Our Website is Live!

Our website for Bryant's Cocktail Lounge is now live.  Our site features lots of information about Bryant's, including cocktail and history pages.  Look for lots of future updates, including featured drinks and special events.

To visit our website, go to:

www.BryantsCocktailLounge.com

The old, old Bryant's

Before Bryant's was a cocktail lounge, it was opened as a beer bar.  Story has it that Bryant Sharp opened Bryant's in 1938 in its current location as a beer hall.  Sometime around 1941, he decided to give up beer and in order to serve only cocktails.  In addition, he took out his jukebox and replaced it with a record player on which he only played only classical music.  This was the birth of the first cocktail lounge in Milwaukee and, the story goes, the first cocktail lounge in Wisconsin.  From here, Bryant's grew in to the swanky lounge it is today.    

There are many stories that back up the timing of the establishment of Bryant's as a cocktail lounge.  One of our purveyors who custom mixes some of our cocktail ingredients claims that we are their oldest customer, dating back to "around the 1930's".  In addition, several people have told me their grandparents frequented Bryant's the cocktail lounge in the early 1940's.  I am unsure of when Bryant's was remodeled in to a cushy lounge, but some old timers have told me they remember the swanky Bryant's in the mid 1940's.  

We have two photos of Bryant's before it became a cocktail lounge.  An educated guess dates these photos sometime in the late 30's or early 40's, probably during World War II.  In the bottom photo, there is a recruiting poster on the wall that reads "Enlist Now!".  Dating this photo in the late 30's or early 40's is also consistent with the stories of Bryant's being a beer bar between 1938-1941; three of the four years were during WWII.  In addition, there is a posted notice in the lower photo from Wisconsin State Treasurer John Smith; an email to the current Wisconsin Treasurer's Office revealed that John Smith was in office from 1939 to 1947.  

  

Both of these historic photographs reveal a lot about the early Bryant's.  It appears that the lower photo is some sort of promotion of Miller Hi Life.  In addition, these photos reveal that Bryant was likely a fan of baseball (note the trophies on top of the bar and the baseball photo above the restroom doors).  This is consistent with stories past customers have told about taking the Bryant's shuttle between Bryant's and Milwaukee Braves games in the early 1950's.  These photos also reveal that Bryant's served food prior to becoming a cocktail lounge.  There is a sign above the bar that says "If your wife can't cook, eat here and keep her as a pet".  I think keeping someone as a pet in the early 30's had a much different connotation than it does today.

These photos also bring up a lot of questions.  If anyone knew the old, old Bryant's and has any information, stories, or the like, please email us .  Looking at these photos, I wonder:

• Who are the gentlemen in the photo?  Someone told me that Bryant Sharp was one of the men with his feet up at the stove, but we don't know exactly which one is Bryant.  Looking at the photos, it almost appears that Bryant is the bartender, which would also make sense. 
• When exactly was this photo taken and why was it taken?
• Was this photo taken at 2:13 in the afternoon?
• What is the significance of the the wing above the door to the ladies room?
• Where was the old Bryant's bar?  What was the configuration of the space?

These questions may never be answered, but it is definitely fun to speculate.  One thing is for sure, Bryant Sharp had a vision that would lead to the establishment of one of the greatest cocktail lounges in America.  

The "Old Bryant's"

When visiting Bryant's Cocktail Lounge, most people comment on the atmosphere- they are amazed at how well preserved the interior is and they wonder why Bryant's survived when so many cocktail lounges closed during the vodka tonic years. Many people don't realize that the Bryant's they visit is the third (or possibly fourth) incarnation of Bryant's. The Bryant's you know and love was remodeled in to the dimly lit slice of heaven in 1971, after Bryant's suffered a devastating interior fire.

While some of our older patrons fondly remember the "old Bryant's", many people wonder what it was like in the 1940's, 50's, and 60's. We recently came across some historic photos of Bryant's and wanted to share them with you. Hopefully, if you remember the "old Bryant's" they will stir some fond memories; on the other hand, if you are too young to remember the old Bryant's, hopefully these photos will show you that Bryant's has ALWAYS been a cool lounge and yes, our parents and grandparents were probably a lot cooler than we thought.

The lower bar, circa Christmas 1968.  Notice the signature window shades that can still be seen at Bryant's. The bar is a different shape, but the place is still all class.

The main seating area has always been booths.  The layout was different and the vinyl was much lighter than it is today.

There was a spiral staircase that led to the velvet lounge.  After the fire, the front entryway was added and the staircase was reconfigured.  Notice the vintage cigarette machine, hat rack, and the wrought iron stair handrail.  

Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour

Every weeknight from 5 PM to 9 PM, Bryant's is having a traditional cocktail hour!

Stop in to Bryant's Cocktail Lounge and enjoy the best old fashioned in town at the best price in town- 1/2 price! In addition, several of our traditional small cocktails are only half price. Feeling adventurous? Try a Candlelight, Mona Lisa, or Kismet. Each is unique and the perfect accompaniment to early evening relaxation.

