Experience Downtown Blog

If you feel like Milwaukee's food and drink landscape is always growing, you're not alone.

Over the last year, our city has welcomed many new restaurants and bars. Although beer and sausage are still Milwaukee's staple options, and always a great choice, some unique dining experiences are on the rise, such as places featuring French-inspired eateries, Korean cuisine, and Chicago deep-dish pizza.

Not only have new places popped up, but older restaurants have been renovated and re-opened. Turner Hall, once a backdrop to some of Milwaukee's finer dining and eccentric entertainment, has re-opened its kitchen, now called the Tavern at Turner Hall. With older restaurants re-opening, older memories have also been resurrected: The MECCA Sports Bar and Grill recently opened in the Deer District, paying homage to the world-renowned MECCA Arena. 

If you are looking to explore some of these new places, use our list as your starting point: 

• The Angry Taco - 753 N. Water St. 
• Aria at Saint Kate - 139 E. Kilbourn Ave.
• Ash at the Iron Horse - 500 W Florida St. (coming soon) 
• Crab it Your Way - 823 N. 2nd St. 
• The Dark Room at Saint Kate - 139 E. Kilbourn Ave.
• Drink Wisconsinbly Pub - 320 W. Highland Ave.
• Fauntleroy MKE - 316 N. Milwaukee St.
• Good City Brewing - 333 W Juneau Ave. 
• Interval - 1600 N Jackson St.
• Mauer's Urban Market - 777 N Van Buren St.
• The Mecca Sports Bar and Grill - 1134 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave.
• Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta - 1154 N. Water St. 
• Punch Bowl Social - 1122 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave.
• Taco Bar - 782 N. Jefferson St.  
• Tavern at Turner Hall  - 1034 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave.
• XO Cocktail Parlor - 326 E Mason St.

*Note: This list is not exhaustive.

About the Author: Joe Franke is Milwaukee Downtown's Economic Development and Public Space Intern, and engages with stakeholders to promote the downtown business environment.