How to Plan A Last-Minute Vacation to Wauwatosa

Discover Wauwatosa

Whether you’re feeling super spontaneous or just itching to get out of your daily routine, planning that last-minute getaway is the perfect way to shake things up this summer. Do yourself a favor and book that last-minute vacation to Wauwatosa with these simple steps for some much-deserved TLC.

Bed made up with white sheets and mauve bedboard with black wall background at Renaissance Milwaukee West

Step 1: Book Your Stay

In Wauwatosa, there are numerous hotels that offer affordable lodging, friendly people, and great food — all at a relaxing, comforting pace.

Plus, you can usually grab yourself a last-minute deal during your travels. Several Tosa-area hotels are currently offering discounted room rates and packages so you can rest easy knowing that you received an exceptional last-minute deal.

Tosa Village with Farmer's Market sign and people walking around

Step 2: Check Fun Events to Attend in Wauwatosa

Now that you’ve booked your trip, exciting things are on the horizon. We recommend checking out our events page to see what’s happening in our charming city during your upcoming visit. Sometimes during last minute travels memories are made with these amazing events.

With everything from live music at Tosa Tonight (each Wednesday through August 17th) to countless vendors and fresh produce at Tosa Farmer’s Market (Saturdays in The Village through October), our city is always buzzing with activity. Plus, enjoy quality family time outdoors and watch Bombshell Theatre Co. perform at Hart Park Rotary Pavillion from June 24th to July 2

Step 3: Fill Your Itinerary With Last Minute Fun

Fill in the rest of your Tosa itinerary with things to do and places to go throughout the remainder of your visit, including where to grab a cold one, where to satisfy just about any craving, and where to play football bowling (yes, you read that right!).

Three people sitting in a booth at Draft & Vessel in Wauwatosa

Last Minute Travel Drinks

Start each day of your last minute trip taste-testing your way through Tosa’s coffee shops. From Colectivo Coffee in 68th & Wells to Colectivo Coffee in MidTown, enjoy a pick-me-up and tasty pastries indoors or on their outdoor patio at both locations. We’re also so fortunate to have Anodyne Coffee Roasting Company and Stone Creek Coffee — both crowd-pleasers in Tosa Village. Plus, check out Vendetta Coffee Bar and Café Blue — two coffee shops that you can only find here in our charming city.

If you’re searching for a cold beer on a hot Wisconsin day, there are endless Wauwatosa bars and breweries to choose from. Located in The Mayfair Collection, stop into Good City Brewing for a bold-flavored brew any time of day, or Ray’s Growler Gallery for a hidden gem in MidTown Tosa. Check out East Tosa’s cabin-themed bar, Camp Bar, as well as The Fermentorium Barrel House, Vennture Brewing, and Stock House Brewing Co. Venturing through Tosa Village? Don’t miss Draft & Vessel, Big Head Brewing Co., and The Landing at Hoyt Park.

Craving a craft cocktail instead? East Tosa’s diverse beverage (and food!) scene is a great place to start with Hawaiian and Caribbean-inspired tiki bar Wauwatiki and low-key neighborhood tavern Drunken Cobra. Local restaurants in Tosa Village also always have something exciting being shaken up at the bar, including Lucky Joe’s, Firefly Tosa, and Buckatabon.

Where to Eat on a Last Minute Vacation

One of our absolute favorite parts of planning any trip is deciding where to find the best eats in the city. And for last minute getaways, it’s still our favorite! While there are too many mouth-watering dishes and bites from our local restaurants, bars, and bakeries to name, we have rounded up a few ideas to get you started.

Start your morning off with breakfast or brunch at Golden Nest Pancakes in The Mayfair Collection or Ally’s Powerhouse Café just south of the Mayfair District. Then, head over to BelAir Cantina for an impressive taco selection or Kin by Rice & Roll for authentic and modern Asian cuisine. When you’re ready for dinner, check out Ca’Lucchenzo, an authentic wine and pasta joint, or BB’s on North, a casual, yet elevated pizza spot. Last, but certainly not least, Le Rêve Patisserie & Cafe is a must for French pastries and much more.

Exterior of Kneeland Walker House in Wauwatosa surrounded by greenery

What to Do on Your Last Minute Trip

Another great way to stack your last-minute vacation with exciting things to do is by finding activities that you can’t experience anywhere else.

In Wauwatosa, 1st & Bowl fuses sports and games for the ultimate indoor experience: football bowling. Get active outdoors with Tosa Pool at Hoyt Park — the perfect spot to cool off in the summer (with or without the kids!).

Get in touch with your creative side with Creative Fire Pottery or make a souvenir to bring home with you at Grey House. Dig into Tosa’s history with a Kneeland-Walker House Tour. This historic landmark is one of Tosa’s largest remaining residential lots and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Outfits on display behind a window at Shop Privy in Wauwatosa

Step 4: You’re Heading to Tosa! – What to Pack for a Last Minute Trip

Once you have your trip all mapped out, it’s time to pack your bags and get on the road for your last minute getaway! ! Don’t worry if you forget your favorite pair of walking shoes or the perfect dinner dress — Wauwatosa’s small, local businesses and shopping destinations have you covered.

Stop in to Shop Privy, Salamander, and Hyde Park MKE for small, women-owned businesses that offer women’s clothes and accessories. Plus, Mayfair Mall features more than 160 retailers for shopping, dining, and entertainment, and The Mayfair Collection offers 400,000 square feet of outdoor shopping.

Learn more about where to stay, where to eat, and things to do while you’re here in Wauwatosa.