Marissa’s guidebook
Bars/Breweries within walking distance
Leave the car and walk to these spots!
We love this neighborhood bar! They don't have a food menu but do allow you to either bring in outside food or order pizza from Falbo's next door. Nice vibe, good for chatting as there are no TV's offering distraction or noise. Some nights there may even be jazz...
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mason Lounge
416 S Park StWe love this neighborhood bar! They don't have a food menu but do allow you to either bring in outside food or order pizza from Falbo's next door. Nice vibe, good for chatting as there are no TV's offering distraction or noise. Some nights there may even be jazz...
Off the beaten path, this nearby bar offers an interesting selection of their own brews. You'll need to enjoy sours to enjoy things here! No food but you can bring it in...
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Funk Factory Geuzeria
1602 Gilson StOff the beaten path, this nearby bar offers an interesting selection of their own brews. You'll need to enjoy sours to enjoy things here! No food but you can bring it in...
Food within walking distance
Restaurants you can walk to from the apartment!
Sushi within walking distance! Good for carry-out or dining in. Not often overly busy so usually pretty easy to snag a table.
Edo Japanese Restaurant
532 S Park StSushi within walking distance! Good for carry-out or dining in. Not often overly busy so usually pretty easy to snag a table.
Delicious Mexican food within walking distance. Very small but popular place.
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Taqueria Guadalajara
1033 S Park StDelicious Mexican food within walking distance. Very small but popular place.
Good Chinese restaurant within walking distance! Popular spot but sizable so you don't often need to wait. They've got a huge menu too.
Ichiban Sichuan Restaurant
Good Chinese restaurant within walking distance! Popular spot but sizable so you don't often need to wait. They've got a huge menu too.
Jason's favorite... a very casual diner that will make you think you're in a much smaller town where everyone knows each other! The food is fine, nothing fancy. But if you're looking for eggs and potatoes, this is your spot. Walking distance from our apartment. CASH ONLY!!
The Curve
653 S Park StJason's favorite... a very casual diner that will make you think you're in a much smaller town where everyone knows each other! The food is fine, nothing fancy. But if you're looking for eggs and potatoes, this is your spot. Walking distance from our apartment. CASH ONLY!!
Eclectic neighborhood Italian spot. Great pizzas! Not too far of a walk.
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Greenbush Bar
914 Regent StEclectic neighborhood Italian spot. Great pizzas! Not too far of a walk.
Super casual, counter service. Food is good and the price is right! Easy walk from the apartment.
El Rancho Mexican Grill
819 South Park StreetSuper casual, counter service. Food is good and the price is right! Easy walk from the apartment.
Nature Lovers
The UW Arboretum is just around the corner from our apartment. There are tons of trails good for hiking, cross-country skiing, bird-watching, etc. Take a run along the paved drive and enjoy the views of Lake Wingra!
31 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
University of Wisconsin Madison Arboretum Visitor Center
2880 Longenecker DrThe UW Arboretum is just around the corner from our apartment. There are tons of trails good for hiking, cross-country skiing, bird-watching, etc. Take a run along the paved drive and enjoy the views of Lake Wingra!
Activities
Great beach within walking distance of our apartment. Nice sand for playing and warm water for swimming. Lifeguards on duty! Be sure to check the City of Madison website to make sure there aren't beach closures: https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/beach
Henry Vilas Beach
1501 Vilas Park DrGreat beach within walking distance of our apartment. Nice sand for playing and warm water for swimming. Lifeguards on duty! Be sure to check the City of Madison website to make sure there aren't beach closures: https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/beach
Henry Vilas Zoo
702 S Randall AveFree zoo within walking distance!
Ice-skating in the winter (skate rental available!) and multiple playgrounds for year-round fun. A scenic drive/walk through the park offers lovely views of Lake Wingra. Walking distance from the apartment!
Vilas Park
Ice-skating in the winter (skate rental available!) and multiple playgrounds for year-round fun. A scenic drive/walk through the park offers lovely views of Lake Wingra. Walking distance from the apartment!
So fun! Rent a canoe, kayak, paddle boat, etc. Spend a day on lake Wingra. About a two mile walk to get here or a quick bike ride or drive.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wingra Boats
824 Knickerbocker StSo fun! Rent a canoe, kayak, paddle boat, etc. Spend a day on lake Wingra. About a two mile walk to get here or a quick bike ride or drive.
