Is Downtown & East Town a good place to stay in Milwaukee?

Downtown and East Town are the most pleasant place to stay in Milwaukee for a first visit. The Art Museum and the lakefront are a short walk away, the Riverwalk runs past the hotels, and The Hop streetcar takes you to the Third Ward for free.

The area mixes old grandeur with lake views. The Pfister's Victorian lobby is still the city's grand meeting place, office workers walk the Riverwalk at lunchtime, and the Art Museum's wings open over the lake every morning. In winter the river and lakefront can be bitterly cold.

The downside is that downtown is quieter at night than the Third Ward or Water Street's bars, and Fiserv Forum and the Brewers' stadium need a walk or a ride.

What makes downtown special is the lakefront. You can walk along Lake Michigan in the morning, spend the afternoon in the Art Museum and finish with dinner by the river.