Milwaukee's Beer Gardens
Beer gardens have a rich history in Milwaukee, dating back to the 19th century when German immigrants settled in the area. These immigrants brought with them a strong tradition of beer brewing and outdoor socializing, which laid the foundation for the city's beer garden culture.
One of the earliest beer gardens in Milwaukee was established in 1848 by German immigrant Jacob Best Sr., founder of the Best Brewing Company (later known as Pabst Brewing Company). These early beer gardens provided a place for locals to gather, socialize and enjoy locally brewed beer in a relaxed outdoor setting.
Today, beer gardens continue to play an important role in Milwaukee's cultural landscape. They serve as a gathering place where people from all walks of life can come together to enjoy cold beer, delicious food and live entertainment. Be sure to make your way to a beer garden during your next visit to Milwaukee and raise a glass to the city's brewing culture. Prost!
2026 Beer Gardens
The season has arrived to dust off your pints and steins and savor a refreshing pour of Milwaukee’s finest ales and lagers. Grab a friend, loved one or your furry pal, and head to your nearest beer garden to enjoy quality time while taking part in one of Milwaukee’s most cherished traditions.
Bier Garden at the Corners
TBD
Tucked into Market Square at The Corners of Brookfield, this lively bier garden pours Café Hollander brews and fills the air with live music and good vibes. It’s all about cold drinks, warm nights and toe-tapping tunes with a local twist.
Elm Grove Beer Garden
May 1 - October 31
Wednesday & Thursday, 5-9 p.m. | Friday, 4-9 p.m.
Saturday, 3-9 p.m. | Sunday, 2-7 p.m.
Location: 13600 Juneau Blvd, Elm Grove, WI 53122
Estabrook Beer Garden
April 30 - November 1 | Select Dates Year-Round
Open daily at noon
As the first public beer garden in the U.S. since Prohibition, Estabrook Beer Garden offers a traditional German beer garden experience with imported beer from the Munich Hofbräuhaus. The menu includes brats, hot dogs, freshly baked soft pretzels, and a Friday fish fry. The venue is cashless and provides online food and drink ordering.
The Franklin Beer Garden at Croatian Park
TBD
Thursdays, 5-10 p.m.
Set in the heart of the 30-acre Croatian Park, this beer garden brings the party every Thursday night with live music, local and Croatian brews and mouthwatering eats like Ćevapčići (homemade sausages) and Croatian nachos. Sip on the exclusive Croatian Park Ale or score a BOGO tap beer during the "Happiest Happy Hour" from 5-6 p.m. With bocce ball courts, volleyball, a playground and TVs for catching the game, it’s the perfect spot for families, friends and even four-legged companions.
Hubbard Park Beer Garden
Now through October
Monday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, noon-10 p.m.
Sunday, noon. to 9 p.m.
Nestled along the Oak Leaf Trail in Shorewood, Hubbard Park Beer Garden offers a cozy riverside escape with a European flair. Sip on a rotating selection of German and local craft beers, enjoy hearty bites like Usinger’s sausages, giant pretzels and their popular Friday fish fry, all while relaxing under the trees or in a private cabana. Whether you're biking the trail, gathering with friends or just soaking in the park vibes, this spot is a hidden gem worth discovering.
Juneau Beer Garden
May 15 - September
Tuesday- Friday, 4-9 p.m. | Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Situated in historic Juneau Park on Milwaukee's East Side, this beer garden offers a serene setting close to downtown and the lakefront. It features a selection of local beers and is a popular spot for both locals and visitors.
Kegel's Inn Beer Garden
Open Year-Round (Times Vary Seasonally)
Tuesday-Thursday, 4-8 p.m. | Friday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Saturday, 4-9 p.m.
Located in the heart of West Allis, Kegel's Inn Beer Garden offers an authentic German experience with its traditional Hofbräu tables and umbrellas, reminiscent of Munich's beer gardens. You can enjoy a full-service outdoor dining experience, the only one of its kind in the Milwaukee area, with live local music every week: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 p.m., Fridays from 12-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays at 6-9 p.m.
Klode Park Beer Garden
Late May- End of September
Fridays, 4-9 p.m. | & Saturdays, 3-9 p.m.
Whitefish Bay’s Klode Park Beer Garden is a popular seasonal pop-up hosted by local craft breweries like Torzala Brewing Company, set atop the bluff at Klode Park overlooking Lake Michigan. It pops up select Friday and Saturday evenings from late spring through early fall, offering rotating local brews, food trucks, live music, yard games and a family‑friendly lakeside atmosphere complete with playground access and picnic‑style seating.
Roundhouse Beer Garden at McKinley Marina
May 21 - Early September
Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Located next to the Milwaukee Yacht Club, Roundhouse Beer Garden offers lakeside views and a welcoming atmosphere. Operated by The Bartolotta Restaurant Group, it features a menu with items like the Milwaukee Pretzel Company's Bavarian Beast pretzel, walking lobster rolls and a variety of local beers and boozy slushies, and if you stop by on Sunday nights, you can also enjoy live music on Sunday nights and yard games.
