Visited late afternoon on a Friday, right as a band was warming up. This is a no frills spot - patio tables outside, wood tables inside, plastic pitchers throughout. Service is serve yourself. However, they always have very solid beer (especially for a University union) and the Terrace is my quintessential memory of visiting Madison when I was in school down the road in Milwaukee. I have never had a bad time here. Beautiful views of the lake, laid back atmosphere. Overall, not truly a beer spot, but certainly a Madison must-do, particularly when the weather is good.

You usually have to come here with a union member or a student. Ambiance changes with the seasons. Indoors is pretty cool, but can get very crowded and college-y. However...the music on thursdays and fridays can be quite good. Extend this to the terrace...the atmosphere is always awesome (weather permitting) and the music can also be great. Beer selection is crazy good for a college establishment. Always a bells or two...new glarus...sprecher...ale asylum. Cheap too...buy the pitcher. Not much service so to speak...just walk to the bar and get a pitcher...no tips allowed. Food...oh yea...it is pretty much college meal plan food. I like the burgers. With all the stuff going against it...it is still pretty awesome

I went here with my wife when she was a law student. First off, the ambiance rocks!... nicely set against the lake with an active feel to the joint. The beer selection is most assuredly solid for a student union, but not much compared with some local bars. This was a cool place to hang out.

A very unique place to spend a lazy afternoon. Grab one of the chairs at the Terrace and sit there listening to music or just relaxing. The selection of beers is pretty good, ranging from swill (Pabst Blue Ribbon, Budweiser) to decent (seasonal Capitol brews, Leine Red and Honey Weiss) to some nice ones (Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Two Heared Ale). The only problem is that the beer comes in a plastic pitcher and cups so don’t expect to get ideal taste of what was on tap. If the weather is bad, sit in the Rathskeller.

Der Rathskeller at the Memoral Union is a place that I didn’t appreciate when I was there. I worked there from 1988-1990 as a dish dog with a friendly junky. Having gone back since then and been in other student unions, I realize that this is one of the best in the country. The beer selection is above average. The free music on the terrace in the summer is amazing. The murals and German beer hall vibe are something I don’t think the student will realize are part of a unique midwestern experience until they leave. I didn’t.

If it wasn’t so crowded and the having to be a member/student this place would be the best beer garten on Earth. Fantastic on-the-water location, gorgeous sunsets. Beer is hard to get but great slection considering you are at a student union! Consistently great music. Fantastic place...it just is a hassle to get a beer.

Great when the weather is nice. I love sitting out on the terrace listening to music. Just remember to bring someone who has a membership so you can buy beer. Last time I was there I just asked some people in line to buy stuff for me. It wasn’t that hard, the first person I asked was happy to do it. If the tap line is too long, go down to the pool hall and you can get a nice selection of bottles with a much shorter line.

A nice selection of tap beers, both uber-cheap macros (PBR!) and good micros and imports (Two-Hearted, Oberon in summer, local beers, and others). Since the drinking ticket I received here three weeks before my 21st birthday I refuse to go back, but it’s actually a nice place to hang out. It can get rowdy, but often it’s quiet enough to do half-serious studying. Generic American pub fare with ice cream and fastfood available outside of the bar area.

First things first: you need to be a student or instructor at UW, a UW Union member, or with one of the above to buy alcohol and food here. The fee is $50 so there is no sense in buying a membership soley for this purpose; find someone that can buy something here. That said, their selection has taken a turn for the better. The website above is for der Stiftskeller which has the most beer of the three food/beer places inside the Union. Samples are Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Two Hearted Ale, Franziskaner Weiss, along with assorted Gray’s, Leinie’s, Capital, and Sprecher. They also have Capital’s Cream Ale and Gray’s Rathskeller Ale; not fantastic, but one of the only places they can be found. The food is tasty, but standard. As for atmosphere, it doesn’t get much better than this. Hundreds of steins around walls; tables carved with names from decades ago; rabid Badger fans; the Terrace in the summer... this place is glorious. If you have a friend who can take you, go.