What a Madison classic. How lucky we are to have such a beautiful place to spend time at the terrace, drink local Wisconsin beer, AND have a solid variety of grilled and fried food. This is standard tasty Wisconsin food and while it won't blow your socks off, it's definitely much appreciated to have the options while relaxing at the Terrace. Love a classic brat from the grill outside, cheese curds, or waffle fries from the Rathskeller inside! And paired with some Rath sauce? That's what a good time at the Terrace is made of. On another note, Memorial Union in general is a lovely space for students and the public to study, hang out, or just enjoy. Lots of open space, rooms, and options for activities. What can I say? This place just holds a special place in my heart. read more

Two words! Must Go Fun food, beautiful spot, Madison original Ice cream from Babcock hall, Good coffee shop Enchanting atmosphere read more

I love the terrace in the summer. I am an alumni. But... I just ordered a local tap beer (small) and was charged $8.70. That's outrageous. $5 would leave a smile on my face; $6, even $7 acceptable--but $8.70?! The price of the whole 6 pack?! Get real! read more

This is a great place to spend time by the lake while visiting state street and the UW campus. Grab a pitcher of beer with a variety of different food available and listen to some music. read more

Memorial Union - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Always fun to sit on the patio of the Union. As the world gets back to normal, hopefully, service and supply chains get back as well. This weekend, understaffed, long lines, out of stock, etc. all are simply part of today's world I guess. read more

Memorial Union - Fall day - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

one of the hot spots we go to when we visit Madison! Fun, food, and music! Easy parking.

The BEST place to grab a pitcher and sit by the water during the summer! Been coming here since I was a kid, and it's still amazing. Grabbing a pitcher from Der Rathskeller and then snagging a spot at the iconic table and chairs right by the water. It's literally perfection during Madison summers. Watching the boats go by and listening to live music, eating an ice cream cone from Babcock nearby. read more

Grrwt place to be in the summer Cant get more iconic than the union! Dont forget to pick up ice cream! read more

Whether you're a college student looking for a quick bite or a Midwest family looking for a reunion hang (cough cough), Memorial has got you covered. It's a Madison staple that covers the gambit from pizza to deep fried comfort food. Come here for some killer cheesecakes or even just a classic cone of Babcock ice cream. Me friends and I like to come here tanning during the summer on the docks. They also have great live music and performances in the evenings- just check their calendars! read more

If you didn't know better, you won't know you are at a university campus. The swimming area and the boats just made it seem you were not in Wisconson. It is a great place to sit by the terrace, drink beer, and people watch or dip your toes in the water. Due to its location, it brings in a large college crowd. If undergrads are not your type of people, then you are in the wrong part of town. read more

This is the place to be on a hot Saturday afternoon. Grab a beer, or a pitcher, from one of the bars and sit at a table or next to the water of Lake Mendota and people watch. You'll see college students, families, and every dog breed ever made. While there is plenty of seating, most weekends you'll find all of the ceiling taken. It is definitely a hotspot in the Madison area. They recently added a memorial garden that honors alumni, which is pretty neat to see. In the summer you can rent kayaks, boats and stand up paddle boards and take them out on the water. read more

We were wandering around the university area and looking for a nice place with a view of the water for lunch. We asked some local students about where to go and they recommended the Union. It was a great recommendation! There are so many options for food, including cafeteria style and a bratwurst stand! Obviously, we had to get the bratwurst. There was a bit of a line but it moved quickly. I was even more pleased when I saw they had my favorite cider, Angry Orchard, on tap! That was my first time seeing it on tap. It was a lovely, delicious meal with perfect views of the water and boats. We were all very happy. read more

See all

The terrace is a great place to go and relax any day of the week during the summer months (I was only able to visit from June to August) . I went there at least once a week to hang out with my friends and play pool, study, eat, or just drink a few beers. There were some weeks where I visited this place many more times than I'd like to admit! The atmosphere is great because you get a very large range of people there, ranging from little children to older individuals, who all just like having a good time. This place has a great view of the lake, and seating ranges from inside, on the terrace, or right on the water. The beer choices are great and the summer grilling is amazing, complete with corn and brats! They also have a Babcock ice cream stand outside, which is usually faster than waiting in line inside (but less flavor options--and by less I mean you still have usually around 8 choices...). Also, there is live music played especially on weekend nights that helps make this place much more relaxed! However, some of the music groups are great, while others maybe aren't as good. Usually there is a large crowd whenever you go, so if you don't like crowds, then this may not be the place for you. Overall, this is a place I will return to if I am ever in Madison again, and I'm going to miss the great atmosphere! read more

