Madison guides | MadisonWI.com

Eat & drink

Where to eat and drink, checked against each place's own menu.

Eat & drinkWhere 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkFarmers 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkFriday 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkSupper 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkWisconsin 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkBrunch 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkPizza 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkBest 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkBreweries 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkWineries, 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkBars 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkCoffee 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.Updated November 2026
Eat & drinkBakeries 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.Updated November 2026

Things to do

Seasonal events, family outings, the outdoors and the city's favorite places.

Nearby towns

Middleton, Verona, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg and the other towns around Madison.

Living in Madison

How the city works and where to live, checked against official sources.