Wow! I recently stayed at The Pfister Hotel for about a week, and I absolutely loved my experience. 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. read more

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This was the start of our trip for my cousins wedding. On our arrival the beautiful bay window in our 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. read more

I'm somewhat torn on this review. I think the hotel is beautiful - especially the rooms in the older part which scream history (and have huge corridors - very European feel!). I thought our room size was decent - a suite with a separate bedroom and sitting area. However, it was very pricey and I think for the price, we shouldn't have had hair in the shower, a discarded tissue by the nightstand and .. something gooey on the phone. I know it's hard to find every nook and crannie of these rooms, but it is very expensive and compared to other hotels of this caliber/price, this was unusual. Hopefully an anomoly. I also thought we booked 2 queen beds but these beds were certainly only doubles - not so large when you've got 4 people staying in a room. Service was good when we were there, though I tried to contact them my email ahead of my visit (no reply) and also by phone where I wasn't greeted super warmly. However, upon arrival, we were welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine to check in and the staff at the front desk was very helpful and friendly. The pool is nice but not that large and depending on how many people are there, it can be tight. It's also near the upstairs restaurant, so you might get to wait at the elevator with half of the people in dressy attire and half in bathing suits. The artwork in the conference/event area is lovely and throughout the old part of the hotel is really interesting. I love quirky and this had a mix of historic and quirky which was nice. Parking was attached (just a different elevator if you're staying in the historic part of the hotel). read more

We have stayed at The Pfister a few times when traveling to Milwaukee. It's an unbelievably beautiful hotel. You're greeted at check-in with a glass of champagne. The staff at the front desk, and all throughout the hotel, are attentive and friendly. Our room was large with a sitting area which had a refrigerator and coffee maker, a comfortable king size bed in the bedroom, and robes and a steamer in the closet in the large bathroom. The Pfister has the largest hotel collection of Victorian art in the world, featuring over 80 amazing pieces collected by founders Guido and Charles Pfister. It's worth the time to walk the halls to look at the artwork. The Pfister has a bar area in the lobby also a café, but the main highlight for me was Blu. It's the cocktail bar up on the 23rd floor overlooking the Milwaukee skyline. The Pfister is in a great location. We just parked our car and walked to the lakefront, to the art museum, Summerfest and also restaurants in the area. You can walk to Milwaukee's Public Market and the Historic Third Ward district as well. It's no wonder I return time and time again to this hotel, not only for the location, but the outstanding service, beauty of the hotel and amenities. read more

Wow- is all I can say. The Victorian architecture, the art, the piano music playing in the lobby. The staff that is proud to work here & actually puts the customer in customer service. Top notch quality, from check in to the lady lobby bartender & Blu, & to the text asking me if I want maid service till 8pm. Yassss please! I can't stay any place else anymore. Great job! Keep up the amazing work!! ---rosalee read more

We love it here. Very spacious and relaxing. Rooms are so clean and the pool has a beautiful view. Everyone here is so nice and accommodating. The lounge is perfect for snacks and breakfast. I would definitely upgrade to that package and the people working in the lounge were so sweet and kind to our whole family. Again the views are amazing. Really kid friendly. read more

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We don't often find old grande-dame hotels to have been optimally modernized. Our experience with the Pfister Hotel was that everything seems to have been done perfectly. All the prospective trouble spots of modernization have been handled perfectly. Elevators felt as modern as those taking you to a five-star Vegas tower suite, floors are all perfectly level, air conditioning, plumbing and WiFi are as perfect as you'd ever want. And the Pfister nevertheless maintains its elegance - I'm not going to wax on about it, but it's a special place. The service is both friendly (you're in the Midwest - you call down to get a quick point of information and find yourself in a happy chat about what you need to do on your next visit - makes me smile to think of it) and utterly professional (you're in the Midwest). The place is clean as a whistle - everywhere. Housekeeping is as perfect as you'd ever want. Our grand tower king room (# 1907) was well appointed - everything we'd want with no wasted space but in no way cramped. The Club Lounge is convenient and pleasant. The Blu bar up top, the lobby bar, the various shops - all what you'd expect from a quality place. And the location can't be beat - an easy stroll to the Riverwalk, the Lake, the Third Ward, Cathedral Park - and safe as can be. There have been many times when friends encouraged us to stay in a refurbished hotel that turned out to be a faded rose from days gone by. The Pfister Hotel is not one of those - its bloom is as fresh as ever. We are eager to return. read more

