The place was super cute and matched the vibe of the hotel which was sort of vintage and classic. The staff was very friendly and super nice. I went for Milwaukee downtown dining week and ordered off the special menu. The Smashburger slider was pretty good and a lot bigger than I expected for a slider because it had double patties. They weren't super thin patties like you would expect from a Smashburger, but still tasted great. The bun was perfectly toasted. I wish there would've been more of the sauce because I couldn't really taste that. The gazpacho soup was delicious and refreshing. The vegetables were super fresh and crunchy. I don't normally like deviled eggs, but I still wanted to try one and the carbonara deviled egg was very flavorful and I did like it. For my entrée, I got the turkey avocado club wrap, and it was nothing over the top, yet high quality and exactly what I expected. The avocado was very fresh and perfectly ripe as well as the tomatoes. The romain was green and crunchy. The turkey reminded me of thick sliced deli meat and was juicy and flavorful. I also wish there were more sauce in this one because I couldn't really taste it, but the dish was definitely satisfying. I ordered the carrot cake for dessert and that was super good. The cake was so moist and flavorful and not too sweet. The frosting tasted like a typical carrot cake frosting. It was a little sweet, but went well with the cake. I've had trouble finding Cobb salads in Milwaukee and I saw that they have one on their menu so I definitely want to go back to try that! read more

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Louder than we expected in this vaguely-pretty-for-a-hotel-diner room, but with _much_ more delicious food at prices that, frankly, seemed like a bargain. Service was good, not great. Make reservations on Open Table or risk standing around and waiting: it's rightly popular. read more

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Breakfast at Cafe at the Pfister was exactly what I needed - coffee, eggs, and no decision making beyond what goes into an omelet. Located inside the historic Pfister Hotel. My build your own omelet was solid with cheese, spinach and jalapeno for all the spice. read more

Had a lovely lunch here with a friend. Didn't think we would need a reservation at 11:30am on a Friday, but we did! We waited in the comfortable lobby area for about 10 minutes and they texted us when our table was ready. My tuna melt and soup were both very good and our server was very sweet . She checked on us often. Prices were fair, atmosphere was clean and welcoming. Lots of natural light. Plenty of food options to choose from. They validated parking for the Pfister structure, which I really appreciated. So fun to people watch and relax at this lovely historic hotel. read more

Date of review: November 1, 2025 We had a gift card from a friend and were craving those amazing pancakes. We couldn't get a reservation until after 1 pm and by then, it was only lunch--the lunch menu has none of the charm of the breakfast menu! Despite having a 130 reservation, I received a text from the restaurant at 1239 that my table was ready... Then when we got there just before our actual reservation time, they had no record of the reservation, which is just all around odd. While the hostess was nice, our server Martina, was not. We have had her in the past and she was very nice, today someone ran over her cat on the way to work or something because she was clearly not in the mood to be at Cafe at the Pfister. Everything was slow, despite the restaurant being 15-20% full and she disappeared for long stretches at a time, never checking on us after the food was delivered. Speaking of the food delivery, I ordered sweet potato fries--I love these and am always excited when I see them--but my meal was delivered with regular fries. I mentioned it to the food runner who promptly snatched the plate away and returned several minutes later. So my husband had his food and I had...nothing. They couldn't have just brought me the sweet potato fries on another plate? When I did get my food, it was fair. The burger was cooked how I liked it but was nothing special in terms of the beef and bun. The aforementioned sweet potato fries were pretty good--though I wish they offered a sweet dipping sauce for them as one of the dipping sauces for the burger was pretty good. Had this been our first visit here, we would not have come back. As we were getting ready to leave we saw Greg Marcus in the Cafe; perhaps that explains why our service was so bad, everyone was waiting on him, maybe? read more

After treating myself for a wonderful massage at the Well Spa, I decided to have a bite to eat. It was a cold one but with the sun shining inside the cafe, it made for a nice morning. The consistency in my dining is easy to notice, I had the two eggs your way with bacon. My server Marisha, had the biggest smile on her face which made my dining experience more memorable. I noticed how she interacted with other guests and it was truly genuine. I will be back again and again. read more

