The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee
The Pfister Hotel, a true Milwaukee icon, has been the city’s “Grand Hotel of the West” since it opened in 1893. Designed by architect Henry C. Koch in a striking Romanesque Revival style, the building was a technological marvel for its time, featuring its own power plant, fireproofing, and individual thermostat controls in every room.
Beyond its grand architecture, The Pfister is famous for housing the world’s largest hotel collection of Victorian art. Over 80 pieces are displayed throughout the public spaces, intentionally curated to make guests feel as though they are wandering through a well-loved home rather than a gallery.
The hotel’s storied past is complemented by modern luxuries, including a 23-story guest tower added in the 1960s and the popular *Blu* cocktail lounge, which sits on the top floor and offers sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s long-standing tradition of hosting an Artist-in-Residence, who works in an open studio right in the lobby.
Located in the heart of downtown, the hotel is perfectly positioned for sightseeing. You are just blocks away from cultural heavyweights like the Milwaukee Art Museum, with its iconic Calatrava-designed wings, and the historic Pabst Theater.
Whether you are exploring the nearby Historic Third Ward or catching a performance at the local theaters, The Pfister remains a central, elegant base. It is a place where Gilded Age history meets the vibrant energy of modern-day 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
Location
Recent guest reviews
22 June 2026
Old world charm and luxury with a great location
The best hotel in the Midwest. I would come back to Milwaukee just to stay here. Gorgeous property, amazing suite, vibey bar.
16 June 2026
Beautiful, historic hotel with wonderful atmosphere and amenities!
The hotel was beautiful and wish we could have stayed longer to enjoy the amenitites!
Our room was very hot despite lowering the temperature on the thermostat to 65.
15 June 2026
Fantastic hotel with great amenities and kind staff.
Gorgeous old school decor but fresh and not stodgy or stuffy. Conveniently located with MKE Art Museum, Public Market and restaurants within walking distance.
Our room (8th floor) was above the event space floor (7th floor) so we heard music from wedding reception(s) late into the evening.
7 June 2026
Would stay there again any chance I had!
So beautiful and very comfortable all around!
Loved it all!
1 June 2026
Best stay in a centrally located downtown hotel
Beautiful old historic classy hotel with beautiful architecture and art. Excellent food in the Cafe. Wonderful staff.
Nothing
1 June 2026
Very nice hotel.
Clean, modern rooms, comfortable bed, friendly staff, well located downtown.
Having to leave.
31 May 2026
Tremedously welcoming staff, beautiful comfortable suite with all modern conveniences. with
Beautifully restored old hotel in great location.
Lived everything
31 May 2026
A great value to stay in a palace.
The atmosphere of the Pfister Hotel made us feel like staying in a palace and a gallery of art. I love the motto “The Palace for The People”.
Nothing we didn’t like at all.
25 May 2026
Great property and great team.
Great history but also very well kept up. Hard to do old without sometimes doing worn. Pfister did it great. All staff I interacted with were great. In-Room dining, barista, front desk, housekeeping and grill staff all seemed to take great pride in their work. Have been in hotel business for most of my life and enjoy trying great properties on my travels.
21 May 2026
It's a luxurious getaway in the heart of Milwaukee.
Impeccable renovation of the old section of the hotel. 5 star rating for
friendliness and professionalism of the staff. Constant attention to cleanliness and presentation of the common areas. Room was quiet, comfortable bed. Full breakfast in the 23rd floor club lounge. Clean pool with spectacular view of the lake and city. Walking distance to the lake, the museum, and many restaurants.
Only worry was the shower floor being slippery.
21 May 2026
Would definitely stay again
Love the ambiance , the history, and the staff!
We were there with our 7 yr old son and he was excited about the pool but it was freezing!
13 May 2026
Beautiful, comfortable, inviting
Beautiful historic hotel. Staff is so welcoming and attentive. Orlando in the cafe is a standout.
It was all great
7 May 2026
Great location and beautiful hotel.
Beautiful hotel, loved the piano player and welcome champagne upon arrival. Great restaurant at Mason Grill.
I was disappointed that the lobby bar didn’t have music every night.
4 May 2026
Beautiful, historic hotel. Wonderful staff, excellent and comfortable rooms
Beautiful, well kept
Nothing
19 April 2026
I took two girlfriends to stay in this historical hotel for a fun and memorable night.
How well the history is preserved and displayed.
Not greeted right away in long line at check in. A little souvenir of some sort to commemorate the occasion would have been nice.
16 April 2026
extremely helpful & friendly staff. this was an experience i’ll never forget staying here while in milwaukee. don’t
very beautiful historic hotel! 10/10 experience.
there was nothing to dislike! loved everything.
9 April 2026
Relaxing, Historical and Accommodating in Every Respect!
Historic, beautiful, and classy staff.
If you want spa services book in advance - they were completely booked during my stay.
7 April 2026
Look forward to staying again!
King suite is amazing, great jazz music Friday night at Blu, great location, very historic hotel.
Room service was PAINFUL. Both times we called it rang and rang forever and then someone at guest services eventually answered. Very slow and food didn’t live up to what I’d expect at a hotel of this caliber.
7 April 2026
Best hotel I have ever stayed at!
The rooms were amazing! Very clean and ambiance was excellent!
1 April 2026
Superlative as always
Excellent as always. Gorgeous hotel, beautifully lobby and well appointed rooms. Staff are superlative.
The croissants at breakfast restaurant/ coffee shop below par on 27th morning lumpy and dense. Almost inedible.
The TV signal in bedroom was not functioning (didn’t matter as we didn’t watch TV)
31 March 2026
It was fun and professional. I felt important staying at such a beautiful historic hotel in downtown Milwaukee.
It is a beautiful historic hotel with a top-notch staff
29 March 2026
This was the nicest hotel experience we've had in a very long time.
We loved everything about the hotel. We were upgraded to a spectacular king suite. It was all just lovely.
Everything was perfect.
24 March 2026
Great location, beautiful hotel, large rooms and wonderful staff.
The staff was wonderful. Very accommodating and helpful.
23 March 2026
An impeccable hotel in an unbeatable location, with exceptional cleanliness, comfort, and service.
The location is truly unparalleled, offering effortless walkability to Milwaukee’s key attractions, restaurants, and cultural sites. The hotel itself is immaculate, and my room was maintained to the highest standard of cleanliness and comfort. It is clear why The Pfister has earned such a distinguished reputation—every aspect of the experience, from the environment to the service, reflects a commitment to excellence.
No complaints -- it was everything I anticipated and more.
23 March 2026
Beautiful hotel will be back for a weekend to enjoy
The complementary champagne was above touch
Didn’t have time really enjoy the hotel
21 March 2026
Family visit to Milwaukee
The location, and the room, and the accommodations were excellent.
The expresso machine clear container needed a good cleaning!
6 March 2026
Courteous and professional
The courteous staff was quick to answer any question I had via the text message.
1 March 2026
We would 100% stay here again. The hotel is beyond gorgeous.
The hotel is gorgeous!!!!
N/A
1 March 2026
AMAZING Staff, thank you for your service!
Exceptional place, will definitely return. Their attention to detail and customer respect is at a whole other level, genuinely impressed with their level of service. The rooms are ok, not impressive, which is expectable since it’s not a brand new building, but their staff make it all a fantastic experience.
We did have a small incident where I ordered room service one night and they basically.. forgot I guess? So I ended up having to wait about 2 hours on a club sandwich. But even that situation was handled with professionalism, and it was a really good club sandwich to be fair.
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 & 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
Miscellaneous
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Face masks for guests available

More photos

23 June 2026
Where history and art stay