TL;DR

Historic industrial charm: Former Pabst Brewery building with post-industrial renovation.
Modern amenities: Fully updated, squeaky-clean facilities while preserving building’s original character.
Spacious suites: All-suite hotel with options from 330 sq ft studios to 1100 sq ft lofts.
Appeals to beer fans: For Pabst enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates bright, airy suites.
Check prices here

This Milwaukee, Wisconsin, boutique hotel in the old Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery is a millennial dream come true.

It’s a blue-ribbon establishment guaranteed to invoke at least a little nostalgia for college nights you may or may not remember very clearly.

And, to be honest, for a brand associated with working class cheap, we were surprised at how swank it is.

It’s absolutely post-industrial chic. Almost everything has exposed brick, the windows are arched and gorgeous, and ceilings soar over both wooden beams and shiny ducts.

It’s definitely been seriously renovated, amenities are fully modern and everything but the building’s skeleton is squeaky-clean.

We hate to spoil a ‘hidden’ gem, but even those without deep attachment to the concept of PBR will probably find this hotel a lovely place to stay.

It will probably appeal most to beer fans, but anyone with an appreciation for buttery yellow brickwork sunny suites is bound to enjoy themselves.

What are the rooms like?

All-suite property: Studios, Terrace Suites, lofts, and Two-Bedroom Suites.
Decor & style: Stylish mill-apartment vibe with tall arched windows, comfy seating & modern furnishings.
Amenities: Large panel TVs, full kitchens, work areas & sofa beds.
See each room in detail here

It’s an all-suite establishment, which works well in such a spacious building. They go from 330 square foot studios to 1100 square foot lofts.

The lofts are actually, in our opinion, a bit too built-up to have the same charm as the rest, while the Terrace Suites are sunny little dreamboats.

Groups are well-suited here, with Double Queen Studios if on a budget, Two-Bedroom Suites, and plenty of sofa beds in the others.

There’s one signature Two-Bedroom Suite with special little extras, but in our opinion, it’s not entirely necessary. Unless a historic mill stairwell is non-negotiable, that is.

Decor is quite nice, very much a stylish mill apartment kind of vibe. The windows we refuse to get over; all archy and tall and looking out over the city.

Amenities are also sure to please, with large panel TVs, full kitchens (with good coffee machines!), working areas and plenty of comfy seating.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Breakfast: Simple pastries and fruit; pub-style weekend brunch available onsite.
Restaurant & pub: Classic pub fare including standout fried fish, outdoor seating with beer garden vibes.
Wellness & parking: Fitness room, in-room massages, free parking nearby.

We’ll start with breakfast, the most important meal of the day.

It’s nothing to write home about, to be honest, but you should be able to treat yourself to a few pastries and fruit.

The onsite restaurant offers a weekend brunch that has a lot more going for it. It’s very much a pub breakfast, and it’s filling and tasty.

The rest of the food is also very much pub food, and it’s all done to a T. The nice selection of fried fish is a big menu item that stands out from other pub kitchens.

And of course, it’s the perfect place to grab a beer. In summer, the tables move outside and the beer garden vibes are immaculate.

Once you’re weighed down in a shamelessly midwestern fashion, you’ll be able to work it off at the fitness room.

If you’d rather not move much, we recommend taking advantage of the in-room massage services.

You’ll also get free parking nearby at the Brewery Parking Structure.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Location: Not in the hippest districts but close enough to main attractions.
Cultural spots: Milwaukee Public Museum, Central Library, Pabst Theater, Discovery World, Lake Michigan shore.
Walkability: Some areas within 15–30 minutes walking; further destinations may require a car.

This may or may not come in handy. You’re really not that far away from the main hotspots, but you’re definitely not in the thick of the hippest neighborhoods.

There’s plenty to do nearby, a lot of it brewery-related, which can make for a killer start to a pub crawl.

If you’d prefer something more cultural, the Milwaukee Public Museum and the Central Library are about 15 minutes walk.

You can also get to the Pabst Theater and the rest of the riverside in less than half an hour.

Further into areas like the East Side and Third Ward, and you might want to get wheels.

The drive into the historic Third Ward runs less than 10 minutes, and Discovery World and the Lake Michigan Shore are about the same.

From here you can walk up and down the east side of the city through Juneau Park.

Dedicated walkers could even try and make it or all the way up to the gorgeous Villa Terrace Museum & Gardens and McKinley Beach.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“The hotel is beautiful, we loved the history. We took a historical tour at the brewery and that was fun too. The staff were all wonderful and we loved our room. We had a small issue with the TV not working, but someone came up and fixed it shortly after. We ate at the Tap Room, which was great also. The shuttle to the baseball stadium was fantastic….”

“Reasonable rate, very comfortable room with a great bed! Quiet building for sleeping. On-site bar and restaurant. Loved the location, historical and beautiful buildings! Not to mention multiple breweries, beer establishments and restaurants!…”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”My only complaint was about Room Service. We were excited about the idea of breakfast in bed. We expected food to arrive on a tray with real plates and utensils. What we got was breakfast to go in a box with plastic utensils. No butter or jelly for the toast and everything was cold. The door hanger advertising breakfast didn’t make it clear that it was breakfast to go – we thought the term Room Service would mean something different. Suggestion to revise the flyer to promote “breakfast to go” for travelers leaving early the next morning. Don’t call it Room Service, that sets up different expectations….”

”Honestly, just being picky, it could have used another dusting but nothing alarming that’s for sure….”

> Read all the reviews right here