Lost Whale

Lost Whale opened in June 2018 in Bay View's former Boone & Crockett space at 2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., the work of Milwaukee hospitality veterans Tripper Duval and Daniel Beres. Named for Lake Michigan folklore and perched near the Kinnickinnic River, the bar built a national reputation — features in Forbes and Imbibe and a spot on the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation's Top 30 New Cocktail Bars in America — while staying rooted in neighborhood warmth and a genuine sustainability program of composting, biodegradable straws, cross-utilized produce, and waterway-focused community work.

Non-drinkers are treated as first-class guests here. Lost Whale carries a dedicated "spiritless" section on its menu, and per OnMilwaukee you'll "always find at least four or five great options, all of which are just as delicious as their full-proof offerings." The zero-proof builds lean on Ritual Zero-Proof (both the rum and the aperitif) and Lyre's — think a Hemingway-ish Daiquiri made with Ritual Zero-Proof Rum, grapefruit-lime, Demerara and bitters, or a zero-proof Carrot Top built on Lyre's Agave Blanco, Cane and Orange Sec. Non-alcoholic beer is always on hand, and the list rotates alongside the bar's seasonal, often theme-driven cocktail menus.

Practically, the bar runs Monday through Thursday 4pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday 4pm to 2am, and Sunday noon to 10pm, with a daily 4–6pm happy hour and a rotating food truck on site. Visit Milwaukee singles it out for "expertly crafted mocktails," making Lost Whale one of Bay View's most reliable rooms for a serious zero-proof cocktail without giving up the craft-bar setting.