Wisconsin’s Patio Season: Where to Drink Outside in Price County

Summer in northern Wisconsin is short and people take it seriously. When the snow melts and the patio chairs come out, every bar within driving distance becomes the best bar in the state. At least for a few months.

Here’s a look at where you can drink outside in and around Price County, starting with the one you can walk into tonight. Price County Fun.

Ripsaw Saloon, Prentice

1117 Railroad Avenue, Prentice, WI 54556. Open 2 PM to close, closed Tuesdays. Sundays at noon during Packers season.

Ripsaw is a beef tallow bar. Everything on the fryer. The wings, the cheese curds, the fish on Friday. Goes into beef tallow, not vegetable oil. The result is food that actually tastes like something.

The patio situation at Ripsaw is what you’d expect from a Northwoods bar: space to sit outside, a place to set your drink, and people who’ve been coming here on Friday nights for years. It’s not a curated Instagram patio. It’s a place where you can eat cheese curds outside and not have to explain yourself to anyone.

What to order: Friday fish fry (2-piece $9 or 3-piece $11, fries or tots, tartar sauce, buttered bread). Bloody Mary with pepper-infused vodka. Old Fashioned muddled the way it should be.

What’s actually on the menu: The full menu is confirmed at borrachos.bar. Appetizers from $3-7, wings $8 basket or $1 each (9 sauces), sandwiches $9-12, pizza $10-12, and the Friday fish fry. All prices include tax.

Rock Garden Tavern, Phillips

N8220 State Hwy 13, Phillips, WI 54555. (715) 339-7282.

Located right at the Wisconsin Concrete Park, Fred Smith’s legendary folk art environment with over 200 concrete sculptures. The Rock Garden Tavern is part bar, part art gallery, part piece of Wisconsin history. You can walk through the sculpture garden and then have a drink at the bar. It’s one of the only places in the state where your patio view includes a 20-foot concrete deer.

The tavern is available for private parties and has a loyal local following. Check their Facebook page for current hours and events, as they can be seasonal.

Northwoods Supper Club, Fifield

N14066 Flambeau Ave (State Road 70), Fifield, WI 54524. (715) 762-4447.

The closest thing Price County has to a destination restaurant. It’s on Flambeau Avenue in Fifield, about 15 minutes from Prentice. This is a proper Wisconsin supper club. You sit at the bar and have an Old Fashioned while you wait for your table, then you eat.

Supper clubs operate on their own schedule. Call ahead or check their current hours before making the drive.

Wojcieszak’s Flambeau Resort & Sportsman’s Lounge, Park Falls

On the Flambeau River in Park Falls, about 25 minutes from Prentice. You can hear the river from the dining room. The Sportsman’s Lounge is the bar side of the operation. The kind of place where the bartenders know the regulars and the regulars know the fish fry schedule.

The Unwritten Rules of Northwoods Patios

1. Get there early. The best patios fill up by 5 PM on Friday.

2. Don’t ask for a mocktail menu. These places have Old Fashioneds, Bloody Marys, and beer. That’s the list.

3. Order the fish fry on Friday. It’s not optional.

4. Bring cash. Some places still prefer it, and the 3% credit card surcharge adds up.

5. Stay for the sunset. The Northwoods sunsets are worth the late drive home.

What to Know Before You Go

• Ripsaw Saloon: Open 2 PM-close, closed Tuesday. 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice. Full menu at borrachos.bar.
• All Ripsaw appetizers, wings, and fish are fried in beef tallow.
• Prices include tax. 3% surcharge on credit cards.
• Packers Sundays: opens at noon.

Last updated: May 2026. Ripsaw Saloon menu confirmed from borrachos.bar. Other establishments listed with publicly available information; hours and menus may change. Call ahead.

See also: why we fry in beef tallow, our signature Wisconsin Old Fashioned, our Bloody Mary that stands out in Wisconsin, The Missed Opportunity: How THC Beverages Could Transform Wisconsin Bar Economics and Our Stories & Info

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the drink prices at Ripsaw Saloon?

Drink prices at Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556: Rail Old Fashioned $4.50, Double Old Fashioned $7.50, Bloody Mary $5. Beer and other drinks are competitively priced for the area.

Does Ripsaw Saloon have a good whiskey selection?

Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556 carries a range of whiskey options including popular bourbon and Canadian brands. The Double Old Fashioned at $7.50 is a great way to try their pour.

What beers are on tap at Ripsaw Saloon?

Tap selections at Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556 rotate seasonally with Wisconsin favorites. Call (715) 428-2042 for the current tap list, or stop by during regular hours.

Are drink specials available on game days at Ripsaw?

On Packers game Sundays, Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556 opens at noon with drink specials. The Rail Old Fashioned at $4.50 is a popular game day order.

Does Ripsaw Saloon serve craft cocktails?

Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556 focuses on classic Wisconsin bar drinks — Old Fashioneds ($4.50 rail, $7.50 double), Bloody Marys ($5), and straightforward mixed drinks rather than craft cocktails.

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