Things to do near the Milwaukee Airport. When you're alive. And without a car. And hungry.

November 5, 2011 10:29 AM

What to do and where to eat when you are at a conference near the Milwaukee Airport?

Mrs. TomSophieIvy will be staying at the Best Western Plus for a conference from Monday until Thursday. Mrs TSI will be solo and seeks good food and other activities for the evening hours. She loves good food of all kinds (we're spoiled in our Portland neighborhood) and anything with a local/regional emphasis would be welcome, as well as Mexican, Brazilian and Asian. (I have looked at the previous Milwaukee posts and none have addressed this specific locale and her lack of car.)
Is public transportation doable or will she have to seek out cabs?
Much thanks for any help you can offer!

posted by TomSophieIvy to Travel & Transportation around Milwaukee, WI (7 answers total)

There is a bus (MCTS route 80) from the airport, if she's okay with buses, that will drop her right downtown Milwaukee. A taxi is $30 but the bus isn't too long a ride and it's ... a buck seventy-five or something? I just rode it a few weeks ago to the airport. My go to page was Milwaukee Without a Car. When I got in to Milwaukee, I wound up eating at Cafe Beneluxe which had good beer and weird/funny local food with a Belgian twist and was also a totally decent place for a solo traveler to eat. It's in the "historic third ward" which has a lot of other stuff going on. Bit of a walk from the bus stop but you can either transfer or take a cab the short route. They're also open super late.

Don't know what she likes to do for fun but OnMilwaukee is good for seeing what's up and here's the tourist-facing website. I checked out the downtown public library which is a neat building and also wandered around Marquette which is right there. They have a Tolkien collection but I'm not sure if you can just casually browse it.
posted by jessamyn at 10:50 AM on November 5, 2011

Lots of fun stuff to do in nearby Bay View. Was gonna suggest Centraal, which is funny since it's the same people as Benelux). Nearby, Sugar Maple has a great selection of local beers. Sparrow Collective has crafty stuff from local artists. Lots of other interesting bars and shops in the area along KK Ave, and it is cab- or bus-able from your hotel without much trouble. Easy access from there to DT/Third Ward, too.

Mexican Food: Conejito's Place. If she goes with Jessamyn's recommendation and takes the 80 downtown, this is on the way.

Closer to the hotel, Jalapeño Loco is practically next store and is pretty good. Or she could take the 55 up to Kopp's Frozen Custard on 76th & Layton. It's otherwise kind of suburban out there, but frozen custard and a burger is definitely a Milwaukee thing to do.
posted by substars at 11:58 AM on November 5, 2011

There is nothing redeeming about the neighborhood around the airport. Sorry. Before taking a bus, I'd see if the hotel has a downtown shuttle.

I agree with the suggestions of the Third Ward and Bay View. For authentic Mexican food I'd try La Perla or El Fuente, which are in a heavily Hispanic neighborhood. For Japanese food, there's no substitute for Izumi's on the upper east side. The east side also has some good bars and coffee shops. It's really far afield from the airport, however.

I live not too far from the airport so feel free to memail with more questions.
posted by desjardins at 12:37 PM on November 5, 2011

For an Italian option, I highly recommend Tenuta's, which is on the corner of Clement and Manitoba in Bay View. This is kind of near the hotel. A bus (Route 11, which you can catch on the corner of Layton and Howell) will get you closer, and then she can walk a few blocks. I'd probably take a cab, though.
posted by crLLC at 1:05 PM on November 5, 2011

The buses in Milwaukee cost $2.25. The 11 is (to me at least) one of the most frustrating bus routes in Milwaukee. It can be as long as an hour wait depending on where/when you try to catch it.

There's a Mexican restaurant near the airport called El Fuego on 9th and Layton . I haven't eaten there personally, but family members have and said it was good.

If you can, try the restaurants and bars near Kinnickinnic Ave. in Bay View or near North Ave. on Milwaukee's East Side.
posted by drezdn at 2:06 PM on November 5, 2011

El Fuego is perfectly fine albeit noisy.

Important note: you will never be able to flag down a taxi in Milwaukee even outside of bars, so call ahead.
posted by desjardins at 1:21 PM on November 6, 2011

Since this is still open for some reason, let me just say that Jalapeno Loco, mentioned above, is the best Mexican food I've eaten in Wisconsin and is literally across the street from the airport.
posted by escabeche at 6:28 PM on August 17, 2012