8 of the Hottest Rooftop Venues in Wisconsin for Your Next Event

By Kristine Hansen | Photos © 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 that offers some of the best views of the capital.

“When you’re from Wisconsin, being outside is so important when the weather is nice,” said Jill Bishop, director of catering and event management at the Kimpton Journeyman, which features The Outsider restaurant on the ninth-floor rooftop. “You don’t have to worry about creating a certain atmosphere for your event. Your only focus is serving great food and drinks and making sure everyone has a good time.”

The two rooftop spaces at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Community and Conference Center in downtown Madison offer bird’s-eye views of Lake Monona below and the skyline and Capitol Building a few blocks to the north. “They like to have privacy, so they rent the whole rooftop,” Turner said of the annual conference for about 100 people. “It’s a pretty big space.” Another bonus: Decorating isn’t really necessary, because it’s all about the view.

“The Monona Terrace is a great choice for a show because a lot of the people who come to the event aren’t from the area,” Turner said. “They come from all over.” Another plus: It’s a one-stop shop for most items, so meeting planners don’t have to search between multiple vendors for items like tables and chairs. Events typically start around 4 p.m. and end by 9 p.m., with a six-piece band providing entertainment.

Rooftop event venues are on the rise in Wisconsin, not just in big cities but in smaller towns as well. Whether it’s for a wedding, a casual meeting or a group getaway, there are now plenty of options. Here are some of the best. “Outdoor events have boomed because of COVID,” Turner observed. Luckily, they’re here to stay.

Madison Monona Terrace

Two rooftop spaces are available for groups, both overlooking Lake Monona. The smallest rooftop garden, West Loop, can accommodate up to 350 people at 5,430 square feet, while the largest rooftop garden offers the most flexibility as it covers 34,730 square feet and can accommodate up to 3,000 people at a time (reception style). For banquet services, the space can accommodate 1,176 to 1,323 people.

In late June, the Wisconsin chapter of the American Cancer Society hosted its “Coaches Fight Cancer” gala there for the third year in a row, taking advantage of the longer outdoor daylight hours to create a casual, summery cocktail atmosphere for about 300 attendees. “It was a change we made during the pandemic, and our guests loved it, so we kept it there,” said Ben White, the chapter’s deputy director. “It’s an atmosphere you don’t often see in a large ballroom. It’s an open, relaxed feel.”

Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison

At the downtown museum on State Street, known locally as MMoCA, the rooftop sculpture garden offers views of the Wisconsin State Capitol. The rooftop space is a big draw for weddings, though business groups, including Turner’s clients, love it, too. The rooftop space, which features colorful plants and large sculptures, can accommodate 100 to 175 attendees. “It’s less windy here, but you can still see the Capitol,” Turner says.

Outsiders, Milwaukee

Located on the ninth floor rooftop of the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel in the Third Ward, this rooftop space is completely flexible, thanks to its combination of indoor and outdoor areas. The Crow’s Nest (a small, semi-private space within the rooftop) can accommodate groups of 40 to 50, with couch-style seating and a fire pit. Retractable garage doors make this a year-round space. In the Founder’s Room & Terrace, “you have views of Lake Michigan and the Hoan Bridge, which lights up at night,” Bishop says. It can accommodate up to 60 people for a dinner or up to 115 for a reception. Groups can also buy out the entire rooftop, including the two upper spaces. “When The Outsider is closed (after hours), we can use it for whatever we want,” Bishop says. “We’ve hosted everything from small corporate gatherings to conferences to pre-opening brunches—post-wedding brunches are one of our fastest-growing areas.”

La Crosse Charm Inn

Located in downtown La Crosse, just two blocks from the Mississippi River, this historic candy-themed hotel (and former chocolate factory) offers an intimate rooftop terrace that can accommodate up to 75 people for private events and views of the city skyline. Food and beverage offerings include Neapolitan-style pizzas fresh from the wood-fired oven (inside the space) and handcrafted cocktails. These aren’t your average pizzas and drinks. Instead, you’ll find options on the menu that clearly reflect the local food culture, including sausage and ricotta pizza (topped with cheese curds), the 608 Manhattan (infused with Milwaukee’s Bittercube’s Trinity Bitters), and the Downtown Dark cocktail (highlighting La Crosse Distilling Co.’s Downtown Toodeloo Rock and Rye).

Graduate Hotel Madison, Madison

This quirky rooftop bar and lounge is located just off State Street in downtown Madison, a short walk from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The bar is called Camp Trippalindee, a nod to the 1980s movie Back to School. The Rodney Dangerfield film was actually filmed on the nearby campus. Graduate Madison is also just one block from Lake Mendota. The rooftop bar’s décor is exaggerated, preppy, and collegiate, with touches like plaid and felt flags, creating a casual vibe. It can be booked for private events or can be used as a post-conference or post-event hangout for a small group to order drinks and food, such as Lake Mendota cocktails, fried cheese curds, Wisconsin “Whoppers,” or Smashburgers.

Velveteen Plum Restaurant in Wausau

Now in its second season, this rooftop space is located on top of a condo building but is open to the public. From this five-story rooftop space, you get one of the best views of the north face of Rib Mountain. Because it’s not in the city center or next to other buildings of similar height, the view is truly unobstructed. The food leans toward Latin flavors, including mussels with Argentinian chimichurri and adobo fries, and the place isn’t just open in the evenings. Weekend brunch is one example, and there’s also daily lunch. Company parties and corporate events hosted here can take advantage of the nightly sunset views and make use of the indoor and outdoor areas, including four separate lounges and an outdoor bar. On chilly nights, an electric fireplace keeps everything warm.

Heritage Hotel(Green Bay)

Located just a block from Lambeau Field, the new all-suite hotel’s Cardinal’s Crest rooftop bar is a great spot for a warm afternoon (weekends only) or evening. The bar has large TVs for watching sports with multiple people and a crackling fireplace for when the temperature drops. The drink selection is extensive, ranging from classic cocktails and their twists (like The Legacy Sazerac and Campfire Old Fashioned) to mocktails. Most of the items on the menu are meant to be shared, whether they’re Dairy State-inspired snacks (fried cheese curds and Milwaukee Bavarian pretzels are two examples) or other flavors (like lobster rolls, canned fish platters or crab cakes).

Prairie du Chien Beachfront Hotels

Groups can reserve this hotel’s rooftop terrace (Backwater Bar & Grill), which is located 25 feet above the Mississippi River in downtown Prairie du Chien. It can be reserved for private events. Given that this is a small town, a bonus is that attendees can self-park for free. This bar and restaurant already has a menu, so the hotel can easily provide food and beverages. The menu features items such as ribs, sandwiches, hot wings, and pizza. On Saturday nights, the rooftop terrace has live music. This can be a fun addition to a weekend meeting or event, or it can be used as a social event.