Guidebook for Madison

Samantha & Bruce
Samantha & Bruce
Guidebook for Madison

Essentials

One of Madison's major employers
10 locals recommend
UW Hospital and Clinics
600 Highland Ave
10 locals recommend
One of Madison's major employers
New hospital for children
American Family Children's Hospital
1675 Highland Ave
New hospital for children
Best grocery store for you and for the earth, but on the East side.
77 locals recommend
Willy Street Co-op—East
1221 Williamson St
77 locals recommend
Best grocery store for you and for the earth, but on the East side.
The best grocery store for you and the planet but nearer.
25 locals recommend
Willy Street Co-op—West
6825 University Ave
25 locals recommend
The best grocery store for you and the planet but nearer.
If you don't want to break the bank at the other organic grocery stores. It's pretty big!
19 locals recommend
Metcalfe's Market
726 N Midvale Blvd
19 locals recommend
If you don't want to break the bank at the other organic grocery stores. It's pretty big!
It's close-ish.
13 locals recommend
Regent Market Co-Op
2136 Regent St
13 locals recommend
It's close-ish.
Haircuts and for your relaxation and beauty needs!
RZ & Company
1804 Odana Rd
Haircuts and for your relaxation and beauty needs!
My favorite nail place. Call ahead.
NAILS 4U INC
3312 University Ave
My favorite nail place. Call ahead.
Klinke Cleaners
2875 University Ave
TJ's. Self explanatory.
45 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
1810 Monroe St
45 locals recommend
TJ's. Self explanatory.
Butcher shop. Great!
The Conscious Carnivore
3236A University Ave
Butcher shop. Great!

