Food/Drink Roundup: Milwaukee named 8th best beer city in U.S., which seems low Matt Wild March 5, 2025 Looking for a roundup of Milwaukee food and drink news? Then take a bite of our cleverly titled, bi-weekly Food/Drink Roundup! This week: Milwaukee is only the 8th best beer city in the U.S.? • Milwaukee exists in two worlds. One world is where Milwaukeeans (us included) incessantly preach that the city “is so much more than beer and brats and cheese or whatever.” The other world is where the very same Milwaukeeans (us included) get pretty sore when, say, USA TODAY’s 2025 list of the “best beer cities in the U.S.” puts Milwaukee at a kinda-low number eight. Eight? Eight? That’s down from number two in 2024! Sad but true. Take a glance at the media giant’s just-released 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards, and yep, readers think Milwaukee is only the eighth best beer city in the U.S. Huh. Here’s the totally-not-written-by-AI blurb. (Does any human call it “Miller: The Brewery”?) There’s good reason Milwaukee’s baseball team is called the Brewers. Beer giant Miller Brewing put the city on the beer map, and a host of modern craft breweries and beer bars have maintained the city’s legacy as an epic beer destination. Beer history is on display at places like the Historic Pabst Brewery and Miller: The Brewery. Those looking to try something new can do so at some of the city’s many beer gardens, pubs, beer bars, and craft breweries. “Milwaukee was voted the eighth best beer city in USA TODAY’s 2025 list,” says the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “and Lakefront Brewery was 10th in the best brewpub category. Grand Rapids, Michigan, topped the best beer city list, followed by St. Louis in second and San Diego at No. 3.” Grand Rapids? Grand Rapids? [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] • We already know you like beer, but do you also like burgers? Are you looking for a new neighborhood burger joint? Then get excited for Riley’s Bar + Burger, coming this May to 100 E. Montana St. in Bay View. Riley’s is the creation of Jessica and John Ludwig, the owners of the dog-friendly Riley’s Social House in the Third Ward. Dogs won’t be allowed inside Riley’s Bar + Burger, though the lawn outside will feature an “80-seat dog-friendly patio with a pick-up window for walk-up orders and an outdoor bar.” [OnMilwaukee] • Walker’s Point has a new wine bar! Cork MKE opened in late February at 1039 S. 5th St. “The wine bar has 25 wine by-the-glass options right now, with more likely coming in the future,” says the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Beyond that, well, it’s “just a laid-back wine bar.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] • A new cafe, Sweet Connie’s Cafe, is coming to the former Spice House space at 1031 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. [Urban Milwaukee] • A new Mexican restaurant, Cinco Lokos, is now open in the former Thistle & Shamrock space at 3430 N. 84th St. [OnMilwaukee] • Sup ya ding dongs? Bay View bar The Mothership is getting all fancy and shit. An extended bar, an expanded menu, Latin-inspired drinks, and a reduced beer selection are all part of a recent refresh. Still no vaping tho. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] The Mothership, September 2024 • Headlines that feel like sighs, pt. 1: “Another Smoothie Cafe For Lower East Side.” [Urban Milwaukee] • Headlines that feel like sighs, pt. 2: “Different Seafood Restaurant for East Town.” [Urban Milwaukee] • Headlines about new Yemeni coffee joints, pt. 1: “Yemeni Coffee Shop Coming to Harbor District.” [Urban Milwaukee] • Headlines about new Yemeni coffee joints, pt. 2: “Yemeni Cafe Opens on East Side.” [Urban Milwaukee] Want more Milwaukee Record? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and/or support us on Patreon.
