Guidebook for Madison

Rachel
Guidebook for Madison

Food Scene

This Thai and Vietnamese restaurant can’t be beat for convenience – it’s just across the street! They do a great job with a huge menu.
Ha Long Bay Vietnamese and Thai Bistro
This Thai and Vietnamese restaurant can’t be beat for convenience – it’s just across the street! They do a great job with a huge menu.
This comfortable, quirky place is a fun place to go for breakfast. Their scones are phenomenal, and they have good coffee.
33 localnici recomandă
Lazy Jane's Cafe and Bakery
1358 Williamson St
33 localnici recomandă
This comfortable, quirky place is a fun place to go for breakfast. Their scones are phenomenal, and they have good coffee.
Jamaican food on Willy Street
6 localnici recomandă
Ace Hardware Center
1398 Williamson St
6 localnici recomandă
Jamaican food on Willy Street
This place has good, fair-trade coffee, a funky, Willy Street feel, and rather spotty internet access.
8 localnici recomandă
Mother Fool's Coffeehouse
1101 Williamson St
8 localnici recomandă
This place has good, fair-trade coffee, a funky, Willy Street feel, and rather spotty internet access.
This place definitely has the best bread in town - and I am super picky about my bread! They also have a nice breakfast and lunch menu, great lighting, good coffee, and solid wifi.
35 localnici recomandă
Madison Sourdough
916 Williamson St
35 localnici recomandă
This place definitely has the best bread in town - and I am super picky about my bread! They also have a nice breakfast and lunch menu, great lighting, good coffee, and solid wifi.
This pan-Asian place may seem pricey for ramen, but it's great - and the lunch special is a deal. I like the atmosphere here. They'll sub rice noodles for ramen (vegan and gluten-free).
20 localnici recomandă
Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar
923 Williamson Street
20 localnici recomandă
This pan-Asian place may seem pricey for ramen, but it's great - and the lunch special is a deal. I like the atmosphere here. They'll sub rice noodles for ramen (vegan and gluten-free).
Natt Spil feels like it belongs in a bigger city, and is a fun place to go at night. They have a small, solid menu and excellent drinks. We like the Three Cup Tofu (or Three Cup Chicken).
23 localnici recomandă
Natt Spil
211 King St
23 localnici recomandă
Natt Spil feels like it belongs in a bigger city, and is a fun place to go at night. They have a small, solid menu and excellent drinks. We like the Three Cup Tofu (or Three Cup Chicken).
This is the quintessential Madison experience. Next to the capitol, Old Fashioned has a long, local beer list, the best fried cheese curds, and other Wisconsin food, all from small, local farms.
86 localnici recomandă
The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney St
86 localnici recomandă
This is the quintessential Madison experience. Next to the capitol, Old Fashioned has a long, local beer list, the best fried cheese curds, and other Wisconsin food, all from small, local farms.
This Italian restaurant, in the basement of the Italian Worker’s Hall, has the feel of someone’s basement rec-room. The pizza is definitely the best in town.
Greenbush
This Italian restaurant, in the basement of the Italian Worker’s Hall, has the feel of someone’s basement rec-room. The pizza is definitely the best in town.
If you want a very nice night out, Harvest is a critically-acclaimed restaurant serving seasonal food from local farms. Reservations are definitely recommended.
8 localnici recomandă
Harvest
21 North Pinckney Street
8 localnici recomandă
If you want a very nice night out, Harvest is a critically-acclaimed restaurant serving seasonal food from local farms. Reservations are definitely recommended.
Even fancier and more expensive than Harvest, this French-inspired restaurant has wonderful food, also from local farms. They have a great wine list.
16 localnici recomandă
L'Etoile
1 S Pinckney St
16 localnici recomandă
Even fancier and more expensive than Harvest, this French-inspired restaurant has wonderful food, also from local farms. They have a great wine list.
This is the gastro-pub version of L’Etoile - fun for a night out. It's a bit pricey, but is much more affordable than L’Etoile. They have AMAZING croissants in the morning.
56 localnici recomandă
Graze
1 S Pinckney St
56 localnici recomandă
This is the gastro-pub version of L’Etoile - fun for a night out. It's a bit pricey, but is much more affordable than L’Etoile. They have AMAZING croissants in the morning.
This is a great place to spend the day working. They have solid wifi, lots of outlets, and decent food. Start your day there with coffee and finish your day there with a glass of wine!
6 localnici recomandă
Barriques - West Wash
127 W Washington Ave
6 localnici recomandă
This is a great place to spend the day working. They have solid wifi, lots of outlets, and decent food. Start your day there with coffee and finish your day there with a glass of wine!
Are you very serious about coffee? This is for you. They have several options of single-origin coffee, always made perfectly. They also have good lighting, large work-spaces, and solid wifi.
34 localnici recomandă
Johnson Public House
908 E Johnson St
34 localnici recomandă
Are you very serious about coffee? This is for you. They have several options of single-origin coffee, always made perfectly. They also have good lighting, large work-spaces, and solid wifi.
BEST breakfast in town, hands down. They have very limited seating, a menu that changes by the hour, and they are only open Saturday and Sunday. I would visit Madison if only to eat here.
19 localnici recomandă
Sophia's Bakery & Cafe
831 E Johnson St
19 localnici recomandă
BEST breakfast in town, hands down. They have very limited seating, a menu that changes by the hour, and they are only open Saturday and Sunday. I would visit Madison if only to eat here.
Madison's only vegetarian restaurant. Some of their menu items are fabulous, some are just good. I really like the jumbalaya. They also do a good vegetarian version of Wisconsin's Friday Fish Fry.
23 localnici recomandă
Green Owl Cafe
1970 Atwood Ave
23 localnici recomandă
Madison's only vegetarian restaurant. Some of their menu items are fabulous, some are just good. I really like the jumbalaya. They also do a good vegetarian version of Wisconsin's Friday Fish Fry.
Roman Candle has good, interesting pizza, with many vegetarian and a few vegan options. It's cute, family-friendly, and has good lunch specials.
9 localnici recomandă
Roman Candle
1054 Williamson St
9 localnici recomandă
Roman Candle has good, interesting pizza, with many vegetarian and a few vegan options. It's cute, family-friendly, and has good lunch specials.
Cute coffee shop with nice outdoor seating overlooking the bike path and community gardens.
14 localnici recomandă
Cafe Brittoli
2326 Atwood Ave
14 localnici recomandă
Cute coffee shop with nice outdoor seating overlooking the bike path and community gardens.
This greasy spoon diner is open late-night on weekends, so if you are looking for breakfast at 2am, this is your place.
7 localnici recomandă
Willalby's Cafe
1351 Williamson St
7 localnici recomandă
This greasy spoon diner is open late-night on weekends, so if you are looking for breakfast at 2am, this is your place.

