Whether you’re studying, meeting up with friends, or just want to grab a drink or bite- look no further. Incredible views of scenic Lake Mendota right in the heart of the UW campus. Plenty of food options, and pitchers of beer are a must.
Iconic is the best word to describe the union. Anyone’s visit to Madison would be incomplete without stopping here during warm ish weather or better.
Children are welcome
Pets allowed in certain areas
Lots of ball game type food options
Live music on some nights
Beer! Sunsets, people, great views, history. Perfect location, perfect place to spend an afternoon or evening. Bring the kids!
A nice terrace next to Lake Mendota, with a few food and beer choices on the terrace. Even just to find a place to sit down and enjoy the view and atmosphere.
Great place for people of all ages, not just students!
Food, beer, lots of seats, entertainment galore.
Lots of quiet places to study, relax or just hang out with friends.
The view is nice at it faces the lake and they have very colorful chairs and tables! I never ordered food from any of the places around it but heard it's pretty good.
The lakefront view of the Terrace in the summertime is beautiful. Weekly summertime events means there are plenty of reasons to go and grab a beer with a lively crowd. Speaking of beer, definitely consider the pitchers over the single pours.
This is what Madison does best. A lovely indoor and outdoor space to sit and enjoy a beer. And a brat of course. They don't have 46oz. cups like they used to, but of course you can always buy by the pitcher. Top notch people watching too, especially when the weather warms up.
The newly renovated Lakeview Lounge is just a delight. I love how you could have a magnificent view of the lake from the building aside from the terrace outside. I usually chill or study at Mem Union to the extent that it's like my 2nd home. It has a few good restaurants, an ice cream place, a badger market and a coffee shop. Not to mention Der Stiftskeller which sells beer. On certain nights there are live band performances, and in the summer you get film nights on the terrace :)
Awesome place for students on campus. I often spend time here on Friday nights after coming to Madison from my university a few hours away. Much more crowded Monday-Friday during the daytime, Friday nights and weekends are typically less hectic. Beautiful view, spaces to eat, study, socialize, etc
A must go in UW-Madison. It will never let you down! I hope the maintenance won't take too long in the future. I lived 5 years in Madison and this place is the jewelry of the crown/town. You have access to ice cream, food court, lots of seats, relaxing but nice decoration, Hoofer sailing club, Terrace, live music, movies and a lot more!
“What a great spot, beware of turkeys!!
Even when fall is ending and winter is beginning, the Arboretum is perfect place to be. The colors are still beautiful and there is plenty of areas to sit on a bench and take in the scenery. But right as the colors are changing and the leaves are falling, you would be re missed to find photo shoot after photo
The perfect place to relax and enjoy some of the best life has to offer. I found a couple negative reviews a bit amusing. If you don't like the occasional crowd and happen not to like the genre of music that happens to be playing on the stage, then obviously the Terrace is not the place for you in the evening.
For anyone without a stick up his or her ass, this is a great location to grab a quick meal at lunchtime - the burgers, brats, and chicken sandwiches are inexpensive and better than what you can get inside the building. While you're at it, help yourself to one of the beers they have on tap or a delicious pink lemonade. I like to just grab a bite, then hang out all afternoon getting some work done on my laptop. The people-watching is about as good as you'll find in Madison during the summer.
Sometimes I'll take a walk out onto the swimming pier and jump in for a little while. The lifeguards and regulars are friendly.
Once the sun sets, the bands start playing, and usually there is something worth listening to. On Mondays, they even have movies that play up on the stage for free. These are usually classics like Caddyshack or something more family-friendly.