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This place is incredible. They welcome you with a glass of champagne and can offer stays on the historic/haunted side of the hotel or the newer side. The views from the rooms are amazing and you must go upstairs to the pool room to see the sunrise. The hotel itself is beautiful and has a cafe with delicious pastries and a bar with great cocktails. Looking forward to the next time I stay here! read more

The Pfister Hotel - Sunrise view - Hotels Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Historic hotel located in downtown Milwaukee. This was a five star experience from start to end. Built in the late 1800s, the Pfister maintains the charm from that era - from the high painted ceiling to the details in the fireplace mantle to the decor. It's quite aesthetically pleasing. The check-in process was seamless and came with a complimentary glass of bubbly. The lower level of the hotel offers a restaurant, bar, and coffee shop. There's also a spa and spa shop. Rooms are clean and spacious. The fitting center has a variety of cardio equipment, including two Peloton bikes, and dumbbells up to 65 lbs. The pool is located on the 23rd floor and boasts sights of the city. Additionally, there's a cocktail bar on the same floor with similar views. All in all, this was a quite pleasant experience. Definitely consider The Pfister Hotel if you're ever in Milwaukee! read more

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We stayed across the street at the Marriott because we are loyal to the Marriott brand and they have been very good to us. But we had to walk in and explore this historic hotel. The Pfister Hotel is a Milwaukee landmark and the "Grand Hotel of the West." It opened in 1893 & was built by Guido & Charles Pfister. It is notable for its Victorian architecture, innovative features for its time, and art collection. After decades of operation and eventual decline, it was bought by the Marcus Corporation in 1962 and underwent extensive renovation. In the 1980's, a 23 floor tower was added. Recently, the lobby, ballroom's & guest rooms were refurbished. Traveling Major League Baseball teams reporting paranormal encounters, possibly from the lingering spirit of Charles Pfister who died in 1927. It's believed he tries to rattle opponents helping the Brewers: Bryce Harper: In 2012, while with the Washington Nationals, Harper claimed he woke up to find his clothes tossed onto the floor and a table moved to the other side of the room. Michael Young: The former Texas Rangers infielder described hearing loud footsteps stomping around his locked room late at night. He reportedly addressed the spirit, saying, "make yourself at home, but do not wake me up," after which the noise stopped. Carlos Martínez and Marcell Ozuna: In 2018, both St. Louis Cardinals players saw apparitions in their separate rooms on the same night, prompting them to share a room for the remainder of their stay. Brendan Ryan: The former Cardinals player claimed he saw a light pass through his room and felt a sudden chill. Mookie Betts: The Dodgers star has chosen to stay at an Airbnb in Milwaukee rather than the Pfister, explaining that while he's never seen a ghost, he can't sleep in the "haunted" hotel. Artist-in-residence program: The hotel continues Charles Pfister's artistic legacy by hosting an artist-in-residence program, with a studio and gallery open to the public. I was disappointed that the gallery wasn't opened. read more

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The Pfister is a Milwaukee icon! This beautiful hotel that serves as a restaurant, spa, wedding venue, and has amazing top floor bar. So gorgeous! read more

The Pfister Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We stayed at the Pfister for our annual trip to watch our baseball team play at another stadium. The Pfister is old school elegant. The hallways and rooms are filled with original artwork and feels like a nod to old money. The lobby bar offers food and stays open late. Shout out to Ellie who delivers great drinks and outstanding service! The location of the Pfister is great in that it is walking distance to great restaurants, coffee shops, and the Historic 3rd Ward. The concierge was very helpful in suggesting bars that had a shuttle to the ball park. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 revolves around the decor and rooms feeling dated. While it oozes old money, it also exudes that daddy's trust fund may be running out. Also, while the concierge was amazing, the front desk staff was much less friendly. Bottom line--enjoyed my stay and would stay there again, but I'd love to see some renovations. read more

I've always wanted to stay at the Pfister, but living just 10 minutes away, it never quite felt necessary. I've always admired the hotel's rich history and how beautifully it's been preserved, so we finally decided to treat ourselves to a little staycation. And we're so glad we did! We checked in a little after 3pm on Friday. There was a small line since many guests were arriving around the same time, but the process moved quickly, and we were welcomed with a glass of champagne, such a nice touch! We chose to stay in the historic section of the hotel, and it did not disappoint. Our room was easy to find and incredibly spacious. It's been remodeled recently and looks stunning--modern touches that still honor the hotel's historic charm. I especially appreciated the automatic lights in the bathroom and nightstands, and the tapestry above the bed showcasing iconic Milwaukee buildings was a thoughtful detail. The TV was set to the hotel's own channel, looping highlights of its amenities and a short film about its history. We actually sat and watched the whole thing--it was so well done! Before dinner, we visited Blu, one of our favorite spots for a drink and light bite. The cheese plate was perfect, and the panoramic views of the city--visible even from the restroom, are simply unbeatable. We also popped by the pool to take a look; it's a great size and offers more beautiful views. While exploring the hotel, we wandered through the ballrooms being set up for Easter brunch and a wedding, which was fun to see. Everywhere we turned, there were little nods to the Pfister's history, it felt like a museum and hotel all in one. The staff was warm and welcoming throughout our stay. We truly loved the experience and would absolutely stay again. The location is right in the heart of downtown, making it easy to get anywhere, and parking was a breeze. A perfect city getaway! read more