Drinks & Nightlife

This bar is just a block away to your right as you leave our house. It feels like a bohemian house inside. They have amazing bloody marys, reasonable diner food, and a solid drink list.
37 localnici recomandă
Mickey's Tavern
1524 Williamson St
37 localnici recomandă
This bar is just a block away to your right as you leave our house. It feels like a bohemian house inside. They have amazing bloody marys, reasonable diner food, and a solid drink list.
This bar on the capitol makes good mixed drinks and has a solid beer list. The atmosphere is sort of hipster, with a crowd averaging 30 years old.
19 localnici recomandă
Genna's Lounge
105 W Main St
19 localnici recomandă
This bar on the capitol makes good mixed drinks and has a solid beer list. The atmosphere is sort of hipster, with a crowd averaging 30 years old.
If you are serious about beer, go to the Malt House. They don’t serve food, but you can have food delivered. It’s not in the most interesting neighborhood – it’s a destination in its own right.
20 localnici recomandă
The Malt House
2609 E Washington Ave
20 localnici recomandă
If you are serious about beer, go to the Malt House. They don’t serve food, but you can have food delivered. It’s not in the most interesting neighborhood – it’s a destination in its own right.
Plan B is a great gay and lesbian bar in town - it tends to have a younger crowd.
16 localnici recomandă
Prism
924 Williamson St
16 localnici recomandă
Plan B is a great gay and lesbian bar in town - it tends to have a younger crowd.
This dive bar is mentioned in an Okkervil River song...
16 localnici recomandă
Crystal Corner Bar
1302 Williamson St
16 localnici recomandă
This dive bar is mentioned in an Okkervil River song...

Shopping

This place can be dangerous if you like to shop for kitchen supplies! They have a nice selection of mid- to high-end kitchen and dining supplies.
The Kitchen Gallery
107 King Street
This place can be dangerous if you like to shop for kitchen supplies! They have a nice selection of mid- to high-end kitchen and dining supplies.
Need a random appliance or furnishing? Or how about some UW football t-shirts or a Halloween costume? St Vinny's has a fast turn-around on clothing, books, records, bikes, and more.
8 localnici recomandă
St. Vincent De Paul Store
1309 Williamson St
8 localnici recomandă
Need a random appliance or furnishing? Or how about some UW football t-shirts or a Halloween costume? St Vinny's has a fast turn-around on clothing, books, records, bikes, and more.
A great local pet store.
MadCat Pet Supplies
1525 Williamson St
A great local pet store.

