ADDRESS
400 N Water St
Historic Third Ward
HOURS
Mon–Sat 10a–8p
Sun 10a–6p
SEATING
Mezzanine upstairs
Eat-in seating
PARKING
Paid lots
Water/St Paul/Erie
VENDORS
30+ stalls
Food, drink, gifts
OPENED
2005
Year-round, indoor
Note: Vendors and hours rotate — always confirm current hours and stalls on milwaukeepublicmarket.org before a trip. The Market sits inside the Historic Third Ward, an easy walk to Milwaukee's best restaurants and downtown shopping.
What is the Milwaukee Public Market?
The Milwaukee Public Market is a year-round indoor public market that opened in 2005 in the Historic Third Ward at 400 N Water St. Under one roof you get 30+ independent vendors — fresh seafood, cheese and sausage counters, an artisan bakery, prepared food stalls running from Cuban to Syrian to vegan, a wine bar, a tequila bar, a coffee bar, candy, spices and gifts.
The whole point of the building is that it works two ways. You can shop it like a real market — pick up cheese, fish, bread and a bottle of wine to go — or you can graze it like a food hall, ordering from three or four stalls and carrying it upstairs to the mezzanine to actually sit and eat.
It is one of Milwaukee's most-visited destinations and, for most first-time visitors to the city, the easiest single stop to get a sense of how Milwaukee actually eats.
Wisconsin Classics
The stalls that anchor the Public Market to Wisconsin — cheese, sausage, oysters from the Great Lakes seafood counter, and Bavarian pretzels. Pair with our guide to Milwaukee's best cheese curds.
West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe
Wisconsin cheese counter
A deep Wisconsin cheese case plus house and regional sausages, summer sausage, smoked meats and gift boxes. The single best place inside the Market to assemble a Wisconsin board.
MUST TRY
A wedge of aged cheddar from a Wisconsin creamery plus a stick of summer sausage — eat it upstairs on the mezzanine.
VIBE
Old-school cheese-shop counter energy — staff who actually know the cases
INSIDER TIP
Ask for a couple of small samples before you commit — the staff will cut you slivers of two or three styles so you can decide between sharp, smoked, or bandaged cheddars.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
Milwaukee Pretzel Co.
Hand-rolled Bavarian pretzels
Milwaukee-made Bavarian-style soft pretzels, hand-rolled and baked, sold plain or with house mustard and beer cheese for dipping.
MUST TRY
A warm classic Bavarian pretzel with beer cheese — split it across two people and it doubles as an appetizer for the rest of your Market crawl.
VIBE
Glass case full of fresh-baked pretzels — you can smell it from the next aisle
INSIDER TIP
Grab a pretzel early in your visit and walk the Market with it — it's the easiest hand-food while you scout the other vendors.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
St. Paul Fish Co.
Oyster bar + fresh seafood counter
A working seafood market with a full oyster bar and sit-down counter — fresh oysters shucked to order, fish tacos, lobster rolls, gumbo and a real fish case to take home.
MUST TRY
Half a dozen oysters on the half shell at the counter, or the fish tacos if you want something hot.
VIBE
Bustling fish-counter-meets-raw-bar — easily the loudest, most theatrical stall in the Market
INSIDER TIP
Sit at the oyster bar itself rather than grabbing a table — the shuckers will walk you through what's freshest that day.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
Eats — Around the World
The reason the mezzanine is always full — Cuban sandwiches, Syrian shawarma, tacos, gourmet hot dogs, Italian deli plates and a real vegan kitchen, all in one building.
Cubanitas
Milwaukee's Cuban staple
The Public Market outpost of Milwaukee's longtime Cuban restaurant — pressed Cubano sandwiches, ropa vieja, plantains and rice-and-beans, built for a counter lunch.
MUST TRY
The classic Cubano sandwich (roast pork, ham, Swiss, pickles, mustard, pressed) with a side of sweet plantains.
VIBE
Bright counter with the smell of pressed pork and citrus pulling people in from across the building
INSIDER TIP
Take the Cubano upstairs to the mezzanine — it eats much better at a table than balancing on the rail downstairs.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
Aleppo Kitchen
Syrian comfort food
Family-run Syrian kitchen serving shawarma, falafel, kebabs, hummus, fattoush and homestyle Middle Eastern plates from a small Market stall.
MUST TRY
A chicken shawarma plate with hummus, salad and rice — or a falafel wrap if you want hand-food.
VIBE
Tiny stall, big aromatics — garlic, lemon and grilled meat
INSIDER TIP
Ask if they have any of the daily specials off the board — the homestyle Syrian dishes are where this stall really shows up.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
Lucha
Counter taco bar
Quick-service taco counter with a tight menu of made-to-order tacos, plus chips, salsas and easy Mexican sides.