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Christian is an amazing attendant at the Pfister Club Lounge. The Pfister Hotel has a haunted section on the historical side. I felt so welcomed at the Lounge. Christian was incredibly kind and hospitable. I really appreciate his exceptional customer service and the professionalism. Breakfast with views was stunning. Love this Club Lounge. read more

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Fanciest hotel in Milwaukee. Beautiful lobby and a bar with amazing views on the 23rd floor. Room was nice and clean. The only complaint is the banging doors in the circular building (newer part of hotel). Would stay here again. read more

The Pfister Hotel - The Opulent Lobby - Hotels Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Worth every penny! There really is no better place to stay in Milwaukee. The atmosphere, history, and service at the Pfister is unmatched. Although, if you're staying in floors 1-8 (the original part of the hotel) if there's an event happening while you're staying consider that it will be very loud and you'll hear any sort of music, gathering, event, etc. We stayed on a weekend when there was a live band performing for a conference in the imperial ballroom and we heard every song they played even though we were a floor above the ballroom until midnight. We spent the weekend celebrating our anniversary and staff made it an absolutely unforgettable experience. So many amenities, proximity to downtown, and beautiful views. The room was decorated for the occasion and we so appreciated the complementary Champaign upon check in. Staff were extremely helpful with our baggage, navigating parking, and getting settled. The pool is beautiful. It has an older vibe, but it was very clean and you can't get a better view of the city. Especially gorgeous when it's snowing. There were lots of other amenities including the spa, fitness center, a few restaurants, and the rooftop bar. Our room was SPOTLESS. The bed and pillows were so comfy. We had fun just hanging out in our room with a beautiful view. Even though the hotel has a historic feel, the rooms are still modern and very classy. Lots of space in the bathroom and a double shower head in our room We loved our stay and are so happy we chose the Pfister. Didn't experience any ghosts or haunted rooms but maybe next time! read more

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We were greeted with a glass of blush sparkling wine. The front desk asked if I wanted to be in the historic hotel or tower. I asked for her recommendation. She explained that the historic rooms were just renovated. I had a corner room. It was beautifully renovated. Beds were so comfortable. Best sleep in ages. Enjoyed the piano bar. We went to summer fest and the MKE art museum for a great weekend. Great location. read more

The Pfister Hotel - Lobby - Hotels Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The Pfister has always been a fabulous place to visit. At Christmas time it is extra special. With their tree in the lobby and all the decorative lights it's magical. This year they added a new community event welcoming everyone from all around to gather together and decorate a gingerbread house for the participants to take home and share with family and friends over the holiday season. Upon arrival you picked out a work station, the Pfister Pastry chef supplied the gingerbread house with the seams of the house already frosted and dried together. Frankly that's the hardest part. Guest up to a six person team gathered around the plain house and with all the necessary candy treats at our fingertips decorated your own family masterpiece. Perfect event for bonding family members of all ages. Everything is provided. All you have to do is show up and have fun. The Pfister staff does all the cleanup. When completed they box up your decorated gingerbread house and wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year It's like a Hallmark Christmas Town movie event. The Pfister even provides hot chocolate, yea and coffee Plus brownies, cookies and sugary treats that you sneak a nibble of while decorating your gingerbread house. Awesome event Magnificent experience Perfect opportunity for families to share time together during the busy holiday season. read more

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Beautiful property with luxury appointments. The staff is mostly friendly, helpful, and professional. If it weren't for our experience, we would rate it 5 stars. They told us they removed a family members credit card and said we'd need a new reservation to extend. Good, that's what we wanted. Except, they charged our friend's card for nearly $1,000 for a stay we said we weren't sure we wanted. Then, they charged my room and my credit card for a double bill. We didn't even get an apology. I'm buying dinner for the family member whose card got charged as a thank you / apology for the inconvenience (they finally refunded at least). I simply asked for them to cover or help cover a meal for that person. They won't even return a call after the credit card fraud. We moved to a property across the street with a red logo and were treated so much better for the final three days of our stay read more

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It's so beautiful. Went to the cafe to celebrate our birthdays. Great food and ambience. Wonderful servers.

