The Guide: Milwaukee

The Pfister Hotel 424 East Wisconsin Avenue (800/558-8222; thepfisterhotel.com). Rates: $159-$259 double. An 1893 historic landmark renovated in 2008, with 307 elegant rooms, sumptuous interiors filled with Victorian artwork, fine meals at the Mason Street Grill, and stellar views from Blu, the 23rd-floor lounge.

Where to Drink

Hinterland Gastropub 222 East Erie Street, Suite 100 (414/727-9300; hinterlandbeer.com). At this elegant brewpub in Milwaukee's historic Third Ward, James Beard Award nominee Dan Van Rite prepares global dishes like wood-fired Hawaiian marlin with Bhutanese red rice to pair with artisanal Hinterland beers.

Horny Goat Hideaway 2011 South First Street (414/482-4628; hghideaway.com). This year-old brewpub with a wide, fire pit-graced deck overlooking the Milwaukee River offers house brews ranging from Honey Blonde to Baby Bock, plus burgers and other crowd-pleasing comfort dishes.

What to Do

Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion_ 2000 West Wisconsin Avenue (414/931-0808; pabstmansion.com)_. Tour the lavish home of the city's most famous beer baron.

Lakefront Brewery 1872 North Commerce Street (414/372-8800; lakefrontbrewery.com). This microbrewery offers beer-soaked tours, polka-fueled fish fries, and innovative lagers.

MillerCoors Brewery 4251 West State Street (4141931-2337; millercoors.com). Peek inside the vast works of America's second-largest beer-maker.

Milwaukee Brewing Company 613 South Second Street (414-226-2337; milwaukeebrewingco.com). Visit this Walker's Point microbrewery for lively, informative tours and tastings.

Sprecher BrewingCompany 701West Glendale Avenue (414/964-2739; sprecherbrewery.com). Milwaukee's oldest microbrewery offers tours, tastings of German-style lagers, and Saturday cheese pairings.