Eat & drink in Madison, WI
Where to eat and drink in Madison and the communities around it, from pizza, tacos and pho to Wisconsin supper clubs, Friday fish fries, coffee shops and craft breweries. Browse every restaurant at once, or by cuisine and town.
See all 1,099 restaurants in the Madison area →- Pizza155 listedPizza places in Madison and nearby communities: thin crust, deep dish, wood-fired and late-night slices.
- Mexican restaurants120 listedMexican restaurants, taquerias and taco spots in Madison and nearby communities.
- Chinese restaurants58 listedChinese restaurants in Madison and nearby communities, from takeout favorites to Sichuan, dim sum and hot pot.
- Sushi & Japanese51 listedSushi bars and Japanese restaurants in Madison and nearby communities, including ramen, hibachi and poke.
- Thai restaurants14 listedThai restaurants in Madison and nearby communities, plus Lao and Hmong kitchens.
- Korean, Vietnamese & more Asian54 listedKorean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Tibetan and other Asian restaurants in Madison and nearby communities.
- Indian restaurants23 listedIndian and Nepali restaurants in Madison and nearby communities.
- Italian restaurants30 listedItalian restaurants in Madison and nearby communities, from red-sauce classics to handmade pasta.
- Mediterranean & Middle Eastern21 listedMediterranean, Greek and Middle Eastern restaurants in Madison and nearby communities.
- More international restaurants36 listedLatin American, Caribbean, African, Cajun, German, French and other international restaurants in the Madison area.
- American restaurants & diners184 listedAmerican restaurants, diners, family restaurants and neighborhood grills in Madison and nearby communities.
- Supper clubs3 listedWisconsin supper clubs in and around Madison: old fashioneds, relish trays, prime rib and the Friday fish fry.
- Breakfast & brunch22 listedBreakfast and brunch spots in Madison and nearby communities, from diners to weekend brunch favorites.
- Burgers35 listedBurger joints in Madison and nearby communities, from butter burgers to gourmet burgers.
- BBQ24 listedBBQ restaurants and smokehouses in Madison and nearby communities.
- Steakhouses & seafood36 listedSteakhouses and seafood restaurants in Madison and nearby communities.
- Sandwiches & delis119 listedSandwich shops, delis and bagel shops in Madison and nearby communities.
- Fast food114 listedFast food, fried chicken and wings in Madison and nearby communities.
- Coffee shops & cafes236 listedCoffee shops and cafes in Madison and nearby communities, plus tea and boba shops and local roasters.
- Bakeries & donuts72 listedBakeries, donut shops and pastry shops in Madison and nearby communities.
- Ice cream & desserts52 listedIce cream, frozen custard and dessert shops in Madison and nearby communities.
- Bars & pubs343 listedBars, pubs, taverns and cocktail lounges in Madison and nearby communities.
- Breweries, wineries & distilleries40 listedBreweries, brewpubs, wineries and distilleries in Madison and the surrounding area.
- Food trucks & carts2 listedFood trucks and food carts in Madison and nearby communities.
Madison guides
- Thanksgiving weekend in Madison, WI (2026): turkey trots, dinner out and what's openThanksgiving weekend 2026 in Madison: the Birdie Derby and Madison Turkey Trot, restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner and meals to go, what's open and closed (buses, trash pickup, the library, meters), the Badgers' Black Friday game and holiday kickoffs.
- Holiday season in Madison, WI: 2026 lights, markets and showsZoo Lights, the free Holiday Fantasy in Lights, the Capitol tree lighting, the Holiday Market at Monona Terrace, the Nutcracker, the Madison Symphony Christmas and more, with 2026 dates.
- Holiday shopping in Madison, WI (2026): makers markets, craft fairs and local shopsWhere to shop local for the holidays in Madison in 2026: makers markets and craft fairs with dates, the Holiday Farmers' Market, Small Business Saturday, Hilldale's holiday events, and independent shops for books, cheese, stationery and gifts.
