Wisconsin’s Hidden Speakeasies You Must Discover

As an Illinois girl with a love for true crime podcasts, prohibition history, and cocktails that come in mysterious glasses, I have a low-key obsession with hidden speakeasies, and Wisconsin is home to several unique ones.

Cool Places to Visit in Wisconsin

When most people think of cool places to visit in Wisconsin, Door County or the Wisconsin Dells usually are the first ones that come to mind.

Yes, both those places offer a boatload (pun somewhat intended) of fun things to see and experience, but there are a lot of "hidden" attractions many people miss out on all over the state.

Thanks to Discover Wisconsin, I'm now on a mission to go on a speakeasy adventure the next time I head north of the border.

Now I have to know more about each of the Wisconsin speakeasies mentioned in that video...don't you?

3 Hidden Speakeasies in Wisconsin

Let's start with Don's TV & Repair in Milwaukee, because I think this one might be my favorite.

Don’t let the name fool you, there’s no one fixing your grandma’s Zenith here. After walking through what looks like a legit, old-school TV repair shop, you'll come to a password-protected door that reveals a funky, retro, throwback bar with delicious food and milkshakes to die for.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Milwaukee Eat & Play - Wisconsin & Milwaukee food and fun guide (@milwaukee_eatandplay)

Now let's move onto another speakeasy hidden in Milwaukee: Shanghai in Black Cat Alley. Hidden behind a Chinese restaurant façade in an alley, this speakeasy has the kind of moody, dim lighting that makes you feel like you’re plotting your next heist, and some wicked cool drinks too:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KATIE, RN (@actiionjaackson)

If you prefer your speakeasies to be more haunted than unique, then The Speakeasy Lounge at Maxwell Mansion in Lake Geneva is the one for you.

Maxwell Mansion is often called the most haunted place in Lake Geneva, and one of the most haunted places in the entire state as it dates back to the 1800s. The Mansion's speakeasy delivers some of the best vibes and drinks in the state too:

Which of these hidden Wisconsin speakeasies will you be checking out first? I'm thinking a visit to Milwaukee to hit two places in one location might be tops on my agenda.