Lost Whale

Lost Whale is a Bay View Staple when it comes to the bar scene! It's a fantastic cocktail bar with some of the best drinks in the City of Milwaukee! Between the backyard patio and the cozy bar, there is never a time of year you can't be comfortable here! The staff & bartenders are incredibly nice and fun to hang out with. Lost Whale also now has a resident food truck in the back to keep you full while hanging out! Lost Whale also let us rent the bar out for a night so we could host our engagement part there! I would be willing to bet that every single person we invited had one of the best nights of their life! Regardless if you are a local or visiting Milwaukee, Lost Whale should be a bar that's on your MUST VISIT list!

I’ve been here quite a few times and always have a great time. Wish I lived closer. Their drink menu is creative, ever evolving and amazing. All the bartenders are super attentive and fun. The overall vibe is welcoming, hip and cozy. Don’t miss a chance to check this cool bar out.

Drinks were very unique and good! We went during the happy hour to enjoy 1/2 off select drinks. Couldn't pass up getting our photo on the wall and pull tabs! ✨️

I love going here because the bartenders expect you to know how to behave, and when you show that you are able to function like a normal, well liked human being, they treat you oh so well and give you tasty drinks. Not once did I feel compelled to reach over the bar and touch their stuff and put it to my face because I am able to be a nice person when I leave the confines of my own household. 1000000/10

Cozy ,intimate, hip bar in Bayview. Great place for a date night or a girls night out. Lost whale always has very fun decor and themed pop-up bars. Prices of the drinks could be a bit lower but the bartenders are so awesome and friendly.

Took my friend here on her birthday, there were two bartenders a female and a male she was training. The male was nice, gave us menu when we sat down and time to view them. On the bar, there was a three tiered shelf that had cinnamon sticks and multiple bottles with different labels such as peppermint and other scents, to the both of us it looked like it was either essential oils or something you could burn to enjoy the scent, and there was no sign or note on it saying otherwise, I grabbed one of them And proceeded to smell it. The very prissy,snarky and downright rude female bartender game out from the back and said, “ ummmmm no, we probably shouldn’t put our nose on that, since we use it to make people’s drinks” while simultaneously grabbing the bottle from my hand. She then said, now I have to clean that and walked away. She then Proceeded to talk quietly to the other bartender about my friend and I while giving us dirty looks. Well….Maybe you shouldn’t have items you use to make drinks for customers, on the customer portion of the bar; without a sign that explains not to touch. Also, maybe you should get nicer less pretentious bartenders, this isn’t the first time I’ve encountered a rude bartender at this bar, but it will be the last since it’s the last time I will ever go there.

I was disappointed to find that the cocktail menu has become almost 100% batched cocktails. 4 out of the 5 cocktails we tried were very watery and flavorless. [Edit to respond to the condescending response from the owner- I was awake for the morning at the time I posted this, not coming to bed I after a night out! What a crappy thing to say- I have also lowered the stars left due to this response and will never be coming back and will advise everyone I meet to avoid LW and the watered-down, overly-sugary drinks. ]

Fabulous, beautiful craft cocktails and always the friendliest service. Easily one of my favorite watering holes in Milwaukee!

Friends and I came here for a drink on a later Friday evening recently and had a good time! The inside was too loud for conversation because of the music, so we found an area on tye back patio which suited us better. The outside area was nice and there was a good truck stationed out there as well. I got the John Daly drink and it was good, but got watered down fairly quickly. One of the bartenders also made my friend a custom drink which was absolutely delicious! Overall a nice place to hang out with some friends and a drink or two. Would come back!

I've been meaning to visit this cocktail bar for so long. No idea why it took me all this time when it has recommended by so many friends to especially those working in the service industry. Beautiful place! Quirky, fun, and such wonderful decor. Bartenders were super friendly and knowledgeable. If you lovely electric cocktails, this is definitely the place for you! I'm a bit basic with my mixed drinks (gin & tonic gal), but my partner LOVED the unique and creature cocktail menu. A huge recommendation for this sport. Nice for a date night or meeting with friends.

Love this Bay View staple with the best cocktails in the neighborhood. They have great happy hours specials that are also on weekends with half off hour staples. They have indoor seats and an outdoor patio with a weekend food truck. It is a great place to play a board game and have a drink in the afternoon. This is the kind of bar where the bartenders know your name and can have a conversation. They serve you fast and always have a smile

My friends and I visited Lost Whale on a Saturday evening around 5 PM. Since it was still early, we were able to find seating right away. The bartender was exceptionally friendly and crafted some fantastic cocktails. I especially enjoyed the Negroni Spritz, which was served in a unique strawberry-shaped glass--a fun and memorable touch! One standout aspect of Lost Whale is their commitment to serving alcohol without additives, which I found both interesting and refreshing. The atmosphere is chill, moody, and relaxed, with dim lighting that adds to the ambiance (though we did need a flashlight to read the menu). The decor features deep, rich tones that enhance the cozy and intimate vibe. If you're in Bay View, I highly recommend stopping by Lost Whale for a well-crafted cocktail and a laid-back experience!

