Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall

Stopped in while riding my motorcycle from California. Old town feel and the owner Andy was really welcoming and friendly. I wish him be best there. Wednesday night Polka jam was fun. Will definitely go back if I go back to This town.

Didn’t stay long cause there was a large private party, but the polka was awesome! People were dancing, drinking, laughing and having a good time! Would love to have a party here or just hang out! It was big and open perfect for polka with friends or your significant other! I need to go back on another night and hang out!

This may be a wonderful local bar. We came out to hear a band which was labeled a «Western Swing» group. Western Swing is a well defined narrow band of Country music we know and love.
This wasn’t it.
The group which was playing was closer to Gypsy freestyle – they played a bunch of original music well outside our area of interest. The worst part was the $ 20 worth of cover charges the four of us had to pay just to get in the door.
On top of that, the lone bartender was someone who was rude to my wife while we were trying to watch another band at the casino the night before. In a city of a million-​plus people that coincidence was remarkable.
We were in and out of there in less than thirty minutes. Unless you are a local resident and know this place from the perspective of a «regular» you should do more advanced research on who’s playing there before making the trip.

A traditional Polish bar with lot of live music. The service is great and there are many Polish beers. This is a welcoming environment where you will have a good time.

Great bar and venue. Sadly, I was there and the Latchkeys were playing. They were okay, but had their friends and family there and it totally ruined the show… Hey Latchkeys,…leave them home and you might have a chance.

Polka for the masses, shake your asses.

Polish beer, Polish music, Polish people– are just a few of the things that make this bar fun. Andy has other types of music and beer, too, of course! You must check this place out if you’re in the area– and if you aren’t in the area, find a way to get there!

This place is just great! Great beer! Great music, Great owner!

This place will kick your dupa! Polish music on the front stage and who knows what playing on the rear stage. An amazing selection of Polish beer in bottles. Popcorn is sold to raise money for charities (so don’t be a jerk and not donate), and this bar seems to have changed very little in 80 years. Excellent. Well worth a visit.

This place is cool. It’s got that divey, hole-​in-​the wall feel to it, but it’s still large than most other divey holes in the wall. The beer selection is impressive with an emphasis on Polish beers, and they have live music 3 – 4 nights a week. Once the music is going and you’ve got a great beverage in your hand, good times are sure to be had.

I’ve been here a few times to watch my friend’s band play. I love the idea of the dueling stages– and the fact that they have live music on more than just the weekends. The place looks like an old house someone decided to change into a bar– which I love. The bathrooms still have the old fashioned sink fixtures and they are obviously still working on a few renovations. The owner and bartenders are super friendly, I felt like they could sense I when I was ready for another beer and would almost have it ready for me by the time I got to the bar. I love that they have polish beers on tap that I have never even heard of. This place is a little too far for me to go to very often, but if i lived in the neighborhood I would probably be a regular.

This place totally rocks. The selection of Polish beers and forgive me, the shots of Juh-​nuff-​ka (blackberry brandy) are enough to get you feeling great.
I love the no frills style of this place because it just makes you totally comfortable. This place is definitely out of the way, but because of that it means that everyone in there makes you feel like family (they took the extra trip too).
I was here for a rockabilly vs. polka night in which Vern and the Originals polka band faced off with a great rockabilly group. I don’t usually dance, but this place had such a great vibe that I got up in front of everyone even when no one else was dancing.
For a very different experience with a small-​town bar feel, take the out of the way trip to Kochanski’s. You won’t be disappointed. These are the places that makes Milwaukee a special place to live.

Does it get better than a bar that features Vern and the Originals on a regular basis?
Any time I have been in I have been greeted, by the owner Andy, with a smile. If you ask he will let you pick out the horror movie of the night to play on the tv behind the bar.
You will know your business is appreciated from the minute you walk through the door. Vern will probably let you join in on a couple of the polka’s if you are so inclined.
If you have ever debated stopping in… Do it! You will walk away with an experience you won’t regret.

Crap I can’t believe I haven’t written a review for Kochanski’s yet!
I was coach/​manager/​all-​star hero on Nick K’s mentioned kickball team, and what he sez is true.
I have had way too much fun at this place, and Andy is the coolest. He’ll buy you a shot if you beat him at foosball, but good luck. Apparently I am one of the few.
Wednesday is a great night to go for your first time. Open mic polka with lots of elderly folk tearin’ up the stage and dance floor.
Great live music a few nights a week usually, Andy books the good stuff. Blues, rockabilly, surf, rock, (good) country, and the occasional metal or punk show as well.
Sweet ass beer garden for your outdoor hangin’ out and smokin’ needs. Andy promised horse shoe pits, but It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to stop in so I don’t know if that happened yet. I need to go soon.
Also, the place is heated by a big outdoor wood fired boiler. Eat shit, we energies!

The first time I stepped foot in Kochanski’s was for the Santa Rampage and instantly the place became like crack! I know it’s not good for me but damn I just didn’t want to quit it.
Things I love about Kochanski’s– it’s polka– tastic, this place has tons of great live music most nights, good cheap beer, they give you really cool free stuff on your birthday, the «beer garden» is less than amazing but they tried hard so I can’t knock it, and duh they host Santa Rampage and I am sorry but NOTHING is better than listening to Vern and the Originals and drinking tons of beers with 100 dudes dressed like Santa. Oh and they have free wieners, that’s right folks, free wieners and if that’s not a reason to drink I don’t know what is!
The thing I don’t love about Kochanski’s– the broom closet that is called a «bathroom». Typically it’s dirty, sometimes the lock doesn’t work and you kind of feel like you might have caught something after using it. But who cares, just go back out there, do a shot to kill the bacteria and get down to doing the polka with some old dude– it’s the cure all for everything!

