Guidebook for Madison

Josh
Guidebook for Madison

Essentials

Small grocery store w/in walking distance. Open 24/7. Full selection of items (incl. produce and meat). A touch more expensive than a big grocery store.
15 helybéli ajánlásával
Capitol Centre Market
111 N Broom St
15 helybéli ajánlásával
Small grocery store w/in walking distance. Open 24/7. Full selection of items (incl. produce and meat). A touch more expensive than a big grocery store.
A little farther away than Capitol Center, but still within walking distance. Better selection of produce and meats. Has a deli w/ some prepared foods.
11 helybéli ajánlásával
Fresh Madison Market
703 University Ave
11 helybéli ajánlásával
A little farther away than Capitol Center, but still within walking distance. Better selection of produce and meats. Has a deli w/ some prepared foods.
Since its 2016 opening, this has been my go-to place for groceries. It's the closest big grocery store around (and it's really, really big). If you need it, they probably have it. Plus, they have lots of pre-made meals for those nights you want to eat in but don't want to cook. Double check before you go, but as far as I know, it's open early (5 AM) to late (12 AM) every day.
38 helybéli ajánlásával
Festival Foods
810 E Washington Ave
38 helybéli ajánlásával
Since its 2016 opening, this has been my go-to place for groceries. It's the closest big grocery store around (and it's really, really big). If you need it, they probably have it. Plus, they have lots of pre-made meals for those nights you want to eat in but don't want to cook. Double check before you go, but as far as I know, it's open early (5 AM) to late (12 AM) every day.

Food Scene

A much-loved Wisconsin original. Excellent coffee plus breakfast and lunch menu. Free wifi, but tables fill quickly. A great place to buy a pound of coffee if you want to drink local after you leave!
13 helybéli ajánlásával
Colectivo Coffee - On The Square
25 S Pinckney St
13 helybéli ajánlásával
A much-loved Wisconsin original. Excellent coffee plus breakfast and lunch menu. Free wifi, but tables fill quickly. A great place to buy a pound of coffee if you want to drink local after you leave!
More breakfast/lunch place than coffeehouse, but not a bad place to grab a coffee, either. Be sure to try the donut muffins!
27 helybéli ajánlásával
Marigold Kitchen
118 S Pinckney St
27 helybéli ajánlásával
More breakfast/lunch place than coffeehouse, but not a bad place to grab a coffee, either. Be sure to try the donut muffins!
Classic Wisconsin fare. One of my favorites.
86 helybéli ajánlásával
The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney St
86 helybéli ajánlásával
Classic Wisconsin fare. One of my favorites.
Another of my favorite restaurants. Farm-to-Table food, good cocktails, and all-glass walls looking out on the Capitol.
56 helybéli ajánlásával
Graze
1 S Pinckney St
56 helybéli ajánlásával
Another of my favorite restaurants. Farm-to-Table food, good cocktails, and all-glass walls looking out on the Capitol.
Excellent seafood. This is where I go when I go out for a fancy dinner.
46 helybéli ajánlásával
Sardine
617 Williamson St
46 helybéli ajánlásával
Excellent seafood. This is where I go when I go out for a fancy dinner.
My restaurant of choice for take-out. It's walking/biking distance, so you can call your order in, go pick it up, and be home to eat while the food is still hot.
7 helybéli ajánlásával
Bandung Indonesian Restaurant
600 Williamson St
7 helybéli ajánlásával
My restaurant of choice for take-out. It's walking/biking distance, so you can call your order in, go pick it up, and be home to eat while the food is still hot.
My go-to sushi spot—about a 10 min walk from the apartment. Great for take-out, but also a beautiful space to go to enjoy a meal. The dinner menu has downtown Madison dinner prices, but they have some very good lunch special prices if you want to save money.
19 helybéli ajánlásával
RED
316 W Washington Ave
19 helybéli ajánlásával
My go-to sushi spot—about a 10 min walk from the apartment. Great for take-out, but also a beautiful space to go to enjoy a meal. The dinner menu has downtown Madison dinner prices, but they have some very good lunch special prices if you want to save money.
Some of the best burgers in town. A touch cheaper than surrounding restaurants—and a bit more local and gritty, which I like. Highly recommended.
11 helybéli ajánlásával
Tipsy Cow
102 King St
11 helybéli ajánlásával
Some of the best burgers in town. A touch cheaper than surrounding restaurants—and a bit more local and gritty, which I like. Highly recommended.

