Pufferfish

Went here for a drink with some friends, it was a bourbon and rye drink. Super yummy and flavorful and cute presentation. The bartenders were super friendly and good at what they do. Would come back for a cute rooftop experience and good cocktails if I lived in Milwaukee.

Super fun place on a rooftop. Indoor space as well. Loungy yet loose. Drinks were rated on how strong they are, perfect! Will be back! This time they had a guest set of bartenders in from Chicago. They had a deep dish Daiquiri that tasted legit like a deep dish pizza with burnt cheese and all. There's no better place in town to get some fun drinks. Add a top things off you could.get a $5 Chicago dog. So fun.

Went for the Christmas themed drinks, they were amazing. The entire vibe was great. Usually a solid spot as it is but the Holiday Theme takes it up a notch and is a must during the season. Justin in the bar made amazing drinks and service was wonderful and kind as always.

My group and I came here after dinner downstairs, and I was OBSESSED with the Christmas pop-up they had. It was so cute inside, and I wanted to stay for hours. One of my favorite things was the plants all over the bar, which you could buy! I was very tempted to grab one or two. Or three. With the Christmas popup, they have a set menu on the Christmas drinks (you can order anything you want if you don’t like the menu). I didn’t see anything I would like on the menu, so the bartender whipped me up a special drink, hoping I would like it. I thought that was kind of him. We didn’t get to go on the patio cause it was freezing, but we took a quick peek and it was cute outside too. Definitely need to go back again.

Came here for some tasty drinks. We had The Pineapple Express and El Diablo. Service was good and quick. Totally recommend the rooftop during the summer and they also have a little fire for winter time.

Visited puffer fish on a Saturday with my girlfriend and we both had a fun time plus if you are looking for a great place with a view this is at the top of the list because it offers sites of Milwaukee that few other rooftop patio bars do. The vibe at puffer fish is definitely Tiki and while they do have an inside bar there is not much space and it was definitely meant to be enjoyed on their spacious outdoor rooftop patio which has its own bar. You will definitely not find your ordinary cocktails here and all of the specialty drinks come in fun different themed glasses along with a list of ingredients that may seem overwhelming at first but taste delicious and you can really see the work that the bartenders put into making them which does lead to a bit of a wait time but it's definitely worth it for the experience. It was pretty packed but that was expected for a Saturday night and the crowd was friendly and everybody seemed to be having a great time so I look forward to going back hopefully before it gets too cold and I would recommend others do the same while they still have the chance.

Went for the first time in a Friday night and it was moderately busy around 7pm. There were still open seats inside by the bar and plenty when you first come up the stairs, but the rooftop patio was full. They have two bars, the indoor one has the more traditional tiki drinks while the outdoor bar has pre-made frozen slush drinks. The Miami Vice was my favorite because of the great flavor blend of strawberry and coconut. The Frozen Wisco (Old Fashioned) was also good, but I prefer it on the rocks vs slushy. The vibe was chill and they have a disco ball outside the restrooms while you wait. I’d definitely come back to try more drinks and maybe catch a patio seat.

If I could live here, believe me I would (& maybe I basically already do 😅). Delicious drinks, great vibes, and a staff that makes you feel like home. This rooftop bar IS the place to be all summer. No matter the drink, you will always happy dance. The tiki aesthetic feels so tropical, you forget you’re in Milwaukee. Literally don’t walk RUN to Pufferfish, get yourself an El Diablo (maybe dance a bit in the disco potty), and stay all night for the friends you’ll make. You won’t be disappointed.

I got the hey siri it's jobs time and I really enjoyed it. Made me feel like I was on an island. I would definitely get this drink again. 1 served me well. The place is super cute and there are plenty of signs to help you find the place.

Need bar service outside. Drinks were great! Nice mix drink menu. Laid back vibe. I would stop here as a part of a cocktail experience but expect another stop. Very limited menu of nosh foods

What a cool find! My wife and I really enjoyed the vibe of this somewhat hidden lounge on the top floor of the Hotel Metro. It had a swanky "tiki" theme, and the drinks were well crafted and delicious. We preferred the outdoor rooftop section as the night was beautiful, and we're happy to see that there was another (smaller) bar for that section. Cocktails were in the 12 to 15 dollar range. We will definitely return when we are in Milwaukee.

Amazing rooftop in the heart of downtown. The drinks were flowing and they are so delicious. The vibe of the place will make you feel like you're in Hawaii. They also have a small bites menu. The service is very friendly. The bartenders are very good and there are two bars because they can get a bit busy on a Friday night.

Very fun spot at the top of Hotel Metro. Lots of lounge space, bar seating, and rooftop area. We came in the winter but I can't wait to go back in the summer. Either way it was a great escape from the cold! We had the surprise cocktail and boba time. Boba was so interesting, but paired really well with the rum. Staff were really fun and service was fast.

