Milwaukee Top Picks
You might think of cheese curds when you think of Wisconsin's food scene, but trust us, there’s so much more to dig into when it comes to great eats (and drinks!) here in Milwaukee. From intimate farm-to-table restaurants to bustling breweries to global menus packed with local ingredients, our food and drink options provide an array of delicious selections that we know you’ll love!
And, yeah, the cheese is pretty amazing, too.
Let’s start with our favorite restaurants:
Noble
With an ever-changing menu based on seasonal ingredients and what’s freshest that day, Noble is a one-of-a-kind restaurant with truly creative, unmatched meals and drinks. (It’s also our no.1 favorite restaurant in Milwaukee!) This place is extremely small and does not take reservations, so make sure you get there at least 30 minutes before they open to stand in line. They have brunch on Mondays and serve dinner Thursday-Saturday. For brunch, they always have three fun drinks to choose from: one bloody Mary, one mimosa, and one coffee drink.Examples of the drinks are: blueberry mimosa with an upside down ice cream cone, turtle brownie coffee, and polish sausage bloody. They change each week! The dinners are also unreal and super interesting – whatever the steak special is, get that because it never disappoints!
www.nobleprovisions.com
Dorsia
In the mood for pasta? (OK you’re right, who isn’t?!) This is your spot, because they go BIG with pasta flights and sangria. Yep, you read that right. Pasta FLIGHTS, because trying one kind of pasta isn’t enough if you ask us.This place is great for large groups and takes reservations. Our favorites are duck carbona, chicken pasta, and the pesto. Don’t forget the appetizers; we love the spinach and artichoke dip and cheesy garlic bread.
dorsiamke.com
Fixture Pizza
This is without a doubt our favorite pizza in Milwaukee. Try the Great Lakes Distillery Pizza (pepperoni with cream cheese… just trust us on this one). We also can’t get enough of the garlic parm wings and the artichoke dip.
fixturepizza.com
Don’s Diner
Old school speakeasy meets cool diner at this fun spot. You need a password to get in, and once admitted, you’ll see TVs and a retro diner set-up that feels nostalgic and super charming. The food is just as awesome as the environment, and portions are huge, so come hungry! You can order an Old Fashioned in a crock-pot for a fun experience, and don’t miss the boozy milkshakes!
www.donsmke.com
Swinging Door
In the mood for exceptional bar food? This saloon is your place. They don’t take reservations, and it’s a small spot so make sure you plan ahead or go early.
www.swingindoorexchange.com
Point’s East
Good wings fix everything. (Save that inspirational quote for your next instagram caption!) This place is super close to our Airbnb and is the perfect spot to watch a game and nosh on your favorite flavor of wings.
thepointseastpub.com
Sanford
Look no further if you want fine dining and epic service. Plus, located in a neighborhood just one block from the Airbnb, you can get to dinner and back easily! They source ingredients from local farms for the freshest fare and offer a chef’s tasting menu. Reservations book up quickly, so plan ahead if you want to spend a special evening here.
sanfordrestaurant.com
Cavas
There isn’t much we love more than shareable bites, and this authentic Latin American tapas restaurant delivers just that. Don’t miss the best empanadas you’ll ever taste, and say hello to Chef Ana when she stops by your table to check on how you’re doing. This place is great food, great vibes, and makes for great memories! It’s small, so book your reservation ahead of time or stop in right after they open!
www.cavasmke.com
Third Coast Provisions
If you like seafood and killer ambience, this upscale restaurant with craft cocktails is your spot. It’s one of Mike’s favorite restaurants in Milwaukee and you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. It’s also a great spot to grab drinks and an app before dinner!
www.thirdcoastprovisions.com
Harbor House
Located right on Lake Michigan, you can’t beat the views here. It’s an upscale seafood spot with live music on the large patio in the summers. Aka, the perfect summer night in Wisconsin!
www.bartolottas.com/harbor-house
Safe House
If you’re traveling with littles, this is an awesome place to bring families. It’s spy-themed and located in a back alley. To get in, you either need a code or have to do what the spy tells you to do. You can explore the restaurant’s hidden doors and watch the impressive magician while waiting for your meal.
www.safe-house.com
Solly’s
Did someone say butter burgers and milkshakes? This diner serves the best of both worlds – and has even won multiple awards for the best burger. Thrillist named “The Solly Burger” one of the top 33 hamburgers in the USA. They are always packed so be prepared to wait for a counter spot.
sollysbutterburgers.com
Food Markets:
Public Market (Downtown)
The Milwaukee Public Market is a great place to spend an afternoon trying new foods and drinks. They have something for everyone to enjoy, including pizza, Mexican, seafood, ribs, salads, plant-based food, a wine bar, spices, olive oil, cooking classes, and so much more. It is located in the Third Ward so make sure you check out the other boutiques on 3rd Street while you’re there.
milwaukeepublicmarket.org
Glorioso’s Italian Market (Brady St) :
This great Italian Market is only a couple blocks from the Airbnb on Brady St. It is a great place to grab a sandwich from the deli (Italian beef or calzones are our favorite). If you want to have a homemade Italian dinner at home stop by the grocery store and pick up one of the many pasta sauces, and some noodles. They have a great meat market and have the best Italian sausage.
gloriosos.com
Crossroads Collective (East Side)
This is a food hall located on the east side. If everyone wants something different and you want local Milwaukee food stop here. Make sure to grab a drink from the pharmacy.
crossroadscollectivemke.com
3rd St. Market Hall (Downtown)
Another great food hall and game area located in downtown Milwaukee. They have all local Milwaukee restaurants food including burgers, pizza, Mexican, ramen, sushi, arepas, wings, bakery, a bar, coffee, and healthy options. Check out the selfie museum (it’s cooler than you might expect!) or take a swing at Top Golf.
