Rogues Gallery

They made me take my hat off because it was a common gang color. I was wearing a white Notre Dame hat :/

This may be my favorite bar in Milwaukee. The drinks are cold, the music is AMAZING, the décor is very well put together, the patio is cozy and the owner is super friendly. What more would you want?! Plus they have bag leagues in the summer on the patio, which I recently did, and found to be a really good group of people. Go here! You won’t be disappointed!

With so many bars in Milwaukee this one really stands out. Drink here because the owner is a hottie and Jimmie Cha Cha ain’t to bad himself. The only thing that could make this place better is if the DJs played more Justin Bieber and had pro wrestling on the TVs.

Good spot to hang out. The Monday «bangarang» special is super popular on Monday nights, they’ll have a line out the door. Lots of service industry people, which I tend to gravitate towards, since that includes myself. Prices didn’t seem that bad, which other reviews have mentioned.

As I’m pushing 30, I might be too old for this place, but I’ve have decent times here. I felt the drinks were pricey, but the patio was cool, and on a nice summer evening it’s a great spot to be outside with friends. They have a collared shirt rule for the dudes apparently, so don’t come rocking a t-​shirt (but popped collars are ‘cool’, since I saw quite a few.) That being said, still way preferred over Bar Louie. Solid.

It’s not often I go out on a Monday, but for some reason, I felt the urge to douse my gullet with whiskey.
I had heard about Monday’s at Rogue’s being half off for those in the service industry, and I figured that includes me, as I bartended. In college. 6 years ago. Once. Whatever.
Rogues is located right off water street, near Duke’s, and across from Trinity, and on a Monday in winter, it has a slow start. We got there around 9 pm, and pretty much doubled the amount of patrons from 3 to a solid 6 people, and started playing a round of bar dice with the bartender.
While not extremely talkative, the bartender was very friendly and eager to play, and the service was fast. As the night went on, the bar started getting busier, and a pretty decent sized crowd showed up, and the bartenders were very fast, I didn’t see anyone waiting more than a minute or two for a drink.
The crowd was pretty varied, with people from all different walks of life, but overall, everyone was in a good friendly mood, and it was pretty easy to strike up conversations with others.
The décor is very hip and trendy, and there was a live DJ playing a pretty solid set with some great throwbacks, and a few songs that were mixed with some hilarious videos.
The drinks were a bit on the weak side, but for being half off, I’m not going to complain too much. The bathroom was clean, and while I probably won’t make this a regular stop for weekend rampages, it’s not a bad place to go on a Monday if you’re Irish or just an alcoholic. Tomato potato.

If I have to go out on water street, this would be the place I would choose to go. Reasonably prices beers, good music, friendly staff!

Went here on a Saturday night, wanting to try something new. There were four of us, we got a high top by the window. We loved the look this bar was going for, and enjoyed viewing the art exhibited on the walls. Unfortunately, when I went to the bar to order a drink, the bartenders were not friendly and seemed stuck up. I ordered a dirty martini and they told me they couldn’t make it because they didn’t have olives. What bar doesn’t have olives? I found that odd, and ordered a vodka and tonic instead. Drink prices were high for Milwaukee, $ 18 for two mixed drinks. The bar was also full of dudes, straight up sausage fest. I won’t be recommending this bar to others, nor will I be returning.

Maybe I just remember this space when it was The Lodge… but ever since it has changed a few times (none for the better) and it is now Rogues Gallery. Overall, we don’t come here often, but when we do… I never want to stay long. Drinks are significantly more expensive than other locations in the Water Street area and the bartenders can be hit or miss, with some very nice and other downright rude. Too many options in the area that offer better deals with a smile.

