If you live in the Midwest you more than likely grew up taking road trips. There are so many lovely places to visit all within a couple hours’ drive. One of my favorite places for a road trip is Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sometimes I just want to get out of my sweet home Chicago. Milwaukee is a perfect getaway with only a 90-minute drive.
We were invited by Visit Milwaukee to come and experience all that Milwaukee has to offer the Food Travelist.
Milwaukee’s Tasty Food
It never fails that every time we visit Milwaukee we find more terrific places to eat. Here are just a few spots we think you’ve got to try when you visit.
Blue’s Egg
We love a good breakfast and Milwaukee has a lot of great spots to try. Blue’s Egg is known for a lot of specialties. Their hash browns are some of the best we’ve ever had. Thinly shredded and cooked with a crispy brown crust, they’re a memorable treat for your tastebuds. Add the cheese for their Browns N Cheddar and you won’t regret it. Blue’s Classic Benedict with pulled ham off the bone is another winner. Their rich, dense, and sweetly satisfying monkey bread is small but dangerous. Get one to share with caramel sauce. Just don’t fight over who gets the last bite.
If you go on the weekend leave plenty of time. The lines are long. It’s the perfect time to indulge in a Bloody Mary with Miller High Life back or any other of the breakfast cocktails they serve.
Honeypie Cafe
Another breakfast spot is Honeypie Cafe. Known for its pies and pastries, this restaurant serves up a terrific brunch too. Everything is made from scratch so don’t be in a hurry. Relax enjoy a drink and prepare to be well-fed. We sampled their breakfast pork fries – roasted magic potatoes, shredded BBQ pork, cheese sauce, sunny side-up egg, green onions, pickled jalapeños, and, of course, bacon. We don’t know what “magic” lurks in the potatoes but this sure makes for a great hangover or brunch dish.
Bavette
If you’re looking for high-quality charcuterie and cheeses Bavette is your place. We stopped in for a quick lunch and had roast beef with fresh horseradish and cherry tomatoes. It was the best we’ve had in a long time. Owner Karen Bell’s care shines through as she serves responsibly-sourced meats and uses whole carcasses to reduce waste.
Wisconsin Cheese Market
It wouldn’t be right to visit Milwaukee and not try some of Wisconsin’s finest cheeses. For the best selection in town try the Wisconsin Cheese Market. They say they have the world’s largest selection of Wisconsin cheese and we won’t disagree. From cheese, in the shape of the state of Wisconsin to 18-year-old cheddar they really do have it all.
Milwaukee’s A City of Festivals
If you’re familiar with Milwaukee you’ve probably heard of Summerfest the 11-day celebration of musicals that is held on Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront. You might not know that Milwaukee has festivals all year long!
Some of the largest fests include German Fest, Festa Italiano, Irish Fest, Polish Fest, Pride Fest, Indian Summer Fest, Holiday Lights Festival, and Oktoberfest. They have just about every ethnicity, holiday, and season covered. If you want to learn more about the great festivals in Milwaukee visit VisitMilwaukee.com for all the details.
We had the pleasure of attending Oktoberfest last year. In an effort to work off the beer and brats, we signed up for the Dunkel Dash. It’s a 5k fun run/walks that goes along the Lake Michigan lakefront and benefits the Hunger Task Force. After the “dash” participants meet up at the lively Oktoberfest for beers, brats, music, and fun. Perfect for us Food Travelists!
This year’s Dunkel Dash takes place on October 13th check the website for more information.
Stay At A Brewery
Wait did you read that correctly? Yep, The Brewhouse Inn & Suites is formerly the Pabst Brewery. Think we’re kidding? The copper containers that remain in the open atrium will easily convince you. The suites have full kitchens and a workspace. They are comfortable and spacious with wonderful oversized showers. Most importantly we love the fact that the shower fixtures are simple to use. They’re modern and logical and won’t take you an hour to figure out. Complimentary Wi-Fi runs throughout the property. And, as if that weren’t already enough, continental breakfast is included with the room!
The Brewhouse is conveniently located near many Milwaukee attractions. And, for those who want a bit more brewery history, the fantastic Pabst Mansion is right across the street. If you’re in Milwaukee for the beer this is definitely the place for you.
The fun and funky Jack’s Blue Ribbon Pub is right next to The Brewhouse. It has terrific pub food and super cheap happy hour specials. We stopped in for a quick Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap and the place was jumping. It makes it easy to enjoy the specials when you just have to walk next door to go to bed!
Of Course, There’s Beer!
You simply can’t escape it and why would you? If you want to learn how beer arrived in Milwaukee visit the Pabst Mansion and get a chance to hear the story in person. Sample a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, tour the mansion, and don’t miss the gift shop. It will take you on an amazing tour of beer history and tradition. It’s full of a lot of great beer memorabilia, some of which will surprise and delight you in unexpected ways.
Sprecher Brewery
Another hometown favorite that brews beer is Sprecher Brewery. Sprecher also makes a very full line of gourmet sodas (or pop as we call it in the Midwest) including its beloved root beer and cream soda. Go for the tour and enjoy plenty of samples afterward in their indoor beer garden.
Curious as to where the longest bar east of the Mississippi is located? Then you won’t want to miss Buck Bradley’s in downtown Milwaukee. It’s on a very happening block that also has Usinger’s Sausage, the Wisconsin Cheese Market, the incredibly authentic German restaurant Mader’s, and many other noteworthy local spots.
