Great atmosphere, plenty of seating, variety of drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeremy Miller
Classic go-to tiki bar in Milwaukee. Great for the first stop of the night or after dinner.Drinks: Great cocktails all around. I always lean towards the tequila drinks. Some of the cocktails you’ve got to watch out for since they’ll be real sugary.Atmosphere: look at it. Moody and pirate-like. It sets the scene for a good time. Although it is really loud and you’ll prolly have a hard time hearing company.Service: super quick. Order at the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicole Hines
My daughter and I were celebrating her birthday and she found The Foundation tiki bar-the ambiance is absolutely appropriate being dark and underwater themed, it was fun! It’s a small bar, but filled with a great spirit, smiling patrons, and beautiful fire-filled shareable drinks!By the time we were leaving there was a line outside to get in, but totally worth a short wait if you want a tasty drink or two (with many having collectable cups, which of course we didn’t grab on the way out, as they said we’d get a clean one-but it was busy, so we’ll try again next time)!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Bre D.
Growing up in Wisconsin, I would have given a kidney to have a tiki bar like Foundation to hang at. Alas, I moved away to warmer weather before punk gave way to pineapples. The good news though is for every holiday at home with the family, I have a tropical escape. Foundation checks the boxes on creating a nice tiki vibe, friendly service and well balanced drinks. Always love a place that has exotica standards on their playlist but that's not usually the case when I'm there. After a few zombies though, who notices? Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas break-you will know where to find me!
Braeden Wood
My favorite bar in Milwaukee, great drinks, great atmosphere, and live music on certain days. If you go on a weekend expect a wait to sit down. I highly recommend going for their happy hour Monday-
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bikini Kai, Rum Barrel, Volcano Bowl, Passion Punch
Chris Henley
Great bar, great drinks, and an Airbnb above the bar!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiki, Rum Barrel, Volcano Bowl
Jewel 1708
I was so excited to go back to this place. From Chicago and was here 2x prior. It's been a few years since my last visit. I was with a friend and paid a 25.00 cab ride from our hotel in the downtown area. We walk in, and it is pretty full of people at 7pm on a Saturday. I couldn't remember if they had an actual bar to sit at...so I was looking around after we walked past the front area. A woman bartender with short brown hair asked me...can I help u? I responded...yes, do u have a bar to sit at? She responds...no we don't and there are plenty of people already waiting for a table so you should try another bar...or you can wait OUTSIDE until a table is ready. Mind you..it's winter and it was about 20 degrees outside ?. I just thought her attitude and suggestions to me were so very rude! I'm probably never going to return. Wasted 25 there and 20 back to the hotel downtown area to be told to wait outside or go find another bar...definitely disappointing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 1
Compadre T.
I really love this bar and have been coming here for years, so I'm writing this in hopes that they are going to look at this review and really take a look at their current host. I came in there on a date recently, and the host was quite rude; I'm not gonna give this place one star like a lot of different people would because it is typically five stars and higher. But what they need to do is they need to work on their host? Get rid of that guy. Otherwise, this place is pretty amazing. He basically made fun of us and told us to stand to the side, if he's the owner. Wow what a disappointment.
Mary Jane Sanchez
I have been wanting to come here forever. Finally made it. I love house bars.. This one has been around since 1995, I am told. A great selection of rums this place to set up for good conversation and drinks of paradise. A nice little Milwaukee getaway.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Michael Jacobs
Among the best tiki bars I've ever been to. Their style and skill is no secret, Foundation's history and consistent quality make it a truly wonderful place to be. Ideal for dates, but groups and friends fit in easily.
Fun and kitschy with fantastic tiki drinks - what more could you want?!?
Jenna W.
Fun and kitschy with fantastic tiki drinks - what more could you want?!? Street parking only and the place fills up pretty fast on weekend nights but I've never waited more than 20ish minutes.
Julia Steen
I just wish they served all of the drinks on fire.
Audra M.
For the modest price, these drinks pack a punch. They are tasty, and I enjoyed my libations a great deal. I did not notice a huge difference in taste when it came to my mai tai and my second drink, the Tonga Punch. Maybe it's just because I'm typically not a rum person, so two rum drinks tasted similar. Both were really good though. Just mentioning it in case someone like me goes in and would like two distinct flavor profiles. And I say "two" because more than two drinks here would be a mistake, given their powerful effect! We were there early enough that it was not busy, and ordering at the bar and having drinks delivered was convenient, but I am curious why they don't do table ordering before they become busy. It works for them, so it's fine. I really appreciated the affordable prices for drinks that are so inventive and flavor-packed. The interior is decorated in a fun way, per a typical tiki bar, albeit a small one. I especially appreciated that they had a Malort drink. I'm from Chicago, and Malort is a Chicago thing. I did not order, as I wanted fruity and not bitter, but if I go back, and they still have it, I will be having it as a first drink.
S P.
Recommended by a book we were given re: best tiki bars around the country, I'm honestly shocked we hadn't found our way here sooner. The BEST tiki vibes, deliciously easy to drink tiki drinks, it might honestly be worth Uber or Lyft-ing yourself here to really enjoy this without worries.
