Travel Like a Local in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This town is ready to party!
To give you an insider’s look at Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s largest city, we asked the locals what to do when you visit. Then we tried for ourselves when we were on location! Brace yourself for a good time…
A historic Rust Belt city on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is full of surprises. From its distinctive neighborhoods—where one-time factories that crafted some of America’s most iconic exports have been transformed into exciting new restaurants and stylish shops—to the many festivals at Henry Maier Festival Park to the RiverWalk and its beloved “Bronze Fonz”(yes, that Fonz, the Henry Winkler character from the 1970s “Happy Days” TV show), Milwaukee knows how to have a good time. Locals pride themselves on “looking for the fun in any situation.” But they shouldn’t have too much of a challenge—their city is an enormously fun place. To give you an insider’s look at Wisconsin's largest city, we asked the locals what to do when you visit. Then we tried for ourselves!
A Few Local Favorites from Milwaukee
01
Get Your Motor Runnin’
Welcome to the Home of the Harley
02
Beer You, Beer Me
There’s a brew for every taste here
03
Cocktail Class(ic)
A cocktail queen in the land of beer!
04
Bloody Mary Mecca
Brunch with a bird...
05
Other Side of the Pond
Passport-free international cuisine
06
German Roots
Come for the beer, stay for the brats
01
Get Your Motor Runnin’
Even if you’re not a die-hard motorcyclist, like many of the million or so Harley-Davidson riders, locals say the Harley-Davidson Museum is worth a stop. It tells the story of this iconic American—and Milwaukee-based—brand with exhibits that’ll grab the attention of even non-hogheads (that’s Harley Owners Group members, for the uninitiated). Even the museum’s Motor Bar and Restaurant is “fantastic,” say locals, with tasty helpings of all-American comfort food. For a raucous good time, head to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panther Arena and catch the Milwaukee Roller Derby’s Brewcity Bruisers. The women's roller derby league is made up of four home teams with spirited names—the Crazy 8s, Rushin’ Rollettes, Shevil Knevils, and Maiden Milwaukee—and a commitment to full-contact fun at any cost. No pain, no gain, amiright ladies?
02
Beer You, Beer Me
Milwaukee! This blue collar industrial city has grown into something contemporary, diverse, and artisinal… And with a huge wave of new breweries, it remains the American capital of beer. When in Milwaukee, start with the beer (and later, end with the beer). From the classics to new craft upstarts, there are TONS of breweries and beer halls to choose from.
Once known as “the Beer Capital of the World,” Milwaukee was home to household names like Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz. For an immersion in the city’s beer lore, head to Best Place for the Pabst Beer History Tour. Once the largest brewery in the county, Pabst began losing its luster in the late 1970s and left Milwaukee in 1996. But after an unlikely comeback—fueled by PBR’s cult status among a certain cool, college set—this historic brand returned to its hometown, only to close its doors once more in December 2020 and head south to Texas. (Sigh.) But the city isn’t all about the Pabst, or the past. Milwaukee has welcomed a new generation of upstart breweries. Housed in a sturdy 1908 Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company building that was once a coal-fired power plant, Lakefront Brewery has innovative, beautifully packaged beers—including a Green Tea Ale light beer and the “Polka Incident” double IPA—and is home to a kitschy piece of Milwaukee history: the Bernie Brewer’s Chalet. You shouldn’t leave town without trying MKE Brewing: they have two locations to sample the goods, and you’ll want to smuggle the Outboard out. Then there’s the MobCraft Taproom, a local favorite that serves a beer for everyone. EVERYONE. Want a beer that tastes like apple pie and ice cream? How about Froot Loops? They also have pizza and ping-pong, so you can go, chill, hang with the locals, and take a beer journey unlike any you’re likely to experience again.
So while Miller Brewing, Pabst, Schlitz, and other classics all hail from Milwaukee, there are more than 30 younger upstart breweries. If you see stars when you hear “pub crawl,” this is the essential tour for you:
03
Cocktail Class(ic)
A city of neighborhood pubs, classy old cocktail lounges, and fun-loving dives, Milwaukee is a social town—and bars are integral to its identity. One key to the city’s culture, locals explain, is the Brandy Old Fashioned cocktail. Brandy, a liquor with working class roots made around the world from fermented fruit of any kind, is used for this variation on the widespread whiskey variety. This only-in-Wisconsin version is “different than anywhere else.” With a summery brightness that warms the Midwestern winters, it’s been a Milwaukee mainstay since Korbel introduced the drink at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Milwaukeeans took a liking to it and 125 years later, the Brandy Old Fashioned shows no sign of letting up. You can get the drink at any bar in the city, but locals suggest you start with two legendary spots (among the many).
