J&R's Guidebook for Milwaukee

Joe And Rainer
Joe And Rainer
J&R's Guidebook for Milwaukee

Drinks

Milwaukee’s biggest and most established craft brewer with a great assortment (including Gluten Free beers), fun tours, and a full menu (including a great Friday Fish Fry!) in their tap room.
224 moradores locais recomendam
Cervejaria Lakefront
1872 N Commerce St
224 moradores locais recomendam
Milwaukee’s biggest and most established craft brewer with a great assortment (including Gluten Free beers), fun tours, and a full menu (including a great Friday Fish Fry!) in their tap room.
While they also have an ale house on the river in the Third Ward, this location is the newest and biggest – and next door to the historic Pabst complex (also check out the restored Pabst Brewery and Taproom on Juneau St!). There’s a full menu, tables outside, and great range of beers.
42 moradores locais recomendam
Milwaukee Brewing Co.
823 S 2nd St
42 moradores locais recomendam
While they also have an ale house on the river in the Third Ward, this location is the newest and biggest – and next door to the historic Pabst complex (also check out the restored Pabst Brewery and Taproom on Juneau St!). There’s a full menu, tables outside, and great range of beers.
From vodka to whiskey to absinthe, this distillery makes everything in house and will mix you a delicious cocktail.
42 moradores locais recomendam
Destilaria Great Lakes
616 W Virginia St
42 moradores locais recomendam
From vodka to whiskey to absinthe, this distillery makes everything in house and will mix you a delicious cocktail.
Our local go-to just a couple blocks from our house, Burnhearts has been named one of the best beer bars in the country. But it’s not just for beer: check out their cocktails, including Milwaukee classics like the Brandy Old Fashioned.
47 moradores locais recomendam
Burnhearts
2599 S Logan Ave
47 moradores locais recomendam
Our local go-to just a couple blocks from our house, Burnhearts has been named one of the best beer bars in the country. But it’s not just for beer: check out their cocktails, including Milwaukee classics like the Brandy Old Fashioned.
A Milwaukee institution, At Random opened in 1964… and it’s exactly the same today as it was then. Dim red lights. Deep booths. Ice cream drinks. Frank Sinatra. It’s an experience not to be missed.
47 moradores locais recomendam
At Random
2501 S Delaware Ave
47 moradores locais recomendam
A Milwaukee institution, At Random opened in 1964… and it’s exactly the same today as it was then. Dim red lights. Deep booths. Ice cream drinks. Frank Sinatra. It’s an experience not to be missed.
A smaller brewery that exclusively focuses on “slow beer” – beers that they brew elsewhere but then barrel age for anywhere from a few months to a few years. Like unique and different beers? Come here and pick up a few bottles to take home.
10 moradores locais recomendam
1840 Brewing Company
342 E Ward St
10 moradores locais recomendam
A smaller brewery that exclusively focuses on “slow beer” – beers that they brew elsewhere but then barrel age for anywhere from a few months to a few years. Like unique and different beers? Come here and pick up a few bottles to take home.
A unique beer venue, Mobcraft is a crowdsourced brewery where the people decide what’s brewed. Yes – you can submit a recipe and have the interwebs vote for it! They’ve got a great line up of brews and you can also order some snacks while playing one of their many board games.
32 moradores locais recomendam
MobCraft Beer Brewery and Taproom
505 S 5th St
32 moradores locais recomendam
A unique beer venue, Mobcraft is a crowdsourced brewery where the people decide what’s brewed. Yes – you can submit a recipe and have the interwebs vote for it! They’ve got a great line up of brews and you can also order some snacks while playing one of their many board games.
Not only do we love Good City’s brews, but we also love their motto: Seek the Good.
32 moradores locais recomendam
Good City Brewing
2108 N Farwell Ave
32 moradores locais recomendam
Not only do we love Good City’s brews, but we also love their motto: Seek the Good.
New to the Milwaukee beer scene, Hacienda is the cooler/experimental cousin of the Door County Brewing Co. Good beers in a really well-designed setting. It's near the Oriental Theater if you want to make a date night of drinks and a movie!
15 moradores locais recomendam
Hacienda Beer Co North Ave Taproom
2018 E North Ave
15 moradores locais recomendam
New to the Milwaukee beer scene, Hacienda is the cooler/experimental cousin of the Door County Brewing Co. Good beers in a really well-designed setting. It's near the Oriental Theater if you want to make a date night of drinks and a movie!
Housed in a large renovated warehouse, you can’t go wrong with the brews at Enlightened. Bonus: it's leisurely 10-15 minute walk from our house and there's a foosball and pool table.
9 moradores locais recomendam
Enlightened Brewing Company
2020 S Allis St
9 moradores locais recomendam
Housed in a large renovated warehouse, you can’t go wrong with the brews at Enlightened. Bonus: it's leisurely 10-15 minute walk from our house and there's a foosball and pool table.
Located in the once-industrial (now semi-industrial on its way to being totally redeveloped) Harbor District, the Cooperage makes a mean cocktail, has a good selection of local beers, and – BONUS – there’s outdoor space by the river with yummy treats from the Taco Moto truck. Also check out what concerts/events they're hosting.
The Cooperage Milwaukee
822 S Water St
Located in the once-industrial (now semi-industrial on its way to being totally redeveloped) Harbor District, the Cooperage makes a mean cocktail, has a good selection of local beers, and – BONUS – there’s outdoor space by the river with yummy treats from the Taco Moto truck. Also check out what concerts/events they're hosting.

