Complete guide

Rooftop Bars Milwaukee

2025 update

Country United States

Currency US Dollar

Best time to visit May - September

Rooftop grade 6/10

Courtesy of The Outsider

Milwaukee Rooftop Guide

By:Rikard Fredricson

Updated:September 2, 2023

Milwaukee rooftop map

To make the most out of the rather short but oh so lovely Milwaukee summer, plan a visit (or several actually) to some of the top Milwaukee rooftop bars. Elevated drinks, tasty bites, scenic views and some sunshine. It doesn't get much better than that.

This guide to the best rooftop bars Milwaukee will help you find the venues you crave and need, packed with all info in one place: opening hours, dress code, pictures, maps and much more. From a swanky Downtown rooftop lounge to relaxing East Side patios. Just scroll down and find the Milwaukee rooftop bar best suited for you.

The list

10 best rooftop bars in Milwaukee

Rooftop bar Milwaukee The Outsider Rooftop Bar — 1

The Outsider

$$$$ | 9th floor | Third Ward

Highlights

Elegant & swanky

Amazing views

Year-round

The Outsider Rooftop Bar is a **spacious and swanky cocktail lounge**, located 9 floors up at the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel in the historic Third Ward. Modern and elegant in decoration, the rooftop comes with six unique indoor and outdoor areas, offering amazing skyline views year-round. In a sophisticated yet vibrant ambience, the rooftop bar serves festive cocktails, crafts on tap, a wide selection of wines and some shareable snacks and sliders.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar Milwaukee Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen Rooftop Bar — 2

Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen

$$$ | 4th floor | East Town

Highlights

Multi-level

Fantastic views

Crafted cocktails

Located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, the Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen is housed in a beautiful and renovated 11,700-square-foot building. Covering five floors, the true gem is the top floor rooftop terrace, called The Aviary. Spacious and modern, the open-air rooftop comes with plenty of bar-style seating, all surrounded with **fantastic views over the Milwaukee skyline**. A perfect spot to indulge in award winning cocktails created with Central Standard spirits.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar Milwaukee Café Benelux Rooftop Bar — 3

Café Benelux

$$$ | 2nd floor | Third Ward

Highlights

Friendly & vibrant

Morning to night

Massive Belgian bier selection

Surrounded by the high-rise buildings of downtown Milwaukee, the spacious Café Benelux rooftop terrace is warm and sunny during daytime, cosy under strings of lights at night, and comfy in the Lux Globes during winter. Taking inspiration from the grand cafés of the the Benelux region, this place aims to serve as a home away from home, **a place to gather any time of the day** for food and drinks. Which can be theaward-winning Belgian bier selection, or the large menu of 'from-scratch-food'.

Everything you need to know

Play

10 Spectacular Rooftop Bars in Milwaukee

Rooftop bar Milwaukee Good City Brewing Rooftop Bar — 4

Good City Brewing

$$$ | 2nd floor | East Side

Highlights

Spacious

Welcoming & friendly

Great food

Located in the heart of Milwaukee's vibrant East Side, Good City Brewing is a **spacious, fun and friendly venue**, packed with production brewery, urban taproom and a lovely second floor rooftop terrace. Apart from the large and obvious selection of in-house brewed beers, Good City Brewing menu also includes beer-inspired cocktails, wine and a very impressive and tasty selection of food. Welcoming and friendly in atmosphere, the open-air terrace is a great spot for a sunny rooftop lunch or some happy hour beers.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar Milwaukee Uncle Bucks on 3rd Rooftop Bar — 5

Uncle Bucks on 3rd

$$$ | 3rd floor | Westown

Highlights

Fun & vibrant

Sports & nightlife

High end pub fare

Found in the heart of Deer District, downtown Milwaukee's most prominent entertainment area, Uncle Bucks on 3rd is a **multi-level venue**, mixing high end pub fare with sporting events and nightlife. From the fun and vibrant interior, up to the third floor rooftop, offering great views of the Milwaukee river and skyline. Come for weekend brunch, to watch a game, to dance the night away, or just to chill with some friends at the fire bar on the rooftop.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar Milwaukee Braise Rooftop Bar — 6