Everything Else

Get your hair cut here. Or get a tattoo here.
61 localnici recomandă
Weary Traveler Freehouse
1201 Williamson St
61 localnici recomandă
Get your hair cut here. Or get a tattoo here.
This liquor store has a great beer selection. They have a decent wine selection too, but they are more expensive than some other spots in town. It's very convenient to our apartment.
Star Liquor
1209 Williamson St
This liquor store has a great beer selection. They have a decent wine selection too, but they are more expensive than some other spots in town. It's very convenient to our apartment.
Fancy bikes. We like to drool through the windows.
Cronometro
338 W Lakeside St
Fancy bikes. We like to drool through the windows.
Solid bike shop.
Machinery Row Bicycles
601 Williamson St
Solid bike shop.
Walk through the halls to see the location of Wisconsin's famous protests of February 2011 and beyond. The building is a replica of the US capitol building in DC. Look up at the gilded dome ceiling!
Capitol Court
Capitol Court
Walk through the halls to see the location of Wisconsin's famous protests of February 2011 and beyond. The building is a replica of the US capitol building in DC. Look up at the gilded dome ceiling!
We work out here and can bring you as a guest.
Snap Fitness
2045 Atwood Ave
We work out here and can bring you as a guest.
Gorgeous building, some good exhibits, and a fancy restaurant on the roof.
51 localnici recomandă
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
227 State St
51 localnici recomandă
Gorgeous building, some good exhibits, and a fancy restaurant on the roof.
Best bagels in town.
8 localnici recomandă
Gotham Bagels
112 E Mifflin St
8 localnici recomandă
Best bagels in town.
Nice park overlooking the lake. Ice-skating in the winter!
Tenney Park Rink
402 N Thornton Ave
Nice park overlooking the lake. Ice-skating in the winter!
This cute park has a swimming beach and a lifeguard on duty. They even filter out some plant-life from the lake for more comfortable swimming.
Morrison Park
1451 Morrison St
This cute park has a swimming beach and a lifeguard on duty. They even filter out some plant-life from the lake for more comfortable swimming.
Fix your fixed-gear bike here.
7 localnici recomandă
Revolution Cycles
2330 Atwood Ave
7 localnici recomandă
Fix your fixed-gear bike here.
Take a clay/pottery class here.
Midwest Clay Project
78 North Bryan Street
Take a clay/pottery class here.
Have a broken clock or watch? Get it fixed here.
Brumley's Old Clock Shop
1343 Williamson St
Have a broken clock or watch? Get it fixed here.
One of two fabric stores on the street. I'm not much of a sewer, but I hear good things.
Gayfeather Fabrics
One of two fabric stores on the street. I'm not much of a sewer, but I hear good things.
One of two fabric stores on Willy Street.
Creative Energy Designs, Inc.
125 S Dickinson St
One of two fabric stores on Willy Street.
Printing of all kinds, tends to take on progressive projects.
Lakeside Press
Printing of all kinds, tends to take on progressive projects.

Essentials

Lower prices than the co-op and an *amazing* beer selection.
28 localnici recomandă
Jenifer Street Market
2038 Jenifer St
28 localnici recomandă
Lower prices than the co-op and an *amazing* beer selection.
We like the bread here for sandwiches. It's the oldest bakery on the block.
Nature's Bakery Co-Op
1019 Williamson St
We like the bread here for sandwiches. It's the oldest bakery on the block.
This bakery is very close to the house. It's not my favorite of the many within walking distance, but their products always look beautiful.
29 localnici recomandă
Batch Bakehouse
1402 Williamson St
29 localnici recomandă
This bakery is very close to the house. It's not my favorite of the many within walking distance, but their products always look beautiful.
We love the Willy Street Co-Op. You don't have to be a member to shop here. They specialize in local, organic groceries, and have a great sandwich, smoothie, and salad bar.
77 localnici recomandă
Willy Street Co-op—East
1221 Williamson St
77 localnici recomandă
We love the Willy Street Co-Op. You don't have to be a member to shop here. They specialize in local, organic groceries, and have a great sandwich, smoothie, and salad bar.
This is where the Tuesday Farmer's Market happens each week.
Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center
504 S Brearly St
This is where the Tuesday Farmer's Market happens each week.

Sightseeing

Beautiful botanical gardens.
138 localnici recomandă
Grădinile botanice Olbrich
3330 Atwood Ave
138 localnici recomandă
Beautiful botanical gardens.
This amazing farmers' market spans four city blocks, has very reasonable prices, and is a real Madison experience. We shop here every Saturday. Get there early if you want to avoid the crowds.
93 localnici recomandă
Dane County Farmers Market
3241 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
93 localnici recomandă
This amazing farmers' market spans four city blocks, has very reasonable prices, and is a real Madison experience. We shop here every Saturday. Get there early if you want to avoid the crowds.