By definition, a biergarten is simply an open-air space where beer and food are served. But in reality, beer gardens are so much more than that. They’re a good time for the whole family!
Popular in Bavaria and Germany, beer gardens are a festive place for people to get together and delight in good food, drink beer responsibly, and enjoy the outdoors.
Many have popped up over the years around Milwaukee, and they are definitely family-friendly. Most feature concessions, often in the form of a food truck or two. They also offer soft drinks for younger, non-beer-drinking patrons.
1. TOP PICK: Estabrook Beer Garden
Estabrook Park (4600 Estabrook Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53217)
(414) 226-2728
Hours: Opens daily at noon (weather permitting); last call at 9 p.m.
estabrookbeergarden.com
One of Milwaukee’s most well-know beer gardens is located in Estabrook Park in Milwaukee. It’s situated along the river and is close to a large playground and skate park. There are walking paths along the river, as well.
Besides beers imported from the Munich Hofbräuhaus, Estabrook Beer Garden also offers local craft beer, cider, hard seltzer, draft root beer and Pepsi products. Bring your own favorite beer stein!
Food offerings include beer garden basics: brats, hot dogs, and their famous giant fresh-baked pretzels. Visitors are also welcome to bring picnic baskets with their favorite food and soft drinks.
NOTE: Estabrook Beer Garden is cashless, so don’t forget your credit card!
2. Hubbard Park Beer Garden
3565 N. Morris Blvd., Shorewood, WI 53211
(414) 332-4207
Hours: Noon-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday; 3-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday (weather permitting)
hubbardparkbeergarden.com
Hubbard Park Beer Garden is nestled away from busy streets, and accessible by bike via the Oak Leaf Trail. It’s open year-round (weather permitting), but in the summer you can rent a private cabana for your crew (domes are available in winter).
They offer a wide variety of German and domestic craft beers, as well as wine, select specialty cocktails, Pepsi products, Point root beer, lemonade and water.
The beer garden menu includes Usinger’s brats, sausages and hot dogs, and a giant old world pretzel. If you go Wednesday through Sunday after 4 p.m., you also have the options of beer battered cod fish fry and BBQ ribs, each served with all the fixings.
3. The Vine Humboldt
3000 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 418-2864
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and holidays; 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday (closed on Mondays)
Website
The Vine Humboldt is a new wine and beer garden in Humboldt Park, in the heart of Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood. Enjoy wine, craft beer, and made-from-scratch Peruvian empanadas inside the historic farmhouse location, or outside in the spacious open-air areas. You can also bring your own food.
The garden is located steps away from the Humboldt Park playground and lagoon, and beverages purchased at The Vine may be carried throughout the park.
All purchases help support future park projects.
4. The Landing
Hoyt Park, 1800 N. Swan Blvd, Wauwatosa, WI 53226
(414) 302-9160
Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 3-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, Noon-9 p.m.; holidays Noon-6 p.m.
friendsofhoytpark.org
It doesn’t get any more family-friendly than a beer garden that is located near a public pool! Open mid-May through October, The Landing is operated by the Friends of Hoyt Park & Pool to support the operations of The TOSA Pool and surrounding Hoyt Park.
The beer garden serves up a large variety of draft and packaged beers as well as wine. The menu includes Cranky’s pizza, Bavarian-style soft pretzels from Milwaukee Pretzel Company, brats, hot dogs, popcorn and fountain drinks. Seating fills up quickly, so it’s a good idea to bring a picnic blanket to spread on the lawn.
Be sure to check out their calendar for scheduled food trucks; live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and other events. There’s also a historic grand hall you can rent for private events.
5. Third Space Brewing Beer Garden
1505 W. St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233
(414) 909-2337
Hours: Monday-Thursday 4-9 p.m.; Friday 2-10 p.m.; Saturday Noon-10 p.m.; Sunday Noon-7 p.m.
thirdspacebrewing.com
Milwaukee’s Happy Place boasts one of the largest outdoor beer gardens in the Milwaukee area. This urban oasis is owned by two men with young kids of their own, so you can bet that your children’s shenanigans won’t scare them.
Located next to the Third Space Brewing tap room, this sunny beer garden is also dog-friendly. Enjoy food from Nadi Plates, serving up twisted Italian cuisine Thursday through Saturday.
Enjoy shaded seating and live music on the new covered deck of the recently extended beer garden. There are plans in place to upgrade the lighting and sound systems as well.
They have also opened a secondary beer garden in Elm Grove that is very kid friendly, with a swimming pool and playground nearby.
It’s located inside the Elm Grove Village Park and is called EGBG (Elm Grove Beer Garden). It features live music every friday night and food trucks most fridays and saturdays.
6. Sprecher Brewery Outdoor Oasis
Richard E. Maslowski Community Park
2200 W. Bender Rd., Glendale, WI 53209
Hours: Wednesday-Friday 4-9 p.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
glendale-wi.org
This family-friendly beer garden offers award-winning Sprecher Beverages (craft beer AND sodas) by the pint or liter, and a food menu filled with everyone’s favorites (burgers, chicken strips, fries, etc.). Finish off your meal with a root beer float or a Cedar Crest ice cream treat.
Just steps away from the Oasis is a state-of-the-art playground and indoor air-conditioned restrooms. There’s also an amphitheater for live musical performances.
Free parking is available in the parking lot west of the park.
7. Sprecher Traveling Beer Garden
Managed by Milwaukee County Parks in partnership with Sprecher Brewery, the Traveling Beer Garden tours transform parks into temporary beer gardens for two weeks at a time (refer to the 2022 schedule pictured below). Two restored fire trucks, converted into mobile beer trucks, serve up craft beers and more between May and September.