Braise

$$$ | 2nd floor | Harbor View

Highlights

Unique & local

Rooftop greenhouse

Farm-to-table

A lovely farm to table restaurant, as well as a culinary school, Braise also comes with a **unique rooftop terrace**. Charming, simple and very natural in setting, the wood- and garden inspired rooftop fits very well with the local, farmer and community supported restaurant. The rooftop is in full swing during the warmer months, but it also holds cosy rooftop greenhouses, that can be reserved for private dining experiences year-round. Enjoy slow grown and natural food, crafted cocktails and local beers. If you like what you eat (which you propably will), you can also take one of the Braise cooking classes.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar Milwaukee Skyline Bar + Lounge Rooftop Bar — 7

Skyline Bar + Lounge

$$$ | 4th floor | Westown

Highlights

Exclusive

360° views

Saké Tasting

Found on top of the Nō Studios, Skyline Bar + Lounge is modern and stylish venue, made for elevated Milwaukee experiences. The stunning glass enclosed space is complemented with two outdoor patios, all surrounded with **unobstructed 360° views** of the city. Quite exclusive, the Skyline Bar + Lounge is usually only open to the public during special events, and otherwise reserved for Nō Studios Club Members and private events & engaging experience packages.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar Milwaukee Red Lion Pub Rooftop Bar — 8

Red Lion Pub

$$$ | 2nd floor | Lower East Side

Highlights

British

Lush

Milwaukee Soccer headquarters

The Red Lion Pub is a one of a kind downtown Milwaukee destination, bringing a large slice of the UK to the trendy East Side neighborhood. Set over two levels, **British hospitality, food and drinks** are available inside year-round, and when the weather allows, also on the lush and sunny rooftop terrace. Enjoy British dishes paired with Wisconsin infused, favorite American fare, along with a variety of authentic brews, spirits and cocktails, and catch a game of English footy any time.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar Milwaukee Pilot Project Rooftop Bar — 9

Pilot Project

$$$ | 3rd floor | Westown

Highlights

Brewery incubator

Skyline views

Relaxing

Located in the Pabst Brewery District, Pilot Project offers brewery incubator, restaurant and rooftop bar in one vibrant venue. The spacious rooftop terrace offers both comfy lounge seating and bar spots, as well as open air spaces and a covered area. All surrounded with **lovely views over the downtown skyline and Deer District**. Pretty much made for sunny and relaxing outings with friends, the rooftop menu features Italian street food, craft beer, hard kombucha, wine, draft cocktails and much more.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar Milwaukee Pizza Man Rooftop Bar — 10

Pizza Man

$$$ | 2nd floor | East Side

Highlights

Italian & Pizza

Wine bar

For **pizza, wine, fun times** and some elevated al-fresco vibes, head to Pizza Man, located in the Murray Hill area of East Side Milwakuee. While the Pizza Man rooftop is more like a second floor balcony than a sky-high terrace, it is a charming and lovely outdoor spot, offering nice views over the iconic Downer Avenue. Indulge in fresh and handmade pies and signature pastas, along with a wide selection of wines from around the world, and beers on both tap and bottle.

Everything you need to know

Rikard Fredricson

Rikard has spent the last 10 years exploring, enjoying, researching and working with rooftop venues. During these years he has visited more than 700 rooftops across the globe. The experience he has gained is used to create helpful, in-depth and accessible content, and to share his knowledge and rooftop expertise with fellow rooftop-lovers.

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City info

Rooftop bar Milwaukee

Rooftop-grade: 6/10

Prime season: May - Sept

Inhabitants: 1,3 millions

Climate: humid continental

Located on Lake Michigan's western shore, Milwaukee has cold, windy, snowy winters, and warm, humid summers. So the peak outdoor rooftop season is limited to the warmer months between May to September. But that doesn't stop some of the Milwaukee rooftop bars staying open year-round, thanks to rooftop igloos and other heating solutions.

Most of the Milwaukee rooftop bars can be found in the historic Third Ward in downtown, or in the vibrant East Side area.

About Milwaukee

Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin, but only the 31st largest in the United States. Located next to Lake Michigan, the city is a popular place for water activities like sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. In the early 80's, Milwaukee had the greatest brewing capacity in the world. And while the beer-making has gone down a bit, it is still a big part of the city, and Milwaukee is also home to the famous Miller Brewing Company.

Rooftop Bars Milwaukee

Milwaukee Rooftop Guide