Ann’s guidebook
Favorite Coffee Shops
Great coffee, sandwiches and pastries! Open air dining in the warmer months; Blazing fireplaces in the cooler months!
21 locals recommend
Colectivo Coffee - Monroe St.
2530 Monroe StGreat coffee, sandwiches and pastries! Open air dining in the warmer months; Blazing fireplaces in the cooler months!
Casual, cozy coffee shop with delicious healthy food options and live music at times!
12 locals recommend
Crescendo Espresso Bar + Music Cafe
1859 Monroe StCasual, cozy coffee shop with delicious healthy food options and live music at times!
Local bakeshop specializing in croissants & baguettes, plus cookies, pastries & artisanal breads. Smells delicious!
29 locals recommend
Batch Bakehouse
1402 Williamson StLocal bakeshop specializing in croissants & baguettes, plus cookies, pastries & artisanal breads. Smells delicious!
EVP (Etes-Vous Prets?!) Coffee is a local, independent & woman-owned business that opened in October of 1997 on Highland Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin. Over 24 years later, EVP now has 4 vibrant locations & roasts thousands of pounds of coffee each year.
10 locals recommend
EVP Coffee East
1250 E Washington AveEVP (Etes-Vous Prets?!) Coffee is a local, independent & woman-owned business that opened in October of 1997 on Highland Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin. Over 24 years later, EVP now has 4 vibrant locations & roasts thousands of pounds of coffee each year.
Favorite Restaurants
Everly
2701 Monroe StGreat neighborhood spot with delicious food, a great bar and cool vibe!
Farm-to-fork Italian restaurant with housemade pastas and wood-fired pizzas! The sourdough bread with butter, olive oil and salt is not to be missed!
10 locals recommend
Cento
122 W Mifflin StFarm-to-fork Italian restaurant with housemade pastas and wood-fired pizzas! The sourdough bread with butter, olive oil and salt is not to be missed!
Located on the top floor at the AC Hotel, a great wine bar with plates to share and the best views of the Capitol building!
31 locals recommend
Eno Vino Downtown
1 N Webster StLocated on the top floor at the AC Hotel, a great wine bar with plates to share and the best views of the Capitol building!
Farm-to-table comfort food in a light, bright, modern space. The Fried Hook's Cheese Curds are delicious! When in Wisconsin...
56 locals recommend
Graze
1 S Pinckney StFarm-to-table comfort food in a light, bright, modern space. The Fried Hook's Cheese Curds are delicious! When in Wisconsin...
Casual spot for wood-fired, Neapolitan pies created from housemade mozzarella and local ingredients.
15 locals recommend
Pizza Brutta
1805 Monroe StCasual spot for wood-fired, Neapolitan pies created from housemade mozzarella and local ingredients.
Wood-fired and steel-pan pizzas in a three story industrial-chic tavern. Open air dining during the warmer months!
27 locals recommend
Lucille
101 King StWood-fired and steel-pan pizzas in a three story industrial-chic tavern. Open air dining during the warmer months!
Counter-serve eatery for breakfast, lunch and brunch using the finest local ingredients. Outdoor seating during the warmer months. The Marigold Breakfast Sandwich is one of our favorites!
27 locals recommend
Marigold Kitchen
118 S Pinckney StCounter-serve eatery for breakfast, lunch and brunch using the finest local ingredients. Outdoor seating during the warmer months. The Marigold Breakfast Sandwich is one of our favorites!
Mickies is a local favorite for breakfast, which is served at communal tables. The lines are often long but worth the wait! A few things to note: They are closed on Mondays, they close at 2:30pm, and they are cash-only!
23 locals recommend
Mickies Dairy Bar
1511 Monroe StMickies is a local favorite for breakfast, which is served at communal tables. The lines are often long but worth the wait! A few things to note: They are closed on Mondays, they close at 2:30pm, and they are cash-only!
A casual place with great burgers and sandwiches only two blocks from the Kohl Center. But get there early on game days! They don't take reservations and the wait can be long but worth it!