This past Friday, my friends and I checked out Lost Whale's Elf-themed pop-up for the holidays! We dressed to the nines in heels and fur coats and grabbed some festive drinks. Boozy Christmas cocktails and getting all dolled up? Yes, please! I tried "Does Someone Need a Hug?" and "Did You Hear That?"--both were amazing. This place nails it with quick and attentive bartenders, even though the place was packed. We never waited long for a drink, and the decor was absolutely adorable--decked out with Christmas lights and cozy holiday vibes. Plus, there was complimentary hot chocolate at the entrance, which was such a sweet touch for the pop-up!

Visited Lost Whale to check out the holiday decor before it's taken down! The Dirty Martini was perfectly balanced, with a crisp brininess that wasn't overpowering. The Manhattan was equally impressive--smooth, with a rich depth of flavor and just the right hint of sweetness and giant sphere ice cube. The ambiance of Lost Whale is trendy yet welcoming, with attentive bartenders who clearly have a passion for mixology. It's the kind of place where you can sip your drink and truly savor the experience!

Started our night at Lost Whale before our dinner down the street. I loved the Christmas decor and holiday cocktails. Elf was playing in the background on the TV so it was the perfect Christmas bar. Service was really quick when we ordered drinks at the bar and they were really helpful with recommendations. The holiday cocktails were a little sweet for me, but they were good. Looking forward to coming back after the holidays to try their signature drinks.

Stopped in quick for happy hour drinks and it's definitely a lounge-y feel. The drinks are decent. I think next time I'll stick with a classic. Service was quick and easy. Will definitely be back for more drinks.

Lost Whale is one of my favorite spots in Bay View. The drinks are creative, and bursting with flavor. The atmosphere is cozy, fun and inviting, making it the perfect spot to unwind. They have classic cocktails, as well as more adventurous new flavors. The Happy Hour is fantastic with half price house cocktails. I highly recommend checking it out!

Love this place so much for a cocktail! They do some really great themes certain times of year as well. Keep in mind the space is small, on a busy night it's not gonna take long at all for there to be standing room only. Check this place out earlier in the day on a weekend or on a weekday if you want a quieter space or better odds of a seat.

This was my second time at Lost Whale and I forgot how much I love their drinks!! I really hate making my way out to bayview cause it's just far from us. They have a daily happy hour 4-6pm every day and we came just in time for it. Got an Oops not Berrys and an old fashioned. Their drinks are always solid and well-priced. They have a wall with a few games to play if you're staying a while. Bartenders always give great service and the vibe is very chill/welcoming. They have about 5-6 tables with comfy couch seating and then a few seats at the bar. I imagine it'd get busy/crowded at night but a great place to start your night out with yummy drinks while you can remember them!

I've been here twice now and I know this: the drinks are delicious, the service is fantastic, the seats are comfy af, and the dimly lit interior is my jam. I will recommend this place to anyone!

We were recommended this place from some friends so we decided to check it out when we had family in town. The vibes were moody and comfy with a fun Lake Michigan theme menu. We sat down and had a couple gnats flying around and moved away from the plants in the front. Unfortunately the drink I was going to order at first was out so I ordered another. When I picked it up from the bar there was a bug in my drink so they made a new one right away. We played some board games they had in the bar and hung out. Overall not the best experience but would be open to trying again another time!

We go to Lost Whale pretty regularly and am normally a huge fan. However the last few times we have gone the service has been so-so and they are always out of certain drinks. This past Monday, however, really left a bad taste in my mouth. It was St. Patrick's Day and it was a little slower, likely because the holiday fell on a weeknight. It seemed to be a lot of bartenders that work there had their night off and were taking up a bunch of seats at the bar while we (patrons) were waiting for seats. Two (non-employees) stood up and left and my fiancée and I went to sit down at the bar. Then, the bartender asked us if we could switch seats so that all her bartender friends could sit together. This pissed me off as I have worked in retail and service before and WOULD NEVER ask a customer to move so my friends (who again also work there) could sit together. We decided to stay and it took forever to get a drink. Not to mention, one of the other bartenders left and got a sub sandwich while on duty and had it up at the bar. Just not professional IMO and if I wanted experience like that I'd go to our usual dive down the street not a bar with a minimum ~$12 drink.

great local cocktail bar in bayview! we stopped by on a Friday early evening and was thrilled to see a happy hour special. I enjoyed a delicious $5 sangria and my husband opted for a super fun themed Halloween drink with flavors of apple and butterscotch. they even had a Halloween pop up theme. fantastic spot to cozy up on a couch or at the bar for a date night. bartenders were super nice and inviting.