Cafe at the Pfister - Two eggs scrambled with American cheese, bacon, hash browns and toast. - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I'm super snobby about Eggs Benedict, but I took a chance and gosh darn it I'm probably having it tomorrow and the next day. My waitress was super informative about the hotel, the famous guests, and was extremely attentive. They even gave me a cup of hot water to go! read more

Cafe at the Pfister - They serve Rishi tea! - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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My husband and I stayed a night at the Pfister for a little staycation and wanted to soak in the full experience, including breakfast at the hotel's café. We headed down around 9:30am on a Saturday and were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't busy at all. We were seated right away. There's also a convenient grab-and-go section if you're just looking for a pastry and coffee. The dining area feels a bit dated, but it's clean and charming in a way that fits the historic vibe of the hotel. I really liked one of the special drinks, the Oatmeal Cookie Chai, it tasted like a liquidified cookie! I went with the Colossal Breakfast Sandwich to eat, my husband got the farmhouse omelet and we both got a side of hashbrowns. Each plate came with a little cup of ketchup, which I feel like is not something a lot of people enjoy with their breakfast but they must've had enough requests to make it standard, I don't think either of us touched it. As for the food, it was just okay. My sandwich didn't really stand out--the bagel and bacon were a bit too crispy for my liking--and the hashbrowns were underwhelming. Given the price and the Pfister's reputation, I was expecting something a bit more impressive. Maybe my expectations were just a little too high for a luxury hotel. That said, the service was excellent! Our server, Sam, was warm, friendly, and brought such a positive energy that it really helped start the day off on a good note. read more

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Dining at the Cafe at the Pfister is such an enjoyable experience. You get a great breakfast surrounded by a beautiful hotel. I ordered Corned Beef Hash & Eggs and it was prepared perfectly. The service was incredible to boot! read more

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Although quite busy at times you do not feel rushed and are treated well. It's not overly loud or quiet and sterile. The food was delicious. I tried the corned beef hash and an English muffin. My wife had the biscuits and gravy. My son had pancakes and bacon. My poached eggs were slightly over but all in all everything was great. It's just the right amount of food where you aren't hungry nor are you leaving a ton of food. We would definitely come back when we stay again. read more

Cafe at the Pfister - Hall outside the cafe in lobby. - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The crème brûlée latte was the best tasting latte of this flavor I've ever had. When I usually order this elsewhere, the coffee or espresso flavor usually overpowers the creaminess of the original dessert, but this drink was perfectly balanced! I also ordered the Grilled Chicken Breast sandwich with truffle chips. Excellent food and service, I definitely recommend this place! read more

Cafe at the Pfister - Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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What a great little cafe and walk up food option. Their pastries and coffee were fine. Nothing spectacular that caught my attention, but convenient and affordable. The cafe food for Sit down was just alright. I wasn't overly impressed. Service was also a little slow. read more

The food was atrocious. I tried the hamburger - which was fine but the bun was soaked in some sort of oil and not edible. For breakfast I tried the avocado toast - whats so hard about that? but that was a disaster. Cheap grocery store bread barely toasted with packaged guacamole and wilted old arugula on top. The hash browns looked nice but the potato was barely cooked, so not edible. I tried to rescue the situation with a toasted English muffin that was, again a cheap store bought version that was barely toasted and tasted raw. pretty awful way to start the day. I wont be going back there ever again. It was over priced and over marketed by the fine marketeers at Pfister. read more

I have been here three times during my stay and each time has been really good food. This morning I had biscuits and gravy and I asked the server if the gravy was homemade. It was with hints of celery, onion, rosemary, and sausage. The biscuits were not overly dense and had a good crispness to them. Yesterday I had the avocado toast and it was quite good with arugula and pickled radish. Added a touch of salt and pepper to it, but that's it. The hashbrowns are quite unique as well, not packed with flavor but texture is different than any other hashbrowns ever had. The service on my first visit was not impressive at all, but on the second and third visits was quite exquisite. This is a comfortable little diner in the morning, to sip your coffee and eat a little breakfast. I think it rates a solid four stars. read more

Sam was our server and she was a total doll. I asked for a side of salsa and she even brought me a side of pico de gallo as an extra option. I love the vibe here because it's cozy and classic and makes you feel a sense of nostalgia for good times once lived in your youngest years. My husband and I have been staying at the Pfister multiple times a year for a decade, and the cafe in the morning is never not a must for us. I will say, in recent times they seem to have much smaller portions, but today's visit seemed to be an exception. Well done! read more

