What to Do Before a Brewers Game
Heading to Milwaukee for a Brewers game? Whether you’re cheering for the home team or making the trip north to root for the Cubs, Cardinals, Reds, or Pirates, there are plenty of things to do before a Brewers game in MKE.
Before heading to American Family Field (or “Miller Park,” as the locals still call it), spend a few hours exploring Milwaukee’s famous brewing history, grabbing local food and drinks, and enjoying one of the city’s favorite baseball traditions: taking a bar shuttle to the ballpark.
Here’s an easy Milwaukee Brewers game day itinerary for visiting baseball fans and those rooting for our Brew Crew!
Start Your Brewers Game Day with Coffee at Best Place
Start your day in Milwaukee’s historic Brewery District at Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery. Located on the former Pabst Brewing Company campus, Best Place is an ideal first stop for baseball fans who want to experience a piece of Milwaukee history before a Brewers game.
Start with a drink from Best Place Coffee & Spirits, featuring locally roasted Sugar Leaf coffee alongside signature lattes, coffee cocktails, and other beverages, like beer, wine, and liquor. It’s an easy place to meet your group, get caffeinated, and start exploring Milwaukee before first pitch.
Take a Historic Pabst Brewery Tour
No Milwaukee visit is complete without learning a little about the city’s beer history. While you’re here, dive right in. The Best Place Beer History Tour takes visitors through spaces within the former Pabst Brewery headquarters, with a colorful history lesson about the Best and Pabst families and the brewery that became the largest in America by 1874.
Adult tour admission even includes a pint of beer or soda, and the Friday and Saturday “Best Neighborhood Tour” includes three beers and a brief tour of the Brewery District.
With multiple tour times available on many operating days, it’s an easy Milwaukee activity to work into your schedule before heading to American Family Field.
And yes, Cubs fans are welcome. We promise.
Grab a PBR and a Milwaukee Souvenir
After your Pabst Brewery tour, stick around Best Place for a pregame beer.
The Guest Center tavern originally served as the Sternewirt, the taproom where historic Pabst Brewery tours began and ended. More than a century later, it’s still a fitting place to raise a glass before a Milwaukee Brewers game.
And because Best Place has numerous weddings and special events, it boasts a full bar with 12 beers on tap, plus wine and cocktails (like the Best Bloody Mary, or the Best Brandy Old-Fashioned Sweet).
Before leaving, browse the Best Place Gift Shop, home to an extensive collection of merchandise from the Pabst family of brands. Shop Pabst, Blatz, and Schlitz apparel, barware, gifts, and vintage-inspired collectibles for a Milwaukee souvenir that goes beyond the typical baseball merch. It’s like walking through a museum of vintage beer breweriana.
Explore More of Downtown Milwaukee
Have a little extra time before the game? Best Place puts you within easy reach of several of downtown Milwaukee’s most popular attractions, making it easy to add a little sightseeing to your Brewers game day.
Head toward the Deer District, the entertainment district surrounding Fiserv Forum and home to restaurants, bars, and gathering spaces in the heart of downtown. It’s an especially easy addition to your itinerary since it’s just a short distance from Best Place.
For something quintessentially Milwaukee, find the Bronze Fonz along the Milwaukee Riverwalk for a photo with the life-size bronze statue of Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli from Happy Days, the classic sitcom set in Milwaukee. From there, spend some time strolling the Milwaukee Riverwalk, which winds through downtown alongside restaurants, public art, historic buildings, and views of the Milwaukee River.
Get Food and Drinks Before the Brewers Game
Looking for somewhere to eat before heading to the ballpark? There are several options around Milwaukee’s Brewery District.
Just a block away, On Tap serves Wisconsin-inspired pub food, including Wisconsin fried cheese curds, wings, pizza, and burgers, along with Wisconsin beers and cocktails. You can also visit Central Waters Brewing Co., located two blocks away on Juneau Avenue, for locally brewed beer and delicious Troublemakers Cocina food.
Just remember to leave enough time to get to American Family Field before first pitch — especially if you want to experience the tailgating atmosphere outside the stadium.
Take a Brewers Shuttle to American Family Field
Wondering how to get to a Brewers game without dealing with parking? Milwaukee’s Brewers bar shuttles are part transportation, part game day tradition.
One of the most convenient options from Best Place is On Tap at The Brewhouse Inn & Suites, located just a block away. On Tap offers complimentary shuttle service to select games and events at American Family Field when the restaurant is open, with purchase of a food or beverage item. Check with On Tap before your visit to confirm shuttle availability for your game.
Other downtown Milwaukee bars, including Milwaukee Brat House and Who’s on Third, also offer Brewers shuttles for home games. That means you can park the car (or Uber), spend the afternoon exploring Milwaukee, and let someone else handle the ride to the stadium.
Make Best Place Part of Your Milwaukee Brewers Game Day
A trip to American Family Field doesn’t have to start at the stadium. Turn your next Brewers game into a full Milwaukee experience with coffee, a historic Pabst Brewery tour, a local beer, Wisconsin food, and an easy shuttle ride to the ballpark.
Whether you’re a lifelong Brewers fan, visiting Milwaukee for the first time, or wearing other gear behind enemy lines, Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery is the perfect place to start your Milwaukee game day (and sometimes end it there, too!).