1. Knickerbocker on the Lake

1. Knickerbocker on the Lake

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Milwaukee, WI

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Knickerbocker on the Lake

2.8 (98 reviews)
ModerateHotels
Open Open 24 hours

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Keys to open door
Jessica A.

If you like eclectic and quaint hotels, this may just be your jam. Get brought back in time where key access cards are a thing from the past and you actually get a real room key to open your door!! . The door creaks open, kind of like the opening to a scary movie and miraculously reveals a pretty modern looking room(minus the window air conditioner). If you aren't afraid of being haunted it is pretty cool architecturally and okay for a night stay. Beware if you buy third party as they do make you sign a type of waiver stating prices bought on third party sites may be different than the real time rate and can be adjusted(ours were not so no big deal). Also parking is $21 a day(not the $20 as they do tax you for that as well) but well worth it as it was relatively easy to go in and out.

Jasmine G.

My absolute favorite place to stay for a little break from day to day life. I live in Milwaukee, but staying here makes me feel like I'm on an actual vacation. The rooms are stunning and I always feel safe. I've never heard any loud neighbors or guests, and the lobby alone is always so clean and gorgeous.

Jay A.

I don't usually review a place before I've settled in but here we go... In short, I don't like it. It's my fault that I chose a hotel that was not on the preferred list but the hotel I love was full and the others were significantly more than normal. Me being a good financial steward went for the lower cost. I looked online using the travel tool and they had great pictures. The pictures they show are of their suits which looked okay. So I arrive and I'm in a basic room. Damn, this was not what I was expecting. Walking in through the lobby I was like oh this is nice! Then I walk into this Motel 6 level room that is sweltering hot from the ancient furnace being cranked up to hell. It's not going to cool off anytime soon so I figure out how to turn the thing off (I think), crank the window ac unit and open the window. A cold compress and now my core temp is back to normal. Ugh. Do they expect anyone to actually work in this dark dungeon nook for an office space ? And if you turn sideways you can walk through the bathroom which only takes about 1 step from the door to the backside of the tub. Why is the carpet so dirty? Like they haven't shampooed the carpet in 2 years. Ugh. Well now I know. I travel here a lot but this will be the only time I stay at this place. I'd ask for another room but it's probably not reasonable to expect it's better than this if they can't get this one right. At least the lobby is nice. One star for that. There are so many other nice hotels in Milwaukee, give one of those a try because this one my friend is not one of them. Ugh 6 more days. One star. 4 hrs later.... Okay so remember I opened the window and cranked the AC. I decided to go get some dinner at an amazing place (I'll tell you all about that later) while the room cooled down. I return and the place is still hot. I cranked the furnace to off like they told me but that thing just kept on cooking! I returned to a room that is still warm, and I can't sleep with the window wide open. So I call the front desk to figure out how to get the furnace to turn off. The guy says don't worry about it, we will put you in a cooler room that's a little larger. Like that they just made it right, without me even asking. Now I'm in a jr suit (I think )and it's much nicer. Is it the best suit I've ever stayed in nope, but it's what I expected when I booked here. I really like the space and it has plenty of character. I found myself talking about the next time I stay here which reminded me to update this review. +2 stars for the better room, +1 more star for the amazing service. Thank you!

Cool lobby

Great location. Quiet neighborhood. Clean room. Fast service. Secure parking. Totally recommend for an affordable, safe, reliable, and cozy place.

Mari P.

I stayed here after flying into Milwaukee and although initially the check-in staff was less than helpful, some staff were better and the accommodations were reasonable for the value. Here's my complaint: I had a bad fall and sprained my ankle coming in the back door from the parking lot. After using my hotel key to open the door, I stepped inside and there was a single step down immediately after the threshold. There was NO warning and I went down hard on a cement floor. This was the first day of our trip for a family reunion. The guy who helped us check in was not interested, however when my husband went to file an incident report, the lady who was working the front desk was very helpful. My foot is still swollen and sore but I am hoping to recover without further medical treatment. Here's a picture of the threshold that took me down! They need to make people aware of the step or it's going to happen over and to other people going through that entrance. As you can see they painted the outdoor step yellow, but there was no warning about this step inside. If you're staying here, be careful and let THIS review be your warning!

Little kitchen in standard room.
Mary J.

We stayed here one nightand enjoyed ourselves. Since we arrived later in the evening all the street parking was taken and we had to pay $18 to park in their lot. Many hotels in Milwaukee charge much more so we were ok with it The room was very unique, see my photos, with a small kitchen area as well as an eating area and desk. The bathroom is very small, the toilet paper roll is RIGHT NEXT to the toilet to the point where you have to lean a little bit to unroll it. We decided Thursday to stay in Milwaukee Friday night so we got a pretty good price for the room. We weren't looking for anything luxurious and enjoyed the quaint surroundings. This is not too far from the lakefront and it's a great part of town.