Museums

A stunning building designed by Santiago Calatrava (Visitors from NYC – you’ll recognize the similarities with his design of the Fulton Street transit hub… but Milwaukee was first!), the Art Museum houses an impressive collection and is perched right above the lakeshore. It’s one of our favorite places to take out of towners.
398 moradores locais recomendam
Museu de Arte de Milwaukee
700 N Art Museum Dr
398 moradores locais recomendam
A stunning building designed by Santiago Calatrava (Visitors from NYC – you’ll recognize the similarities with his design of the Fulton Street transit hub… but Milwaukee was first!), the Art Museum houses an impressive collection and is perched right above the lakeshore. It’s one of our favorite places to take out of towners.
One of Milwaukee's gorgeous lakeside mansions, this one has been preserved as a museum and art museum. Bonus - the terrace and the gardens are beautiful and provide sweeping views of the lake.
18 moradores locais recomendam
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
2220 N Terrace Ave
18 moradores locais recomendam
One of Milwaukee's gorgeous lakeside mansions, this one has been preserved as a museum and art museum. Bonus - the terrace and the gardens are beautiful and provide sweeping views of the lake.
We're not even big motorcycle aficionados - but this is a really great museum that combines history, design, and... well, motorcycles.
208 moradores locais recomendam
Museu Harley-Davidson
400 W Canal St
208 moradores locais recomendam
We're not even big motorcycle aficionados - but this is a really great museum that combines history, design, and... well, motorcycles.

