The Iron Horse Hotel

I stayed at the resort this weekend, as well as dined in their own pub. Both encounters were emblematic. I have stayed in boutique hotels around the U.S., and this is up there with the best of them. The décor and the service is special, and the feeling is intelligent without teetering into corny (the target markets are business travelers and Harley riders). I ‘d recommend a stay in this luxury resort to anyone.

One of the best hotels that I have ever stayed at! My husband and I went for a little weekend getaway. The staff is amazing and so friendly! We were greeted with some awesome drinks when we checked in too! The room was nice and clean and the bed was very comfortable. My husband and I sat out on the patio on our last night and it was very relaxing! They have fires going and great music to listen to! We also took the Harley to Milwaukee and they had awesome bike parking and even a bike wash station! This is truly an amazing hotel and they didn’t miss anything with the décor and the staff is awesome! We will be coming back!

We stayed here for a conference in April and this hotel was fabulous. From the front desk staff, to the incredible décor, to the welcome drink, and especially to my perfect room, I loved loved loved staying here. I think I hit the mother load with the room I received, because it was more spacious — almost apartment like — than my colleagues. I could have easily moved in there for a few weeks. Pics attached. :)
Since it was a work conference, I don’t know how pricey the rooms were, but will definitely consider staying here the next time we’re in MKE!

They didn’t cut a single corner with décor quality and they have gone above and beyond to make my stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible while battling the flu.

You get what you pay for. This is not an inexpensive hotel, but it is worth the money. This was the best service I have received in a hotel. Checking in took about one minute, the room was beautiful and spotless, and the bed and shower were amazing. All of the amenities are very nice and staff were extremely helpful. Wonderful stay

There was VERY GOOD and VERY BAD.
5+ stars for Front Desk and Valet. 1 star for bartenders!
The Good: I stayed here for work and met a couple co-​workers there for drinks but they stayed at another hotel. Like everyone else says the rooms and hotel is very well decorated and laid out. Gorgeous place and it has a very comfortable feel. So then it all comes down to customer service. I have traveled internationally for a living for the past 30 years and it takes a lot to impress me. This was my first time to the hotel and upon arrival the hotel Valet and ladies at the front desk were fantastic. Service and friendliness above and beyond excellent. Fun loving, smiling and making sure I was greeted like I was special. Again I was taken back how good the service was. Throughout the rest of my stay the ladies at the front desk and in the restaurant were awesome, over the top nice and friendly. Then… I went to the bar!
The BAD: The bartenders were the complete opposite of the front desk and Valet staff and ruined it for me. First off for some reason it was all male bartenders whereas the front desk and restaurant was all females. Not sure why this was? Maybe they do have female bartenders but not on the two days I stayed there. I read other reviews about the bad bar service and all are correct. Bar was not too crowded and there were 2 – 3 bartenders at all times but we were invisible. Bartenders were more interested in talking with each other, the waitresses and watching the sports on the TV. Not very welcoming what so ever. An older couple next to us and he told the bartender it was his wife’s birthday and they were celebrating. Bartender looked at her ID, said nothing and gave no free drink! In fact he seemed irritated they were trying to score a free drink. We asked about drink specials which he told us were local WI beers and spirits. When pressed he didn’t really know much about the local spirits. After making our drinks we tried talking to our bartender and he clearly was not interested. Then he was right in front of us making drinks and we asked for a couple of shots. He made a grunt sound as he was watching sports on the TV but never really heard us because we had to ask again in 10 minutes. We watched both bartenders dump out a couple of drinks because they made them wrong because they were watching the TV. Entitled young bartenders serving a mainly older professionals and bikers is a mis-​match.
The bar had waitresses but since we sat at the bar I cannot comment on their service. They need to fire the bar manager and hire anyone of the girls at the front desk to train the bartenders on customer service. At 5pm in the afternoon turn off ESPN so the bartenders can’t just watch what’s happening with their March Madness Brackets and can get some drinks made.
Only other bad was the hotel room smelled like cigarettes badly but I think this used to be a smoking hotel. Need to clean the carpets, drapes and air filters but I lived with it.
Summary: I was so impressed by the front desk staff i will give this place another chance but the bar staff needs a talking to.

