Guidebook for Madison
Food Scene
They are obviously known for their Old Fashions but their Cheese Curds are the best in town! Double bubble (happy hour) runs until 5 pm, Taco Tuesday won't disappoint, 2 for 1 burgers on Monday is even better, and their beer list and beer of the month are fun to check out too!
86 locals recommend
The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney StThey are obviously known for their Old Fashions but their Cheese Curds are the best in town! Double bubble (happy hour) runs until 5 pm, Taco Tuesday won't disappoint, 2 for 1 burgers on Monday is even better, and their beer list and beer of the month are fun to check out too!
This is a neighborhood bar. The food is good and ranges from burgers to pizza to more fancy meals which rotate nightly. They have a great craft beer selection.
19 locals recommend
Gates and Brovi
3502 Monroe StThis is a neighborhood bar. The food is good and ranges from burgers to pizza to more fancy meals which rotate nightly. They have a great craft beer selection.
Brasserie V has one of the largest tap lists of craft beers. Their food is good too. For appetizers, I like the 'frites' or fried chickpeas.
31 locals recommend
Brasserie V
1923 Monroe StBrasserie V has one of the largest tap lists of craft beers. Their food is good too. For appetizers, I like the 'frites' or fried chickpeas.
Glass Nickel Pizza Co. - Madison West
5003 University AveThey have great local pizza. Dine in or take out!
Weary Traveler has an interesting and unique restaurant menu. It's a mainstay of the East Side of Madison. The food and atmosphere won't disappoint.
61 locals recommend
Weary Traveler Freehouse
1201 Williamson StWeary Traveler has an interesting and unique restaurant menu. It's a mainstay of the East Side of Madison. The food and atmosphere won't disappoint.
There's also a Monroe St. Location. The food and service is typically good there. There's also a nook in the Capitol location that offers probably the best stellar night of any Madison restaurant or bar of the Capitol but you have to search to find it (hint its on the second floor).
6 locals recommend
Brocach Irish Pub & Whiskey Den
7 W Main StThere's also a Monroe St. Location. The food and service is typically good there. There's also a nook in the Capitol location that offers probably the best stellar night of any Madison restaurant or bar of the Capitol but you have to search to find it (hint its on the second floor).
La Hacienda
515 S Park StThey offer some of the best authentic Mexican food in town.
This is the neighborhood Italian restaurant. It's consistently good food. Lombardino's is a long standing restaurant in Madison, so that tells you it is good and survives a competitive food scene, year after year.
31 locals recommend
Oliver's Public House
2540 University AveThis is the neighborhood Italian restaurant. It's consistently good food. Lombardino's is a long standing restaurant in Madison, so that tells you it is good and survives a competitive food scene, year after year.
Parks & Nature
The fall colors are amazing. The trails are fun but beware of the lurking turkeys...hike or bike your way here!
60 locals recommend
University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole HighwayThe fall colors are amazing. The trails are fun but beware of the lurking turkeys...hike or bike your way here!
The local ski hill. It's fun, its totally mom and pops and though the runs are short, they offer some fun terrain and steeps. Hit a powder day at Tyrol for good ole WI winter fun!
25 locals recommend
Tyrol Basin
3487 Bohn RdThe local ski hill. It's fun, its totally mom and pops and though the runs are short, they offer some fun terrain and steeps. Hit a powder day at Tyrol for good ole WI winter fun!
Run from your stay or drive and hike out onto an isthmus surrounded by Lake Mendota. No matter the season, its worth a trip.
55 locals recommend
Picnic Point
2000 University Bay DrRun from your stay or drive and hike out onto an isthmus surrounded by Lake Mendota. No matter the season, its worth a trip.
Hoyt Park is the neighborhood park. They have fire pits, grills, hiking trails. You can do a nice 1.5 mile loop through the park from where you are staying and back. Marshall gives it 4 paws of approval!
12 locals recommend
Hoyt Park
Hoyt Park is the neighborhood park. They have fire pits, grills, hiking trails. You can do a nice 1.5 mile loop through the park from where you are staying and back. Marshall gives it 4 paws of approval!
Pheasant Branch offers a nice combination of prairie and wooded trails. There are mud pots by the spring.
13 locals recommend
Pheasant Branch Conservancy
4864 Pheasant Branch RdPheasant Branch offers a nice combination of prairie and wooded trails. There are mud pots by the spring.