This was a weird one to evaluate. My friend and I showed up on one of the few rainy days the week after Summerfest ended. Lost Whale was quiet at 5:45 PM. Their Happy Hour is amazing - $5.50, but the drinks are restricted to their house list if you choose to enjoy happy hour pricing. I didn't want to mix booze, but the price was too good to refuse. Their set cocktails are made in a flash, the template set in stone, and robotic in nature. Asking for something to meet my palate was not encouraged. Lost Whale makes me ponder what is truly the art of mixology. Is it creating a cool drink list? Or, is it creating cocktails that meet your customer's needs? I'm old, so templates annoy me. Most people today enjoy uniformity. Drink lists rule I guess. Ben was our server, and he was friendly enough. Lost Whale is slick without pretension. I enjoyed the stylish seating and comfy armchairs. It's small, but not claustrophobic, good for a date or a tryst. Lost Whale is sort of an upscale Mothership. It would be ideal, if I could get a custom, bespoke cocktail. Yet, I crave personal attention. If you don't, Lost Whale might fit the template of the "perfect" Milwaukee cocktail lounge.

One of our go-to cocktail spots, especially for their happy hour! The house favorites are half off and they've got some great options. The bartenders are always very nice and provide great service. The indoor set up is very chill with mood lighting. They also have an outdoor patio in the back that is super cute! Such a fun spot.

Super fun cocktail bar. Great ambiance. Fun cocktail specials. And our bartender went above and beyond.

Me and my friends always love stopping by Lost Whale if we ever want some funky drinks! I've never tried their food but that is on my to do list next time I come! I always see their sign for ramen and I have high expectations considering their drinks are so good. I got the Wisconsin old fashioned and it was a little sweet but still good! I love when bars use this kind of ice (if you know you know). My friends all had different drinks I can't recall the names of but if you stop in, the menu has just about anything from hot, to cold to spicy and sweet. The retro vibes are always a plus and the bartenders are so friendly and accommodating! Love it always!

Adding to my original review as I have now experienced the Elf pop up for Christmas. First of all, the idea is brilliant! What a fun way to be festive. The drink selections are varied, elaborate and have such fun names! Sitting under the paper snowflakes and Christmas lights I enjoyed a Cotton-headed Ninny Muggins that came with a bunch of cotton candy to either eat or dissolve in the drink. It was a good drink and went down easy, then I tried the "Not now Arctic Puffin," this drink is similar to a grasshopper and comes with a candy cane and a bit of a fudge pop tart. It was very good!! Overall, I had a great time, enjoyed the Christmas music and elf on loop in tvs. I'm not sure if it was an anomaly but when we visited there was 1 bar tender for the whole place. While Lost Whale is compact, it was packed and it made for some long waits to get drinks. The bar tender was cool under pressure but I just felt bad for her given how many garnishes come on each Christmasy drink. She did a great job of cranking them out I just wished she'd had help!

service - The bartender was extremely attentive and listened to customers wishes before recommending a particular drink Ambiance - very crowded but was able to sit at the bar. obviously this place is know enjoyed our experience and will return

I am so mad at myself for taking so long to visit Lost Whale! I love this place and would move in if I was given the option. The decor is very mid century modern and has some fab seasonal decor. It's a cozy and cool spot to get an amazing cocktail with friends. We got a bunch of different cocktails (half off for their last day of the fall menu!) and loved all of them. They have a bunch of variety in their drinks - I'm more of a fruit/tiki drink person while A likes spirit forward, and we both loved everything we got. The music was on point - my early 2000s punk pop/emo phase was well represented in the music at Lost Whale. I am so excited for the Elf pop up this winter - definitely looking forward to returning!

Fun drinks. Fun bar. Good atmosphere. The happy hour had lots of options! The drinks are unique and not something you can find everywhere else. As expected with the fun cocktails, a little pricey but great during happy hour. The staff is super friendly and doesn't feel like they are in your face all the time. Great non alcoholic options as well. The decor was very stylish and everything was clean! Bathroom could use a little extra love, but could've been much worse Would definitely go back.

