Guidebook for Waunakee
Food Scene
A great spot close to us for breakfast, either sit down (get the breakfast potatoes!) or grab something from the bakery to go. The coffee here is also wonderful, I'm obsessed with the PDQ if you don't mind a good amount of caffeine.
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Manna Cafe & Bakery
611 N Sherman AveA great spot close to us for breakfast, either sit down (get the breakfast potatoes!) or grab something from the bakery to go. The coffee here is also wonderful, I'm obsessed with the PDQ if you don't mind a good amount of caffeine.
Easy to get to from our place, so our top suggestion for those who like pizza and local ingredients! You can't go wrong with any of their specialty pizzas.
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Salvatore's Tomato Pies
912 E Johnson StEasy to get to from our place, so our top suggestion for those who like pizza and local ingredients! You can't go wrong with any of their specialty pizzas.
This is our stop for fun, local, asian fusion food that has easy parking and isn't too far from us. Their cocktails are always unique (they had a beet one last time that was amazing!) and we enjoy their changing menu. Tori Miller sources things locally so he gets a thumbs up from us!
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Sujeo
10 N Livingston StThis is our stop for fun, local, asian fusion food that has easy parking and isn't too far from us. Their cocktails are always unique (they had a beet one last time that was amazing!) and we enjoy their changing menu. Tori Miller sources things locally so he gets a thumbs up from us!
This is our Number 1 recommendation for those who are able to splurge on dinner, and who aren't afraid of richness and local meat (they are not too vegetarian friendly). Dan has been an amazing chef and friend to us, buying produce and eggs from us as well as from many of our farmer friends. He is dedicating to creating ridiculously yummy food in a fun setting, with as many local ingredients as possible. It's our anniversary, birthday, gotta-celebrate spot. Sometimes we even stop by JUST for the duck fat fries... but we've had almost everything on the menu and have never been steered wrong.
21 broj lokalaca koji preporučuju
A Pig In A Fur Coat
940 Williamson StThis is our Number 1 recommendation for those who are able to splurge on dinner, and who aren't afraid of richness and local meat (they are not too vegetarian friendly). Dan has been an amazing chef and friend to us, buying produce and eggs from us as well as from many of our farmer friends. He is dedicating to creating ridiculously yummy food in a fun setting, with as many local ingredients as possible. It's our anniversary, birthday, gotta-celebrate spot. Sometimes we even stop by JUST for the duck fat fries... but we've had almost everything on the menu and have never been steered wrong.
If you're going to be more on the west side of Madison, or Middleton, this is another great spot that really tries to stay local with a rotating menu. Another one of our "birthday" / "special occasion" spots it's not as expensive as some places downtown, but definitely feels luxurious.
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Oliver's Public House
2540 University AveIf you're going to be more on the west side of Madison, or Middleton, this is another great spot that really tries to stay local with a rotating menu. Another one of our "birthday" / "special occasion" spots it's not as expensive as some places downtown, but definitely feels luxurious.
This is my spot for when I need caffeine, a place to telecommute, and I crave their cubano crepe wrap that they make. The food is just as good as the coffee and tea drinks, and it is set inside a restored furrier building so some original aspects of the building have remained. They also have a connecting outdoor patio which is wonderful in nicer weather!
Black Locust Cafe
829 E Washington AveThis is my spot for when I need caffeine, a place to telecommute, and I crave their cubano crepe wrap that they make. The food is just as good as the coffee and tea drinks, and it is set inside a restored furrier building so some original aspects of the building have remained. They also have a connecting outdoor patio which is wonderful in nicer weather!
If you are on the west side and craving a sweet treat you cannot go wrong with Chocolaterian. Nothing about it's healthy but everything is decadent. I love the chocolate mousse using local milk and honey, along with the Monona bar. It's a nice spot for food and coffee as well. Occasionally they have live music or poetry readings at night as well.
Chocolaterian Cafe
6637 University AveIf you are on the west side and craving a sweet treat you cannot go wrong with Chocolaterian. Nothing about it's healthy but everything is decadent. I love the chocolate mousse using local milk and honey, along with the Monona bar. It's a nice spot for food and coffee as well. Occasionally they have live music or poetry readings at night as well.
A quintessential stop to get a feel for the local Farm to Table scene. This restaurant is run by a James Beard Award Winning chef - Tory Miller, and features as much local ingredients as possible. The restaurant staff even partakes in the downtown farmer's market each week to stock up! The views of the capital at night are also amazing with giant glass windows.
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Graze
1 S Pinckney StA quintessential stop to get a feel for the local Farm to Table scene. This restaurant is run by a James Beard Award Winning chef - Tory Miller, and features as much local ingredients as possible. The restaurant staff even partakes in the downtown farmer's market each week to stock up! The views of the capital at night are also amazing with giant glass windows.
