Milwaukee is an amazing Midwestern city that I was been lucky enough to call my hometown for the last 13 years! It has all the excitement of a big city – amazing restaurants, popular shows and concerts – with the accessibility and friendliness of a small town. Milwaukee is also home to a thriving LGBTQ community and some wonderful LGBTQ businesses! From restaurants and bars to shops to other businesses and resources, the Milwaukee LGBTQ community has something for everyone.
Whether you live in Brew City or are just visiting, make sure to visit and support some of these Milwaukee LGBTQ businesses!
Milwaukee LGBTQ Bars and Restaurants
1) Walker’s Pint
Walker’s Pint is one of only 21 remaining lesbian bars in the United States, and I’m so honored that it exists in my hometown of Milwaukee! (There isn’t even a lesbian bar in neighboring Chicago!) I love supporting this LGBTQ business that creates such a great space for queer women.
Walker’s Pint is the perfect dive bar – no frills, just a welcoming space with great drinks and friendly people. I love coming here on weekends with other LGBTQ friends, because we know we’ll be able to relax and have a great evening without any fear of judgement.
On any given weekend, you can find Walker’s Pint hosting karaoke, a Bucks watch party, or pride event. No matter what’s going on, you definitely don’t want to miss this spot next time you’re in Milwaukee!
Walker’s Pint is located in the gay-friendly neighborhood of Walker’s Point on the south side of Milwaukee.
2) MOXIE Food + Drink
Moxie Food + Drink is owned by the nicest lesbian couple. You’ll often see them working in the restaurant on weekends with their sons!
Come to Moxie to enjoy some amazing new American style food – while everything on their menu is delicious, I love their seared sea scallops and risotto. In the summertime, they have al fresco dining on the patio. Between the twinkling lights and sophisticated cocktails, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a little European restaurant.
Moxie is located in Whitefish Bay, a northern suburb of Milwaukee.
3) Ono Kine Grindz
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Ono Kine Grindz is a Hawaiian market, caterer, and take-out restaurant. It’s got all the rainbows and friendliness of the island! There’s a reason this spot has been voted one of the best takeout spots in the city.
Don’t miss ordering some of their delicious plates or bento boxes if you need a taste of island life in the cold, blustery Midwest.
Ono Kine Grindz is found on North Ave. in Milwaukee suburb Wauwatosa.
4) Flour Girl and Flame
Flour Girl and Flame has some of the most delicious wood fired pizzas in Milwaukee! They also use locally sourced ingredients, which makes these pizzas even better. My favorite is ‘Your Aura is Purple,’ which is served with pesto, mozzarella, purple potatoes, purple asparagus, arugula, and a gorgeous purple flower on top. Yum!
This LGBTQ business can often be found at Milwaukee street festivals, in Zocalo food park, or at their new restaurant in West Allis. Make sure to stop and grab a pizza (or two) next time you visit!
5) Amilinda
Amilinda is a delightful Spanish and Portuguese restaurant that is consistently rated among the best restaurants in Milwaukee. That makes it even more exciting that this restaurant is also an LGBTQ owned business!
This cozy dining space has an open kitchen and tons of classic Milwaukee cream city brick lining its walls. With a rotating menu filled with local ingredients, it’s hard to go wrong with anything you order here!
Amilinda is located downtown Milwaukee.
5) Art*Bar
Art*Bar is a trendy bar that also doubles as an art gallery! Come enjoy drinks here with friends while looking at some amazing work by local artists. There is often live music on the weekends, too!
This business is LGBTQ owned and offers a colorful, creative space for Milwaukee residents to come and be themselves.
Art*Bar is located in Milwaukee’s hip Riverwest neighborhood on the north side of the city.
6) This Is It
This Is It (fondly known to locals as TITS) is the oldest continuously operating gay bar in all of Wisconsin! They’ve been serving up drinks to the Milwaukee LGBTQ community since 1968 and are well worth a stop during your next visit to the city.
TITS has a lounge-style atmosphere with a jukebox, karaoke, and drag shows!
This Is It is located in the Lower East Side of Milwaukee.
7) D.I.X. Milwaukee
This clubby bar offers something for everyone on a night out – a bar in the front and dance floor in the back. While not as intense as a true nightclub (for that, see LaCage below), D.I.X. is definitely a step up from a casual bar. Whenever I feel like going out and dancing, this is the spot I pick!
D.I.X. is located in the gay-friendly neighborhood of Walker’s Point.
8) LaCage Niteclub
If you’re looking to party, then LaCage is the spot for you. This nightclub is full of everything you’d expect for a wild night – strong drinks, loud music, flashing lights, fog machines, and even elevated cages that patrons can dance in. While not usually my scene, I do admit that dancing in the cages is a whole lot of fun and something everyone should try once!