Great atmosphere, plenty of seating, variety of drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Classic go-to tiki bar in Milwaukee. Great for the first stop of the night or after dinner.Drinks: Great cocktails all around. I always lean towards the tequila drinks. Some of the cocktails you’ve got to watch out for since they’ll be real sugary.Atmosphere: look at it. Moody and pirate-like. It sets the scene for a good time. Although it is really loud and you’ll prolly have a hard time hearing company.Service: super quick. Order at the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My daughter and I were celebrating her birthday and she found The Foundation tiki bar-the ambiance is absolutely appropriate being dark and underwater themed, it was fun! It’s a small bar, but filled with a great spirit, smiling patrons, and beautiful fire-filled shareable drinks!By the time we were leaving there was a line outside to get in, but totally worth a short wait if you want a tasty drink or two (with many having collectable cups, which of course we didn’t grab on the way out, as they said we’d get a clean one-but it was busy, so we’ll try again next time)!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Growing up in Wisconsin, I would have given a kidney to have a tiki bar like Foundation to hang at. Alas, I moved away to warmer weather before punk gave way to pineapples. The good news though is for every holiday at home with the family, I have a tropical escape. Foundation checks the boxes on creating a nice tiki vibe, friendly service and well balanced drinks. Always love a place that has exotica standards on their playlist but that's not usually the case when I'm there. After a few zombies though, who notices? Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas break-you will know where to find me!
My favorite bar in Milwaukee, great drinks, great atmosphere, and live music on certain days. If you go on a weekend expect a wait to sit down. I highly recommend going for their happy hour Monday-
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bikini Kai, Rum Barrel, Volcano Bowl, Passion Punch
Great bar, great drinks, and an Airbnb above the bar!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiki, Rum Barrel, Volcano Bowl
I was so excited to go back to this place. From Chicago and was here 2x prior. It's been a few years since my last visit. I was with a friend and paid a 25.00 cab ride from our hotel in the downtown area. We walk in, and it is pretty full of people at 7pm on a Saturday. I couldn't remember if they had an actual bar to sit at...so I was looking around after we walked past the front area. A woman bartender with short brown hair asked me...can I help u? I responded...yes, do u have a bar to sit at? She responds...no we don't and there are plenty of people already waiting for a table so you should try another bar...or you can wait OUTSIDE until a table is ready. Mind you..it's winter and it was about 20 degrees outside ?. I just thought her attitude and suggestions to me were so very rude! I'm probably never going to return. Wasted 25 there and 20 back to the hotel downtown area to be told to wait outside or go find another bar...definitely disappointing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 1
I really love this bar and have been coming here for years, so I'm writing this in hopes that they are going to look at this review and really take a look at their current host. I came in there on a date recently, and the host was quite rude; I'm not gonna give this place one star like a lot of different people would because it is typically five stars and higher. But what they need to do is they need to work on their host? Get rid of that guy. Otherwise, this place is pretty amazing. He basically made fun of us and told us to stand to the side, if he's the owner. Wow what a disappointment.
I have been wanting to come here forever. Finally made it. I love house bars.. This one has been around since 1995, I am told. A great selection of rums this place to set up for good conversation and drinks of paradise. A nice little Milwaukee getaway.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Among the best tiki bars I've ever been to. Their style and skill is no secret, Foundation's history and consistent quality make it a truly wonderful place to be. Ideal for dates, but groups and friends fit in easily.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Fun and kitschy with fantastic tiki drinks - what more could you want?!?
Fun and kitschy with fantastic tiki drinks - what more could you want?!? Street parking only and the place fills up pretty fast on weekend nights but I've never waited more than 20ish minutes.
I just wish they served all of the drinks on fire.
For the modest price, these drinks pack a punch. They are tasty, and I enjoyed my libations a great deal. I did not notice a huge difference in taste when it came to my mai tai and my second drink, the Tonga Punch. Maybe it's just because I'm typically not a rum person, so two rum drinks tasted similar. Both were really good though. Just mentioning it in case someone like me goes in and would like two distinct flavor profiles. And I say "two" because more than two drinks here would be a mistake, given their powerful effect! We were there early enough that it was not busy, and ordering at the bar and having drinks delivered was convenient, but I am curious why they don't do table ordering before they become busy. It works for them, so it's fine. I really appreciated the affordable prices for drinks that are so inventive and flavor-packed. The interior is decorated in a fun way, per a typical tiki bar, albeit a small one. I especially appreciated that they had a Malort drink. I'm from Chicago, and Malort is a Chicago thing. I did not order, as I wanted fruity and not bitter, but if I go back, and they still have it, I will be having it as a first drink.
Recommended by a book we were given re: best tiki bars around the country, I'm honestly shocked we hadn't found our way here sooner. The BEST tiki vibes, deliciously easy to drink tiki drinks, it might honestly be worth Uber or Lyft-ing yourself here to really enjoy this without worries.