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 recommandé par les habitants
Lazy Jane's Cafe and Bakery
1358 Williamson St
33 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Ace Hardware Center
1398 Williamson St
6 recommandé par les habitants
Jamaican food on Willy Street
This place has good, fair-trade coffee, a funky, Willy Street feel, and rather spotty internet access.
8 recommandé par les habitants
Mother Fool's Coffeehouse
1101 Williamson St
8 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Madison Sourdough
916 Williamson St
35 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar
923 Williamson Street
20 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Natt Spil
211 King St
23 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney St
86 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Harvest
21 North Pinckney Street
8 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
L'Etoile
1 S Pinckney St
16 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Graze
1 S Pinckney St
56 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Barriques - West Wash
127 W Washington Ave
6 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Johnson Public House
908 E Johnson St
34 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Sophia's Bakery & Cafe
831 E Johnson St
19 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Green Owl Cafe
1970 Atwood Ave
23 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Roman Candle
1054 Williamson St
9 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Cafe Brittoli
2326 Atwood Ave
14 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Willalby's Cafe
1351 Williamson St
7 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Mickey's Tavern
1524 Williamson St
37 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Genna's Lounge
105 W Main St
19 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
The Malt House
2609 E Washington Ave
20 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Prism
924 Williamson St
16 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Crystal Corner Bar
1302 Williamson St
16 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
St. Vincent De Paul Store
1309 Williamson St
8 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Weary Traveler Freehouse
1201 Williamson St
61 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
227 State St
51 recommandé par les habitants
Gorgeous building, some good exhibits, and a fancy restaurant on the roof.
Best bagels in town.
8 recommandé par les habitants
Gotham Bagels
112 E Mifflin St
8 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Revolution Cycles
2330 Atwood Ave
7 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Jenifer Street Market
2038 Jenifer St
28 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Batch Bakehouse
1402 Williamson St
29 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Willy Street Co-op—East
1221 Williamson St
77 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Jardins botaniques Olbrich
3330 Atwood Ave
138 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Dane County Farmers Market
3241 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
93 recommandé par les habitants
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.