The open "coffin" door
Cher M.

Stayed in room #620 for the Milwaukee Wine Festival on Aug. 13. Boyfriend wasn't sure about letting me pick the place to stay (I tend to prefer to "wing it" which he thinks is code for "sleep on a park bench" but boy was he ever pleasantly surprised with my choice of the Knickerbocker. First this to know: the Knickerbocker is part hotel, part condos. So you have full-time residents living in this building as well as a steady stream of internet-savvy (It wasn't listen in Kayak, Expedia and the like-- I really had to dig around to find this place) people coming in and out. For some people this is their home, not just their home-away-from-home so the "hotel" vibe wasn't as present as in, say, a Doubletree or a Hilton, and it was a quiet and restful place to stay. It was nice to be in an off-the-beaten-path place that didn't look beaten up. The clerk at the front desk was ridiculous (in a good way) He was good-natured, kind of goofy, but very friendly, and he made it seem like we just MADE HIS DAY by walking into the hotel. I don't know what he was on, but I want some of it. The room was clean, decorated, and very homey. It was like house-sitting for a friend (with really good taste in decorative pillows.) with a kickass flat screen TV and GIANT walk-in closet. Seriously...the closet was as big as the bathroom. You could fit a full-sized bed in there. I was distracted by neat features like the molding (I took pictures, see below) and an old-fashioned dry cleaning passthrough in the door. (which explains the coffin-like doors for those reviewers who don't know how to READ the giant instruction signs inside them), and a kitchenette (complete with a waffle iron, which left me with a 'huh' expression on my face). The only con for me was the bed. It was kind of hard... or maybe just stiff? I'm not sure, but I think it was some version of a tempur-pedic mattress. It did no favors for my back, but after being out of bed for a couple hours, I realized that my back felt better than it had in days. So I'm not sure if I'm a hypochondriac or my back is just falling to pieces. Maybe Yelp can help me find a chiropractor before I return to Milwaukee! Parking was awesomely easy. We arrived around 4 and found a (FREE) parking spot right in front of the building. There's tons of free parking all around the hotel, so I'm not sure what previous reviews were referring to when they complained about parking. Oh, and it was only $99 to stay on a Saturday night! Compared to even the most generic of hotels nearby (Comfort Suites, anyone?) It was the least expensive option by far.

Creepy looking "The Shining" hall ways.

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Excellent front desk service thanks to Jade who gave friendly and personalized attention at check-in.

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Ask the Community - Knickerbocker on the Lake

Review Highlights - Knickerbocker on the Lake

The room had character because it's a older building, but it wasn't shabby or rundown.

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The Iron Horse Hotel - The lobby area

The Iron Horse Hotel

(465 reviews)

$$$

Walker's Point

This place is just COOOOOOOOL. You will NOT regret your stay!! My boss took a bunch of us here for…read morea team building. It has been my favorite hotel stay to date. Make the reservation!

My stay at The Iron Horse Hotel was extremely disappointing, especially for a property that markets…read moreitself as a boutique experience. From the moment I walked in, the lobby was overwhelmed with a heavy, Axe body spray-like scent--so strong it felt like walking through a middle school locker room. I assumed it was temporary and that my room would be a relief, but unfortunately, it was worse. The room smelled musty, like a house that hasn't been aired out in years. To make matters worse, the wallpaper was peeling off the walls, which is unacceptable for a hotel at this level. Beyond that, the overall cleanliness of the hotel was lacking. For a boutique property, I expected a much higher standard, but the space felt worn and not well-maintained. The bed was hard and uncomfortable, and the towels were rough--far from the soft, high-end feel you'd expect. The most concerning part of my stay, though, was waking up at 1:45 AM struggling to breathe. It genuinely felt like a reaction to something in the room--possibly mold or poor air quality. I initially thought I was getting sick, but after spending a few hours away the next day, I felt completely normal again, which makes it hard to ignore the room as the cause. If you have any respiratory sensitivities, be cautious. I contacted the front desk to explain the situation and was told checking out early without being charged for another night wouldn't be an issue. I even offered to return around noon so they could turn the room, but was told not to worry since they weren't sold out. When I returned later that day, there was no note, and the staff refused to honor what I had been told, citing the late checkout time. While I understand policies, the inconsistency and lack of follow-through were frustrating. I also dined at the hotel restaurant, which didn't help the experience. The food was overpriced for the quality--my salad was warm, fries were room temperature, and clearly sat out too long. Dessert was equally disappointing; the lemon tart was buried under an excessive amount of powdered sugar, making it unpleasant to eat. It's honestly a sad day when I transferred to a basic airport hotel--Hyatt Place Milwaukee Airport--and had a significantly better experience. The bed was more comfortable, the towels were actually soft, and even the shampoo and conditioner were noticeably better quality. On top of that, the Hyatt was spotless, which only made the lack of cleanliness at Iron Horse stand out even more. Overall, this stay fell far below expectations. Between the condition of the room, air quality concerns, cleanliness issues, and poor service recovery, I won't be returning.