The Good: Our room was spacious and comfortable– under normal circumstances it would have had a great view of downtown MKE but the view from our room was partially blocked by nearby construction during our stay. Our room had a great workspace/​desk with a comfortable chair. It seemed as if most everything in the room was arranged logically and things that were needed fell easily to hand. There is coffee service in the lobby area during the day and the lobby is exceptionally well appointed with comfortable chairs, tables and nicely decorated. Absolutely everyone on the staff that I came in contact with were friendly and seemed to have genuine interest that our stay would be a good experience. I always enjoy a nice fluffy hotel robe– and the ones in our room at the Iron Horse Hotel were very plush and comfortable. It may be a small thing but I felt that the supplied towels were a step up from what is usually found in hotels also. Our room was quiet and we had a restful sleep– we had no problems with noise from above rooms or the hallways as some reviewers mentioned. The provided no-​password wireless internet seemed fine and reliable for my needs. Provided was in-​room hot beverage service via Keurig single cup brewer. K-​cups provided were Paul Newman’s Organic coffee in regular and decaf in addition to green tea. The usual add-​ins were nearby for use. I particularly appreciated that the hotel provided «lids» for the coffee go-​cups. A helpful detail seldom seen in my experience. The hotel is in easy walking distance to nearby attractions such as Great Lakes Distillery, Caroline’s Blues Club, Soup Brothers, Ginger Tapas Bar, and other Walker’s Point attractions. Although we didn’t stop in– «The Yard» bar inside the hotel seemed to be popular and had a vibrant «scene» forming around 4 PM even in the middle of the week. The nice thing about «The Yard» is that you are welcome to take your beverage and cozy up in a nearby room with overstuffed couches, chairs and a fireplace! In summary– our room was comfortable, the staff helpful and polite and the facilities, such as the hotel restaurant, were very good to excellent. Tip: There is a Bublr bike sharing kiosk on the other side of the traffic circle, probably a block away.
The Meh: Parking your car near the hotel might be a challenge; The hotel provides valet parking at rates in keeping with the upscale nature of the hotel (pricey). There is also nearby covered metered parking at $ 1.50 an hour. Some street parking is possible but beware of the restrictions which include «alternate side parking» on odd/​even numbered days (the kicker to this is the nearby buildings do not appear to be labelled with their street address «number» so how does one determine odd and even??) We fell victim to a $ 20 overnight parking violation due to not being informed about the ordinance (there are no signs posted informing drivers of the parking restrictions). This may seem nit picky to some readers but I was a bit surprised that the hotel elevators are absolutely silent– not even a small «ding» when the doors open. It only takes one time of having the elevator to arrive, open its doors, and then leave without you before the drill is understood. Our room had an «honor bar» with beverages, snacks and other interesting things that didn’t fall into either category (IE: «Temptation Lovers Kit»???). Usually this would be a good thing, but I felt that the prices asked were rather exorbitant. I don’t know for certain but I would guess that the prices reflect a 300% markup from cost on average.
The Bad: We left our visit to the Iron Horse Hotel refreshed and relaxed as if we had a staycation at a spa rather than a business trip. Why is this bad? Because as soon as we left we were making plans for our next visit which might be some months in the future. Too long of a wait, and we will miss the Iron Horse Hotel until then.

We had the pleasure of celebrating our 34^th anniversary by staying at the Iron Horse Hotel, which we’ve done a few times prior. Our experience was, yet again, excellent. The receptionist was genuinely pleasant and engaging. She actually heard us talk about our anniversary and then surprised us with coupons for two cocktails tucked inside two Iron Horse logo glasses as gifts. Our evening out was special, then we returned and had a few cocktails at the bar with two of our best friends. They had such a great time as well that they, too, ended up staying at the Iron Horse. There’s something about that place that makes us feel special and on a vacation far from home (even though we live in Oconomowoc).
This place has been highly recommended by us to others since it opened and will continue to get our rave reviews.

I LOVE the Iron Horse and stay here every time I travel to Milwaukee for work. The staff super friendly and helpful. The décor is warm, well done and filled with things to discover. Rooms are large, very clean and stocked full of everything your heart could desire while away from home.
They have a great hotel bar that serves up an incredible selection of local brew, wine and tasty crafted cocktails. Not to mention the food both small plates to snack on and full entrees.
If I could give the Iron Horse more then 5 stars I would!

