Guidebook for Madison

Randy & Aaron
Randy & Aaron
Guidebook for Madison

Food Scene

The best Ham ad Gruyere Croissants, assorted pastries and bread on the near East side. A 5 minute bike ride away.
29 locals recommend
Batch Bakehouse
1402 Williamson St
29 locals recommend
The best Ham ad Gruyere Croissants, assorted pastries and bread on the near East side. A 5 minute bike ride away.
Dumplings and the best damn steamed Pork BBQ buns
20 locals recommend
Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar
923 Williamson Street
20 locals recommend
Dumplings and the best damn steamed Pork BBQ buns
Named after the official Wisconsin State Cocktail, the Old Fashion. 100% of everything comes from the State of Wisconsin. When you visit Madison, The Old Fashion is a must.
86 locals recommend
The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney St
86 locals recommend
Named after the official Wisconsin State Cocktail, the Old Fashion. 100% of everything comes from the State of Wisconsin. When you visit Madison, The Old Fashion is a must.
The best steak house in Madison period! The atmosphere hasn't changed since the 60's and the staff is friendly and professional.
39 locals recommend
Tornado Steak House
116 S Hamilton St
39 locals recommend
The best steak house in Madison period! The atmosphere hasn't changed since the 60's and the staff is friendly and professional.
The best seafood in Madison. The atmosphere is lively and original. Ask for Nicole to be your server. She is awesome!
30 locals recommend
Tempest Oyster Bar
120 E Wilson St
30 locals recommend
The best seafood in Madison. The atmosphere is lively and original. Ask for Nicole to be your server. She is awesome!
Classic neighborhood diner.
36 locals recommend
Monty's Blue Plate Diner
2089 Atwood Ave
36 locals recommend
Classic neighborhood diner.
Good bar food in a converted gas station. A true local and regular's hang out. Friday Fish Fry ad Saturday Prime Rib
6 locals recommend
Brothers Three Bar & Grill
614 N Fair Oaks Ave
6 locals recommend
Good bar food in a converted gas station. A true local and regular's hang out. Friday Fish Fry ad Saturday Prime Rib
Our neighborhood dine in, take out or delivery pizza joint.
41 locals recommend
Glass Nickel Pizza Co. - Madison East
2916 Atwood Ave
41 locals recommend
Our neighborhood dine in, take out or delivery pizza joint.
Madison has great Thai food
11 locals recommend
Sala Thai
36 S Fair Oaks Ave
11 locals recommend
Madison has great Thai food
Great Loatian food.
24 locals recommend
Lao Laan Xang Restaurant
2098 Atwood Ave
24 locals recommend
Great Loatian food.
Madison's only Vegan restaurant. Features a Sunday brunch
23 locals recommend
Green Owl Cafe
1970 Atwood Ave
23 locals recommend
Madison's only Vegan restaurant. Features a Sunday brunch
West African cuisine
Buraka
1210 Williamson St
West African cuisine
One of our favorites. Vietnamese, Thai and Laotian cuisine.
55 locals recommend
Hạ Long Bay Restaurant
1353 Williamson St
55 locals recommend
One of our favorites. Vietnamese, Thai and Laotian cuisine.
Tex Mex. Tacos and Margarita's.
26 locals recommend
Tex Tubb's Taco Palace
2009 Atwood Ave
26 locals recommend
Tex Mex. Tacos and Margarita's.
Thai food in a small quaint setting.
7 locals recommend
Monsoon Siam
2326 Atwood Ave
7 locals recommend
Thai food in a small quaint setting.
Fine dining on the Capitol Square.
8 locals recommend
Harvest
21 North Pinckney Street
8 locals recommend
Fine dining on the Capitol Square.
Cup cakes, brunch, lunch and dinner
34 locals recommend
Daisy Cafe & Cupcakery
2827 Atwood Ave
34 locals recommend
Cup cakes, brunch, lunch and dinner
Exceptional Italian fine dining.
11 locals recommend
Osteria Papavero
128 E Wilson St
11 locals recommend
Exceptional Italian fine dining.
One of Madison's highly acclaimed fine dining Restaurants. Featuring James Beard Award winning Chef Tory Miller. L'Etoile offers 7 course Prix Fixe dinners. Farm to Table.
16 locals recommend
L'Etoile
1 S Pinckney St
16 locals recommend
One of Madison's highly acclaimed fine dining Restaurants. Featuring James Beard Award winning Chef Tory Miller. L'Etoile offers 7 course Prix Fixe dinners. Farm to Table.
Farm to Table. James Beard Award nominee for 2017.
21 locals recommend
Heritage Tavern
131 E Mifflin St
21 locals recommend
Farm to Table. James Beard Award nominee for 2017.
Tommy is an awesome host. Hookahs, leather couches, food, drinks and welcoming staff!
Mediterranean Hookah Lounge & Cafe
77 Sirloin Strip
Tommy is an awesome host. Hookahs, leather couches, food, drinks and welcoming staff!
Great pizza, original recipes, beautiful historic building
16 locals recommend
Ian's Pizza Garver
3241 Garver Green
16 locals recommend
Great pizza, original recipes, beautiful historic building
Highly recommended
16 locals recommend
Mint Mark
1929 Winnebago St
16 locals recommend
Highly recommended
14 locals recommend
Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier
2083 Atwood Ave
14 locals recommend
Nutkrack
2086 Atwood Ave
31 locals recommend
Eno Vino Downtown
1 N Webster St
31 locals recommend