LaCage also hosts frequent drag shows and other themed parties. Come join your fellow LGBTQ Milwaukee residents for a wild night out!
LaCage is located in the gay-friendly neighborhood of Walker’s Pint.
Milwaukee LGBTQ Shops
9) Maranta Plant Shop
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m obsessed with this new plant shop. Maranta is the first (and only) POC-owned plant shop in Milwaukee, and I love that it is also an LGBTQ business!
Maranta has tons of plants available for purchase. And their selection is constantly changing, so you should come back early and often to see what’s new in the store! Plus, they frequently have sales and promotions that support other Milwaukee-area businesses like Hunger Task Force.
Maranta is located in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Milwaukee, just northwest of downtown.
10) The Tool Shed
The Tool Shed is the best sex toy in Milwaukee because it’s so much more than a store! This business offers a welcoming environment to everyone, particularly those in the LGBTQ community. No matter your gender or orientation, you can find sex-positive toys and educational materials here. They also offer plenty of classes and workshops for patrons to learn about sex and sexuality in a safe and welcoming space. I can’t say enough good things about this place!
The Tool Shed is located in the Upper East Side of Milwaukee.
11) Outwords Books
Outwords Books is an LGBTQ bookstore that has tons of LGBTQ-focused books! Topics include LGBTQ history, biographies of LGBTQ people, and even queer romance and mystery novels! After you pick out the perfect book, stay a while and enjoy the bookstore’s coffee shop, which brews delicious local Milwaukee coffees!
Outwords Books is located in the Upper East Side of Milwaukee.
Other Milwaukee LGBTQ Businesses
12) Gina Pagan, Financial Advisor
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Gina is a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual who specializes in providing financial services to other members of the LGBTQ community! My wife and I recently began working with Gina and feel reassured to have found another young queer woman that understands our needs and concerns so well (especially in an industry often filled with bro-y straight white men).
Northwestern Mutual is located in downtown Milwaukee.
13) Katie Derus Photography
Katie is an amazing, bubbly photographer that instantly makes anyone she works with feel at ease in front of the camera. She took pictures of my wife and I for our 2020 holiday card, and I couldn’t have been happier with the result! Bonus: Katie and her wife got married at the same wedding venue as my wife and I did (the gorgeous Milwaukee County Historical Society, pictured above)!
Katie is available in the greater Milwaukee and Wisconsin area.
14) Milwaukee Area Psychological Services
I’m a huge advocate for everyone to try therapy, but I think it’s even more important for the LGBTQ community, as we often have additional trauma to process about our gender, sexuality, or coming out experiences.
I started going to therapy at the Milwaukee Area Psychological Services (MAPS) in early 2018, and it’s been such a life changing experience! Being able to talk through anything and everything with a trained professional is invaluable to building a life that is happy and rewarding. The therapists at MAPS specialize in all types of counseling, including LGBTQ related issues. I can’t recommend this Milwaukee business enough!
The Milwaukee Area Psychological Services office is located in downtown Milwaukee.
Bonus: Milwaukee LGBTQ Resources
15) Milwaukee Gay Sports Network
The Milwaukee Gay Sports Network is an inclusive athletic club for all members an allies of the LGBTQ community. Join sports leagues such as softball, volleyball, and tennis. They also sponsor several events throughout the year, including Pride Night with the Brewers and The Big Gay 5K run and walk.
You can compete in (or attend!) Milwaukee Gay Sports Network events throughout the city of Milwaukee and its suburbs.
16) Courage MKE
Courage MKE is the first organization in Milwaukee to specifically provide housing and resources for homeless LGBTQ youth. They provide shelter, scholarships, hygiene products, and care packages to the LGBTQ youth they tirelessly serve. You can support this amazing organization through donations and volunteering.
Courage MKE is located in the gay-friendly Walker’s Point neighborhood of Milwaukee.
17) Milwaukee LGBT Community Center
The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center supports the LGBTQ community through events, advocacy, and community building. Events are for people of all ages, orientations, and genders – everyone is welcome! They sponsor groups for LGBTQ youth, transgender individuals, 50+ queer folks, anti-LGBTQ violence, and alcohol and drug addiction recovery.
The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center is located in downtown Milwaukee.
18) Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce
The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce provides a business directory of LGBTQ and allied businesses across Milwaukee and greater Wisconsin. It’s nice to do a quick check of a business you’re thinking about supporting to ensure they also support the LGBTQ community!
The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is located in western Milwaukee.
Overall
I hope you’ve found some amazing new Milwaukee LGBT businesses to support! Do you have other favorites that I missed? Let me know in the comments!
For more queer resources, including travel tips and inspiration, check out my LGBTQ+ landing page!
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