The Muse Gallery Guesthouse — Hotel in Milwaukee

Having lived in Bay View for close to a decade, I've walked past The Muse more times than I can count, but somehow it never occurred to me to stay there until my girlfriend and I were looking for somewhere that it would be safe to celebrate our anniversary during the pandemic. When I checked their site, I was thrilled to find they have been taking excellent precautions, including requiring masks in common areas and leaving private rooms vacant between guests.

We just spent a four-day weekend, and it was even more amazing than I'd expected. Our hosts, Mary Ellen and Andrew, were welcoming, friendly, and accommodating. The room (Julia) was comfortable and well-appointed (including plenty of outlets, and a smart TV that had a Plex app, so I could log into my own account and stream media from home). The en suite bathroom was roomy, with a generous shower and a frankly mind-blowing tub that even my six-foot self could comfortably fit in, stretching out my legs or submerging entirely. And everything got AMAZING amounts of natural light, thanks to tall, translucent, south-facing windows onto a broad avenue, which let in lots of sun while maintaining privacy (with drapes that also kept the room comfortably dark overnight).

Because The Muse is a TRUE B&B, one of the biggest perks is of course the BREAKFAST, which I honestly don't think I can do justice in a few words. At our requested time every morning, we were presented with a different freshly prepared, multi-course spread in the dining room. Everything was delicious, and they had no trouble at all creating vegetarian versions for me that were fully equal to the ones my girlfriend had with meat. And of course for our other meals there were plenty of delicious local take-out options within a few blocks, and even more available for delivery in a larger radius.

The art displayed throughout the house is also delightful and brings a truly unique touch, since much of that artwork is original. We loved picking out a set of pieces to purchase as a memento of our stay.

It was honestly such a delight to discover a boutique, upscale, queer-friendly, and still reasonably priced full B&B literally blocks from home, and I can't wait to...

Where to begin… I think I should start by saying that the hosts – Mary Ellen and Andrew – are lovely people. Our flight got delayed 3 hours and they were very patient and understanding. Later, they went out of their way to make us feel at home… My wife and I are Polish, so one day Mary Ellen (of course without telling us) went to the butcher’s to get some kiełbasa for us and the other guests. I mean, what other hosts do that? She made some wonderful American apple pie for us foreigners to taste. Also, my wife is allergic to dairy, so Mary Ellen would cook dairy-free versions of the dishes the rest of the guests and I were having, looking identical so that my wife wouldn’t feel excluded! Andrew prepared and lent us their private (!) bikes so that we could check out the neighborhood. Not saying that all guests should now go and ask them for those bikes haha (btw, there’s a Bublr Bikes station nearby, we just couldn’t use it because one needs a US phone number to register on that app) – just trying to give you an idea of how nice these people are. They love to chat. What is more, breakfasts are served for all the guests at one big table, so we got to talk with all those other, very interesting individuals. The Victorian guesthouse itself is a delight. We loved its decor and overall vibe. You get plenty of privacy because the hosts live in another house next door. The guesthouse is very well equipped. We needed to iron some clothes for a wedding we were attending, and were able to use an iron and ironing board (just an example of the many amenities available). I should also mention that rooms at the Muse Gallery Guesthouse, as its name suggests, are full of (purchasable) works of art by local artists. You can also get smaller, cheaper souvenirs from the hosts. Charming neighborhood too. Thank you, Mary Ellen and Andrew, for having us! I wholeheartedly recommend your place to anyone who might be reading...

We were part of a big group of college friends visiting Milwaukee for a wedding, and six of us stayed at the muse (definitely the winner in terms of housing choices!). The muse is something between an upscale hostel and an unassuming hotel, and the concept is lovely. The rooms were beautifully and simply designed with wooden floors, high ceilings, and large windows. The bathrooms and common area were impeccably clean. The Muse itself is located above a restaurant, and ultimately, I liked the unassuming entrance because it made the place feel like home to us recent college graduates who wanted to spend time catching up and reminiscing our college years. A lot of other restaurants and bars are located within walking distance, and after everything in town closed, we could return to the muse and sit on the patio of the restaurant.

Even more, Charles' hospitality was exceptional. Before the trip, we called to ask for Charles' local scoop on Milwaukee, and he came up with a top-notch list of places to eat and things to do on our behalf. On our first morning, he welcomed us with pastries from Honeypie (located within walking distance). He also made mimosas and brought us pastries unexpectedly, on the day that we had to get up early to go to the wedding. He was always checking up to make sure we had what we needed and were enjoying our trip. His hospitality clearly impacted his customers as well, as the other couples staying in the muse were also warm and friendly.

The Muse Gallery Guesthouse was everything we could've asked for. On our next trip, I'll be searching for housing options with similar concepts, and I hope Charles chooses to open more muse in other...