The Mothership

It’s taken me the better half of a year to come up with the words to describe my experience at this bar. Cordial, evocative, electrifying, sultry. Just a few to spark your imagination. Sam the bartender was everything a bar goer could ever want in a bartender. Cordial, evocative, electrifying, sultry. I often reminisce on my 6 hours spent at this bar and wish sometimes I lived in Bay View, but simultaneously know that if this bar were in walking distance of me, I would ruin my life. I love you mothership

Bartenders were great! Spent the night sober and they were supportive :)

Very eccentric… but a very cool spot, a little raunchy but the food truck out back is always open! Amazing bartenders and very Quirky!

Bucks games. Cheap cold beer. Great cocktails and boozes. Fantastic, stellar food truck. Pull tabs. Interstellar harmony. Fun patio. Sick decor. Wicked proper lit bongos jumping sick bad boogie dreams.

They did not have orange juice, cranberry juice, or Irish cream behind the bar. Also the suggested tips are set at 30%, 40%, and 50%. I'm all for over tipping if the service is outstanding but these suggested percentages are why Europeans make fun of us Americans

The most wholesome experience I’ve had at a bar. Jeneca was amazing, and helped us pick out cocktails to our flavor profiles. All of which were amazing. Rustic, colorful yet clean bar. Gives a dive feel, yet is so welcoming and comfortable that it makes me want to go back and earn a “regular” status…which I will try to do. Can’t wait for the food truck to open mid-summer! Right by the Bayview Dog Park too.

Cute place with with large cocktail menu. There is about a page that has tiki inspired drinks if you’re looking for that! They have an excellent booze selection that someone put a lot of thought in to as well. The bar is kind of a fun mix of space theme, a dash of tiki, and hip hop. The place also has a nice patio. The only thing I’d change is the LED Christmas lights. They had some that are not and some are. I find LED Christmas lights personally hard to be around since the light hurts my eyes and they blink rapidly so it makes me feel less than great. Otherwise this is an really awesome little spot. With super nice bar staff.

I have only visited The Mothership a few times because I keep forgetting it's a great stop. They have a good beer selection and large selection of great cocktail options. I recently stopped by for a drink, just one and closed my tab. The bartender remained attentive and friendly. I appreciate that.

This place gives just the best vibes it's super inclusive and it has this sports/tiki theme vibe and it's a bar where anyone can feel at home and have a good time. I went there with my friend and we grabbed a cocktail after dinner and the Bucks game was on a giant projector screen. When the game wasn't on. We were listening to eclectic music and grabbing really good drinks from their expansive cocktail list. The seating was really comfy and we loved the long stretch across from the bar. Again, it's just out of the way to make life a little easier on parking, grabbing a group and getting some good drinks. Also, just a chilly (if it's winter) walk away from Newport. I will definitely be back to try more from their giant cocktail list! P.S. there can be some weird stuff on the TV so you've been warned.

Let me tell you - this place is awesome. We're not from the area, so it was really refreshing to come in and be immediately greeted and embraced by the friendliest bar tenders. Maybe it's that Midwestern hospitality I'm so unfamiliar with, but it's great either way. I love the rules on the bar menu, it really promotes inclusivity. I also love the neon and black light vibe going on inside. It's even more fun in the bathroom! There's an outdoor patio with ample seating, but I wanted to stay and soak in the fun decorations indoors. Our bartenders were very accommodating and gave lots of recs for places to try in the area after revealing we had just moved to MKE. They told us of the fun Sundays they host during gamedays, and I cannot wait to come back to get this experience. Only had a few drinks, but we'll be back to test the entire cocktail menu. Thanks Mothership!

Amazing cocktails and large beer selection with fun vibes. Their staff was super friendly and was easy to order.

In ode to my personal favorite bar in Wisconsin and their style of poetry... I mean social media posts, I will be writing this review as if I had the honor of writing one of their captions to a lovely picture on their social media. Sup freaks hope ur enjoying the lovely smell of your mom tonight while getting one of the best d*mn drinks in town at Mothership the atmosphere of this bar is out of this world and is not like ur loser chain bar with rail mixers and sh*t Mothership has a real menu with real dranks that are real good service at this funky place is the bomb dot com dont come in here looking for some fancy pants suited up bartenders Mothership has cooler bartenders with actual personalities unlike ur ex anyway love this place and would recommend u get ur self there asap to party with some of the coolest bartenders and humans in town I also never remember to take pictures when I'm there so enjoy me and my favorite sign at the bar which is the only picture I ever take there

Order the Pineapple Old Fashioned! Best Old Fashioned I've ever had. 10/10 Great neighborhood bar - Worth a visit!

