Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Milwaukee

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Milwaukee? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Santino's Little Italy

4.9

4.9 (210)

$30 and under

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Santino's Little Italy, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood with rich history echoing years gone by in the City of Milwaukee. The building housing the restaurant is over 130 years old and has been beautifully remodeled by talented designers and carpenters. The vibe has an old school Brooklyn New York feeling and is the perfect place to make wonderful memories with friends and family.

The menu features delicious gourmet pizzas / house-made pastas / salads / appetizers / deserts along with delicious Italian wine / cocktails and are professionally served to you by our attentive staff. Our amazing Neapolitan Style Pizza is hand made with the finest and freshest ingredients and cooked in a 6,000-pound Italian woodfired oven. With humility and gratitude our pizza was ranked nationally as the 46th best pizza in North America and we are very proud to serve many happy diners here in Milwaukee.

Reservations are highly recommended as space is limited. We look forward to serving you.

Top review

NikoVIP

Dined 2 days ago

The Best pizza in town. The best costumer service. The Best hosts. ❤️ My favorite place 🍸

J. Leinenkugel's Barrel Yard

4.5

4.5 (97)

$31 to $50

American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

The J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard at American Family Field is set to open in April of 2023. The working brewery features specialty beer brewed onsite by the Master Brewers at Leinenkugel’s, as well as a full-service bar and restaurant experience in one of the most premier locations of the ballpark, overlooking left field at American Family Field.

Top review

Lisa

Dined 7 days ago

A group of us met at the Barrel Yard for a meeting. Our table was ready, our server was super nice and the food was good - we didn't wait very long to get it either! Will definitely go back!

Buckley's Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (405)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Buckley's is a cozy neighborhood spot in the heart of Milwaukee's East Town. Located two blocks from Lake Michigan and the Calatrava, Buckley’s is an ideal all occasion restaurant in downtown Milwaukee. An ever-evolving menu showcases seasonal ingredients from local farmers and purveyors. To compliment your dining experience, peruse the thoughtfully curated 200 bottle wine list or select a beverage from an extensive cocktail program that has consistently been recognized as one of the best in the city. Customize your dining experience to meet your needs whether you choose to enjoy a four course meal or simply grab a burger at the bar. However you choose to enjoy a visit to Buckley’s, do not forget to order a signature house-made dessert. You won’t regret it.

At this family owned and operated restaurant, guests are treated like family. Come see for yourself!

Top review

mary

Dined 7 days ago

The service and food were excellent The n/A cocktails were great

Morel

4.9

4.9 (746)

$50 and over

American

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

A modern American restaurant that's dedicated to source consciousness, Morel's menu finds inspiration from Chef Jonathan Manyo’s roots: Wisconsin. Morel explores natural flavors, colors, and textures from local farms, purveyors, foragers, and artisans. For eight years, Jonathan has remained dedicated to featuring a menu comprised of nearly 100% Wisconsin-sourced ingredients.

Top review

Joe

Dined on Apr 27, 2025

My time was overall amazing. The food was delicious. And my entire experience couldn’t have been any better due to our server Derik. Hands down one of the best servers there is. What a great attitude

Harbor House

4.7

4.7 (8452)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Harbor House is a bright, spacious New England-style seafood restaurant Milwaukee residents and visitors love, set on the shore of Lake Michigan. Our restaurant offers a premier lakefront dining experience and the freshest seafood flown in daily from both coasts. The interior features a three-sided bar, a raw bar, an open kitchen, and a private dining room available for special events and parties. A seasonal outdoor patio features a full bar, Adirondack chairs, and unparalleled views of the lake, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and Milwaukee's skyline.
Reservations are recommended, and we have a 15-minute grace period, so please call us if you are running late.
It's important to note that patio reservations are for outdoors only and we cannot guarantee indoor seating upon inclement weather.

Top review

Ellen

Dined 4 days ago

Gavin and Alex were our servers and were very attentive and friendly! The food was delicious and the wine was perfect to go with all of our meals. Thank you for the wonderful experience!

