Caribou Tavern

Stop in and enjoy a 'Bou Burger and a PBR. Classic dive bar that serves good food. Simple, fresh, made to order, this place hits the spot.

This place was suggested by a bartender at the Brass Ring. I asked where the nearest dive bar would be and said the caribou down the street. It was a late Wednesday night and it was hopping in there! Service was great! Loved the bartender!

Good beer selection, classic dive bar atmosphere. We came for the burgers which were highly recommended. Unfortunately, we were pretty disappointed. They’re nothing special. The bar tender was nice, but she was the only one working and service was slow. They have a great tap list.

This is the kind of joint you want to lie about so other humans won’t find it and eventually ruin it or at least my “it”. Cool little neighborhood spot to be you at. Great staff, reasonable prices and a burger your mouth will water for. The Caribou Tavern is a bar first but if you came to eat remember they have a strict dress code, reservations aren’t accepted and bring your A game if ya have one. As a bonus you can do a load of whites nexts door. The gentle cycle will keep ‘em white longer except for those blood stains and whatever else that is……I’ll be back because gems like these are few and far between. Enjoy….

Love this place! Get a beer and burger while i do my laundry next door. Best one stop shop!

Came here after a Queens of the Stone Age show at a Breese Stevens, kept the vibes rolling with a Double IPA on draft and a pack of American Spirits, both reasonably priced. Will be back.

This bar is the best! A whole in the wall but great food! Bartenders are awesome!

If you want a very tasty, juicy bar burger, the Caribou Tavern is the place to go! The bartender served us the cheeseburgers with a side of french fries and everything was cooked to perfection, even the bun was toasted nicely, however, the burgers could’ve been made a little larger, they were a little too small. The bartender Winslow is an awesome bartender and very friendly. He did well working the bar solo and on a busy night! The Caribou Tavern overall has great food and drinks and is a pretty cool place to hang out but not a lot of room. It’s like a long hallway, but we will still return!!!!!

nice spot for a cheap drink and dinner. décor is nice and the place itself is clean. Cari did a great job at the bar--very kind and friendly! would definitely recommend. a good spot whether you come alone or with friends.

This is the cheers of Madison. The bartender Winslow is the man, the myth, and the legend. Great service and as a newbie and potentially long time patron we were greeted as such. We had a really good burger which the meat was from Jenifer's market and bacon was from Nueskes. Great time had and hope to be back soon.

This place was amazing in town for my man's bday and this was stop 1 on my tour of Madison. We had lunch he had the Bou burger and I had a brat plus some delicious cheesecurds and fries. We of course took part in some pullies (Wisco tradition). Stevie the bartender was so sweet very friendly! It's narrow no tables everything's bar service.

Best A-Bar bar in madison - if you know the right people that is Winslow Wednesdays nothing better than staying after hours with the best tender

If you love a dive bar and a darn good bar burger (on that red and white paper) at a fair price, do yer self a favor and saddle up at the 'bou. I give this four stars because the burger was That Good, the fries were good, and the beer was cold. Warning: there's no telling who you'll sit next to. I had a profane sports fan to my right (the bar has a big tv that plays the local games) and a regular to my left who was throwing back vodka drinks at an alarming rate.

Nice little dive bar. Decent prices and wide enough selection of drinks. Service was good. Made for a chill stop.

I haven't been here for almost 15 years....what's wrong with me? Just your classic neighborhood bar with a flat top and fryer tucked away in the corner. Some good beers on tap with many more in bottles and cans. Bartenders pour a stiff drink. While I prefer my burgers "smashed", the bou burger is definitely up there in taste. The patty was perfectly cooked nestled between a bun that is almost reminiscent of a Sheboygan hard roll (my fave). With the meat sourced from Jenifer Street Market, the quality is there. An all around a really solid place filled with regulars and visitors alike.

The epitome of a dive bar. Super good food, awesome service, and the vibes were awesome. First time here we shared some food. We mentioned we were going to split the burger 3 ways and Ruth pre split it for us. She was fast and super friendly. Awesome spot to stop before our event. Highly recommend.

The burger wasn't cooked all the way and the bar tender was mad because I didn't leave a tip mind u the bill was about 50 dollars I ordered 2 rounds of Jameson and sprite and tequila soda for my gf and a round of the mystery shots for my gf and I didn't have that much money on me I had to make sure we had money to get to work ect but I still bought us drinks and this undercooked burger I wasn't gonna tip for that u high as hell i spared his feelings and told him the food was fine not good so idk why he felt he had the right to confront me after I spent 50 on the visit there it's not my fault he works for 3 dollars an hour not everyone is obligated to tip I would have if the food was cooked right and if he wasn't drinking to I just wasn't gonna tip for undercooked food that could possibly make me sick but I chose to say it was ok regardless of the fact he didn't even cook it right and was drinking mind u I have no high school diploma and I work with Costco I never once been too college but yet I make way more than him he chooses that job why should I feel bad at the end of the day not trying to make it seem like idgaf because I do I always tip to bartenders that actually deserve it when I went there last time I tipped the nice lady but to confront your customers over no tip is mad wild I had about 100 dollars left I could of tipped but not when I get uncooked food and a drunk ass bartender why would I tip I was already nice enough to spare his feelings about his shitty cooking I think that's enough I have no intentions on going back there and it really sucks because that's the closest bar to me but oh well as he was yelling about no tip I told him eat a dick and I walked out

