Guidebook for Madison
Essentials
Small grocery store w/in walking distance. Open 24/7. Full selection of items (incl. produce and meat). A touch more expensive than a big grocery store.
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Capitol Centre Market
111 N Broom StSmall grocery store w/in walking distance. Open 24/7. Full selection of items (incl. produce and meat). A touch more expensive than a big grocery store.
A little farther away than Capitol Center, but still within walking distance. Better selection of produce and meats. Has a deli w/ some prepared foods.
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Fresh Madison Market
703 University AveA little farther away than Capitol Center, but still within walking distance. Better selection of produce and meats. Has a deli w/ some prepared foods.
Since its 2016 opening, this has been my go-to place for groceries. It's the closest big grocery store around (and it's really, really big). If you need it, they probably have it. Plus, they have lots of pre-made meals for those nights you want to eat in but don't want to cook. Double check before you go, but as far as I know, it's open early (5 AM) to late (12 AM) every day.
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Festival Foods
810 E Washington AveSince its 2016 opening, this has been my go-to place for groceries. It's the closest big grocery store around (and it's really, really big). If you need it, they probably have it. Plus, they have lots of pre-made meals for those nights you want to eat in but don't want to cook. Double check before you go, but as far as I know, it's open early (5 AM) to late (12 AM) every day.
Food Scene
A much-loved Wisconsin original. Excellent coffee plus breakfast and lunch menu. Free wifi, but tables fill quickly. A great place to buy a pound of coffee if you want to drink local after you leave!
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Colectivo Coffee - On The Square
25 S Pinckney StA much-loved Wisconsin original. Excellent coffee plus breakfast and lunch menu. Free wifi, but tables fill quickly. A great place to buy a pound of coffee if you want to drink local after you leave!
More breakfast/lunch place than coffeehouse, but not a bad place to grab a coffee, either. Be sure to try the donut muffins!
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Marigold Kitchen
118 S Pinckney StMore breakfast/lunch place than coffeehouse, but not a bad place to grab a coffee, either. Be sure to try the donut muffins!
The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney StClassic Wisconsin fare. One of my favorites.
Another of my favorite restaurants. Farm-to-Table food, good cocktails, and all-glass walls looking out on the Capitol.
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Graze
1 S Pinckney StAnother of my favorite restaurants. Farm-to-Table food, good cocktails, and all-glass walls looking out on the Capitol.
Sardine
617 Williamson StExcellent seafood. This is where I go when I go out for a fancy dinner.
My restaurant of choice for take-out. It's walking/biking distance, so you can call your order in, go pick it up, and be home to eat while the food is still hot.
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Bandung Indonesian Restaurant
600 Williamson StMy restaurant of choice for take-out. It's walking/biking distance, so you can call your order in, go pick it up, and be home to eat while the food is still hot.
My go-to sushi spot—about a 10 min walk from the apartment. Great for take-out, but also a beautiful space to go to enjoy a meal. The dinner menu has downtown Madison dinner prices, but they have some very good lunch special prices if you want to save money.
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RED
316 W Washington AveMy go-to sushi spot—about a 10 min walk from the apartment. Great for take-out, but also a beautiful space to go to enjoy a meal. The dinner menu has downtown Madison dinner prices, but they have some very good lunch special prices if you want to save money.
Some of the best burgers in town. A touch cheaper than surrounding restaurants—and a bit more local and gritty, which I like. Highly recommended.
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Tipsy Cow
102 King StSome of the best burgers in town. A touch cheaper than surrounding restaurants—and a bit more local and gritty, which I like. Highly recommended.
Drinks & Nightlife
My favorite nearby bar. They also have wood-fired pizzas and an amazing dish called Three Cup Chicken. There's no sign out front, which makes finding it a bonus adventure.
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Natt Spil
211 King StMy favorite nearby bar. They also have wood-fired pizzas and an amazing dish called Three Cup Chicken. There's no sign out front, which makes finding it a bonus adventure.
A little too cool for school, but the Two Smoking Barrels cocktail is the best drink I've had in Madison. So I put on my hipster pants and/or waistcoat and go sometimes.
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Merchant Madison
121 S Pinckney StA little too cool for school, but the Two Smoking Barrels cocktail is the best drink I've had in Madison. So I put on my hipster pants and/or waistcoat and go sometimes.
A good place to get some food, too (esp. pizza), but I like this place as a bar. It's just a couple blocks up from the apartment and definitely worth stopping by.
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Lucille
101 King StA good place to get some food, too (esp. pizza), but I like this place as a bar. It's just a couple blocks up from the apartment and definitely worth stopping by.
If you like whiskey, this "whiskey lounge" with 300 whiskeys on the shelves is your spot. Tip: if you go in early—say, after 5 to be proper about it, but before 8—this is one of those places you can bring a book or even a computer and not feel like you're killing the vibe. It's nerdy, I know, but it's a great way to transition to the evening if you need to get some things done before you can fully relax.
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Cask & Ale
212 State StIf you like whiskey, this "whiskey lounge" with 300 whiskeys on the shelves is your spot. Tip: if you go in early—say, after 5 to be proper about it, but before 8—this is one of those places you can bring a book or even a computer and not feel like you're killing the vibe. It's nerdy, I know, but it's a great way to transition to the evening if you need to get some things done before you can fully relax.
Arts & Culture
A wonderful, newly constructed library within walking distance.
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Madison Public Library
201 W Mifflin StA wonderful, newly constructed library within walking distance.
A great museum right on the Capitol Square. It always has some cool new exhibit worth checking out.
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Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N Carroll StA great museum right on the Capitol Square. It always has some cool new exhibit worth checking out.
Sightseeing
Frank Lloyd Wright designed building. That terrace you can see from the sunroom window? That's the Monona Terrace and, except during special events, you're welcome to go up there and stroll around.
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Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
1 John Nolen DrFrank Lloyd Wright designed building. That terrace you can see from the sunroom window? That's the Monona Terrace and, except during special events, you're welcome to go up there and stroll around.
Memorial Union Terrace
800 Langdon StThis is the place to be in the summer. Don't miss it!
Entertainment & Activities
Kids love this place, and so do parents. I speak from experience.
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Barnamúseum Madison
100 N Hamilton StKids love this place, and so do parents. I speak from experience.