Milwaukee’s Scenic Rooftops & Patios

When the snow stops and the sun shines, Milwaukee beckons you outdoors. It’s why so many top restaurants, bars and cafes maximize your out-time with panoramic rooftop decks and relaxing open-air spaces. Here are some options to get you started.

Roofs with a View

When you want to level up your night out, head for one of these rooftop spots.

Deer District

For a high-energy location, check out The New Fashioned and its large balcony above the district plaza, then enjoy food and drinks with a modern twist on traditional Wisconsin fare. You can also catch a ballgame on the massive video screens at Tom’s Watch Bar or experience the community’s vibes on their wraparound balcony. And if you’re in the mood for something more refined, Il Cervo (Italian for “the deer”) serves its modern Italian cuisine at The Trade Hotel on a deck overlooking Fiserv Forum.

Downtown Milwaukee

Blu pairs the Pfister Hotel’s elegance with sweeping downtown views, cocktails and live music on weekends. Switch things up with a tropical feel at Pufferfish on the Hotel Metro’s roof, where you’ll find specialty drinks and ambiance that transports you to a Caribbean beach.

Third Ward

The Outsider’s breezy perch atop the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel is a prime spot for elevated beverages, snacks and seeing the city’s lights. At Cafe Benelux, you can pick your seat, on the second-story rooftop or street-level, for an incredible beer menu and delicious Lowlands cuisine.

Patios That Shine

If you’re looking to get some fresh air, unwind al fresco at one of these standout dining destinations, stylish bars and inviting cafés.

Lakefront

With its extensive menu of high-end seafood at Lake Michigan’s edge, Harbor House delivers one of Milwaukee’s best fine-dining experiences with its New England-style approach. Their lineup also includes a variety of specialty dishes such as steak, pasta, sandwiches, salads and a signature hamburger. A little farther north, Colectivo Coffee – Lakefront turned a one-time water pumping station into a café with a huge outdoor area for more Lake Michigan views.

Walker’s Point/Third Ward

Camino MKE is a Walker’s Point staple for craft beers and burgers, not to mention sidewalk seating that connects you to the vibrant neighborhood. The Yard at The Iron Horse Hotel boasts Milwaukee’s largest hotel outdoor patio and is just a short hog trot from the Harley-Davidson Museum. Smoke Shack offers slow-smoked meats, a rustic atmosphere and a spacious open-air setting that lets you soak in the Historic Third Ward. And for food truck lovers, Zocalo Food Park, the city’s pioneering food truck park, showcases a range of cuisines, from Mexican to Asian, bagels and coffee, cocktails, fine wines and local beers.

Downtown

Dine on Avli’s delicious Greek food served in a modern setting, including an area offering unfettered views of the downtown skyline. Over in the Pabst district, Pilot Project Brewing brings an innovative edge as a pioneering incubator of new brewers with a large hangout. 

East Side

Nomad World Pub & Coffee Bar is a Brady Street haven for soccer lovers, not to mention global food and drinks with lively and eclectic gathering spaces. At the Red Lion Pub, you’ll find a classic British vibe that’s popular with fans of the game, English food and plenty of room to settle in. Von Trier is an old-world German bar and restaurant steeped in history, with outdoor seating that connects you to the livewire energy of the near-East Side.

Westward, ho!

Seafood and cocktails are the specialties at the Twisted Fisherman Beach Bar & Restaurant, a nod to the tropics on the banks of the Menomonee River nearby Potawatomi Casino Hotel. Farther west, in the charming Village of Wauwatosa, you’ll find legendary sports bar Leff’s Lucky Town, as well as its award-winning food and sun-drenched patio.

Milwaukee’s warmer months are to be savored, and there’s no better place to do so than dining, drinking and relaxing on a rooftop or patio. Plan your visit today and find your new favorite spot.

Find a Patio or Rooftop to Enjoy in Milwaukee!