Excellent food and service. Very nice, friendly and clean old school tavern. The other customers were very nice. We will be there again and again.

Another Wednesday night at the boo! Had the need for a Winslow burger with bacon cheddar and raw onions cooked medium rare of course, with cheddar jalapeño poppers! Most good!

The burgers are phenomenal. The service was fair and prompt. Rock vibes with sports in the background. Yes they do take card and Apple Pay

I really enjoyed this 5 star dive bar. The food was great, huge beer selection, fair prices, and most of all great service. The staff was amazing!

It was my first time hanging out at the Caribou Tavern. We decided to visit as it was in the Madcity Cocktail book, and they had a scavenger hunt option. Best decision ever!!! Scott, our bartender, was friendly, responsive, and a bit of a smart alec (which we LOVED). He cooked us appetizers, which were, for bar food, very tasty. The atmosphere was definitely neighborhood bar friendly. Take time to visit! BONUS - pull tab win $250. On Wisconsin!!!!

What a phenomenal local bar. Went to grab burgers for Sunday lunch and regret not having gone here years ago. When people talk about cool neighborhood dive bars this is what everyone fantasizes they are. Regulars come in after their shift and get their drink served without a word. Great bar food prepared and served by a guy you know genuinely cares about what he's doing. So thanks Scott plan to be back very soon!

The Bou's ambience. Great. Winslow's drinks and food? Top notch. But that is all relative to W's high quality bartending and supreme caretaking, purely complemented by his wife's warmth & laughs. A certain highlight of our trips to Madison, now and in the future

If you want a neighborhood dive bar with good bar food and cheap drinks that are poured with a heavy hand, look no further! Seating can be scarce on nights when it's packed (it's usually never dead at night even if it's not packed), but the drinks are strong, and the food is cheap and delicious!

My favorite dive bar in Madison. The location is great, good parking, good atmosphere. The food is phenomenal! I regularly stop after work or on lunch for a burger. They're always juicy and flavorful. Prices are very reasonable, too! Staff has always been friendly.

We started the dive bar tour after lunch and bloodys. This was the first stop on our tour and it was a classic dive, see my pictures. The place has poker machines and an Atm. The place filled to max while we're there and seems very popular. They have a grill and serve food if you want a bite. Everyone I saw getting food was ordering burgers so that must be there thing. Service was friendly and we had a Wi dive bar good time.

Both the very best burger AND the cities top rated and most loved bar tender reside here. If you happen to be in on a night Winslow is working, you will be on cloud 9 from entry to exit. The Caribou is a place where you can experience what America was meant to be and YOU WILL suck it up and obey the cash bar only rule. No credit cards, no debt cards, no bitcoin, just cash and joy on tap. If you have a card, there is an ATM at the end of the bar and YOU WILL be patient and happier for being an adult. Tip well and honor a tradition too rare in this world.

terrible service, rude staff who encouraged fighting between customers and engaged in extremely toxic behavior, used to be good but has taken a dive

Was looking for a more divey atmosphere while still having good hospitality, and this place nails it on all fronts! Great bartender who makes everyone feel welcome here. Can't wait to go back!

Great old bar located off Johnson St.. blink and you'll miss it! Both a back and front door entrance and I think they open EARLY for all you hardcore ALCO's. The service here is what really makes the place! We went before the Ryan Adams show and the Friday bartender was exceptional, so nice and said she had been working there for 33 years, wow. We tried burgers and they were very good, everything about them was very fresh! The meat is sourced from a local market and really makes the burger.. don't forget the grilled onions. Came back after the show to find a PACKED HOUSE and only one bartender!? Have no fear, Winston was on hand and is one hell of a bartender, watch him work. It may not be the fastest service but he does everything right, trust me! Towards the end of the night I was amazed at the amount of tips just lying on the bar and behind the bar; there's a method to the madness for sure. Prices are CHEAP and clientele ranges from locals to barflies to college kids! Poker machines & a decent juke round out a five star dive bar! Talk later PS- Cash ONLY! PSS- Great neon sign.

Best bar and bartenders in the state. Amazing service, great food for the price. Did you know Alcatraz means pelican?