Shopping

Plants. Textiles. Handcrafted goodies. Ursa is our default local shop since it’s basically what we’d want a store to be if we ever opened one. (Other fun facts: 1. Ursa is literally around the corner from our house, and 2. it got a shout out in Vogue magazine’s recent profile of Milwaukee.)
16 moradores locais recomendam
URSA
2534 S Kinnickinnic Ave
16 moradores locais recomendam
Plants. Textiles. Handcrafted goodies. Ursa is our default local shop since it’s basically what we’d want a store to be if we ever opened one. (Other fun facts: 1. Ursa is literally around the corner from our house, and 2. it got a shout out in Vogue magazine’s recent profile of Milwaukee.)
The one stop shop for all your Milwaukee-made gifts and goodies. Jewelry. Home decor. T-shirts/sweatshirts. All sorts of fun knick knacks you never knew you needed.
15 moradores locais recomendam
The Waxwing
15 moradores locais recomendam
The one stop shop for all your Milwaukee-made gifts and goodies. Jewelry. Home decor. T-shirts/sweatshirts. All sorts of fun knick knacks you never knew you needed.
Another great store full of Milwaukee- and Wisconsin-made goodies. Bonus - it's only a couple blocks from our house.
21 moradores locais recomendam
Sparrow Collective
2224 S Kinnickinnic Ave
21 moradores locais recomendam
Another great store full of Milwaukee- and Wisconsin-made goodies. Bonus - it's only a couple blocks from our house.
A beautifully curated store of mostly home decor that mixes the new and handmade with vintage and unique.
8 moradores locais recomendam
Orange and Blue Co.
1809 N Hubbard St
8 moradores locais recomendam
A beautifully curated store of mostly home decor that mixes the new and handmade with vintage and unique.
There are a ton of antique stores in Milwaukee, but we’re partial to Clinton Street Antiques as it's well curated and well priced.
Clinton Street Antiques
1110 S 1st St
There are a ton of antique stores in Milwaukee, but we’re partial to Clinton Street Antiques as it's well curated and well priced.
We love Brew City Salvage for their great collection of midcentury goodies. If you're lucky, you'll be here on one of the weekends that they have big sales.
6 moradores locais recomendam
Brew City Salvage
524 W National Ave
6 moradores locais recomendam
We love Brew City Salvage for their great collection of midcentury goodies. If you're lucky, you'll be here on one of the weekends that they have big sales.
Literally down the block! Such a great mid-century shop with a friendly owner and great selection of finds.
Mid-century Meow
4235 S Howell Ave
Literally down the block! Such a great mid-century shop with a friendly owner and great selection of finds.

Entertainment, Activities, Sightseeing

Milwaukee has a deep-seeded love of bowling. Why? We’re not sure… but it sure does make for a fun evening. Looking for something truly unique? Go to Koz’s mini bowl – it’s a classic corner bar with a twist: four miniature lanes where high schoolers manually set up your pins. It’s way fun.
22 moradores locais recomendam
Koz's Mini Bowling
2078 S 7th St
22 moradores locais recomendam
Milwaukee has a deep-seeded love of bowling. Why? We’re not sure… but it sure does make for a fun evening. Looking for something truly unique? Go to Koz’s mini bowl – it’s a classic corner bar with a twist: four miniature lanes where high schoolers manually set up your pins. It’s way fun.
A few blocks from the house, Bay View Bowl is a good ole classic bowling lane with a bar and arcade games.
17 moradores locais recomendam
Bayview Bowl
2416 S Kinnickinnic Ave
17 moradores locais recomendam
A few blocks from the house, Bay View Bowl is a good ole classic bowling lane with a bar and arcade games.
The most gorgeous historic theatre we have ever seen anywhere, the Oriental strikes a perfect balance of blockbusters, independent standouts, and - yes - midnight showings of Rocky Horror Picture show. As a bonus, it's run by one of our favorite local nonprofits, Milwaukee Film, which also organizes and runs the really stellar MKE Film Festival.
69 moradores locais recomendam
Oriental Theater
2230 N Farwell Ave
69 moradores locais recomendam
The most gorgeous historic theatre we have ever seen anywhere, the Oriental strikes a perfect balance of blockbusters, independent standouts, and - yes - midnight showings of Rocky Horror Picture show. As a bonus, it's run by one of our favorite local nonprofits, Milwaukee Film, which also organizes and runs the really stellar MKE Film Festival.
A few blocks from the house, the Avalon's main theater is a wonderful place to watch a movie. Not only can you have food and drink delivered to your seats, you're seated below a starry ceiling that sparkles. No, really.
34 moradores locais recomendam
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave
34 moradores locais recomendam
A few blocks from the house, the Avalon's main theater is a wonderful place to watch a movie. Not only can you have food and drink delivered to your seats, you're seated below a starry ceiling that sparkles. No, really.
Throw axes and drink! A perfect combination, right?
19 moradores locais recomendam
AXE MKE
1924 E Kenilworth Pl
19 moradores locais recomendam
Throw axes and drink! A perfect combination, right?
Axe throwing and shuffle board? Yes, please.
NorthSouth Club
230 E Pittsburgh Ave
Axe throwing and shuffle board? Yes, please.

