The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee
Expert reviews
“Milwaukee’s grandest old hotel dates from 1893. The lobby’s long, high barrel-vaulted ceiling puts you in a Victorian frame of mind from the moment you step in. Rooms are decorated with a Victorian flavor and some are odd shapes, reflecting the complications of pouring modern amenities into an old structure—but this actually adds to the charm.”
“Milwaukee’s most historic hotel, the Pfister was built in 1893. The hotel exudes old-style European elegance.”
What guests liked
- Top location
- Boutique style
- Comfortable beds
- Free Wifi
- Friendly staff
All you need to know
The Pfister Hotel is an expansive historic luxury hotel located in downtown Milwaukee. The building was opened in 1893 and was named the “Grand Hotel of the West,” and has since stood as an iconic landmark within the city.
The hotel is known for its grand architecture, lavish interiors, and elegant atmosphere and hosts many cultural and music events throughout the year.
The impressive Pfister Hotel has 307 guest rooms and suites, each with its own unique design and decor. The guest rooms have been designed with modern luxuries while retaining their historic charm.
Each room features modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, high-speed internet access, luxury bedding, and luxurious private bathrooms. The hotel also offers a range of luxury amenities and services, including a fitness center, a spa, and a salon.
The hotel has a variety of amazing dining options including Mason Street Grill, however, it is its impressive art collection that the Pfister hotel is noted for. With over 80 pieces of original artwork, the hotel is an important fixture in Milwaukee’s art scene and hosts many artists-in-residence, who live and work in the hotel’s studio space and interact with guests.
The glamorous Pfister hotel is well-located in the downtown area of Milwaukee, surrounded by many excellent restaurants and bars. The hotel is within walking distance of the Wisconsin Center, Cathedral Square Park, and the popular Pabst Theatre and is the ideal place for people looking to add a touch of old-style glamor to their stay.
Hotel deals & lowest price guarantee
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Location
Recent guest reviews
25 November 2023
So beautiful
The hotel was beautiful. The staff very friendly. I had always wanted to stay here. Exceeded my expectations.
21 November 2023
Exceptional
This is a real gem of a hotel. After travelling the states for a couple of weeks, this was the best!! loved it!
Nothing wrong
21 November 2023
It was great
Everything
Nothing
12 November 2023
Exceptional
Beautiful historic facility. Close to attractions.
10 November 2023
Other than that one issue it was great!
Beautiful historic hotel.
We arrived late looking for something to eat and the only place open was the lobby bar. The place was packed with only one server. She had a helper and the manager who appeared useless. The one server was run off her feet and grouchy!!
4 November 2023
We’ll be back!
Wonderful historic place. Fantastic vibe!
30 October 2023
Rejuvenating.
Love the exceptional customer service. Also enjoyed the historic, elegant feel. The stairway was majestic.
Liked it all
17 October 2023
You will love this hotel.
Beautiful property. One of the best hotels I have ever stayed at.
Maybe a bit pricey; but it is such a good hotel that it was worth it. You don’t get this level of service even from the best hotel chains.
16 October 2023
Weekend in Milwaukee
Love the architecture and style
15 October 2023
A wonderful experience to stay in this culturally iconic hotel.
In this era where there are so many modern pre-fabricated buildings staying a night at this hotel was a real treat.
Nothing.
15 October 2023
Enjoy a piece of history in this fabulous hotel
I've traveled the world and this is one of my very favorite hotels. My parents stayed here on their wedding night 70 years ago. Love the rooms in the original part of the hotel.
There was one staff member in the lounge who ignored be until I went up to the bar several times.
9 October 2023
Lovely, historic hotel close to lakefront and museums
We were in town for a wedding, and this was a lovely place to stay in Milwaukee. The lobby and hotel was beautiful. They let us check in early, and the staff were beyond helpful and accommodating. The room was clean, comfortable, and quiet. We could conveniently grab coffee and pastries from the cafe in the morning, and it was an easy walk to many of Milwaukee's museums. We would stay here again!
9 October 2023
Exceptional
Hospitality amazing
The Blue bar was okay. The waitress there was not friendly or efficient.
