Milwaukee’s culinary scene is much more than those famous cheese curds and breweries for miles—though those two items certainly don’t disappoint. When groups come to Milwaukee, they’ll find that there’s plenty of variety for getting together over a good meal, from a known Bucks hangout in the Deer District to a French bistro overlooking Lake Michigan.
Below, we take a tour of a few Milwaukee neighborhoods not far from the city’s convention district, including its ever-bustling downtown, and call out a few top dining spots fit for groups. For those attending events at the Wisconsin Center, dining downtown after meetings likely means just a short walk to a restaurant—it’s easy when 170 locally owned restaurants are in the area alone.
We kick off our tour with two downtown neighborhoods ripe with group dining options.
Westown
In the heart of Milwaukee’s downtown, along with chain favorites like The Capital Grille, planners can take advantage of new local spots such as 3rd Street Market Hall, which is expected to open inside the former Grand Avenue Mall in early 2022. The new food hall will have 14 food vendors with options that include burgers, sushi and craft doughnuts. Lindsey McKee, communications and group tour manager for Visit Milwaukee, said planners can expect event space as well, with the option to reserve “game space” like a Topgolf Swing Suite or shuffleboard.
Right across from the Wisconsin Center on Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee visitors will spot Miller Time Pub & Grill, located on the first floor of the Hilton Milwaukee City Center (which is connected to the convention center via sky bridge). And yes, Milwaukee favorites grace the menu, including cheese curds.
“That’s an amazing option [for groups], if you want to take a more casual approach, but it can be dressed up as well,” McKee said.
One last Westown dining destination to call out: Bottle House 42, a modern restaurant and event space located in Milwaukee’s historic Brewery District that’s named after Pabst Brewery's Building 42, which focused on bottling and distributing Pabst Beer. Its light-filled, atrium-style space—with an eye-catching living wall—is perfect for receptions and happy hours. Groups can also take advantage of the rooftop bar, as well as brewery tours at Milwaukee Brewing Company, which is right next door.
Planners can expect elevated pub fare favorites like poutine, smash burgers, chicken wings and a variety of sandwiches and salads.
East Town
On the eastern side of downtown, groups can get stellar views of Lake Michigan while enjoying New England-style seafood at Harbor House, part of renowned local hospitality company The Bartolotta Restaurants. This lakefront retreat is prime for events, offering a private dining room and outdoor patios that feature a full bar, Adirondack chairs and views of the lake as well as the Milwaukee Art Museum and city skyline.
“It’s popular since it’s right in Milwaukee’s harbor on the lake, and you get an incredible view of downtown,” McKee said. “Harbor House is an amazing space. You can do a restaurant buyout or there’s great event space in the back that’s almost like a captain’s room with wood paneling. There’s also outdoor patio space, which is very popular for brunches.”
[Related: 5 Outdoor Venues in Milwaukee That Show Off the City’s Personality]
Brewers Hill
It’s hard to call out just one of Milwaukee’s many top-notch breweries, but one that is outfitted particularly well for groups is Lakefront Brewery, featuring both a beer hall and restaurant. Planners can book tastings for groups, as well as tours of the production facilities.
“Their tours are so entertaining,” McKee said. “They’ve always been highly ranked by TripAdvisor…We just hosted the Society of American Travel Writers there, and they completely closed for the evening to host those writers, which was amazing.”
Attendees can snack on more award-winning cheese curds and other comfort dishes like buffalo mac and cheese and beer-braised pot roast, or (if visiting on a Friday) they can enjoy a fish fry. And for those that aren’t beer drinkers, McKee recommends Lakefront’s “amazing” maple root beer.
Deer District
The name of sports-watching haven The MECCA Sports Bar & Grill—located near Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee’s newly branded Deer District—references the arena where the Bucks NBA team played for 20 years, including their heyday in the ‘70s. Today, it’s not hard to miss the action with MECCA’s 42-foot-wide Ultra High Definition screen.
It’s a favorite hangout among Bucks players, McKee said, and planners can rent out the space for an event—which is ideal if attendees are coming from a conference or program at Fiserv Forum, since MECCA is right across the plaza. Along with its mammoth screen, MECCA features two fixed bars that serve each of the two floors, garage doors that can open for better ventilation (or close for inclement weather), and both private and semi-private event spaces.
East Side
Another jewel in the Bartolotta crown, Lake Park Bistro is a French-forward restaurant set in a pavilion at Lake Park overlooking Lake Michigan. The mile-long Lake Park, on a bluff above the lake, was designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who is perhaps best known for the design and creation of Central Park in New York (as well as the U.S. Capitol grounds in Washington, D.C.).
Planners have a number of event options when booking the bistro—from private dining rooms the North Lake Room and the South Lake Room, which can accommodate 68 and 80 guests, respectively, to a tented event on the west lawn. A full buyout of the restaurant can accommodate up to 200 attendees. Lake Park Bistro is housed in a restored, historic building that’s more than a century old and is just minutes from the heart of downtown.
Connect
Visit Milwaukee | (414) 273-3950
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