MUST TRY
An order of three tacos across different proteins so you can compare.
VIBE
Order-at-the-counter taco stand — fast, casual, easy to eat anywhere in the Market
INSIDER TIP
Best paired with a frozen margarita from Margarita Paradise across the building — order tacos, walk over for the drink, sit upstairs.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
The Green Kitchen
Plant-based menu
Plant-based counter inside the Market — bowls, wraps, salads and vegan comfort plates built so vegetarians and vegans actually have a real option here.
MUST TRY
A signature grain bowl loaded with seasonal vegetables and a house sauce.
VIBE
Bright, produce-forward counter — the calm corner of the Market
INSIDER TIP
If you're rolling through with a mixed group (meat-eaters + a vegan), this is the stall that solves it without compromise.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
On the Bus
Loaded hot dogs
A hot-dog-and-sausage counter doing loaded, dressed-up dogs with house toppings — well past a ballpark dog, still hand-food.
MUST TRY
A loaded specialty dog of the day — ask what the staff is eating.
VIBE
Quick-counter, easy-grab, dressed-up versus a stadium dog
INSIDER TIP
Grab a dog plus a Wisconsin beer from Thief Wine and post up at one of the standing counters on the main floor.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
Joey Gerard's
Italian sandwiches and deli
Italian-American deli stall — cold cuts, cheeses, pressed sandwiches and antipasti to eat in or take home, run by a longtime Milwaukee restaurant group.
MUST TRY
A classic Italian sub stacked with cured meats and provolone.
VIBE
Glass deli case, salami hanging behind the counter — old-school Italian shop energy
INSIDER TIP
Order a sandwich plus a few ounces of meats and cheeses from the case — it's an instant picnic for the lakefront or Pere Marquette Park.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
Sweets & Drinks
Coffee, wine, frozen margaritas, hand-dipped chocolates, artisan breads and a wall of spices. See our full Milwaukee coffee guide for more of the Anodyne story.
C. Adams Bakery
Artisan breads and pastries
Small-batch bakery selling artisan loaves, pastries, scones and morning bakes — the bread-and-butter counter at the Market.
MUST TRY
Whatever loaf is fresh that morning, plus a buttery scone for the walk.
VIBE
Glass case full of pastries and stacked bread baskets
INSIDER TIP
Go in the morning — the best loaves and the most pastries are on the shelves before lunch.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
Anodyne Coffee
Local-roaster espresso bar
Public Market outpost of Anodyne — the certified-organic Milwaukee roaster — pulling espresso and drip from house beans.
MUST TRY
A flat white pulled on the house espresso to reset between food stalls.
VIBE
Bright espresso bar tucked into the Market — busy in the morning, calm in the afternoon
INSIDER TIP
If you like what you drink, walk over to the Walker's Point roastery later — same beans, full cafe and live music at night. See our full coffee guide.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
Thief Wine
Wine retail + by-the-glass bar
A serious wine shop with a working bar — bottles to take home plus a constantly rotating by-the-glass list you can sit and drink in the Market.
MUST TRY
Ask for a flight of three by-the-glass pours built around what you're about to eat.
VIBE
Wood-and-bottle bar with stools — the closest thing to a wine bar inside a food hall
INSIDER TIP
They'll build a flight around your food order from elsewhere in the Market — tell them you're eating oysters from St. Paul, or a Cubano, and they'll pair to it.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
Margarita Paradise
Frozen-margarita bar
Tequila-and-margarita bar inside the Market — frozen margaritas in multiple flavors plus a tequila list, built for a quick drink while you eat.
MUST TRY
The classic frozen lime margarita, or a flavor-of-the-day swirl.
VIBE
Bright tequila bar — the loudest, most vacation-coded corner of the building
INSIDER TIP
Best paired with tacos from Lucha — grab the drink, grab the food, sit upstairs.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
Kehr's Candies
Milwaukee candy maker since 1930
Classic Milwaukee candy maker — hand-dipped chocolates, caramels, fudge and old-school confections from a Milwaukee family operation that's been at it for nearly a century.
MUST TRY
A few pieces of the hand-dipped chocolates, plus a chunk of fresh fudge.
VIBE
Glass cases full of chocolates — a true Milwaukee candy shop, just relocated into the food hall
INSIDER TIP
Grab a small mixed box as a souvenir — it travels better than cheese and lasts longer than a sandwich.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
The Spice House
Hand-blended spices
Hand-blended spices, salts, peppercorns and gift sets — the Public Market outpost of the longtime Midwestern spice shop. Not a food stall — a pantry.
MUST TRY
A jar of a Milwaukee- or Chicago-named house blend as a take-home souvenir.
