
The Pfister Hotel
Best for travelers who want a grand, full-service downtown hotel with large event spaces, a dedicated spa, and a high-floor indoor pool with lake views.
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The Pfister Hotel is a historic 1893 Victorian-era landmark in downtown Milwaukee with large, classic rooms, several dining venues, a 23rd-floor pool and a full-service spa. Hotel Metro, Autograph Collection is a smaller Art Deco–style boutique Autograph Collection hotel in the same downtown neighborhood that appeals to travelers who want intimate, design-forward lodging and a rooftop terrace.
Updated · about 0.1 km apart

Best for travelers who want a grand, full-service downtown hotel with large event spaces, a dedicated spa, and a high-floor indoor pool with lake views.

Best for travelers who prefer a smaller, boutique Autograph Collection stay with Art Deco character, an intimate urban scale, and a rooftop terrace.
When The Pfister Hotel wins: Choose The Pfister if you want historic character, more on-site facilities (WELL Spa + Salon, multiple restaurants and bars, a 23rd-floor indoor pool), and larger meeting or event spaces—good for weddings, conferences, or multi-night downtown stays with on-site amenities.
When Hotel Metro, Autograph Collection wins: Pick Hotel Metro if you prefer a compact, design-focused boutique property in the heart of downtown that’s easier to navigate and feels more intimate—good for couples or solo travelers who value location and style over extensive hotel facilities.
Bottom line: Both are downtown and within easy walking distance of Milwaukee’s theaters, public market and lakefront; The Pfister is a larger, historic full-service hotel with a spa and pool, while Hotel Metro is a smaller Art Deco boutique option with a rooftop terrace and a more intimate feel.
| Category | The Pfister Hotel | Hotel Metro, Autograph Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Historic Victorian grand hotel, formal public rooms | Boutique Art Deco urban hotel, intimate public spaces |
| Location (downtown) | 424 E Wisconsin Ave — steps from RiverWalk, theaters and the Public Market | |
| Size (guest rooms) | 307 guestrooms, including 82 suites | 63 individually decorated guestrooms |
| Built / style | 1893; Victorian-era landmark | Art Deco–style boutique positioning |
| Pool | Indoor pool on the 23rd floor with Lake Michigan views (open daily 6:00 AM–10:00 PM) | No on-site pool published |
| Restaurants & bars | Mason Street Grill, Café at the Pfister, Lobby Lounge, Blu (23rd-floor lounge) | Not published |
| Spa & wellness | WELL Spa + Salon (11 treatment rooms; appointment only) | Not published |
| Signature hotel feature | Victorian public rooms, large ballrooms, high-floor pool and a full spa | Art Deco design details, rooftop terrace and small-boutique scale |
| Business & events | Extensive event space (more than 25,000 sq ft), multiple ballrooms and boardrooms | Meeting rooms and a ballroom listed but on a much smaller scale |
| Accessibility & practical perks | 24-hour fitness center, concierge, valet/self parking, EV charging (on-site) | Free wired/WiFi, rooftop terrace, concierge, valet parking (surcharge) |
The Pfister sits on E Wisconsin Ave in the heart of downtown; many theaters, the RiverWalk and the Public Market are an easy walk.
Choose The Pfister for a landmark downtown base with easy walking access to central attractions.
Hotel Metro is also in downtown Milwaukee, placing you within walking distance of the same core attractions.
Hotel Metro is a compact downtown option if you want to be in the middle of the action without a large hotel footprint.
The Pfister offers a broad room mix across a large historic property, including several suite tiers and lake-view rooms.
Pick The Pfister when you want more room-type choices, suites, and lake-view options.
Hotel Metro offers 63 individually decorated guestrooms with an Art Deco sensibility and standard modern conveniences.
Hotel Metro fits travelers who prefer a smaller collection of distinct rooms with boutique character.
The Pfister has several on-site venues covering casual to formal dining and sky-high cocktails.
The Pfister covers a range of dining moods from cafe to steakhouse to high-floor cocktails.
Hotel Metro's supplier listing highlights a fireplace in the lobby and a rooftop terrace but does not publish named signature restaurants.
Hotel Metro is better if you plan to eat out locally or prefer small, off-property dining experiences; named on-site restaurants are not published.
The Pfister's most visible amenity is its 23rd-floor indoor pool with views toward Lake Michigan.
If a high-floor indoor pool and skyline/lake views are important, The Pfister provides that experience.
Hotel Metro lists a rooftop terrace as a highlight but does not publish an on-site pool.
Hotel Metro’s rooftop terrace is the primary outdoor amenity; it does not publish a pool.
The Pfister aims to be a full-service property for wellness and evening entertainment.
Choose The Pfister for a complete spa, fitness and evening entertainment program.
Hotel Metro lists fitness access via nearby facilities and a rooftop terrace but does not publish a full on-site spa.
Hotel Metro covers basic wellness needs and points you to nearby fitness and nightlife options; a full on-site spa is not published.

The Pfister — WELL Spa + Salon and the 23rd-floor indoor pool with lake views.

Hotel Metro — Art Deco character, individually decorated rooms and a rooftop terrace.

The Pfister — extensive ballroom and meeting space across multiple grand event rooms.

Hotel Metro — smaller property footprint and intimate public spaces in the same downtown area.
The Pfister is better if you want high-floor lounge and pool views (Blu and the 23rd-floor pool). Hotel Metro offers a rooftop terrace for a more intimate outdoor moment but does not publish a high-floor lounge with lake views.
Yes — both properties are in downtown Milwaukee within short walks of theaters, the Milwaukee Public Market, and lakefront attractions.
The Pfister is explicitly family-friendly with cribs, a family-friendly pool option and a wider set of on-site amenities; Hotel Metro is not adults-only but is a smaller boutique hotel with fewer family-focused facilities published.
Hotel Metro’s supplier listing does not publish an on-site spa or an on-site pool; The Pfister clearly publishes WELL Spa + Salon and a 23rd-floor indoor pool.
Explore how The Pfister Hotel stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·