Love, Love, Love this place!! I visit every time I'm in Madison and have the pleasure of seeing Winslow's smiling face. In this last visit I was only able to visit him once but I'll remedy that next time. :) Food is consistently fantastic, people are nice and prices are extremely reasonable. A dive bar after my own heart!

Wonderful bar food! Great dive bar, I'm sorry if your child or bang-trophy didn't have a good time here, I mean it is a bar and not Chuckie Cheese so.........

Very good food!! Burgers are the best!! But definitely not the most comfortable place if you're a minority. There are a couple nice bartenders but the one with the hat is always rude and seems like she's having the worst time of her life. I recently went there again to order takeout and she was sitting at the slot machine and after walking in she realize she had to take my order and let out a big sigh. Very rude and made me feel very uncomfortable.

I'm so torn about this place. The service is quite literally one extreme to the next - there's no in between. We typically come here when we're doing laundry next door because it's convenient, inexpensive and offers food; pretty typical dive bar. I've only seen two bartenders there and they are always staffed alone. The short woman is rarely in a good mood - hardly acknowledges customers and when she does come around she's not very polite. She seems annoyed to have to take your order or refill your drink. The other bartender is usually pretty nice but gets easily overwhelmed. I've worked in hospitality for years so it really bothers me when people openly hate their job. If you don't like people, or can't take the stress then maybe a job outside of hospitality is a better option. This past trip was the first time we ordered food. Both of us got cheeseburgers and fries. The burgers were great - a lot thicker than you'd expect from a place like this. And the fries came un-salted (the bartender told us) which was appreciated. Still undecided if we'll ever go back.

Great neighborhood tavern! Delicious bar food, bartenders do double duty, make the drinks and cook the food right behind the bar!

Three stars because the burger was good but also because it feels like a place for people who want to be drunk and alone.

A friend introduced me to the Bou. I love the small townie feel of the bar. MOST patrons, especially the regulars are welcoming. I have yet to have the food, but getting drunk here as the first and/or last stop is always awesome. My favorite bartender is Winslow! For many reasons but my top reason, well, that man is a beast! With an overpacked bar he can remember you're drink, to refill and has the most positive attitude in chaos. If your feeling like you want rowdier scene, downtown Madison isn't far, so hop on a bus or a cab and you got a good night. *2/24/17 update: food is great!

One of the great dive bars in Madison. Unluck most dive bars, the offer a nice little selection of craft beers. The 'Bou Burger is outstanding. A classic dive bar burger that comes of a grill that is heavily seasoned.

Great bar: drive-y atmosphere, with a stellar tap list and great French fries. It's seemingly open all day long -- with patrons the entire time. Service is appropriately/expectedly terrible, but also unpretentious. I hit up this place whenever I'm doing bulk laundry or waiting for a table at forequarter. That being said, if I didn't live on the opposite side of the isthmus, I'd be here far more regularly. It's the crystal corner of the Mendota half of Madison :)

What a terrific find in Madison. Great service. Strong neighborhood vibe. Shout out to Winslow our bartender and the great late night o-rings.

I'm fine with standoffish bartenders who don't treat you that nice to a degree, but my experience at the Caribou really sucked. I hate this bar... And it keeps ending up on everyone's list of favorite bars, which completely mystifies me! I went there a year ago with some colleagues. A couple of us ordered an IPA on tap that was awful and undrinkable. We asked for a different beer after a couple sips, which was met by the bartender with a roll of the eyes. We were charged for those beers that we didn't drink. When we asked to have them removed, our polite request was met with even more disdain from the bartender. I can't remember if we ended up paying for them because the look is what stuck in my head. Also, another friend felt guilty or shamed or something and left a $20 tip, which wasn't deserved. I've never gone back, and I don't intend to.

Love this dive bar! I stop by here and grab a burger and fries while I wait for my laundry. The burger has a perfect buttery bun, and is topped with pickles, cheese, and caramelized onions. Basic and delicious. I like to drench my fries with the ranch that they have and I'll order a Pepsi. There is usually a very welcoming lady who works the bar. She has vibrant white hair and she really is a sweet heart. Very attentive and makes you want to come back! Till' my next load of laundry, I shall see you soon Caribou Tavern!

Best dive in town! The burgers here are among the best in town, which is amazing considering what a tiny little place it is. They form each patty by hand and they put it on an amazing roll that absolutely makes the burger. Top notch! Laid back crowd, decent jukebox, good mix of beers on tap and in bottles, tasty food, and friendly bartenders. There is just something about the combination of everything it has to offer that just makes it a great place to hang out.

