About the room
A Southside Milwaukee original with a long memory for music.
Kochanski's is located in Milwaukee's Southside neighborhood, Burnham Park. In the early 1900s, the building served agricultural workers from the celery fields around it, later housed union activity, and then evolved into the Concertina Bar that generations of Milwaukee musicians and regulars came to know.
Today, the room still carries that neighborhood history, but it operates as more than a polka bar. It is one of Milwaukee's most beloved music venues, welcoming local, national, and international acts alongside the traditions that built the place.
Welcome to Kochanski's
Angie & Andy Welcome You
Historic timeline
How the room carried its identity forward.
Early 1900s
Built for the neighborhood
The building served workers tied to the celery fields and working-class life around Burnham Park.
Mid-century
A union-era gathering place
As the neighborhood changed, the room became a place for meetings, regulars, and local social life.
Concertina years
Music took over the room
Kochanski's became known as the Concertina Bar, rooted in polka, live bands, and Milwaukee tradition.
Today
Still historic, still active
The bar now carries that same character forward as a live music venue, beer hall, and outdoor gathering spot.
Beer garden timeline
A visible look at how the outdoor space kept evolving.
These dated views show how the outside of Kochanski's changed over time, helping tell the story of how the beer garden became a stronger part of the venue's identity.
Historic
A venue rooted in Burnham Park history and still recognizable as old-school Milwaukee.
Musical
Open polka jam every Wednesday night, plus room for original music and genre-spanning live shows.
Distinct
The biggest selection of Polish beers in Milwaukee and a venue identity people remember after one visit.
Bring your fans to the Concertina!
Use the booking pages to plan a band night, private event, or outdoor gathering that fits the room instead of forcing it into a generic venue template.