I haven't written a review of Pufferfish yet?!?! Shame on me! I've been visiting since their doors opened, and I've had amazing experiences every time! Located on the top floor of the Hotel Metro downtown (there are signs to guide you along the way, starting at the elevators), the decor of the space is carefully thought out to encourage engagement with each other versus our phones, and they added another room that can be reserved for private events or used for more space when the main room gets full. There is also the outdoor space on the rooftop, which is one of the main highlights of visiting. The rooftop has its own bar and plenty of seats and tables, as well as a covered section for those needing fresh air, even during rain and cold weather, and it's right by the fireplace! THE main reason to go here is for the drinks, of course! The menu has a section of their featured tiki drinks, and a section of traditional and popular cocktails, many with their slight twist on them. Before you make your decision, take a look to your right when facing the bar, so you can see the cocktail special(s) on the "glow board" (I don't know the official term :)) because there are always great options there. For first timers, I recommend the Pufferfish cocktail. Some don't like gin, and don't worry, you won't taste juniper, which is the primary reason people don't like gin. Just order and enjoy. Trust me as someone that doesn't like the juniper flavor of gin but loves the Pufferfish cocktail. Balance is the key, and these guys and gals are masters of their trade! It's a perfect place for after dinner, date nights, hangs with friends, or just to slip away for some "me time."

Love this place for cocktails! It's located on top of hotel metro and is a great spot for drinks on a nice sunny day! They have a pretty wide range of both tiki themed drinks and the classic cocktails. If you are coming on a nice day, do expect to wait a little for a drink as it gets very busy. The bartender was super friendly and great to talk with. Overall would recommend stopping at pufferfish for a cocktail!

There is no reason to pay for the overpriced drinks at this quaint little spot While the view is nice- the bartender has quite the attitude if you take her away from her phone. Hard pressed to find a spot that makes weaker and poorly mixed drinks Order a water and enjoy the view And there is no free water here

My group and I came here after dinner downstairs, and I was OBSESSED with the Christmas pop-up they had. It was so cute inside, and I wanted to stay for hours. One of my favorite things was the plants all over the bar, which you could buy! I was very tempted to grab one or two. Or three. With the Christmas popup, they have a set menu on the Christmas drinks (you can order anything you want if you don't like the menu). I didn't see anything I would like on the menu, so the bartender whipped me up a special drink, hoping I would like it. I thought that was kind of him. We didn't get to go on the patio cause it was freezing, but we took a quick peek and it was cute outside too. Definitely need to go back again.

Haven't been here since the pandemic. Heard there was a tiki bar so had to check it out. Omg this is amazing!!!!!! Go to the 6th floor of the Metro Hotel and enter the tropic zone. Outdoor seating on a rooftop, with indoor coziness on cooler nights. The tiki menu is awesome, and the bartenders know what they're doing. Theses are complex beautiful cocktails, that only a few aficionados could ever dupe at home. I got a Blue Eyes. Drinks are rated on a scale of Spirtuality (potency) and comfort (how complex and adventurous) they are. All are so beautiful, served with orchids and swirly straws. Please Uber if you plan to do serious tasting. My new favorite cocktail bar!

5/5 star experience (would give more stars if possible!), fantastic service, amazing drinks, beautiful views and patio space. Cannot say enough good things about pufferfish and their frozen cocktails. I had the Miami Vice and it was both refreshing and very tasty - made me feel like I was on a beach!

We popped in here for a drink after dinner on a Saturday night, and grabbed a drink before a concert. The atmosphere was fantastic, with bright neon lights in the dark room, an outdoor seating area and classic elegant seating inside. They create a super cool vibe in their space, in addition to having a stellar cocktail menu. I grabbed the classic Pufferfish as I'm a big fan of gin and orgeat together, and my friend grabbed the spritz-ish. Both cocktails were made quickly but tasted delicious and disappeared quickly. I'm a big fan of them using the local products, such at Bittercube bitters which are made here in Milwaukee and are super high quality. We will absolutely be coming back in the future for more of their fantastic cocktails.

What was a pop up in 2022 is now a permanent fixture for Hotel Metro (at least for the next 10 years). Clearly they made a great impression and have renovated the space even more prior to reopening in May. PufferFish is a craft cocktail tiki bar (without the cliche tiki vibe) on the rooftop of Hotel Metro. To get there, take the elevator to the 6th floor, walk to the end of the hall and you'll see a pink neon sign, first door on the left. Then up a small flight of stairs, turn right and you're in the bar. Food is available through the kitchen at Oggie's, they'll bring it up to you. But for me, I'm all about the atmosphere and the cocktails. On the weekend, you'll want to get there earlier in the evening if you want to snag a good table for your group, it's already a popular spot, seating on the rooftop patio gets scooped up fast. My current favorite drink is the Lidocaine which comes with an edible flower "buzz button" which creates a numbing/tingling sensation on your tongue (it lets 5 minutes of you eat it all at once - they recommend you nibble on it). But really, you can't go wrong with any of the choices - plenty of options depending on what your tastebuds desire.

Came here for some tasty drinks. We had The Pineapple Express and El Diablo. Service was good and quick. Totally recommend the rooftop during the summer and they also have a little fire for winter time.

