Cans Bar & Canteen

There are definitely negatives & positives about Cans. First of all I really love how they have every kind of can beer you can imagine. It’s great to see a decent themed bar like this on the East Side. Also their appetizers are delicious! I go earlier in the evening if I want to grab some apps and a quick drink. Later at night it can get a little interesting…
I have been here later at night, and yes it’s great to let loose and dance. but sometimes it can be a little much. I have noticed in the last year how Can’s has become a hang out spot for people who can’t handle how much they consume. I do like how there are bathroom attendants, not only because they are really friendly. but because sometimes people need to be taken care of. Like I said. it can be very interesting.
They do have some decent specials, and their staff can make some delicious drinks! If you aren’t ready for a possibly obnoxious night I would go here before 8:30.
Alright, the place is very cool inside and I love how they have circular booths. If you are looking for a night of dancing and don’t feel like taking a taxi all the way down town I would stop on by. There music is great for shaking it all night on the dance floor… especially on the East Side!
Don’t worry about dressing up here, it’s not necessary to go overboard. Yes this place is fun, but like every other place (except those rare 5 star gems!) there are negatives.
Take it for what it’s worth… but I seriously suggest an appetizer before 8:30.

You never know where you’re going to meet your future spouse, right? The gym, school, the grocery store, Cans Bar, etc. Yup, I said Cans Bar. About 5 years ago I met my now husband at Cans, and I know for a fact I am not the only person who has met a spouse there. Unlikely place I know, but maybe there’s something in the air.
With that being said I haven’t been back to Cans since then. It really is a bar more for people still in college or fresh out of college, which I was back then and no longer am. I do like the whole cans concept though, and appreciate that they serve cans of Strongbow. I will probably go back to Cans sometime in the near future, but more for nostalgia’s sake. However I think it’s still a decent place for people in their early 20s and maybe, just maybe, a good place to unexpectedly find love.

I come here on Mondays only — happy hour. Currently they run a $ 1 pint of tap beers during that time, and .35 wings (get the ”jack daniels sauce!”).
I come in, buy drinks for friends, eat a ton of wings, and walk out for — at most — 18 dollars or so, often for 2 – 3 of us. That’s a great deal, all with the games on, and pool tables.
The bartenders are AWESOME, too! No attitude, super nice and competent, very chilled and spot-​on. They keep the tabs perfectly, and don’t pad them ever. So I try to tip a bit extra given the bargain in food and beer I get there.
Later on Mondays they have a free trivia night which is so easy you might win credits off your bartab without even hardly trying, but we don’t stick around that long after the happy hour ends at 7.
On Mondays, go to CANS!

Where do I start. The bouncers at this place are complete power tripping jerks. I once asked a bartender if he had any rum specials and he told me they had no specials. I found out ten seconds later they have a rum special and he refuses to refund my money because i did not ask if they had spiced rum specials. I get the feeling everyone that works at cans gets on some sort of douchbag high horse that really ruins that place. The food tastes and looks like it went from frozen to deep fried. They are literally trying to rip you off any way they can there, if you play the video black jack dont expect your money the night of, they «can’t do pay outs because the bank is closed» we are in a freaking bar! But seriously, I can see why a under 21 would like this place, but beyond that, there are so many other bars worthy of my money I will never come here again.

Ew. Gross. Go somewhere else. Well, unless you like $ 1 tube shots and terrible music.
This bar was filthy and just plain loud. I’m not that old, but I’m old enough to know when Katy Poopy or Britney Who Ha is playing way too loud.
The bathrooms were outrageous. There were no paper towels, no hand driers, and a couple pieces of toilet paper. I would rather pee outside.
I gave two stars only because there was actually a secluded seating area and some good music.

