Milwaukee Magazine | Your Milwaukee Newcomers Guide

Your Milwaukee Newcomers Guide

Welcome to Cream City! Turn here to learn about our vibrant neighborhoods, find home and garden pros to decorate your new space, check out local schools, fill your calendar with things to do, and much more.

A City of Neighborhoods

Milwaukee’s made up of a vibrant collection of neighborhoods, each one with its own unique flavor. Here’s a quick look at what makes a few of them special.

BAY VIEW

Trendy and hip

South of Downtown, this hopping neighborhood has plenty of personality. Kinnickinnic Avenue serves as its main street, a long stretch full of delicious dining, classic cocktail lounges and quirky shops.

MUST-VISIT: Avalon

Atmospheric Theater. This movie theater’s a unique local gem, with a bar, food service and a ceiling decorated to look like the night sky, complete with shooting stars.

BRONZEVILLE

Vibrant and growing

This near-north neighborhood is a burgeoning cultural hot spot. You’ll find thriving

businesses and destinations including America’s Black Holocaust Museum, Pepperpot Jamaican food and Dead Bird Brewing.

MUST-VISIT: The Bronzeville Collective. A unique collection of over 30 small local vendors selling crafts, clothes and more.

EAST SIDE

Classic and social

The East Side is a nightlife and shopping hub with a diverse mix of students, young professionals and homeowners. Brady Street is known for its bar scene, while Downer Avenue is replete with restaurants and shops.

MUST-VISIT: Boswell

Book Co. This independent

seller has a passionate staff and wide selection, and puts on author talks every month.

RIVERWEST

Quirky and diverse

While it’s not as trendy as Bay View or Walker’s Point right now, Riverwest is beloved by locals for its community spirit. You’ll find plenty of repurposed storefronts and factory spaces serving as galleries, bookstores, studios and more.

MUST-VISIT: Woodland

Pattern Book Center

This poet- and artist-run nonprofit book center is also a gallery and performance space, putting on hundreds of literary events throughout the year.

THIRD WARD

Upscale and historic

Once a warehouse district, the Third Ward has emerged in recent years as one of

the toniest neighborhoods in the city, with a bustling commercial strip, along with riverfront dining and condos.

MUST-VISIT: The Milwaukee Public Market. Coffee, seafood, cheese, T-shirts, ice cream, spices – the real question is what can’t you find at this showcase of local vendors.

WALKER’S POINT

Cozy and happening

One of the oldest neighborhoods in Milwaukee, this spot south of Downtown is marked by the local landmark Allen-Bradley Clock Tower looming over streets full of antiques shops, great restaurants, coffee shops and newer apartment and condo stock.

MUST-VISIT: Zócalo Food Park. Find diverse, delicious local food vendors, a welcoming bar, and outdoor dining in the warm months.

The Bronzeville Collective

COURTESY OF THE BRONZEVILLE COLLECTIVE

Home & Garden

Looking to spruce up your new place? Turn to these trusted remodelers, gardeners, landscapers and more for your next project – whether that’s a full remodel or just some new décor.

Bartelt. The Remodeling Resource – A local staple for remodeling, renovation and custom homes builds. Bartelt is known for timeless, classic style. barteltremodel.com

BILTRITE FurnitureLeather-Mattresses – Find affordable, better-quality furniture, mattresses and more at this fourth-generation family-owned business. The Greenfield showroom has hundreds of items in stock. biltritefurniture.com

Closets by Design – Have your closet space custom-designed to fit your needs. They also design garages, home offices and more. Start with a no-obligation in-home consultation. closetsbydesign.com

Createscape – Whether you’re designing a whole yard, or just looking for someone to manage and maintain what you have, Createscape is a premier landscaping team serving all of southeastern Wisconsin. createscapelandscaping.com

Schools & Day Cares

Parents, peruse this selection of local school districts, private schools and day cares to find a spot for your children.

DAY CARES AND PRESCHOOLS

Casa de Corazón – A bilingual Spanish immersion school that focuses on early learning through language. casaearlylearning.com

Ebenezer Child Care – A Milwaukee child care center for over 50 years that encourages children to develop independence. ebenezerchildcare.com

Milwaukee Montessori School – MMS starts taking toddlers at 18 months, with a program that helps foster good habits, language skills and learning. milwaukeemontessori.org

Wauwatosa Day Care & Learning Center – Since 1974, this day care has been caring for kids, from as early as 6 weeks old. wauwatosa daycare.com

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Mequon-Thiensville – One of the highest-ranking public school districts in the state, Mequon-Thiensville has over 3,500 students in over six schools. The North Shore district offers world-class education and opportunities to its students, bolstering its exceptional academics with vibrant arts, athletics and extracurricular opportunities. mtsd.k12.wi.us

Four Leaf Roofing and Windows – This veteran-owned roofing company is a trusted and reliable contractor for roofing needs. Plus, they do gutters, windows and siding. fourleafroofingwindows.com

GMH Construction – This full-service home remodeling company offers work from design through construction, including home additions. gmh-remodeling.com

LandCrafters – Design, install

or maintain your home’s landscape with LandCrafters’ team of experienced landscapers.

landcrafterslandscaping.com

Nonn’s – Visit one of Nonn’s four showrooms to find kitchen, bath, flooring and more high-quality home items to beautify your space at reasonable prices. nonns.com

Suzan J Designs – This award-winning luxury home decorating firm offers creative solutions for your design needs. They specialize in finding a look that suits the way you want to live. suzanw.decoratingden.com

Zuern Building Products and Design Center – With five Wisconsin showrooms, this design center offers an expert team and access to some of the best materials available. zuerns.com