- Badgers game day in Madison: Camp Randall, the Kohl Center, parking and bag rulesA practical guide to Wisconsin Badgers game days: where each team plays, mobile tickets, the clear bag policy, game-day parking and the Bucky Shuttle, biking to Camp Randall, tailgating rules, and the traditions from Jump Around to the Fifth Quarter.
- Where to eat in Madison, WI: a neighborhood guideMadison restaurants worth knowing, neighborhood by neighborhood: James Beard-recognized kitchens on the Capitol Square, Willy Street's Lao, Ethiopian and Vietnamese spots, Monroe Street, Park Street and the suburbs.
- Farmers markets in Madison, WI: the Dane County Farmers' Market and moreWhen and where to find the Dane County Farmers' Market on the Capitol Square, its winter markets at Monona Terrace and Garver Feed Mill, and the neighborhood and suburban markets, with FoodShare and Double Dollars details.
- Friday fish fry in Madison, WI: where to go and what to orderWhere to find a Friday fish fry around Madison, from downtown taverns to Stoughton and DeForest, what comes on the plate, and why it's a Wisconsin tradition. Every spot is confirmed on its own menu.
- Supper clubs in and near Madison, WI: prime rib, fish fry and old fashionedsWhere to find a real Wisconsin supper club in and around Madison: Tornado Steak House, Turn Key, The Harvey House, Toby's, Maple Tree, Rex's Innkeeper and The Hilltop, plus Buckhorn, Ishnala and The Del-Bar for a drive.
- Wisconsin foods to try in Madison: cheese curds, frozen custard, brats and moreA field guide to Wisconsin's classic foods in Madison: where to get fried cheese curds and why fresh ones squeak, frozen custard and Babcock ice cream, brats and German sausage, Wisconsin cheese, and the brandy old fashioned.
- Brunch in Madison, WI: weekend brunch and all-day breakfastWhere to get weekend brunch or breakfast any time around Madison, from the Capitol Square to Middleton, Sun Prairie and McFarland, with hours and reservation tips confirmed on each restaurant's own site.
- Pizza in Madison, WI: slices, wood-fired, Detroit-style and tavern piesWhere to get pizza around Madison, by style: Ian's by the slice, wood-fired Neapolitan, Detroit-style squares, tomato pies, thin-crust tavern pies cut in squares, and neighborhood delivery spots, with gluten-free and vegan notes.
- Best burgers in Madison, WI: Old Fashioned, Dotty's, the Plaza and moreWhere to get a great burger in Madison: Wisconsin classics at the Old Fashioned and Dotty Dumpling's Dowry, the Plaza Burger and its secret sauce, smash burgers at Monty's and Dexter's, east-side pub burgers, chef burgers on the Capitol Square, and Culver's ButterBurgers, all checked against each restaurant's own menu.
- Breweries in Madison, WI: taprooms and brewpubs around the cityMadison-area breweries, brewpubs and taprooms, from the Great Dane and Capital Brewery to east-side taprooms, a gluten-free brewery and suburban brewpubs, with food, kid and dog notes from each brewery's own site.
- Wineries, distilleries and cideries in and near Madison, WIWhere to taste local spirits, wine and cider around Madison: Old Sugar, State Line and Yahara Bay distilleries in town, J. Henry bourbon in Dane, Dancing Goat in Cambridge, Wollersheim in Prairie du Sac, Hidden Cave and Brix ciders, and wineries from Cambridge to Poynette, with tours and hours.
- Bars in Madison, WI: a neighborhood guideMadison bars by neighborhood: Capitol Square cocktail lounges and a rooftop wine bar, State Street and campus game-day spots, Willy Street and Atwood neighborhood bars, East Washington live music, Monroe Street taverns and more.
- Coffee shops in Madison, WI: local cafés and roastersLocally run coffee shops around Madison, from Capitol Square cafés and Willy Street coffeehouses to in-house roasters and suburban spots, with Wi-Fi, patio and vegan notes from each café's own site.