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I'm a restaurant/menu hound so I'm always scrounging through restaurant menus and I came across the cafe at the Pfister in the Pfister hotel that's 130 years old. I don't discriminate with food as a foodie and you will find me in nice restaurants to street food carts and everything in between. The cafe decor is nice/upscale with wallpaper, wood trim, nice furniture, chandeliers etc etc. At 7am on a Saturday I could sit anywhere and I chose a window/street view section. My server Cary was very friendly and did a great job. I started with a spicy Bloody Mary which had plenty of toppings, see my pictures but I thought the drink was average and last weekends cafe was way tastier. The corn beef hash stack was the most interesting corn beef hash dish I have ever seen. It's a from the bottom up a grain mustard creme sauce, thin layer of crispy hash browns, sautéed spinach with the potato corn beef hash topped with a poached egg. The plate is corn beef hash stack, two poached eggs with choice of toast. OMG this was so delicious and such a strange combination that it really works very well. The poached eggs were perfect and the sourdough toast was better than average. Overall this was a great breakfast experience and I'm so glad that I stopped by for the corn beef hash stack read more

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Very nice place located inside the Pfister Hotel. Ate here several times during our stay. The food is pricey but the portions are generous (pancakes and French toast could easily be shared). Wife gave the croissants and lattes high reviews. Fruit plate was big and very fresh. Can attest to the quality of the oatmeal, pancakes, and french toast also. The avocado toast and hash browns were good but the other items are better. Service (specifically our server Christian) is excellent. read more

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I don't know how this place gets such high reviews. Food is below average, the service was poor, and the dining area was dirty. My wife and I stayed at the Pfister, and we decided to eat at the café for breakfast . We paid $40 for below average food. My wife got a frutata, and she ordered it with no mushrooms. Well, it came with mushrooms. I took the mushrooms off, but besides that, it was not very good, and the English muffins were poorly toasted. I got an omelet, and the bacon was old, and burnt onions were cold as where the hasbrowns. The services was poor wrong order no mushrooms, took long time to fill coffee or check on us as far as the meal. The floor below our table was disgusting and dirty. I will never be back. There have to be better places to eat. read more

Expect to wait to get any meal here. They are small and everyone at the hotel apparently just wants to stay put. We managed to still get breakfast even though we didn't get seated until 11 and I was grateful for that. Although, kids can get breakfast all day so they'd be fine. We ordered some drinks and standard breakfast foods and it felt like everything took a long time, but it was all very good other than the kids waffle that tasted like salt was used instead of sugar (and the water didn't tell me until we were done, just drowning it in syrup!) read more

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I expected a bit more from the Cafe at the Pfister since it's associated with such a storied hotel. But it was as bad as any attached hotel restaurant, but with higher prices. Falls into all the common tropes: - bad "proudly served" Starbucks coffee - stale, unappetizing "from-scratch" baked goods - overcooked omelets that could be found at any below-average diner diner. Service was also quite hit or miss. Lots of people in suits having meetings there. If the company paid, or I wouldn't care either. read more

Before hitting the road back to Chicago we decided to have breakfast here. To look at the interior, it seems out of place when compared with the opulence outside in the lobby and bar area. But don't let looks deceive you, this place lives up to the standards of the hotel and you can get a mimosa with your meal. The food was surprising good. I say surprising because I was not expecting anything more than a basic breakfast before hitting the road. The portions were huge, so there was no need for lunch after that. I was happy to see that they were observing COVID protocols. I noticed that they really gave the area a good cleaning once people had left and plates were cleared. Service was okay, but could have been better. I saw a few tables that got there food before us, even though we placed our order well ahead of theirs. Based on earlier reviews, this seems to be a consistent issue. Nevertheless, I would definitely have breakfast here again as I am sure The Doctor and I will be planning another staycation at the Pfister. read more

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Cafe at the Pfister is a very underrated spot in Milwaukee. There food is always great, they have a menu big enough for anyone to find something they love, and it works great for business lunches/meetings as there is very accessible parking. The "Senator Kohl's tuna salad sandwich" is one of my top picks along with the tomato soup! read more

