Pabst Theater
Pabst Theater
4.5
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4.5
294 reviews
Excellent
198
Very good
76
Average
14
Poor
4
Terrible
2
James K
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Family
Saw Steve Hackett which was great! My issue is that you purchase parking through the Pabst website and when you get to the structure at 777 N Milwaukee Ave, the entrance is blocked with no information or person available, and you are turned away. They sell the ticket but do not let you park and make $10!!! If the lot was overbooked, then you need to monitor better. You are selling advance parking tickets!! I have yet to talk to someone at Pabst about this. We will see what they will do about reimbursement. Ten bucks is ten bucks, especially in this economy. Frustrated patron!
Written 4 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MGums
Chicago, IL222 contributions
Feb 2020
We came to the Pabst for the High Kings concert. Great venue. Very friendly people. Comfortable seats and a great sound system. The only thing stopping me for giving it a higher ranking is how hard it is to get tickets. The floor plan on the website does not show open seats and allow you to pick from them. It kept trying to sell me seats in AA which I knew were right next to the start and a bit cramped from reviews I read. I was able to get through to a live person and they were able to book me into the seats I wanted. Just wish I could have done it all online.
Written 24 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rudyboomer
Wadsworth, IL117 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
The Pabst Theater & it's sister theater The Riverside are beautifully done and feature consistent big name artists. The main floor seats are roomy and have a nice view of the stage. We got last minute tickets to the balcony this week and we suggest you avoid that area. There is about 8" of leg room, so if you're taller than 5'4", your legs will be jammed into the seat in front of you. You might want to bring some binoculars, there are no overhead monitors and without them, you won't recognize the band members.
Written 20 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Willowsandroads
Milwaukee, WI211 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
I've been here for many shows, most recently the a week ago for the Milwaukee Ballet's production of Dorian Gray. It was a terrifically intimate place for the Ballet, and I never mind giving up my regular seats at the Marcus for the 1 or 2 performances they do at the Pabst now.
But this isn't why I love the Pabst. I love it for the acoustics. It is a fabulous place for musical performances. The sound is phenomenal. One of my favorite performers that I have seen there is Brandi Carlile. I have also seen her perform at Summerfest, The Riverside, Turner Hall and some other places outside of Milwaukee, and in Milwaukee, the sound at the Pabst was most definitely far superior. For one of her shows we were seated pretty high and pretty far back and they did a song without any amplification at all, and you could still hear them beautifully.
Aside from this, it is just a really pretty theatre. Parking is fairly easy. When we were there for the Ballet a couple weeks ago we parked in the attached garage for $8, can't complain about that.
That said, it is an older theatre and I am a big lady. So here are some seat tips for you if you are on the larger side. Not all seats in the theater are created equally. If you are larger and are sitting on the main floor, sit on the side and a little further back. You will have more room. If you are on the upper levels, again, seats on the sides tend to be a little roomier. If you look at a seating map, you will see there are some seats on the upper levels that are on a curve that curves out, choose these, don't pick the ones that curve in. Wherever you see sets of 4 seats next to a stairway, these tend to be a little narrower. Also, if on the Mezzainine or top level, don't choose the seats directly behind the stairwells, these have no leg room at all. Don't worry about your view, there really isn't a bad seat in the house.
But this isn't why I love the Pabst. I love it for the acoustics. It is a fabulous place for musical performances. The sound is phenomenal. One of my favorite performers that I have seen there is Brandi Carlile. I have also seen her perform at Summerfest, The Riverside, Turner Hall and some other places outside of Milwaukee, and in Milwaukee, the sound at the Pabst was most definitely far superior. For one of her shows we were seated pretty high and pretty far back and they did a song without any amplification at all, and you could still hear them beautifully.
Aside from this, it is just a really pretty theatre. Parking is fairly easy. When we were there for the Ballet a couple weeks ago we parked in the attached garage for $8, can't complain about that.
That said, it is an older theatre and I am a big lady. So here are some seat tips for you if you are on the larger side. Not all seats in the theater are created equally. If you are larger and are sitting on the main floor, sit on the side and a little further back. You will have more room. If you are on the upper levels, again, seats on the sides tend to be a little roomier. If you look at a seating map, you will see there are some seats on the upper levels that are on a curve that curves out, choose these, don't pick the ones that curve in. Wherever you see sets of 4 seats next to a stairway, these tend to be a little narrower. Also, if on the Mezzainine or top level, don't choose the seats directly behind the stairwells, these have no leg room at all. Don't worry about your view, there really isn't a bad seat in the house.
