Riverwest - Milwaukee, WI Area Guide

Riverwest originated during the early 19th century industrial age of Milwaukee as the site of mills, factories and tanneries. European immigrants and freed slaves arrived to seek a better life and to escape the unrest in the South. During the 1910-1930s, the Great Migration brought thousands of African-Americans to Milwaukee. This same time period was rife with strikes in industries such as tanning and the railroad, prompting firms to bring workers from Mexico to break the strikers.

The area was home to a pronounced civil rights movement as well as a related artistic counter-cultural movement during the 60s and 70s. Today, many artists and musicians continue to call the neighborhood home, leaving a distinct impression on the feel of the neighborhood. There are several annual events, the most prominent being the Locust Street Festival with six stages of live music and tons of vendors.

The cultural diversity of Riverwest really shines when it comes to restaurant offerings. Milwaukee is known for beer and Riverwest has many clubs and bars to get the night started right.

Local favorite Nessun Dorma offers stunning Italian cuisine and a mind-boggling wine and beer list. One of the restaurant's most popular dishes is the bruschetta plate with either tomato, pesto or olive tapanade. It goes great with a glass of wine in the comfortable, vintage surroundings.

Cafe Corazon is a fun and campy restaurant for good Mexican food, fantastic margaritas and even brunch. Many of the ingredients are sourced from the owners' farm, making for a healthy, sustainable meal. Corazon serves up a mean margarita, but for a real taste of Mexico, customers enjoy the Michelada, a bloody Mary of sorts made with beer and spiced tomato juice. Vegans and vegetarians appreciate ingredients such as herb tofu and soy-based chorizo.

Perhaps no other establishment represents the quirky personality of Riverwest more than the Mad Planet, a long-time local music club which showcases local and national bands. The interior is retro, sporting figurines, mannequins and other relics of 80s and 90s. Friday nights the venue hosts a long running "retro dance party" which celebrates the music of those eras.

Riverwest lies just west of the Milwaukee river and north of downtown Milwaukee. The area is served by Milwaukee County Transit System buses, providing access to downtown, universities, the suburbs and more. There are few opportunities to hail a cab, but plenty of private companies are available via telephone. Uber also offers a rideshare option here. Public parking is generally free and available, with freeway access to I-43 nearby.

Riverwest is a very pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, with amenities like groceries, restaurants, and parks within walking distance. The area is also very bike friendly and popular with cyclists. There are some dedicated bike lanes, and even an annual 24-hour bike race event. Visitors should avoid major streets while riding a bike as there are plenty of minor roads to use.

Riverwest is home to several great parks and recreation areas, including the Milwaukee River Greenway, a park system which stretches along both banks of the Milwaukee River. Kern and Gordon Parks are located riverside and are great for hiking, picnicking and dog-walking. Both parks are easy to access and provide some respite from the big city. Pumping Station park is a go-to option for softball and neighborhood sports leagues.

All Riverwest parks are free of charge and open to dogs. There are several off-leash areas and plenty of wooded paths to make any dog's day. A popular annual event is the Concerts in the Park series, which transforms these tranquil areas into festive areas for music of all types.

Exercise opportunities abound, with trail running and hiking, basketball, tennis and more.

The Riverwest neighborhood has a lower cost of living compared with Milwaukee and the rest of the nation. It costs $2.25 to take public transit from the area to downtown Milwaukee. The median rent for a one-bedroom residence is around $500-700, and house shares are common in this area. A typical beer ranges from $3-5, with discounts at certain times of the day. Gas prices are about 9 percent lower than the national average, and are slightly lower than the overall Milwaukee metro prices.

Riverwest is known for being fashion-forward and hip while remaining affordable. Most of the shopping in this neighborhood is geared toward these parameters. Shopping options are available across the area but more concentrated on Center, Locust and Humboldt streets.

Fallas carries a wide selection of men's, women's and kids' clothing and accessories. Offering name-brand items priced 40 to 60 percent less than other retailers, this is the store savvy shoppers frequent for the best in-season fashions at affordable prices. Fallas has everything from jeans, T-shirts and dresses to sunglasses, purses and shoes.

Despite the cold winter months, Milwaukee is a very bike-friendly city, and Riverwest is a main cycling hub. Cyclists make Truly Spoken Cycles a must-stop for bikes and bike parts. This neighborhood shop also provides budget used-bike options for the whole community, with prices from $150 - $300 for a solid, tuned-up ride. Truly Spoken also has a knowledgeable repair shop for simple and complex repairs.

The iconic Riverwest Co-op serves the grocery needs of the area with a wide selection of produce, vegan foods and specialty health-food items. Other options in the neighborhood include Piggly Wiggly, and ALDI, representing a more standard grocery experience with a wider range of products. Community-oriented Riverwest also hosts a Gardener's Market with bountiful produce and food vendors. The market provides fresh produce all year and is a Saturday destination spot for local shoppers.