Drinks & Nightlife

My favorite nearby bar. They also have wood-fired pizzas and an amazing dish called Three Cup Chicken. There's no sign out front, which makes finding it a bonus adventure.
23 helybéli ajánlásával
Natt Spil
211 King St
23 helybéli ajánlásával
My favorite nearby bar. They also have wood-fired pizzas and an amazing dish called Three Cup Chicken. There's no sign out front, which makes finding it a bonus adventure.
A little too cool for school, but the Two Smoking Barrels cocktail is the best drink I've had in Madison. So I put on my hipster pants and/or waistcoat and go sometimes.
28 helybéli ajánlásával
Merchant Madison
121 S Pinckney St
28 helybéli ajánlásával
A little too cool for school, but the Two Smoking Barrels cocktail is the best drink I've had in Madison. So I put on my hipster pants and/or waistcoat and go sometimes.
A good place to get some food, too (esp. pizza), but I like this place as a bar. It's just a couple blocks up from the apartment and definitely worth stopping by.
27 helybéli ajánlásával
Lucille
101 King St
27 helybéli ajánlásával
A good place to get some food, too (esp. pizza), but I like this place as a bar. It's just a couple blocks up from the apartment and definitely worth stopping by.
If you like whiskey, this "whiskey lounge" with 300 whiskeys on the shelves is your spot. Tip: if you go in early—say, after 5 to be proper about it, but before 8—this is one of those places you can bring a book or even a computer and not feel like you're killing the vibe. It's nerdy, I know, but it's a great way to transition to the evening if you need to get some things done before you can fully relax.
6 helybéli ajánlásával
Cask & Ale
212 State St
6 helybéli ajánlásával
If you like whiskey, this "whiskey lounge" with 300 whiskeys on the shelves is your spot. Tip: if you go in early—say, after 5 to be proper about it, but before 8—this is one of those places you can bring a book or even a computer and not feel like you're killing the vibe. It's nerdy, I know, but it's a great way to transition to the evening if you need to get some things done before you can fully relax.

Arts & Culture

A wonderful, newly constructed library within walking distance.
8 helybéli ajánlásával
Madison Public Library
201 W Mifflin St
8 helybéli ajánlásával
A wonderful, newly constructed library within walking distance.
A great museum right on the Capitol Square. It always has some cool new exhibit worth checking out.
21 helybéli ajánlásával
Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N Carroll St
21 helybéli ajánlásával
A great museum right on the Capitol Square. It always has some cool new exhibit worth checking out.

Sightseeing

Frank Lloyd Wright designed building. That terrace you can see from the sunroom window? That's the Monona Terrace and, except during special events, you're welcome to go up there and stroll around.
58 helybéli ajánlásával
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
1 John Nolen Dr
58 helybéli ajánlásával
Frank Lloyd Wright designed building. That terrace you can see from the sunroom window? That's the Monona Terrace and, except during special events, you're welcome to go up there and stroll around.
This is the place to be in the summer. Don't miss it!
122 helybéli ajánlásával
Memorial Union Terrace
800 Langdon St
122 helybéli ajánlásával
This is the place to be in the summer. Don't miss it!

Entertainment & Activities

Kids love this place, and so do parents. I speak from experience.
66 helybéli ajánlásával
Madison Gyermekmúzeum
100 N Hamilton St
66 helybéli ajánlásával
Kids love this place, and so do parents. I speak from experience.