Tom’s Burned Down Cafe

It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re over at Madeline. You get all crowds here which was fun to see, and everyone is very friendly. Be prepared that this is truly an outdoor bar so if there are elements, you will get wet/​cold/​whatever. This was not the case when we were there fortunately. They also have live music! We didn’t stay long as we had a ferry to catch but were glad we at least stopped.

Toms. Is. Awesome. Friendly knowledgable staff. Music is always good. Atmosphere is even better. Since when do you find the Local hang out double as a tourist destination? This place is rad. You can’t read all of the signs in the time of one drink. Stay a while, enjoy the fireplace. You most likely won’t even realize there’s a car under the floor beneath you there’s so much to look at here. Spend a night on the island and leave your worries at home.

This was such a unique find for us while we were docked for the evening. After renting mopeds for the afternoon, we stopped in here for a refreshing drink. They had some unique specials which I enjoyed trying — never had tequila and lemonade before! My mother-​in-​law tried their Bloody Mary as well and she was happy with it.
It’s such a funny place with all the sayings and weird trinkets everywhere, but definitely a must-​see. They have some pizza options (I overheard) and there was a food truck on the front lawn.
Very reasonably priced, too!
It took a little extra effort to get the bartender’s attention, but there are worse things!

Oh, Toms… What a cool place. Went there the day after school let out last year and had a salty dog (tequila and lemonade) to celebrate the start of summer. Ahhhhh. It’s very eclectic and unique. You’ll spend many minutes reading the signs. Just awesome.

We passed by this place a couple of times while walking in Lapointe and I kept asking my wife what she thought the enormous pile of junk next to the road was. Finally, she said we should go investigate. Turned out it’s a bar, and a good one to boot. Inside you can get a cocktail or a beer from friendly bartenders, then sit on a chair reclaimed from the town dump or auto salvage yard. We loved it. Recommend the «Island Punch.» Dogs are welcome, too.

We came, we drank, we enjoyed. We looked across the street and saw you could rent bikes. We left for 2 hours, and came right back. Biking makes you thirsty.
We got back just in time for a huge monsoon to sweep through. This place is outside. Nothing stops, they just pull the tarps up that kept us about 60% dry, and they carry on. People still run to the bar for more booze, and you’re just crammed close together. A great way to make some new friends.

F– IN EH !!!
You haven’t been to Madeline Island if you haven’t been to Toms. To say it is colorful is an understatement. The décor is one of a kind, with stuff EVERYWHERE. And Tomisms everywhere.
Apparently there was a car parked by the original establishment during the fire. After, it was easier to build a deck over and around it. Yup, it wasn’t hurtin no one. Be sure to go see the car.
I have been here 4 times, and I always find something new to read on the walls. I brought my co workers from England and Arkansas here, and they were downright in awe. I promised them the coolest bar they had ever been in, and I delivered.
The following year we had my daughter’s bachelorette party at a nearby campground, and of course we ended up here. She walked around with a tiara with little peniuses on it and people didn’t even blink. I love this bar.
The hippie crowd complete with dreadlocks and muscles from doing extreme outdoor sports were the exact same types at the diviest bar in the ski resort I work at in the winter. Park City Utah. Oh, to be so carefree… pass me the joint, quit beaugarding it.
I hate to break it to all the Illinois people that raved about this place, but when you see FIB written all over, it is Madeline Island code for «Fu_​_​_​ng Illinios Bas_​_​_​ds.
Ouch. Really. But I am sure they like your money. You know these anti-​establishment types.
I T I S W O R T H T H E F E R R Y R I D E O V E R T O C O M E H E R E