If you're looking for the feel of an old-school Supper Club without wanting to drive out to the country Old Fashioned is meant for you. Be warned on weekends they can often have long lines, especially for brunch and dinner. The cheese curds are often voted best in Madison, and you can't go wrong with any of their classic items. Get the fish fry on Friday if you want to be a true Wisconsinite.
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The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney StIf you're looking for the feel of an old-school Supper Club without wanting to drive out to the country Old Fashioned is meant for you. Be warned on weekends they can often have long lines, especially for brunch and dinner. The cheese curds are often voted best in Madison, and you can't go wrong with any of their classic items. Get the fish fry on Friday if you want to be a true Wisconsinite.
This place is relatively new on the Madison food scene, but has only received glowing endorsements from everyone I know who has gone there (including myself). Another restaurant truly focused on farm-to-table cuisine, they serve up delicious breakfast items. Be warned, on weekends they often do have long lines, and their hours are a little unusual: Wednesday 6 AM - 3 PM Thursday & Friday 6 AM - Midnight
Saturday 6 AM until Sunday 9 PM !! If you're the adventurous type, take them up on their "Blind Special" which is always a surprise and always delicious.
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Short Stack Eatery
301 W Johnson StThis place is relatively new on the Madison food scene, but has only received glowing endorsements from everyone I know who has gone there (including myself). Another restaurant truly focused on farm-to-table cuisine, they serve up delicious breakfast items. Be warned, on weekends they often do have long lines, and their hours are a little unusual: Wednesday 6 AM - 3 PM Thursday & Friday 6 AM - Midnight
Saturday 6 AM until Sunday 9 PM !! If you're the adventurous type, take them up on their "Blind Special" which is always a surprise and always delicious.
Drinks & Nightlife
This lovely little winery couldn't be any closer to us, you could walk if you really wanted to! With local events, great wines, and a nice outdoor area we recommend it highly! John even does tastings on the weekends. We recommend trying the tasting to get a good feel for what they have to offer, and then maybe some snacks and a bottle to drink or take with you back to our place!
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Drumlin Ridge Winery
6000 River RdThis lovely little winery couldn't be any closer to us, you could walk if you really wanted to! With local events, great wines, and a nice outdoor area we recommend it highly! John even does tastings on the weekends. We recommend trying the tasting to get a good feel for what they have to offer, and then maybe some snacks and a bottle to drink or take with you back to our place!
John's not a beer drinker... (is he a true Wisconsinite?), so this is Laura's recommendation and her favorite brewery close by. However even John is happy to swing by this place due to their awesome food menu they have available. As far as beer, the Nightcall smoked porter is where it's at for dark beers, and the Lady Luck imperial red ale is another favorite. It's sort of tucked away where you wouldn't expect but well worth the trip!
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Karben4 Brewing
3698 Kinsman BlvdJohn's not a beer drinker... (is he a true Wisconsinite?), so this is Laura's recommendation and her favorite brewery close by. However even John is happy to swing by this place due to their awesome food menu they have available. As far as beer, the Nightcall smoked porter is where it's at for dark beers, and the Lady Luck imperial red ale is another favorite. It's sort of tucked away where you wouldn't expect but well worth the trip!
Although you may not think much of it while driving up, this place has some of the best beer for miles, and everything I've had from their food truck has been equally delicious. Kind of a small town vibe with super high quality booze! Anything from Untitled Art Brewing is out of this world, runs out quickly due to small batches, and we love that they collaborate with local artists to design the labels! Definitely grab some bottles or cans to take home with you if you find a beer you like as they're impossible to find elsewhere.
Octopi Brewing
1131 Uniek DrAlthough you may not think much of it while driving up, this place has some of the best beer for miles, and everything I've had from their food truck has been equally delicious. Kind of a small town vibe with super high quality booze! Anything from Untitled Art Brewing is out of this world, runs out quickly due to small batches, and we love that they collaborate with local artists to design the labels! Definitely grab some bottles or cans to take home with you if you find a beer you like as they're impossible to find elsewhere.
Some of the yummiest cocktails in the city, spirits distilled locally, and nestled into a really cool industrial space. On weekend evenings they often have a food truck or other pop up restaurant slinging delicious limited-edition food items outside. Most of the time we go there is live music as well!
State Line Distillery
1413 Northern CtSome of the yummiest cocktails in the city, spirits distilled locally, and nestled into a really cool industrial space. On weekend evenings they often have a food truck or other pop up restaurant slinging delicious limited-edition food items outside. Most of the time we go there is live music as well!
