Domes, greenhouses and huts offer a unique outdoor experience during cold Wisconsin winters.
Most outdoor winter dining shelters have some sort of heating, but diners should plan on dressing warm. Most have a reservation fee or a food and beverage minimum. dome shaped house
Here are some restaurants and bars in the Milwaukee area offering private outdoor dining and/or drinking this winter.
At Random, Bay View’s classic cocktail lounge at 2501 S. Delaware Ave., opened in 1964. It specializes in spiked ice cream drinks and classic cocktails.
At Random’s greenhouses can accommodate two to six guests. Reservations can be made online and staff asks guests to select the number of guests before searching for available times.
On Friday and Saturday, guests can rent a heated greenhouse for $30 for 90 minutes.
On Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, greenhouse reservations are $15 for 90 minutes.
The indoor lounge will remain open and is first-come, first-served.
Make a reservation at exploretock.com/atrandom.
The bubbles are back at Bass Bay Brewhouse, S79-W15851 Aud Mar Drive, Muskego, where heated domes, or “bubbles on the bay,” sit on the restaurant’s patio, overlooking Bass Bay Lake.
The private, heated domes seat up to eight people.
Dome rentals last 90 minutes and cost $50 with a $100 food and beverage minimum. Each reservation includes a cheese and charcuterie platter.
Dome reservations are available for dinner Tuesday through Sunday and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.
Visit bassbaybrewhouse.com to make a reservation.
The decorated domes at Belfre Kitchen, 606 Genesee St., Delafield, are made for groups of four to six people, who can order shareable food-and-drink packages in advance or individual items from a smaller menu in the dome.
Rentals are for 1 hour and 45 minutes. It costs $25 to rent a dome for weekday lunch, $50 for brunch or weekday dinner, and $75 for weekend dinner.
See belfrekitchen.com/domes for more information or exploretock.com/belfrekitchen to make a reservation.
Braise, 1101 S. 2nd St., has a green roof with a heated greenhouse for eight to 12 diners for an entire evening. The rental fee, separate from the food and drink tab, is $350, plus a 20% gratuity. Family-style dinner packages start at $35 per person and are ordered in advance. The greenhouse is available to rent beginning at 5, 6 or 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Make reservations by emailing dining@braiselocalfood.com.
Frank & Larry’s Northwoods Shanties are back at Buckatabon at 7700 Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa. The private huts are handmade by KMS, a family-owned business in Eagle River.
The huts accommodate six to eight people.
Reservations are $100 and include two pre-ordered beverage packages.
Buckatabon staff asks guests to preorder food before the reservation date to accommodate the experience in a 90-minute window.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Make reservations at thebuckatabon.com/shanties.
Lux Domes are back this winter at Cafe Benelux, 346 N. Broadway.
The Lux Domes accommodate six to eight guests for a 90-minute reservation.
Reservations are $100 Monday through Wednesday and $150 Thursday through Sunday.
A reservation includes two complimentary four-person beverage packages. Guests get to keep a Lux Dome camp mug.
The domes are heated with infrared heating and fresh air recirculation. Guests should plan on wearing a hat, gloves and a few layers.
If you don't want to reserve a dome, you can still dine outdoors in the Lux Rooftop Warming Tent. The tent can seat up to 50 and can become a private event space for corporate or holiday parties.
Make reservations at cafebenelux.com/lux-domes.
Cafe Centraal, 2306 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., has a heated streetcar and a heated courtyard tent as outdoor dining options this winter. There's no fee for a reservation.
To make a reservation, guests should call ahead at (414) 755-0378.
Cafe Hollander has domes and globes available at all five locations: Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Madison, Mequon and Brookfield.
The new Hollander igloos at the Mequon and Milwaukee locations seat up to 12 guests. All other domes accommodate up to six guests.
Reservations are 90 minutes and fees range from $25 to $100 for domes and $100 for igloos. The igloo reservations require a $300 food and beverage minimum.
Make a reservation at cafehollander.com/winter.
Eldr + Rime, 2300 N. Mayfair Road, offers stugas — Swedish for cabins. The stugas can accommodate up to six people.
There's no reservation fee but guests are required to meet a $200 food and drink minimum and an additional 20% gratuity.
For reservations, visit eldrandrime.com/stuga-experience.
Hubbard Park Beer Garden, 3565 N. Morris Blvd., Shorewood, offers heated dome rentals in its “winter camp” experience.
A reservation costs $30. Domes are available for dinner service and for Sunday brunch buffet from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For reservations, visit hubbardparklodge.com/winter-camp.
Kegel's Inn, 5901 W. National Ave., West Allis, has three heated yurts that can comfortably seat 12 people. There's no fee for rentals and no minimum, but guests are asked to tip their servers.
Make a reservation at kegelsinn.com.
Twisted Fisherman, 1200 W. Canal St., has Ice Camp Snow Globes.
Guests can rent globes for two hours. Reservations are $30 with a $150 food and beverage minimum. Each globe can seat seven guests and each rental includes a welcome drink.
To make a reservation, visit twistedfisherman.com/ice-camp-snow-globes.
Zócalo Food Park, 636 S. 6th St., offers heated huts.
From Tuesday through Thursday, reservation fees are between $14.25 to $32.25, depending on the group size.
On Friday and Saturday, reservation fees are between $48 and $75, depending on the group size.
diy dome house To make a reservation, visit exploretock.com/zocalofoodpark.