Food Scene

Carabou Coffee and Einstein Bagles. It's a chain, but it's right down the street at the bus stop.
Coffee & Bagels
2701 University Ave
Carabou Coffee and Einstein Bagles. It's a chain, but it's right down the street at the bus stop.
If you need your fix, otherwise go local!
22 locals recommend
Starbucks
3515 University Ave
22 locals recommend
If you need your fix, otherwise go local!
A local cuppa Joe and a brand new little cafe/restaurant that really does a kick-ass job! Best breakfast place near us.
6 locals recommend
Ancora Coffee Roasters
2871 University Ave
6 locals recommend
A local cuppa Joe and a brand new little cafe/restaurant that really does a kick-ass job! Best breakfast place near us.
Very cute French couple own this delicious bakery and lunch outfit (but in a strip mall).
La Baguette
7424 Mineral Point Rd
Very cute French couple own this delicious bakery and lunch outfit (but in a strip mall).
For breakfast, lunch or dinner. Some outdoor seating. No cell phones inside, has been feng shuied!
15 locals recommend
La Brioche True Food
2862 University Ave
15 locals recommend
For breakfast, lunch or dinner. Some outdoor seating. No cell phones inside, has been feng shuied!
Do not pass this up. A Wisconsin MUST DO! Frozen custard all the way (or turtle sundae). Location on Monroe Street closed. There is one on the east side near Olbrich Botanical Gardens
17 locals recommend
Michael's Frozen Custard
2531 Monroe St
17 locals recommend
Do not pass this up. A Wisconsin MUST DO! Frozen custard all the way (or turtle sundae). Location on Monroe Street closed. There is one on the east side near Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Poke around the atrium, art, plants, water, restaurants!
Discovery Building
330 N Orchard St
Poke around the atrium, art, plants, water, restaurants!
Casual L'Etoile. Simply delish, award-winning chef. Gastro-pub.
56 locals recommend
Graze
1 S Pinckney St
56 locals recommend
Casual L'Etoile. Simply delish, award-winning chef. Gastro-pub.
Authentic Italian from the Veneto region. Our favorite! (Foodie alert!)
11 locals recommend
Osteria Papavero
128 E Wilson St
11 locals recommend
Authentic Italian from the Veneto region. Our favorite! (Foodie alert!)
Favorite for breakfast and lunch. Can be crowded! Chicago chefs branching out in Madison. Fresh, healthy, sunny, locally sourced food and drinks. Sardine is their dinner restaurant.
27 locals recommend
Marigold Kitchen
118 S Pinckney St
27 locals recommend
Favorite for breakfast and lunch. Can be crowded! Chicago chefs branching out in Madison. Fresh, healthy, sunny, locally sourced food and drinks. Sardine is their dinner restaurant.
Easy to get to, parking. Sister restaurant to Muramoto downtown.
12 locals recommend
Muramoto Hilldale
546 N Midvale Blvd
12 locals recommend
Easy to get to, parking. Sister restaurant to Muramoto downtown.
Better bagels than Einstein's, same style. Local business. Super cream cheese.
8 locals recommend
Gotham Bagels
112 E Mifflin St
8 locals recommend
Better bagels than Einstein's, same style. Local business. Super cream cheese.
Good Thai food. Walkable.
11 locals recommend
Sa-Bai Thong Thai Cuisine
2840 University Ave
11 locals recommend
Good Thai food. Walkable.
French Bistro style on Lake Monona. Marigold/Gates & Brovi chefs. Farm-to-table. Great for brunch!
46 locals recommend
Sardine
617 Williamson St
46 locals recommend
French Bistro style on Lake Monona. Marigold/Gates & Brovi chefs. Farm-to-table. Great for brunch!
Family friendly place to grab lunch but still has a farm-to-table philosophy. Has a bar and you can watch a game there, too. Marigold/Sardine chefs.
19 locals recommend
Gates and Brovi
3502 Monroe St
19 locals recommend
Family friendly place to grab lunch but still has a farm-to-table philosophy. Has a bar and you can watch a game there, too. Marigold/Sardine chefs.
Grab it and go or eat there. Local guys.
Curry in the Box - University Ave
2907 University Ave
Grab it and go or eat there. Local guys.
Big foodie place. Steak and frites off of bar menu $22. Lots of food, chef raises his own pigs. Our favorite brunch: veggie benedict and cinnamon rolls (with bits of bacon in them--a little indulgent?).
21 locals recommend
Heritage Tavern
131 E Mifflin St
21 locals recommend
Big foodie place. Steak and frites off of bar menu $22. Lots of food, chef raises his own pigs. Our favorite brunch: veggie benedict and cinnamon rolls (with bits of bacon in them--a little indulgent?).
Best pizza (not Italian style). Crust (amazing), cheese, then tomato sauce. Committed to local organic ingredients. Yum, in a word.
55 locals recommend
Salvatore's Tomato Pies
912 E Johnson St
55 locals recommend
Best pizza (not Italian style). Crust (amazing), cheese, then tomato sauce. Committed to local organic ingredients. Yum, in a word.
Skip Smokey's (tired and sad supper club) and go to Tornado instead. Hipster yet still steak house on the Square. Lots of food!
39 locals recommend
Tornado Steak House
116 S Hamilton St
39 locals recommend
Skip Smokey's (tired and sad supper club) and go to Tornado instead. Hipster yet still steak house on the Square. Lots of food!
A taste of Wisconsin! This is a great place to get oriented to local culture. Busy all the time. Owned by same people as Harvest Restaurant (next door).
86 locals recommend
The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney St
86 locals recommend
A taste of Wisconsin! This is a great place to get oriented to local culture. Busy all the time. Owned by same people as Harvest Restaurant (next door).
OK, I have to include this because it's kind of a crowd pleaser. If you need to visit a brew pub, this could be the obvious choice.
16 locals recommend
Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. - Hilldale
357 Price Pl
16 locals recommend
OK, I have to include this because it's kind of a crowd pleaser. If you need to visit a brew pub, this could be the obvious choice.
A bit of a drive, but it's a charming stone house in Fitchburg that serves more up-scale Wisconsin dinner. Friday night fish fry in the barn.
13 locals recommend
Quivey's Grove
6261 Nesbitt Rd
13 locals recommend
A bit of a drive, but it's a charming stone house in Fitchburg that serves more up-scale Wisconsin dinner. Friday night fish fry in the barn.
Burger joint! On campus and busy but one of the best Friday night fish frys in town.
11 locals recommend
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry
317 North Frances Street
11 locals recommend
Burger joint! On campus and busy but one of the best Friday night fish frys in town.
The fanciest and one of the best restaurants in town. Chef Tory Miller is a James Beard Award-winning chef. $$$$
16 locals recommend
L'Etoile
1 S Pinckney St
16 locals recommend
The fanciest and one of the best restaurants in town. Chef Tory Miller is a James Beard Award-winning chef. $$$$
Oh yeah. On the East Side but DELISH!
29 locals recommend
Batch Bakehouse
1402 Williamson St
29 locals recommend
Oh yeah. On the East Side but DELISH!
Wonderful pastries and desserts. Gelato, too. On the East Side.
35 locals recommend
Madison Sourdough
916 Williamson St
35 locals recommend
Wonderful pastries and desserts. Gelato, too. On the East Side.
Delicious and creative vegetarian restaurant on the East side.
23 locals recommend
Green Owl Cafe
1970 Atwood Ave
23 locals recommend
Delicious and creative vegetarian restaurant on the East side.
Great hole in the wall on State Street. Super healthy, lots of Nepalese women cooking and really delicious. Also, cheap! Put your shoes on and go as you are.
6 locals recommend
Himal Chuli Restaurant
318 State St
6 locals recommend
Great hole in the wall on State Street. Super healthy, lots of Nepalese women cooking and really delicious. Also, cheap! Put your shoes on and go as you are.
Local food! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee. Dine in or to go (freezer meals, too). Just won a preservation award for their work on the building.
Pasture & Plenty
2433 University Ave
Local food! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee. Dine in or to go (freezer meals, too). Just won a preservation award for their work on the building.
You can walk to this. It's neighborhoody but upscale. Terrific mocktails!!
Cadre Restaurant
You can walk to this. It's neighborhoody but upscale. Terrific mocktails!!
New version of a Wisconsin classic supper club. Many consider this a special occasion restaurant. Great service.
The Harvey House
New version of a Wisconsin classic supper club. Many consider this a special occasion restaurant. Great service.
Same owner as Tornado Steak House. Love it. Best seafood in town. Local.
30 locals recommend
Tempest Oyster Bar
120 E Wilson St
30 locals recommend
Same owner as Tornado Steak House. Love it. Best seafood in town. Local.

