Madison Restaurants
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Check out diners' favorite restaurants in Madison
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Paoli Schoolhouse American Bistro
Price: Expensive•Farm-to-table•4.9(1,002)Paoli Schoolhouse American Bistro is located on the banks of the Sugar River in Paoli, WI. The Schoolhouse was built in 1864 and was converted into a restaurant in 2008. We pride ourselves in supporting local vendors and ingredients to bring you the best quality dishes.
Enjoy a meal in our beautiful bistro or on the deck/patio as weather permits. We have a great selection of wine, cocktails, and carry a variety of domestic and craft beers.
The Schoolhouse is also a great venue for small events - micro weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, baby showers, and any other celebrations!Sugar River Pizza Company
Price: Moderate•Pizzeria•4.9(491)Made from scratch pizza and hometown comfort food are the focus of this family-run restaurant. Come join us for an evening among friends.
Bonfyre American Grille
Price: Moderate•Contemporary American•4.8(2,373)Bonfyre features Contemporary American Cuisine in an upscale-casual environment. In addition to our hand-cut, wood-fired steaks, guests can enjoy fresh seafood, rotisserie chicken, pastas, signature salads and so much more from our seasonally changing menu.
To complement the cuisine, Bonfyre’s bar features classic cocktails with a modern twist, creative new libations, domestic craft beer selections and a wine list consisting of 60 labels from both North and South America.Otto's Restaurant and Bar - Madison
Price: Expensive•Mediterranean•4.6(1,675)A locally owned Madison favorite, Otto's is set in a beautifully restored 1870s stone farm house with two dining levels. The menu features creative, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, fresh seafood, Certified Angus Beef steaks and more. A friendly lower-level bar serves classic cocktails and fine wines, and half-price appetizers from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Tuesday – Friday. Outdoor dining and live jazz are featured on the deck Spring through Fall, weather permitting. Otto's is also open the first Monday of each month (excluding holidays) in the Spring and Summer when live music is being performed. Main level dining area is wheelchair accessible. Online reservations are available for the dining rooms only, bar and deck table reservations should be made via telephone. Reservations are recommended for dining in the bar, outdoors, and inside for parties of 6 or more. In the event your party is unable to attend, please contact us by phone to cancel your reservation.
Buck & Honey's - Monona
Price: Moderate•Contemporary American•4.7(1,517)At Buck & Honey’s, we've taken great care to ensure your first visit makes you feel like you're stopping by an old friend's. We're locally owned and offer a wide variety of traditional fare made from scratch with only the freshest available ingredients.… Great pastas, tender steaks, fresh entree salads, unique specialty sandwiches, critically acclaimed Friday fish fry and our deliciously crispy thin crust pizzas round out our offerings. Check out the extensive wine list, craft cocktails and beer selections. Join us for live entertainment and special events. Located on the Yahara River in Monona, featuring 23 boat slips for boat parking and dock side carry out.
Summer months include patio seating, that is first come first serve, and non-reservable.Palette Bar and Grill
Price: Moderate•American•4.6(522)Palette provides a colorful dining experience with an American inspired menu and seasonally rotating cocktail selections with an emphasis on seasonal colors and flavors. With a patio on East Washington directly across from Breese Field we provide a lively pregame destination.
Located in the former Mautz Paint Company warehouse sharing the space with Hotel Indigo. We kept our buildings architectural features intact while updating the space with contemporary design elements and nostalgic touches. We wanted to keep the space faithful to its roots; filled with hues of colors and textures reminiscing of times when the East Washington corridor was a booming industrial area in the city.
The Statehouse
Price: Expensive•Contemporary American•4.6(1,219)Join us at our signature restaurant, The Statehouse, or simply stop in to catch the sunset over Lake Mendota while enjoying a cocktail at the bar. Located at the corner of Langdon and Wisconsin, you’ll be comfortable in our inviting dining room and regaled by gorgeous views of the lake and surrounding area. Our beautiful restaurant serves regionally sourced, Modern Midwestern Cuisine. Augie's Tavern offers classic cocktails with new twists, an extensive wine list, and of course, the best Wisconsin craft beers.Rare Steakhouse
Price: Expensive•Steakhouse•4.7(1,992)Dining and libations on Capitol Square with an incredible view of the Capitol, Rare combines craft cocktails, in-house dry aged steaks and attentive service in an unabashedly old-school steak house setting. Madison's downtown steakhouse features specialty cuts dry aged in-house, like the Rib Cap and the Delmonico as well as offering more traditional cuts like our filet and our rib eye. Rare is also one of the only purveyors of A5 Wagyu in Madison.
Complimenting our steaks and entrees is a specialty cocktail list and an extensive wine list with everything from wines for a big celebration to a weekday dinner.
If you're just looking for a drink after work, Rare offers discounted cocktails, wines and snacks at happy hour.
See what locals rave about in Madison
From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
- SStevenVIPWisconsin •6 reviews4.0Dined 2 days agoEverything was great other than the very rude hosting staffMore infoLucillePrice: Expensive• Pizzeria• Madison•4.6
- CCurtisVIPChicago / Illinois •50 reviews5.0Dined 2 days agoA great place for a special occasion. Beautiful views of the Capital, upscale tapas-style fare with spot-on service.More infoEno Vino DowntownPrice: Expensive• Bistro• Madison•4.8
- AAmyChicago / Illinois •8 reviews5.0Dined 4 days agoWe had a wonderful time celebrating Mother’s Day at Merchant. Great food and service! The setting is awesome!More infoMerchantPrice: Expensive• Contemporary American• Madison•4.1
- CCalvinVIPAtlanta •38 reviews5.0Dined on May 7, 2025Imagine a room with subdued lighting and lots of dark wood panels and red leather seating. Food is expertly prepared and served with grace.More infoRare SteakhousePrice: Expensive• Steakhouse• Madison•4.7
- JJohnWisconsin •2 reviews5.0Dined on May 4, 2025Beautiful restaurant with wonderful ambiance and excellent food.More infoDraper Brother's ChophousePrice: Very Expensive• Steakhouse• Madison•4.5
Get inspired by our collections of the top restaurants in Madison
Discover Madison
Wisconsin's capital surrounds most of Lake Mendota and the nearby suburbs. Whether you're taking a stroll by the water in summer or ice skating downtown during the cooler months, make sure you take a break to try a kringle. Wisconsin is one of only a few states to declare a state pastry, and this delightful Danish dessert is worth the acclaim. If you're looking for a full meal rather than just dessert, head downtown to see a selection of the most popular restaurants. The square around the Capitol is home to a dozen cozy pubs and steakhouses, so you can enjoy an Irish draft beer or classic burger. For those who prefer Asian food, there is a wide array of Thai, Chinese, and Japanese fare to enjoy here as well.
Frequently asked questions
Child friendly restaurants in Madison include Sugar River Pizza Company, Liberty Station - Madison and The Statehouse
Explore OpenTable
- Barrymore Theatre
- Worthington Park
- Glenway Golf Course
- State of Wisconsin State Capitol Building
- Camelot Square Shopping Center
- Buckingham Inn - Madison
- Oak Street Park
- Burrows Park
- Wisconsin Historical Museum
- Lake Edge Park
- Sheraton Hotel Madison
- Portland Park
- Camp Randall Stadium
- The Madison Concourse Hotel
- Henry Mall
- State Street
- The Edgewater
- Monona Terrace Community And Convention Center
- Mayfair Park
- Madison Farmer's Market