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
- 2 days
- First-time visitor, two 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.
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Day 1Friday: 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.
StopsMilwaukee Public MarketColectivo Coffee Third WardThief Wine Shop and BarGlorioso's Italian MarketSolly's GrilleLakefront BreweryBryant's Cocktail Lounge
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Day 2Saturday: Tosa brunch, Bay View afternoon, downtown dinner
- Morning
- Blue's Egg + Bakery 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 cocktail, 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.
StopsBlue's Egg + BakeryPilcrow Coffee RoastersBurnheartsSanfordBoone and Crockett
Milwaukee brewery and cocktail crawl
- ★ 4.6
- 2 days
- Returning visitor, beer-and-cocktail focused
Two days through Milwaukee's beer-capital identity: brewery tours, taproom tastings, classic Wisconsin Old Fashioneds at the city's historic cocktail bars.
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Day 1Day 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.
StopsLakefront BreweryMiller Brewing CompanyThird Space BrewingBoone and Crockett
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Day 2Day 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.
StopsAnodyne Coffee Roasting Walker's PointComet CafeAt RandomBryant's Cocktail LoungeHi Hat Lounge
Milwaukee Bay View neighborhood food walk
- ★ 4.5
- 1 day
- Food traveller, one 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.
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Day 1Bay 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 rotating craft tap at Burnhearts on South Logan.
Milwaukee coffee and bakery crawl
- ★ 4.4
- 1 day
- Coffee lover, one 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.
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Day 1Day 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.
StopsColectivo Coffee Third WardPeter Sciortino's BakeryMilwaukee Public MarketStone Creek Coffee Grand Cru BayshoreNational Bakery and DeliAnodyne Coffee Roasting Walker's PointLakefront Brewery
Milwaukee on a budget: butter burgers, fish fry and brewery under $35 a day
- ★ 4.3
- 2 days
- Budget traveller, two 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.
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Day 1Saturday: 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.
StopsMilwaukee Public MarketSolly's GrilleLakefront BreweryBurnhearts
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Day 2Sunday: 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.
StopsPeter Sciortino's BakeryCrafty CowBryant's Cocktail LoungeThird Space Brewing
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