VIBE
Wall-to-wall apothecary jars — smells like every spice rack you've ever wanted
INSIDER TIP
Ask to smell two or three blends before buying — staff will pop the jars for you and the differences are bigger than the labels suggest.
📍 Milwaukee Public Market
The Mezzanine & Events
The mezzanine is the upstairs seating area that turns the Public Market from a food court into something better. Once you've ordered from any stall on the main floor, take it upstairs — you'll find tables, longer counters and a view back down over the Market itself.
The mezzanine and the Market also host cooking classes, demos, holiday markets, tastings and private events throughout the year. The current schedule lives on milwaukeepublicmarket.org — worth a glance before a visit, especially in November and December.
Getting There & Parking
Driving & Parking
There are paid surface lots immediately around the Market on N Water St, E St Paul Ave and E Erie St, plus paid parking structures within a short walk in the Third Ward. Some metered street parking exists but goes fast at peak times — weekend brunch hours and Friday/Saturday evenings are the worst. The paid lots are the easiest play.
Walking from Downtown
From most downtown hotels it is a 10–15 minute walk south along the Milwaukee Riverwalk to the Market — flat, scenic, and the best way to arrive. From the Fiserv Forum or the convention center area, plan closer to 15–20 minutes.
Transit & Streetcar
The Hop streetcar runs through downtown and into the Historic Third Ward — check the current route and stop nearest the Market. MCTS bus routes also serve downtown and the Third Ward. Rideshare drop-offs are easy in front of the Market on N Water St.
Tips for First-Timers
When to go
Weekday late mornings and mid-afternoons are calmest. Saturday lunch and Friday evening are peak chaos — fun, but expect lines at the headliner stalls (St. Paul Fish, Cubanitas).
How to order
Don't commit to one stall. Walk the full loop first, then divide and conquer with whoever you're with — one person on oysters, one on Cuban, one on tacos — and meet at the mezzanine.
Where to sit
Always go upstairs. The mezzanine has the real tables and the view back down — the few standing counters on the main floor get bumped constantly.
What to take home
If you're flying out: Kehr's candies, a Spice House blend, and a vacuum-packed cheese from West Allis Cheese all travel well. Skip the fresh seafood unless you're driving.
Pair it with
The Market sits in the middle of the Third Ward. Before or after, walk Broadway for boutiques and galleries, or down to the Riverwalk — see our Third Ward guide and things to do in Milwaukee.
More Milwaukee Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Milwaukee Public Market?
The Milwaukee Public Market is a year-round indoor public market in the Historic Third Ward at 400 N Water St, opened in 2005. It houses 30+ independent vendors under one roof — bakeries, butchers, cheese, seafood, coffee, wine, prepared foods from Cuban to Syrian to vegan, plus a sit-down mezzanine upstairs. It is one of Milwaukee's most-visited destinations.
What are the Milwaukee Public Market hours?
The Market is typically open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Individual vendors sometimes keep slightly different hours. Always confirm current hours on milwaukeepublicmarket.org before a trip, especially around holidays.
Where do I park for the Milwaukee Public Market?
There are paid surface lots on N Water St, E St Paul Ave and E Erie St immediately around the Market, plus paid parking structures within a short walk in the Third Ward. Some metered street parking is available but limited at peak times. If you're staying downtown, it's a very walkable 10–15 minutes via the Riverwalk.
What's the best food at the Milwaukee Public Market?
The most-recommended stalls are St. Paul Fish Co. (oysters and fish tacos), Cubanitas (Cuban sandwiches), Aleppo Kitchen (Syrian), West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe (Wisconsin cheese boards), Milwaukee Pretzel Co. (Bavarian pretzels) and C. Adams Bakery (artisan breads and pastries). A smart strategy is to share small orders from three or four stalls upstairs on the mezzanine.
Is the Milwaukee Public Market kid-friendly?
Yes — it's one of the most kid-friendly destinations downtown. Open layout, casual food from pretzels to tacos to hot dogs, no reservations, and the upstairs mezzanine gives families a place to actually sit. Strollers move through the main aisles fine.
Are there vegan options at the Milwaukee Public Market?
Yes. The Green Kitchen runs a plant-based menu with bowls, wraps and vegan plates. Aleppo Kitchen has falafel and hummus, Lucha has vegetable tacos, and most produce-and-bakery stalls have vegan-friendly items. Mixed groups with vegans and meat-eaters can easily eat together here.
Can I get groceries at the Milwaukee Public Market?
Partly — it's a public market, not a full grocery store. You can pick up cheese and sausage at West Allis Cheese, fresh seafood at St. Paul Fish Co., artisan breads at C. Adams Bakery, spices at The Spice House, wine at Thief Wine, candy at Kehr's, deli items at Joey Gerard's and pretzels at Milwaukee Pretzel Co. Combine those and you can absolutely build a full dinner-at-home haul.
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