today’s city guide comes from laurie of ‘your ill-fitting overcoat‘. she’s bringing us the best shopping, eating, museums and attractions in madison, wisconsin. i hope you’ll enjoy laurie’s guide so click here to full the piece or just click “read more” below. as always, if you have favorite spots to suggest please leave them in the comment section below. thanks, laurie!
Oh, sweet Madison! Winner of many awards, from “Smartest City” to “Most Romantic City” to “Best Teeth in America”, Madison is an oasis of culture and charm amidst the rolling green fields of Wisconsin’s dairy land.
Downtown Madison is on an isthmus, nestled between two sparkling lakes. Bike paths and sidewalks snake through tree-lined neighborhoods that blend into bustling shopping districts. Throughout downtown Madison, you’ll find historic mansions, beautiful parks, and vibrant shops, restaurants, and bars. Madison is famous for its farmers’ markets, particularly the Dane County Farmers’ Market which takes place on Madison’s Capitol Square and is the largest producer-only farmers’ market in the country.
Madison’s well-earned reputation for intellectualism, progressive politics, and good old-fashioned fun are due in large part to the presence of the University of Wisconsin’s Madison campus, which boasts an enrollment of over 42,000 students. Madison’s Capitol Square is connected to the UW campus by State Street, a half-mile car-free promenade that’s famous for its shops, restaurants, and street musicians.
I hope you’ll enjoy my Design*Sponge Guide to Madison!
(Click here for a reference)
SHOP
-St. Vincent De Paul – 1309 Williamson St.
St Vinnie’s has several thrift store locations throughout Madison, but the oldest and largest is the Willy Street branch. This store has an incredible collection of ridiculously cheap used books, vintage clothes, antique furniture, housewares, and more. If you’re patient—or just lucky—you can find amazing artwork here for just pennies.
-Dig & Save Outlet- 1900 S. Park Street
Another noteworthy location is the Dig & Save Outlet at 1900 S. Park St., where clothing, books, and household items are sold by the pound. The challenge—and fun—of this location is that you have to dig through giant cardboard boxes to find the stuff.
-Gayfeather Fabrics – 1521 Williamson St.
This near east side fabric shop is a must-see for DIY-ers. Gayfeather is brimming with amazing fabrics, buttons, and other crafting goodies.
-Studio Bloom – 922 E. Johnson St.
A great little florist shop on East Johnson that also sells candles, soaps, and other household accessories.
-Artist & Craftsman Supply – 449 State St.
Madison’s mother lode of art supplies. Artist and Craftsman Supply is a gigantic discount arts & crafts supply store with friendly staff and a great selection.
-Madison Museum of Contemporary Art’s Museum Store – 227 State St.
After a leisurely stroll through the Museum of Contemporary Art, check out the Museum Store for fancy gift items such as contemporary American craft, jewelry, books, and stationery. MMoCA members save 10-20% on purchases.
-Borokhim’s Oriental Rugs – 1801 Monroe St.
Exactly what it sounds like. Borokhim’s is an independently-owned shop that sells beautiful Persian and Asian rugs and carpets.
-Rick’s Olde Gold – 1314 Williamson St.
This store’s tagline is “A place to buy and sell treasure.” This place is jam-packed with jewelry, electronics, and bizarre antiques. Don’t let its cluttered appearance turn you off—this place has got the goods if you’re willing to dig.
-Pick More Daisies – 1216 Williamson St.
A delightful little antique shop where you’ll find everything from funky reupholstered furniture to shabby chic lamps to 1950’s kitchenware. Also sells beautiful handcrafted jewelry made by local jewelers. Great for gifts or for home decorating.
-Indigo Moon – 1809 Monroe St.
A locally-owned boutique and gift shop that sells jewelry (including some that is locally-made), casual clothing, formalwear, and gifts.
-The Purple Goose – 400 W. Verona Ave., Verona, WI
About 20-30 minute’s drive from downtown Madison is the Purple Goose, nestled in the historic downtown of charming Verona, WI. The Purple Goose is a locally-owned shop that sells clothing, jewelry, and gifts, including what are hands-down the most adorable baby clothes I have ever seen in my life. Also includes an “Eco Boutique” which features organic, recycled, and re-fashioned goodies.
-Hilldale Shopping Center – 702 N. Midvale Blvd.
A classy shopping center on Madison’s near west side that features an independent movie theater, a grocery store, and upscale shops such as Anthropologie and L’Occitane.
-Orange Tree Imports – 1721 Monroe St.
Voted “Best of Madison” for 20 years, Orange Tree Imports is a great little gift shop that sells cookware, books, jewelry, toys, and more.
-Soap Opera – 319 State St.