Fun for a rainy day, or a day that's too hot, or a day where you just need something else to do!! They offer reciprocal memberships so if you have a membership to a children's museum elsewhere you may be able to get free admission here...
66 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Madison Children's Museum
100 N Hamilton StFun for a rainy day, or a day that's too hot, or a day where you just need something else to do!! They offer reciprocal memberships so if you have a membership to a children's museum elsewhere you may be able to get free admission here...
Coffee
Another coffee spot within walking distance. Light filled shop and decent prices and good coffee sold by the pound!
21 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cargo Coffee
750 E Washington AveAnother coffee spot within walking distance. Light filled shop and decent prices and good coffee sold by the pound!
Funky and cozy. Busy spot that attracts students and neighbors. Straight walk north! Some food options too.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Indie Coffee
1225 Regent StFunky and cozy. Busy spot that attracts students and neighbors. Straight walk north! Some food options too.
Food a quick drive or bike ride away
Restaurants that are a bit farther than walking distance by most people’s standards. Not more than a quick drive or ride!
Awesome sushi spot - our favorite in town! Super popular so there will be a wait unless you're lucky enough to snag a reservation or go at an off-time.
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
RED
316 W Washington AveAwesome sushi spot - our favorite in town! Super popular so there will be a wait unless you're lucky enough to snag a reservation or go at an off-time.
Lovely brunch spot. They do take reservations! They have great outdoor seating as well that overlooks Lake Monona. Weekend brunch is popular. If you can't get a reservation the bar area seating is first come first serve. Worth the trip! They are surprisingly kid friendly for being a more upscale place. Quick drive or bike ride from the apartment.
46 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sardine
617 Williamson StLovely brunch spot. They do take reservations! They have great outdoor seating as well that overlooks Lake Monona. Weekend brunch is popular. If you can't get a reservation the bar area seating is first come first serve. Worth the trip! They are surprisingly kid friendly for being a more upscale place. Quick drive or bike ride from the apartment.
Yum. Yum. Yum. Tasty pizzas, super thin with creative toppings. Better for dining in than carry-out. Gets super busy and isn't a big place. They also own the bar next door (Gib's) so they'll let you wait for your table there!
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Grampa's Pizzeria
1374 Williamson StYum. Yum. Yum. Tasty pizzas, super thin with creative toppings. Better for dining in than carry-out. Gets super busy and isn't a big place. They also own the bar next door (Gib's) so they'll let you wait for your table there!
Extensive menu. Very popular spot and worth it! We often enjoy carry-out here. Dining in can be a wait if you go during prime time so I'd recommend going early or late. I think they may offer call-ahead seating (you can at least get on the wait list)...
55 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hạ Long Bay Restaurant
1353 Williamson StExtensive menu. Very popular spot and worth it! We often enjoy carry-out here. Dining in can be a wait if you go during prime time so I'd recommend going early or late. I think they may offer call-ahead seating (you can at least get on the wait list)...
We love pizza delivery from here! Try the Fetalicious... yum yum. If you dine in they have comedy shows in the basement. Can be a fun entertainment while you dine!
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Glass Nickel Pizza Co. - Madison East
2916 Atwood AveWe love pizza delivery from here! Try the Fetalicious... yum yum. If you dine in they have comedy shows in the basement. Can be a fun entertainment while you dine!
A favorite of ours for Laotian food. We often get carry-out from here. They open for dinner at 5pm and fill up quickly on weekend nights!
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lao Laan Xang Restaurant
2098 Atwood AveA favorite of ours for Laotian food. We often get carry-out from here. They open for dinner at 5pm and fill up quickly on weekend nights!
Grocery Stores
About a mile's walk or a quick drive. Trader Joe's offers tons of great easy meals at decent prices. There is free parking in the underground lot (enter from the street behind Monroe St.) or meter parking on the main level.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Trader Joe's
1810 Monroe StAbout a mile's walk or a quick drive. Trader Joe's offers tons of great easy meals at decent prices. There is free parking in the underground lot (enter from the street behind Monroe St.) or meter parking on the main level.
Our closest grocery store, within walking distance. Nothing too fancy but you can definitely get the staples here!
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pick 'n Save
3650 University AveOur closest grocery store, within walking distance. Nothing too fancy but you can definitely get the staples here!