Milwaukee Area Guidebook
Food scene
Great european themed cafe - wide local and Belgian beer selection. A sunny patio in the summer, and cozy outdoor dome seating in the winter! Awesome brunch spot - the Milwaukeean Bloody Mary is a must! To get the whole WI experience, you can pair it with the Sconnie burger.
Heads up - this restaurant is a bit pricy, however they use all local ingredients!
46 locals recommend
Café Hollander - Downer
2608 N Downer AveGreat european themed cafe - wide local and Belgian beer selection. A sunny patio in the summer, and cozy outdoor dome seating in the winter! Awesome brunch spot - the Milwaukeean Bloody Mary is a must! To get the whole WI experience, you can pair it with the Sconnie burger.
Heads up - this restaurant is a bit pricy, however they use all local ingredients!
Ever wanted to drink strong tropical cocktails while experiencing an exotic, jungle adventure, filled with candle lit tikis, glowing puffer fish? This is the tiki bar you never knew you needed to visit while staying in Shorewood, WI! Highly recommend sharing the volcano bowl! They do not serve food, this is the perfect bar to round your night out!
39 locals recommend
The Foundation Bar
2718 N Bremen StEver wanted to drink strong tropical cocktails while experiencing an exotic, jungle adventure, filled with candle lit tikis, glowing puffer fish? This is the tiki bar you never knew you needed to visit while staying in Shorewood, WI! Highly recommend sharing the volcano bowl! They do not serve food, this is the perfect bar to round your night out!
The coolest take on a food hall! Can’t decide what you want? Is the group disagreeing? You will find every option here! It’s also very modern and trendy - fun to visit!
13 locals recommend
Crossroads Collective
2238 N Farwell AveThe coolest take on a food hall! Can’t decide what you want? Is the group disagreeing? You will find every option here! It’s also very modern and trendy - fun to visit!
A fun little and cozy brewery! Canine themed - pretty neat experience!
27 locals recommend
Black Husky Brewing
909 E Locust StA fun little and cozy brewery! Canine themed - pretty neat experience!
An Eastside favorite! Everyone loves tacos. In turn, everyone loves Bel-air. You won’t regret a visit!
19 locals recommend
BelAir Cantina Downer Ave
2625 N Downer AveAn Eastside favorite! Everyone loves tacos. In turn, everyone loves Bel-air. You won’t regret a visit!
This joint has literally been around forever - literally. It is an Eastside staple. People come from all over the city for Oakland Gyros. They are open until ridiculously late. If you’re in the mood for Greek, go here!
14 locals recommend
Oakland Gyros
2867 N Oakland AveThis joint has literally been around forever - literally. It is an Eastside staple. People come from all over the city for Oakland Gyros. They are open until ridiculously late. If you’re in the mood for Greek, go here!
The freshest bread and bakery items you will ever taste! Cant recommend this place enough!
Breadsmith of Milwaukee
2632 N Downer AveThe freshest bread and bakery items you will ever taste! Cant recommend this place enough!
Harry’s is a staple and is one of the cleanest and well ran restaurants I have been to! Can’t recommend them enough - everything on their menu is delicious!
17 locals recommend
Harry's Bar and Grill
3549 N Oakland AveHarry’s is a staple and is one of the cleanest and well ran restaurants I have been to! Can’t recommend them enough - everything on their menu is delicious!
The best brunch you will ever have in your life. If you can, go early! They get packed QUICK!
32 locals recommend
Uncle Wolfie's Breakfast Tavern
234 E Vine StThe best brunch you will ever have in your life. If you can, go early! They get packed QUICK!
Grocery
This grocery store is two floors and has every grocery and alcohol item you can think of!
87 locals recommend
Metro Market
1123 N Van Buren StThis grocery store is two floors and has every grocery and alcohol item you can think of!
Small boutique grocery store within walking distance! Many cool and unique food items!
15 locals recommend
Sendik's on Downer
2643 N Downer AveSmall boutique grocery store within walking distance! Many cool and unique food items!
This liquor store has everything! Beers you have never heard of, wine you haven’t been able to find anywhere - they are the best!
Downer Wine & Spirits
2638 N Downer AveThis liquor store has everything! Beers you have never heard of, wine you haven’t been able to find anywhere - they are the best!
Parks and Beaches
Must stop by and spend time at the infamous Atwater park & beach. There are a lot of stairs and/ or a long ramp to get to the beach. There is a children's playground at the top and at the bottom. There's also a nice boardwalk at the bottom with benches to enjoy the view. Secluded and serene.
Warning: the stairs to get down to the beach are steep and quite the climb on the way back. If you have small children or aren't a fan, you may find them to be a challenge. They are worth the hike.
58 locals recommend
Atwater Park
4000 N Lake DrMust stop by and spend time at the infamous Atwater park & beach. There are a lot of stairs and/ or a long ramp to get to the beach. There is a children's playground at the top and at the bottom. There's also a nice boardwalk at the bottom with benches to enjoy the view. Secluded and serene.
Warning: the stairs to get down to the beach are steep and quite the climb on the way back. If you have small children or aren't a fan, you may find them to be a challenge. They are worth the hike.