A Madison favorite for over 35 years, Soap Opera is your one-stop shop for amazing soaps, candles, lotions, aromatherapy products, and more.
-Pop Deluxe – 310 State St.
This place is basically the locally-owned version of Urban Outfitters, minus the clothing section. A great place for hip stationery, ironic coffee table books, mod wall clocks, etc. They even sell some furniture and pet supplies!
-Vintage Door – 2503 Monroe St.
Sells unique and specialty furniture and home accessories.
-Atomic Interiors – 1021 S. Park St.
A locally-owned shop that sells mid-century modern home furnishings and home accessories. A certified dealer for Herman Miller for the Home.
-The Sow’s Ear – 125 S. Main St., Verona, WI
Another favorite in nearby downtown Verona, The Sow’s Ear is a cozy little yarn store and coffee shop that offers delicious baked goods, piping hot coffee, tasty sandwiches, gorgeous yarn, and even knitting classes.
-Burnie’s Rock Shop – 901 E. Johnson St.
A Madison favorite for over 40 years, Burnie’s Rock Shop is a locally-owned store that sells gems, minerals, fossil specimens, and other goodies for making your own jewelry. At Burnie’s Design Annex around the corner you can find one-of-a-kind jewelry from Madison and from around the world. Some friends of mine bought their engagement rings here—Burnie’s gave them a mold so that they could design and engrave their own rings for that extra personal touch. How cool is that?
-Little Luxuries – 214 State St.
A cute little gift shop that sells jewelry, trinkets, home accessories, and other unique gifts.
-Rubin’s Contemporary Furniture – 317 E. Wilson St.
Sleek, modern furniture as well as funkier, more daring designs. It can be pricey, but they have great sales.
-The Century House – 3029 University Ave.
Modern Scandinavian furniture and home accessories. They have a second location about 4 miles away in Middleton.
-Indocara – 540 W. Washington Ave.
Modern Asian furniture and home accessories.
-Lakeside Fibers – 402 W. Lakeside St.
A yarn store and coffee shop serving Fair Trade, organic coffee, wood-fired brick oven baked breads, high quality yarns, and knitting supplies. Also offers knitting and crochet classes.
-The Bohemian Bauble – 404 W. Lakeside St.
Bohemian-inspired jewelry from eight local artists.
-The Knitting Tree – 2614 Monroe St.
A cozy yarn shop that offers a variety of knitting classes, including private lessons and classes for kids.
-drunknBUTTERFLY – 845 E. Johnson St.
A little piece of Brooklyn in the middle of Madison. Hip boutique that doubles as an art gallery, committed to providing exposure for emerging artists.
-Bop – 222 W. Gorham St.
Get your Marc Jacobs, Juicy Couture, and Nanette Lepore fix all in one place in this locally-owned boutique. They have an amazing sale rack upstairs and the staff is always helpful.
-Satara – 5621 Odana Rd.
Organic bedding, bath, and baby products.
-The Green Parasol – 1370 Williamson St.
A newcomer to Willy Street, this shop sells new and vintage clothing and jewelry.
-El Kiosco – 1348 Williamson St.
Another new shop on Williamson! According to the owner, this shop features “folk art, traditional crafts, antique furnishings, architectural salvage, vintage toys and house wares and ironwork and outdoor sculpture.” Sounds neat!
FOOD
-Macha Teahouse – 1934 Monroe St.
This serene tearoom, which also doubles as an art gallery and handcrafted jewelry shop, serves exotic teas, tasty sandwiches, and French-pressed coffee. It’s located in a two-story converted house and is separated into cozy little rooms, each decorated in a way that would make Design*Sponge proud! Macha also makes its own tea-infused bath salts, which you can purchase onsite.
-Monty’s Blue Plate Diner – 2089 Atwood Ave.
A long-time east side favorite, Monty’s is a ’50-style diner with amazing décor and a drool-worthy menu that will satisfy vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. I have frequent daydreams about their vegan milkshake and spicy fries.
-Burrito Drive – 310 S. Brearly St.
A newcomer to the Madison burrito scene, Burrito Drive is already making waves with its love-it-or-hate-it “white trash burrito” which features spam, tater tots, Boston baked beans, and Velveeta. Also serves tasty vegetarian options.
-Himal Chuli – 318 State St.
A cozy, family-run Nepali café that serves delicious vegan and vegetarian fare, as well as healthy meat options. The momochas are not to be missed. Fair warning: this place is incredibly tiny and does not accept credit cards.
-Mother Fools – 1101 Williamson St.
A neighborhood favorite for nearly 15 years, Mother Fools is a great place to sit back with a cup of Fair Trade coffee and a tasty vegan cupcake and enjoy the latest art installations and continuous indie rock soundtrack. This cozy coffee shop features free wireless, an outdoor graffiti mural, and great shows on the weekends. Cash only.
