8 of Wisconsin’s Hottest Rooftop Venues for Your Next Event

By Kristine Hansen | Photo © Monona Terrace

Every September, Kennedy Turner, owner of Blueprint Events in Madison, organizes an event on behalf of a financial-services client at a venue flaunting the capital city’s best view.

“If you’re from Wisconsin, being outside is extremely important when the weather’s great,” says Jill Bishop, director of catering and event management at Kimpton Journeyman, which includes The Outsider on the hotel’s ninth-floor rooftop. “You don’t have to worry about creating some sort of mood for your event. The only thing you need to focus on is great food and drinks and making sure everybody has a good time.”

From the two rooftop spaces at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in downtown Madison are bird’s-eye glimpses of Lake Monona below as well as the skyline and capital building a few blocks to the north. “They like to have the privacy so they rent the entire rooftop,” says Turner, about the annual meeting of about 100 people. “It’s quite a large space.” One bonus: décor isn’t really needed, as it’s all about the view.

“The Monona Terrace is a great option to showcase because a lot of people who come to the event are not from this area,” says Turner. “They come from all over.” Another plus: it’s a one-stop shop for most items, without meeting planners having to juggle multiple vendors for items like tables and chairs. The event typically begins around 4 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m., with a six-piece band providing entertainment.

Rooftop venues are multiplying across Wisconsin, not just in big cities but also small towns. Whether it’s for a wedding, casual meeting or group outing, there are now plenty of options. Here are some of the best ones. “Outdoor events picked up steam due to COVID,” observes Turner. Fortunately, they are here to stay.

Monona Terrace, Madison

Two rooftop spaces are available to groups and both overlook Lake Monona. The smallest, Rooftop Gardens West Circle, accommodates up to 350 people and spans 5,430 square feet; while the largest offers the most amount of flexibility given that it’s 34,730 square feet and can be used by up to 3,000 people at once (reception style). For banquet service, the space fits between 1,176 and 1,323 people.

For the third year in a row, the Wisconsin chapter of the American Cancer Society hosted its “Coaches Versus Cancer” gala — with a summer-cocktail casual vibe for about 300 attendees — there in late June, taking advantage of the longer stretch of outdoor light. “It was a change we made during COVID and it’s something our guests fell in love with so we kept it there,” says Ben White, the chapter’s associate director. “It’s this atmosphere you don’t always get when you’re in the big ballrooms. It’s this open, relaxed feeling.”

Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison

At this downtown museum (which locals call MMoCA) along State Street, the rooftop sculpture garden boasts a view of the Wisconsin State Capitol Building. Weddings are a huge draw for the rooftop space although business groups, including Turner’s clients, like it, too. The space features colorful plantings and large sculptures, hosting between 100 and 175 attendees. “You’re a little bit more shielded (from the wind),” says Turner, “and you still have a view of the Capitol Building.”

The Outsider, Milwaukee

This rooftop space is on the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel’s ninth-floor rooftop in the Third Ward, and because there are both indoor and outdoor areas it can be completely flexible. Groups as small as 40 and as large as 50 can be accommodated at Crow’s Nest (a small, semi-private space within the entire rooftop), where there’s sofa-style seating and a fire pit. Retractable garage doors make this a year-round space. At Founder’s Room & Terrace,“you can get a view of Lake Michigan and the Hoan Bridge, which lights up in the evening,” says Bishop. Up to 60 can be hosted for a seated dinner, or a reception up to 115. Groups can also buy out the full rooftop and include these two above spaces. “When The Outsider is closed (outside of business hours), then it’s all ours to do what we would like with it,” says Bishop. “We’ve had everything from small, corporate gathering to meetings to brunches before we open — that’s one of our biggest growth (areas), the post-wedding brunches.”

Charmant Hotel, La Crosse

A sweet note to this candy-themed historic hotel (it’s a former chocolate factory) in downtown La Crosse just two blocks from the Mississippi River is the intimate rooftop terrace. It can hold up to 75 people for a private event and the views are of the city’s skyline. Neapolitan-style pizzas fresh out of a wood-burning oven (within the space) and craft cocktails are among the food and beverage options. These aren’t your typical pizzas and drinks. Instead, you’ll find options on the menu that are clear riffs of local food culture, including the Sausage and Curds pizza (topped with cheese curds), the 608 Manhattan (folding in Trinity Bitters from Bittercube in Milwaukee) and Downtown Dark cocktail (highlighting La Crosse Distilling Co.’s Downtown Toodeloo Rock and Rye).

Graduate Madison, Madison

Just off of State Street in downtown Madison and within a short walk of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this quirky rooftop bar and lounge is called Camp Trippalindee — a nod to 1980s flicks like “Back to School.” This Rodney Dangerfield movie was actually filmed on the nearby campus. Graduate Madison is also a block in from Lake Mendota. Campy, preppy and collegiate décor — think plaid fabrics and felt pennants — contribute to the casual vibe at this rooftop bar. It can be booked for private events or also used as a post-meeting or post-event hang-out spot for a small group to order drinks and food such as Shores of Mendota Spritz, fried cheese curds, Wisconsin “whoppers” or smashburgers.

The Velveteen Plum, Wausau

This rooftop space is celebrating its second season this year and sits atop an apartment complex but is open to the public. From this rooftop space five floors up, you can see one of the best views of the north face of Rib Mountain. Because it’s not downtown, and not next to other buildings of the same height, the views are truly unobstructed. Food skews Latin, including mussels sautéed with chimichurri and adobo fries, and it’s not only open during the evenings. Weekend brunch is one example, as well as daily lunch. Company parties and corporate events hosted here can take full advantage of nightly sunsets and utilize a mix of indoor and outdoor areas, including four separate lounges and an outdoor bar. On chilly nights, electric fireplaces keep everything toasty.

Legacy Hotel, Green Bay

Located just a block from Lambeau Field, this new all-suite hotel’s Cardinal’s Crest rooftop bar is a great spot to be on a warm afternoon (weekends only) or evening. There are large TVs to watch sporting events as a group as well as a crackling fireplace for when the temperature drops. Drink options range from classic cocktails and riffs on those (like The Legacy Sazerac and Campfire Old Fashioned) to zero- proof mocktails. Much of the food menu is designed to be shared, whether it’s a bite inspired by the Dairy State (fried cheese curds and Milwaukee Bavarian pretzel are two examples) or beyond (such as lobster rolls, a tin fish platter or crab cakes).

Waterfront Hotel, Prairie du Chien

Groups can book this hotel’s rooftop terrace (Backwater Bar & Grill) perched 25 feet above the Mississippi River and in downtown Prairie du Chien. It can be reserved for private events. Given that this is a small town, one perk is free self-parking for attendees. Food and beverage is easily available through the hotel as this bar and restaurant already has a menu in place. On that menu are items like ribs, sandwiches, hot wings and pizza. On Saturday evenings, the rooftop terrace hosts live music. This could be a fun add-on to a meeting or event taking place over the weekend and as a social outing.