Any feedback? Restaurant recommendations to get campus vibe? We are visiting March 17-18 and staying at the Graduate. We will tour campus, but we also have a half day open to see area. Likely no rental car, but we are fine with Uber…
Stay close to campus and eat anywhere on State Street that appeals to you – that’s going to give you a good taste of the campus vibe. State Street is a pedestrian drag that connects Bascom Hill with the Capitol, so it would be a nice walk. If the weather is nice (probably won’t be in March but you never know) and the food carts are out on Library Mall, that’s a good option for lunch. So is the Rathskellar in the Student Union. At that time of year, you can at least imagine yourself outside, eating on the Terrace, even if it might be too cold to do so when you’re there.
If you want to go further afield, Capitol Hill and Willy (Williamson) Street are both east-side neighborhoods with good restaurants that will give you the taste of the more upscale (Capitol Hill) and quirky/crunchy (Willy Street) sides of Madison. On the (near) west side, the Monroe Street neighborhood is fun to explore, with lots of good options for dining.
Good places to eat include: graze, the great dane, sardine, madison sourdough, heritage tavern, naples 15, RED…we usually stay at the hyatt place near the capitol; my daughter is a sophomore at madison. strangely even though i grew up in chicago and had many friends go to madison 30 yrs ago - i never saw the campus until i dropped my daughter off for her freshman year. i really like the town, the campus, the location/setting on the lakes and the school/education
my daughter #2 applied EA this round so we will see if she gets in/attends etc
As a family, we also have enjoyed having a Wisco supper club experience at the Old Fashioned by the capitol. Nitty Gritty is fun. Dotty’s Dumpling Dowry.
The Library is a little hole in the wall down by union south if you find yourself in that area and are ready for a meal. You may want to eat/hang out in Memorial union a little? If weather permits, walk up the lake path a little bit.
Graze, sardine, etc are more upscale but wonderful if you want a nicer meal. My new grad lives in the Willy Street area - lots of wonderful choices up there if you want to go further afield for a less campusy feel.
The Graduate is a great location to stay for a first visit to campus! That is where we stayed on our first visit to Madison. Enjoy!
Hi, I am planning a last-minute campus tour in March. Unfortunately, Graduate hotel is sold out, we will find somewhere else, probably Best Western InnTower. We have already signed up for the guided campus walking tour. My question is whether it is a good idea to check out the campus on our own by campus bus as well? Route 80 seems to cover a lot of places in 30 minutes plus we can hop on and off. Thanks.