Parks & Nature

An amazing view of Lake Michigan with a big sandy beach? Check. The water temp might be chilly... but it's a great place to spend a sunny day. Bonus - drive up and down Lake Drive and daydream about all the lakeside mansions.
58 moradores locais recomendam
Atwater Park
4000 N Lake Dr
58 moradores locais recomendam
An amazing view of Lake Michigan with a big sandy beach? Check. The water temp might be chilly... but it's a great place to spend a sunny day. Bonus - drive up and down Lake Drive and daydream about all the lakeside mansions.
The Seven Bridges trail in Grant Park that takes you through the woods and to a beautiful stretch of lake shore that makes you feel like you're a million miles away from civilization.
11 moradores locais recomendam
Grant Park Beach
11 moradores locais recomendam
The Seven Bridges trail in Grant Park that takes you through the woods and to a beautiful stretch of lake shore that makes you feel like you're a million miles away from civilization.
An amazing little peninsula that juts out from downtown, you suddenly find yourself surrounded by native plants and beautiful Lake Michigan. A great place to add on to your lakeside run or bike ride.
14 moradores locais recomendam
Lakeshore State Park, Milwaukee, WI
500 N Harbor Dr
14 moradores locais recomendam
An amazing little peninsula that juts out from downtown, you suddenly find yourself surrounded by native plants and beautiful Lake Michigan. A great place to add on to your lakeside run or bike ride.
About a 45-50 minute drive north of Milwaukee, this state park is gorgeous with hiking trails through sand dunes along Lake Michigan.
73 moradores locais recomendam
Parque Estadual Kohler-Andrae
1020 Beach Park Ln
73 moradores locais recomendam
About a 45-50 minute drive north of Milwaukee, this state park is gorgeous with hiking trails through sand dunes along Lake Michigan.
Our go to park that's a leisurely walk from the house. And there's a beer garden! Definitely check out their Saturday Farmers Market that runs from the spring to the fall! (Fun fact: our wedding was at the pavilion here.)
56 moradores locais recomendam
South Shore Park
2900 S Shore Dr
56 moradores locais recomendam
Our go to park that's a leisurely walk from the house. And there's a beer garden! Definitely check out their Saturday Farmers Market that runs from the spring to the fall! (Fun fact: our wedding was at the pavilion here.)
So close to the house! Lots of trails that take you through the park, around the lagoon, past the band shell (check out Chill on the Hill in the summer!), and to the beer garden.
26 moradores locais recomendam
Parque Humboldt
3000 South Howell Avenue
26 moradores locais recomendam
So close to the house! Lots of trails that take you through the park, around the lagoon, past the band shell (check out Chill on the Hill in the summer!), and to the beer garden.

