Stretching along the western shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is a fairly spread-out city. However, most of the main attractions are conveniently situated in and around the downtown area, making the city easy to explore.
Whichever area you choose to experience, expect to have a good time. Yet, be sure to venture out to more of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods.
Bay View
Best neighborhood for families
Families with children will find comfortable accommodations all over Milwaukee. What makes Bay View especially family-friendly is that it’s a safe, easily walkable neighborhood that offers a little bit of everything. From parks and playgrounds to outdoor restaurants and the city’s beloved Avalon movie theater, Bay View is where you can explore family-friendly concerts, festivals, or farmers’ markets occurring that week.
Moreover, this trendy area is packed with excellent bars, beer gardens, and restaurants, plus unique retailers like comic book shops and thrift stores, making it a great place for any visitor. While you won’t find hotel chains in Bay View, there is a boutique guesthouse and numerous private home rentals available.
East Town
Best neighborhood for outdoor lovers
Milwaukee is known for its cold winters; however, from May through October, the pleasant weather provides numerous options for outdoor enthusiasts. The East Town neighborhood, nestled between the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan, is ideal for visitors seeking outdoor options in an urban setting. The RiverWalk runs along the Milwaukee River, perfect for strolling; during warmer months, you can enjoy a riverboat tour or rent a paddleboard or kayak. Closer to Lake Michigan, you can explore several parks—Veterans Park is the largest and offers a variety of activities—or jump on the Oak Leaf cycling and pedestrian trail.
This area frequently hosts festivals and is bustling with great restaurants, bars, and attractions like the renowned Milwaukee Art Museum.
Walker’s Point
Best neighborhood for LGBTQI+ visitors
In general, Milwaukee is an LGBTQI+-friendly city and hosts a large annual PrideFest. Consequently, visitors specifically interested in LGBTQI+ bars and nightlife should consider the Walker’s Point neighborhood. This area is home to Wisconsin’s largest and oldest gay dance club, along with several LGBTQI+ bars and nightclubs. Additionally, Walker’s Point features antique shops, farm-to-table dining, art galleries, distilleries, craft ice cream shops, and a food truck park.
Third Ward
Best neighborhood for shopping
In the southern part of downtown, Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward neighborhood is vibrant with art galleries, trendy national retailers, and stylish boutiques filled with original, locally designed creations. If locally made food and drink items are on your souvenir shopping list, don’t miss the Milwaukee Public Market on the north end of the neighborhood, which offers cheesemongers, olive oil purveyors, candy makers, spice stores, and wine shops—plus a variety of restaurants. This district also has a mix of national hotel chains, homestays, and boutique hotel options within walking distance of the shops.
Like most downtown neighborhoods, the Third Ward is relatively quiet in the evening. However, during summer, Henry Maier Festival Park, which hosts various ethnic, cultural, and food festivals nearly every weekend, is within walking distance. Therefore, even if you don’t attend the festival, you’ll likely hear music drifting your way.
Historic Mitchell Street
Best neighborhood for foodies
While many guidebooks recommend nearby neighborhoods like Bay View, downtown, and the East Side as excellent foodie destinations, travelers eager to taste diverse culinary offerings in a few blocks should include Historic Mitchell Street on their itinerary. This predominantly Mexican neighborhood features numerous exceptional Mexican restaurants, taquerias, and bakeries, alongside Puerto Rican, Pakistani, and Syrian cuisine.
Since this area, located within the larger Walker’s Point neighborhood, doesn’t have many hotels, consider staying in another neighborhood and visiting for some unforgettable meals.
East Side
Best neighborhood for nightlife
Given the diversity of evening entertainment options in Milwaukee, pinpointing just one neighborhood as the best for nightlife can be challenging. Nevertheless, the title often goes to the East Side. This area, sometimes divided into the Lower and Upper East Sides, is one of Milwaukee’s largest neighborhoods, bordered to the west by artsy and eclectic Riverwest, to the south by downtown, and to the east by Lake Michigan.
While the East Side doesn’t have many hotels, there are plenty of private homestays available. Alternatively, you can find a room in a hotel in the nearby East Town and then head towards Brady Street. This vibrant avenue boasts a perfect mix of college student hangouts (the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is close by), bars popular with young professionals, and upscale locales.
