Representative photography. Actual appearance may vary.
Windsor's hidden gem — ranked #1 in town with a 4.8 Google score. Locally sourced smash burgers and homemade everything, tucked next to a Super 8 hotel in a small Dane County village.
Representative photography. Actual appearance may vary.
Pete Beeber and his wife Doreen bought the former Topp's Hideaway building on Lake Circle in Windsor in February 2020, with plans to open by mid-April — then COVID-19 hit. After months of renovation, they opened The Bar Next Door in December 2020, naming it after the first bar Pete managed in the early 2000s. Attached to a Super 8 hotel and easy to overlook from the road, the bar has become one of Wisconsin's most quietly beloved smash burger spots.
The SmashBurger runs on Fred's Market beef from Waunakee — locally sourced, double-smashed on the flat-top for crispy, caramelized edges and a still-juicy center. Smoked bacon and American cheese round out the classic build. The creative menu doesn't stop there: the Elvis Burger layers peanut butter and house-made onion jam on a smashed patty, and the Disco Fries — with red wine onion gravy and mozzarella — have been a signature since opening week. Almost everything is made from scratch with regional sourcing, giving Windsor-area bar food a level of craft that punches well above its weight.
The Bar Next Door is a bar and restaurant rather than a burger-only shop. The Smash Score reflects the locally sourced SmashBurger specifically, with medium confidence because coverage is strong for a Windsor-area spot but limited compared with larger-city burger specialists.
The Bar Next Door takes bar food to the next level — featuring elevated items you may not find out here in the area, including a SmashBurger with locally sourced Fred's Market beef.
If you want the best smash burger, head to The Bar Next Door!
Best bar food in south central WI. This place is tremendous, can't be beat!
The smash burger was perfectly seared and still juicy.
The Elvis burger is the best burger they sell — peanut butter and onion jam on a smashed patty.
You can't go wrong with anything they make: truffle fries, burgers, chicken sandwich, etc.
Smash burgers were executed well — clean, engaged staff and a welcoming environment. Plans to return.
The food is bought local and while the menu is limited it's sure to have something for everyone and it all tastes great.