Written 25 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YaleDad
New York City701 contributions
July 2015 • Business
Beautiful theatre with busts of Wagner and Beethoven in the architecture. Good acoustics and nice sight lines. Great place to attend a show.
Written 12 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth
Racine, WI50 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
The Pabst Theater in itself is an amazing venue!! Great shows, reasonable prices & a beautiful theater!!
**Now the warning - just a heads up, when you purchase your tickets DO NOT purchase the parking they offer for $7.00. They do say it is a discounted price & parking, but it's what they don't say. First off, it's 3 blocks away, which if it was winter & your unaware you are unprepared (shoes, coats, hats). Second, the structure looks like it's about ready to crumble down and it's very small/tight (if you have a bigger car forget it). 3rd, Spaces are minimal & they do not have an attendant there to tell you if its full, so you have people going up finding no spots & trying to turn around to come back out & leave (it was a cluster f-you know what). AND--they clearly sell more tickets than spots!! 4th, the top 2 floors are out in the open (again, not great in the winter).
**There is wonderful parking right next door to the Pabst (wish we would have known before wasting our time) on Water Street. It cost more (was$15), but it was all under cover, secure & the elevator from the structure takes you right to where you walk into the Theater!!
Hope this helps!!!!!
**Now the warning - just a heads up, when you purchase your tickets DO NOT purchase the parking they offer for $7.00. They do say it is a discounted price & parking, but it's what they don't say. First off, it's 3 blocks away, which if it was winter & your unaware you are unprepared (shoes, coats, hats). Second, the structure looks like it's about ready to crumble down and it's very small/tight (if you have a bigger car forget it). 3rd, Spaces are minimal & they do not have an attendant there to tell you if its full, so you have people going up finding no spots & trying to turn around to come back out & leave (it was a cluster f-you know what). AND--they clearly sell more tickets than spots!! 4th, the top 2 floors are out in the open (again, not great in the winter).
**There is wonderful parking right next door to the Pabst (wish we would have known before wasting our time) on Water Street. It cost more (was$15), but it was all under cover, secure & the elevator from the structure takes you right to where you walk into the Theater!!
Hope this helps!!!!!
Written 15 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TriBil
USA197 contributions
Dec 2019
We saw The Christmas Carol, and it was excellent. Great acting, great stage props, I highly recommend it. We got tickets on Travelzoo very reasonably and good seats also, first row right of stage in the first balcony. The theater is beautiful. I did hear many people saying the seats were smalI, we did not have a problem. I was disappointed to see they sold food including popcorn and allowed people to bring it into the theater, to me that cheapened the experience. I was especially disappointed to see that the empty boxes were left on the floor under the seats as is you were at the movie theater. We spent the night at a nearby hotel and the area is very walkable.
Written 6 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom Z
Waukesha, WI316 contributions
Oct 2019
This is our third or fourth concert at the Pabst now and we really look forward to it. You get nice and close to the performers, feels more intimate than the Riverside. And the sound is really great - they don't have to over power you with volume - just good rich balance (much, much better acoustics than Mke Theater of course). Amy Grant was stellar and her Nashville band was stacked with session favorites. Memorable evening, so glad we came.
Written 6 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bo H
Wi61 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Nice old venue. No bad seats unless you sit by rude obnoxious people which is not the theaters fault. I just wish the security would have done something about it. They were told. Will be back.
Written 15 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NorthwoodsLizard
Munising, MI46 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
My husband and I recently attended the David Gray concert here. We had never been to the Pabst before--what an experience! From the venue itself to the incredible kind and friendly staff (ushers and bartenders alike) we had a great time. The only downside were drink prices--my old fashioned made sense at $6. But for my husband's Diet Coke? A 12oz can cost $3.50. That's insane. No alcohol, just the pop.
Special shout out to the ushers in the 3rd floor. They were all wonderful.
Special shout out to the ushers in the 3rd floor. They were all wonderful.
Written 21 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is closest hotel to Pabst theater?
Written 7 September 2024
What time do the doors open to get a seat for GA
Written 25 September 2019
At the pabst theater can you bring your drinks to your seat?
Written 25 September 2019
What is the safest and nearest place to the Pabst Theater to park, and how much is it? Thanks.
Written 26 February 2018
We were not familiar with that side of the river in downtown Milwaukee. However, there is an "underground" parking lot that is part of the city Center complex and we felt it was very safe. It connects actually to the Intercontinental Hotel. if you google a satellite map, you won't see the parking lot because it is underground. I believe there are 2 entrances. Otherwise, the Hyatt's parking lot is safe but that is on the otherside of the river; you could walk or take a taxi
Written 27 February 2018
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