Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Milwaukee's sole Roaring 1920s art deco-style hotel, right down to the geometric marble
motifs in the lobby.
The granddaddy of Milwaukee hotels, referred to as the “Grand Hotel,” is the
M
Pfister
(424 E. Wisconsin Ave., 414/273-8222 or 800/558-8222,
www.thepfisterhotel.com
, $244 s,
$264 d), built in 1893. This posh city-state-size behemoth oozes Victorian grandeur. The
somewhatoverwhelminglobby,filledwithdisplaysof19th-centuryart,isofsuchornatein-
tricacythatthehotelorganizesregulartours.Itsstate-of-the-artrecreationfacilityoutshines
most health clubs. The laundry list of attractive features and service accolades could fill a
phonebook.Thenagain,manybelieve(includingsomeprofessionalsportsfigures)thatthe
Pfister is spectrally inhabited.
Most lodging choices are found off I-43 along Port Washington Road. Best overall rooms
and location are at the
Hilton Milwaukee River Inn
(4700 N. Port Washington Rd.,
414/962-6040or800/445-8667,
www.hilton.com
,$101),withwell-appointedone-bedroom
roomsandagorgeous,quiet river location. The excellent restaurant hasaneven better river
view.
Ifyou'vegotanearly-morningflightorarejustlookingforsomethingcheapclosetodown-
town,headsouth.Atleasttwodozenlodgingsarescatteredabout,mostalongSouthHowell
Avenue, West Layton Avenue, and South 13th Street, and all save one are neon-light chain
options. Of these, close enough to get you off to your plane early you have another Hilton
or, likely a bit cheaper, a well-run
Hampton Inn
(1200 W. College Ave., 414/762-4240,
$109).
Over $150
Any hotel that aims to mingle business suits with biker leathers and boots is going to
raise a few eyebrows, but
The Iron Horse Hotel
(500 W. Florida St., 414/373-4766 or
888/543-4766,
www.theironhorsehotel.com
,
$240 and up) is a near success in that. It's a
biker boutique hotel, and appropriately a stone's throw from the Harley-Davidson Mu-
seum. Its loft-style rooms are loaded to the gills with chic-but-tough (naturally) design and
everything designed, indeed, for someone waltzing in with biker boots or their work laptop
(or, these days, both).