Parks & Nature
This is probably the closest park to us with lots of scenic trails, some water access, and a really nice big picnic area. It's also quite the cross country skiing location once the snow hits the ground.
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Governor Nelson State Park
5140 Co Hwy MThis is probably the closest park to us with lots of scenic trails, some water access, and a really nice big picnic area. It's also quite the cross country skiing location once the snow hits the ground.
Not too far from us, but feels worlds away. If you manage to make it up to the top of Gibraltar Rock you will be treated to some of the best views in this area of the state especially on a clear day. It's a great way to get outside and is right around 30 minutes to drive there from our home.
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Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area
Gibraltar Rock RoadNot too far from us, but feels worlds away. If you manage to make it up to the top of Gibraltar Rock you will be treated to some of the best views in this area of the state especially on a clear day. It's a great way to get outside and is right around 30 minutes to drive there from our home.
If you'd like a mix of prairie and forest, along with meandering trails and pretty views (plus an unfenced dog area to get some puppy pets in) this is a great natural area on a pretty, winding, rustic road that passes through some wonderful farmland. It's an easy 25 minute drive from our home, and Cricket loves to go swimming there when the weather is nice!
11 broj lokalaca koji preporučuju
Indian Lake County Park
8183 WI-19If you'd like a mix of prairie and forest, along with meandering trails and pretty views (plus an unfenced dog area to get some puppy pets in) this is a great natural area on a pretty, winding, rustic road that passes through some wonderful farmland. It's an easy 25 minute drive from our home, and Cricket loves to go swimming there when the weather is nice!
An absolutely beautiful park, nothing comparable to this place within hours! The bluffs are truly stunning and although it gets busy on weekends there are still many quiet trails to get away. The iconic hike that goes all around the lake is a must-do on quiet week days, and as a bonus the park is dog friendly so you can often see many happy pups out on the trail!
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Državni park jezera Đavola
S5975 Park RdAn absolutely beautiful park, nothing comparable to this place within hours! The bluffs are truly stunning and although it gets busy on weekends there are still many quiet trails to get away. The iconic hike that goes all around the lake is a must-do on quiet week days, and as a bonus the park is dog friendly so you can often see many happy pups out on the trail!
If you like people watching, this is a great little spot right along the lake in the city. Lots of people laying out, playing frisbee, or just enjoying the view. Often you can see sail boats out on the weekend. It can get a little crowded so this is not a place to get away from it all.
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James Madison Park
614 E Gorham StIf you like people watching, this is a great little spot right along the lake in the city. Lots of people laying out, playing frisbee, or just enjoying the view. Often you can see sail boats out on the weekend. It can get a little crowded so this is not a place to get away from it all.
This is where John and I met for our first date! If you want a bit of nature but still want to stay near the heart of the city this is a great compromise. We've had a few AirBnB people rent bikes for taking through the area. At different times of year there are different highlights but there's always something to see.
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University of Wisconsin Madison Arboretum Visitor Center
2880 Longenecker DrThis is where John and I met for our first date! If you want a bit of nature but still want to stay near the heart of the city this is a great compromise. We've had a few AirBnB people rent bikes for taking through the area. At different times of year there are different highlights but there's always something to see.
Arts & Culture
A great museum with a wide array of different art, rotating frequently. I personally love the sculpture work. The added plus is that it's right next to the rest of the university including Memorial Union, Bascom Hill, and the lovely State Street with great dining and shopping options.
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Chazen Museum of Art
800 University AveA great museum with a wide array of different art, rotating frequently. I personally love the sculpture work. The added plus is that it's right next to the rest of the university including Memorial Union, Bascom Hill, and the lovely State Street with great dining and shopping options.
Sightseeing
This is the heart of Madison, connecting the University to the downtown area with loads of lovely shops and restaurants. There are often food trucks lined up at both ends to provide you with a snack or beverage from a variety of different cuisines.
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State Street
State StreetThis is the heart of Madison, connecting the University to the downtown area with loads of lovely shops and restaurants. There are often food trucks lined up at both ends to provide you with a snack or beverage from a variety of different cuisines.
Recently renovated, we actually haven't been to the new space but we've heard wonderful things about the updates they've made. My recommendation is to get a pitcher to share, and find a beautiful iconic terrace table and chairs to sit and watch the lake. There's often sail boats to see, and live music on the weekend evenings. Wonderful people watching in a great outdoor space.
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Memorial Union Terrace
800 Langdon StRecently renovated, we actually haven't been to the new space but we've heard wonderful things about the updates they've made. My recommendation is to get a pitcher to share, and find a beautiful iconic terrace table and chairs to sit and watch the lake. There's often sail boats to see, and live music on the weekend evenings. Wonderful people watching in a great outdoor space.