Im giving Cans 1 star because I saw a big guy punch a tiny girl in the face and the bouncers (nor the men who witnessed this) did anything. She fell on me and I spilled my drinks and the poor girl must be traumatized forever. After this had happened, I had also encountered other stories where a guy (maybe the same one) punched a different girl in the face on a different night and even one time a guy had told my girl friend that he was going to punch her in the face (unprovoked, I assure you.)
So I dont know what it is about Cans attracting women beaters, But they should probably start having a cover fee to keep the low lifes out or hire more bouncers.

I can’t, in good conscience, have Cans be my first one-​star review… despite my wanting to have that be the case.
I’m on the cusp, though. I am.
We’re all unique snowflakes, right? (Or at least we like to tell ourselves that…)
This unique snowflake is not a fan of Cans. Ugh.
I ended up here in an effort to meet up w/​some friends who were having a girls’ night. This place is a meat market. It’s packed and it’s gross and it takes forever to get a drink. And our experience w/​some of the male patrons? Rude and disgusting… they were saying some pretty awful things.
Some weird mix of that Lil’ John «shots x 15» song and «Don’t Stop Believing» and the next thing I know I’m doing shots because I hate where I am and I think the liquor will fix it. It kind of did, b/​c I got drunk… but I was still mad. It’s my own fault, though. I should know better than to go here.

Where do I start. Ok, so this place is pretty cool and yes a lot of people go here and yes there is dancing and yes there are some OK drink specials etc. Depending on the season, you approach this slim entry way into an ecstasy of dancing pleasure and party-​goers as close as they can come. Lots of loud music and lots of people. What are you thinking? «Aww yeeeaaah time to get my groove on!» Me thinks not… Although this place can be a lot of fun or what not, it isn’t the most magical place on North. They have one massive L shaped bar in the corner to the left as you walk in and a secondary small-​bar to the right for «convenience».
Every night I have been here, it has been packed to the gills so dancing? Not so much you spend your time navagating your way through a sea of intoxicated people whilst avoiding spilling your drink and trying to not to get spilled on. It is a mess, the only other time to go is when NO one is there. So it is either upwards of a hundred people, or no one at all. And for some reason, people do not utilize about half of the booths that are in the establishment! The other thing that gets on my nerves is that, at the L bar, there are only 3 bartenders (generally) on any given night. The short bar? 2 and it STILL takes 20 – 30 minutes to get a drink. Choose wisely because when you come back, it could be a while before you get another one. Also, due to this traffic jam of people, Some patrons just stand at the bar so others can’t get in! It gets to be a little ridiculous. For the most part, the place is really cool and something they do that I find funny is that they play old movies on the TV’s that are in there. Also, when it is nice out, they open the windows (full opening) at the front of the establishment! AND you can sit outside with your beer or drink! That is my favorite part about this place. Finally, the last item on my review/​rant is the bathroom attendant. I don’t know if he is an employee of the place (which I am assuming he is not) is irrelevant. I do not need someone to help me wash my hands. Yes it is a cool feeling to be treated like a king for about 15 seconds but not enough for me to tip them because I do not request it. I am all for someone making a living but it is not MY personal style. I like Cans for the most part but it just gets way too packed.

granted, one of the bartenders is my best friend from middle school’s younger bro. yeah, i know people. wanna fight about it?
seriously, tho — wednesday night $ 2 martinis would easily be the death of me if i actually lived in this city. the sidecar martini tasted a little bit like green trix, but the cosmo and bloody mary martinis were outstanding. will definitely go back, preferably on another wednesday!

Cans hasn’t really done me wrong. I know people there, so that helps… but I can’t really complain about the place. I always go with a good crowd so I have a good time regardless of the atmosphere. The music is typical, most of the time I’m not really paying attention to it because it’s nothing terrible and nothing spectacular. Which is fine by me. The crowd varies from meathead bro’s to hipsters and hot chicks to girls that look better after a few rounds. I think that’s what you’re going to get at any bar around there.
Bottom line, if you’re going out to get drunk and socialize with the people that you’re actually with… Cans will get the job done.
Though, be careful where you park. Someone smashed out the rear window of my car while I was there the other weekend. Didn’t take anything, so I have no idea whether they were going to or if they were just drunk and stupid.

wouldn’t order liquor drinks here if i were you. weakest mix on the east side, for sure. i’ve actually grown to kind of tolerate the place, otherwise.
you know what, i just remembered the time the owner came to my house after the bar and acted like a total toolbox. he was uncool and a douchenozzle. so, there’s another star right there.