Drinks & Nightlife

Burger joint.
13 locals recommend
Blue Moon Bar & Grill
2535 University Ave
13 locals recommend
Burger joint.
Classic Wisconsin tavern, deer dioramas and all. Plaza burger with secret sauce and a tap beer.
The Plaza Tavern
319 N Henry St
Classic Wisconsin tavern, deer dioramas and all. Plaza burger with secret sauce and a tap beer.
Super cocktails all hand-crafted. Nice menu, farm-to-table.
28 locals recommend
Merchant Madison
121 S Pinckney St
28 locals recommend
Super cocktails all hand-crafted. Nice menu, farm-to-table.
Dancing! LGBTQ.
16 locals recommend
Prism
924 Williamson St
16 locals recommend
Dancing! LGBTQ.
My friends tell me this is "the" gay night club in Madison.
FIVE Nightclub
5 Applegate Ct
My friends tell me this is "the" gay night club in Madison.
Woof's a gay sports/leather bar downtown.
Woof's
114 King St
Woof's a gay sports/leather bar downtown.
Cafe, bar, bookstore! Next door is a new classic Italian restaurant, Fabiola's.
Leopold's Books Bar Caffè
Cafe, bar, bookstore! Next door is a new classic Italian restaurant, Fabiola's.

Arts & Culture

Great campus art museum with a brand-new building. Free!
73 locals recommend
Chazen Museum of Art
800 University Ave
73 locals recommend
Great campus art museum with a brand-new building. Free!
All things visual and performing art. Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society performs here in June!
83 locals recommend
Overture Center for the Arts
201 State St
83 locals recommend
All things visual and performing art. Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society performs here in June!
Great little contemporary art museum with stuff for kids and it's free!
51 locals recommend
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
227 State St
51 locals recommend
Great little contemporary art museum with stuff for kids and it's free!
Fun for kids. Lots of Wisconsin and regional history. On the Square.
21 locals recommend
Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N Carroll St
21 locals recommend
Fun for kids. Lots of Wisconsin and regional history. On the Square.
Some of the best theater in Wisconsin. Lots of Shakespeare and other classics. One hour away in the woods.
67 locals recommend
American Players Theatre
5950 Golf Course Rd
67 locals recommend
Some of the best theater in Wisconsin. Lots of Shakespeare and other classics. One hour away in the woods.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed. Practically across the street (cross University Ave. toward the hospital). Services on Sunday.
First Unitarian Meeting House of Madison
900 University Bay Dr
Frank Lloyd Wright designed. Practically across the street (cross University Ave. toward the hospital). Services on Sunday.

