Fun and entertainment South Wisconsin

Resolutely alternative and off the beaten track, this local bar/art gallery/small concert venue attracts a crowd of young and old to relax in a European atmosphere. The atmosphere is very cool, 1970s style, with regular open mic sessions, where anyone can get on the small wooden stage and get the room dancing. On the menu, it's rather vegetarian, with great salads. One of our favorite spots in Madison.

Students gather here to study or chat over a good coffee or a vegetarian sandwich. With its (almost) neighbor the Fair Trade Café, it is the best place on the street to drink a decent coffee, not too diluted. On the walls of the first big room, local artists exhibit photos or paintings; if you're interested, talk to the staff, they're there for that. The back room is lined with shelves of books. In short, a nice place, where we support fair trade, to spend a relaxing and studious afternoon.

Just as the Michelangelo's a little lower on the street, the Fair Trade Café, as its name indicates, supports fair trade. The small terrace on the bottom is the right place to relax with a day of sightseeing.

Capital Brewery is a brewery that has already won numerous national and international awards (over two hundred, after all!). You can come and have a tasting session during the brewery's opening hours. Try the Maibock, the best-known of its beers, and the lightest. Afterwards, you'll have a choice of several seasonal beers, all very aromatic. The Capital Brewery hosts live concerts every Friday evening. Great atmosphere. For beer lovers, the brewery can also be visited from Friday to Sunday.

What's nice about Genna's is its eclectic side: throughout the day, the clientele evolves. Around 6pm, you'll find men in suits just off work, then two hours later students come in to spend the evening or just have a drink before going to the club. The cocktails are top-notch, among the best in town. The bar is very small, but size doesn't matter, considering how many people can sit or stand in front of it. Happy Hour on weekdays from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.

The Great Dane, which brews its own beers, is a popular place whose reputation has spread beyond the borders of Madison. Its pub-brewery is spacious, with a high but festive sound volume. The atmosphere is relaxed, the sofas are made of leather and you really don't want to get out once you've settled in. On the catering side, typical brasserie dishes, such as hamburger and chips, but also grilled salmon plates and salads. Six billiard tables are waiting for you, but on some evenings, you have to be patient: the place is known.