Guidebook for Madison
Essentials
UW Hospital and Clinics
600 Highland AveOne of Madison's major employers
American Family Children's Hospital
1675 Highland AveNew hospital for children
Best grocery store for you and for the earth, but on the East side.
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Willy Street Co-op—East
1221 Williamson StBest grocery store for you and for the earth, but on the East side.
The best grocery store for you and the planet but nearer.
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Willy Street Co-op—West
6825 University AveThe best grocery store for you and the planet but nearer.
If you don't want to break the bank at the other organic grocery stores. It's pretty big!
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Metcalfe's Market
726 N Midvale BlvdIf you don't want to break the bank at the other organic grocery stores. It's pretty big!
Regent Market Co-Op
2136 Regent StIt's close-ish.
RZ & Company
1804 Odana RdHaircuts and for your relaxation and beauty needs!
NAILS 4U INC
3312 University AveMy favorite nail place. Call ahead.
Klinke Cleaners
2875 University AveTrader Joe's
1810 Monroe StTJ's. Self explanatory.
The Conscious Carnivore
3236A University AveButcher shop. Great!
Food Scene
Carabou Coffee and Einstein Bagles. It's a chain, but it's right down the street at the bus stop.
Coffee & Bagels
2701 University AveCarabou Coffee and Einstein Bagles. It's a chain, but it's right down the street at the bus stop.
Starbucks
3515 University AveIf you need your fix, otherwise go local!
A local cuppa Joe and a brand new little cafe/restaurant that really does a kick-ass job! Best breakfast place near us.
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Ancora Coffee Roasters
2871 University AveA local cuppa Joe and a brand new little cafe/restaurant that really does a kick-ass job! Best breakfast place near us.
Very cute French couple own this delicious bakery and lunch outfit (but in a strip mall).
La Baguette
7424 Mineral Point RdVery cute French couple own this delicious bakery and lunch outfit (but in a strip mall).
For breakfast, lunch or dinner. Some outdoor seating. No cell phones inside, has been feng shuied!
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La Brioche True Food
2862 University AveFor breakfast, lunch or dinner. Some outdoor seating. No cell phones inside, has been feng shuied!
Do not pass this up. A Wisconsin MUST DO! Frozen custard all the way (or turtle sundae). Location on Monroe Street closed. There is one on the east side near Olbrich Botanical Gardens
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Michael's Frozen Custard
2531 Monroe StDo not pass this up. A Wisconsin MUST DO! Frozen custard all the way (or turtle sundae). Location on Monroe Street closed. There is one on the east side near Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Discovery Building
330 N Orchard StPoke around the atrium, art, plants, water, restaurants!
Graze
1 S Pinckney StCasual L'Etoile. Simply delish, award-winning chef. Gastro-pub.
Authentic Italian from the Veneto region. Our favorite! (Foodie alert!)
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Osteria Papavero
128 E Wilson StAuthentic Italian from the Veneto region. Our favorite! (Foodie alert!)
Favorite for breakfast and lunch. Can be crowded! Chicago chefs branching out in Madison. Fresh, healthy, sunny, locally sourced food and drinks. Sardine is their dinner restaurant.
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Marigold Kitchen
118 S Pinckney StFavorite for breakfast and lunch. Can be crowded! Chicago chefs branching out in Madison. Fresh, healthy, sunny, locally sourced food and drinks. Sardine is their dinner restaurant.
Easy to get to, parking. Sister restaurant to Muramoto downtown.
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Muramoto Hilldale
546 N Midvale BlvdEasy to get to, parking. Sister restaurant to Muramoto downtown.
Better bagels than Einstein's, same style. Local business. Super cream cheese.
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Gotham Bagels
112 E Mifflin StBetter bagels than Einstein's, same style. Local business. Super cream cheese.
Sa-Bai Thong Thai Cuisine
2840 University AveGood Thai food. Walkable.
French Bistro style on Lake Monona. Marigold/Gates & Brovi chefs. Farm-to-table. Great for brunch!
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Sardine
617 Williamson StFrench Bistro style on Lake Monona. Marigold/Gates & Brovi chefs. Farm-to-table. Great for brunch!
Family friendly place to grab lunch but still has a farm-to-table philosophy. Has a bar and you can watch a game there, too. Marigold/Sardine chefs.
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Gates and Brovi
3502 Monroe StFamily friendly place to grab lunch but still has a farm-to-table philosophy. Has a bar and you can watch a game there, too. Marigold/Sardine chefs.