A cozy (aka tiny) little place next to the laundromat on East Johnson, Caribou is a no frills dive along the lines of Rustic Tavern. Lots of wood, very few lights, and a surprising menu (goulash & stroganoff among standard bar fare). Friends ordered a burger and fries and it looked and smelled delicious. Friends confirmed that the taste was just as good as the other senses led you to believe it would be. One note for the ladies: the lock on the bathroom door appears to be busted. I went in, turned the lock, and immediately had someone open the door. I had just shut the door, so no embarrassing encounter, but that was just luck. Make sure to have a friend watch the door, or at least put a hand or foot against the door while you're indisposed.

Well, it's about as divey as Madison gets. BUT, if you go knowing that, this place is pretty enjoyable. I've heard the burgers are pretty good, but we just stopped in for a few drinks, mid-walk to downtown from East Johnson. After a few shots and beers, we were on our way, but the drinks were cheap and we met some fun characters. Overall, a pretty cool place, although it is quite a ways away from the Capitol bars and State Street.

With a barkeep who knows when you want to be left alone (or need a beer), this place has moved "top" on my local bar list. On food, the burger was fantastic. Apparently, it's fresh baked bread from a local place, and the meat is from Jenny Street Market - I don't care that much about the provenance of the product (though the "local' stamp does make it a little more attractive), what I care about it how it tastes... and this was brilliant. Perfectly cooked (medium-rare), well-balanced simple burger (good bun to meat ratio). The only downside of the 'bou is that it's a little cramped, but in my opinion, squishing together at the bar is just part of the charm of the place.

After 2 years in Madison, I finally made it to the Caribou. I ordered the Caribou burger with cheddar and a side order of cheese curds. The bun for the burger was mind blowing. I devoured my meal in record time and found myself planning my next visit. There are many great meals in Madison, and that burger is one of them. (Cheese curds were not prize winning)

Every time I visit Madison, I stop by for them tasty home made juicy greasy hamburger packed with that one-two, fat-and-cholesterol punch. The magnificent hunk of patty is served between soft buns with lettuce, tomato, and onion and your favorite fried dish on the side. I must give my fair warning to you cheese imperialists out there, and I know there are plenty of you - the curds are frozen here. But gosh darn it, I love me a Bou Burger and a nice cold glass of Capital Amber! mmm, I am getting hungry just thinking about it... Well I guess I will have to wait until next time!

Oh Caribou, I turn to you like a long lost friend You make me miss living on Johnson once again I'd get smashed on the Twenty I had to borrow so I could have conversations that I'd forget about tomorrow............. {insert sound of a needle scratching off a record} The 'bou? It don't need no stinkin' poetry. Yes, this is a little hallway of a bar. It really sucks if you are not an old man drinking your pension away during the day or one of the 12 neighborhood regulars that hang out compulsively night after night (that cast rotates yearly, as people move in and out of the neighborhood every year. To claim it for you and your neighborhood crew, plop yer ass on a stool August 15th and don't move it again for at least two weeks. that'll learn 'em.) The drinks aren't as cheap as they should be. The bartenders aren't as nice as they should be. The bar isn't as big as it should be. It's not a place to take your date. Or your softball victory party. It's not a place for to turn 21. It's not a place for you and your bros to drop yer roofies. It's not a place for your unicorn themed dance party. No- Its just a place to sit and drink Old Mils, and maybe do a little laundry. And I love it.

I love this place. It's like an escape back into reality from the oddness of Madison, which can be quite refreshing. Down-to-earth crowd, bar food as you'd expect, and friendly staff who don't think they're better than you are. Good beer, good food, good people.

Old-school neighborhood bars have a special spot in my heart. Especially a neighborhood bar that actually has decent beer on tap (ie, anything else besides the run of the mill Miller Products or other equally as terrible/generic beer). Couple that with heart-attack inducing bar burgers and you're golden. I stopped in one night with a friend of mine who lives divey-neighborhood bars as much as I do and he was equally as pleased. There is something magical about dark Wisconsin bars with good people watching qualities. Good beer. Good burgers. Good neighborhood. Good people.

We were visiting Madison to see a concert and found Caribou in yelp walking distance from our B&B. We were looking forward to having some burgers at a great dive bar. Sit down, order drinks - and we tell the bartender we wanted to order food. We got a HUGE EXAGGERATED GROAN, with shoulders slumping down and leaning on the bar. NEEDLESS to say - we did not order food and went to our concert with empty bellies. HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE.

The 'bou is what it is. It is nothing more. It is nothing less. I've never had food there. But as far as dive bars go its about as dive-y as one can get. It is freakin' tiny so don't bring a huge group of people. You will probably get split up. And you'd be lucky to get a place to sit. But as far as dives go, its perfect. SUPER cheap. Jukebox is one of those electronic ones where you pay a dollar to hear the song you want. But its a great place to have "that one last drink."

Been going here off and on for 42 years. Down home neighborhood bar. Great burgers. And excellent place to hang out while your laundry is washing next door.

Good food, great music (usually played by the customers) great bartenders, good people. Best dive in town.