The first is Boone & Crockett, decidedly one of the best American bars we had the pleasure of road testing, where you’ll find “pretentious drinks without the pretentiousness” and keg “rested” Old Fashioneds with your choice of Korbel or Old Forester. Then there’s Five O'Clock Steakhouse, where you’ll also find the “best steak ever”—an enormous, and enormously tender, filet mignon—and vintage supper club accompaniments like a relish tray and shrimp cocktail. Insider ordering tip: Ask for your drink “sweet” to get a splash of Sprite or 7up, “sour” for grapefruit-flavored Squirt, or “press” for a sweet and club soda combo. (A traditionalist would just order it on the rocks.) If these distinctions seem minor, try not to mention it to a Milwaukeean or they’re likely to set you straight.
04
Bloody Mary Mecca
Milwaukee is a town that loves its beer and booze - and any excuse to gather; and it’s not uncommon to see someone drinking a Bloody Mary outside of brunch hours. While this spicy, savory, tomato juice-based cocktail is a morning-time and/or hangover beverage in most of the United States, Milwaukeeans love them any time of day. The bigger and more flamboyantly garnished, the better. For locals, you’re going to find a range of favorites.
There’s the Wicked Hop, in Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward, where your Bloody Mary variety is as individualized as your taste buds. And then there’s Sobelman’s, where classic condiments have been taken to an outrageous extreme. Imagine a melon-sized mug overflowing with skewers of bacon-wrapped cheese balls, big pink shrimp, meat sticks, five kinds of olives, and an entire slider-sized hamburger. “You don't even need breakfast!” If you’re feeling adventurous, throw down $60 for the “Bloody Beast,” which counts an entire fried chicken among its toppings. As if the trophy-photo wasn’t enough, you’ve got yourself a meal for at least 4. And there’s no shame in eating/drinking the whole thing. What happens in Milwaukee stays in Milwaukee!
05
Other Side of the Pond
In recent years, the lakeside Bay View neighborhood has morphed into Milwaukee’s “hipster haven”—and a foodie destination. At Odd Duck, the menu’s long and exotic with small plates featuring flavors that span the globe. Expect long lists of eclectic ingredients, like Sichuan-style pork belly, tatsoi, scallion, rice cake noodle, confit potato, and pickled shiitakes. Or, fried frog legs with cheddar grits and bourbon blueberry, green tomato slaw and Creole sauce. It’s a charming, oddball little restaurant that transports you from China to the American South, France to Mexico without having to leave the shores of Lake Michigan. European-inspired Café Centraal could have contented themselves with their massive beer list and irresistible frites (in both traditional and sweet potato varieties and 11 house-made dipping sauces). But they didn’t. They kept going, and going, creating a full and wide-ranging food menu designed to tempt every palate: Every offering, including desserts, are followed by a suggested beer pairing, because this is Milwaukkee! Getting the horseradish herb-crusted salmon? Pair with Ommegang's Hennepin. The hot beignets with hot chocolate sauce? Try the Lindeman’s Framboise. Resistance is futile.
06
German Roots
The German influence on Milwaukee can be seen on virtually every corner, from its sausages and brats to the Miller Park home games of Major League Baseball’s Brewers, who have a goofy sixth-inning tradition featuring sausage-clad mascots racing each other around the field. For a more authentic experience with the city’s German heritage, head for one of its many restaurants or biergartens. Locals will rightfully direct you to The Vanguard, which serves a huge range of innovative sausages for an “elevated beer and brat experience” that Milwaukee is known for. A local favorite since 1924, Kegel's Inn has stood the test of time. This Bavarian-style beer hall is famous for their roast duck, but serves a full menu of classic dishes, like Hassenpfeffer (rabbit stew), Beef Rouladen (beef cutlet rolled and stuffed with bacon, onions, grain mustard, and pickles), and Wiener Schnitzel (pounded and fried veal). And, like any old-school Wisconsin restaurant, Kegel’s has a lively Friday night fish fry, perfect for grabbing a stein of Kölsch and striking up a conversation with some friendly, glass half-full Milwaukeeans. Prost!