Sometimes the very best food is found in the unlikeliest of places. You wouldn’t expect stellar craft wine from a service station or mouthwatering desserts to be served up in a bank, but Wisconsin is wonderful about making the old new again and making sure to preserve some of the most interesting, unique and beautiful buildings by repurposing them. All across the state there are wonderful restaurants in places you’d least expect. These places have given new life to these historic and beautiful buildings while serving up some of the very best meals you’ve ever imagined. Check out these repurposed restaurants for an iconic Wisconsin dining experience:
- Freddy Valentine’s Public House - Spring Green
Facebook/Freddy.Valentines.Public.House
Facebook/Freddy.Valentines.Public.House Built back in 1915, this is a stunning, ornate building with huge ceilings and tons of Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired details inside. You’ll see plenty of references to it’s prior life as a bank, but now it just feels like a swanky throwback. Located at at 134 W Jefferson St., Spring Green, WI 53588..
- Belfrē Kitchen - Delafield
Facebook/BelfreKitchenDelafield
Facebook/BelfreKitchenDelafield From its 1868 roots as a church to its different incarnations as everything from a theater to a clothing boutique, “The Steeple,” as this building is affectionately known around the area, is as much a part of Delafield as the surrounding lakes. Located at at 606 N Genesee St., Delafield, WI 53018..
- The Classic Garage - Eau Claire
Facebook/TheClassicGarage
Facebook/TheClassicGarage This spot is reminiscent of 1950’s gas stations and the doors of the old car bays are still there to let in the fresh air. They take the classic care theme to the extreme and you’ll love this vintage throwback spot. Located at 2111 3rd St,., Eau Claire, WI 54703.
- Lewis Station Winery - Lake Mills
Facebook/LewisStationWinery
Facebook/LewisStationWinery Wisconsin’s first certified craft winery, these folks make deliciously interesting small-batch wines and serve stellar food out of this revamped service station. Their wine and tapas night is spectacular and I love the outdoor space. Located at 217 N Main St., Lake Mills, WI 53551.
- Off the Rail - Elkhart Lake
Flickr/Neurotica
Off the Rail This is one of the most charming little towns in Wisconsin with tons of shops to explore, but you definitely should stop into this converted train depot. The coffee and sandwiches are delicious and the owners incredible. Located at 44 Gottfried St., Elkhart Lake, WI 53020.
- The Farmstead - Cedarburg
TripAdvisor/rberndt
TripAdvisor/Silver008 Tucked into a 150-year-old farmhouse, this is the best steak I’ve ever had. It’s a cozy, homey, welcoming spot packed with history and the smell of the garlic steak hangs in the air to get your mouth watering before you even sit down. Located at W62 N238 Washington Ave., Cedarburg, WI 53012.
- Quivey’s Grove - Fitchburg
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Facebook/Quivey’sGrove Located at 6261 Nesbitt Rd., Fitchburg, WI 53719.
- Pabst Brewery - Milwaukee
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Facebook/PabstBrewery The Pabst brewing complex in downtown Milwaukee was dormant for many years, but recent revitalization efforts in the area have brought the brand back. The new taproom is in the former First German Methodist Church, a 145-year-old building in the middle of all the former brewery buildings just off I-43. Once used as a taproom for the brewery employees, the building still has the lofty ceilings and hallmarks of a church and now feels like a fitting homage to one of the beers that made Milwaukee famous. Located at 1037 W Juneau Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233.
- The Old Feed Mill - Mazomanie
Facebook/TheOldFeedMill
Facebook/TheOldFeedMill This building dates back to 1857 and as the name implies, was a feed mill. Now it’s a charming and delicious restaurant worth driving from Madison for. Located at 114 Cramer St., Mazomanie, WI 53560.
- Paoli Schoolhouse Shops & Cafe - Belleville
Facebook/PaoliSchoolhouse
Facebook/PaoliSchoolhouse This 19th century schoolhouse has been restored and given new life with these quaint little shops and a restaurant with everything from simple soup and sandwiches to fancy, amazing meals. First built in 1854 and added on to at the turn of the century, itw as used as a school into the 1970’s. Located at 6857 Paoli Rd., Belleville, WI 53508.
