Hill Farms-University - Madison, WI Area Guide

The origin of Hill Farms starts in 1846, when New Yorkers Harmon and Clarissa Hill bought a farm in the area that now bears their name. They worked the land for almost 40 years before selling the property. Eventually, the property was sold to the University of Wisconsin School of Agriculture. In 1953, the land was sold again to create a housing development.

For theater and museum options, residents can travel about 10 minutes to Madison’s downtown area for a visit to the Chazen Museum of Art or the Overture Center for the Arts. Art Fair on the Square, hosted by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, commences every year around the Capitol Square. Arts and crafts vendors travel from around the country to display their work as local restaurants and musicians feed and entertain visitors.

The central location for restaurants in Hill Farms can be found at the Hilldale Shopping Center, where residents have an eclectic choice of food options such as The Dumpling Haus. This Asian noodle and dumpling shop serves up a wide selection of steaming hot Beijing-style dumplings stuffed with shrimp, pork and veggies. They also serve noodles, salads and sides, but the home-cooked dumplings, or jiao zi, are what the locals love best.

Cafe Porta Alba, also located in the Hilldale Shopping Center, delivers the cuisine of Naples, Italy to residents of Hill Farms and the University area. There traditional Neapolitan style pies cook for 90 seconds at 900 degrees and feature such classic ingredients as fresh mozzarella, basil and sauce made from oven-roasted tomatoes. If pasta appeals more to your taste, Porta Alba won’t disappoint with its dishes of linguine di mare, made with scallops, shrimp and clams, and spaghetti carbonara, made with green peas, egg, cream and pancetta.

The Great Dane Pub and Brewing Company has several locations throughout the Madison area, including a location in Hill Farms. Located at the Hilldale Shopping Center, this tavern has great pub food that tastes best when it’s breaded and fried. The Great Dane also brews its own drinks and offers an impressive assortment of craft brews. The dark, rich Black Earth Porter remains a popular choice to pull from the tap. For something more hoppy, the Imperial IPA can be tough to beat.

For a more traditional dive bar, a trip to the Oakcrest Tavern may be in order. Here patrons can enjoy a plate of fried perch and fries along with a classic cocktail or a pint of beer from one of the area's local breweries.

While Hill Farms exists mostly as a quiet residential neighborhood, residents are just a short cab ride way from Madison’s downtown nightlife. There are plenty of options for late-night revelers, including Blue Velvet Lounge, Plaza Tavern and Paul’s Club.

For live music in Hill Farms, residents need only venture to Madison’s isthmus to catch a local band at the High Noon Saloon. Many nationally touring acts also make a stop in Madison to play downtown theaters such as the Orpheum and Majestic.

The Metro Transit System serves Madison and the neighborhood of Hill Farms-University with dozens of routes that traverse the city. The downtown area around Capitol Square provides a major bus hub that makes connections with the four transfer hubs of North, South, East and West Transfer Points. For travel out of town, residents can take Route 151 (Washington Avenue in the city) across the isthmus and make a connection to Interstate 94 for a trip east to Milwaukee. Route151 also provides access to I90 for travel south to Chicago.

Uber ride sharing can be obtained in the neighborhood and throughout town. Multiple taxi companies serve the area, but it's always better to call for service.

The Hill Farms-University area allows for great walking and biking. Many miles of paved trails connect Madison’s neighborhoods. The Capital City Trail and Southwest Commuter Path can be accessed east of Hill Farms and used for trips to the University of Madison and downtown State Street. The city of Madison also has many streets with bike lanes and some that are designated as bike boulevards where bikes have the right of way. Parking can be readily obtained for free on residential side streets and for shoppers visiting the Hilldale Shopping Center. Residents and visitors need to pay attention to street signs that may restrict parking on certain days of the week.

Oscar Rennebohm Park provides residents with a variety of options for outdoor fun. The 20 acres of green space feature free access to the public with tennis courts, a soccer field and basketball courts. Playground equipment keeps children busy while parents enjoy the large covered shelter for picnics, rain or shine. The city’s many miles of bike trails provide even more opportunity for residents to bike, hike, jog and Rollerblade. Quarry Park, located just west of Hill Farms, has an on-leash dog area for residents and their pets to enjoy.

The overall cost of living in the Hill Farms neighborhood sits higher than the city average and the rest of the state. A domestic draft costs about $3.25 and an import costs around $5. A one-bedroom apartment rents for an average price of $817 a month. One-way bus fare downtown costs $2 and includes free transfers for three hours. Seniors and children can purchase discounted tickets and monthly passes cost $50. Gas prices in the Hill Farms-University area are just a few cents less than the national average.

Hilldale Shopping Center provides the residents of Hill Farms a variety of shopping options which include affordable department stores and higher-end retail options. For everyday household needs, Target has a location at the north end of the center. For smaller boutiques and specialty shops, the locally-owned and women-operated Twigs sells a variety of designer clothing, jewelry, handbags and accessories, such as hats, gloves, mittens and scarves. Anthropologie features many great choices for upscale clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as fine linens, towels, curtains and items for every room of the house.

For the coin or stamp collector, Jim’s Coins & Stamps, located on the lower level of the shopping center, provides appraisals and may even buy your collection or sell you one of its many unique items, from stamps and bullion to watches and jewelry. Fannie May Candies really hits that sweet spot with a dizzying assortment of chocolates, such as the sea salt caramels and maple nut fudge.

Whole Foods has a location just east of Hill Farms on University Avenue, where residents can go to stock up on organic produce. Another option for organic and locally grown produce is the Dane County Farmers Market, which continues to be a popular draw to the area. Located in the Capitol Square about 10 minutes from Hill Farms, this bustling outdoor market is open every Saturday throughout the summer.