Food scene

Delicious small plates and cocktails – and only a few blocks away.
91 moradores locais recomendam
Odd Duck
939 S Kinnickinnic Ave
91 moradores locais recomendam
Delicious small plates and cocktails – and only a few blocks away.
Crazy good homemade sausages (and other yummy stuff) in a chill, order-at-the-counter bar setting.
55 moradores locais recomendam
The Vanguard
2659 S Kinnickinnic Ave
55 moradores locais recomendam
Crazy good homemade sausages (and other yummy stuff) in a chill, order-at-the-counter bar setting.
Get their Salted Caramel. Also, ice cream flights. You’re welcome.
36 moradores locais recomendam
Purple Door Ice Cream
205 S 2nd St
36 moradores locais recomendam
Get their Salted Caramel. Also, ice cream flights. You’re welcome.
This is our favorite restaurant in MKE. Creative, delicious plant-based food (don’t worry, carnivores… you won’t go hungry!) combined with good drinks and great music.
13 moradores locais recomendam
Strange Town
2101 N Prospect Ave
13 moradores locais recomendam
This is our favorite restaurant in MKE. Creative, delicious plant-based food (don’t worry, carnivores… you won’t go hungry!) combined with good drinks and great music.
Our go-to brunch/lunch spot – with the best bloody Marys we’ve found.
20 moradores locais recomendam
Sabrosa Cafe & Gallery
3216 S Howell Ave
20 moradores locais recomendam
Our go-to brunch/lunch spot – with the best bloody Marys we’ve found.
Milwaukee’s obsession with frozen custard runs deep, and Kopp’s is arguably the most popular of the various frozen custard institutions (also check out Leon’s, Oscar’s, and Gilles). Check their website for today’s flavors. Make sure to go hungry since their burgers are also standouts – and named one of the best in the country.
51 moradores locais recomendam
Kopp's Frozen Custard
5373 N Port Washington Rd
51 moradores locais recomendam
Milwaukee’s obsession with frozen custard runs deep, and Kopp’s is arguably the most popular of the various frozen custard institutions (also check out Leon’s, Oscar’s, and Gilles). Check their website for today’s flavors. Make sure to go hungry since their burgers are also standouts – and named one of the best in the country.
Like to share small plates? Come here for delicious tapas that are globally inspired. From Indonesian Sambal Goreng Udang to Spanish Patatas Bravas to Colombian empanadas, you’ll find it here. Bonus: they have a nice courtyard/outdoor space when it’s nice outside!
38 moradores locais recomendam
La Merenda
125 East National Avenue
38 moradores locais recomendam
Like to share small plates? Come here for delicious tapas that are globally inspired. From Indonesian Sambal Goreng Udang to Spanish Patatas Bravas to Colombian empanadas, you’ll find it here. Bonus: they have a nice courtyard/outdoor space when it’s nice outside!
This is the stuff of Milwaukee legend. It’s an old school supper club which means you’ll start with a cocktail at the bar and then move to your table where a salad, bread, and relish platter will be waiting… but that’s just the precursor to giant, delicious steaks. Bring your appetite and your wallet. Reservations are required so call ahead.
22 moradores locais recomendam
Five O'Clock Steakhouse
2416 W State St
22 moradores locais recomendam
This is the stuff of Milwaukee legend. It’s an old school supper club which means you’ll start with a cocktail at the bar and then move to your table where a salad, bread, and relish platter will be waiting… but that’s just the precursor to giant, delicious steaks. Bring your appetite and your wallet. Reservations are required so call ahead.
Located near Miller Park in an otherwise pretty residential neighborhood, Story Hill is a staple for brunch, lunch, and dinner. They source local ingredients and, frankly, you can’t go wrong coming here. There’s also a great beer and wine shop on site.
35 moradores locais recomendam
Story Hill BKC
5100 W Bluemound Rd
35 moradores locais recomendam
Located near Miller Park in an otherwise pretty residential neighborhood, Story Hill is a staple for brunch, lunch, and dinner. They source local ingredients and, frankly, you can’t go wrong coming here. There’s also a great beer and wine shop on site.
A neighborhood institution with reliably yummy food and drinks.
17 moradores locais recomendam
Lazy Susan MKE
2378 S Howell Ave
17 moradores locais recomendam
A neighborhood institution with reliably yummy food and drinks.
Three words: Friday Fish Fry. If you didn't already know, the Friday Fish Fry is a thing in Milwaukee - literally every restaurant has one but we really enjoy this pub tucked downtown. Be prepared to wait - it gets busy.
24 moradores locais recomendam
Swingin' Door Exchange
219 E Michigan St
24 moradores locais recomendam
Three words: Friday Fish Fry. If you didn't already know, the Friday Fish Fry is a thing in Milwaukee - literally every restaurant has one but we really enjoy this pub tucked downtown. Be prepared to wait - it gets busy.
A modern and delicious take on comfort food, we love that Tandem not only serves up yumminess but is also committed to hiring and training residents from the surrounding neighborhood.
Tandem
1848 W Fond Du Lac Ave
A modern and delicious take on comfort food, we love that Tandem not only serves up yumminess but is also committed to hiring and training residents from the surrounding neighborhood.
As their name suggests, Honeypie has some great pie - but they also have great Midwest-inspired comfort foods served all day, and they source from local providers as much as possible.
67 moradores locais recomendam
Honeypie
2569 S Kinnickinnic Ave
67 moradores locais recomendam
As their name suggests, Honeypie has some great pie - but they also have great Midwest-inspired comfort foods served all day, and they source from local providers as much as possible.