- Bakeries in Madison, WI: sourdough, pastries, donuts and cakesMadison's best bakeries, checked on their own sites: sourdough at Madison Sourdough and Origin Breads, pastries at Batch Bakehouse and Clasen's, donuts at Greenbush and Level 5, Stella's cheese bread, gluten-free at Paleo Mama, custom cakes, holiday pre-orders, and where Lane's kringle went.
- Things to do in Madison, WI: a local's listThe Capitol, the farmers' market, free museums and gardens, the zoo, the lakes, campus, biking and winter fun: what to do in Madison, what it costs and when it's open.
- Where to stay in Madison, WI: hotels by area, from the Capitol Square to MiddletonA guide to Madison hotels by neighborhood: downtown and the Capitol Square, the UW campus and Camp Randall, the east side near the airport, the west side and Middleton, the Alliant Energy Center and Fitchburg, plus historic inns, parking costs, the room tax and when to book early.
- Watching sports in Madison, WI: Badgers, Capitols hockey, Mallards and more (2026–27)Where and when to catch a game in Madison: Badgers football, basketball, hockey, volleyball and wrestling, Madison Capitols junior hockey in their new DeForest arena, LOVB Madison volleyball, roller derby, and summer's Mallards, Forward Madison FC, Radicals and Night Mares, with venues, ticket tips and bag rules.
- Visiting the UW–Madison campus: what to see, where to park and where to eatA visitor's guide to the UW–Madison campus: Bascom Hill and the Lincoln statue, Memorial Union and the Terrace, Observatory Hill's effigy mounds, Picnic Point, free museums, Babcock ice cream, campus tours, the free campus buses, and where to park.
- Things to do in Middleton, WI: Pheasant Branch, the Mustard Museum and downtownA guide to Middleton, Madison's neighbor on Lake Mendota: Pheasant Branch Conservancy and Frederick's Hill, the free National Mustard Museum, Capital Brewery, Stone Horse Green, Lakeview Park and the kettle-pond loop, plus the year's events from Light the Green to the Good Neighbor Festival.
- Things to do in Verona, WI: trails, Epic campus tours and Hometown U.S.A.A guide to Verona, southwest of Madison: the Ice Age Trail and Military Ridge State Trail, Badger Prairie and Prairie Moraine parks and dog parks, self-guided tours of the Epic campus, Fireman's Park beach, downtown, and the Christkindlmarket and Hometown Days.
- Things to do in Sun Prairie, WI: Groundhog Day, Frozen Fest and Corn FestA guide to Sun Prairie, northeast of Madison: Jimmy the Groundhog and Frozen Fest, the Sweet Corn Festival, the free Historical Library & Museum with its Georgia O'Keeffe room, Cannery Square, farmers markets, parks and the Fire & Lights Parade.
- Things to do in Fitchburg, WI: trails, Quarry Ridge, McKee Farms and moreA guide to Fitchburg, Madison's southern neighbor: a Silver-level bicycle-friendly city with three state trails, Quarry Ridge mountain biking, McKee Farms Park and its splash pad, the Nevin Springs wildlife area, Quivey's Grove, the farmers market and summer concerts.
- Things to do in Mount Horeb, WI: the Trollway, the Driftless Historium and moreA guide to Mount Horeb, the Troll Capital of the World, west of Madison: the hand-carved trolls on the Trollway, the Driftless Historium, Brix Cider and the Grumpy Troll, the Military Ridge Trail, Stewart Lake, and Cave of the Mounds and Blue Mound State Park next door.
- Things to do in Stoughton, WI: Syttende Mai, the Opera House and Norwegian heritageA guide to Stoughton, southeast of Madison on the Yahara River: the Syttende Mai festival, shows at the restored Stoughton Opera House, the free Livsreise Norwegian Heritage Center, parks and the river, Lake Kegonsa State Park and the year's events.