11 locals recommend
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry
317 North Frances StreetA casual place with great burgers and sandwiches only two blocks from the Kohl Center. But get there early on game days! They don't take reservations and the wait can be long but worth it!
Sardine
617 Williamson StHip bistro with french fare in a former warehouse on Lake Monona.
Industrial-chic gastropub & liquor store serving farm-to-table New American fare & craft cocktails.
28 locals recommend
Merchant Madison
121 S Pinckney StIndustrial-chic gastropub & liquor store serving farm-to-table New American fare & craft cocktails.
Great breakfast spot that is worth the wait! Give the sweet potato oatmeal pancakes a try and order your breakfast potatoes with cheese (you're in Wisco after all)! Be sure to look up and check out the chandelier made out of whisks!
13 locals recommend
Short Stack Eatery
301 W Johnson StGreat breakfast spot that is worth the wait! Give the sweet potato oatmeal pancakes a try and order your breakfast potatoes with cheese (you're in Wisco after all)! Be sure to look up and check out the chandelier made out of whisks!
A Pig In A Fur Coat
940 Williamson StMediterranean comfort food in a casual fine dining atmosphere
Laid-back, cash-only tavern offering gourmet pub grub, rotating tap beers & live music most nights.
37 locals recommend
Alchemy
1980 Atwood AveLaid-back, cash-only tavern offering gourmet pub grub, rotating tap beers & live music most nights.
Bar Corallini is an upscale but laid-back Italian restaurant located in the Atwood neighborhood on the near-East side of Madison.
Bar Corallini
2004 Atwood AveBar Corallini is an upscale but laid-back Italian restaurant located in the Atwood neighborhood on the near-East side of Madison.
Traditional Southeast Asian eatery serving up a large menu of Thai, Vietnamese & Laotian dishes.
55 locals recommend
Hạ Long Bay Restaurant
1353 Williamson StTraditional Southeast Asian eatery serving up a large menu of Thai, Vietnamese & Laotian dishes.
This restaurant comes highly recommended from one of our guests as “the best pizza in the whole world.”
7 locals recommend
Paisan's Restaurant
131 W Wilson StThis restaurant comes highly recommended from one of our guests as “the best pizza in the whole world.”
Shopping
Outdoor shopping area with shops, restaurants and AMC movie theater.
63 locals recommend
Hilldale Shopping Center
726 N Midvale BlvdOutdoor shopping area with shops, restaurants and AMC movie theater.
pitaya
341 E Campus MallUrban Outfitters
604 State StDelicious artisan chocolates using the highest quality and freshest ingredients! From classic truffles to unexpected flavor combinations!
Infusion Chocolates
2503 Monroe StDelicious artisan chocolates using the highest quality and freshest ingredients! From classic truffles to unexpected flavor combinations!
Mystery to Me
1863 Monroe StIndependent bookstore!
Local Attractions & Activities
1200 acres of plants, trees, and shrubs and nearly 20 miles of hiking trials!
60 locals recommend
University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway1200 acres of plants, trees, and shrubs and nearly 20 miles of hiking trials!
Explore the lake by renting a canoe or kayak at Wingra Boat Rentals, open 8:30 am- 8 pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
9 locals recommend
Lake Wingra
Explore the lake by renting a canoe or kayak at Wingra Boat Rentals, open 8:30 am- 8 pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Madison Children's Museum
100 N Hamilton StThree floors of interactive exhibits!
The Chazen is home to the second-largest collection of art in WI: more than 20,000 works include paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, photographs, and decorative arts.
73 locals recommend
Chazen Museum of Art
800 University AveThe Chazen is home to the second-largest collection of art in WI: more than 20,000 works include paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, photographs, and decorative arts.
Majestic Roman Renaissance-style architecture with the only granite dome in the US. The observation deck is open in the summer and offers views of the city and surrounding lakes.
141 locals recommend
Wisconsin State Capitol
2 E Main StMajestic Roman Renaissance-style architecture with the only granite dome in the US. The observation deck is open in the summer and offers views of the city and surrounding lakes.
