Experience Oakland Avenue in Milwaukee

Where local favorites, neighborhood charm, and city energy meet.

Oakland Avenue is the kind of timeless place that’s been a mainstay of city life for generations. It’s long been a favorite of college and high school students, thanks to its proximity to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Riverside University High School. Though it’s popular with teens and twenty-somethings, the district also draws a broader crowd. 

Wander north and south of the Oakland and Locust Avenue crossroads, and you’ll find a cultural melting pot that’s home to a variety of food and entertainment options for people of all ages. See for yourself why it’s such a favorite spot for locals and out-of-towners alike, then get started with planning your trip.

Dining & Local Favorites

You can practically turn a comfortable stroll down Oakland Avenue into a culinary trip around the world. It features everything from Asian to Greek to African to casual pub fare, including many spots that are decades-old favorites for students and locals.

Lisa’s Pizza has been serving up pies since 1962, and has perfected the classic, thin and crispy crust that’s beloved in Milwaukee. Not far away, Sal’s Pizza still delivers on its Brooklyn roots with its New York-style slices, along with calzones and Italian subs.

For fans of international cuisine, Immy’s African Cuisine is where you’ll find uncommonly flavorful traditional African dishes like egusi, fufu, and stews and curries. Shawarma House specializes in, yes, shawarma, along with other Middle Eastern favorites, such as kabobs and falafel. Oakland Gyros has been a longstanding neighborhood stable for Greek food, including gyros, shish kebab, and salads. 

Entertainment, Nightlife & Attractions

When it comes to entertainment, Oakland Avenue’s collection of lively, eclectic options means you’re never far away from an out-of-the-ordinary experience. If you’re looking for something more peaceful, that’s not far away, either.

The Miramar Theatre has evolved through more than half a dozen iterations since it opened as a movie house in 1913. But for the last quarter-century, fans of live music and livelier atmospheres have carried on the Miramar’s legacy as a neighborhood cultural touchstone. Those seeking a slower pace can settle in at Oakland Café, where you can enjoy their relaxing atmosphere (and perhaps even a hookah session) with a coffee, espresso, frappe, or smoothie.

There’s always something going on at UW-Milwaukee, be it a Panthers athletic event, a Peck School of the Arts performance, a stargazing night at the UWM Manfred Olsen Planetarium, or any number of other happenings. The UWM campus itself is also a beautiful place for a relaxing walk or jog, as are popular spots like the Oak Leaf Trail, Riverside Park, and Lake Park, all of which are only a handful of blocks away from the Oakland and Locust crossroads. And if you don’t mind going a little further, the excitement of Brady Street is less than two miles south. 

Plan Your Visit

This central corridor offers more than food and evening activities. Everyday spots, such as convenience stores, salons, print and copy services, and even tattoo parlors, sit alongside campus hangouts, giving the area an easy, lived-in character that reflects both student life and the wider community.

The Oakland Avenue district is one of those places that people return to again and again. Alumni come to scratch that nostalgic itch, area residents stop in for its attractive mix of dining and entertainment, and out-of-towners visit to experience all the vibrancy that the neighborhood is known for. Plan your visit and discover why this stretch of the city leaves a lasting impression long after you’ve gone.