This park is large and has a lot to offer including soccer fields, baseball, disc golf, a dog play area, a place for skateboarding and a beer garden. Lots of green grassy fields to do whatever you want including playing various games, suntanning or having a picnic. There are numerous walking paths to explore. The park has two different areas of playgrounds for kids too.
18 locals recommend
Estabrook Park
This park is large and has a lot to offer including soccer fields, baseball, disc golf, a dog play area, a place for skateboarding and a beer garden. Lots of green grassy fields to do whatever you want including playing various games, suntanning or having a picnic. There are numerous walking paths to explore. The park has two different areas of playgrounds for kids too.
Great urban park along the river! Hike Oak Leaf Trail with a beer in your hand. The park has a very nice restaurant that features lodge style food & outdoor dining area/beer garden. Favorites include: braised elk steak, bison meatloaf and the boar ravioli. Also a great place to check out the Friday fish fry!
14 locals recommend
Hubbard Park Lodge
3565 N Morris BlvdGreat urban park along the river! Hike Oak Leaf Trail with a beer in your hand. The park has a very nice restaurant that features lodge style food & outdoor dining area/beer garden. Favorites include: braised elk steak, bison meatloaf and the boar ravioli. Also a great place to check out the Friday fish fry!
Bradford beach is right up the street and the most popular beach in Milwaukee!
163 locals recommend
Bradford Beach
2400 N Lincoln Memorial DrBradford beach is right up the street and the most popular beach in Milwaukee!
Coffee Shops
Coffee and cats! Literally - you can drink coffee (or alcohol) and pet cats! Make sure to check them out online first and reserve a time slot - they can get super busy!
Cute little small business within 5 minutes walking distance! Best coffee in town!
10 locals recommend
Roast Coffee Company
2132 E Locust StCute little small business within 5 minutes walking distance! Best coffee in town!
Sip & Purr Cat Café
833 E Ivanhoe PlMy favorite place to grab an amazing cup of coffee and breakfast when in the neighborhood! Also a fantastic location to get some work done and utilize their quick wifi!
19 locals recommend
Stone Creek Coffee - Downer Cafe & Kitchen
2650 N Downer AveMy favorite place to grab an amazing cup of coffee and breakfast when in the neighborhood! Also a fantastic location to get some work done and utilize their quick wifi!
Sports and events
Catch a Brewer’s game and Uber down to American Family Field (formerly known as Miller Park)
178 locals recommend
Miller Park
1 Brewers WayCatch a Brewer’s game and Uber down to American Family Field (formerly known as Miller Park)
fiserv forum
The place to watch a Bucks game or snag tickets to a concert!
Hiking
The closet it gets to a true hiking experience - while in the City! There are trails, bridges, piers, the river - everything! Tons of animals and birds. Hard to believe this is in the City. You can also rent bikes and follow the trails!
Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum
1449 E Park PlThe closet it gets to a true hiking experience - while in the City! There are trails, bridges, piers, the river - everything! Tons of animals and birds. Hard to believe this is in the City. You can also rent bikes and follow the trails!
Mid-July thru August, flowers will be in the peak of their bloom at Havenwoods State Forest! Truly an incredible park to do some hiking. The orange loop takes about 45 minutes to hike - highly recommend! Don’t miss the cool floating pier within the park. Can you find it?
Havenwoods State Forest
6141 N Hopkins StMid-July thru August, flowers will be in the peak of their bloom at Havenwoods State Forest! Truly an incredible park to do some hiking. The orange loop takes about 45 minutes to hike - highly recommend! Don’t miss the cool floating pier within the park. Can you find it?
Entertainment
Studio to play virtual reality with over 80 different games/ experiences! Can play with a group of up to 4 - super fun and different!
Rsvr Milwaukee
2210 S Kinnickinnic AveStudio to play virtual reality with over 80 different games/ experiences! Can play with a group of up to 4 - super fun and different!
You literally get to busy stuff. It’s a trip. Sign up online and you won’t regret it! The owner is super friendly and really ensures a great experience!
Bust-n-Stuff
2018 S 1st StYou literally get to busy stuff. It’s a trip. Sign up online and you won’t regret it! The owner is super friendly and really ensures a great experience!
Super fun escape room! Perfect activity on a rainy day - highly recommend this location! Super friendly staff!
Escape the Room Milwaukee
222 E Erie StSuper fun escape room! Perfect activity on a rainy day - highly recommend this location! Super friendly staff!
Super cool coffee shop that welcomes all ages! Jumbo size board games (you can literally play life sized operation). Games of all kinds are available! The caffeine flight is a cool treat!
Hangout MKE Cafe & Lounge Co.
1819 N Farwell AveSuper cool coffee shop that welcomes all ages! Jumbo size board games (you can literally play life sized operation). Games of all kinds are available! The caffeine flight is a cool treat!
A really cool selfie photography studio! Over 20 different themed photo booths available - including ball pits! Highly recommend as a fun stop to snag photos.
Selfie Hop MKE
2410 N Farwell AveA really cool selfie photography studio! Over 20 different themed photo booths available - including ball pits! Highly recommend as a fun stop to snag photos.
In need of a good book? This is the cutest book store - they are also known to have a variety of various events. Absolutely worth a drop in!
13 locals recommend
Boswell Book Company
2559 N Downer AveIn need of a good book? This is the cutest book store - they are also known to have a variety of various events. Absolutely worth a drop in!