I’ll start with the very few negatives since I can only think of two. It’s very easy to hear all hallway noise from the guest rooms, which is no bueno when you’re trying to sleep soundly and the wedding parties come loudly down the halls at 2am. Also, you cannot self park and have to take advantage of the $ 30 a day valet, but the valet staff is so friendly and you can go in and out as many times as you need.
BUT, if I’m ever back in Milwaukee, this is where I’d stay! I came here for a girls night with my best friend, and we loved it. The positives are too many to count:
— delicious cocktails served to you as you check in
— the rooms are wonderfully bright during the day with the shades open, and heavenly dark when you close them at night.
— rooms are big, clean, elegant, and trendy
— the bathroom and shower were gorgeous! Bright natural light, swanky walk in shower, and CO bigelow bath products
— the hotel bar is amazing. Delicious cocktails, and the vibe is pure awesomeness.
Overall, this little establishment rocks and I’d stay again in a heartbeat!

Wife booked us a night here. The service starys as soon as you pull in front of the Hotel. Valet who took my Jeep was so good at what he does, Smiling the whole time extremly polite. Put our bags on a cart and took them to our room. At check in. The young lady made us feel at home. Even gave us a cocktail at check in. Wife booked on line. She got an email the day before to welcome us. My wife wanted a early check in. She got an email when our room was ready. Why cool. The Hotel is well designed. Check out some of the pictures of the rooms folks are posting. This place is amazing. We wete thier to celebrate my wifes birthday. She found a card in the room from the young lady who checked us in wishing her a happy birthday and a card for a free cocktail at the hotel bar. Now for the Mixologist, yes Mixologist these folks are not bar tenders. Everything was made from scratch, no bottled mixes everthing was fresh and made right in front of
it pricy yes but if you want to be pampered and have a once in a life time experience. Try The Iron Horse Hotel.

The Iron Horse is one of the two hotel recommendations I give to out-​of-​towners who are looking to stay at a hotel while in MKE — the other is the Brewhouse Inn & Suites.
If $$$ is no object, then the Iron Horse is where it’s at. Off-​peak season prices aren’t too bad, but if you want to stay during peak-​festival season/​summertime expect to shell out a bit. This boutique-​y hotel is warm and welcoming AND cooler than the other side of the pillow, all at the same time.
As you might be able to ascertain from the name, the theme here is motorcycle-​industrial chic. Situated in an old warehouse, the Iron Horse overlooks the MKE skyline from the other side of the river. The view can’t be beat.
While I’ve not stayed at the IH, I have spent a good amount of time in their bar, yard, and library… I’ve also attended a handful of special events at the Horse.
Smyth, their restaurant, is pretty great. It seems to experience high chef turnover rates, but they also routinely seek out talented chefs, so there’s that. The bar is awesome (killer cocktails!) and the yard is a great place to max and relax outside during the warmer months.
Of no real importance but interesting nonetheless: The whole place kind of smells like CK one to me (remember CK one, you guys?)

I love this place. I started going there when I lived in Chicago for two main reasons, it is motorcycle friendly and dog friendly. But kept coming back because it is absolutely cool, great service, in an up and coming part of town in the south side of Milwaukee, near the Harley meuseum, with lots of cool restaurants and brunch places nearby. The restaurant Smyth on site is a great choice — see my Unilocal review –and the bar is manned by bartenders who know how to mix a drink (great Manhattans). The Yard is awesome during the summer, and by now (October) the outdoor bar is closed but you can bring your drinks there and hang out with a coat if it’s nippy, and this past weekend they had one of those gas heaters on.

I’m assuming this is the nicest hotel in Milwaukee, I’ve only stayed in a few in town, but it is awesome. Great service, nice finishes in the room, cool bar, restaurant and patio. It has a hipster vibe but it has the quality of the best boutique hotels. Highly recommend, it’s the highest price you’ll find in Milwaukee, but you get what you pay for!

I almost felt not cool enough to stay here… almost.
Fantastic, hip hotel to stay at right south of downtown Milwaukee! This is right near the Harley Davidson museum if that’s your thing and can easily walk or Über to downtown. Front desk staff was really friendly, restaurant staff at Smyth and the bar right off to the side was too hipster and gave off the «I’m better than you aura». Smyth has some of the best cheese curds I’ve ever had not to mention a banging brunch! If that’s not your thing there’s a little hole in the wall Mexican place across the street along with Great Lakes Distillery.
Rooms were awesome as well, very trendy with an exposed brick wall and comfy beds. I loved the bathroom with the amazing shower head (we did the Color Run when we were in town so this was essential) and the lavender peppermint body products were delightful. Pup friendly too! They write your dogs name on a chalk board near the elevators along with a bowl of water and treats which I thought was an adorable touch. All in all, one of the nicest hotels I’ve been in but the restaurant staff really needs to lay off the attitude.