Picture a dance club getting knocked up by a trashy corner bar, then smoking crack during the pregnancy. The resulting love child would be Cans Bar & Canteen.
Is it a bad place? No.
Do they have a decent selection of beers? Yes
Pool tables? Yes
Bad 80s music blasting? Yes
Wannabe dance floor right by the front entrance? Yes
Would I go here even if I did fit the mold of the college guy out on the prowl for some strange? No.

If it weren’t for my last trip to Cans, this would be a 2 star review. I always hated Cans, it’s meat head central, and I just used to vomit in my mouth a touch any time it was the suggested destination.
I have to say I went there over Summerfest weekend because we were in the neighborhood, and it could have been worse. I’m not saying I’ll seek Cans out, but honestly I had decent service, affordable booze, and the crowd wasn’t too rowdy. The bar tenders served us quickly and that’s more than you can ask for at a lot of joints around there. I even met the most adorable girl that was as far from a meat head as you can get. AND she was entertaining. Sure, I’ve seen pretty girls at Cans but they usually bore me to a slow, slow death. This girl though? Hot AND interesting? Good news for Cans is there is hope. I don’t really recall the music due to the fact I’d been drinking beer allllll day, sorry I can’t comment.
The relative calm however, does not translate to directly outside of Cans. Watch out for those very dumb ass drunk meat heads I’ve mentioned, hanging outside, wandering in a stupor, wondering what’s next. I got open hand slapped by some bitch of a boy from the side while simply standing outside. Didn’t even say a word to him, he was standing to the side of me, and he slapped me. In the ear. Who slaps in the ear? Yea… good times. He looked as shocked as I did, his friends even more so, as they all fled to their car with a few apologies tossed over their shoulders. Sorry you couldn’t score that evening dude, doesn’t mean you have to turn into a little punk ass at midnight like Cinderella.

Fun place on the east side. Atmosphere is chill, not pretentious. Love the Sunday Bloody Mary Bar and brunch. Good drink specials during happy hour. If you are feeling adventurous, try the deep fried Snickers bar. Service can be slow at times, but what is the rush? Slow down and enjoy life a little.

Chill, mediocre, inoffensive. So much so that I can’t formulate complete sentences about this place.
Happy hour deals were good and I’d go again for them, appetizers were ok, but I don’t see myself being excited about going back and paying full price for things here.

I’ve been here twice, so I suppose that is enough for me to have an opinion about the place. The drinks are good, but the service was a bit slow for my liking. This place is Milwaukee’s version of Where Else (see review), except slightly nicer, better music, and (hopefully) fully functioning toilets.

What I liked about cans was that the atmoshpere was very much «hang out.» It didn’t seem like it was the water street picking up chicks MO. At least if you were trying to get some it was not as obvious.
Both good and bad 80s music. Dudes in tshirts.
I was able to get a drink at the bar right when I walked in despite the crowd. I was immediately happy. I’d probably need to spend a longer time at the place before I really judge.

Fun place, love the martini special on Wednesday night.

Picture this ok. you walk in — the place is packed you spot Ed Hardy wearing men. They play movies on the screen the DJ «supposedly» playing top 40 all I heard was old 80’s rock anthems which got on my nerves once in a while he ‘d place something current. I don’t drink but for the drinkers out there this your spot. The dress code is pretty relaxed. The staff was pretty cool.

A taste of water street college kid hooting on north ave!