6 Budget-Friendly Dining Activities in Milwaukee

In the past couple of years, Milwaukee has undergone a revitalization. The Milwaukee Bucks tore down it’s beloved Bradley Center and built a brand new arena called the Fiserv Forum. Along with it, the city added a new entertainment district. In other parts of downtown Milwaukee and the surrounding city area, more entertainment spots and experiential dining activities in Milwaukee have popped up. 

It’s been so fun seeing the city be revitalized and offering more and more to it’s residents and tourists. Here is a list of 5 budget-friendly dining activities in Milwaukee that we love! 

1. 3rd Street Market HALL

3rd Street Market Hall is an upscale food hall located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. It has an open market-style space with lots of local vendors. For food and beverages, there are currently five food vendors and one main bar in the center of the hall. For entertainment, there are TVs all around the hall, free games such as shuffleboard and snookball, and a selfie museum. The selfie museum was created in collaboration with the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) and a great spot for your next photo op! More to come with this 40,000-square-foot food hall. They’re planning on having more food vendors!

2. Crossroads collective

Crossroads Collective is a food hall located on the busy Milwaukee corner of North Ave and Farwell Ave. There are eight restaurants owned by local entrepreneurs. Each restaurant is an independent, local, and chef-owned business with most ingredients locally sourced if possible and all of the food is made from scratch. When the weather is nice, the outdoor patio opens up!

3. Zocalo

Zocalo is a word for a public square in Mexico. It is also Milwaukee’s first food truck park! There are six different food trucks owned by a diverse mix of local entrepreneurs. There is a full-service bar with lots of fun craft cocktail options. The casual atmosphere makes it the perfect hang out spot any weeknight or weekend! And, with indoor and outdoor seating options, you and your crew will always have a place to go year round. Check out Zocalo’s website for upcoming events and entertainment options happening there!

4. Milwaukee Public Market

Milwaukee Public Market is an industrial-chic marketplace, considered one of Milwaukee’s most unique food destinations! On the first floor, there are over 16 different restaurants to dine at and several independent merchants selling local goodies. On the second floor, there are plenty of seating to enjoy your food and snacks. The Milwaukee Public Market also offers a variety of cooking classes, and the second floor space is available for private events. Located in the Third Ward neighborhood, this is the perfect spot to stop for a food and drink break after a fun day of shopping!

5. Deer District

The Deer District is Milwaukee’s newest neighborhood built for sports and entertainment. There are six different vendors, and it is home to the Milwaukee Bucks basketball arena: Fiserv Forum. Our favorite thing? The Beer Garden is an open space with a large (like, extra large) TV screen that plays different sports games and even TV shows. When the weather gets nicer, the space is used for free fitness classes like barre, zumba or yoga and fun community events like farmer’s market and doggy day market.

6. Sherman Phoenix

Sherman Phoenix is a high-quality space for small businesses of color offering diverse foods, wellness services, and cultural activities. This community safe space was created as a way to bring the neighborhood together and unity the people after a violet unrest broke out in 2016 after a fatal police shooting rocked the community. There are six different food vendors and many other shops to visit and support a great mission!

Have you checked out any of these Milwaukee hotspots? What do you think? For more Milwaukee dining ideas, check out some of our date night restaurant recommendations and our favorite fish fry spots!