Cedarburg – A top-ranking district in math, science and reading tests, Cedarburg School District, north of Milwaukee, has roughly 3,100 total students, and Cedarburg High School received a National Blue Ribbon designation for exemplary performance from the U.S. Secretary of Education. cedarburg.k12.wi.us

Elmbrook – West of Milwaukee, this district serves Brookfield, New Berlin and Elm Grove, with over 7,800 total students. It’s consistently highly ranked in the state, and its two high schools, Brookfield Central and Brookfield East, offer over 25 AP classes. elmbrookschools.org

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Brookfield Academy –Founded over 60 years ago, Brookfield Academy offers a robust curriculum that prepares students to succeed

at college-level coursework. With a 1:9 teacher/student ratio and average class sizes between 11 and 17, the school gives each student personalized attention. brookfieldacademy.org

Divine Savior Holy Angels

– An all-girl Catholic school with a rigorous college prep curriculum. dsha.org

Marquette University High School – A 2021 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School, this Catholic boys school boasts National Merit Scholars in many classes and sends students to top-ranked colleges around the nation. muhs.edu

University School – This selective prep school covers pre-kindergarten through high school and places students in top colleges around the nation. usm.org

Things to Do

Shop, dine, drink and enjoy at these fine Milwaukee establishments.

RESTAURANTS

From a morning bagel to a night of fine dining, try some of the best of Cream City dining.

Allie Boy’s Bagelry – Find traditional and modern, spare and elaborate, bagel options here – all delicious. 135 E. National Ave.

Birch – Chef Kyle Knall was just nominated for this year’s Best Chef: Midwest James Beard Award. Highly deserved for this farm-to-table gem. 459 E. Pleasant St.

Ca’Lucchenzo – Turn here for authentic, traditional homemade pasta dishes. 6030 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa.

La Dama – You’ll discover a creative menu of Mexican dishes, inspired by the cuisines of Mexico City, Puebla and Oaxaca. 839 Second St.

Elsa’s on the Park – This latenight favorite, serving burgers, sandwiches, pork chops, etc., has been a staple in Cathedral Square since 1980. 833 N. Jefferson St.

Harbor House – Enjoy fine seafood in a dining room right on the lakefront. 550 N. Harbor Dr.

devoted to local brewers. 3007 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

Bryant’s – Milwaukee’s oldest cocktail lounge can make you just about anything. You can even just tell the bartender what flavors you like, and they’ll whip you up something special. 1579 S. Ninth St.

Giggly – Milwaukee’s only champagne lounge, located in Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel. (For a less bubbly alternative, head to The Bar in the lobby). 139 E. Kilbourn Ave.

The Outsider – Hit the rooftop bar in the warm months for a fantastic view of the city. 310 E. Chicago St.

Mason Street Grill – A classic steakhouse on the first floor of the historic Pfister Hotel, with great service and delicious cuts. 425 E. Mason St.

Le Rêve Patisserie & Café –One of the finest French restaurants in the metro, with a can’t-miss dessert menu. 7610 Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa.

Sanford – Personal service, phenomenal food and a refined setting have made Sanford a local favorite for years. 1547 N. Jackson St.

Sze Chuan – You’ll find authentic Chinese cuisine at this unassuming spot. 11102 W. National Ave., West Allis

BARS

Milwaukee loves a good drink. From dives to cocktail lounges, you’ll find a great place to imbibe here.

At Random – Step inside this red-tinged retro cocktail lounge for classic cocktails, sweet ice cream drinks and a top-notch atmosphere. 2501 S. Delaware Ave.

Blackbird – A proudly Wisconsin bar, replete with brewery memorabilia and a beer list

20 years, with a wide selection of plants (and a potting bar), books, clothes, home goods and more. 211 N. Broadway.

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Catch a show, peruse a gallery, or take a stroll at one of these local destinations.

Cactus Club – A local staple for smaller-scale acts and strong neighborhood vibes. 2496 S. Wentworth Ave.

Milwaukee Art Museum

Wolski’s – Best known for giving “I Closed Wolski’s” bumper stickers to the late-night squad, this is a quintessential East Side watering hole. 1836 N. Pulaski St.

SHOPS

Peruse some of Milwaukee's top boutiques.

Antetokounbros Shop

– Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo just opened this clothing shop with his brothers in The Trade Hotel. 434 W. Juneau Ave.

BizStarts Community

Market – This new Walker’s Point shop sells handmade items from small, local vendors and doubles as a coffee shop! 161 S. First St.

Bronzeville Collective –Over 30 local creatives sell their wares here, from art and décor to bath and body goods. 339 W. North Ave.

Fischberger’s Variety –Parents will love this quirky store stocked with board games, crafts, action figures and more. 2445 N. Holton St.

Mod Gen – This Third Ward shop has been around for over

– The iconic Quadracci Pavilion, with its outstretched wings, is a Milwaukee landmark. Inside you’ll find a vast permanent collection of art, from classical to modern. Plus, rotating exhibitions keep things fresh. A survey of the latest in painting trends, “50 Paintings,” is on view now. 700 N. Art Museum Dr.

Milwaukee County Zoo – With hippos, red pandas, elephants and much more, the County Zoo is a beloved local staple for families. 10001 W. Bluemound Rd.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra – Hear seminal classical works, inventive modern pieces and more at the beautiful Bradley Symphony Center. 212 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Next Act Theatre – An intimate venue that puts on challenging, exciting shows, often with a local angle. 255 S. Water St.

The Pabst Theater – The centerpiece of Milwaukee’s Theater District, the Pabst puts on live music, dance, stand-up and more in its opera house setting. 144 E. Wells St.

Villa Terrace – A unique East Side museum modeled after a Florentine villa, with rotating exhibitions. 2220 N. Terrace Ave. ◆