The short version: Book the room early, plan the ballpark the night before, eat at the park, and watch the away games at a neighborhood bar. If hotels sell out, stay in Chicago and take the train up.
Milwaukee waited forty-four years for a World Series, and the city showed up. I'm not selling you tickets. I'm telling you where to sleep, how to get to the ballpark without losing your mind, and where to eat when it's over and you're still buzzing. I live right downtown, and I'll even meet you for coffee.
Where to stay for a Brewers weekendSeries weekends fill up, so lock in a room early and check the cancellation terms before you book. If a game doesn't happen, you still get a great weekend in Milwaukee.
* The Pfister Hotel: downtown's historic grand hotel, near the lakefront and the theatre district. It's also said to be haunted. Visiting teams have been known to steer clear.
* Kimpton Journeyman: historic Third Ward, walkable, with a rooftop bar.
* Saint Kate, The Arts Hotel: downtown, art on every floor.
* Drury Plaza Hotel Milwaukee Downtown: reliably good, and kind to a budget.
* The Plaza Hotel: the East Side pick. I live around the corner.
Milwaukee doesn't have many hotel rooms. My best tip: stay in Chicago and take the train up. Fly into O'Hare, ride the CTA Blue Line into downtown, and stay near the Loop.
How to get to the Brewers gameRead the ballpark's getting-there page the night before, because the Brewers keep the current parking and transit options in one place. Then drink at a corner bar with a shuttle, near the park or near downtown. Shuttles are run by the bars, so confirm days, hours and any purchase rule first. Dress for October: it's Lake Michigan, so bring a real jacket and a warm layer.
What to eat and buy around the ballparkSkip dinner and save your appetite for the ballpark, where local vendors fill the concourses, including K&L BBQ, tacos, arepas and a food-truck park. Downtown, 3rd Street Market Hall on Grand Avenue is a great stop for a bite, with a bar in the middle and giant screens. For Brewers gear, Bandit on Brady has some of the best vintage clothes in town, and there's a Kohl's downtown if you forgot yours.
Where to hang out after the gamePizza Shuttle at 1827 N Farwell is one of the only places still open late where you can feel like a college kid again. Perfect for a win, perfect for a loss. Brady Street is a short walk away, and the Brady Street guide has the whole walk. Woody's in Walker's Point is the best LGBTQ-friendly sports bar in town. If the Series goes the distance, Halloween on Brady Street is a good time.
I was in the park in June 2018 for the first Pride Night the Brewers ever held. Milwaukee told the whole city it was welcome that night, and I haven't forgotten it.
Want your Brewers weekend planned?Let me book the room and plan the weekend. Request a trip or book a Creative Burn if you're losing it over the Series and need to vent.