Entertainment & Activities

National music, comedy and theater venue.
22 locals recommend
Barrymore Theatre
2090 Atwood Ave
22 locals recommend
National music, comedy and theater venue.
It is the place to hang out in summer. Watch the sail boats, have a beer, people watch and listen to music.
122 locals recommend
Memorial Union Terrace
800 Langdon St
122 locals recommend
It is the place to hang out in summer. Watch the sail boats, have a beer, people watch and listen to music.
On Wednesday's during the summer, Concerts of the Square is the place to be. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performs to the masses. Each week is a different theme. Bring a blanket, picnic basket, wine and meet friends. Hang out on the Capitol lawn encircling the Wisconsin State Capitol. Google for information on exact dates.
Concerts on the Square
On Wednesday's during the summer, Concerts of the Square is the place to be. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performs to the masses. Each week is a different theme. Bring a blanket, picnic basket, wine and meet friends. Hang out on the Capitol lawn encircling the Wisconsin State Capitol. Google for information on exact dates.
The beating heart of our neighborhood community.
9 locals recommend
Goodman Community Center IRONWORKS
214 Waubesa St
9 locals recommend
The beating heart of our neighborhood community.
This is by far THE BEST Farmers Market in the country, and yes we are bias. Organic produce...it has to be! Fresh bakery, Stella's spicy cheese bread, flowers and the best people watching in Madison. Get up early to beat the massive crowds.
93 locals recommend
Dane County Farmers Market
3241 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
93 locals recommend
This is by far THE BEST Farmers Market in the country, and yes we are bias. Organic produce...it has to be! Fresh bakery, Stella's spicy cheese bread, flowers and the best people watching in Madison. Get up early to beat the massive crowds.
Home of the University of Wisconsin Badgers football team. A Madison landmark.
61 locals recommend
Camp Randall Stadium University of Wisconsin
1440 Monroe St
61 locals recommend
Home of the University of Wisconsin Badgers football team. A Madison landmark.
141 locals recommend
Wisconsin State Capitol
2 E Main St
141 locals recommend
Home of the reigning NATIONAL CHAMPIONS UW WOMENS VOLLEYBALL TEAM!
Wisconsin Field House
1450 Monroe St
Home of the reigning NATIONAL CHAMPIONS UW WOMENS VOLLEYBALL TEAM!

Drinks & Nightlife

Great sports bar.
10 locals recommend
Wilson's Bar
2144 Atwood Ave
10 locals recommend
Great sports bar.
Great spot on the Capitol Square for people watching and binge drinking. In the summer, the outdoor patio is where all the iconic Madisonians hang out.
19 locals recommend
Genna's Lounge
105 W Main St
19 locals recommend
Great spot on the Capitol Square for people watching and binge drinking. In the summer, the outdoor patio is where all the iconic Madisonians hang out.
A great friendly Gay tavern right by the Capitol. Fabulous Friday Fish Fry and a great welcoming friendly staff.
Shamrock Bar & Grille
117 W Main St
A great friendly Gay tavern right by the Capitol. Fabulous Friday Fish Fry and a great welcoming friendly staff.
Because it is an icon.
16 locals recommend
Crystal Corner Bar
1302 Williamson St
16 locals recommend
Because it is an icon.
Great food, great music and great staff. This is a landmark for the near Eastside.
21 locals recommend
Harmony Bar & Grill
2201 Atwood Ave
21 locals recommend
Great food, great music and great staff. This is a landmark for the near Eastside.
The best bar in our neighborhood featuring excellent taco's, tamales and roasted corn. The place to be in the neighborhood and the near Eastside.
12 locals recommend
Ohio Tavern
224 Ohio Ave
12 locals recommend
The best bar in our neighborhood featuring excellent taco's, tamales and roasted corn. The place to be in the neighborhood and the near Eastside.
Beer aficionado's love this place.
29 locals recommend
One Barrel Brewing Company
2001 Atwood Ave
29 locals recommend
Beer aficionado's love this place.
Tap room and beer store.
BarleyPop Tap & Shop
2045 Atwood Ave
Tap room and beer store.
The only outdoor Biergarten in Madison overlooking Lake Monona
20 locals recommend
The Biergarten at Olbrich Park
3527 Atwood Ave
20 locals recommend
The only outdoor Biergarten in Madison overlooking Lake Monona
52 locals recommend
New Glarus Brewing Company
2400 WI-69
52 locals recommend
7 locals recommend
Working Draft Beer Company
1129 E Wilson St
7 locals recommend
19 locals recommend
Old Sugar Distillery
931 E Main St
19 locals recommend
O'so Madhouse
1817 E Washington Ave
16 locals recommend
Next Door
2439 Atwood Ave
16 locals recommend
10 locals recommend
Wilson's Bar
2144 Atwood Ave
10 locals recommend