Wanna go to a place that your Grandparents used to go?
This is it. This is the Southside of yesteryear right hear. Thanks to Andy it is still here and will hopefully be for a long time. My first time here was for the Santa Cycle Rampage last December and I was absolutely blown away. Wanna see the most surreal Christmas event ever? Be sure to check out the Santa Cycle Rampage this year! But I digress…
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked in for this first time. Old school. Right down to the sink outside the men’s room, and the women’s bathroom that was clearly an afterthought. Dueling Polka or Rockabilly bands? Seriously? Open mic Polka Jam? Where else are you going to find that but at Kochanski’s? Maybe there will be an old Nessco set up in back offering free wieners on a random Friday night, maybe there won’t be. The owner himself was the bartender on our most recent visit. I had the pleasure to discuss several different beers with him, and maybe throw down a shot of Power’s, maybe it was Paddy’s. Maybe it was both, I forget. What I do remember was that there was a multi-​generational crowd, and that everyone was having a great time. Don’t let the neighborhood scare you. It’s not that bad and there is a parking lot.
OK hipsters, the next time you have to take your Grams or Gramps out for their B-​day. Take them here for drinks and some polka after wards. They love you for it.

I know this place is a Milwaukee institution, especially under the former owner Art Altenberg. That being said, I’ve only been here since the new owner Andy Kochanski took the reins, and I give him a ton of credit. He’s got a ton of ideas and the energy of a steam engine… he’s making some great updates to the bar that should take it through the next fifty years. The beer garden is fun, the band battles are cool and of course, what other place is more perfect to hear some weekend polka.
Be aware, this is not a ‘pub’, not a ‘bar & grille” – it is a bar with character, history and a future!

Kochanski’s is an institution. I remember going when it was Art’s and I was concerned when I heard that he was selling, so I’m so glad that Kochanski’s has kept up the tradition.
They feature live music almost every night, which is incredible. Where else are you going to find polka open-​mic night?
This place isn’t shiny or pretty and you’re not getting over-​priced martinis, so if that’s your scene, steer clear. There are no bells and whistles, just a great owner, a pretty great selection of beer and an eclectic group of bands.
The night we went, there were two bands on the schedule, meaning that one played while the other had their intermission and there was no break in music, which is a pretty cool idea. Unfortunately, we hated the second band, but that’s not the bar’s fault.
Andy, the owner, is dipping his toes in the Twitter world, so give them a follow and help him out.
Every Milwaukeean should experience Kochanski’s.

Like Rachel, I can’t believe I have never visited Kochanski’s before today (for the Santa Cycle Rampage no less) but it’s officially one of my new favorite places.
It’s OLD school and I mean that in the best possible way. There are meat snacks, pork rinds and sunflower seeds behind the bar. There’s a beer on tap for everyone — Pabst for the hipsters, micros and Polish beers too. The interior appears to be original — including the bathrooms (ladies, it’s not pretty).
There’s the owner — a really nice guy who kept the good things about the bar and is drawing a younger crowd with rockabilly and country acts. And of course, polka music! Who doesn’t want to listen to polka Christmas carols & drink beer with 500 other people most of whom are in Santa suits? If you think it sounds awesome, let me tell you the reality was far better!
If you haven’t been here, you’re missing out on a genuine Milwaukee experience!

How, oh how, has the universe kept me from visiting Kochanski’s until this past weekend? What strange force was it that held me away from this magical place for all my time in the city?
Absolute Milwaukee gem, folks. Must go. Must see. Must experience.
Quick backstory: As many other reviewers have noted, Kochanski’s was (for about forever) Art’s Concertina Bar. I had heard whisperings of this polka-​laden fairytale land long ago, but never made it down to 37^th and Burnham for a visit. So, when I read — somewhere circa ²⁰⁰⁶⁄₂₀₀₇ — that Art’s was closing, I was heartbroken.
BUT…
Surprise! Andy Kochanski bought the place, and kept the spirit of the whole shebang alive. (And, can we briefly talk about how NICE this guy is? Seriously. Sweet as pie, workin’ his arse off from behind the bar, and thanking patrons with a megaphone. This guy found out my brother and I were first-​timers, so naturally. he lined up some blackberry brandy in a shotski for us and himself… does it get any more Wisconsin-​tastic than that? Didn’t think so…)
Some really important and completely awesome things of note:
–There are two stages, so during the weekends, Kochanski’s will be rocking this sort of «dualing» band set-​up. During one set, you’re at the back of the room, but a half hour later? You’re right in front. (The evening we stopped by, there were two country/​Rockabilly bands whoopin’ it up. Fun! And the cover’s cheap, and totally worth it.)
–Offerings: a pretty solid selection of beers, and you certainly won’t find Coors here, folks. Okocim and Zywiec and some interesting looking Weiss beers and Spaten + Spaten Optimator, and some interesting micro-​brews, to boot. Old Style, Pabst, and Blatz round out the dregs.
–Flyers in the restrooms for a cribbage league + open mic nights, as well as a calendar of events/​shows for the month. Plan your outing to this amazing spot accordingly!
If ever I get to host friends, colleagues, or the random stray out-​of-​towners who happen to cross my path, Kochanski’s exists as a spot that most certainly makes my «must-​do in Milwaukee» list. It’s that good, that real, and that fun. Love!