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Popular dish

Salmon Rillettes

Popular dish

Connecticut-Style Lobster Roll

Popular dish

Crab Cake

Bavette (Historic Third Ward, Milwaukee)

4.9

4.9 (388)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

What started out as a butcher shop concept, has evolved and changed over the years to become a full-service restaurant, which was solidified with the restaurant's move to a larger space in 2022. At Bavette, the consumer will enjoy complete transparency of its food moving from farm to plate. Although the butcher shop has been phased out, the restaurant still works with the same farms, and uses the same high quality meats on its menu, which consists of a daily changing menu consisting of salads, sandwiches, small plates, pates, cheese, and charcuterie boards. The restaurant truly is a farm-to-table restaurant, sourcing not only the meat but most of its produce from nearby farms. In addition to the highly seasonal menu, there is a small store featuring chef-curated retail items, such as Wisconsin cheeses, local charcuterie, artisanal jams, pickles, salts, vinegar, and oil. Going along with the thoughtful menu is a select and unique offering of craft beers, wines, and cocktails.

Top review

Joseph

Dined 3 days ago

Wonderful service! The skate cheeks and pasta dishes flavors were amazing and balanced. The entire staff is at your service. Can’t wait to go back !

Johnny Manhattan's

4.8

4.8 (1710)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Menomonee Falls

About the restaurant

Johnny Manhattan specializes in steaks, pizza and Italian cuisine. The classy and stylish interiors display classic and antique décor, including pendant lamps, ceiling lights, carpeted floors and a chandelier suspended from the center of the ceiling. The large windows let plenty of sunlight in, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for casual dining in spacious booths.

The tenderloin fillet, Nancy garlic bread stuffed with cheese, fresh fish, handcrafted pizzas and herb roasted chicken are signature items off the menu. The bar at Johnny Manhattans serves vintage, classic cocktails and a selection of beers to enjoy with appetizers. The restaurant also hosts private events and parties.

Top review

Paul

Dined 6 days ago

First experience here and loved every minute of it. From the huge bar to the dining area, it was first class and the waitstaff was superb! Food was everything we thought it would be and more, thank you!!!!

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4.8

4.8 (392)

$31 to $50

Italian

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

It’s been over four years since guests last tasted the Sicilian dishes from longtime Milwaukee restaurant Giovanni’s. But all of that changes with Safina: a new casual Italian concept that comes to the historic building at 785 N. Jefferson St.

Focusing on comforting dishes with roots in Sicily and the southern regions of Italy, Safina's goal is to keep the menu familiar and accessible. The restaurant also features a full bar and second-level seating, complete with wood and marble finishes that highlight the rustic, modern Italian ambiance.

Top review

Chris

Dined 5 days ago

Authentic Italian dinner was outstanding. Small bar with great atmosphere. Waitress was very knowledgeable. Food was great. Recommend for date night!

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4.6

4.6 (1763)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Delafield

About the restaurant

A modern American kitchen located in the heart of Lake Country. Small plates, featuring locally sourced ingredients, and craft cocktails headline this farm-to-table restaurant. Choose from the artfully curated wine selection or let the sommelier on staff make expert recommendations. The Sunday brunch menu boasts one-of-a-kind dishes and breakfast classics. Private space for every event--from intimate dinners to large gatherings.

Top review

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

We love all the food and the service was excellent we just wish there was mention of how much cilantro was going to be used in the dishes on the menu! Overall awesome!

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Experience

4-Course Mother's Day Brunch at I.d.

Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro

4.8

4.8 (5913)

$50 and over

French

Milwaukee

About the restaurant

Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro’s beautiful setting in a park pavilion overlooking Lake Michigan and its award-winning cuisine have made it one of the premier dining and special event destinations in Milwaukee since 1995. The menu ranges from traditional to modern.

Top review

Greg

Dined 2 days ago

We moved to Florida 10 years ago but visited Milwaukee this weekend Lake park bistro always was our favorite and still is The best in every way

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