Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileThe Starlite Lounge
La Crosse, WI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
A 1950s-style cocktail lounge on the second floor of Buzzard Billy's, built around martinis, house special-tinis, and a Rat Pack mood. The draft list is the real depth here: 16 beers with brewery details and prices from $5.75 to $7.25, spanning local Wisconsin and regional craft names alongside imports and cider. Cocktails run a varied, reasonably priced list, with happy hour specials on drinks, wine, and tap beer. Come for a martini and a stout, not for a wine deep-dive.
- What should I order?
- Start with a martini or one of the house special-tinis, then work through the draft list. Java Lava Coffee Stout from Pearl Street Brewery is $5.75, and Spotted Cow from New Glarus is the same price. Guinness Stout is $6.25, and Blueberry Pie Cider from DownEast Cider House is $7.00. Guest-named cocktails include the Starlite, Frankenstein, Key Lime Pie, and Blue Lagoon.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Drinkers who want a martini in a 1950s-style lounge and a draft list with actual brewery detail, including local Wisconsin and regional craft options. Beer-focused groups will find the most to work with, while cocktail drinkers get a varied, reasonably priced list. Wine drinkers have a thinner selection, though happy hour brings specials.
- When should I go?
- Happy hour is the value window, with specials on cocktails, wine, and tap beer. The 1950s lounge setting suits a martini-and-cocktails occasion rather than a quick stop.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Draft beers run $5.75 to $7.25, with Java Lava Coffee Stout and Spotted Cow at $5.75, Guinness Stout at $6.25, and Blueberry Pie Cider at $7.00. Cocktails are described as reasonably priced, and happy hour brings specials on drinks, wine, and tap beer.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- A 1950s-style cocktail lounge on the second floor of Buzzard Billy's, with a Rat Pack atmosphere, martinis and house special-tinis, and a 16-item draft list that carries brewery details and prices.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
A 1950s-style cocktail lounge with a Rat Pack atmosphere, built around martinis and house special-tinis. The cocktail list is described as varied and reasonably priced, especially during happy hour. Guests have named the Starlite, Frankenstein, Key Lime Pie, and Blue Lagoon among the drinks they tried.
Menu strengths
- — Martinis and house special-tinis anchor a 1950s-style cocktail lounge identity.
- — The cocktail list is described as varied and reasonably priced, with happy hour specials.
Standout selections
- — The Starlite, a house cocktail named by guests.
- — Frankenstein, Key Lime Pie, and Blue Lagoon round out the guest-named cocktails.
Pricing: Reasonably priced, with happy hour specials on cocktails.
Wine
Wine is offered at The Starlite Lounge, and happy hour includes specials on it.; Wine is offered, and happy hour includes specials on it.
Menu strengths
- — Wine is offered, and happy hour includes specials on it.
Standout selections
- — The Starlite Lounge features wines and that Happy Hour includes specials on wine.
Pricing: Happy hour includes specials on wine.
Beer
A 16-item draft list with prices and brewery details, spanning local Wisconsin and regional craft selections. Draft beers run $5.75 to $7.25, and happy hour includes specials on tap beer. The range covers a local coffee stout, a Wisconsin farmhouse ale, an Irish stout, and a Massachusetts cider.
Menu strengths
- — 16 draft beers with prices and brewery details, including local Wisconsin and regional craft selections.
- — Draft prices run $5.75 to $7.25, and happy hour includes specials on tap beer.
Standout selections
- — Java Lava Coffee Stout, Pearl Street Brewery, WI; 5.5% ABV, 14 IBUs, $5.75.
- — Spotted Cow, New Glarus Brewing Company, New Glarus, WI; farmhouse ale, $5.75.
- — Guinness Stout, The Saint James Gate Brewery, Ireland; 4.2% ABV, $6.25.
- — Blueberry Pie Cider, DownEast Cider House, East Boston, MA; $7.00.
Pricing: Draft beers priced from $5.75 to $7.25; happy hour includes specials on tap beer.
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