Bar Crawl: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is one of America's most fun drinking cities, thanks to its mix of classic taverns and new-school spots.
Welcome to the weekend! Here’s what you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:
Bar Crawl: We’re introducing a new recurring feature! Get a crash-course in Milwaukee’s drinking scene by going on an afternoon bar crawl.
Featured Field Guide: Download your copy of our Field Guide to Milwaukee! This 56-page dining guide is formatted for your phone and includes a curated four-day itinerary with 35+ recommendations for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks.
Weekend Reading: The Graduate Hotel chain gets picked up by Hilton,
puts together a list of New York’s most iconic cocktail bars, plus a look at a hot neighborhood in Savannah, Georgia.
Let’s Get Drinks
MILWAUKEE, WIS. — Whether you’re seeking brandy old fashioneds or ice cream drinks, macrobrews or non-alcoholic beers, in Milwaukee, your next great drink is never too far away. Exploring the city’s bar scene is a way to get to know its people and culture, while having a good time (and strawberry Campari-Fernet shots) along the way.
While there are many, many spots we love to grab a drink in Milwaukee, start with these six. They’ll give you an overview of the city’s past and present, and might just make you want to return for a second round. Want more bar suggestions? Find all of our favorite bars in our Field Guide to Milwaukee. (Free for paid subscribers!)
Ready for a drink? Let’s start with a beer.
11:00 AM
Eagle Park Brewing Company
This brother-owned brewery focuses on hazy IPAs and sours, and their Hamilton Street brewpub is a nice spot to while away an afternoon. Most beers are available in full and half pours, so you can sample a variety of different offerings. Two to try: The Ritmo, a Mexican-style lager made with flaked corn, and the Set List, a hazy IPA with three types of hops. Eagle Park also makes hard seltzers and non-alcoholic beers, like a sour ale with blueberry rooibos tea from local purveyor Rishi.
What to get: Set List, Ritmo
823 E Hamilton St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Instagram: @eagleparkbrewing
12:30 PM
The Vanguard
Sausage is a huge part of Milwaukee’s food culture, and this little bar, which serves inventive links (including vegan options), is the right pick for everyone. Try the Thai Breaker, a pork, ginger, and lemongrass sausage topped with peanut sauce, carrots, and a savory crunch, or the Berlin currywurst, a pork and beef frank with grilled onions, mayo, ketchup, and curry powder over fries. Not sold? A classic bratwurst topped with onions and mustard will never go out of style. On the drinks front, you’ll find a nice selection of bourbons and Wisconsin beers — pick a slow sipper to tide you over until the next stop.
What to get: Thai Breaker, bratwurst
2659 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Instagram: @vanguardmilwaukee
2:00 PM
Burnhearts
Milwaukee has lots of little corner taverns, many of which are located in houses and offer neighbors a comfortable spot to pop by for a beer. Burnhearts, located in Bay View, is one of the best. There’s a very good beer list but also well-made house cocktails, like a Trinidad Sour that utilizes both Angostura bitters and amaro. House shots include strawberry Campari (get it combined with Fernet Branca for a Ferrari!). There’s a big sidewalk patio and plenty of space inside for everyone. Burnhearts is the neighborhood bar we all wish we had.
What to get: Local beer, Ferrari
2599 S Logan Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Instagram: @burnhearts
4:00 PM
At Random
Proprietor John Dye (Bryant’s, The Estate) has made his name by buying old bars and lovingly restoring them to their former glory. When he took over this 1964 cocktail bar in 2018, he gave it a needed refresh, refining drink recipes, cleaning light fixtures of smoke, and making it more comfortable. Get here at open to take advantage of happy hour pricing. The deep menu includes well-made classic cocktails like Aviations and Angostura-heavy brandy old fashioneds (just $5 during happy hour). Ice cream drinks like the grasshopper are a thing here, as are tropical blended drinks like piña coladas.
What to get: Old fashioned, Aviation, ice cream drinks
2501 S Delaware Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Instagram: @atrandommke
6:00 PM
Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge
Let’s visit another of John Dye’s bars. This classic spot, which first opened in 1938, has cozy booths, a curved bar that overlooks a fish tank and an old-school stereo system, and no menu. To order, tell your bartender what you’re in the mood for and they’ll sift through their ample mental rolodex of the bar’s signature drinks. Maybe it’ll be a Pink Squirrel, the nutty ice cream drink invented right here, or a Navy Grog made with founder Bryant Sharp’s special spice mix. If you’re not sure what you’re feeling, a brandy old fashioned always hits the mark.