Seeing as I am officially leaving the Milwaukee dating pool, I can now let you in this little secret of a place: my go-to first date spot. Good atmosphere. Comfy chairs. Solid drinks. Options around the area if the date is going well and you want it to go longer. Drinks you can chug if you feel DEFINITELY the opposite and can't wait another minute for it to end. You're welcome, Yelp. Use this knowledge for good and not evil.

Super chic and great drinks staff was nice! Great date spot as it's close to other attractions. Good place to start or end your night.

The best drinks in MKE. Bartenders and atmosphere are phenomenal. Recommend anyone to come here, I'm never disappointed .

This place is a vibe. The ambiance is nice, the bathroom is clean. It's small and very intimate but cool for a safe space with likeminded people. I went for the Chappell Roan themed night. I feel like I was cheated out of a wonderful night out. The event was 9-12am. I left after two hours and only heard 3 of her songs. It's disappointing and frustrating coming to a THEMED event and there was barely any of the artist's music played. I get trying to space the music of the artist out to keep people staying the entire night but to barely even play them is crazy. 95% of the people there were there for the themed night and expected to hear that music for the majority of the night. If we hated the repetitive songs we wouldn't have been there. Play that thing on repeat please and thank you.

We've been wanting to try Lost Whale and finally got around to it. The aesthetic inside is very 70's casual bar. The drinks here are definitely mixology drinks. A lot of things go into the drinks to make a great cocktail. The happy hour prices is what makes it so great. Every day from 5-7 it's half off on sangrias, draft and house favorites. They have other deals throughout the week as well. Not a bad deal at all but even at full price their worth it. The bartender was also very friendly.

Tl:dr Dan and Tripper are some of the most amazing guys and Ben, my husband, and I will be forever grateful and intertwined with them! Where to start - Ben's old place of employment burnt to the ground in a horrible fire and after a couple of months of figuring out what to do - he had an interview at a brand new bar on the scene - Lost Whale. Not only were the owners thoughtful in what they wanted to create in the former Boone and Crocket space, they had specific ideas about water conservation and eco-friendly aspects of cocktails (even before the big fight against straws started!) They taught Ben and the rest of the staff from A to Z of the classics of cocktails, all while pushing the innovative limits of creative drink flavor combinations as well items to elevate drinks from the garnishes, to the glasses to the ice. Ben is now working in radio, but we've kept Lost Whale as our most active "going out" place. They handled Covid in the safest and most amazing way. They closed inside and went with selling cocktail kits. Then, they opened up the Pufferfish tiki tent in their backyard. During Covid when we were figuring out what to do, BEN AND I LITERALLY GOT MARRIED THERE. It was the most perfect place, since we had gotten engaged there the summer before and the tent was just the right size for our small Covid wedding party. The classic cocktails will always satisfy you (they have an old fashion that will make you go weak in the knees), all while Lost Whale is constantly looking to thrill and push the boundaries - incorporation of burned wood to trap smokiness in a glass, installation of a fancy highball machine and even a new gun that creates a bubble with vapor inside! Always using new technology, bringing new flavors and figuring out creative marketing and special things that make their drinks truly unique. We were just there for Valentine's Day with their incredibly safe social distanced inside (officially open) and went through nearly more than half the menu (thank goodness we ubered.) These are the type of local business owners that need our support now more than ever. They care, they're doing it right and they're creative.

Small bar in the harbor district that's definitely got a vibe. They make seasonal and themed alcoholic drinks which makes things fun! There are a couple of couches and small tables, otherwise just a bar area. They go all out with the effects - toasted marshmallow, bubbles of fog, you name it. It's definitely a fun spot to check out!

Amazing drinks & amazing service! The bar tenders & so personal & out going. They keep the vibes at this place amazing. Drinks are super good, & made out thoughtfully. I will def be returning here for nights out & happy hour!

Atmosphere was fun and trendy. They were busy for it being a Tuesday night and having just opened for the night. Drinks were great and service was pretty quick! Very impressed with the bartenders on how they were keeping up!

I came here once, our party never got waited on. Not sure what happened but I ended up going to another bar next door. The space is way too small for the volume of people on the weekends so that may have contributed. Wish I could have gotten to experience this place!

Such a cute, quaint place to grab a drink. The decor is super thoughtful and the drinks/service are great. I love the creativeness put into the menu.

This place has one of the coolest vibes of any bar in MKE. The decor and comfy couches/chairs make it feel so cozy when you walk in. The drinks are so cute, but definitely on the sweeter side! This is a great option for happy hour, and the earlier you get there the better your seat is! It's bar service only so you can order at the bar and bring your drinks to the tables. They don't have food except for cups of ramen- but it's a great spot for pre dinner or post dinner drinks!