Entertainment & Activities

Terrific and comfortable movie theater. Except that it just changed to AMC 6 Dine-in. Not as good as Sundance used to be :(
25 locals recommend
AMC Madison 6
430 N Midvale Blvd
25 locals recommend
Terrific and comfortable movie theater. Except that it just changed to AMC 6 Dine-in. Not as good as Sundance used to be :(
Award-winning museum with tons of local craftsmanship. A must-do with kids!
66 locals recommend
Madison Children's Museum
100 N Hamilton St
66 locals recommend
Award-winning museum with tons of local craftsmanship. A must-do with kids!
Great for young kids and rock hounds of all ages!
11 locals recommend
University of Wisconsin Geology Museum
1215 W Dayton St
11 locals recommend
Great for young kids and rock hounds of all ages!
Pool!! Pretty new and pretty fun. Can be busy at times.
9 locals recommend
Goodman Pool
325 W Olin Ave
9 locals recommend
Pool!! Pretty new and pretty fun. Can be busy at times.
Great brewery if you like lambic-style ales. Super sweet little town, too. Eat at the Glarner Stube while you're there.
52 locals recommend
New Glarus Brewing Company
2400 WI-69
52 locals recommend
Great brewery if you like lambic-style ales. Super sweet little town, too. Eat at the Glarner Stube while you're there.

Everything Else

Getting more upscale shopping. Closest nicest mall with Macy's, North Face, L'Occitaine, Anthropologie, Target, Morgan's Shoes, Porta Alba (great pizza!)
63 locals recommend
Hilldale Shopping Center
726 N Midvale Blvd
63 locals recommend
Getting more upscale shopping. Closest nicest mall with Macy's, North Face, L'Occitaine, Anthropologie, Target, Morgan's Shoes, Porta Alba (great pizza!)
Drop in meditation, Tuesdays, 7 - 8:30 PM. http://tergar.org/communities-and-practice-groups/find-a-center-or-group/madison/
The Crossing Meditation Practice
Drop in meditation, Tuesdays, 7 - 8:30 PM. http://tergar.org/communities-and-practice-groups/find-a-center-or-group/madison/

Parks & Nature

Walkable from Artist House. Pretty peninsula into Lake Mendota, good for a walk or jog. Tiny beach and several fire rings.
55 locals recommend
Picnic Point
2000 University Bay Dr
55 locals recommend
Walkable from Artist House. Pretty peninsula into Lake Mendota, good for a walk or jog. Tiny beach and several fire rings.
Actually, this is included because you can bike around the lake.
12 locals recommend
Lake Monona
12 locals recommend
Actually, this is included because you can bike around the lake.
Small lake at the edge of the Arboretum. In summer you can rent all kinds of boats and get a hot dog, too.
9 locals recommend
Lake Wingra
9 locals recommend
Small lake at the edge of the Arboretum. In summer you can rent all kinds of boats and get a hot dog, too.
Good for golf and XC skiing (rent skis there).
8 locals recommend
Odana Hills Golf Course
4635 Odana Rd
8 locals recommend
Good for golf and XC skiing (rent skis there).
UW nature preserve. Walk, bike, jog, paths in the woods, marshes, and through gardens. Lovely!
60 locals recommend
University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway
60 locals recommend
UW nature preserve. Walk, bike, jog, paths in the woods, marshes, and through gardens. Lovely!
Beautiful lake and hiking trails. About 45 minutes away.
120 locals recommend
Devil's Lake State Park
S5975 Park Rd
120 locals recommend
Beautiful lake and hiking trails. About 45 minutes away.