Was looking for things to do in Milwaukee and tea sounded perfect since I wanted a day trip out with my daughter but it was chilly outside to walk around. So it was nice place to warm up with some tea and a cup of soup great service and friendly staff. Will definitely be doing this again. read more

Cafe at the Pfister - Tomato Soup with crostini - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We've been hearing a lot of good things about the hotel when we initially moved to Milwaukee, so we decided to try out its brunch service as a start. We arrived at around 9am on a Friday morning and there were a fair amount of people (no waiting needed). The service was a bit slow but still okay. The seating area was nice and well-decorated, but a bit noisy. We had a farmhouse omelette and a south of the border benny. Both tasted a bit salty, and the south border benny (chorizo) was a bit too oily for us. With the price of ~$15 per dish, it's a bit pricy. Overall I would say it's still an okay place to eat if you wanted to come over to see the lobby of the hotel and dining in a historical building. read more

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Convenient, quick, delicious! Friendly and welcoming hostesses, experienced server, expert chef. We stayed in the hotel and grabbed breakfast/lunch here a couple days. Highly recommend! read more

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Always wonderful and relaxing! Fresh and favorite place when you want to treat yourself. Service is always very attentive, exceptional and courteous. If I had to critique anything it would be the Starbucks coffee because I find Starbucks to be better. So added to sugars but missing the previous hotel coffee The avocado toast was plentiful and the poached egg was interesting when the yolk fell out of the toast and slid onto the plate. The fruit combination was fresh, ripe and delicious. The check arrives with individual wipes and a fresh Pfister pen in a sealed package! So you get a souvenir The French toast is me with challah bread. read more

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I felt like the Cafe was hit or miss. I was gifted vouchers to go to the Cafe, so my best friend and I went twice during our stay at the Pfister. The service was absolutely amazing; attentive and kind. This was one of the best parts about the experience itself. During my first visit I had a Cobb Salad. The bacon wasn't real which really irritated me. It was the crunchy bacon bits instead. The Bloody Mary I ordered was expensive and not good; too much mix maybe?! My best friend said her French toast was okay. During our second visit I ordered a nice big burger after a night of drinking and this did not disappoint. It was a good burger and bonus points: they offered gluten free bread. I truly appreciated this. Overall an average experience, but the hostess and staff were awesomely friendly. read more

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Wow! Amazing breakfast. 10 out of 10. Pastries sellout early. Atmosphere, food, and service are outstanding.

Beautiful little cafe tucked away in a gorgeous hotel. Went here for Easter brunch and was able to make a reservation in advance which was great. Our service was great even though they were pretty busy. Food was also delish and coffee was exceptional, which you don't always get at breakfast places. Prices weren't cheap but that's most places right now. Will 100% be returning! read more

Cafe at the Pfister - 16 oz. Latte Breakfast and croissant - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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If you are in the Milwaukee area, this establishment is a must visit. The staff is attentive and extremely knowledgeable about the property! The food and drinks are above delicious! Just try it. read more

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This was my first time at the Café, and I'm thinking that their regular menu must be much better than what they offer for Downtown Dining Week 2019. It felt like they didn't put much effort in it. The soup had not much of a flavor, the salmon was dry and the salad soggy. My husband agreed on the soup and his muffaletta was oily. He didn't really like it. DDW is supposed to be an event that gives restaurants a chance to get new customers. Moreover, Milwaukee will be getting a lot of attention next year! read more

Cafe at the Pfister - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I went to a holiday lunch with a professional associate just before Christmas. The menu and setting are perfect for a quick and tasty lunch right off the beautiful lobby. The menu isn't extensive but has everything you could want. The service is quick and very good. We sat overlooking the sidewalk which had an added feel of festive with the pre-Christmas hustle and bustle. Now that I'm working downtown again, the Cafe at the Pfister will be my go-to for business lunches or to catch up with friends. read more

Cafe at the Pfister - Pfister Hotel lobby. - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We weren't anticipating eating brunch at the Pfister but ended up here when The wait at Brunch around the corner was extended for over an hour. Boy are we glad we made the decision to eat here! The service was absolutely phenomenal and the food was delicious! We had French toast, the omelet, and corned beef hash and it was a great meal for a reasonable price. The lunch foods looked amazing, and were really looking forward to coming back! We never thought of the Pfister cafe as it was a hotel cafe, but it was such a pleasant surprise. We'll most definitely be back! read more

