Two Thumb's Up for Milwaukee: Gilded Age meets Happy Days

The Bronze Fonz, Two Thumb's up to Milwaukee's RiverWalk and more!

Last week, en route to a very special reception venue, we made our first-ever stop in Milwaukee—and like its fictional hometown king of cool, we gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up. As Wisconsin’s largest city, Milwaukee offers sweeping views of Lake Michigan and a potpourri of attractions, from a life-sized bronze statue of Henry Winkler to a luxurious afternoon tea atop a Gilded Age hotel.

Though the city may be better known for another beverage (and its baseball team, the Brewers, who were battling the Dodgers for the National League Championship during our visit), we found a most elegant spot for tea 23 floors above the city at the historic Pfister Hotel.

Pfister Hotel's afternoon tea spot, twenty-three floors up with sweeping views of Lake Michigan

We first heard about the Pfister from our best-tea friend Pam B., who stayed there with her husband Quint during a Cranbrook history tour that included visits to Frank Lloyd Wright homes. Back then, I did a little research and discovered the hotel offered afternoon tea on its top floor—and, bring the smelling salts—each table is assigned its own tea butler. These are the things that fill the dreams of afternoon tea enthusiasts.

While most of our Milwaukee visit was filled with pre-reception prep, my arm candy/good sport/husband Chris and I carved out time to seek out two treasures: the Pfister Hotel and the Bronze Fonz.

Pfister Hotel was built in 1893, with updates in 1962.

☕ A Gilded Age Gem On a seasonably warm and sunny morning, we made the short journey from our mid-century rewards-points hotel to Milwaukee’s Gilded Age jewel. Built in 1893 by Guido Pfister and his son Charles, the Pfister Hotel welcomed us with a grand lobby adorned with a muraled ceiling, ornate chandeliers, and the most hospitable concierge, Briana.

When we asked for a quick peek at the tea room, Briana didn’t just point us in the right direction—she personally escorted us to the top floor. There, we met Julie, the tea director, who greeted us with the same warmth and passion. She showed us her prep room, complete with brand-new teapots and a tea trolley stocked with Rishi Tea loose leaf blends.

Fun fact: Rishi Tea is based in Milwaukee (future blog story alert). Though we didn’t have time for the full afternoon tea experience, we did purchase a pack of the hotel’s signature Rishi blend and vowed to return.

RiverWalk in downtown Milwaukee, a scenic pathway through the city and home to Bronze Fonz.

🕺 From Gilded Age to Happy Days On our way back to our non-19th-century hotel, we stopped along Milwaukee’s famed RiverWalk to visit one more iconic attraction: the Bronze Fonz.

In a cozy corner along the river, a statue of Henry Winkler’s lovable rebel Arthur Fonzarelli invites visitors to cozy up and share a “thumbs up” with the Happy Days breakout star. Standing 5'6"—Winkler’s actual height—the statue was commissioned by Visit Milwaukee, a nonprofit promoting tourism and business. They raised $85,000 to bring the monument to life.

Not everyone was thrilled. Local gallery owner Mike Brenner objected so strongly that he threatened to close his studio if “that stupid Fonzie sculpture” was erected. The Bronze Fonz won out. It was unveiled in August 2008 with many Happy Days cast members in attendance, including Winkler himself, who called the statue “unbelievable.”

As for Brenner? He closed his gallery months before the unveiling and pivoted to opening a Milwaukee microbrewery. Cynics (myself included) might suggest this was a savvy move to draw attention to his new venture.

🎭 Trivia Tidbit One of Fonzie’s girlfriends on Happy Days, played by actress Linda Purl, was named Ashley Pfister. Coincidence? Maybe. Delightful? Absolutely.

🌆 Final Thoughts We thoroughly enjoyed our short-but-sweet stop in Milwaukee. Whether you're taking in a Great Lake view, sipping tea in a grand hotel, or jumping the shark along the river, we give two thumbs up to this city rich in history, Gilded Age grandeur, and plenty of experiences to make all your visiting days happy.

We'll be back for more happy days with Pfister and Fonz