After more than a two-year hiatus, the Madhatter bar has made a triumphant return to downtown Madison. After closing its doors to make room for the new University Square, the new Madhatter opened last month at 328 W. Gorham St. — which happens to be right below The Badger Herald, next to Silver Mine Subs.

Madhatter was intensely popular back at its old location, and with lines stretching out the door most weekend nights at the new location, it appears Madison veterans have not forgotten about it.

Back in the day, Madhatter was most famously known for its revolutionary drink special “Friday After Class,” or FAC. From 4 to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Madhatter offers $3 pitchers and $4 double Captain Morgan mixers for a great way to end a long, depressing week of classes. Wednesday’s Service Industry Night also appears to be very popular, with half-off drinks for all employees in the service industry.

The bar’s setup is fun and different. Unlike the cramped quarters in several downtown bars, Madhatter’s two floors are spacious and open — perfect for anyone with personal space issues. The second floor has an island bar in the middle of it, tables and chairs along the wall and still plenty of room to move around in between. While it may look small from outside on the street, looks can be deceiving and Madhatter is actually bigger than it appears.

The biggest challenge facing Madhatter might be its new location. While the bar has been hopping on weekends, its currently visibility doesn’t compare to its old stomping grounds on the corner of University and Lake streets in the old University Square. At one point, it looked like Madhatter might move onto State Street into Goodwill’s current location, but after fierce neighborhood opposition, the owner looked elsewhere.

After finally finding a new home, perhaps the best thing about Madhatter is the fact that it’s something new. While Madison boasts a wide variety bars — more than many other college campuses — it’s always fun to have something new and exciting to experience. Most undergraduates were not 21 when Madhatter was last open, so it certainly provides a brand new experience.

So if you haven’t given it a chance yet, try the new Madhatter. No, there aren’t any guys in red suits there singing a cappella, but it really is a nice addition to the area. (Trust us, we know the neighborhood — and you might even catch us down there after a long day’s work.)
4 stars out of 5