Allison’s guidebook
Neighborhoods
Murray hill is a historic neighborhood nestled between the lake and the Milwaukee River, close to the university of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Home to mostly small business and a variety of things to do, it’s the neighborhood our house is in and we love it!
Murray Hill
Murray hill is a historic neighborhood nestled between the lake and the Milwaukee River, close to the university of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Home to mostly small business and a variety of things to do, it’s the neighborhood our house is in and we love it!
Murray Hill
All locations are within a 15 min walk!
Hooligans is midrange priced pub classic food. The food is good, and most importantly - consistant. Your fries are always crisp and delicious, the burgers are juicy, and the fish fry (Fridays only) is light and crispy. We probably go here the most out of any restaurant around us just because it always hits the spot and they serve you enough that half can be taken home for lunch the next day!
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hooligans Milwaukee
2017 E North AveHooligans is midrange priced pub classic food. The food is good, and most importantly - consistant. Your fries are always crisp and delicious, the burgers are juicy, and the fish fry (Fridays only) is light and crispy. We probably go here the most out of any restaurant around us just because it always hits the spot and they serve you enough that half can be taken home for lunch the next day!
Milwaukee has a history of German immigration and German builders were key in the creation of the city as we know it today (city hall is an example of German gothic architecture). Von trier is a German bar and restaurant with cozy vibes and a nice enclosed patio and porch. The food menu has become more streamlined recently but the beer list remains filled with European imports. They also make great cocktails and have a decent wine selection - which is discounted on Sundays!
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Von Trier
2235 N Farwell AveMilwaukee has a history of German immigration and German builders were key in the creation of the city as we know it today (city hall is an example of German gothic architecture). Von trier is a German bar and restaurant with cozy vibes and a nice enclosed patio and porch. The food menu has become more streamlined recently but the beer list remains filled with European imports. They also make great cocktails and have a decent wine selection - which is discounted on Sundays!
Our local beach has volleyball nets, bars, a food stand (hours vary), and a pavilion with public bathrooms! Technically there’s no carry ins but it is never enforced. We have a cooler in the hall closet that can be used for drinks or a picnic. I would recommend carrying out any empties because they probably don’t actually recycle them.
Bradford Beach
Our local beach has volleyball nets, bars, a food stand (hours vary), and a pavilion with public bathrooms! Technically there’s no carry ins but it is never enforced. We have a cooler in the hall closet that can be used for drinks or a picnic. I would recommend carrying out any empties because they probably don’t actually recycle them.
This is basically a massive dive bar that also has bowling and arcade. They have 3 separate bars within the complex. The back bar has pool and darts, the front bar has pool, and the moon bar also has a bar and karaoke on some weeknights.
20 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Landmark Lanes
2220 N Farwell AveThis is basically a massive dive bar that also has bowling and arcade. They have 3 separate bars within the complex. The back bar has pool and darts, the front bar has pool, and the moon bar also has a bar and karaoke on some weeknights.
This certified B corporation is a local Milwaukee chain that serves good coffee. At this location there’s a window so you can order with dogs and sit outside in their patio area. The food is good, a bit pricey but it’s delicious and inventive for coffee shop food.
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Stone Creek Coffee - Downer Cafe & Kitchen
2650 N Downer AveThis certified B corporation is a local Milwaukee chain that serves good coffee. At this location there’s a window so you can order with dogs and sit outside in their patio area. The food is good, a bit pricey but it’s delicious and inventive for coffee shop food.
Favorite Bars on Brady
Brady street has classy bars, dive bars, arcade bars, bars that turn into dance bars. Typical age range 20-30 except for the more divey bars like Thurmons, Roman coin, and Jamos.
If you want to do a fun little bar hop, at MOST places you can get a beer (usually PBR) and a shot (usually whisky) for $5. It's called by different names at different places (PBJ, Tune up, Standard, Prixe Fixe..)
CASH ONLY. This used to be a tied house for Pabst when it still did most of its brewing in MKE. Pretty cool history, bowling alley in basement (though you can't access it for saftey reasons - now it's where the kegs are stored). Here's an article about it https://onmilwaukee.com/history/articles/reganosspelunk.html
There is pool too.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Regano's Roman Coin
1004 E Brady StCASH ONLY. This used to be a tied house for Pabst when it still did most of its brewing in MKE. Pretty cool history, bowling alley in basement (though you can't access it for saftey reasons - now it's where the kegs are stored). Here's an article about it https://onmilwaukee.com/history/articles/reganosspelunk.html
There is pool too.
CASH ONLY. Good place to try a brandy old fashioned (it's a WI thing). If anyone other than old townies visited this bar it would probably be called a hipster bar. Every time I go the demographic is usually 40+. Still great though. Maybe the only reason I like it is because in the bathroom there's a graffiti quote from the Princess Bride.
Jamo's
1800 N Arlington PlCASH ONLY. Good place to try a brandy old fashioned (it's a WI thing). If anyone other than old townies visited this bar it would probably be called a hipster bar. Every time I go the demographic is usually 40+. Still great though. Maybe the only reason I like it is because in the bathroom there's a graffiti quote from the Princess Bride.