See all

I practically lived here as a student and have kept the Union in my regular rotation as a community member. There's not a lot left inside that looks anything like it did when I was a student, but the improvements are what I worked toward when I was. The most unique part of the Union is the beautiful Terrace, and that has maintained most of its charm with some great improvements like a stage with dedicated lighting and expanded seating. The new restaurant offerings are much more modern and reflect more fresh ingredients and come closer a true restaurant experience than in past years. Costs remain low, which is a boon to students on a budget and those downtown looking for an affordable lunch. The Rath/Stiftskellars are more or less as they were with some improved flow, but the dark beer hall vibe remains. The Play Circle is now a black box theater, and the offices on the upper floors have been renovated as well. There's tons of free programming aimed at students and Union members, but for the most part community members are welcomed as well, space permitting. The Union is the heart of campus - regardless of your educational path or place in the community, it's likely that you have at least one fond memory on Langdon Street. It's well worth a stop if you're visiting town, and a perfect place to build memories if you're a Madison resident. read more

Lots of options, and beautiful views. Workers are kind and willing to anwser questions

The charm is gone. It was once a great little gem, now its a large corporate run space. The remodel looks awful and then the school let those kids spray paint the place and didn't bother to catch them. Overpriced and bad. read more

Memorial Union is a cool spot within UW Madison campus that sits right along Lake Mendota. Inside of building appears to be relatively new / renovated and several food establishments are setup both inside of the building and outside on the terrace. All in all it seems to be the spot to chill, people watch, share a pitcher of beer, and soak in the summer rays along the lake. Even though this one sits on campus, the crowd is pretty mixed. Everyone from college students, to older alumni, locals, and plenty of kids as well. If you're not feeling the outside seating area and stage, there's plenty of indoor seating as well. If you find yourself exploring UW Madison campus, I would definitely make a pit stop at the Memorial Union. That's all I got on this one. 'Til next time, cheers! 186/365 read more

Great spot with excellent views and a laid back feeling. Events going on pretty regularly. Nice beer selection and decent pricing too. No dogs allowed anywhere on the patio where beer is allowed. read more

Memorial Union - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The terrace is the absolute must go place in Madison. It is a hub for food, drink, arts, culture, and community. On a weekend night, it will give you a perfect picture of what Madison is all about. read more

Such a cool hangout spot after work but SUPER busy! This is the it spot for Friday nights it looks like. My first time going, parking is a disaster after 5pm so if you come late, the lots are probably going to be full. Cheap parking surprisingly, we parked for about an hour and paid $2. The terrace was clean and full of people, great music, wine, beer, food, water...all good things! Will definitely need to revisit and plan to stay longer! The vibes are it. read more

This place is five star all day long for the view alone. It was recommended by a person from Wisconsin and we are glad we checked it out. My wife got a coffee and I a beer and we just sat here and relaxed and enjoyed the scenery. We even met a couple from Illinois who let us drink some of their beer. Very cool place. read more

Memorial Union - The Terrace - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

This place makes me a proud Badger. Especially in the summatime. It's the best lounging out on the terrace on a sunny day, watching as the rays make Lake Mendota all sparkly. The other seasons are beautiful just the same because the lake remains year-round, thank goodness. Great study space too. It gets all cozy when the leaves and snow get to fallin, in a way that makes you want to spend the night and never leave... Stay gold Memorial. Stay gold. read more

See all

Best hangout spot in Madison, sunsets, views are amazing! Props to UW for having the best Union in the land :)! They used to have better bands, but we've caught a couple good ones recently. I'd love to have bigger acts come to the stage again! It's such an awesome stage to see shows. read more

Visited this wonderful place while on a weekend trip to Madison, and saw one of the most stunning sunsets I've seen in a while. It does get chilly, even in the spring, so do carry a sweater! My only complaint is that if it isn't summer, there are no chairs or tables, so it's pretty much just a slab of concrete near the lake. There isn't a lot of outdoor lighting either. We got a sundae from Babcock Dairy and plopped ourselves down to witness the aforementioned magnificent sunset. I'd definitely come back here in the summer! read more

See all

What's not to love about this place? Seeing Mendota, enjoying the sunset, getting together with friends, having a cheap yet romantic date with your loved one are among other things you could do here. For those enjoying beer and some burgers, the restaurant serves them well. I love Memorial Union and I heart UW-Madison. Glad I chose this fab school! read more

My favorite place to relax, take in the atmosphere, soak in the sun, and have a drink. Located on UW Madison campus but you will find all age ranges enjoying the day. If it's warm and sunny, you will probably have a hard time finding a table! read more

See all

Anytime I'm back in Madtown I come here! Reminds me of home and is gorgeous. I always have a great time - whether it was in high school or now as someone in my mid twenties post college. One of the best places in one of the best cities. read more

