Why locals love it: A small-batch downtown espresso bar with minimal seating and rotating single origins most visitors miss.

Tip: Order whichever single-origin pour-over the barista recommends and watch the daily-rotating list.

Location

Address: 1016 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202

More hidden gems in Milwaukee

Hi Hat Lounge ★ 4.5

Hi Hat Lounge on North Arlington Place on the Lower East Side is a classic Milwaukee cocktail lounge with a tin ceiling, brandy Old Fashioneds and the Garage.

Why locals love it: A tin-ceilinged Lower East Side cocktail lounge tucked just next to the Brady Street bar strip that most out-of-town visitors walk straight past tonight.

Tip: Order a brandy Old Fashioned and ask the bartender for the cocktail-of-the-month from the chalkboard.

Rita's Mexican Tacos ★ 4.4

Rita's Mexican Tacos on South 5th Street in Walker's Point is a small storefront known for birria de res tacos with consomme dip, hand-pressed tortillas.

Why locals love it: A Walker's Point storefront known for birria de res tacos with consomme dip that fills with lunch lines.

Tip: Order three birria tacos with consomme on the side; the cooks crisp the tortillas on the plancha.

Shahrazad ★ 4.5

Shahrazad on North Oakland Avenue on the East Side serves Middle Eastern food in a long-running family-run dining room with shawarma, kebabs and mezze.

Why locals love it: An East Side Middle Eastern room locals book but tourists miss, run by the same family since 1991 today.

Tip: Order the lamb shawarma plate with extra garlic sauce and a side of tabbouleh.

Holler House ★ 4.5

Holler House on West Lincoln Avenue is the oldest sanctioned bowling alley in America since 1908, with two basement lanes and a corner-bar shot-and-beer.

Why locals love it: America's oldest sanctioned bowling alley sits inside a Lincoln Avenue tavern most visitors never find.

Tip: Two-lane basement with pin-setters; book a lane for shot-and-beer Saturday afternoon games.

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge ★ 4.8

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge on South 9th Street in Lincoln Village has poured no-menu cocktails since 1938 with dealer's-choice service and signature pink.

Why locals love it: A no-menu Lincoln Village cocktail lounge with dealer's-choice service since 1938 most tourists skip.

Tip: Tell the bartender what spirits and flavors you like and let them build your cocktail tonight.

Amaranth Bakery ★ 4.5

Amaranth Bakery on West Lisbon Avenue in Washington Park bakes hand-shaped sourdough, scones and quiches in a small neighborhood bakery cafe since 2007 each.

Why locals love it: A Washington Park bakery loved by locals but missed by visitors, with whole-grain sourdough since 2007.

Tip: Get there by 10:00 Saturday for the whole-wheat sourdough loaf and a scone with espresso.

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