In the late summer I was lucky enough to take a trip to the fine city of Milwaukee. It was my first time in the Cream City, and it was a true delight – endless blue skies, temperate weather, and inexplicably cheery people. I fell hard for the suburban-urban synthesis, old brick skyline, and blue collar feel that pervades Milwaukee’s diverse neighborhoods. The town is easy on the eyes but hard on the stomach, offering an avalanche of suds, heavy carbs, and dairy. Streams, torrents, rivers of calories, flowing from every storefront. I just loved every minute of it and can’t wait to get back…maybe when the weather turns non-artic.

I did a lot of imbibing in Milwaukee, but I wanted to call out two magical places that you should run to. Winding through the suburban-ish Mitchell Street area, I thought I may have taken a wrong turn on my way to Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge – in the big cities, most high-end cocktail bars are found tucked in high-rises or exclusive, stylish area. But Bryant’s is ensconced a normal neighborhood, with lucky residents living their lives right outside. That relaxed local vibe really embodies the Bryant attitude – founded by locals in 1938, Bryant’s is the oldest cocktail lounge in the US, and the grand-dame has held on to her simple charms.

You enter and are met with old-time gauze, low lights on the bar and spectral bulbs in the background, yellows glinting off bar metal. Bryant’s just gets the cocktail barfly vibe, if you get my drift. Half mid-west residence, half fine cocktail den, I felt warm and fuzzy throughout the experience. There is no menu, Bryant’s relying instead on the imagination of customer and bartenders. The staff is full of top-notch seasoned pros who are very generous with their favorite recipes and insights. I went old school tiki, ordering a genuine Hurricane (2 drink limit!) and Mai Tai (2 drink limit!). Blockbusters, both. Bleary eyed and happy, you don’t want to leave, ever.

The only downside of hitting up Bryant’s on your first night is that it’s all downhill from there, right? Wrong friendo – due to a flight delay I was not-so-tragically stranded in Milwaukee for one more day. Hoofing it through the delightfully Midwest neighborhood of Bay View, I set eyes on At Random Cocktail Lounge’s exterior and immediately fell in love – down to earth and retro, it looked the part. There’s also a great ice cream deck out rounding out the wholesome facade.

Stepping in, I smiled widely – billing itself as a “time capsule,” At Random is the best recreation of a 1950s cocktail bar–or what I imagine them to look like–I’ve ever experienced. The soft red lights, kitschy decor, big green plants, B & W photos of long-dead crooners, and vintage shutters, it’s really a visual feast for any history nerd. Everywhere I turned there was some new clever nod. Honestly, if I didn’t live somewhere else, I’d never have left.

At Random has a cocktail menu – not list – bursting at the seams with old fashioned cocktails and dairy, lots of dairy. I’ve never been quite the fan of mixing the dairy and alcohol streams, but I had to make an exception here. It was a good decision – I slowly sipped (with a straw) several wondrous creations like the Grasshopper. It’s pure magic here folks, and if you’re within 100 miles of Milwaukee, I’d make it a real point to experience At Random.

You won’t want for bar choices in the magical Cream City, but I do think I found two truly special places in Bryant’s and At Random. Stop in if you can.