See all

Fantastic food and location. Very friendly staff and accurate and responsive with my order. They also offered no-contact services which was quite nice! Thank you and we will be back soon! read more

I've lived in the Madison area for quite some time now and have never managed to get down to the Union. Getting around downtown sucks, so that's a deterrant. But a friend was in town and we were going to meet there for some drinks and conversation. The setting is great - lakefront seating, cold beer... how can you beat that? Apparently with loud cajun polka music? I found that strange. Not my cup of tea, but I get it. We sat too close to the music stage (all we could find), so we had a hard time talking - that's our fault, not the Union's. The lines to get drinks was pretty long, but it was a beautiful afternoon, so everyone wanted to enjoy a cold one. They did have a beer trailer with a smaller selection (and no waiting), but it was missing my buddy's drink of choice, so I was banished to the longer lines. Ah well. While in line, I did notice the food looked really good - they had peppercorn beef kabobs as the special, and they looked (and smelled) amazing. The beer selection was alright - severeal local brews and some commond bigger names. All in all it was a nice experience. I don't need the live music or tons of people (hard to find seats/tables), but I'm sure that has something to do with my timing. No worries, Union, I'll be back! read more

Favorite place in Madison. Whether lounging or recreating always a good time to be had. Drinks from the Rathskeller by the lake...yes please. read more

The perfect place to relax and enjoy some of the best life has to offer. I found a couple negative reviews a bit amusing. If you don't like the occasional crowd and happen not to like the genre of music that happens to be playing on the stage, then obviously the Terrace is not the place for you in the evening. For anyone without a stick up his or her ass, this is a great location to grab a quick meal at lunchtime - the burgers, brats, and chicken sandwiches are inexpensive and better than what you can get inside the building. While you're at it, help yourself to one of the beers they have on tap or a delicious pink lemonade. I like to just grab a bite, then hang out all afternoon getting some work done on my laptop. The people-watching is about as good as you'll find in Madison during the summer. Sometimes I'll take a walk out onto the swimming pier and jump in for a little while. The lifeguards and regulars are friendly. Once the sun sets, the bands start playing, and usually there is something worth listening to. On Mondays, they even have movies that play up on the stage for free. These are usually classics like Caddyshack or something more family-friendly. read more

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Such a wonderful view to soak in as you sit on the deck overlooking the lake eating a brat, sipping a latte or licking an ice cream We've had all three I might add plus beer. Don't forget the beer. read more

One of the best places to relax and take in views in Madison. Beer, brats, and ice cream are available. Lines can be long for food and drink at times but it's well worth the wait. read more

Is there anything better than watching the sunset over Lake Mendota while sitting out on the Terrace with a nice cold beer in your hand? Nope! A summer in Madison is not complete until a visit is paid here. read more

Super fun experience. I had an alumni friend bring us out here late one night after a business dinner and it was fun to get beers in the student union and sit by the lake side and just hang with all the students. I am not old by any means, but there is just something to be said about hanging out a college campus from time to time that is exciting and fun to be a apart of. Also there is something about the chairs out there that are super unique to University of Wisconsin that they were telling me about, and how people try and steal them all the time. They even go so far as throwing them in the lake and then driving by late at night to throw them in a truck and drive away......haha. Oh those college days. read more

I feel like i have to make it clear and obvious that I am not from Madison and I am not a UW student... With that being said, I do like this place. It is awesome that I can be outside, near the water and drinking beer. The only issue is that it gets so crowded and loud. No, I am not old. It is just that when I go to a place like this, it is usually to socialize with my friends and that is hard to do when I am trying to YELL over all the other undergrads... I also get lost in the whole building. That could actually be a positive because there is so much personality in the different rooms. I did visit on a Saturday morning around 9 and there was nobody at all! I got some studying done! Then everyone started showing up by 10. And ordering beers already...haha. *And it has Peets. I love Peets coffee. It would be cool to see a local coffee place there though since the whole atmosphere is about Madison. Either way, I would not hate to go here. read more

Memorial Union - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Love the beautiful outdoor water area

It's perfect place to hang out in summer time at sunset but if you are not under attack by mosquitoes:) read more

Memorial Union - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Warning, I only went once, and this is only for the Terrace at night. But hands down the worst rap music and worst IPA beer ever. Went in the evening and was blessed to have actually found a free parking spot right across the street. I was very impressed with how many people come here, quite the scene, but some awful guy was rapping on the stage, and swear I could have done a better job. EVERYONE in our large group hated it. Someone got a pitcher a low end hoppy beer, and it was like drinking hop tea with a crateful of molasses, even starving college students like good beer. read more

The best summer spot. Beautiful views and delicious sangria!