Decibel/Deep Bar
1905 E. North Ave.
272-3337
Part cocktail lounge, part dance club, Decibel/Deep Bar put a shiny swagger back into Milwaukee ’s nightlife when it opened its doors in spring 2007. In gutting the smoky remains of club-land castaways (Mantra Lounge, Esoteria and Micro.Bar: RIP), the venue proved that reinventing an image built on cocktails and charm has no limits. From plasma-screen televisions to an icy vodka bar boasting more than 100 distilled beauties, Decibel/Deep Bar proves that while beauty may be skin deep in local after-dark circles, there’s no harm in looking damn good. (Jenn Danko)
Runners-up: City Lounge, 618 Live