Adepticon 2025 – Your Guide to the City of Milwaukee

It’s no secret that Adepticon’s move to Wisconsin ruffled some feathers in the wargaming community. Airfare goes from a Midwest hub city to a small, almost regional airport. The glitz and glamour of nearby Chicago is replaced with a silly-sounding city whose biggest claim to fame is either an NBA superstar from Greece or renowned serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Small-waukee has no Willis Tower, no Dark Knight filming locations, no locally made deep dish pizza joints or hot dogs with way too many toppings on them. For the uninitiated, Milwaukee is a quaint city with a beautiful lakefront view. Wisconsin is the land of cheese, beer, and nothing more.

But for those in the know – past visitors or locals such as myself – the city known as The Good Land is a hidden gem brimming with great eats, activities galore, and Midwest hospitality that has charmed guests from across the planet. You have nearly all of the perks of a city like Chicago, with none of the traffic hassles and at a fraction of the cost. So to those of you who have reservations that Adepticon won’t feel as epic now that it’s located an hour north, consider this article as justification to GET HYPED for an awesome time in the Brew City.

This article is divided into two major sections focusing on food and things to do. I’ll give you options whether you want to walk or have access to a car or other modes of transportation. The county’s bus system can take you virtually anywhere, while ‘The Hop’ streetcar is a great way to navigate downtown itself.

So grab your datapad, and let’s get planning.

FOOD

Legit, one of the key reasons I stuck around Milwaukee after college was because of its vibrant food scene. Milwaukee is steeped in German and American fare and presents a large Hispanic community with growing Middle Eastern and Asian populations. The city is home to a few celebrity chefs as well.
Pair all that with the greatest of Wisconsin traditions, the Friday Night Fish Fry, and you have yourself a tapestry of flavors worth seeking out.

A quick note on the Friday Fish Fry. While I will highlight a few of my favorites below, nearly every food-serving bar in Milwaukee has a fish fry on blast each Friday. The traditional fry includes breaded or beer-battered cod, perch, walleye, or bluegill, with coleslaw, a potato side and rye bread. If you want the true Wisconsinite experience, head to a tavern on Friday and order one with a pint of Spotted Cow or Sprecher Root Beer and a cheese curd appetizer. Alright, onto Milwaukee’s top food spots:

Speed 1 Food Spots (10-minute walking distance from the Baird Center)

There are places-a-plenty within walking distance, but they’re not all worth your time and cash, so pay attention to this list. If you want a fancy group steak dinner check out Carson’s or The Capital Grille. The best BBQ in town is arguably Doc’s Smokehouse. You’ll get the happiest meat sweats that are sure to attract a Wampa or two, but you’ll be raving about your meal there. Get the chicken wing appetizer and a pile of your favorite smoked meats.

The King and I is the best Thai spot, while 3rd Street Market Hall has an assortment of restaurants to choose from and will be a very popular place for con-goers. 3rd Street Market Hall is probably the best spot to go within walking distance to find food that will satisfy everyone in your friend group. Finally, Mader’s is traditional German cuisine and offers a Friday Fish Fry while Major Goolsby’s is a famous haunt for sports fans.

Speed 2 Food Spots (within 10-minute driving distance, or a 15/20 minute walk)

Across the Milwaukee River you’ll find eclectic locations and Milwaukee favorites. The SafeHouse is a go-to for people who love spy films and history. The restaurant is located in an alleyway that feels right out of the first Mission: Impossible. If you find a red door, you’ve found the right place to start your culinary mission. I won’t spoil anything else, but I’ll just say your dining experience cannot be replicated anywhere else and is great for groups.

Further east in the Third Ward district, you’ll find the Milwaukee Public Market and a few surrounding restaurants. For those familiar with Seattle’s public market, Milwaukee’s is a similar concept but much, much smaller. Still, each place is a banger. Saint Paul’s fish market covers all your seafood cravings. Margarita Paradise has the best chicken tamales and steak tacos in town.

C Adams Bakery has monster-sized cookies where the taste matches their epic size (is it just more or are most large cookies disappointing? These ones are not).

Outside of the market the Wicked Hop, Tupelo Honey, SweetDiner, Smoke Shack, Swingin’ Door Exchange, and DanDan keep Milwaukee’s food scene fresh. DanDan is operated by the runner-up from the latest season of Top Chef.

Speed 3 Food Spots (10-20 minute driving distance)

To start off this section I want to highlight two spots for flight-bound visitors. If you’re in need of a post-flight pick-me-up, take a detour east to Better Together cafe. It’s the best coffee shop in town and you can grab a quick sandwich there too. A few minutes north of there is Light Palace, a bar that serves my favorite Friday Night Fish Fry. They run the gamut when it comes to fish offerings. Make sure to get their creamy mashed potatoes as a side, and if you’re of the drinking type feel free to pair it with a Wisconsin Old Fashioned or Blood Mary.