Third Ward Beer Garden
May 1 - October 19
Wednesday-Friday 3-9 p.m. | Saturday Noon-9 p.m. | Sunday Noon-6 p.m.
Nestled in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward, the Third Ward Beer Garden at Catalano Square brings neighbors together around a unique two-level container bar. It's an easy spot to grab dinner to go from a local restaurant and enjoy local brews from Third Space, cocktails or wine, while free live music fills the summer air. Or stop by on your way to a festival at Henry Maier Festival Park.
South Shore Terrace Kitchen & Beer Garden
April 16 - Early November
Wednesday-Friday, 4-9 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Set inside a historic 1930s bathhouse in Bay View, South Shore Terrace offers a beautiful lakeside dining experience where Milwaukee’s culture meets stunning Lake Michigan views. The menu celebrates fresh, crowd-pleasing flavors with pretzels, cheese boards, sandwiches and the beloved Friday fish fry. With plenty of indoor and outdoor communal seating, it’s the perfect spot to relax, mingle, and savor the best of summer.
The Vine Humboldt Beer Garden
May 21 - September
Tuesdays-Fridays, 4-9 p.m. | Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Located at the historic Humboldt Park Pavilion, The Vine Humboldt serves four craft beers on tap in a relaxed, picturesque setting. In the summer, the garden comes alive with smooth jazz performances and is just steps away from the popular Chill on the Hill concert series. It’s the perfect spot to sip, sway to live music and enjoy the Milwaukee County Parks.
War Memorial Beer Garden
May 22 - Early October
Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Nestled on Milwaukee’s picturesque lakefront, the War Memorial Beer Garden offers stunning views of Lake Michigan. Operated by Kegel’s Inn, it features a selection of locally brewed craft beers, refreshing ciders and seasonal favorites. You can enjoy live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. The venue is family-friendly and offers loaded brats, pretzels and other German/Midwestern-inspired dishes. It's also a gateway to nearby attractions like the Milwaukee Art Museum and Veterans Park.
Whitnall Park Beer Garden
May 1 - Mid-October
Monday-Friday, 4-9 p.m. | Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Tucked away among the trees along the Root River, Whitnall Park Beer Garden serves some of Wisconsin’s best brews in a laid-back, scenic setting. With 24 tap lines pouring craft favorites, live music rocking the stage every Saturday and tasty themed nights like Taco Tuesdays and Fish Fry Fridays, there’s always something to toast to. Every pint you raise helps support Milwaukee County Parks, so go ahead and have another!
Traveling Beer Gardens
Bayside Beer Garden
Beer Garden Dates/Locations:
- May 23: 3-8 p.m. at Ellsworth Park
- June 6: 3-8 p.m. at Ellsworth Park
- June 20: 3-8 p.m. at Ellsworth Park
- July 11: 3-8 p.m. at Ellsworth Park
- July 18: 3-8 p.m. at Ellsworth Park
- August 1: 3-8 p.m. at Ellsworth Park
- August 4: myBlue Day Out & Car Show, 5-7 p.m. at Village Hall
- August 29: 3-8 p.m. at Ellsworth Park
- September 20: Fall Fest & Movie, 2-9 p.m. at Village Hall
- October 10: Oktoberfest, 1-6 p.m. at Ellsworth Park
- October 11: Oktoberfest, 1-6 p.m. at Ellsworth Park
- October 25: Pop-Up Pumpkin Party, 1-5 p.m. at Ellsworth Park
The Bayside Beer Garden is a summertime highlight of the North Shore community, popping up at Ellsworth Park (600 E Ellsworth Ln) and Village Hall. Organized in partnership with Torzala Brewing Co., each of the eight seasonal events features their craft beers on tap, paired with rotating local food trucks and live music under the gazebo. It's designed as a laid‑back, family‑friendly gathering, so bring lawn chairs, blankets, kids (there’s a playground) and even your dog, while neighbors relax, sample brews, enjoy tunes and mingle in the open green space.
Milwaukee County Parks Traveling Beer Garden
May 13 - September 20
Monday-Friday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Beer Garden Dates/Locations
- May 13-25: Wilson Park
- May 27 - June 14: McCarty Park
- June 3-21: Cooper Park
- June 17 - July 5: Grant Park
- June 24 - July 13: Lake Park
- July 8-26: Sheridan Park
- July 15 - August 2: Doctor's Park
- July 29 - August 16: Froemming Park
- August 19 - September 7, 12 & 13, 19 & 20: Greenfield Park
- September 12 & 13: Trmborn Farm
The Milwaukee County Parks Traveling Beer Garden is a summer-long event that brings a restored firetruck-turned-mobile-taproom to different parks every two weeks from May through September. Featuring craft beers from Sprecher and other local breweries, along with snacks like brats and soft pretzels, the beer garden also offers live music on select nights and commemorative glassware with each pour. Rooted in Milwaukee’s beer garden tradition, the event fosters community, supports park improvements, and delivers a laid-back outdoor experience in scenic settings across the county.
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