Historic and Victorian charm fill the lobby. When you arrive you'll feel almost as if you've walked into a piece of art. What an historic gem. The room is spacious, and the bathroom is gorgeous! The bedding and mattress are some of the most comfortable I've experienced. read more

Wonderful experience as always. Lobby and hotel particularly bustling due to the holidays. Beautifully decorated. Probably the most inviting lobby of any hotel we've patronized. Wonderful bar and seating areas. Complimentary champagne upon arrival. Impeccable king suite on the 8th floor. Friendly and efficient staff. Food in The Cafe delicious and served by welcoming people. The ONLY suggestion I would make is to offer a shuttle service of sorts. We'd love to be able to catch a ride to the Amtrak station, and more importantly, Brewers games. We're at a terrible disadvantage since the City discontinued the blue/gold Brewers bus line as we do not drive into the downtown area. Maybe a Brewer game package?? In any event, looking forward to our next visit. read more

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I attended the Wisconsin State Dancesport championships. What a beautiful place to hold the event. The hotel is gorgeous. The dance competition was amazing! So much talent. What a wonderful event read more

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Been to the Pfister throughout the years. Starting with my wedding reception 40 years ago, and more recently at a special event. I will admit that the Pfister is not our first choice for a hotel stay. However for the the many special events that we have been at including fundraisers, holiday parties, and celebrations, I have always been impressed with the level of service, and the accommodations. read more

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Gorgeous early 20th century hotel. All of the elegance has been retained in the main hotel. The tower rooms are much newer but still have sufficient details to reinforce the luxury the hotel offers read more

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No customer service. Old and supposed to be haunted. Only AI support. Sooner stay in my car than there

Outstanding service from all staff members. A nice touch with a glass of a champagne on arrival and check in. Although we did not hang out in the lounge we carried out food to our room and it was excellent. My son enjoyed his pizza and the grilled cheese smash burger I ordered was outstanding. We did eat breakfast in the cafe the next morning and it was delicious as well. There is plenty of other places to go to that are close by and within walking distance. Although the room we booked and expected had a tub in the picture ours sadly did not. Hopefully next time it does. read more

The Pfister Hotel - Gorgeous ceiling - Hotels Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The rooms are really pretty beds are comfortable. Bathroom is really nice. The smell of the lobby was amazing. It's in the most prime location easy to walk everywhere loved it. read more

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After staying at this historic hotel, jeff, charles and grace made my stay feel presidential...... i highly reccomend this landmark to any NY'er looking to feel like they are home away from home read more

The Pfister Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

My sister and I decided to stop here on a Thursday night in the blu room for a delicious cocktail. The atmosphere is so charming. Real old school charm. They had a really warm fireplace which we sat by, but then we actually moved to a window seat so we could see the beautiful ambience of downtown Milwaukee. Our cocktails were absolutely delicious. We absolutely love the view. We will definitely be back. read more

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Big disappointment. I stayed there because my college bestie got married at the Pfister and decided to stay there due to ease of logistics regardless of pricing. The place was a wedding factory that weekend (August 2025). The first room was located on the inside with a few of the 4 walls of the inner hotel, and was literally just downstairs from a different wedding party that ran through midnight and there was no sleep to be had for me that night with music roaring down a stone staircase. There was no way to switch rooms as the hotel was sold out. My plans for the following day were ruined due to sleep needs and then the project to get moved to a different room for the following night. The new room was nice, and very quiet, even had a view. At the wedding guest rate of about $300 including taxes - this is just unacceptable. They did move me to another room. They did comp my first night room. Whats not possible to compensate is the lost hours of my short trip to milwaukee and plans I had to skip in order to rescue my long weekend. I tried to restart the day with a nice breakfast, which was just as disappointing. The food was terrible. I expect a lot more from a luxury priced destination hotel. How was the wedding? Well... food was well below standard. no Air conditioning in the ball room. Lavender macaroon specially ordered by the bride were horrendous like eating a bottle of essential oil (no joke). The only nice thing I can say is the staff were professional and friendly, and doing their best with what management was offering. read more

