WHAT TO DO IN MILWAUKEE

Where to eat, drink and things to do if you're in Milwaukee for the NCAA Tournament

Chelsey Lewis

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Upper 90, the sports bar that opened in 2011 at 322 W. State St., is under new management, along with several other downtown bars near the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

March Madness, welcome to Milwaukee. While you're in town, here are some things to do:

Bars and restaurants

Old World Third St. is a block from the BMO Harris Bradley Center and is packed with bars and restaurants for pre- and post-game festivities.

Dining critic Carol Deptolla provided a look at some of the newer options, including The Brass Alley, Ale Asylum Riverhouse (with craft beer from Madison's Ale Asylum Brewery) and The Pub Club.

Major Goolsby's is hard to beat for a sports bar close to the arena. The bar at 340 W. Kilbourn Ave. has 55 TVs and plenty of food and drink options. Upper 90 is another good option — happy hour specials there include $3 select taps and rails and $5 select appetizers from 4 to 6 p.m.

Old German Beer Hall on 3rd has a couple of TVs along with half-price stein liters from 5 p.m. to close Thursday. Prost!

For a quick bite, Brick 3 on 3rd serves pizza by the slice, as does Ian's on E. Juneau Ave. across the river.

Across the river you'll also find another strip of bars and restaurants along Water St. — everything from chains like Buffalo Wild Wings, Bar Louie and Brothers to local options such as McGillycuddy's, Duke's and Red Rock.

For a nicer meal, check out our dining critic's list of Milwaukee's top 50 restaurants. And don't forget about Friday fish fries — a Milwaukee staple.

Breweries

Is it possible to visit Milwaukee without stopping at a brewery? Yes. But it's not recommended.

There's the classic stalwart: Miller, which offers free tours daily, usually every 30 minutes between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (until 2 p.m. on Sundays).

Lakefront Brewery is a craft beer classic, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Get your tickets ($10) online in advance — weekend tours often sell out — and get there early on Friday for the fish fry and polka music.

But wait, there's more. So many more. Here's a list of Milwaukee breweries that offer tours, and a guide to all of Wisconsin's breweries.

More things to do

Did you notice Milwaukee is on a great lake? Walk down there. Paved paths run along the lakefront for miles. It's beautiful, even if it is a little cold.

If you're down there, you can't miss the Milwaukee Art Museum. It's as pretty inside as it is out. It's open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and until 5 p.m. the rest of the weekend. After hours on Friday, it transforms into one of the city's best parties for MAM After Dark.

The city's bike share system, Bublr, keeps a number of stations open through the winter. Hop on a blue bike for a spin around town.

Here's a guide to a whirlwind 48 hours in Milwaukee in the summer. Many of those spots are open year-round.

MORE COVERAGE: NCAA Tournament section