You unpacked the boxes — now here is where students at University of Wisconsin Madison (Madison, WI) actually eat, shop, bank, and hang out. Bookmark this for your first month.
Babcock Hall Dairy Store ice cream
Campus-made ice cream — a Badger rite of passage
Ian's Pizza pizza
Late-night slices; the mac-and-cheese pizza is famous
State Street Brats sports bar
Game-day brats since 1953
Nitty Gritty burgers
Madison's official birthday bar — free mug on yours
Der Rathskeller campus pub
German-style hall in Memorial Union, cheese curds by the lake
Chocolate Shoppe ice cream
Wisconsin chain with a State Street scoop shop
Target (State Street) small-format
Two-story mini Target, about a 10-minute walk
Fresh Madison Market grocery
University Ave — full grocery near southeast dorms
Trader Joe's grocery
Monroe St, about 1.5 miles — short bus or bike ride
Walgreens (State St) pharmacy
Prescriptions and essentials a short walk away
University Health Services student health
Free-to-students clinic and counseling at East Campus Mall
Madison Metro bus
Free campus Route 80; citywide with the student pass
Wiscard Office campus ID
One card for dining, buildings, and campus cash
University Book Store bookstore
Textbooks and Badger gear on State Street
Memorial Union Terrace
Sunset over Lake Mendota in the sunburst chairs
Camp Randall game day
Jump Around between the third and fourth quarters
State Street
Pedestrian stretch of shops from campus to the Capitol
Picnic Point
Easy lakeside hike from the dorms with firepits
Dane County Farmers' Market
Saturday mornings on Capitol Square — get spicy cheese bread
Hand-checked August 2026. Hours and locations change — give places a quick look before you head out. Some links on this site earn us a commission at no cost to you.