It’s 4:45 p.m. Your meetings are done, but the day is still young. That’s when it’s time to discover one of the things that makes meeting in Madison so memorable: it’s walkable!
Madison is famous for its isthmus — not just because that means our vibrant downtown sits between two sparkling lakes, creating tons of stunning scenery. It also means when your meeting is at Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center, you’re within walking distance of more than 100 restaurants, shops and attractions that make Madison unique.
Bonus: WalletHub named Madison the #2 Best State Capital for Safety, so you can fully immerse yourself in every experience without worry.
Whether you want a route to the closest coffee shop or to check as many Madison must-do’s off your list as you can before heading home, try these top spots:
- Find your coffee fix
- Must-do views
- Shop local
- Really, really good restaurants
- Old fashioneds & Spotted Cows
- Culture-seeker spots
FIND YOUR COFFEE FIX
You’ll find no shortage of coffee options in our capital city. Whether you’re addicted to the one that lets you order ahead by app or you like to meet local baristas who make lattes that look like art, there are plenty of caffeination stations to try nearby.
5 minute walk: Ancora Café + Bakery, Colectivo on the Square, Wonderstate Coffee Madison
MUST-DO VIEWS
Monona Terrace is home to some of the most magnificent views Madison has to offer! Get panoramic views from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the Grand Terrace. Or, try a bird’s eye view from the Rooftop Garden.
But there’s even more to explore:
Less than 5 minute walk: Madison BCycle e-bike rental station at W. Wilson & MLK, the William T. Evjue Rooftop Garden at Monona Terrace, the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda and observation deck (open seasonally)
15 – 20 minute walk: James Madison Park
25 minute walk: Memorial Union Terrace, UW-Madison Bascom Hill
SHOP LOCAL
Also at Monona Terrace: a gift shop that features Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired items from stained glass to tea towels to umbrellas and more. If you’re in a shop ‘til you drop kind of mood, neat boutiques are plentiful around the Capitol Square and along State Street — the majority are locally owned, many with made-in-Madison items.
5 – 10 minute walk: Fromagination, Lake City Books
10 – 15 minute walk: Little Luxuries, Madison Modern Market
15 – 20 minute walk: Good Style Shop, The University Book Store
REALLY, REALLY GOOD RESTAURANTS
An impressive slate of James Beard award-winning chefs. The largest producer-only farmers’ market in the U.S. Plentiful options for plant-based, gluten-free and global fare. It’s well known that Madison’s food scene is beyond compare, including must-do menu items: cheese curds, old fashioneds and ice cream.
Less than 5 minute walk: The Audrey Kitchen + Bar, Canteen, Johnny Delmonico’s, Lake Vista Café at Monona Terrace, Lucille, Marigold Kitchen, Tavernakaya
5 – 10 minute walk: Canteen, D’Vino, Graze, Ian’s Pizza on State, Rare Steakhouse, The Coopers Tavern, The Post, Tipsy Cow, Tornado Steak House
10 – 15 minute walk: Cento, CIRC, Parthenon Gyros, RED, Sardine
15 – 20 minute walk: Ahan, Bassett Street Brunch Club, The Boathouse, The Statehouse
OLD FASHIONEDS & SPOTTED COWS
Once the meetings are done, head over to happy hour at our cozy taprooms and modern lounges, where craft cocktails meet microbrew magic. Try a brandy old fashioned in one of three styles: sweet, sour or press, or stick with a pint of the classic found at nearly every bar in the area — New Glarus Brewing Company's Spotted Cow. Cheers to that!
5 – 10 minute walk: Eno Vino Downtown, Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co., Heritage Tavern, Merchant, Plain Spoke Cocktail Company, Young Blood Beer Company
10 – 15 minute walk: The Stuffed Olive
CULTURE-SEEKER SPOTS
If Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture at Monona Terrace sparks an interest in discovering more of Madison’s cultural side, you’ll love that the majority of Madison’s museums and arts attractions can be found around the Capitol Square, along State Street and on the UW-Madison campus. Art, architecture, history and heritage are all around — and many of our museums are free!
Less than 5 minute walk: Concerts on the Square (seasonal), Dane County Farmers' Market (seasonal), Wisconsin State Capitol
5 – 10 minute walk: Madison Children’s Museum, Wisconsin Veterans Museum
15 – 20 minute walk: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Overture Center for the Arts
25 minute walk: Chazen Museum of Art, UW-Madison campus
Loved this blog? Try the trail!
Want to explore the stops listed above with an app-like experience, map and tips from locals? Madison Like a Local is a digital travel itinerary that helps you explore the city when your meetings are done! This curated list of must-dos includes locally owned restaurants and shops, cultural attractions and stunning views.
The best part? All the stops are walkable from Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center and downtown hotels, making it easy and convenient to explore the area.
Learn more and sign up now.