Cafe at the Pfister - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

For such a gorgeous hotel, we expected a better breakfast. Why is that? Architecture and decor have nothing to do with a good meal (although it can certainly enhance the experience.) We love a good diner, AND an elegant brunch, but we found neither here. Starbucks coffee (why not feature local Colectivo?); hashbrowns that bore little resemblance to hashbrowns; bland, lukewarm omelet; overly salty, greasy frittata; unevenly toasted bread that looked and tasted like a discount brand; fruit cup of not-quite-ripe melons and decent grapes (no berries!) Prices weren't terrible and our waitress was nice (she gets more stars.) Maybe if we had ordered pancakes... nah, won't be back. read more

This place is located inside Pfister Hotel. The hotel is so classy and beautiful. We got burger with a cup of turkey and rice soup, short stack of pancakes with corned beef hash. The burger made from a high quality beef. The meat didn't have much seasoning to it which was okay. Sometimes you don't need to season so much for the meat but it's high quality and you just want the natural season of the beef to be the main flavor. It missed something like onions that would make it pop, maybe I should have asked for ketchup with it. The burger did come with pickles but I'm not big fan of pickles so I didn't eat pickles with it. Maybe that would have helped the burger a bit. The pancakes were done so well. They had this crustiness at the edge which enhance texture of the pancakes so much. The butter that came with it so buttery and fluffy. Additionally, the corned beef hash was perfect, a little bit salty for me but it was delicious. The turkey and rice soup's broth was very flavorful. I also got their smoothies. It was super healthy smoothies cause there were no added sugar to it. I am not that healthy so it was not my cup of tea. It was a wonderful experience. I would come back to eat here and enjoy the hotel view. read more

Cafe at the Pfister - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Delicious and hearty breakfast. Excellent service. Went three days in a row. Highly recommend.

Gorgeous patio and great service. Food is usually pretty good however not my favorite brunch spot in Milwaukee

Not sure why they only have 3.5 stars!! My experience was 5+!! Exquisite historical hotel. Met by Barbara at hostess stand. Wonderful , warm and welcoming!! Martina took outstanding care of me at my table. She was also very delightful and kind. I ordered just regular coffee that was hot and delicious. I had orange juice that was very tasty. My meal was the omelet with turkey sausage(delicious), tomato, mushroom, and Swiss cheese. I had the wheat buttered toast that was spectacular. The crispy hash browns were outstanding. Fantastic meal. read more

Cafe at the Pfister - Omelet, wheat toast, hash browns - Cafes Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I stayed at the pfister hotel for a weekend in Feb 2019. For a few days during the trip I ate breakfast at the cafe . The farmers omelette that I ordered was cooked perfectly . I substituted the hash browns and toast for fresh fruit and was pleasantly surprised that the coffee was really good! I believe my servers name was Carol. She was very attentive and on top of coffee refills! I will eat here anytime that I stay at the Pfister ! read more

My meal at the Cafe at the Pfister was sorely disappointing. I thought that because the place is in a nice hotel downtown that the food would be good but I was definitely mistaken. It was not even okay it was just straight up bad. They had specials for lunch for downtown dining week which is what compelled me to give the cafe a try. For an appetizer, my boyfriend and I shared their truffle Parmesan chips which were $8 for chips.... regardless, they were definitely not worth it. The chips were supposed to come with a "bleu cheese dipping sauce" which tasted nothing like bleu cheese - not even a hint of that sort of flavor. The chips were not well tossed in the truffle oil either because some chips tasted heavily of the truffle oil while the rest of the chips did not. Moving onto my meal. I ordered a white truffle risotto with peas that they had as a special menu item for the Milwaukee dining week. I am not even exaggerating here - my risotto tasted like NOTHING. It was the most bland meal I might have ever had in my life. White truffle oil is usually a very strong taste (and one that I happen to like) so I was shocked that my dish straight up tasted like nothing in every single aspect. I will not be eating at the Cafe at the Pfister again and I don't recommend that you do either. With so many great restaurants downtown with awesome food, you really shouldn't waste your time or money eating here! read more