Day-by-day eating plans for Milwaukee. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

Milwaukee weekend: the dishes the city invented ★ 4.8

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A weekend built around the dishes Milwaukee invented: Friday fish fry at Lakefront, butter burgers at Solly's, frozen custard at Kopp's, brandy Old Fashioneds at Bryant's and brunch in Wauwatosa.

  1. Day 1: Friday: Public Market, butter burger lunch, Lakefront fish fry

    Morning
    Milwaukee Public Market at 10:00 for coffee at Colectivo Third Ward and a wander through Thief Wine, Glorioso's deli case and the cheese counters.
    Afternoon
    Solly's Grille on North Port Washington Road for the original butter burger and chocolate malt at the counter. Drive south to Walker's Point.
    Evening
    Lakefront Brewery on North Commerce Street at 17:30 for the Friday fish fry with polka band; brandy Old Fashioned at Bryant's Cocktail Lounge in Lincoln Village to close.

  2. Day 2: Saturday: Tosa brunch, Bay View afternoon, downtown dinner

    Morning
    Blue's Egg on North 76th Street in Wauwatosa at 09:00 for stuffed hash browns and lemon ricotta hotcakes; walk it off in Tosa Village.
    Afternoon
    Drive south to Bay View for a stop at Burnhearts on South Logan for an afternoon natural-wine pour, then coffee at Pilcrow Coffee Roasters on West Walnut Street; walk down South Kinnickinnic.
    Evening
    Sanford on North Jackson at 19:00 for the Surprise tasting menu; nightcap brandy Old Fashioned at Boone and Crockett on South Water in Walker's Point.

Milwaukee brewery and cocktail crawl ★ 4.6

Returning visitor, beer-and-cocktail focused2 days

Two days through Milwaukee's beer-capital identity: brewery tours, taproom tastings, classic Wisconsin Old Fashioneds at the city's historic cocktail bars.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Brewery tour day

    Morning
    Lakefront Brewery on North Commerce at 11:00 for the brewery tour with four tastings and brewing history.
    Afternoon
    Miller Brewing Company on West State Street at 14:00 for the historic brewery tour with underground caves and tasting at the visitor center.
    Evening
    Third Space Brewing on West St Paul at 17:00 for IPAs and a Wisconsin lager flight; nightcap at Boone and Crockett in Walker's Point for a Wisconsin Old Fashioned.

  2. Day 2: Day 2: Walker's Point and East Side cocktail crawl

    Morning
    Anodyne Coffee Roasting on West Bruce Street at 10:00 for single-origin pour-over; brunch at Comet Cafe on North Farwell for diner plates and biscuits.
    Afternoon
    Walk South Kinnickinnic in Bay View through the afternoon; coffee at Stone Creek or Centraal cafe before the cocktail circuit opens.
    Evening
    At Random on South Delaware in Bay View at 17:00 for tiki and ice cream cocktails in the candlelit lounge; Bryant's Cocktail Lounge in Lincoln Village for dealer's-choice cocktails since 1938; Hi Hat Lounge on the East Side for a final brandy Old Fashioned.

Milwaukee Bay View neighborhood food walk ★ 4.5

Food traveller, one day1 day

A single-day food walk through Bay View on South Kinnickinnic Avenue: brunch at Honeypie, afternoon coffee, small plates at Goodkind and a night cap at Burnhearts.

  1. Day 1: Bay View on South Kinnickinnic Avenue

    Morning
    Brunch at Honeypie Cafe on South Kinnickinnic at 09:00 for buttermilk fried chicken and a slice of pie; walk South Kinnickinnic.
    Afternoon
    Coffee at Stone Creek on North Downer Avenue or a Centraal cafe stop on South Kinnickinnic; browse Bay View shops along the avenue.
    Evening
    Dinner at Goodkind on South Wentworth at 19:00 for small plates and charcuterie; close with cocktails and a pet-nat at Burnhearts on South Logan.

Milwaukee coffee and bakery crawl ★ 4.4

Coffee lover, one day1 day

A single-day walk threading Colectivo Third Ward, Stone Creek, Anodyne and the city's heritage Italian and Eastern European bakeries: Sciortino's, National and Grebe's.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Third Ward coffee, Italian bakeries, brewery dinner

    Morning
    Open at Colectivo Third Ward on Broadway at 08:00 for a pour-over and pastry. Walk to Peter Sciortino's Bakery on Brady Street for the morning cannoli and cookies.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Milwaukee Public Market with multiple counter options, coffee break at Stone Creek Grand Cru. Stop at National Bakery and Deli on Lincoln Avenue for a slice of cake.
    Evening
    Aperitif at Anodyne Coffee Roasting in Walker's Point. Dinner at Lakefront Brewery's Friday fish fry on North Commerce Street with polka band.

Milwaukee on a budget: butter burgers, fish fry and brewery under $35 a day ★ 4.3

Budget traveller, two days2 days

Two days of Milwaukee classics held under $35 a day across Solly's butter burgers, Kopp's frozen custard, Lakefront fish fry and a Public Market lunch.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: Public Market breakfast, butter burger lunch, fish fry dinner

    Morning
    Breakfast at Milwaukee Public Market with a Colectivo coffee under $7. Walk the cheese counters and Italian deli.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Solly's Grille on North Port Washington Road, the original butter burger and chocolate malt under $14.
    Evening
    Dinner at Lakefront Brewery's Friday fish fry on North Commerce Street under $20 with polka band. Nightcap at Burnhearts in Bay View.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: deli breakfast, frozen custard, brewery dinner

    Morning
    Breakfast at Peter Sciortino's Bakery on Brady Street under $8 with a cannoli and coffee.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Crafty Cow on Brady Street for a Wisconsin Old Fashioned burger and a beer under $18. Frozen custard at Kopp's afterwards.
    Evening
    Dinner at Bryant's Cocktail Lounge for a Wisconsin Old Fashioned and shareable plates under $30, or a Third Space Brewing flight and pretzel for $20.
← Back to Milwaukee food guide