What it is

An ornate 307-room respite since 1893 with a top-notch spa and salon, indoor pool, beloved steakhouse, and a 23rd-floor bar with panoramic views over Lake Michigan.

What it isn't

Artless. The hotel has an artists-in-residence program with a studio and gallery open to guests, as well as a collection of Victorian art that’s reportedly the largest on earth.

What we think

When The Pfister opened more than a century ago, it was light years ahead of its time—given its electric lights and even thermostats in each and every guest room. She’s still turning heads today for very good reasons: because she’s the type of hotel families return to year after year, and because she’s kept up the needs of the current glitterati. Each fervently traditional guest room here defines sumptuous comfort with their downy beds with featherbed toppers and a pillow menu for choose-your-own softness; tufted headboards and plush velvet armchairs ideal for book-binges with a cuppa from the in-room Nespresso machine; and spa-like bathrooms complete with hair dryers from DryBar. We find the Lake View Tower Rooms worth a splurge for their overlook of Lake Michigan and gleaming Grohe fixtures; the Pfister Governor’s Suite is the ideal choice for anyone traveling with kids, thanks to its separate living and dining room and a four-post bed in the primary.

You're here because

The hotel is remarkably pet friendly, with doggy gift baskets and a pet cleaning fee included when you book the Rover Night package.

The Moment

After your appointment in the spa for a rub down with rhassoul mud (brought in from the Atlas mountains in Morocco, and pure bliss), you decide to treat yourself even further with afternoon tea in the 23rd-floor lounge. When your tea butler brings over your first round of crab dijon and smoked Scottish salmon sandwiches on silver trays, you can’t help but utter those three little words: Midwest is Best.

Restaurants & Bars

Mason Street Grill — Enjoy high-quality wood-grilled steaks, delectable seafood dishes, and thoughtfully prepared entrees for dinner

Cafe At The Pfister — Casual restaurant serving light bites, coffee and breakfast specialties

The Rouge — Treat yourself to The Pfister’s famous and revered traditional Sunday brunch in Milwaukee (Currently closed due to COVID-19)

Lobby Lounge — Enjoy light bites, wines and hand-crafted cocktails

Blu — Situated on the 23rd floor, enjoy stunning views over Lake Michigan and drinks

Location

Just four blocks from the waterfront in downtown Milwaukee, and six blocks from the modernist Milwaukee Art Museum—a treasure trove of Georgia O'Keeffe paintings not often found beyond her New Mexico hometown.