You unpacked the boxes — now here is where students at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI) actually eat, shop, bank, and hang out. Bookmark this for your first month.
Oakland Gyros Greek
Longtime Oakland Ave staple for gyros and late-night eats, short walk from dorms
Sal's Pizza Pizza
New York-style slices, calzones and Italian subs on Oakland Ave near campus
Shawarma House Middle Eastern
Shawarma, falafel and kabobs on Oakland Ave; cheap, filling student favorite
Stone Creek Coffee Coffee
Milwaukee roasters Downer Cafe at 2650 N Downer Ave; popular study spot
Cafe Hollander Gastropub
Belgian-style cafe at 2608 N Downer Ave; brunch, burgers and frites
Immy's African Cuisine African
Egusi, fufu, stews and curries on Oakland Ave when dining hall food gets old
Metro Market Groceries
Full supermarket at 4075 N Oakland Ave, the closest big grocery to campus
Pick 'n Save Groceries
Budget grocery at 1100 E Garfield Ave, a short drive or bus ride south
Target Superstore
Bayshore-area store at 5701 N Lydell Ave for dorm supply runs, 10 min drive
Walmart Superstore
Supercenter at 401 E Capitol Dr, about 10 minutes from campus
Goodwill Thrift
2830 N Oakland Ave, 15-minute walk; cheap secondhand dorm basics and clothes
Walgreens Pharmacy
4081 N Oakland Ave by Metro Market; closest drugstore to campus, CVS on Downer too
Ascension Prospect Medical Commons Urgent Care
Immediate care clinic at 2311 N Prospect Ave, a short drive down the East Side
The UPS Store Shipping
4230 N Oakland Ave in Shorewood for packages, printing and Amazon returns
Great Clips Haircuts
Walk-in haircuts at 4164 N Oakland Ave in Shorewood, straight up from campus
Bradford Beach
Lake Michigan beach with volleyball courts, downhill walk from campus
Lake Park
Olmsted-designed park just east of campus with bluffs, trails and lake views
Oak Leaf Trail
Paved county trail along the lakefront for biking and running
Oriental Theatre
Historic 1927 movie palace at Farwell and North, run by Milwaukee Film
Landmark Lanes
Basement bowling alley and arcade beneath the Oriental Theatre since 1927
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.