The vast majority of the bars and lounges in the dynamic university and political city of Madison are gay-friendly - this outdoorsy, progressive, and well-educated community that straddles Lake Mendota and Lake Monona is one of the best small cities (the population is around 210,000) in the country for gays and lesbians to live in. It's not a gay-bar hub the way Milwaukee is, but it's only a 75-minute drive there, and Chicago, with one of the nation's largest gay scenes, lies only a 2 to 2.5-hour drive away, too.
But club crawlers will find a couple of fun gay Madison hangouts, plus a number of gay-friendly lounges, coffeehouses, and restaurant bars. Among the gay nightlife choices, the largest and most popular option is Club 5 (5 Applegate Court, 608-277-9700 or 877-648-9700), one of the Midwest's most substantial gay entertainment venues. It comprises a large disco and lounge, a patio that's good fun in warm weather, a lesbian lounge called the Foxhole, and a leather-and-levi's area called the Barracks. In other words, there's pretty much something for everybody at Club 5, and the crowd offers a true cross-section of Madison's gay scene: students, men, women, professionals, working-class types, academics. The drawback to Club 5 is that in this walkable, compact city, you have to drive or take a taxi to get to this facility about 4.5-miles south of downtown, just off the U.S. 14 freeway. The setting, near fast-food restaurants and strip malls, isn't especially inviting either, but once inside, you'll discover a nice mix of people and a highly welcoming staff.
Madison has one other gay bar, the much smaller neighborhood lounge, the Shamrock Bar (117 W. Main St., 608-255-5029), which opened in 1985 and draws a mostly male (thought it's very female-friendly) bunch of all ages, from students to long-time locals. This low-keyed spot enjoys a convenient location just a block from the Wisconsin Capitol grounds, and a 10-minute walk from the University of Wisconsin campus. This is a cozier option than Club 5, less of a destination for dancing, but with a number of fun events, such as karaoke on Tuesdays and dart tournaments. The kitchen turns out fairly standard pub fare and serves brunch on weekends - handy in a pinch, although there are so many fantastic restaurants nearby that it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to dine here. For its convenient location and intimate vibe, The Shamrock is a good bet if you're looking to mingle or meet friends early in the evening, and Club 5 is a better choice for a big night of partying and dancing.
Next door to the Shamrock you'll find the Tornado Room (116 S. Hamilton St., 608-256-3570 is a retro-fabulous lounge, aglow in dim-red lighting, that's attached to the Tornado Steakhouse. It's a fun option for late-night cocktails or food, and you'll often see gay folks in here, having sauntered in from the Shamrock. The Tornado is justly famous for its tender steak sandwich, served au jus with sauteed onions and horseradish cream.
Stroll across the Capitol grounds and you'll pass a couple of Madison's best restaurants, Harvest (608-255-6075) and L'Etoile (608-251-0500), which are at the corner of N. Pinckney and E. Mifflin streets. Both of these foodie haunts are great places to enjoy a couple of glasses of wine. From here, you're steps from Cafe Montmartre wine bar and jazz cafe (127 E. Mifflin St., 608-255-5900), a lively spot frequented by students, music fans, and artsy sorts. It's part-owned by Butch Vig, of the alternative band Garbage, and he's often spotted here along with Shirley Manson.
As you might expect of a city with a lively collegiate and arts scene, Madison has plenty of inviting coffeehouses. Among the most gay-popular, drop by Michelangelos Coffee House (114 State St., 608-251-5299), along the bustling downtown State Street pedestrian mall. It's close to dozens of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Another excellent option, with a strong following among lesbians, is A Room of One's Own Feminist Bookstore and Coffeehouse (307 W. Johnson St., 608-257-7888), which is on the corner of the State Street mall and carries a fine selection of books and periodicals.