Grab a chair and a brat, and soak up the sun at this favorite spot to enjoy a lake view during the summer and fall on the UW campus! Perfect for people watching and relaxing!
122 locals recommend
Memorial Union Terrace
800 Langdon StGrab a chair and a brat, and soak up the sun at this favorite spot to enjoy a lake view during the summer and fall on the UW campus! Perfect for people watching and relaxing!
Saturdays mid April-Mid November, 6:15 am- 1:45 pm surrounding the Capitol building, otherwise known as "The Square."
93 locals recommend
Dane County Farmers Market
3241 Martin Luther King Jr BlvdSaturdays mid April-Mid November, 6:15 am- 1:45 pm surrounding the Capitol building, otherwise known as "The Square."
Located on Madison's waterfront, 16 acres of exotic foliage and fragrant flowers.
138 locals recommend
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood AveLocated on Madison's waterfront, 16 acres of exotic foliage and fragrant flowers.
This splendid three-story glass structure is undoubtedly one of the city's most impressive architectural landmarks.
51 locals recommend
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
227 State StThis splendid three-story glass structure is undoubtedly one of the city's most impressive architectural landmarks.
28 acre zoo home to a wide variety of animals from tropical, arctic, savannah, plains and other habitats.
101 locals recommend
Henry Vilas Zoo
702 S Randall Ave28 acre zoo home to a wide variety of animals from tropical, arctic, savannah, plains and other habitats.
Picnic Point, a nearly mile-long peninsula along Lake Mendota's south shore, is among Madison's most distinctive features and is a popular destination in the Preserve.
55 locals recommend
Picnic Point
2000 University Bay DrPicnic Point, a nearly mile-long peninsula along Lake Mendota's south shore, is among Madison's most distinctive features and is a popular destination in the Preserve.
Madison Symphony Orchestra Inc
222 W Washington AveA premier convention center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright with a rooftop terrace serving food & drink from June-August.
58 locals recommend
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
1 John Nolen DrA premier convention center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright with a rooftop terrace serving food & drink from June-August.
Elver Park is great in the summer and the winter! Sledding, XC skiing, and ice-staking in the winter; hiking trails, basketball, tennis, disc golf, playground and splash park in the summer.
10 locals recommend
Elver Park
1250 McKenna BoulevardElver Park is great in the summer and the winter! Sledding, XC skiing, and ice-staking in the winter; hiking trails, basketball, tennis, disc golf, playground and splash park in the summer.
Tenney Park Lagoon
Sports
Camp Randall Stadium University of Wisconsin
1440 Monroe StHome of Wisconsin Badgers Football!
The Kohl Center
601 West Dayton StreetOn-campus sports arena for Badgers basketball & hockey!
Madison Capitols USHL Hockey
2616 N Pleasant View RdHome games at the Alliant Energy Center's Veterans Memorial Coliseum!
Brew Pub
Garth's Brew Pub opened in Fall of 2019 and is great place to grab a craft beer. They serve pizza and soft pretzels too.
Garth's Brew Bar
1726 Monroe StGarth's Brew Pub opened in Fall of 2019 and is great place to grab a craft beer. They serve pizza and soft pretzels too.
Vintage Brewing Co. Capitol East is part of the VBC family of brewpubs in the Madison area. They pride themselves on being a great place to hang out and enjoy classic Midwestern hospitality. You can expect Elevated Americana Cuisine and a large selection of highly acclaimed house-made craft beer.
6 locals recommend
Vintage Brewing Co. Capitol East
803 E Washington AveVintage Brewing Co. Capitol East is part of the VBC family of brewpubs in the Madison area. They pride themselves on being a great place to hang out and enjoy classic Midwestern hospitality. You can expect Elevated Americana Cuisine and a large selection of highly acclaimed house-made craft beer.
Best Deli
Stalzy's Deli
2701 Atwood AveBest sandwiches in town, hands down!