Shopping
The biggest farmer's market in the state of WI is worth checking out. Seasonally grown local produce won't disappoint.
93 locals recommend
Dane County Farmers Market
3241 Martin Luther King Jr BlvdThe biggest farmer's market in the state of WI is worth checking out. Seasonally grown local produce won't disappoint.
Hilldale offers restaurants, stores, and even a grocery store.
63 locals recommend
Hilldale Shopping Center
726 N Midvale BlvdHilldale offers restaurants, stores, and even a grocery store.
Everything Else
The student union is not just for students. They have a variety of food options. They have live music on the weekends, free movies on Monday night on the lake. It offers a great view of Lake Mendota. It's a go to must to get a badger vibe.
122 locals recommend
Memorial Union Terrace
800 Langdon StThe student union is not just for students. They have a variety of food options. They have live music on the weekends, free movies on Monday night on the lake. It offers a great view of Lake Mendota. It's a go to must to get a badger vibe.
Getting Around
The Metro is the public bus. The bus stop is on Mineral Point at the corner of Glenway 2 blocks away. For more info go to the website for schedules and bus routes.
11 locals recommend
Madison Metro Transit System
The Metro is the public bus. The bus stop is on Mineral Point at the corner of Glenway 2 blocks away. For more info go to the website for schedules and bus routes.
B-cycles has stops all over town. It does require check ins I believe every 30 minutes but you could use this as tranportation from point to point. For a scenic view of the town, this is a great way to travel. I believe they offer day passes too!
Madison B-Cycle Station – Observatory Dr. @ UW Hospital
312 N Third StB-cycles has stops all over town. It does require check ins I believe every 30 minutes but you could use this as tranportation from point to point. For a scenic view of the town, this is a great way to travel. I believe they offer day passes too!
Union Cab of Madison Cooperative
2458 Pennsylvania AveUnion cab is one taxi service available in Madison.
Green Cab of Madison Inc.
700 Beld StGreen cab, another taxi company.
Uber Greenlight
43 E Towne WayIf you like air bnb, uber is the car/transportation version.
Sightseeing
A beautiful building. You can get out to the very top deck and have 360 views around Madison to see the lakes.
141 locals recommend
Wisconsin State Capitol
2 E Main StA beautiful building. You can get out to the very top deck and have 360 views around Madison to see the lakes.
The zoo is free and runs on donations. It's a cute little place and its on Lake Wingra which also provides some nice views. The fall colors here are gorgeous. If you walked the entire zoo you could probably see everything in 2 hours so its not huge but its worth a stop. You can even see the local mascot there....Bucky the Badger.
101 locals recommend
Henry Vilas Zoo
702 S Randall AveThe zoo is free and runs on donations. It's a cute little place and its on Lake Wingra which also provides some nice views. The fall colors here are gorgeous. If you walked the entire zoo you could probably see everything in 2 hours so its not huge but its worth a stop. You can even see the local mascot there....Bucky the Badger.
Drinks & Nightlife
There aren't many night clubs/dance clubs in Madison but this the main adult one (as opposed to a college hang out nightclub). It has more of an LGBT vibe but is welcoming to anyone.
16 locals recommend
Prism
924 Williamson StThere aren't many night clubs/dance clubs in Madison but this the main adult one (as opposed to a college hang out nightclub). It has more of an LGBT vibe but is welcoming to anyone.
The bands rotate and its worth a stop if you are into the music scene
26 locals recommend
High Noon Saloon
701 E Washington AveThe bands rotate and its worth a stop if you are into the music scene
The host the King Street Live on Friday nights in the summers which is free to go to. Or check out a show there on any other night!
23 locals recommend
Majestic theater
115 King StThe host the King Street Live on Friday nights in the summers which is free to go to. Or check out a show there on any other night!
Mickey's is a classic Madison bar. It's an old house that is now a bar. They have various bands playing there at night. They also have really good brunch and a nice patio to sit out on during the warmer months.
37 locals recommend
Mickey's Tavern
1524 Williamson StMickey's is a classic Madison bar. It's an old house that is now a bar. They have various bands playing there at night. They also have really good brunch and a nice patio to sit out on during the warmer months.
Crystal Corner has a unique 70s vibe to it. I think its the windows/colors. They have good beer and on occassion host bands on the weekends.
16 locals recommend
Crystal Corner Bar
1302 Williamson StCrystal Corner has a unique 70s vibe to it. I think its the windows/colors. They have good beer and on occassion host bands on the weekends.