I thought this was such a cute cocktail bar! The mugs are fun, and there are lots of areas to hang out with a group of friends. Excited to come back when it is warm out!

Such a cool space with wonderful views. Unique tiki drinks to make you feel like you are somewhere tropical.

Neat bar. Good service. Drinks are 90% ice, 10% drink. Drinks are good. Lighting and color of menu font do not mix well.

This is such a cool spot at the top of Hotel Metro! We stopped in on a Thursday night and they were pretty busy but the bartender said that had to do with Summerfest. They have an indoor and outdoor bar and only the indoor was open so the line for drinks took a while but they drinks were worth it. I had a mai tai and my husband had a lidocaine. The Mai tai was delicious but the lidocaine was the really interesting cocktail. It included a flower as a garnish that numbed your mouth for a bit when you chewed on it. Very nice tiki vibes as opposed to other bars who lean more nautical.

Cute & fun summertime spot! PufferFish is a lively rooftop bar with a variety of specialty cocktails. My group tried the El Diablo, the PufferFish, and a classic margarita. We all enjoyed our drinks and the fun tiki vibe, and will definitely be back!

Pufferfish is a super cool rooftop bar that you need to check out! It's on top of hotel metro downtown. The drinks were really good and were in fun glasses which I love! The bartenders were nice and were having a blast. I ordered the pufferfish and it came in a fun pufferfish mug. It was sweet light and refreshing! My friend ordered the el Diablo and my fiancé got a classic margarita and they both liked their drinks. There is a bar inside and outside. There is a lot of seating but it was busy when we got there so we did have wait a little bit to find seats but were able to enjoy our cocktails in the meantime. I can't wait to go back and try more of their drinks!

Drinks are great. I love that they allow social groups to use the space too. Friendly staff.

First time visitor, love the ambiance and the music! Wasn't too sure what to get just because I'm super picky but the bartender was great and recommended me a few drinks! Will be coming back!

Had a great time at Pufferfish. They had a great tunes and were making some great cocktails. We went before Summerfest for a little pregame and walked to our concert. Our drinks came quickly even though the bar was quite busy.

One of the best bars in the city imo. There are very few hotels in downtown Milwaukee where you'd rather stay and have drinks in house vs exploring and PufferFish at Hotel Metro is one of them. Got to meet JC (I think that's his name) who runs the bar and he and his staff were welcoming and a blast to watch as they made drinks. Didn't spend a lot of time inside as the weather was amazing but the inside of the bar is a really cool eclectic vibe but the outdoor area is what really shines. The Tiki vibe and views are some of the best I've experienced and I can't recommend PufferFish enough if your'e staying in downtown Milwaukee.

Best tiki drinks in the city hands down! Prepared to be transported to your favorite beach vacay. I went once last year but have since returned 2x this last month. The owner and entire crew are the friendliest, coolest people. The ambiance is so chill, lowkey and a vibe. They have comfy lounge seating in one room. Plenty of additional space in a separate room and also outdoors (too cold for us now) but others were out there enjoying it in their winter coats. My fiancé is obsessed with Mai Tais since we wen to Hawaii and he said theirs is top notch.

We enjoyed the pufferfish pop cup at hotel metro! It was such a cute location and vibe - Milwaukee needs more rooftop bars! The only thing that was a negative was the lack of clean seating. There was some seating outside but it wasn't being wiped down at all, at least not while we were there. Drinks are solid and strong!

Come on in, come on up, come on out. This pop-up rooftop bar is a sweet addition to the area. At the Hotel Metro, you can enjoy some tropical drinks, while gazing at the Milwaukee skyline. Enjoy!

All around recommend. Great ownership with people who truly care. They put so much into the ambiance with cute signs, wallpaper, tiki attire, making it really feel like your at a true tiki bar experience. Drinks are refreshing, tropical and lots of options for anyone looking for something yummy. The pufferfish is a classic with a real cute glass. Food is amazing. Can't go wrong with anything.

Drinks ambiance and service are great. Pretty awesome addition to the city. Plenty of seating area and drink choices are plentiful.

I love this place so much! The vibe is amazing, the staff is incredible, and the drinks are stellar. We love coming here for a drink after a work day to decompress, it's such a great bar and in a great location! 100% recommend coming here!

Drinks were too expensive for what you got. The bar is oddly in a converted two level hotel suite. You literally walk down the hotel room hallway on the 6th floor to get to it, and then up a dark stairwell. The rooftop outside will only make a small selection of the drinks on their website menu, so you have to go inside to get a simple Mai Tai.

Great bar - fun vibe and great vibe music. Bartenders are fantastic! Rooftop area is great - would highly recommend

This place had a different vibe but we really liked it. The servers are sort of characters but really friendly. They have an extensive drink menu but I just asked for their specialty which was "The Pufferfish", imagine that! After slapping some mint and burning a couple cinnamon sticks we each had a delicious drink and a cool rooftop venue to enjoy it.

I really like this owner this owner rules he loves Santa Cruz this is my first yelp review because I love this owner he's the guy