The decor is a mix of tiki bar and alien invasion, with dive bar feels. Great drinks and cheap beer. Not a ton of tables but big enough that it doesn't get chaotic. I loved the milk punch.

I can't believe I've never reviewed Mothership! Let me give you a quick story....when my husband and I first started dating a looooong time ago, we met up here back when it was Diamond Jim's. Back then it was the diviest dive and sketchy. Today, it's a charming space filled with cool vintage beer memorabilia, comfy seating and fun bartenders. They've got a pretty impressive cocktail program, a nice beer selection and pretty good wine. Every time we've visited, I've tried something new and always been happy with the drinks. The crowd is perhaps a little older than the typical BV hipster, but everyone should feel welcome. It reminds me a lot of Burnhearts but with easier parking. My only compliant is that they aren't closer to my house!!

If there's a highly rated cocktail bar anywhere near me, I'll probably sniff it out. I'm just surprised it's taken me this long to make it to The Mothership! Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, the place seems very unassuming from the outside. The inside, however, creates a very unique vibe with really delicious cocktails! My husband and I came after dinner on a Saturday night, around 10pm, and it was very easy to get a table. We snagged a corner table in the back, but not before thinking about sitting in the enclosed patio first. Unfortunately despite it being enclosed and heated, the patio was still just a bit too cold for us. Once we were comfortable, the drinks came next! I got a banana daiquiri and my husband wanted a drink on draught, but they were out, so he got a different one: Easy Money. I looooved my daiquiri! It was a cocktail and dessert all in one! I usually hate banana flavored things because I don't like the taste of artificial banana, but there's none of that to be found here! It's only a real deal banana in this drink! My husband enjoyed his drink as well. We only stayed for one round of drinks this time, but we will definitely be back!

Great bar. They play the sports. Except no baseball. They don't like when you do that here.

Delicious drinks and a dope bartender- what else could you ask for in a neighborhood bar! Chill ambiance and top notch draft cocktails. Stop in and be weird!

Quirky and fun bar hidden away in Bay View! Awesome cocktail list, in addition to all the old and new school brews. Unique choices for what's shown on the TV's, but that only adds to the cool atmosphere. Old, young, everyone is welcome, and will feel at home here! 70/2023

The Mothership! In Bay View! After a couple of years meaning to stop by, we did and it was lovely! I tried a couple of their drinks: The Marooned Astronaut (which pairs beautifully with a sandwich from Maya Ophelia's) and then had an Espresso martini. Yummy! These libations are reasonably priced and I like that the decor feels organic and not staged by some consulting agency that knows nothing about Bay View or Milwaukee. Plenty of outdoor seating, and...as of late July 2023, Maya Ophelia's food truck is there some days of the week. Perfection!

Mothership is a Bay View staple. I love that you can go there and get a great cocktail or be an absolute degenerate and drink cheap beer. I always feel super comfortable here and love having them in the neighborhood.

Loved this place until we didn't. Been here multiple times but it only takes one time to ruin it. Tried to order a shot for our group said they couldn't do it, tired to order another shot said they could asked what they could make us and said "whatever you can make out of the bottles we got" asked if they could make a lemon drop shot said yes but we aren't going to do so bc they were mad at this point bc they "had a long day" as a person in the service industry I'm always on their side but tonight was a different experience we have loved this place aside from tonight. We asked for the bartenders name and were attacked from some lady not working complaint that we asked for the bartenders name. Said his name was steve but the lady confirmed that was a fake name. So. Hopefully you have a better experience and they appreciate your company and money however our entire family will not be back. Bad day or not you don't get to pick your customers... we love and appreciate our service people but every once in a while they do us wrong and tonight proved that.. good luck!

Edgy dive that has everything I want in a Bayview bar. Nice tunes, great drinks and good deals on occasion. Usually get a drink really quick! Also not a bad spot to catch a game.