3rdstmarkethall.com
Zócalo Food Truck Park
This is a hip spot with incredible street foods. They are open year round and have heated huts in the winter time. There’s a bar and local music playing, both of which make for a grand time.
www.zocalomke.com
Family Friendly Places:
Milwaukee County Zoo
Open year round hours depends on seasons. The Milwaukee Zoo is a great activity to do all year with kids and adults. They have all the exciting animals you’d expect at a zoo - like giraffes and elephants, and you can even have your kids feed them for an additional cost. They have sea lion shows, a train, and a carousel. Make sure to check out special events throughout the year; our favorite is zoo al carte. They have live bands and great local food while you can check out the animals.
milwaukeezoo.org
Milwaukee Public Museum
Hours: 10am-5pm Wednesday-Monday (free the first Thursday of every month)
This is great for a rainy day and good for all ages. They have special exhibits that they rotate out. Don’t forget to check out any special events that they have going on. Our favorite event is Food and Froth, which happens in late winter/spring. They close down the museum for a night and have all different local breweries and restaurants throughout the museum to try.
Wheel Fun Rentals
Have a fun filled day down by the lake. You can rent four-wheel Surrey bikes and swan pedal boats.
Milwaukee Park Horticultural Conservatory
Hours: 9am-5pm
Another great rainy day activity for all ages. This conservatory has three domes: a show dome, tropical dome, and desert dome. You will especially love it if you like to learn about plants around the world. It’s fun during the holidays as well because they have a holiday themed dome.
Discovery World
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 9am-4pm
This is a museum of science and technology and is great fun for all ages. Check out the aquarium, stop by the innovation station, and chugga-choo-choo away at the model railroading exhibit (among many other hands-on experiences and experiments).
Must See Spots:
Milwaukee Art Museum
Hours: Thursdays 10am-8pm, Friday-Sunday 10am-5pm
Fiserv Forum
Home of the Bucks and a variety of shows/concerts; **About 1 mile away from Airbnb**
The Fiserv is in walking distance from the Airbnb and is home of the National Champs The Bucks.. They also have many great concerts and events year around. Make sure to check out the website to see what is happening during your stay!
American Family Field
This is the home of the Brewers and is formerly known as Miller Park. Truth: You can’t come to Milwaukee without tailgating and heading to a Brewers game. If you take a shuttle over to the game, you can easily walk to Wurst Bar or Jack’s on Brady from the Airbnb and get a free ride to the game from there.
Riverside Theater
Variety of concerts and shows. Make sure to check out the website before your visit to see what great concerts, comedians, magicians are performing. This is in a nice older theater with a lot of history.
Marcus Performing Arts Center
Broadway tours. The performing arts center is located downtown They have about 10 Broadway plays that rotate throughout the year.
Pabst Theater
Variety of concerts and shows. Make sure to check out the website before your visit to see what great concerts, comedians, magicians are performing. This is in a nice older theater with a lot of history.
Bradley Symphony Center
Home of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, led by Ken-David Masur, is among the finest orchestras in the nation and the largest cultural institution in Wisconsin.
Harley Davidson Museum
Discover culture and history through interactive exhibits. There are fun events year round like museum bike night and family holidays.
Outdoor Activities:
Oak Leaf Trail
15 mile trail for cycling, roller blading, and walking. Nearly a quarter of the trails border the shores of Lake Michigan. Riding my bike along the lake and stopping at the Bradford Beach and many beer gardens is another one of my favorite activities!
*Can get on trail if you go East on Brady St until the road ends at Prospect and Brady*
Milwaukee Kayak Company
They have both solo and tandem kayaks, traditional canoe, and standup paddle boards for rent. Kayaking is on the Milwaukee River and you can stop off to grab lunch or drinks. This is my favorite activity to do on a sunny summer day. My route includes Lakefront Brewery (beer and cheese curds of course), The Harp (live music on Sundays), and Twisted Fisherman (tropical bar that feels like you are in Florida).
Edelweiss Cruises and Boat Tours
Enjoy a variety of boat and dinner cruises on the Milwaukee River! This is great for large groups, and they have all different themed boat cruises that take off from downtown. You can also rent pontoon boats and hop around the great restaurants on the river.
Bradford Beach
Another one of my favorite things to do in Milwaukee is to have a beach day. No need to go to Florida when you have this large public beach with tiki bars, volleyball courts, cabana rentals, and Moo Moos (a great ice cream and burger place). I would recommend renting a bike and taking the trail down to the beach. They host a lot of festivals during the summer at Bradford, like the air and water show and National volleyball tournaments.
Pedal Tavern
This is great for bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthday parties, or they have public tours if you want to join other groups. It is a 16 seat party bike that stops at Walker Point’s bars and food truck park. I am a driver occasionally so I might see you here!
Paddle Tavern
Downtown - 14-seat party bike that makes stops at bars on the Milwaukee River.
Milwaukee Seven Seat Bike Tour
This downtown bike tour seats 7 people and goes on a food tour of Third Ward.
Clock Shadow Creamery
Located in Walker’s Point and has the best fresh cheese curds and other cheeses. Checkout their website to see if they are bringing back the cheese tours.
Cheesehead Factory & Retail Store
Located in Walker's Point, you can show that you’re a true Wisconsinite and make your own cheese head! Then you can cheer the Packers on in true fashion.