The Pfister Hotel - The Pfister Lobby

The Pfister Hotel

(458 reviews)

$$$

Downtown, East Town

Wow! I recently stayed at The Pfister Hotel for about a week, and I absolutely loved my experience…read more From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel welcome. They greeted me warmly, helped with my bags, and even brought them up to my room. Before my trip, I was honestly a little nervous because I'd heard so many stories about the hotel being haunted. Thankfully, I didn't experience anything unusual at all. It ended up being one of the best hotel stays I've had. I stayed on one of the upper floors, and the views were beautiful. Waking up to the sunrise and watching the sunset in the evening made the stay even more special. The staff checked in with me every day to make sure I had everything I needed and were always happy to offer recommendations. They even upgraded my room at no extra charge, which was such a thoughtful surprise. The rooms include complimentary coffee, tea, and bottled water, and I was impressed with how fast the elevators were. I never waited more than a couple of minutes. The location is another huge plus. It's right in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, and so many great restaurants, coffee shops, and attractions are within walking distance. If you don't have a car, it's incredibly easy to get around, and Uber rides are very affordable. One fun thing about staying here is that there's always a chance you'll run into someone well known. I was told that every U.S. president has stayed at the hotel, which adds to its rich history and charm. The people staying at the hotel were just as friendly as the staff, and I met so many wonderful people during my visit. If you stay here, make sure to go all the way to the top floor and check out Blu. The views alone are worth it. I truly loved my stay at The Pfister. If I'm back in Milwaukee, I would absolutely stay here again. Next time, I also want to treat myself to the spa and salon inside the hotel.

This was the start of our trip for my cousins wedding. On our arrival the beautiful bay window in…read moreour room was filled with spiderwebs. When we checked out we left our items at the bell desk and got our ticket we were headed to the brewers game. After the game there was no one at the desk and after about 10 mins of waiting another hotel person came to help us. I had to keep telling her we had more stuff, in the stress of waiting and having to tell her we had more items my husband's garment bag was left. It had his suit for the wedding we were going to. The whole reason for the trip. I was sent a link called " I left my stuff" which felt like a slap in the face, I didn't forget it, they did not return it. I had to pay $88 to overnight it. 6/5 it was shipped and I didn't receive it until Monday 6/8 at 10 am. So on top of the $88 we were out we had to go to a suit shop in town and spend $630 for another suit. This definitely was such a big stress of our trip.

The Kimpton Journeyman Hotel - King room city view

The Kimpton Journeyman Hotel

(166 reviews)

$$$

Historic Third Ward

Our experience one-night at the Kimpton Journeyman was perfect. We've stayed at a handful of…read moreKimptons around the US (and even one in Paris) so we dig the overall modern-boutique vibe, generally hopping atmosphere, and, of course, the signature complimentary wine hour! We got all of that during our one-night stay. It's perfectly situated in the Historic Third Ward with easy walking access to anywhere you'd want to go in that part of Milwaukee. Our room was nice on a high floor with a decent view of the surrounding buildings. Everyone at wine-hour was friendly and seemed happy to see us. I enjoyed the wine...the snacks part may have been a little less in terms of offerings from what we experienced elsewhere, but halfway through my glass of wine I'm pretty sure I didn't care...it was a pre-dinner situation anyway.) There was always a lot of people and energy in the lobby throughout our stay. They have a very popular roof-top bar which attracts lots of people from outside of the hotel. We loved it here and would definitely stay again!

The rooms are awesome. Hotel is clean and super friendly. Ice machines on every other floor…read more But On my stay the internet sucked. And so did the TV. I called down and asked if there's something wrong with the internet. She said "No it's working great down here"....Solid lol. Nice troubleshooting. So I just used my Hotspot for my stay. I don't know if they have streaming or not because my menu button didn't work on the remote. And BTW when you turn on your TV you need to hit channel up button until you get to channel 5....and then surf. My guide button didn't work. Great location though. Cheers !

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Milwaukee Downtown - Hotel Exterior

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Milwaukee Downtown

(127 reviews)

$$

Westown, Downtown

Beautiful and clean room. Great location. Excellent service and hot cookies on demand. Room service…read morebreakfast burrito was fat and tasty! Room service Delivery person and hotel personnel were all very friendly and said hello to you in passing... a lost art. Beautiful sitting areas and very spacious. Sincere was the best bartender to us night after night. Had a delicious crispy chicken wrap and cheese curds. Thank you I'll be back.

