If there’s one thing Milwaukee gets right, it’s beer. Especially in the summertime; when the weather warms up, our love for local brews moves beyond brewery walls and into parks and lakefronts. Enter: Milwaukee beer gardens.
Equal parts picnic, park hang, and community watering hole, beer gardens are one of the best ways to spend a sunny afternoon in Milwaukee. Expect giant pretzels, German-style pours, kid-friendly vibes, and lots of lawn chairs.
Note: when you buy a drink at any Milwaukee beer garden, your purchase includes the pint glass. If you bring one from home to use, you get a discount! As a tip, we keep two glasses in our car ready to use, just in case we decide to go to a beer garden spontaneously.
Cheers to sunshine, steins, and shaded park hangs. Here are some must-visit Milwaukee beer gardens to check out this season.
Estabrook Beer Garden
Shady, historic, riverside classic.
Open: May 2
If you only visit one beer garden in Milwaukee, make it this one. Located in Estabrook Park along the Milwaukee River, this spot feels like a true slice of Bavaria. It was the first public beer garden in America in nearly 100 years, and its modeled after the beer gardens found in Munich, Germany.
Estabrook Park sits on the banks of the Milwaukee River, the beer garden is set on a bluff just above a waterfall. Visitors arrive by foot, bicycle, automobile, kayak, and canoe. Hofbräu beers flow all season long, and food is available for purchase.
☼ Tip: beer is served in the traditional “Isar Seidel” dimpled glass mugs.
4600 Estabrook Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53217
estabrookbeergarden.com
The Vine Humboldt
Bay View’s family-friendly favorite.
Open: late May (unannounced)
Located in Humboldt Park, this beer garden has major community energy. The vibe is laid-back, welcoming, and often lively thanks to live music, outdoor movie nights, and neighborhood events. Rotating local taps, a chill atmosphere, and a food truck or two make this a great option for groups or families.
☼ Bonus: The beer garden overlooks the park’s lagoon—perfect for golden hour photos.
3000 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
thevinehumboldt.com
South Shore Terrace
Skyline views + beer = summer magic.
Open: April 11
Located right on the shores of Lake Michigan in Bay View, South Shore Terrace feels more like a lakefront patio than a traditional beer garden. It checks all the boxes: communal tables, a full menu, great beers, and an incredible view.
It’s our very favorite Milwaukee beer garden, and our go-to to for showing visitors how amazing our city is.
☼ Vibe: Great for sunset dates, bike rides, and after-work hangs.
2900 S Shore Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53207
southshoreterrace.com
War Memorial Beer Garden
Historic venue with modern charm.
Open: May 22
Milwaukee’s War Memorial Beer Garden is nestled on the shore of Lake Michigan on the Oak Leaf Trail, with sweeping views of the lake and several iconic Milwaukee attractions. While there, check out the free War Memorial Center, built in 1957.
750 N Lincoln Memorial Drive. Milwaukee, Wi 53202
warmemorialbeergarden.com
Roundhouse Beer Garden at McKinley Marina
Enjoy a brew on the shore.
Open: May 22
Located along the shore of Lake Michigan at McKinley Marina, the beer garden sells drinks, plus snacks and sundries. Whether you take your beverage on a boat or enjoy it on the grassy lawn, you can’t go wrong with this uniquely-Milwaukee spot. This property is presented by The Bartolotta Restaurants in support of Milwaukee County Parks.
1750 N Lincoln Memorial Dr Milwaukee, WI 53202
roundhousemke.com
Whitnall Park Beer Garden
A sprawling park hang.
Open: May 3
Located in Greendale, this one’s a little farther out—but worth the trip. It’s tucked into Whitnall Park, surrounded by woods and trails. You’ll find picnic tables, fire pits, and Sprecher beers on tap. This one feels extra peaceful and is surrounded by green space, sometimes with live music.
8831 N Root River Pkwy, Greendale, WI 53129
whitnallbeergarden.com
Juneau Park Beer Garden
Downtown and low-key.
Open: late May (unannounced)
Conveniently located between Cathedral Square and the lakefront, Juneau Park’s seasonal beer garden is a great downtown stop. Smaller and more casual, it’s the ideal spot to unwind after work or between summer events and festivals.
900 N Prospect Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
juneaubeergarden.com
Third Ward Beer Garden
Pop-up park vibes in the heart of the city.
Open: May 3
Wednesday – Sunday
The Third Ward Beer Garden is located in the Third Ward’s Catalino Square and brings beer, music, and community energy to one of Milwaukee’s trendiest neighborhoods. This Milwaukee beer garden features a rotating lineup of local craft brews, outdoor games, and live music Thursday through Saturday.
138 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202
thirdwardbeergarden.com
Traveling Beer Garden
A fire truck that brings the party.
Open: May 14
Yes, this is real. Milwaukee’s Traveling Beer Garden is a literal fire truck turned mobile tap station that stops at different parks all season long.
Operated by Milwaukee County Parks and Sprecher Brewing, it serves up classic brews, hard sodas, and nightly live music.
Deer District Beer Garden
Downtown energy, Bucks pride.
Open: Year-Round
Located just outside Fiserv Forum, this urban beer garden is perfect before or after a Bucks game—or anytime you want to be in the heart of the action. It’s available year-round and has local taps, picnic tables, and pop-up events. This one’s big on city energy and fan vibes.
1134 N Vel R. Phillips Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203
deerdistrict.com
The Tap Yard (Multiple Locations)
Craft beer meets pop-up park.
Open: May 1
The Tap Yard brings the beer garden concept to both Milwaukee’s Schlitz Park and various suburbs (Waukesha, Brookfield, and West Bend), setting up rotating tap lines and food trucks in local parks. They also host yoga, trivia, and live music events.
☼ All locations open May 1.
1555 N Rivercenter Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
2925 North Barker Road
Brookfield, WI 53045
W220N7884 Town Line Rd
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
1927 E Sunset Dr.
Waukesha, WI 53186
4875 County Highway Z
West Bend, WI 53095
Know before you go
- Refill your Milwaukee Beer Garden glass for a discount if you bring one from home!
- BYO chairs or blankets if you want to sprawl. Most have limited picnic table seating
- Food varies: some have full menus, others are BYO snacks or food truck-style.
- Beer gardens are kid and dog-friendly!
Milwaukee beer gardens are more than just places to drink—they’re built-in mini vacations, community hubs, and the perfect excuse grab some fresh air in the sunshine.
Whether you’re lakeside, riverside, or surrounded by trees, there’s always a good reason to say Prost!
Established in 2018, Sunshine with Savannah is a catch-all blog with an emphasis on weekend travel, millennial-style marriage and fun, reflection-based musings, outdoor adventure, home design, and all things lifestyle.
Though the content is diverse and varied, the heart of this space stays true to a single, guiding principle: a simple pursuit to find sunshine, wherever I go.
Always gret information – I need to visit!
Thanks for reading, John! Your beer’s on me when you make it to Milwaukee!
Milwaukee truly knows how to embrace summer with these fantastic beer gardens! Each spot offers a unique vibe, from lakeside views at South Shore Terrace to the historic charm of Estabrook Park. I love that many are family-friendly with live music and food trucks. Plus, the glass discount is a great touch. Can’t wait to visit this season! Cheers to good beer and sunny days!
They really are SO fun! We just had our first beer garden visit of the season, and it was worth the wait. Thank you for reading!
That sounds awesome, Savannah! Nothing beats that first beer garden visit to kick off the season—it always feels like summer’s officially here. Glad you had a great time! Hoping to check out a few new spots this year too. Cheers to more sunny afternoons and great brews ahead!