On Christmas I went with a party of five to the Christmas buffet. What a wonderful experience! We were seated in time, and first we were offered mimosas and / or bloody Mary's. We were invited to partake of the wonderful food at the various stations. And what a banquet it was. There was a station with salads and cheese. One with seafood. One with omelets made to order, and other hot foods. (My favorite was cheese blintzes.). One with prime rib. One with desserts. Everything was well presented and extremely tasty. The wait staff was attentive and efficient. The whole experience was top notch! read more

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Check in was a nightmare. We booked 6 months ago, and yet one room wasn't ready until 4:30. And the adjoining room was after we left for a dinner reservation. Pretty unacceptable to not give a drink or breakfast. We were staying 3 days and yet our keys stopped working at 9:30 am. We had to godown and get them fixed to at least until checkout. Beyond that mess, we had an amazing Bell hop man help us with bags, report broken TVs in the room, and take amazing pics of us and our guests at the steakhouse dinner. He was a 5'8" African American man about 45. He used a flashlight as a magical prop for pictures. This man deserves a raise. Another above and beyond worker was our waiter at both breakfasts. He was working so hard during the massive breakfast rush, and kept a smile and positive attitude. He was prompt, very friendly and an excellent server. This man was in his early 30's and of Indian descent. He was a joy! Also deserves a raise. read more

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First time staying here and I think this will be on my new list of favorites. Every single staff interaction I've had this week has been pleasant and helpful. Housekeeping has been phenomenal all week. The check in staff were very helpful and friendly. My room, the halls and lobby always appear to be clean and well kept. Beds and pillows are quite comfortable. The towels are a bit thin for this type of hotel, but all other amenities are top notch. The artwork adorning the walls around this hotels is elegant and beautiful. I don't typically deviate from Marriott properties, but I hope to stay at this one again. read more

I don't like this hotel at all. It's old and tired. It's just old. I'm not really sure how this could possibly be a five star hotel. I'm allergic to something in here ---my eyes have been itching all week. My room smells musty so I had to buy some spray to counter the effects of the musty smell. The bathroom is dated and freezing cold and horrible. The TV and the remotes suck and it's impossible to change channels. Also, the volume control is miserable. I thought great, a Nespresso machine is very cool. Well I got 6 DECAF pods for my Nespresso for tomorrow morning. 6 DECAF PODS!!!! I don't think so. I called three times for caffeinated pods to be delivered me. Nothing. Poor bartender is so overwhelmed he can barely keep up w orders. Terrible for a convention situation--not his fault. Bar is very very tiny for the amount of volume that they do during conferences. Not walkable to the convention center. Room is old and tired and musty and terrible. I just don't understand how this can possibly be one of the top hotels in the United States. read more

The Pfister Hotel - Relaxing - Hotels Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We stayed one night in the hotel, and we also did the afternoon tea. If you want to do both, it will cost you about $400 for two people. However, it doesn't disappoint. The hotel is like a mini museum with lots of Victorian art, and so you can spend a lot of time just walking around the hotel. And the room was quite spacious. We had one in the old building, not the new tower. The afternoon tea is decadent and filling. They use a local tea company, and they allow you to smell and choose from a selection of about 20 different teas. All of the morsels of food were quite innovative and delicious. The chocolates, not so much. Service was spot on, and you cannot beat the view. It was really quite gorgeous. I highly recommend it for a special occasion. read more

The Pfister Hotel - Afternoon tea and a view - Hotels Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We had such a beautiful afternoon tea! The staff were attentive and wonderful! Everything we sampled was excellent! This would be a great experience for out of town guests! read more

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Hands down the best upscale hotel i ever stayed in the workers were very respectful and polite and may I add that breakfast was so delicious different food items to choose from coffee was actually fresh. My overall experience was lit rooms were immaculate and clean can't wait to revisit read more

What an amazing experience. I took my daughters for a short weekend getaway right before Christmas and could not have asked for more. Staff from the second we arrived were amazing. Check-in gifted the girls with Pfister stuffed lions and we had a great room that had a little hideaway entrance off the main hallway. The cafe was great food and room service was super fast (the cracker crust pizza was a hit) We had a problem with the bathroom sink drain and they fixed it while we were out to dinner without issue. Every time we came down to the lobby someone would greet us too, which made it feel very welcoming. The pool on the 23rd floor of the tower had amazing views I just wish there was a hot tub there too. read more

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I had such an incredible stay at the Pfister for my work trip! Beautiful hotel, amazing drinks at the lobby bar and the rooftop bar Blue! And I wanted to give a special shoutout to the team at the Lobby Cafe for fantastic service and lattes. Best Pumpkin Spice Latte I've ever had! read more