Big hippie hangout.
Must stop when in Madeline.
Where else would you stop?
Tom’s is really a place for all people, but it does seem to have a heavy contingent of hippies. Also some hipsters, some bikers, some boaters, some old folks, some young folks, some tourists and some regular-​tourists.
Lots of cool quotations and sayings posted all over the establishment. Leans left of center, but they serve right-​wingers too.
Not a whole lot of drinking and dining establishments on the Island. Tom’s is most definitely an institution where the tourists flock. Second time there. Both times have managed to strike up a conversation with fellow patrons. Like me and most everyone else at Tom’s, they are from someplace else but they have been to Tom’s many, many more times than me. Tom’s has groupies!
After winding up a trip around the island on moped, stopped in it at Tom’s for a couple before taking the ferry back to the mainland. Ordered a Red Stripe. $ 4.50. Sat down on a bench next to a young couple and an older couple that seemed to be in a group. The older gentleman was about to take a picture of the other three who were all saying they wanted him in the picture. He said I can’t take the picture and be in it, but I bet this guy would would take the picture (pointing at me). Sure, no problem. Took the picture, and handed them my Ansel Adams-​like work.
Noticed the younger lady was wearing a Minnesota Twins t-​shirt. Asked her where in the cities they were from, she said Eagan. Right on, I used to live in Inver Grove Heights. She said that the other couple lives in River Falls. Get out of town! I live in River Falls now. Not only were they were from River Falls, but the guy who was asking me to take the picture is the mayor of River Falls! Small world, eh?
Mr. Mayor had a red Badgers t-​shirt on with the sleeves cut off and was drinking a beer. Nice to know that me and the mayor have common interests. Super nice guy. Chatted for several minutes about the hometown before I had to excuse myself to get back on the 7:30 ferry to the mainland.
Check it out my fellow Unilocalers! You never know who you will meet at Tom’s.

Service makes or a breaks a place and this one was down right burned down! The bartender (blonde curly hair) was not only slow (she could only take one drink order at a time) she was rude and snippy. Tom, hire some people who represent you better!

I couldn’t drink, because I’m pregnant, but the atmosphere was great, the drinks were reasonably priced, the service was stellar. We ordered a pizza, which I wasn’t happy with because it was burned, but it’s not a restaurant, it’s a bar, so I can’t really fault them for that. We didn’t see any live music, cuz we were only there during the day, but it looked like a great stage & seemed like it’d be fun to come back for music one night. Hopefully next time we go, I’ll be able to enjoy something with a little more punch than Diet Coke, cuz their mixed drink selection looked great! :)

The live music, the eclectic crowd, the intentionally haphazard yet thoughtful décor — and even a Tom sighting — made a recent weekend’s excursion to Tom’s just as memorable as ever. This is the annual watering hole stop for our group’s yearly excursion to Madeline Island. After a long day of sunning on one of the island’s beautiful beaches, Tom’s welcomes us to its dimly lit, joyously unique deck for music, dancing, tossing back a few and mixing with an interesting crowd.
The drinks aren’t shy with booze and they’re .50 cheaper if you get the Tom’s cup (and why wouldn’t you? It doubles as a water glass the next morning). There’s a good selection of alcohol and beer, for those with discerning tastes. Otherwise, this place is just as much about its community as it is about what it sells; and really, almost anything goes.
One tip: be sure to read the walls closely; there are painted-​on quotes aplenty, especially from the founder himself. There is a cover usually on weekends, but they offered us a group discount that was negotiable.
Obviously, I’ll go back to Tom’s next year and the next and next… there’s nowhere else quite like it.

Fantastic island bar! I had read about Tom’s prior to my visit to Madeline Island and it was a definite on my places to see. After a long day at the gorgeous beach, this is the perfect place chill out and have a cold drink. Everyone there was super friendly and they had live Caribbean music setting the vibe. Tom and some of his buddies were off in grass playing croquet. If you are looking for a unique spot to stop off for great atmosphere and conversation… this is the place.

Best bar I’ve ever been to, in the most beautiful place on earth. Tom’s is my «happy place» that I think about when it’s February in Chicago and I’m stuck in the office until 8pm during a blizzard. Just picture yourself sitting in sunshine at a bar, drinking island punch, surrounded by dogs, feeling the breeze off of Lake Superior and watching the sun sparkle on the bay between La Pointe and Bayfield. Truly, it’s heaven.
Things of note: Tom’s is cash-​only. No beers on tap, but the selection of bottles is good and mostly local. Order the island punch at least once. Consider taking a $ 2 shower in one of the bathrooms, but then reconsider when you actually look closely. Bring your dog. If you get too drunk and can’t drive back to your campsite, sleep in the car you parked across the street in the free lot. Visit as often as possible. Tip your bartender.