Essentials

Locally owned, organic, great beer walk-in cooler and quality meat counter. Also a great friendly staff.
28 locals recommend
Jenifer Street Market
2038 Jenifer St
28 locals recommend
Locally owned, organic, great beer walk-in cooler and quality meat counter. Also a great friendly staff.

Sightseeing

Internationally acclaimed gardens, sculptures and landscaping featuring the United States only Thai Pavilion. Just blocks away.
138 locals recommend
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave
138 locals recommend
Internationally acclaimed gardens, sculptures and landscaping featuring the United States only Thai Pavilion. Just blocks away.
One of our nations most beautiful Capitols. Go to the website and sign-up for a guided tour or venture out on your own and just hang out. During the warmer months the capitol square is busy with events such as the farmers market on Saturdays, Wednesday concerts. art fairs, etc.
141 locals recommend
Wisconsin State Capitol
2 E Main St
141 locals recommend
One of our nations most beautiful Capitols. Go to the website and sign-up for a guided tour or venture out on your own and just hang out. During the warmer months the capitol square is busy with events such as the farmers market on Saturdays, Wednesday concerts. art fairs, etc.
This is truly the heart of Madison. Outdoor dining, people watching, shopping, bar hopping and just hanging out with the eclectic people that make this city great.
111 locals recommend
State Street
State Street
111 locals recommend
This is truly the heart of Madison. Outdoor dining, people watching, shopping, bar hopping and just hanging out with the eclectic people that make this city great.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed and awe inspiring
58 locals recommend
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
1 John Nolen Dr
58 locals recommend
Frank Lloyd Wright designed and awe inspiring
This sprawling historic campus is beautiful. Overlooking Lake Mendota and in the heart of downtown. Have a beer at the Union and watch the sail boats glide across the lake.
45 locals recommend
University of Wisconsin - Madison
45 locals recommend
This sprawling historic campus is beautiful. Overlooking Lake Mendota and in the heart of downtown. Have a beer at the Union and watch the sail boats glide across the lake.

Parks & Nature

This is a large park with a huge amount of green space along the shores of Lake Monona. Manicured beach with life guards during the summer months. Plenty of activity and coming soon to the park, an outdoor beer garden!
8 locals recommend
Olbrich Park Beach
3527 Atwood Ave
8 locals recommend
This is a large park with a huge amount of green space along the shores of Lake Monona. Manicured beach with life guards during the summer months. Plenty of activity and coming soon to the park, an outdoor beer garden!
Beautiful hiking, nature and sightseeing in the heart of Madison
60 locals recommend
University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway
60 locals recommend
Beautiful hiking, nature and sightseeing in the heart of Madison
Rent a boat, canoe or kayak. Madison is a city influenced by her lakes
12 locals recommend
Lake Monona
12 locals recommend
Rent a boat, canoe or kayak. Madison is a city influenced by her lakes
The sister lake to Lake Monona
7 locals recommend
Lake Mendota
7 locals recommend
The sister lake to Lake Monona
Great for hiking and biking.
23 locals recommend
Governor Nelson State Park
5140 Co Hwy M
23 locals recommend
Great for hiking and biking.
A 1 mile hike to the tip of the point gives you a panoramic view of the University of Wisconsin and downtown Madison. Located in the heart of the UW campus on Lake Mendota.
55 locals recommend
Picnic Point
2000 University Bay Dr
55 locals recommend
A 1 mile hike to the tip of the point gives you a panoramic view of the University of Wisconsin and downtown Madison. Located in the heart of the UW campus on Lake Mendota.
9 locals recommend
Lake Wingra
9 locals recommend

Everything Else

There are so many activities in Madison we can not name them all here.
38 locals recommend
Madison
38 locals recommend
There are so many activities in Madison we can not name them all here.