Best outdoor patio on Brady. This is Brady's "soccer bar" technically. You can meet people of all ages here, music is good and drinks are cheap. Can get a prixe fixe (pronounced pree-fix, because it's french) for $5. Shot and a PBR.
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nomad World Pub
1401 E Brady StBest outdoor patio on Brady. This is Brady's "soccer bar" technically. You can meet people of all ages here, music is good and drinks are cheap. Can get a prixe fixe (pronounced pree-fix, because it's french) for $5. Shot and a PBR.
This bar is ok. kinda loud. kinda small. Can pick a shot and pick a beer for $5 which is nice.
Malone's on Brady
1329 E Brady StThis bar is ok. kinda loud. kinda small. Can pick a shot and pick a beer for $5 which is nice.
Arcade bar, which is fun. Kinda a walk from my place. But it's surely good if you like video games or arcade games. Would recommend this track game that's on the 2nd floor because you can play it with 4 people. It's over to the right of the stairs when you walk up from the inside, looks like a table kinda.
25 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Up-Down MKE
615 E Brady StArcade bar, which is fun. Kinda a walk from my place. But it's surely good if you like video games or arcade games. Would recommend this track game that's on the 2nd floor because you can play it with 4 people. It's over to the right of the stairs when you walk up from the inside, looks like a table kinda.
Iconic Milwaukee bar. If you stay till close, you get a bumper sticker that says I closed wolskis. You can also play darts and pool here FOR FREE. Like corkboard darts. Real darts. Plus a family owns this place and they are super nice. Also there is parking!
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wolski's Tavern
1836 N Pulaski StIconic Milwaukee bar. If you stay till close, you get a bumper sticker that says I closed wolskis. You can also play darts and pool here FOR FREE. Like corkboard darts. Real darts. Plus a family owns this place and they are super nice. Also there is parking!
Sports bar. Not great on the food. But good for watching the game. They also do a family feud style trivia on Wednesday that my labmate loves.
20 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jack's American Pub
1323 E Brady StSports bar. Not great on the food. But good for watching the game. They also do a family feud style trivia on Wednesday that my labmate loves.
Jo-Cat's Pub
1311 E Brady StThis would be the dance bar on Brady.
Don't be deceived by the exterior. This place is really cozy on the inside. They have a punk rock kinda theme going on. Can get a PBR and a shot of jamo for $5 called PBJ.
Thurmans 15
1731 N Arlington PlDon't be deceived by the exterior. This place is really cozy on the inside. They have a punk rock kinda theme going on. Can get a PBR and a shot of jamo for $5 called PBJ.
Favorite restaurants
These are some of my favorite places. I am a vegetarian so that might slightly bias the list.
TACOS. People wanna be like Belair has the best tacos, but Kompali moved in about a year and a half ago and has been quietly doing it better ever since. The service isn't great. But the food is way more authentic and the salsa is great (If you like it REALLY spicy, you can ask for the habenero sauce specially). They also have good drinks! Margs are served on the rocks like they should be.
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kompali
1205 East Brady StreetTACOS. People wanna be like Belair has the best tacos, but Kompali moved in about a year and a half ago and has been quietly doing it better ever since. The service isn't great. But the food is way more authentic and the salsa is great (If you like it REALLY spicy, you can ask for the habenero sauce specially). They also have good drinks! Margs are served on the rocks like they should be.
Cuban food. This is the only place I know of where you can get tostones and if you've never had those before, you should.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cubanitas
728 N Milwaukee StCuban food. This is the only place I know of where you can get tostones and if you've never had those before, you should.
This is such a fun brewery. Everyone is nice and the food is great. You can try the impossible burger. One time, I had this beer that was supposed to be like a PBJ sandwich, and IT WAS.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Eagle Park Brewing Company
823 E Hamilton StThis is such a fun brewery. Everyone is nice and the food is great. You can try the impossible burger. One time, I had this beer that was supposed to be like a PBJ sandwich, and IT WAS.
Creative pizza by the slice. If you go out on Water street to bars, this place (the Juneau street location) is hoppin at 2am.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ian's Pizza MKE North Ave
2035 East North AvenueCreative pizza by the slice. If you go out on Water street to bars, this place (the Juneau street location) is hoppin at 2am.
Empanadas. They also have pretty good cocktails and shoestring fries which I love.
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
La Masa Empanada Bar
1300 East Brady StreetEmpanadas. They also have pretty good cocktails and shoestring fries which I love.
This place is more fancy, but very delicious. Small plates so good for a group.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Diplomat
815 E Brady StThis place is more fancy, but very delicious. Small plates so good for a group.
Amacebiso ngesixeko
Ukuhamba-hamba
Bublr city bikes
Bublr is one of the few nonprofit city bike share programs and it has a variety of locations near our house. Some bikes are e-bikes too! Those are white. It’s a good company which supports Milwaukee parks. I would highly recommend biking the oak leaf trail to lakeshore state park. You’ll bike along the lakefront and get to see a beautiful urban state park!