Curry in the Box - University Ave
2907 University AveGrab it and go or eat there. Local guys.
Big foodie place. Steak and frites off of bar menu $22. Lots of food, chef raises his own pigs. Our favorite brunch: veggie benedict and cinnamon rolls (with bits of bacon in them--a little indulgent?).
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Heritage Tavern
131 E Mifflin StBig foodie place. Steak and frites off of bar menu $22. Lots of food, chef raises his own pigs. Our favorite brunch: veggie benedict and cinnamon rolls (with bits of bacon in them--a little indulgent?).
Best pizza (not Italian style). Crust (amazing), cheese, then tomato sauce. Committed to local organic ingredients. Yum, in a word.
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Salvatore's Tomato Pies
912 E Johnson StBest pizza (not Italian style). Crust (amazing), cheese, then tomato sauce. Committed to local organic ingredients. Yum, in a word.
Skip Smokey's (tired and sad supper club) and go to Tornado instead. Hipster yet still steak house on the Square. Lots of food!
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Tornado Steak House
116 S Hamilton StSkip Smokey's (tired and sad supper club) and go to Tornado instead. Hipster yet still steak house on the Square. Lots of food!
A taste of Wisconsin! This is a great place to get oriented to local culture. Busy all the time. Owned by same people as Harvest Restaurant (next door).
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The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney StA taste of Wisconsin! This is a great place to get oriented to local culture. Busy all the time. Owned by same people as Harvest Restaurant (next door).
OK, I have to include this because it's kind of a crowd pleaser. If you need to visit a brew pub, this could be the obvious choice.
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Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. - Hilldale
357 Price PlOK, I have to include this because it's kind of a crowd pleaser. If you need to visit a brew pub, this could be the obvious choice.
A bit of a drive, but it's a charming stone house in Fitchburg that serves more up-scale Wisconsin dinner. Friday night fish fry in the barn.
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Quivey's Grove
6261 Nesbitt RdA bit of a drive, but it's a charming stone house in Fitchburg that serves more up-scale Wisconsin dinner. Friday night fish fry in the barn.
Burger joint! On campus and busy but one of the best Friday night fish frys in town.
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Dotty Dumpling's Dowry
317 North Frances StreetBurger joint! On campus and busy but one of the best Friday night fish frys in town.
The fanciest and one of the best restaurants in town. Chef Tory Miller is a James Beard Award-winning chef. $$$$
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L'Etoile
1 S Pinckney StThe fanciest and one of the best restaurants in town. Chef Tory Miller is a James Beard Award-winning chef. $$$$
Batch Bakehouse
1402 Williamson StOh yeah. On the East Side but DELISH!
Wonderful pastries and desserts. Gelato, too. On the East Side.
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Madison Sourdough
916 Williamson StWonderful pastries and desserts. Gelato, too. On the East Side.
Delicious and creative vegetarian restaurant on the East side.
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Green Owl Cafe
1970 Atwood AveDelicious and creative vegetarian restaurant on the East side.
Great hole in the wall on State Street. Super healthy, lots of Nepalese women cooking and really delicious. Also, cheap! Put your shoes on and go as you are.
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Himal Chuli Restaurant
318 State StGreat hole in the wall on State Street. Super healthy, lots of Nepalese women cooking and really delicious. Also, cheap! Put your shoes on and go as you are.
Local food! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee. Dine in or to go (freezer meals, too). Just won a preservation award for their work on the building.
Pasture & Plenty
2433 University AveLocal food! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee. Dine in or to go (freezer meals, too). Just won a preservation award for their work on the building.
Cadre Restaurant
You can walk to this. It's neighborhoody but upscale. Terrific mocktails!!
New version of a Wisconsin classic supper club. Many consider this a special occasion restaurant. Great service.
The Harvey House
New version of a Wisconsin classic supper club. Many consider this a special occasion restaurant. Great service.
Same owner as Tornado Steak House. Love it. Best seafood in town. Local.
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Tempest Oyster Bar
120 E Wilson StSame owner as Tornado Steak House. Love it. Best seafood in town. Local.
Drinks & Nightlife
Blue Moon Bar & Grill
2535 University AveBurger joint.
Classic Wisconsin tavern, deer dioramas and all. Plaza burger with secret sauce and a tap beer.