Was here on Wed ⁷⁄₆. There was a reggae dj that night so it was great vacation music and ambiance. The place was busy, but not too crowded that you couldn’t move. They had an open outdoor fire stove around a bench seating area. There are fun signs to read everywhere!
We had a couple of the Rachelli’s Deli pizzas; vegetarian supreme and the kickin chicken. The vegetarian had a mozzarella stuffed crust and was pretty good. The kickin chicken had a cream cheese and jalapeño stuffed crust. Phenomenal! It was a little spicy and reminded us of a jalapeño popper.
Next time we’re on the island we will definitely stop by Tom’s again!

Best bar within 500 miles. The first time I walked in, there was a large blonde woman passed out face-​down on the floor. A dog was crouched beside her, licking the side of her face. As I walked up to the bar, the ‘tender must’ve noticed my raised eyebrow, to which he responded «She does that all the time.»
Drinks are very strong and affordable for the island. Strange things happen at Tom’s. If you’re dainty or Victorian or douchebaggy, go have a cup of tea at one of the B & B that dot the island and point your pinky toward heaven.

This may be one of the coolest bars I have ever visited. From a distance, it looks like a junkyard. It consists of a trailer, surrounded by a wooden bar with a large canopy tent over the whole bar. Needless to say, it is exposed to the elements so it is best to visit from late May thru mid September. There are boards with pithy or funny quotations hanging all over the bar. The atmosphere is quirky, the service very friendly. I was a little in love with the cute suntanned bartender after one too many beers.
Madeline Island is lovely and Tom’s is the best man made thing on it.

A classic ! Ever ever-​evolving dive bar! One of my favorite beach bars … anywhere in the world! This place is sooo unique. If you have a dog bring it with! Grab a shower with that gorgeous girl you’ve been drinking with all Sunday afternoon … rent the shower and have some fun ! The locs are super friendly… unlike most of the super pompous dickhead locals where I live in JH ! The bloody mary rivals any. Sweet happy hour pours!

This is the dive bar to end all dive bars. For two years I heard of the legend of the Burn Down but you’ve got to go there to believe it. First, you do have to take the ferry to go to Madeline just allow an hour if you’re making plans on the island.
Living on the island is not for the faint of heart. It’s cold, it’s hot, it’s windy, it rains and that’s just the summer time. The Burndown has all of the great qualities of a dive bar. Characters, Cheap Beer, Great live music, Fantastic Art, Quotations on the wall, Camaraderie, and Wi-​Fi. (OK, while the last one is true, I guess not every dive bar needs it.) For real, in three nights we saw a country band, a reggae DJ and some great rock.
We partied with some fun bikers, a bride and a groom in wedding garb, a golf pro and some members of our nation’s military, all in the same night. I even accidentally stalked Senator Feingold. Every night you go will be different. Hang out and dig the locals.

Tom’s has actually burned down twice, and I’m glad it keeps coming back to life. My family vacations on Madeline Island and this is one of the most happening joints on the island after dark.
I will agree with Ryan that dressing for the weather is a necessity. Not much protection from the elements is offered. They are cash-​only. They have no running water. If you need to use the facilities, please note they are in the form of port-​o-​potties. If you drink too much, find a local to drive you home; they’re all really nice people.
One more thing: The bar doesn’t keep standard hours. It might be closed one night and open the next.

GREAT BAR–
I spent the weekend on Madeline Island and one of the best bars on the Island is Tom’s Burndown bar. When you walk up to the bar it looks like there is just a trailer with a big great and white tarp tent over a wooden deck. But after spending time reading the funny quotes and off the wall humor that is on all the signs and t-​shirts, you will fine yourself spending hours just hanging out and having a great time. Things that you should know about this place before you go. Dress for the weather, the bar is more outside that in. Plus you must have cash there is only 2 ATM on the Island and the store right next to Tom’s bar will help you out if you are running low.