Traditional beer garden fare includes brats, hot dogs and Bavarian pretzels. Don’t forget the root beer float! Triciclo Peru will be serving empanadas from their truck, too. While Sprecher remains the featured beverage, the TBG will also be offering selections from City Lights, Lakefront and Eagle Park Breweries this summer.
Live bands will perform at each location on select dates. Check the calendar for a schedule.
Revenue from the beer gardens goes back into improving the parks.
8. South Shore Terrace
2900 S. Shore Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 758-0576
Hours: Wednesday-Friday 4-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Mondays and Tuesdays Closed
southshoreterrace.com
You can find farm-to-table food and local Miller brews at this unique beer garden, in addition to gas fire pits and lakefront seating with spectacular views of the Milwaukee skyline.
Housed in a 1930s bathhouse in the Bay View neighborhood, this open-air gastropub features live music nights and a family-friendly menu with lots of variety. They have Sprecher root beer on tap, and it’s close to the playground in South Shore Park.
9. Tosa Village Beer Garden
10. Whitnall Park Beer Garden
8831 N. Root River Pkwy, Greendale, WI 53132
(414) 514-9744
Hours: Monday-Friday, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
whitnallbeergarden.com
Enjoy a craft beer from over a dozen of Wisconsin’s top breweries at this scenic beer garden nestled among the trees near the Root River in the Greendale/Franklin area. They also serve up hard sodas, ciders, wine and non-alcoholic beverages.
The Gift of Wings Grill has been known to host a pig roast now and then, and their Friday fish fry is an end-of-week staple. Visit on Saturday evenings (5-8 p.m.) to enjoy live music.
11. War Memorial Beer Garden
750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 273-5533
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Closed Mondays)
warmemorialbeergarden.com
Opening Memorial Day weekend, the new War Memorial Beer Garden is right next to the War Memorial Center (WMC), right between the Milwaukee Art Museum and Veterans Park.
Grab a table while you take in unbeatable views of Lake Michigan and Milwaukee’s skyline. Take a stroll around the park, or bring a bike and cruise the lakeshore to Bradford Beach, Lakefront State Park, or add miles on the Oak Leaf Trail.
When you park at the WMC, you can trade your parking voucher for a free beer at the Beer Garden Truck. Kegel’s Inn serves up German beers, loaded brats, huge pretzels, curry kettle chips and cold brew coffee from nitro taps. A portion of the proceeds benefit the WMC.
12. Waukesha County Parks System
Various locations and hours; see website for schedule details
(262) 548-7801
waukeshacounty.gov
The Waukesha County Park System partners with local breweries to host a variety of family-friendly beer gardens throughout the summer.
The Tap Yard Beer Garden is a mainstay at Fox Brook Park in Brookfield from May 4 through October 30. There is a playground onsite and a lake for swimming and paddlesports.
Raised Grain Brewing Company hosts pop-up beer gardens in many of the other Waukesha County parks, including at Muskego Park, Minooka Park, Fox River Park, Menomonee Park, Mukwonago Park and Retzer Nature Center. There are also a few special events held in conjunction with Delafield Brewhaus.
For more details on locations and hours, click here.
13. Franksville Craft Beer Garden
Franksville Memorial Park, 9614 Northwestern Ave., Franksville, WI 53126
(262) 930-8530
Hours: Weekends, May-October (starting May 20, 2022)
Website
Racine County’s first permanent craft beer garden serves a rotation of 16 to 22 Wisconsin craft beers on tap, along with cider and wine, in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. There’s a playground, a sandbox, and plenty of green space.
Besides yard games, board games, music, and lively conversation, they also offer events and activities throughout the summer such as food trucks, live music, family days, yoga classes, night markets and more.
14. Brookfield Beer Garden
18725 W. Hoffman Ave., Brookfield, WI 53045
Dates: June 23, July 28, August 27, September 22, October 13
Hours: 5-9 p.m.
Facebook Page
Bring your own lawn chairs to this family-friendly beer garden that serves up Biloba Brewing craft brews. With an array of local vendors, food, games, and live music there’s no better place to be in the village of Brookfield.
Set your calendars for August 27, the date of the beer garden’s annual block party (1-6 p.m.).
15. Upper Lake Park Beer Garden
554 N. Lake St. Port, Port Washington, WI 53074
(262) 284-5881
Hours: Saturdays, July 3-Oct. 9, 2022, 3:30-7:30 p.m. (July 3 hours are 1-8:30 p.m.)
Facebook Page
This open-air beer garden series serves up stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Port Washington Lighthouse in a one-of-a-kind location the whole family will enjoy. The incredible Possibility Playground is just steps away, and there are food trucks and live musical performances every week.
Upper Lake Beer Garden is operated by the Friends of Port Washington Parks & Rec, so when you spend money at the beer garden, it directly benefits Port Washington parks and recreational opportunities.
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mkewithkids
In 2013, Calie Herbst, a former teacher with three little ones, saw a need for a “One Stop Shop” for family fun in Milwaukee. So she founded Milwaukee With Kids. Her goal was to find the best this city has to offer families and share it with other parents. In one place. In 2019, she published "Exploring Milwaukee WIth Kids", a comprehensive Milwaukee travel guide for families and kids. She appears regularly on WISN News, Fox 6's 'Real Milwaukee', B93.3, and Wisconsin Morning News. She has been featured in Medium, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, NPR, the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, and on CBS 58 News. Calie is available for hosting, moderating and media appearances.
