Lakefront Brewery

Lakefront Brewery is proof that a brewery can be a family destination. Located on the Milwaukee River, this craft brewery has earned a reputation for having the most entertaining brewery tour in America and one of the best Friday fish fry experiences in a city that takes its fish fry tradition seriously.

The brewery tour is not what you'd expect. Lakefront's tour guides are more comedian than docent -- the tours involve songs (the guides perform a polka), audience participation, jokes, and genuine entertainment alongside the actual brewing process explanation. Kids are welcome and receive root beer samples while adults get four beer samples.

The tours are genuinely hilarious and families leave with stories.

Friday fish fry is Milwaukee's most sacred culinary tradition, and Lakefront's is among the best in the city. Fried perch or cod, coleslaw, rye bread, and tartar sauce served in the beer hall while a polka band plays -- it is a cultural experience as much as a meal. The atmosphere is communal and joyful.

The downside: waits of 30-90 minutes on Friday evenings. Arrive by 4:30 PM for the shortest waits.

The beer hall serves food all week -- cheese curds, burgers, fish and chips, and other pub fare. The food is well-prepared and family-friendly. The riverfront patio (summer) is one of Milwaukee's best outdoor dining spots, with views of the Milwaukee River and passing boats.

Lakefront Brewery embodies Milwaukee's identity as a beer city, a fish fry city, and a family-friendly city. It is one of those rare places where parents can have a genuinely great time while kids are entertained and welcomed. The root beer on tap (brewed on-site) is excellent.