The DoubleTree's location is great and situated near a bunch of quality restaurants and local…read moreattractions in the area. While the room was okay for the most part, there was a persistent vomit-like odor near the bed that wasn't resolved despite my request for cleaning. As a result, I had to sleep on the couch on the opposite side of the room and my work schedule made it inconvenient to request a new one. The bathroom was missing some basic amenities such as a soap dish, so I had to leave the bar soap on the counter. The shower's strong water pressure was really nice compared to the flow-restricted showers commonly found in California hotels. The staff experience was mixed. The night reception gentleman (working Monday through Thursday) provided outstanding customer service for his consistently warm and energetic greetings every time I passed. The night valet Martin also deserves special recognition for his outstanding service, sprinting to retrieve my car and showing remarkable attention to detail by noticing my night work schedule and trying to proactively have my car ready. However, the daytime valet service was disappointing. Two valets would unnecessarily retrieve my car together (Maybe one was shadowing the other). During these retrievals, one valet would sit on my belongings in the passenger seat (this happened multiple days). I later discovered after leaving Milwaukee that she damaged my glasses. Given the short distance to the garage, this practice seems unnecessary and showed a lack of respect for guest property. If they noticed stuff on the seat, they could've just walked back. For future improvement, I would suggest better attention to guests' personal belongings and a review of valet procedures.

Kinn Guesthouse - Common space

Kinn Guesthouse

(41 reviews)

Downtown, East Town

Unique hotel that operates more like an Air BNB. Check in is by website and you get a code to…read moredoors by email. Each floor has a communal area with full size luxury kitchen, dining room, and two seating areas. This is an ideal setup for wedding parties, company retreats, and other group gatherings. For me this was very convenient and easy for business travel. Similar to the big chains that are all by app now. Coffee service is excellent and included with nespresso machine, milk, non-cow milk and frother. Workout space is in basement and not bad. Very clean. Mariott clean. Not many service people as no front desk but there is an office and they were nice and helpful. Fun fact- this is my 500th review :)

God, where do I start?…read more First off the place is sophisticated and well appointed. That's not the problem. I was there on a Saturday night and my room was just above the street, freeway side. There was non-stop drag racing, loud stereos and yelling till 3AM. At first I thought the window was open because it felt so close, like it was 10 feet away. Turns out there's just really poor noiseproofing. They do provide ear plugs but they didn't help. When i complained about it, (everything by text, BTW) they said they had never heard that complaint. The first lie of a series of other crazy lies. At checkout, Rosa said she would talk to the owner and adjust my bill. I thought.... great! Weeks go by and like 20 texts, still no credit. I called and talked to the owner. He assured me I would get the credit. Another week goes by. Finally they said they had issued the credit and sent me some "proof". My name and the words "-$100". What the hell was this? I still had no credit, having checked my credit card daily. Finally, almost a month goes by and I email the owner and say, I never got the credit. He said he didn't have time for this and they would void the credit card "credit" and mail me a check. It's been weeks and still no check. I figure these grifters need the money more than I do so I'll just let this review suffice. Stay at your own risk. Sketchy as hell!

Brewhouse Inn & Suites - copper kettles

Brewhouse Inn & Suites

(212 reviews)

$$$

Westown, Bronzeville

My wife and I like going to breweries and as part of our Dodgers weekend to Milwaukee I surprised…read moremy wife and booked a few nights at the Brewhouse Inn. I'm not posting pictures because everyone else has given you all you needed shots of the hotel. The staff has been great. The room, very nice. Here's the warning, if you have a car, don't park on the street unless you go on line and get the overnight pass. The parking police here are sneaky and as soon as that meter runs out they're there. Talk to the valet, he can give you the best options for parking. I'm paying more in parking tickets than what I paid for the car. Even with that, this place is worth stopping in and having a PBR.

You'll be hard-pressed to find better customer service than I experienced here. The staff here…read moreclearly takes pride in their friendly hospitality, and it's the kind of place I'd look forward to returning to. I stayed here for a work event, coincidentally hosted at this hotel, and the room was top tier. Having arrived late, I made my way into a gigantic room with two TVs and it's own kitchenette. Bed was really comfortable and room was great to get a little work done in as well. Had breakfast there the next day, then walked over to a nearby coffeeshop that was great to have around. The hotel is in a good location close to downtown, even though I didn't venture out on this particular trip. Watching the staff interact at the party, and with me as a customer was reaffirming across the board. They were friendly and helpful with everyone, and really had that energy of going above and beyond. All in all a great spot!

Knickerbocker on the Lake - hotels - Updated July 2026

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