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The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee

424 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, 53202, United States of America. (show on map)

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

Fodors review:

“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.”

Frommers review:

“Milwaukee’s most historic hotel, the Pfister was built in 1893. The hotel exudes old-style European elegance.”

Guest rating

4.6 out of 5.0

Ranked 1st in Milwaukee


This an aggregated guest review rating of The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee. We have taken customer review ratings from hotel booking sites, search engines, the official hotel website and other travel platforms. This is the average of all those ratings. We only list places that have a guest review rating of at least 4.0 out of 5.0


What guests liked


Value for Money

91.47 %

Ranked 1st in Milwaukee


We use a smart algorithm to determine the value for money each hotel offers. The score is based on a combination of aggregated guest review ratings and the average nightly rate. The higher the percentage, the better the overall value you receive for the price you pay.


Location

Recent guest reviews

5.0
Steven

23 June 2026

Where history and art stay

In particular, the historical aspects of hotel made for a meaningful stay.

I think that I was charged for parking. Not sure, though. It should be free.

5.0
Katherine

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.

4.0
Tricia

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.

4.5
Judy

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.

5.0
Michelle

7 June 2026

Would stay there again any chance I had!

So beautiful and very comfortable all around!

Loved it all!

5.0
Miller

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

5.0
Arthur

1 June 2026

Very nice hotel.

Clean, modern rooms, comfortable bed, friendly staff, well located downtown.

Having to leave.

5.0
Michael

31 May 2026

Tremedously welcoming staff, beautiful comfortable suite with all modern conveniences. with

Beautifully restored old hotel in great location.

Lived everything

5.0
Ong-ard

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.

5.0
Lee

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.

5.0
Elizabeth

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.

4.5
Christina

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!

5.0
David

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

5.0
Frances

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.

5.0
Sidney

4 May 2026

Beautiful, historic hotel. Wonderful staff, excellent and comfortable rooms

Beautiful, well kept

Nothing

4.5
Erica

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.

5.0
Cody

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.

5.0
Deanna

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.

4.5
Emily

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.

5.0
Julie

7 April 2026

Best hotel I have ever stayed at!

The rooms were amazing! Very clean and ambiance was excellent!

5.0
Ravindra

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)

5.0
John

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

5.0
Jan

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.

5.0
Colleen

24 March 2026

Great location, beautiful hotel, large rooms and wonderful staff.

The staff was wonderful. Very accommodating and helpful.

5.0
Corey

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.

5.0
Cheryl

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

5.0
Jerry

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!

5.0
Charles

6 March 2026

Courteous and professional

The courteous staff was quick to answer any question I had via the text message.

5.0
Harmony

1 March 2026

We would 100% stay here again. The hotel is beyond gorgeous.

The hotel is gorgeous!!!!

N/A

5.0
Ana-elena

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
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