- Porter - Madison
TripAdvisor/Cuyler3329
Facebook/Portermsn This now-defunct train station was built in 1903 and operated through the 1960’s. Now it’s been repurposed as a small market with vendor stalls and this awesome little shop that is a coffee stop during the day but does pop-up, ticketed meals at nights that will leave you wanting more. Located at at 640 W Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53703..
What’s your favorite repurposed Wisconsin restaurant? Let us know about it in the comments!
Facebook/Freddy.Valentines.Public.House
Built back in 1915, this is a stunning, ornate building with huge ceilings and tons of Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired details inside. You’ll see plenty of references to it’s prior life as a bank, but now it just feels like a swanky throwback. Located at at 134 W Jefferson St., Spring Green, WI 53588..
Facebook/BelfreKitchenDelafield
From its 1868 roots as a church to its different incarnations as everything from a theater to a clothing boutique, “The Steeple,” as this building is affectionately known around the area, is as much a part of Delafield as the surrounding lakes. Located at at 606 N Genesee St., Delafield, WI 53018..
Facebook/TheClassicGarage
This spot is reminiscent of 1950’s gas stations and the doors of the old car bays are still there to let in the fresh air. They take the classic care theme to the extreme and you’ll love this vintage throwback spot. Located at 2111 3rd St,., Eau Claire, WI 54703.
Facebook/LewisStationWinery
Wisconsin’s first certified craft winery, these folks make deliciously interesting small-batch wines and serve stellar food out of this revamped service station. Their wine and tapas night is spectacular and I love the outdoor space. Located at 217 N Main St., Lake Mills, WI 53551.
Flickr/Neurotica
Off the Rail
This is one of the most charming little towns in Wisconsin with tons of shops to explore, but you definitely should stop into this converted train depot. The coffee and sandwiches are delicious and the owners incredible. Located at 44 Gottfried St., Elkhart Lake, WI 53020.
TripAdvisor/rberndt
TripAdvisor/Silver008
Tucked into a 150-year-old farmhouse, this is the best steak I’ve ever had. It’s a cozy, homey, welcoming spot packed with history and the smell of the garlic steak hangs in the air to get your mouth watering before you even sit down. Located at W62 N238 Washington Ave., Cedarburg, WI 53012.
Facebook/Quivey’sGrove
Located at 6261 Nesbitt Rd., Fitchburg, WI 53719.
Facebook/PabstBrewery
The Pabst brewing complex in downtown Milwaukee was dormant for many years, but recent revitalization efforts in the area have brought the brand back. The new taproom is in the former First German Methodist Church, a 145-year-old building in the middle of all the former brewery buildings just off I-43. Once used as a taproom for the brewery employees, the building still has the lofty ceilings and hallmarks of a church and now feels like a fitting homage to one of the beers that made Milwaukee famous. Located at 1037 W Juneau Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233.
Facebook/TheOldFeedMill
This building dates back to 1857 and as the name implies, was a feed mill. Now it’s a charming and delicious restaurant worth driving from Madison for. Located at 114 Cramer St., Mazomanie, WI 53560.
Facebook/PaoliSchoolhouse
This 19th century schoolhouse has been restored and given new life with these quaint little shops and a restaurant with everything from simple soup and sandwiches to fancy, amazing meals. First built in 1854 and added on to at the turn of the century, itw as used as a school into the 1970’s. Located at 6857 Paoli Rd., Belleville, WI 53508.
TripAdvisor/Cuyler3329
Facebook/Portermsn
This now-defunct train station was built in 1903 and operated through the 1960’s. Now it’s been repurposed as a small market with vendor stalls and this awesome little shop that is a coffee stop during the day but does pop-up, ticketed meals at nights that will leave you wanting more. Located at at 640 W Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53703..
Looking for more fabulous Wisconsin restaurants? Check out this 2018 Wisconsin dining bucket list and start checking places off!
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