3 October 2023
Milwaukee isn't my kind of town
The staff was so friendly. Cafe Pfister waitress was so awesome and great food. Concierge was great.
The morning staff today were so so. Not like when we checked in. The pool ladder was so dangerous.
29 September 2023
Cannot expect more.
It totally preserved the old world elegance. It is very comfortable.
Staff are friendly, food is very good. Room is spacious. Cannot ask for more.
28 September 2023
Exceptional
Everything
28 September 2023
Nice getaway stay.
A perfect location, within walking distance to many venues. Love the charm of the lobby. Comfortable bedding. Mason Street Grill a good choice for dinner or just drinks. Music every evening.
25 September 2023
Beautiful hotel, I love older hotels run well. Room was smaller, well appointed, clean, comfortable
Nice breakfast in cafe- nice piano bar, excellent drinks. Comfortable, clean rooms, and bathrooms. Walk-in shower with well appointed faucets Grohe showerwand.
Service was slow- when checking in and piano bar needed another waitstaff. The bar was packed and only one, very hard working, waitstaff noticed.
24 September 2023
Highly recommend!
Everything!
12 September 2023
it was overall a delightful stay in a very special hotel.
the Mason Street Grill was outstanding. Ate dinner there twice and really enjoyed it.
the Breakfast Cafe was adequate, but the menu was pretty pedestrian. Staff were very helpful and pleasant. We had breakfast coupons for each of the combined 6 nights we stayed at the hotel. The cafe staff acknowledged the coupons, but each server seemed to deal with them differently, for example, one server adjusted our breakfast bill to credit the coupons, others did nothing with them. We had to sort out the breakfast charges with the hotel desk when we were checking out, to ensure that we were in fact credited by applying the coupons to the breakfast charges.
3 September 2023
Exceptional
Dream come true. Absolutely stunning
28 August 2023
I felt like it was worth visiting Milwaukee just to stay in the Pfister Hotel. It really was great.
The architecture and the decor were wonderful. We loved the lobby bar and the art everywhere we found it. Our room was spacious and quiet. The food at the various venues was all great.
We went sight seeing in the morning and returned in the early afternoon to take a nap. We had asked for housekeeping which hadn't yet arrived, so we just put up a "privacy please" hanger on the door. The housekeeping staff blew right through it and it was a bit of a surprise for all of us. I got the impression that perhaps she didn't know what it meant. The only other issue was the paper coffee cups in the room for early morning coffee. A ceramic option, perhaps at least on request, would have been much nicer.
27 August 2023
PERFECT
The only SNOB I could possibly be is a Hotel Snob. I am fortunate to have traveled the world and the Phister is awesome!
nothing
25 August 2023
It was magical.
This hotel was perfect for our stay. The location was great and we were able to walk to our destination and also walked to dinner afterwards. We had breakfast at the Cafe and it was excellent. The hotel is absolutely stunning and offers so many wonderful extras. We will definitely be staying again.
It was a little on the expensive side for us, but it was worth it and absolutely perfect for the birthday surprise I had planned. My wife was stunned when we walked in
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Barber/beauty shop
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Paid WiFi
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities
- - Business centre
- - Fax/photocopying
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Luggage storage
- - ATM/cash machine on site
- - Concierge service
Activities
- - Fitness centre
- - Spa and wellness centre (additional charge)
- - Massage (additional charge)
- - Indoor pool
- - Indoor pool (all year)
- - Evening entertainment
- - Spa facilities
- - Back massage
- - Neck massage
- - Foot massage
- - Couples massage
- - Head massage
- - Hand massage
- - Full body massage
- - Fitness
- - Live music/performance
Cleaning services
- - Dry cleaning
Parking
- - Parking garage
Pool and wellness
- - Rooftop pool
- - Pool with view
- - Heated pool
- - Sun loungers or beach chairs
- - Swimming pool
- - Swimming Pool
Miscellaneous
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Face masks for guests available
26 November 2023
Exceptional
It was so clean and comfortable
Not a single thing did we not like