Let’s Go Wisconsin takes a look at three underrated Green Bay bars you need to visit during the 2025 NFL Draft!
If you are traveling from out of town for the 2025 NFL Draft or even if you live in town, there are a few Green Bay bars that you need to experience. While watching the future of the NFL being drafted is a factor, the allure of the NFL hosting the draft in Green Bay is that small-town experience. It is no secret that some of the Green Bay area’s economy revolves around alcohol, so if you are here for an extended time, you need to know what Green Bay bars to go to. What is great about all three bars is that they offer “double-bubble,” meaning two-for-one drinks between set hours.
That’s where I come in. As someone who has lived in the Green Bay area for 23 out of 27 years of my life, I have been to my fair share of establishments. When you live in Green Bay for that long, you learn the culture. And sue me, sorry that I like to drink beer. Anyways, here are my picks for three underrated Green Bay bars that you must visit if you are from out of town and are looking for that small-town, dive-bar experience.
Underrated Green Bay Bars You Need to Visit During the NFL Draft
Stage 1
231 N Broadway St, Green Bay, WI
The first bar that comes to mind is my favorite bar in the whole city, Stage 1. While not really a dive bar, Stage 1 is a place where culture meets sports, meets music, meets drinks. When arriving, you will notice that there are limited spots to park on the street. Don’t fear, though, because if you make your way behind the bar and turn onto N Chestnut Ave, there is plenty of parking. If you park behind the bar, you will have to walk in through the back, which is easily noticeable by a blackish-grey fencing that leads to a stage area with an outdoor bar.
When walking into the bar, you will notice that Stage 1 does not look like a normal bar. In fact, the bar is a circle with the bartender and the alcohol in the middle. This brings a sense of being able to talk to everyone who is sitting at the bar. The bartenders working are some of the nicest people that you will meet and will be ready to fill up your drink before you even finish. Add to the fact that there is no food available, and the bartenders will be more occupied with talking to you and making drinks. Connected to the bar is the Lyric Room, which is a huge room with a stage that acts somewhat as a concert venue where they host everything from music to comedy to a beanbag league. There is more to just sitting at the bar, though, as dart boards and a pool table are more often than not being used. The bartenders are more than happy to turn on whatever game is on at that time, if they don’t already have it on.
The best thing about the bar, though, is the patrons. During the afternoons on workdays, you will find the crowd to be older people who tell stories and talk about current events. Come nighttime, the crowd totally changes. You will see younger people coming in to party and have a great time meeting with friends. From the diversity of the customers, to the personalities of the bartenders and owner, Stage 1 is certainly the bar to go to meet all of the demographics of Green Bay.
Hammer Inn
1208 State St, Green Bay, WI
When talking about my favorite true dive bars in Green Bay, Hammer Inn comes to mind. Centralized in the famous Shipyard District, Hammer Inn is visited all throughout the day when they are open, due to a paper mill being nearby. If you get there and they are open in the morning, then you will likely hang out with the third-shift crew just getting off the clock. Either way, that feeling that you are looking for in a dive bar, Hammer Inn checks all of the boxes. It has all sorts of televisions that have a variety of sports on. It has bartenders who know all of the locals by name and would rather talk to you about your family than grind out their shift.
Similar to Stage 1, Hammer Inn provides many extras, like a pool table, dart boards and gambling machines. The bar is big enough that if you want to sit by yourself or with your company without interruptions, there is room, but you still have the close feeling that you can yell across the bar to anyone else. What makes Hammer Inn incredible, though, is the food.
The cheeseburgers are out of this world, and the fried cheese curds are exactly what you are looking for if you are in town wanting to try them. What reigns supreme is the pizza. While the pizza is great tasting, the price for the pizza is incredible (a five-topping pizza is $12.95). While I am not sure if that price will differ come the NFL Draft, that is the normal price. The pizza is your standard bar pie, but for five toppings, it could be the worst thing I’ve ever eaten, and I would still be happy. I usually order double pepperoni, bacon, onion and extra cheese.
Cock and Bull
1237 Main Street, Green Bay, WI
The last Green Bay bar that I want to touch on is Cock and Bull. What is really cool about Green Bay is that it is split into the East and West by the Fox River. There is a different feel and culture on either side of the river, while still having that overall small-town feel that Green Bay provides. Stage 1 and Hammer Inn are both located on the West side, so to show that East side some love, you need to go to Cock and Bull.
Cock and Bull provides a long bar and a few tvs to watch either the NBA or NHL playoffs, if you are in town early. This is also less of a dive bar and more of a bar to gather with a group of people. There is ample seating outside of the bar if you want to stay more reserved. This is another bar that does not serve food per se. During happy hours, frozen pizzas are $1, which, if you ask me, is an incredible deal. If you are out drinking all day and need to get something in your stomach to sober up or avoid getting sick, it is hard to beat a frozen pizza for $1.
While the bartenders here are incredible, the one thing that you will notice is the selection of beer. Cock and Bull features beer from all over the world. You can literally get any beer from any part of the world and be satisfied. They feature a huge chalkboard behind the bar that shows what beer selection they have, where it comes from and the ABV of it. If you are staying on the east side of Green Bay, a few miles from Lambeau on the west side and are looking for somewhere to drink, make a stop a Cock and Bull and enjoy the friendly company.
Follow us on all of our social channels! Check out our Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for more great content. Let’s Go Wisconsin!
