The Best Places to Drink and Stay in Madison
Sections
- Eat , none in this area
- Drink 3 , on. Turn off Only Drink
- Stay 2 , on. Turn off Only Stay
- Do , none in this area
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The best places to drink and stay in Madison, according to the experts: Bon Appétit, Punch, and the James Beard Awards have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Public Parking comes out on top.
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Imaginary Factory and The Harvey House hold the next two places. The James Beard Awards and the Michelin Guide show up on more of this list than any other guide.
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The awards
- Bon Appétit Bon Appétit: America's Best New Bars
- Punch Punch: Best New Bars
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2026 · Semifinalist · Best New Bar
- Bon Appétit America's Best New Bars
- Punch Best New Bars
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best New Bar
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The awards
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Nominee · Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service · Hastings Cameron
Why #2, not #3
Both places show 77. This one's exact Score is 77.1 and the next is 76.8, so it ranks first. We round what you see, but we rank on the exact number.
- #2 Imaginary Factory (this place) 77.1
- #3 The Harvey House 76.8
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The awards
- Esquire Esquire: Ice Cold Martini · The Best Martinis in America
- The New York Times The New York Times: The Restaurant List
- Esquire Esquire: #8 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- Esquire Ice Cold Martini · The Best Martinis in America
- The New York Times The Restaurant List
- Esquire #8 · The Best New Restaurants in America
Why #3, not #2
Both places show 77. This one's exact Score is 76.8 and the one above is 77.1, so it ranks second. We round what you see, but we rank on the exact number.
- #2 Imaginary Factory 77.1
- #3 The Harvey House (this place) 76.8
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A hotel a block from the University of Wisconsin campus that actually has something to say for itself, which is rarer in college-town lodging than it should be. The Graduate by Hilton has the feel of a place that knows its neighborhood without leaning on it too hard, cosmopolitan enough to hold its own against a school that punches well above the provincial. Selected by the Michelin Guide.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Hotels
- Michelin Guide Selected Hotels
A Tie
Two places have the exact same Score, so they share #4. We don't pick a winner we can't back up.
- #4 Graduate by Hilton Madison (this place) 68.205
- #4 The Edgewater 68.205
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The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Hotels
- Michelin Guide Selected Hotels
A Tie
Two places have the exact same Score, so they share #4. We don't pick a winner we can't back up.
- #4 Graduate by Hilton Madison 68.205
- #4 The Edgewater (this place) 68.205