12 to 20 minutes southeast of the Baird Center lies the heart of Milwaukee’s food scene. The Fifth Ward & Bay View communities are home to restaurants that will match any mood your stomach is in. For Asian foods, I recommend Cafe India (Indian), Momo Mee (Chinese soup dumplings), Hungry Sumo (Japanese sushi & ramen) and Bangkok House (Thai). Classic Slice is home to a variety of pizzas including my personal favorite, the Meatallica. Egg & Flour, owned by celebrity chef Adam Palwak, has rotating fresh hand-cut noodle specials and a pricey but amazing garlic bread.

My personal favorite is the sausage shop The Vanguard. They’ve got specialty sausages and gut-busting appetizers and frequently show old-school wrestling, music videos, and game shows on their screens. If you want a bit of that Milwaukee German influence, but with a modern twist, The Vanguard’s your spot.

A little further out is home to a few key spots. Uppa Yard on Milwaukee’s West Side has Caribbean favorites including savory Oxtails. There’s a broad smattering of traditional Mexican restaurants throughout the city. The menu for Saint Francis’ Mexic103 is solid through and through, but make sure to get the dinners which come with an exceptional side plate of beans and rice. Franklin’s Los Mariachis has the best fajitas and my wife’s favorite margaritas. Guanajuato Mexican Restaraunt is the go-to for carne asada. For Mediterranean, Casablanca and Lebnani House are slightly upscale options with to-die-for dishes while Pita Palace has budget-friendly shawarma that melts in your mouth. Pita Palace and Lebnani House are also close to the airport.

Finally, for the thrifty traveler, Milwaukee is home to 5 local fast-food favorites. Cousin’s Subs has an assortment of deli sandwiches. Their claim to fame is their ‘better bread’ which is a bit messy but true to phrase. While national chains like Subway and Jimmy Johns offer chips as a side, Cousin’s offerings are more robust. Pair a cold cut or Philly sub with a side of fries or the best fast-food cheese curds in town. The second favorite has become a staple across the Midwest. Culver’s brings its butter burger and chunky chicken tenders to the fold, as well as a pretty satisfying custard. They’re also the only fast food restaurant that offers a Friday Fish Fry. It’s not the best in town but is better than most fast food offerings.

Ian’s Pizza, which originated in Madison, has traditional and non-traditional pizza-by-the-slice. I’ll be honest, I’ve always found their traditional slices to be disappointing, but their non-traditional slices will have you thinking differently about pizza toppings. Noodles and potato slices somehow work on a pizza and the Smoky The Bandit slice may just change your life.

The other two fast food options, Kopp’s Custard and Oakland Gyros are Milwaukee-only restaurants with two locations each. Both chains offer larger-than-life portions of either burgers the size of a hand or a mountain of delicious gyro meat. Oakland Gyros has a location within minutes of the airport while Kopp’s has a revolving door of daily custard flavors. Bring a dewback-sized appetite and chow down.

THINGS TO DO

Unlike Chicago, which routinely eliminates its old architecture, Milwaukee embraces both old and new. It’s allowed the city to showcase its classic cream city brick, found in abundance in the city’s Third Ward shopping and dining district (a quick 3-minute drive SE of the Baird Center). If you’re in the mood for a movie, the city has two historic motion picture houses. You can watch popular flicks ‘under the stars’ at the Avalon Atmospheric Lounge. Its ceiling lights up with hundreds of dots emulating a night sky. For more independent offerings, the Oriental Theater is by far the most stunning movie-watching spot throughout the Midwest. Get there early (or skip 15 minutes of previews) so you have time to stare at its ornate statues, walls, and ceilings.

Okay, I realize leading off the ‘Things To Do’ section with a trip to the movies doesn’t exactly hammer home my case that Milwaukee is a happenin’ kinda place. So let’s look at some places that are pretty core to the Milwaukee experience.

The easiest tourist activity to cross off the list is catching a photo of the Bronze Fonz. Commemorating Henry Winkler’s machismo character in the popular 70s/80s sitcom Happy Days, the statue is a bizarre piece of Americana located in Downtown’s river walk.

After getting that out of the way, the classic Milwaukee tourist experience is to go on a beer tour. I’m not a beer drinker myself, so my knowledge is second-hand. Most people pick either a Lakefront Brewery or Sprecher Brewery tour. The latter is actually kid-friendly because Sprecher’s root beer is just as famous (if not more so) than their alcoholic beverages. I’ve done the Sprecher tour and the guide I had was hilarious and the bartenders generous. People who like a more common man type of brew can drive over to Miller Brewing. The popular beer has a deep Wisconsin heritage that’s on display.

Speaking of Wisconsin heritage, Milwaukee is home to the mecca of motorcycles, Harley Davidson. Gear heads should make time to check out the Harley Davidson Museum. The tour is state of the art and the gift shop is massive. If you need a piece of memorabilia to commemorate your time in Milwaukee, or just need a gift your family members will brag about, the museum is a must!