The Plaza Tavern
319 N Henry StClassic Wisconsin tavern, deer dioramas and all. Plaza burger with secret sauce and a tap beer.
Merchant Madison
121 S Pinckney StSuper cocktails all hand-crafted. Nice menu, farm-to-table.
Prism
924 Williamson StDancing! LGBTQ.
FIVE Nightclub
5 Applegate CtMy friends tell me this is "the" gay night club in Madison.
Woof's
114 King StWoof's a gay sports/leather bar downtown.
Cafe, bar, bookstore! Next door is a new classic Italian restaurant, Fabiola's.
Leopold's Books Bar Caffè
Cafe, bar, bookstore! Next door is a new classic Italian restaurant, Fabiola's.
Arts & Culture
Great campus art museum with a brand-new building. Free!
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I-Chazen Museum of Art
800 University AveGreat campus art museum with a brand-new building. Free!
All things visual and performing art. Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society performs here in June!
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Overture Center for the Arts
201 State StAll things visual and performing art. Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society performs here in June!
Great little contemporary art museum with stuff for kids and it's free!
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Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
227 State StGreat little contemporary art museum with stuff for kids and it's free!
Fun for kids. Lots of Wisconsin and regional history. On the Square.
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Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N Carroll StFun for kids. Lots of Wisconsin and regional history. On the Square.
Some of the best theater in Wisconsin. Lots of Shakespeare and other classics. One hour away in the woods.
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Itheater le-American Players
5950 Golf Course RdSome of the best theater in Wisconsin. Lots of Shakespeare and other classics. One hour away in the woods.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed. Practically across the street (cross University Ave. toward the hospital). Services on Sunday.
First Unitarian Meeting House of Madison
900 University Bay DrFrank Lloyd Wright designed. Practically across the street (cross University Ave. toward the hospital). Services on Sunday.
Entertainment & Activities
Terrific and comfortable movie theater. Except that it just changed to AMC 6 Dine-in. Not as good as Sundance used to be :(
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AMC Madison 6
430 N Midvale BlvdTerrific and comfortable movie theater. Except that it just changed to AMC 6 Dine-in. Not as good as Sundance used to be :(
Award-winning museum with tons of local craftsmanship. A must-do with kids!
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Madison Children's Museum
100 N Hamilton StAward-winning museum with tons of local craftsmanship. A must-do with kids!
Great for young kids and rock hounds of all ages!
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University of Wisconsin Geology Museum
1215 W Dayton StGreat for young kids and rock hounds of all ages!
Goodman Pool
325 W Olin AvePool!! Pretty new and pretty fun. Can be busy at times.
Great brewery if you like lambic-style ales. Super sweet little town, too. Eat at the Glarner Stube while you're there.
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New Glarus Brewing Company
2400 WI-69Great brewery if you like lambic-style ales. Super sweet little town, too. Eat at the Glarner Stube while you're there.
Everything Else
Getting more upscale shopping. Closest nicest mall with Macy's, North Face, L'Occitaine, Anthropologie, Target, Morgan's Shoes, Porta Alba (great pizza!)
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Hilldale Shopping Center
726 N Midvale BlvdGetting more upscale shopping. Closest nicest mall with Macy's, North Face, L'Occitaine, Anthropologie, Target, Morgan's Shoes, Porta Alba (great pizza!)
Drop in meditation, Tuesdays, 7 - 8:30 PM. http://tergar.org/communities-and-practice-groups/find-a-center-or-group/madison/
The Crossing Meditation Practice
Drop in meditation, Tuesdays, 7 - 8:30 PM. http://tergar.org/communities-and-practice-groups/find-a-center-or-group/madison/
Parks & Nature
Walkable from Artist House. Pretty peninsula into Lake Mendota, good for a walk or jog. Tiny beach and several fire rings.
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Picnic Point
2000 University Bay DrWalkable from Artist House. Pretty peninsula into Lake Mendota, good for a walk or jog. Tiny beach and several fire rings.
Lake Monona
Actually, this is included because you can bike around the lake.
Small lake at the edge of the Arboretum. In summer you can rent all kinds of boats and get a hot dog, too.
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Lake Wingra
Small lake at the edge of the Arboretum. In summer you can rent all kinds of boats and get a hot dog, too.
Odana Hills Golf Course
4635 Odana RdGood for golf and XC skiing (rent skis there).
UW nature preserve. Walk, bike, jog, paths in the woods, marshes, and through gardens. Lovely!
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University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole HighwayUW nature preserve. Walk, bike, jog, paths in the woods, marshes, and through gardens. Lovely!
Beautiful lake and hiking trails. About 45 minutes away.
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Iphakamiso yaseDevil's Lake State
S5975 Park RdBeautiful lake and hiking trails. About 45 minutes away.