Lets preface this review by saying that I like water street for what it is, drunken fun times.
Right across from good old trinity lies one of the classic places to pregame on water street. Décor here nice, crowd usually decent.
The reason for the 5 stars is that this IS the place to go on a Monday night. It is packed with people and the drink specials are pretty solid. The crowd sometimes may be a bit iffy, but for a Monday, there pretty much is only one option. Typical dance music. And they all the way till closing time around 2 AM… on a Monday!
I do like the paintings on the wall.
If there is a cause for celebration on a Monday night (who knows maybe you won the lottery), you really can only go to one place. This is it.

Drinks with 90s/​early 2k hip hop and urban cartoon art. That pretty much describes it.
They have an outdoor patio area that would be nice to lounge around in if it wasn’t for the winter weather. The music was good (had VJs) and the place itself was not bad. Drinks were ok… the shots could have been bigger. The only thing that kept it from a great place was the lack of people they had on a weekend night.

I used to just know where to go when I was younger– no Unilocal,no internet, no social networks, I was just in the know. But, alas, I now get my new bars/​clubs info via the internet. (Or, maybe so much time has based that social networks ARE how people find out about places these days. Ah, the irony… anyhow…)
We really liked this place especially as water street bars go. I didn’t get if it was a bar or an art gallery. Apparantly a little of both cuz there were some modern art pieces on the wall. Really nice enclosed patio with its own bar. And the dj! We Loved the dj! They always make or break a place for me. I haven’t liked a dj this much since tabu in Vegas. Early on they were playing 90s stuff but later moved on to more like summer 2000s hip hop songs with occasional random songs (think late 70s MJ) thrown in.
Our drinks were a wee bit confusing. We paid $ 8 for stoli vodkas and sodas… but once they were in a enormous glass glass, the other time in a tiny plastic cup. What?
Oh well, I’d still choose this place first next time I’m on water street.

I am writing this review because I really like the idea of this venue, like most of the djs and bartenders that work here, I also know the reputation of the owner for being a great bartender and an entrepreneur but I wanted to mention one bad experience I have had at this venue.
I am specifically speaking about their Service Industry Night (S.I.N) and the S.I.N boat cruise after party on Mondays. I can guarantee you for a Monday night this is one of the best places to be at and the most packed place to be at. Drink Specials are great, the music is always great, crowd is quite respectful to each other because most of them are in the Customer service industry.
My issue was with their bouncer’s certain actions on a packed Monday night. I understand capacity limitations (per ordered by the city) and the way to control the crowd by letting in a lesser number of people than the people that exits the building. Coming from the night life industry I am 100% familiar with the way bars/​clubs control the intake to better serve customers at the bar and not to overcrowd the entrance or restrooms at once. Then there are clubs in the city that holds up the crowd in a line to make it seem like its packed inside and this is kind of a mind trick to attract the passer by customers.
This particular venue gets so packed on Monday nights that they need to have a line in order to control the intake due to capacity. But if you are at capacity then that means there is no room for anyone including myself or some flashy guy with a bunch of good looking women who walks up to the bouncer and shakes his hand and walks right in with the women without even an ID check. Capacity is Capacity. That means no exceptions including the flashy guy or their employees or their personal friends. It is unfair to keep people waiting in line for 20 minutes because «they are at capacity», while 15 – 20 people are also leaving the establishment and while they let their friends and certain people with certain looks in.
Otherwise the bar is a great place to hang out!!! I would give it 3 Stars.

Ahhhh Water Street, we meet again. I was never a giant fan of the Water Street scene. Total bro fest, lots of drunken douche baggery and there is some sloppy drunk girl crying within earshot at all times. My arm sufficiently twisted, I agreed to meet some friends at Rogues. This place is fricken cool. Check out the light fixtures, they are awesome. Seems to be a better variety of beer than most Water Street bars, with Tripel Karmeliet and Two Hearted Ale on tap. I really don’t want to downgrade this place solely by its surroundings, but the folks hanging out here just aren’t my style. This place would really be at home on 2^nd St. near Sabbatic and Ten Bells. Long story short, I like the place. It’s by far the best option in the area and it has some serious potential.