Best Places to Eat in Madison During the CrossFit Games
If you’re not from the Midwest, you might not realize all Madison has to offer. Between the outdoor activities, craft beer and local coffee roasters, it’s a vibrant, active, diverse community; a fitting host for the CrossFit Games. But that’s not all: the food scene is not to be missed.
Michael Wudtke, Strong Coffee Company Community Liaison, is a Milwaukee resident and has visited the neighboring city many times.
“Madison, being the capital of Wisconsin, provides you with not only amazing food and drinks, but you find something for literally anyone,” Wudtke said. “From your Badger-inspired bars filled with years of memorabilia and die hard students, to a more relaxed environment with farm-to-table food–it’s pretty hard to not find what you are looking for.”
Here are five top places in the area to check out:
1. The Old Fashioned
23 N. Pinckney St. #1, Madison, WI 53703
It wouldn’t be right to start this list with anything else than the award-winner of Wisconsin’s Best Cheese Curds. Top-rated on Google, 3,200+ people can’t be wrong, right? Old Fashioned has a large food and drink menu with something available for everyone in your group, and although they’re closed on Sundays, they have fish fry Monday-Saturday. Score!
2. Graft
18 N. Carroll St., Madison, WI 53703
With an abundance of plant-based and protein-heavy main plates on the menu, it’s the perfect spot for our community of meat and vegetable eaters. And with s’mores, spoon cake and lemon custard on deck for dessert, we’ll be taking one of each. Balance, right?
3. The Boathouse at the Edgewater
1001 Wisconsin Pl., Madison, WI 53703
Accessible by boat or by land, Boathouse looks over Lake Mendota for one of the best dining views in Madison. It’s only 10 minutes from the Alliant Energy Center but the kitchen closes at 9PM, so don’t sleep on it if you’re coming from a long day of events.
4. Short Stack Eatery
301 W. Johnson St., Madison, WI 53703
Buttery Bros and pancake connoisseurs alike, this one’s for you! Open only Thursday-Sunday, Short Stack boasts the best flapjacks in the area, complete with real Wisconsin maple syrup. They serve breakfast, and only breakfast, all day long (dreams really do come true). Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and nut-conscious options are all on the menu, along with an item called “The Blind”; when you order that special, it’s only $8 for risk takers and $13 if you ask what’s in it. Our advice: Be adventurous and trust the chef!
5. Graze
1 S. Pinckney St., Madison, WI 53703
Near the capitol building and in the heart of the city, this is a great spot to grab a meal before perusing through the rest of the downtown scene. Open Wednesday through Saturday for dinner only, this lively gastropub has big floor-to-ceiling windows, online reservations available (hard to find!), farm-to-table inspired comfort food with ingredients sourced from local producers, and a ton of tasty appetizers and shareables. Need we say more?
Honorable mentions: Off Broadway Drafthouse, Pig in a Fur Coat, Everyday Kitchen – Madison and Nook.
Bon appétit, and go ahead and save us a seat!
Go deeper with our Complete Guide to the 2022 CrossFit Games:
- Spectator’s Guide to the CrossFit Games
- Working Out at the CrossFit Games
- Outdoor Activities in Madison, WI
- Madison’s Best Breweries and Craft Beer
- Best Coffee Shops in Madison
- For those at home, we’ve also put together ways you can get connected.
Get the Newsletter
For a daily digest of all things CrossFit. Community, Competitions, Athletes, Tips, Recipes, Deals and more.
"*" indicates required fields