One of our other favorite local hotspots is Lakefront Brewery, which you can learn more about here. They give an awesome tour that’s fun and informative. Of course, comes with plenty of samples too. Lakefront Brewery is also known for its award-winning gluten-free pilsner-style New Grist beer. And, if you’re looking for a large brewery experience, the Miller-Coors tour is for you.
Year Round Fun
Fall is a beautiful time to drive to Milwaukee and enjoy the changing season in all its glory. But don’t worry. Any time of year you head to Milwaukee you’ll find great attractions, lots of festivals, terrific food, and friendly people.
THE QUICK BITE: If you’re looking for good midwestern hospitality, tasty food, and lots to do, look no further than Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s got it all!
Read more Food Travelist stories about Milwaukee:
29 Comments
I’ve never been to Milwaukee, but it is on my bucket list for Midwest American cities to visit. I especially love the tip about staying at the brewery. I will most certainly look into that whenever I get to Milwaukee as I enjoy staying at quirky places like this.
We concure!! Thanks for stopping by Beth.
Indeed! Thanks for stopping by Alina!
We just love Milwaukee Jan. I think we’ve been there almost as many times as you’ve been to France. 😀
It’s definitely changed but they do hold on to many of their long-held traditions. Hope you get to visit someday soon!
Hi Catherine! Milwaukee has changed so much in the last 4-5 years. I used to go up there all the time for business and didn’t really get the same vibe as I do now. I hope you get to visit MKE again soon. I think you’ll be surprised.
Hi Suzanne, not to worry they have food for every palate and every occasion. Not all the meals have to be heavy. Salads and fresh veggies abound too in MKE.
You two would absolutely fall in love with Milwaukee!
There’s so much to do & eat you’d love it! Thanks for stopping by.
I have never been but the food looks amazing. Would love to try some of that monkey bread.
I love the story behind Wolf Peach, and that Monkey Bread at Blue’s Egg looks amazing. And of course, beer is always on our target list. I see a Milwaukee foodie-focused road trip in our future. #nomnom
Other than for an in and out visit for a wedding during which we didn’t have the chance to sample local restaurant fare, we’ve never spent any time in Milwaukee. At this time in my life when the pounds go on much more easily than they come off, maybe that’s a good thing based on this post. It doesn’t seem they specialize in “light” fare. 😉
Nice post. These are such wonderful reasons to Fall In Love With Milwaukee. I never been at Milwaukee but even these are awesome reason to make me fall in love with Milwaukee !
I do love Milwaukee! I lived there for about 5 years way back when and even met the hubby there. We’ve visited many times since, but I haven’t been to a single one of the restaurants you’ve written about and they look awesome! Of course, I did go the festivals when I was there. Summerfest and Festa Italiana were my faves. Thanks for the great tips.
Wow, haven’t been to Milwaukee since the early eighties visiting relatives. Even though it looks like a lot has changed it’s good to see that beer, brats, and cheese are still big.
I don’t think your camera could have gotten any closer to the Wolf Peach Cocktail! (which is why I’m sure it was the first photo). Looks delish! And so did the rare roast beef at Bavette. You did a great job of selling me on Milwaukee and Wisconsin, a place that I would not have considered visiting. I can’t believe all the festivals that they have!
It all looks like so much fun! I am also drooling as I type this, but that’s to be expected 😀
Milwaukee looks quite delicious. Never heard of monkey bread but it looks tempting — it all does!
Oh wow, so many tasty spots in this line up! I loved reading about the history behind “Wolf Peach,” and the food looks fantastic as well! And any place that serves a variety of breakfast cocktails is fine by me! 🙂
I was actually pleasantly surprised by Milwaukee when I visited. I didn’t have high expectations, but the food and beer (as you’ve showcased here) were fantastic! I’d love to step into the Wisconsin Cheese Market and buy some cheese curds. And Wolf Peach sounds amazing!
Good Food and Beers, how we can not love it!
Blue’s Egg got my vote, I love good breakfasts especially during weekend!
Cheers,
Nat
What is life if not eating, drinking and partying. I would just spend the whole day at the cheese market and then head over to a festival and dance the night away :). Fun and inspiring post.
Cristina
Sadly, I still have not visited Milwaukee. I must refer to your list (and ask you) when I finally visit. Honeybee looks like a must do.
What a great post! We are from a city just south of Milwaukee and have visited many times! The bloody mary is a meal in itself! And yes Milwaukee knows how to do fesitivals! This post makes me home sick for all the amazing things Milwaukee has!
No doubts there are lots of tasty food options, but I had no idea Milwaukee hosts so many festivals of international importance for different cultures)) It should feel so great to be a student or expat there!
That prime rib looks delicious…and those cocktails, wow! I’ve heard such great things about Milwaukee, and apparently the food is good too!
Don’t know if anything that rich is for me on the food scene. But love a good bloody mary to start my day. And of course, no one can hate on good beer in the afternoon.
All that food looks amazing. I was in Milwaukee for a short time last year but didn’t get a chance to try all this. The Wisconsin Cheese Market was pretty awesome, but everything else looks so tasty.
The food scene looks great. I would love to see the cheese market and some breweries. I thing that you learn better a place through the food!