Head to the Rooftop for Food & Drinks with a View

Some of the best views of Wisconsin’s lively cities and rolling glacial landscapes come from above. Enjoy that soaring perspective at these rooftop restaurants and bars, where you and your loved ones can relax for the evening alongside spectacular scenery, high-end drinks and delicious bites.

The Charmant Hotel - La Crosse 

Here’s a fun idea for a night out with friends: Pay a visit to a former candy factory to enjoy an artisan meal and cocktails. The Charmant (now an upscale hotel) has a rooftop bar overlooking the Mississippi and downtown La Crosse that specializes in wood-fired pizza. How does a Sausage & Curds pizza and a Lemon Lavender Mojito sound? 

Mallory’s Restaurant & Rooftop Bar - Hudson 

Is it the middle of winter and you’re aching to get outside for some drinks? Ditch the hot chocolate and instead enjoy a custom cocktail at Mallory’s heated rooftop bar. You’ll find a selection of warming drinks like a Warm Body Toddy and a Hot Tiramisu, plus a variety of Moscow mules. And don’t worry — Mallory’s is open year-round, so you and your crew can enjoy views of the St. Croix River with sips and bites in any season. 

Café Benelux - Milwaukee 

Celebrate everything Belgian on the rooftop of Café Benelux, where you and your crew can pretend you’re in the European lowlands. An award-winning selection of beer awaits, along with Belgian specialties, such as mussels and frites, and inventive dishes like brunch corn dogs and frites cones. As cold weather arrives, heated domes keep this rooftop hopping. 

Crow’s Nest Rooftop Bar - Kenosha 

After spending a day out on Lake Michigan in Kenosha, go check out the skyward view of where you were from the Crow’s Nest Rooftop Bar at The Stella Hotel. You can enjoy a signature cocktail, pulled pork nachos or delicious crab cake sliders. Head up just before sunset — the panorama is unrivaled. 

Eno Vino - Madison

Grab your friends and head up to Eno Vino, the outdoor lounge on the ninth floor of the AC Hotel. It’s a good place for sharing both stories and food, thanks to the shared bites menu. Capture that Instagrammable shot with an Alcohol You Later cocktail with a lemon twist and the magnificent Capitol building in the background. 

Sub Pub - Manitowoc 

For a unique rooftop experience, spend a pleasant day with the family learning about Wisconsin’s watery depths at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, then head upstairs for a rooftop drink overlooking an actual submarine. And don’t forget to challenge one of the kids to a game of giant Battleship while you’re up there! 

The Rooftop at Hotel Goodwin - Beloit 

At the Hotel Goodwin, head upstairs to Beloit’s only rooftop bar. Specialty cocktails are the name of the game here, with unique options (Violet Lemonade, anyone?) as well as Wisconsin classics, such as the brandy Old Fashioned. On Sundays, you and your honey can sip drinks around a firepit, with live music as the soundtrack and sparkling views of downtown as the backdrop.

Dine in a Dreamy Dome 

Don’t let cold weather stop you from enjoying a meal with your friends outside. These opportunities for igloo dining will keep you warm and well-fed, even in the middle of winter. At Fox River Brewing in Oshkosh, they’re called River Domes, and you — plus up to nine of your favorite friends — can have a delicious meal in covered comfort. Hot tip: Hook up to the bluetooth speaker in your dome for a real party! In Lake Geneva, head to Pier 290’s igloos — they’re right on the beach so you’ll get a phenomenal view of the lake in winter, or maybe a gently falling snow, while you eat. And at Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, the lakeside igloos are the perfect spot to enjoy a meal with the kids. Trust us, they’ll love the chocolate chunk cookie s’mores.