-Supreme Pizza – 912 E. Johnson St.
Locally-owned pizza joint with a massive variety of toppings ranging from the standard to the gourmet to the downright bizarre. Try the sauerkraut, cactus, and veggie sausage (although maybe not together). Vegan crust is available.
-Lao Laan-Xang – 1146 Williamson St. and 2098 Atwood Ave.
Tasty Laotian food and a homey atmosphere make both Lao Laan-Xang locations popular spots for dinner. The vegetarian mock duck curry is delicious and almost a little too convincing. Bonus: my friends spotted The Decemberists eating here once!
-Glass Nickel – locations throughout Madison
A locally-owned pizza chain uses biodiesel delivery cars and supports local artists and musicians with in-store art installations and live music shows. Best of all, Glass Nickel offers online ordering and free delivery. Try the “fetalicious” pizza, it will definitely have you coming back for more.
-L’Etoile – 25 N. Pinckney St.
Located on Madison’s Capitol Square, L’Etoile is probably Madison’s most famous restaurant. But there’s more to this upscale spot than béchamel sauce and a wine list that makes War and Peace look like a novella—L’Etoile maintains a strong focus on sustainable agriculture, seasonal produce, and food from local farms. You’ll find house-made artisanal sausages, midweek $35 prix fixe meals, and monthly cooking classes.
-L’Etoile’s sister café downstairs, Café Soleil, is a classy coffeehouse that serves fresh, organic coffee and food, with a focus on local, sustainably-raised goodies. They even make their own flavor syrups and mayo!
-Harvest – 21 N. Pinckney St.
Another fine dining favorite, Harvest was named one of the top 20 restaurants in the country by Organic Style magazine. Harvest is committed to the Slow Food movement and offers fresh, local, organic ingredients. Private rooms are available for parties and, when the weather’s right, guests are invited to enjoy the outdoor seating.
-Jamerica – 1236 Williamson St.
Friendly staff, fun décor, lively reggae music, and amazing Jamaican food make Jamerica one of the most fun places to dine in Madison. The mango rundown tofu is one of my top 5 favorite meals in the entire city.
-Mildred’s Sandwich Shop – 827 E. Johnson
This locally-owned classic has been holding down the East Johnson fort for more than 30 years. This sandwich shop boasts a variety of vegetarian fare as well as standard options such as roast beef and turkey. Check out the latest selection of local art while you enjoy your $2 PB&J.
-Sophia’s Bakery & Café – 831 E. Johnson St.
Sophia’s is only open for about twelve hours a week, the menu fits on a single chalkboard, and you’ll probably end up sharing a table with strangers, but ask any of the bustling café’s regular customers and you’ll hear that it’s the best brunch in Madison. This charming weekend breakfast joint offers quirky coffee mugs, homemade baked goods, and the best darn omelet in town (possibly the world). Each week, Sophia’s features a new selection of local, organic ingredients and there’s an unadvertised vegan option if you ask. Cash only.
MUSEUMS
-Chazen Museum of Art – 800 University Ave.
This is my favorite museum in Madison. Located on the University of Wisconsin campus, this five-floor museum is beautifully designed and thoughtfully curated. The Chazen also offers tours, lectures, and live concerts. Admission is free.
-Olbrich Botanical Gardens – 3330 Atwood Ave.
These serene botanical gardens are especially nice to visit during a light spring rain. Check out the gorgeous Thai Pavilion which was crafted by Thai artisans without the use of nails or screws and features ornate gold etchings. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.
-Madison Museum of Contemporary Art – 227 State St.
Part of the Overture Center for the Arts complex, MMoCA offers “First Fridays” from 5:30 – 8:00 on the first Friday of every month. Each month’s party has a different theme, but they always feature live music and contemporary art. Admission to the museum—and most events—is free.
-Madison Children’s Museum – 100 State St.
Rated one of the “Top 20 Children’s Museums in America” by Grand magazine. Free admission the first Sunday of every month.
-Wisconsin Historical Museum – 816 State St.
Permanent collection includes an assortment of over 150 quilts, as well as historical clothing, dolls, and more. From May through November of this year, the museum is offering an exhibit dedicated to late comedian Chris Farley, in memory of his years in Wisconsin.
About Laurie:
Laurie earned a B.A. in Sociology from the University of South Florida in 2004 and has spent the intervening four years working for an IT company, then backpacking for two months across Europe, then studying law in New York (an experiment she fled after a semester). Now she’s working as a freelance writer and editor and avoids changing out of pajamas as much as possible. You can read her blog here and check out her music here.