OnMilwaukee Article

OnMilwaukee, Milwaukee's premier online magazine, recently wrote a great article on the return of Bryant's Cocktail Lounge. If you haven't had a chance to read it, you can access the article at:

http://www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/bryantsisback.html

There are some great photos of Master Mixologist Evan Barnes and host extraordinaire Free Jazz Frank. If you have an opportunity, make sure to thank Julie Lawrence for keeping us informed of all the happenings around Milwaukee.

Cocktails on Credit

While we have tried to keep Bryant's as authentic as possible, there are some things we had to change.  One of the most important changes we made was to acquire the capability to take credit cards.  So few people carry cash these days, it didn't make sense to take only cash.  We contemplated an ATM, but unfortunately there is no such thing as a retro looking ATM (even though they used to be called Tyme Machines).

We now take credit cards and VISA/Mastercard debit cards.  Feel free to charge to your heart's content.

See you soon! 

Better than TV, by far.

It is very surprising how many people wonder if we have a television or flat screen TV. Not saying we are not a fan of TV, but this is a cocktail lounge, and we are very proud to not have a television. We have found that a TV is always the center of attention, no matter what is on. Have you every been on a date and found yourself staring blankly at championship ice block riding on ESPN 36? Yeah, us too.

We are offering a TV replacement that will add to your conversation without being overbearing, while still offering a distraction for those awkward moments of silence:



Our aquarium, set up and maintained by Mike the Fish Guy, offers a glimpse in to a world of serenity and warmth- a perfect match to your Knob Creek Manhattan with three shakes of bitters and two cherries.  Much better than television.

The first week...

After being open a full week, we've noticed that people are very happy that Bryant's is back. Most surprising has been the number of people who drive by for old time sake, only to find the open sign on. Many of these people have stories of their parents and grandparents coming to Bryant's or fond memories of coming to Bryant's for cocktails with friends.  We are excited to continue this tradition for the next generation.    

By far, the most popular drink has been the Black Magic- a huge concoction of flavors and liquor that tastes something like grape soda from when you were a child. The best part- It is one of Bryant's drinks that comes to your table on fire.

Evan, one of the masters of mixology behind the bar

at Bryant's.

When you stop by, remember that Bryant's does not currently have a drink list. As far as we are aware, it never has. We can tell you that there are more than 450 options to choose from- from sweet and tall to strong and small.  We are sure that Bryant's has a drink for every taste. And yes, we even have some beer and wine.

We have found that the best way to approach finding the right cocktail at Bryant's is to talk to your bartender or server, tell them what you normally like or are in the mood for, and they will come up with a cocktail that blows your mind.   Do you like watermelon?  The Frosty Melon may be in order.  A fan of chocolate covered cherries?  The Bavarian Cherry is just what you are looking for.  A fan of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra?  The Rat Pack, a tasty concoction of whiskey, gin, and juice, may suit your tastes.  Feeling adventurous?  You can order by color, strength, or texture.  

One thing is certain, we serve drinks that you will not find anywhere else.  

See you soon!  

Bryant's is back in business!

After 9 months, Bryant's opened its doors again yesterday at 5 PM. We had a great turnout and the three bartenders, Chad, Evan, and Scott made number of Bryant's classic cocktails. While the Brandy Alexander, Brain Buster, and Black Magic cocktails were the most popular, many people experimented with something new. In all, the crowd seemed excited that Bryant's is back and that everything is virtually the same.



We look forward to having more old and new friends stop by this week. We are quickly working out the kinks and are excited to bring this classic cocktail lounge back to Milwaukee.

Re-opening on July 8th!

For those of you who have been calling, leaving messages about how much you are missing your Brainbusters and Black Magics, we have great news. The end of the end is in sight and we will be opening again on Tuesday, July 8th. The upstairs lounge will open again in August, on our grand opening night.

While we have been doing some work, we have preserved the spectacular lounge feel of Bryant's, right down to the vintage stereo system. The fish tank is up, the star lights are glowing, and the drinks are ready to flow. We look forward to seeing some of our old friends, while making sure young Milwaukee realizes the value of the treasure they almost lost.

We invite you to stop by Tuesday through Saturday from 5 PM to 2 AM, or Sunday from 8 PM to 2 AM. If you have any questions, please call us at (414) 383-2620 or email us at bryants@wi.rr.com.

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge, located at 1579 South Ninth Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is one of the best preserved cocktail lounges in America. From the velvet wallpaper to the slushy cocktail creations, Bryant's is what a cocktail lounge ought to be.

Open since 1934, Bryant's has a long tradition of providing guests with quality beverages in a unique atmosphere. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have been closed since September of 2007. We plan on re-opening on June 21st, 2008 to continue our long standing tradition of being Milwaukee's finest and oldest cocktail lounge.

Please check back often- we will be updating our progress frequently. If you have any questions, please email bryants@wi.rr.com.