While we’re on the topic of museums, Milwaukee has a ton worth noting. If you’re missing Chicago, the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) is a great spot well within walking distance of the convention center. Chicago’s Field Museum diorama displays are heavily influenced by MPM, who were on the cutting edge back in 1962. MPM has a two-story jungle display, the immersive Streets of Old Milwaukee walkthrough (old-timey candy is available), a dino exhibit that will freak your children out, and a butterfly garden for after you lose to that one guy who brought six Riots with marksmen and you just need a peaceful break. The museum is set to be replaced in a few years, so get your wave of old-museum-exhibit-nostalgia in now, because it won’t be here for too many more Adepticons.

The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) is a marvel inside and out. Do yourself a favor and at least snap a pic of its exterior, which is an art piece in and of itself. Made by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, MAM is a crystal overseeing the great Lake Michigan. If you’ve brought the whole family along, Discovery World and the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum are an easy walk from the art museum.

Sports fans are in luck. The Baird Center is an easy walk to Milwaukee’s two arenas, and farther out is the home of Milwaukee Brewers baseball. The Milwaukee Bucks and Kid Rock play throughout the weekend at the Fiserv forum, while the Panther Arena hosts AEW Collision and the Milwaukee Wave indoor soccer team. If you stay until Monday you can catch the home opener for the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.

And if you have a lot of time to kill or just can’t get enough NFL history an hour and a half drive north will put you in Titletown USA, where you can take a tour of Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packer’s Hall of Fame. I don’t recommend the trip for everyone, but if you’re an avid football fan then I’d say it’s worth considering the detour. There is not a more historic site in the game of football than Lambeau Field.

Music fans can rejoice. There’s a bounty of music venues throughout the city. Cudahy’s X-Ray Arcade gave Adepticon hosting responsibilities for ‘An Adepticon Afterparty’ featuring Da Gof Rockerz / The Eradicator / Slaughter Party. The event benefits the Dragon-fall Charity Gaming Festival which was a 2024 Legion Grand Tournament.

For something more mainstream, The Rave/Eagles Club hosts rockers Anberlin on Saturday and rising country stars Ty Myers and Sam Barber on Friday and Saturday respectively. If you’re into The Beatles, The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is conducting a unique celebration of their early years all weekend long at the Bradley Symphony Center. The Riverside Theater is a place for magic and laughs on Thursday night when they bring in the famous magic duo Penn & Teller. Anime Fans can enjoy a symphonic experience for the show Naruto on Saturday at the Miller Highlife Theatre. Finally, The Pabst has The Blue Oyster Cult on Thursday and comedian Whitney Cummings on Friday. And this is just scratching the surface. If you want local/regional/indie music check out the Cactus Club, Miramar Theatre, and something like fifty other venues. Milwaukee’s music scene is vibrant!

Milwaukee has a ton of green space for a midsized city. The closest location is Lakeshore State Park, an optimal birding and jogging location on the edge of Milwaukee’s Lakefront. Lake Park is another downtown option known for its waterfalls and seamless blend of nature and architecture. It’s also a hotspot for migrating warblers. Speaking of birds, a fifteen-minute drive north takes you to Schlitz Audubon while a fifteen-minute drive southwest takes you to the Wehr Nature Center. Both have accessible hiking trails for those who need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and wargaming life. They also have lots of birds worth scoping out. Sorry, I write a lot about birds in my daily life.

Finally, if you need last-minute wargaming supplies, here’s a list of stores. Battle Brothers has one of the best collections of Legion product, will fulfill your hobby needs, and has a great open gaming space. Warpstorm has a Boba Tea bar and an equally impressive game space. Old Guard has medieval-inspired decor, making it the coolest-looking store in the city. The Franklin branch of Game Universe has another solid collection of Legion minis and might have the largest collection of hobby supplies as well. Pink Bunny Games is the closest to the airport. They don’t carry Legion but they’re a good stop for the expected hobby supplies or to get your card game fix. And of course, there’s a Warhammer store… but if I’ve learned anything from the Legion Reddit community it’s that people are sick of being price-gauged. Legion might be expensive but it’s still not Warhammer expensive.

If you’re a bit overwhelmed, have no fear. I threw every place I mentioned this Google Maps list. And if you have any questions feel free to find me at the Legion tables this Adepticon. I may or may not cosplay as a Galactic Birder. Regardless, I’m happy to answer any questions you have about the city, Star Wars, avian life, or life in general. I’m so excited to share my fair city with you all and look forward to hearing about the fun places people find as they explore Milwaukee.

And when it comes to gaming don’t forget the old Han Solo phrase: “let the Mil-wookie win.”

Author Bio: Kyle Lloyd Arpke is a filmmaker, wildlife & travel photojournalist, and co-creator of the old Legion Visual Guide YouTube channel. He misses the ‘ole Sabine Landspeeder Turn 1 explosions combo, but loves that the sleeper cell unit basically looks like a bunch of kitted-out bird nerds. For cool pics, follow on Instagram @thekarp14