Love this place! The NA drinks are great!! The rest of my group who got different drinks both with and without alcohol all loved them. The service is great although the staff does seem perpetually busy, but even with that they're incredibly nice. The ambiance is chill and they have nice couch seating inside and the outside area has 4 firepits for the winter. It was still pretty cold out even with the fires. They also have a variety of games that you can play as well. Will definitely be back and hope to get a seat inside.

If you are looking for the lost whale, check the women's bathrooms ;) I've eyed this bar before because their happy hour sounds amazing. I believe it's half off cocktails during 4-6 on the weekdays. I came here on Friday night after dinner and was able to comfortably sit our group of 4 in some cozy chairs and white board table. I got the, "Drop It Like It's Hot" cocktail that is served hot. **Warning** do not drink this if you're sensitive to caffeine! I was up all night, my fault for getting too excited for a creamy cocktail. This drink would be a perfect after dinner pick up for most. I'll definitely be back to try their happy hour or come for an intimate night with friends.

I've been grabbing drinks here for just shy of a full year now. They have great custom cocktails to select from and they regularly change up their drink menu per the season. There's something for everyone. They have seating at booths or the bar and a great mix of music (fits in with the Bay View area). They also have a back patio with fire pits, kind of like a hidden gem! Last thing: I didn't pick up on it until it was pointed out to me, but they do a birthday celebration for every astrological sign! I have seen them promote a few but assumed their staff had a birthday.

Lost Whale is a neat little spot with vintage flair and top notch drinks to select from. They do a great job engaging guests with a variety of events throughout the year. Bartenders are great and skilled at making anything. If you go, be sure to ready to stand around before finding a seat. My only complaint about Lost Whale is the musty aroma that inhabits the interior. I'd opt for the patio out back if the weather cooperates!

Super super cute bar. Like it's amazing how cute this place is without being very tacky. The owners def spent time decorating and curating this space. It is a small bar but they do have a large patio space that has heaters and a back bar to serve more people. The bartender is very nice and they were attentive to my friend groups concerns. I came here for a friends birthday drink and it was fun and we had space still to allow other patrons to enjoy ourselves within our own space. Parking can be tight since it's just street parking but overall not a hastle.

Bartenders bustin' their groove making your favorite cocktail is what's happen here! A cool ecléctico vibe throughout the inside and outside!

If you're looking for a spot for Happy Hour and drinks deals, this may be your spot. Located on KK Ave in BayView, it's a great spot to catch up with friends over drinks. If you're into Old Fashions this might a place to add to your list. They have 1/2 staple drinks and on Sunday after happy hour you can get a deal on $5 Old Fashions. They even have an Old Fashion punch card. If you're looking for a chill outdoor spot, a cozy vibe for a date this may be on your list.

Such a cute bar in Bay View! They have very fun cocktails and I like how cozy their indoor area is. I've heard that their Christmas decorations are awesome and I cannot wait to come here in the winter time. Staff is friendly too. It has a smaller inside but also a back patio which is very nice for warmer weather.

Best bar in America. All of America. Like the entire America. From sea to shining sea.

My husband was expecting a dive bar and when we walked in he was pleasantly surprised. Cool decor and drinks were very good. Music was a bit loud to have a conversation and yet still a cool place to try.

We enjoyed the vibe of this bar! They have really cool specialty drinks and were quick to getting us our drinks. We had old fashions and they were great! I also got an Oops Not Berries and it was delicious and looked cute in the can they put it in. It was a relaxed bar but it is a bit dark in there. Overall we liked the music and enjoyed the drinks. Will definitely return

Hello and welcome to my review! I went to this place looking for the best old fashion of MKE.. did get disappointed but not the best I tried. Place is cozy and personnel is friendly. I don't know if this is a must in Milwaukee but definitely is a safe heaven if you want cocktails Ciao

Had a NYE reservation in the VIP area and it was GREAT. We were warm despite the 20 some degree weather and had a private area so it felt very safe/responsible as well. The tiki decor was super cute and very Instagram-worthy. Drinks were delish- the little mango bobas on the Jenny from the block were a real highlight, and our server was friendly and helpful. Absolutely will be back!

When I first came to Lost Whale I was just starting to learn about the different types of cocktails, normally I would prefer wine bars. However, the experience and bar is truly an unique experience. I have had the best drinks I have ever had in Milwaukee at this bar. The cocktails are very well thought out, from the ice to the garnishes. The bartenders are always friendly and care about the experience of their customers. This is why I keep coming back, I highly recommend this bar if you are looking to have some of the best tasting and creative cocktails over some conversations that will be lasting longer than expected due to the the perfectly atheistic interior. Thank you for your great service!