garlic-infused vodka. If you have the day off, consider going with their bottomless bloodies special. With great food and the possibility of having bottomless bloody marys, there is ample reason to get over to Merriment Social.


AJ Bombers on Water Street - Milwaukee's Best burgers

AJ Bombers

AJ Bombers is one of Milwaukee’s favorite destinations for high-quality and creative burgers. With one location downtown and another in Wauwatosa, AJ Bombers offers really good food at a reasonable price. They offer excellent appetizers, like cheese curds, and a menu of creatively topped burgers.

Try the Bomber Burger with a quarter-pound patty and a mushroom stuffed with American cheddar and muenster cheese. The restaurant also features a comfortable bar where you can try a variety of beers or craft cocktails, in addition to boozy shakes and an excellent bloody mary.

AJ Bomber’s Bloody Mary

The bloody mary at AJ Bombers pairs well with one of their outstanding burgers, especially when starting a Sunday fun day. The Bloody Bomber comes with a tangy house mix, an AJ Burger strip with cheese and bacon, plus a pickle, olives, and paired with either a miniature Miller High Life or Miller Lite. The house mix elevates the bloody mary to a superior level, and the toppings definitely solidifies the Bloody Bomber as one of the best in the city.

AJ Bombers Location & Hours

Water Street location

Mayfair Location

Stands at Miller Park and the Summerfest Grounds also


Story Hill BKC

Located on Milwaukee’s west end, Story Hill BKC is a popular choice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The restaurant features a small wine store and ample seating for dining.

The menu at Story Hill BKC is really creative and incorporates lots of locally sourced ingredients, which is certain to please, especially when paired with one of their excellent cocktails, wines, or beers.

Story Hill BKC’s  Bloody Mary

Especially if stopping in for breakfast or weekend brunch, the bloody mary is a really good choice at Story Hill BKC. They have two really great options. The first, the Story Hill Bloody Mary, has vodka, house bloody mix, cheese, olive, pickle, sausage, and a Miller High Life shorty chaser. You can also substitute regular vodka for vegetable-infused or bacon-infused vodka, the latter being especially delicious.

The other option is the Garden Variety Bloody Mary, with vodka, bloody mix, pico de gallo, hot pepper, olives, sausage, pickles, and a Miller High Life chaser, which is a great option if looking for a little spice. Either bloody mary is a great choice when hitting Story Hill BKC for breakfast.


Uber Tap Room

Uber Tap Room is one of the best stops in the city when it comes to trying various Wisconsin cheeses and beers. The tap room, which adjoins a cheese store, is located on Old World 3rd Street, right in the heart of a major entertainment district with restaurants, bars, and the Fiserv.Forum.

They offer a great happy hour with discounted beers, though the hours sort of vary based on whether special events like a Bucks game is going on. Either way, stop in for a giant pretzel, sandwiches, brats, or one of the cheese boards where you can try a variety of locally made cheeses.

Uber’s The Bloody Mary

The Deluxe Bloody Mary at Uber Tap Room is one of the best in the city, and pairs perfectly with one of the cheese boards or a brat. It comes with salami, cheese, lemon and lime wedges, pickle, olives, and a miniature beer chaser with your choice of beer.

Besides the super tasty toppings and a really well-made house mix, one thing that sets the bloody apart at Uber Tap Room is how good the staff is about adjusting heat levels. Want no heat or something super spicy? Just let the bartender know, and they always seem to hit the heat level right on the mark. For a bloody mary with great toppings with a heat level adjusted to your palate, head over to the Uber Tap Room.


West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe

West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe is a great destination for visitors to Milwaukee. They offer two convenient locations, one in West Allis and the other in the Milwaukee Public Market. Both offer numerous store items like deli meats, smoked sausage, and cheeses, in addition to a counter-service restaurant where you can grab excellent specialty sandwiches and breakfast items.

Especially if you are looking for a tasty lunch and the opportunity to grab some food-related souvenirs, then West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe is an ideal all-in-one stop.

West Allis Cheese’s Bloody Mary

Beyond excellent brunch and lunch items, West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe offers some of the best bloody marys in the city. All of the bloody mary choices come with a house-blended mix that definitely emphasizes the tomato juice, and they all come with a mini Rhinelander beer chaser.

Otherwise, there are four options, each with really creative toppings like mini grilled cheese, bacon, meat sticks, celery, mozzarella whips, olives, pickles, cheese, sausage kabobs, and hard-boiled eggs. With all these options, the bloody mary at West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe definitely counts as an appetizer.

West Allis Location

Public Market Location

 

Nathan

Friday 3rd of February 2023

Keep in mind most of these places don’t open till 11, so for a true good bloody go to your local diner.

Danielle Lennie

Thursday 19th of January 2023

Below is information for Great Lake's Hemophilia Foundation's 11th annual Milwaukee's Best Bloody. Drink Local. Give Local. All proceeds benefit the bleeding disorders community of WI. We currently have 13 area bars/restaurants participating, and nearly 700 people have purchased tickets for the Feb. 26 event. We are a small, local, non-profit organization who educates, supports and advocates for the bleeding disorders community of WI.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2023

Contact: Danielle Lennie, Communications Coordinator Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation 414.416.5014 Email: dlennie@glhf.org

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation’s (GLHF) 11th annual Milwaukee’s Best Bloody contest will be held Sunday, February 26 from 11:30 am until 2:30 pm, at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago Street, Milwaukee, WI. Milwaukee area bars and restaurants enjoy the opportunity to give back in a fun, unique way while showcasing their signature mix and garnish. Tickets on sale now (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/milwaukees-best-bloody-2023-tickets-339099564927) .

Hemophilia and von Willebrand disease are rare bleeding disorders and impact more than 3,600 Wisconsin families. Almost 90% of this population resides in the greater Milwaukee/Waukesha area. Families face many challenges — social, financial, and medical. GLHF’s mission is to educate, support and advocate for the bleeding disorders community; and our vision is to help people and families living with a bleeding disorder live life with fewer limitations.

DRINK LOCAL.

Milwaukee bartenders showcase their signature Bloody Mary recipes while guests enjoy beer chasers, appetizers and vote for their favorite bloody. Learn more about different ticket packages, as well as some of this year’s participants.

GIVE LOCAL.

Proceeds from Milwaukee’s Best Bloody helps support programs like Camp Klotty Pine for children living with a bleeding disorder; Family Camp; the Wisconsin Bleeding Disorders Conference; Wisconsin Legislative Day; educational scholarships and emergency patient financial assistance. In addition to funds raised to support our local programs and services, GLHF is part of a national awareness campaign to help the estimated 1-2% of the population who have a bleeding disorder get a diagnosis.

Milwaukee’s Best Bloody, a fundraiser for the Wisconsin bleeding disorders community, has experienced incredible growth over the last several years, and we’re hoping to continue that growth now that we’re back in person this year. Ticket information is available on our website. Visit glhf.org for information.

All tickets, including VIP and 6-Packs, include samples of every participating bar and restaurant, as well as appetizers. Designated Driver tickets are also available and include non-alcoholic Bloody Mary samples. This is a 21+ event.

Visit us on Facebook and Instagram for information and updates.

#BestBloodyMKE