What to get: Dealer’s choice
1579 S 9th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Instagram: @bryantslounge
8:00 PM
The Bubbler
Years ago, when standing in line at Neptune Oyster in Boston’s North End, we were behind a guy wearing a t-shirt that said: “The Bubbler - Where Milwaukee Drinks!” We did not get oysters that day (the line was long), but we did add the Bubbler to our Milwaukee map, and visited the next time we were in town. And yes, this spot is definitely for locals, who post up at the classic bartop to watch the Bucks or Packers game while drinking Schlitz tallboys. For dinner, order a tavern-style pizza from Vinchi's Pizza, which is located at the back of the bar.
What to get: Beer, pizza
3158 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Download All Our Milwaukee Recommendations!
Our brand-new Field Guide to Milwaukee is a 56-page dining guide featuring 35+ recommendations for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks organized into a curated four-day itinerary. This e-book download is formatted for your phone so you can easily reference it on your next trip.
Paid subscribers received a link to download a free copy of the guide, so upgrade your subscription today and get your complimentary copy. (You can also buy the Field Guide on our website, but a paid subscription is a better deal, plus you’ll receive 50% off any other Field Guide you’d like!)
HOTELS
Campus Culture: One of our favorite hotel brands has been sold to Hilton. The hotel powerhouse recently announced that it has purchased the Graduate Hotels brand and will bring the boutique chain’s 30+ properties under the Hilton umbrella. If you are a Hilton Honors member, this is good news. Graduate Hotels have some great locations in college towns across the country — the exact sorts of places we love to visit. “Graduate Hotels can deliver a lifestyle hotel offering in smaller markets that still want a cool hotel with local bars and restaurants,” writes Cameron Sperance for The Points Guy. Hilton also posted a very detailed press release on their website, noting that “each Graduate hotel – steeped in local history, charm and nostalgia – is thoughtfully designed to reflect the unique character of its local university.” We’ve stayed at Graduate Hotels in Oxford, Mississippi and Columbus, Ohio, and stopped in for drinks at several other outposts — they’re fun places to stay. As a hotel nerd, I also enjoyed the Discovery series Handcrafted Hotels, which looked at the interior design process that went into several of their properties. I’ll remain optimistic that Hilton can maintain the brand’s standards — along with that New Haven Pizza Pay Phone.
NEW YORK
Cocktail Royalty: Robert Simonson has published The New York Bar 50, a guide to the most iconic cocktail bars in New York City. “What makes a cocktail bar iconic? It depends on the case. Sometimes the bar is a trailblazing original (e.g. Angel’s Share, Amor y Amargo). Sometimes it’s a perfect exemplar of a certain genre of cocktail bar (PDT). Sometimes its prominence comes from its special brand of hospitality (Katana Kitten). Sometimes it’s the decor (The Campbell) or unique atmosphere (Sunken Harbor Club). Some bars are drenched in history (Bemelmans Bar). It certainly helps if the bar is known for a particular cocktail or has a famous owner or employs a beloved bartender. Sometimes merely putting in the years as a cherished neighborhood bar does the trick. There are many roads to bar-world renown.” I’ve only been to 23 of the bars on the list, so clearly I’ve got some research to do next time I’m in town.
GEORGIA
Neighborhood Watch: We’ve been observing from afar as Savannah has embraced former Alinea Group chef Andrew Brochu and his new restaurant, Brochu’s Family Tradition. The casual spot opened at the end of 2022 in the city’s Starland District. The area is “an energetic neighborhood of boutiques and restaurants south of the city’s historic center,” writes Adam Erace in Travel + Leisure. “In recent years, Starland has emerged as a playground for a younger, edgier scene, fueled by students from the bohemian art school.” In his story, Erace explores the area, visiting new restaurants as well as some local shops and museums. Me? I just want that Whole Chicken Dinner.
— Compiled by Kenney Marlatt
Want more? Chat with us on Substack, download our Field Guides, check out our archives, or follow us on Instagram @americanweekender. We’ll be back next week.
Milwaukee is such a fun drinking city (only been once!) but I'd love to return and crawl my way through all these spots!! I love your photos and your vibe, so glad I found you guys as I was reviewing my subscriber list!!
At Random is right up my alley