- Things to do in Monona, WI: Winnequah Park, beaches and the Aldo Leopold Nature CenterA guide to Monona, the small lakeside city on Lake Monona's east shore: Winnequah Park and the castle-themed Dream Park, Schluter and Frost Woods beaches, the Aldo Leopold Nature Center and Woodland Park trails, the Lake Monona Loop, the Fourth of July festival and the farmers market.
- Things to do in Waunakee, WI: Village Park, Schumacher Farm and WaunaFestA guide to Waunakee, about 5 miles north of Madison: Village Park and Six Mile Creek, Centennial Park's splash pad and ice rink, Schumacher Farm Park's 1908 farmstead, nearby Governor Nelson State Park on Lake Mendota, the farmers and makers market, and WaunaFest.
- Things to do in Cross Plains, WI: the Ice Age Trail, Black Earth Creek and Trout DaysA guide to Cross Plains, the village about 12 miles west of Madison: the Ice Age Trail and its headquarters, the Cross Plains Interpretive Site and state park, Table Bluff, Indian Lake and Festge county parks, Black Earth Creek trout fishing and Trout Days.
- Things to do in DeForest, WI: the Upper Yahara River, trails and holiday eventsA guide to DeForest, the village just north of Madison: paddling the Upper Yahara River water trail, the Upper Yahara River Trail, Western Green and Conservancy Commons parks, Token Creek County Park, the Young Blood taproom, the Candlelight Hike, the tree lighting and the Dragon Art Fair.
- Things to do in McFarland, WI: Lake Waubesa, the boardwalk trail and Babcock ParkA guide to McFarland, the village on Lake Waubesa just southeast of Madison: the Lower Yahara River Trail and its mile-long boardwalk, McDaniel Park beach, Babcock County Park and the Yahara River lock, the historical society museums, the library and the McFarland Community Festival.
- Things to do in Oregon, WI: Anderson Farm, the Badger State Trail and downtownA guide to Oregon, the village about 15 minutes south of Madison: Anderson Farm County Park, the Badger State Trail, Keller Alpine Meadows and village parks, the historic downtown walking tour, the new library and the holiday tree lighting.
- Things to do in Cottage Grove, WI: the Glacial Drumlin Trail, parks and Christmas in the GroveA guide to Cottage Grove, the village just east of Madison: the western trailhead of the 52-mile Glacial Drumlin State Trail, McCarthy Youth & Conservation County Park, village parks, Little Free Libraries and the bookmobile, the Firemen's Festival and Christmas in the Grove.
- Things to do in Shorewood Hills, WI: the pool, lakeshore woods and Frank Lloyd WrightA guide to Shorewood Hills, the small village between the UW campus and Lake Mendota: the Shorewood Hills Pool, Quarry Park and Koval Woods, the Lakeshore Nature Preserve next door, Frank Lloyd Wright's First Unitarian Society Meeting House and its free Friday concerts, and the village's historic architecture.
- Things to do in Maple Bluff, WI: Lake Mendota parks, the Governor's Residence and the holiday paradeA guide to Maple Bluff, the small lakeside village on Madison's north side: Beach Park and Johnson Park, Madison's Burrows Park next door, the Governor's Executive Residence and the La Follette House from the outside, a brunch cafe, and the village's holiday parade and Fourth of July fest.
- Live music in Madison, WI: where to see a showWhere to see live music in Madison: big rooms like The Sylvee and the Orpheum, clubs like the Majestic, High Noon and Barrymore, east-side favorites Atwood Music Hall and the Bur Oak, jazz at Café CODA, and the symphony, opera and free summer concerts.
- Date night in Madison, WI: dinner, drinks, shows and moreDate night ideas around Madison: tasting menus and lake-view dinners, rooftop and cocktail bars, theater, comedy and concerts, dine-in movies, and things to do together, from the Capitol observation deck to skating at Tenney Park.