By Lenah Helmke | Pictured: Butterbird, Photography by Nicole Hansen Photography
The new year is here, and there are plenty of new things to try and do in Madison. We’ve compiled 26 stellar recommendations that’ll spice up your year, including trying dining spots you may have never frequented and fun ways to get active.
Dine Somewhere New
- Go back in time at Monty’s Blue Plate Diner. montysblueplatediner.com
- Buy a coffee for a friend or neighbor at Johnson Public House. jph4ever.com
- Check out Hank’s Burgers & Fish Fry, a delicious hole-in-the-wall joint. hanksmadison.com/home
- Enjoy a book and a coffee at Leopold’s Books Bar Caffé. leopoldsmadison.com
- Craving a fried chicken sandwich? Look no further than Butterbird on Regent Street. butterbird.com
- Treat yourself to a night out at Tempest Oyster Bar for delicious seafood and drinks. tempestoysterbar.com
- Try Hutong and let your taste buds be transported to Beijing. hutongmadison.com
- Try cuisine at Fairchild by two James Beard award-winning chefs: Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger. Both were named Best Chef: Midwest at the James Beard Awards in 2023. fairchildrestaurant.com
- Venture to Bar Corallini, inspired by Torre del Greco, Italy, on the east side and enjoy hand-crafted pasta and pizza. barcorallini.com
- Check out Stella’s Bakery’s new location on Regent Street. stellasofmadison.com
Move in a New Way
- Rent a bike from Machinery Row Bicycles and explore miles of paths across Dane County. machineryrowbicycles.com
- Start climbing at Greater Heights Climbing in Fitchburg. Join a class, host an event or show up — no reservation needed. ghclimbing.com
- Get outside and learn to Nordic ski with the Madison Nordic Ski Club. madnorski.org
- Perennial Yoga offers more than yoga, including sound baths, wisdom talks and breathwork classes. perennial-yoga.com
- If skiing is too much, learn to snowshoe at the Wisconsin Union. tinyurl.com/mpkpw7va
- Is 2026 the year you run your first half marathon? Sign up and start training today. runmadtown.com
Create Something New
- Are you seeing the viral triangle scarf and want to knit one from your own home? Start at The Sow’s Ear and pick out your perfect yarn. Knitting classes are offered here as well. thesowsearwi.com
- Learn to quilt at The Duke’s Stash in New Glarus. thedukestash.com
- Make your dream coffee mug at Fired Up Pottery. fireduppottery.com
- Host a private event or attend a cooking class at Frostwood Farms. frostwoodfarms.com
- Need a creative break from your day job? Sign up for an art class at Monroe Street Arts Center. monroestreetarts.org
Explore Somewhere New
- Give pickleball a try at Dill Dinkers, a new pickleball venue in Monona. locations.dilldinkers.com/us/wi/madison/tradewinds-parkway
- Day-trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum to view world-class artwork. mam.org
- Looking for a new date night spot? Check out the Stoughton Opera House for a charming night out. stoughtonoperahouse.com
- Explore Mirror Lake State Park, a beautiful outdoor escape about an hour or so outside of Madison. dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/mirrorlake
- Start a new trivia night routine at Working Draft Beer every Wednesday night. tinyurl.com/34pppwm5
