Most people think of Majora’s Mask’s Milk Bar when the term ‘Milk Bar’ is brought up. With its many quest encounters and swanky tunes that play in the background, it’s understandable why, but that’s not the only one there is. There have been Milk Bars throughout the history of The Legend of Zelda, allowing our underage protagonist to take part in more adult activities without breaking the law in certain regions. The two other games in which Milk Bars have been featured are Phantom Hourglass and, our focus today, A Link Between Worlds.
In the serene village of Kakariko, a small but swinging establishment is set up south of the town. Upon arrival, there can be no mistake that this establishment is a milk bar. Milk jugs surround the building and the entryway is adorned with a large, wooden cow.
The music picks up once you step inside the joint, and while not packed to the brim with customers, a few loyal patrons are scattered about the establishment. The Milk Bar Owner runs the business from behind the bar table with a shelf of mixes and brews behind him. Something tells me milk isn’t the only house specialty.
Two soldiers who fled from Hyrule Castle lay low around the table of the bar, claiming they were “living to fight another day” and cursing the malevolent forces that took over the castle. At the end of the bar is your local drunk — I mean “grumpy old man” who always happens to have a bottle of milk in his hand, chugging away as he complains about not being able to read his maps. He claims this is due to his eyesight going at his old age, but I have a suspicion it might be that endless supply of milk he’s indulging in.
Then, of course, there are my favorite people: the Bard and Flute Boy. There are two minstrels who take work playing for Rupees in the back of the establishment. For only 10 Rupees the two will serenade you with different songs you’ve heard along your journey. From Ravio’s Theme to melodies from the crypts you’ve explored in Lorule, these guys have all the best tunes lined up to perform at any given time. I literally spent all my in-game money just now hearing the variety of songs they had to play. Of course, I only had 90 Rupees, so I can tell you for sure they at least have 9.
Another cool aspect of the bar is that you can sneak onto the walls for a few fun easter eggs by using your neat Magic Bracelet. The bar is decorated with many pictures and paintings, some of them in reference to other Zelda games. Along the back left wall there is a poster with a bird on top and a face resembling that of an ancient robot as seen in Skyward Sword, so I would assume the bird might just be a Loftwing. Behind the bards, there are two pieces of art next to each other of a harp and a violin. Now, this might just seem like nice decor for the musicians to be standing in front of, but those who have played The Wind Waker may see more significance to art. Medli, the Earth Sage, plays the harp while Makar, the Wind Sage, plays the violin.
Scary things have been happening in Hyrule during your quest in A Link Between Worlds, but if you need a break to relax, listen to some tunes, and drink some cool, refreshing, totally non-alcoholic milk, Kakariko’s Milk Bar is where it’s at.
