Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corp., today announced that extensive renovations of the lobby lounge of the Hilton Milwaukee have been completed.
The company restored the hotel’s lobby lounge, which once housed one of the longest bars in Wisconsin – an ornate, 82-foot-long serpentine bar – to be reminiscent of the classic, old-school lobby cocktail lounge. The new Monarch Lounge is open.
In addition to the art deco lounge, the renovation covers 3,800 square feet and includes spacious seating areas, workstations and a media center. A stone and metal fireplace was added to the south wall, while an interactive media work area anchors the north end with touch-screens.
“The renovation and expansion of the lobby offers our guests additional space to work, relax and congregate,” said Steve Magnuson, Hilton Milwaukee’s vice president and general manager. “We hope visitors enjoy the many upgrades we’ve added, and that they find the new lobby area a comfortable and inviting place to spend their time.”
Featuring live jazz piano music in the evenings, the lounge offers a global wine list and bar-style menu featuring creative small plates of Mediterranean and classic American selections, paired with signature cocktails.
The culinary staff is working closely with local farmers and artisan food purveyors to put a local twist on internationally inspired flavors.
As part of the renovation, several large windows on the east side of the building, which were covered for decades, have been opened to overlook Fifth Street and offer a unique view of Wisconsin Avenue and downtown.
Built in 1927, the Hilton Milwaukee is a classic art deco hotel with rich furnishings and distinctive architecture.
