Madison magazine: Around the state in 50 restaurants
Madison’s vibrant and ever-changing collection of restaurants could keep us satisfied for a long time. But there’s something to be said about dining in a different city every once in a while. When we travel somewhere unfamiliar, we open our senses to the details we might not have noticed before — like the hum of a different city’s local chatter, or the way the evening light from a different latitude illuminates every color on the plate.
Good thing there are plenty of places not far from Madison that enrich the state’s dining scene, adding flavors, aromas and new inspiration to our experience. Before we set out to find the can’t-miss spots, we thought to ask for recommendations from local chefs, restaurateurs and culinary enthusiasts who have lived and worked in all parts of the state. They helped lead us to where the eating is good. Of course, we had to do some in-the-field research of our own.
On this list, which is by no means exhaustive, you’ll find classy date night spots, supper clubs and fish boils. Stalwart restaurants, community hubs and small-town gems. Dining rooms that double as markets, up-and-coming concepts and the Milwaukee musts (which were so numerous, we had to include two categories: farm-to-table stars and global eats). It’s a dining list that will keep you busy well into 2026. Destination dining doesn’t have to take you too far, and these establishments demonstrate just how much there is to experience right here in Wisconsin.
More Than a Meal
Some restaurants extend beyond the definition of just sit-down spots. These Wisconsin destinations double as delis, markets and bakeries with smorgasbord menus — at two, you can even stay the night.
Horseradish Kitchen + Market began as a food truck concept and later grew into a restaurant, music venue, store and Airbnb destination on the Fox River in historic downtown Princeton. Expect sandwiches on bakery-fresh bread, seasonal salads, colorful cocktails and friendly hospitality. 505 W. Water St., Princeton