Cute divey bar with a hip vibe. They had Back to the Future on the huge TV and an impressive liquor selection as well as knowledgeable and friendly bar staff. We had a small pitcher of Hamm's for only $6. A likable, fun stop

The King of Bay View hipster bars!!! I do mean that in the best way. There are other really great bars in BV - Burnhearts, Backyard, Vanguard, Puddler's Hall, etc... but do that have the most Hamm's swag you will ever see? Do they have a great wine list?? do they have a clean bathroom? Well, sure, some do, but I do feel most "at home" at the Mothership. They seem to cater to widest demographic of patrons with the least attitude. This place really reminds me of the bar in my parent's basement, so that may account for some of the attraction for me. You'll often catch some random goofy movie on the big screen. If your looking for a cozy place for date night, or a place to bring the whole gang, and you don't want to fight for parking on KK, The Mothership has you covered!

A good cozy place to hangout with friends. Really enjoyed the vibe. Beers on tap are very affordable! There is a big sitting for a big friend group.

Great vibe and good drinks, everything you want from this kind of bar. And some of the nicest bartenders you'll meet. I'd come here all the time if I lived closer.

Finally made it here and was not disappointed. Awesome service and the cocktails were so good. The step papi was amazing highly recommend. Just good vibes overall here, awesome crowd, bartenders were a lot of fun. Definitely coming back. A classic bayview spot

Most underrated bar in Milwaukee. This is what a neighborhood bar should be. Unpretentious and divey (in the best way possible), with cheap beer, smart bartenders, social consciousness, good spirits and fantastic cocktails. I wish every bar was like this one. Edit for typos

It was my first time going here and I will ABSOLUTELY be back. We were greeted immediately and given drink menus the second we sat down. They have a huge selection of cocktails - something for everyone. The bartender was very attentive and kind. Service was super fast - which is very impressive considering most of the drinks we ordered seemed like they'd take a little longer to make, given how many ingredients are in them. Towards the end of the night my friend and I just ordered one drink to split. The bartender gave it to us with 2 straws in the glass. It's little things like that that go a long way! Friendly atmosphere, amazing decor, and we love everything The Mothership stands for. Truly all are welcome there. Probably my new favorite bar and so excited to come back and try some more new drinks off the menu.

What an excellent addition to Bay view. Located on the corner of Lincoln & Logan across the street from the dog park. High-end gas station sandwiches and two dollar beers, how could you go wrong.? I love the mystery beer tappers, No brand loyalty here, just what you are in the mood for... Hoppy malty or weird. Vintage Games beer signs and cartoons, with a hint of science fiction! Beautiful patio with great views of the dog park. Come alone or bring your group. This place is Miller lite years ahead of the rest.

Take me to the Mothership. Ricky and his crew run a tight ship: great, reasonably priced drinks; friendly atmosphere; good music; and appropriate COVID precautions. They've adapted as CDC guidelines have changed, but keep the drinks flowing. Beer and yuzu shot - amazing and refreshing Hamms and Campari - lil spritzioli action Sparkling Negroni - wicked good Mezcal Negroni - mind blowing Dirty martini - new riff on an old classic, would recommend ordering this to try something new Go. I'd highly recommend.

The absolute best bar in Milwaukee. Ricky and company manage to balance a neighborhood corner bar with an excellent cocktail and spirits program. You can get everything from a shot of Campari and a Hamm's or a craft beer, to all the classic cocktails done right, as well as inventive house drinks, all in an extremely unpretentious environment. After moving to the Pacific Northwest, we sincerely miss the very special place that is The Mothership.

Incredible drink selection! This bar has really evolved over the past couple years. Love the look and feel. Multiple outdoor seating areas. Great bar to have in the neighborhood!

Ricky has opened a well rounded bar bayview needed. Want an ice cold cheap (as in price) Hamms draft, but want some great cocktails too? This is the place. It welcomes every single walk of life. Video games? Check. Cheap beer? Check. Vibrant cocktails? Check. Bourbon? Check. Outdoor patios? Check. Solid music and sound system? Check. Some food options? Check. Get in and have a few.

Huge fan of The Mothership's owner Ricky. We are happy to support him and his staff by getting some growlers and cocktail kits togo

I'm astonished that this place doesn't have a review yet. I love the mystery beer concept, and they have a solid cocktail selection. Went with the hoppy beer and attempted to guess it's origin. It didn't matter. It was cold, fresh, hoppy and in a MUG for $4. It's a Wednesday so it's a neighborhood vibe, but I can see it gettin cray with NBA Jam sash over in the corner. "Everything Must Go"

Easily the best bar in Bay View. The friendliest staff and best, most creative cocktails in Milwaukee! They've done a great job with Covid safety and have been the only bar I've felt safe going to all year.