I’ve never taken advantage of all the amenities a hotel has to offer. Sometimes the restaurant might be meh-​looking, or the bar overcrowded with suits. The spa is probably overpriced and room service falling into the same category.
But at the Iron Horse, it all worked. And it was nearly perfect.
I booked a surprise weekend getaway for my wife’s 31^st birthday at the Iron Horse. I had called ahead and asked for champagne to be delivered when we arrived and booked a couples Time Out massage for the following morning at 10 a.m.
After valet took care of our car, we stepped in and were warmly greeted with a welcome cocktail. Don’t mind if I do. We then whisked ourselves up to our room, which was so modern and rustic and fantastic, and sat for five minutes soaking it all in before a knock on the door revealed a chilled bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Yes.
I won’t go into step-​by-​step details of our stay, but the breakdown is as follows:
Pros:
— Superb property. Love the lounge (where you can chill, eat, drink or do all three.) Branded was a solid lunch/​bar spot that offered food and drink at all hours it seemed. Smyth’s Easter Brunch was out of this world!
— Spa treatment. Those ladies knew how to work it. We were supremely satisfied with our time being massaged (full body plus extra time on our hands and feet).
— Welcome. Friendly faces, cocktail and quick check-​in.
— Walking distance to Walker’s Point and MKE Boozery.
(Kinda) Cons:
— The «rain» shower in our room was more like a mist shower and it was impossible to actually bathe in. This needs to be fixed. There is a handheld option, but it’s not ideal.
— The spa room is rightnextto the fitness room, so while we received our Time Out massages, we heard people going in and out of the door, kettle balls being dropped, jump ropes clicking the floor. It was distracting, to say the least.
— $ 30/​day valet is steep. Especially when I could see my car in the parking lot about 25 yards from the front door.
— Our house keeper didn’t replace the wine glasses we used, didn’t put more toiletries out (really wanted the makeup removing cloths to use at night!) and left three towels (instead of four) for us. Strange.
But, overall, this entire space is just absolutely fantastic and within walking distance to good food and even better beer. Thank you for everything, Iron Horse!

They allow dogs but not service dogs. I brought my service dog into the bar and was quickly escorted out by the manager. Embarrassing.
We had been there several times before and had seen several other dogs there in recent years. I inquired and the manager said it has always been the rule. I didn’t want to make a scene but he was mistaken. My dog is a service dog. I take him everywhere including McDonalds, Starbucks just to name a couple restaurants.
Otherwise we had a pleasant time. Our waiter was fantastic!

I always forget that this place has actual food-that’s pretty good! While dinner is super expensive, lunch is reasonable. I went today with three colleagues and we managed to stay below our per diem (38.00 for 3 of us).
I had the poutine, made with clock shadow creamery cheese curds. Fantastic and not too heavy. My friends had the branded burger and the chicken sandwich and both raved-​we sent three totally clean plates back to the kitchen. We didn’t have any drinks, but the menu looked extensive and interesting. Service was a little bit slow, but wasn’t terrible, although we had to hunt someone down to bring extra ketchup. This is possibly because we ate in the bar instead of the dining room. Friendly and polite, though, whenever he did come to check on us. We’ll be back!

Short review, because this is simply the best hotel in Milwaukee. Awesome room. Beautiful décor. Great bathroom. Awesome staff. Great bar… And the elevators don’t even f@$k with my vertigo!!! It’s damn pricey, but holy moly what a great hotel!

This place continues to blow me away with the level of service that I receive. Oh sure. I’m a returning guest and they can probably see that in their computer system. But so can every other hotel I stay in and I rarely get the level of service that the Iron Horse provides.
The front desk staff is on their game. . helping me to switch rooms at the last minute to accomodate the bed needs that we have, getting my luggage to the room while I sit out and enjoy a beverage at The Yard always a delight, and just being totally accomodating.
On this visit, the girls and I met Juve, hotel driver extrodinaire and all around ambassador to the Iron Horse. Seriously, we never did figure out what his title is but this guy took great care of us from the moment he met us. From taking us where we needed to go in the hotel car, to buying us our first round of Bloody Mary’s to making sure we wanted to come back to the Iron Horse, Juve is the guy!
And finally– while I will write a second review for The Yard– that has to be one of the best outdoor patios anywhere! And I love that the staff recognizes us no matter how long it’s been between visits. Thanks Joe and Nick for always making us feel welcome!
Sometimes I wished I still lived in Milwaukee. For if I did, I know where I’d spend my time. But now that I don’t live here, I acually get to stay at this special hotel!