I like milk and I like chicken.... Only thing that tops dem thangs is one doe's Hamms at the mothaship!

Love this bar! Adjusted with COVID and they have taken precautions to make you feel safe and comfortable! Good vibe and good drinks.

Best bar in Milwaukee by a long shot!!! I love mothership and it has an amazing atmosphere and cocktails. Ricky is a great bartender and caring owner.

This place is neat! A mix of bar classics and some really unique offerings as well. I love the laid back vibe too. I'll definitely be back!

The bartender was extremely rude and unsociable...drinks took too long and were poorly made. Sad cuz I used to love coming here but was very disappointed when I brought my friends from out of town. Will not me coming back

So thankful bars like the Mothership are still able to operate in these dark times. Friendly whilst enforcing safety is HARD, but mothership makes is happen. Thank you to everyone at the Mothership for just giving a heck. We appreciate u!!!!

The Mothership is rad as fuck. There's not much more to say than that. Super glad this place is surviving covid and being responsible while doing it.

We liked this bar's atmosphere. Drinks were good and unique to say the least. Male bartender was very friendly and attentive. One female bartender wasn't as friendly. When we asked her what was good on the drink menu to kick start small talk and hear her favorite, she just replied "the menu.." with a not so friendly attitude. To which we just replied okayyy and awkwardly smiled at each other. To give her the benefit of the doubt, she changed her mood after our shocked reply and did give us some drinks she recommended. Overall, our experience was an okay visit. After our first drink, we just moved on to the next bar.

Ok, owner named it after his Mother and on our first visit they played Parliament shortly after we got there. They hired some of The Palm staff. So much about this bar I love. Go there now, unless you're an a-hole in which case "These aren't the droids you're looking for".

I hate to be the devils advocate and really hope I don't get hate. But I saw they were bullying someone over a 1-star review on here by coming out with a drink special as a mockery of their based review. I'm being genuinely generous with the 2-stars as I fear the hate that comes with giving an honest one-star. This place has the most pretentious, rude staff (I'm a former bartender of ten years at a very high volume brunch spot in Milwaukee), overpriced drinks, and honestly shoddy atmosphere outside of the "aesthetic" light up sign they put very questionable and again- RUDE and unwelcoming messages on. I've met the owner. He is also rude. I honestly have NOTHING good to say about this bar. And that's a very diplomatic review. I don't usually do this. But the drink special thing??? Come on dude. Just accept some CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM? If you're going to name a special after me- by the way (I'd be honored)- please name it "the two-star tallboy Tuesday" or some shit? Maybe you can try to capitalize on that since shit is finally starting to catch up to you.

This bar has the BEST cocktails & have kept shit super save during this pandemic. Pre-COVID: AMAZING sandwiches. Always friendly and knowledgeable bartenders.

I love this place! I love that they keep the place clean and the Hamms rolling non-stop. I enjoy being able to go to a place that doesn't allow dogs for once so I can relax in a place that is an actual BAR! Haters going to hate, but real people keep it real and this place definitely keeps it real. Thank you Mothership!

Great spot, great vibes, fun decor, really fantastic cocktails and a creative menu. Fun follow on Instagram, definitely recommend checking this place out!

Visiting from out of town and our group was excited to give this place a try and sadly was let down. The bartender seemed to be a little pre occupied with customers that were for sure friends that needed more attention than us. Drink prices seemed decent and variety of cocktails was nice, just wish we were able to enjoy a few instead of being left with our empties for so long. Manager/owner should be more observant.... Ended up going to Highbury after one cocktail, and had excellent service and amazing drinks!

I went to enjoy my thirsty Thursday at Mothership. I had such a great time. This place is doing such a good job following covid- 19 guidelines, and taking care of their patrons. They also have a fantastic drink selection, and a good variety of music. My only complaint is that lovely bartender made me pay for my drink.

This place has it all. Great people. Great drinks. Great discussions. Man. I don't know what to tell you, other than check this spot out. Good things.

janica is amazing came with my friends for drinks. amazing music, amazing service, amazing spot

Love the atmosphere here. Great cocktails and even better bartenders. One of the only bars I felt safe going to during this pandemic.

This bar is super fun, while still by supplying us with a safe environment. P.s Gabby is the best server!o