The Pfister Hotel

Reviews

• CH

  Corey Hodges

  2 days ago
  2.0
  It’s always sad how one bad attitude employee can ruin the experience of your lifetime. My Fiance mom died 3 months ago so I planned a surprise overnight stay at The Pfister Hotel, unbeknownst to her. I told her I found a place we could have Afternoon Tea at 2pm then afterwards while she was sitting in the lobby I secretly checked into the hotel room and the chain of several relaxing events were underway. It started with her getting a 90-minute Anti-Aging Massage at 4:30pm and then dinner reservations at The Market Street Restaurant at 8:45pm. While she was getting a massage I called the Front Desk twice requesting a blanket because the room was a little chilly while I sat in the couch watching TV in our Suite. When the employee finally delivered the blanket and I opened the door to receive it, I was greeted with the rudest handing off of an item I’ve ever encountered in my life. I asked the employee was he ok and he continued to be rude and said “Do I have to answer that”. I don’t know what the problem was but I do know that as a result of this one negative encounter, this hotel is no longer being considered a venue for my Fiance’s 50th Birthday or the wedding we are planning for next year. I tried calling the Front Desk from the hotel room to report this incident and no one answered the phone. I still feel this is a great hotel and it’s really sad how something this minute can have such a huge negative impact on an exclusive boutique hotel.
• MH

  Margaret Harder

  6 days ago
  1.0
  Our two-night stay at The Pfister Hotel was extremely disappointing and fell well below expectations, particularly after paying additional money at check-in to upgrade our room. Unfortunately the experience was defined by repeated service failures and communication breakdowns throughout the stay. Service throughout the hotel felt extremely disorganised. Room service orders took over an hour to arrive for relatively simple meals, and requests such as additional pillows also took approximately an hour to be delivered. Attempting to contact the front desk was repeatedly difficult, with multiple calls being placed on hold for extended periods before being disconnected. Housekeeping service was also incomplete. After the room had been serviced, the bed sheets were not properly tucked, the mirror had not been cleaned, bath mats and face cloths were missing from the bathroom, complimenting water had not been restocked, and breakfast dishes were left in the room, toilet paper not replaced. When we called to request face cloths and to have the breakfast dishes removed, someone from the kitchen arrived with four sets of cutlery instead. After leaving the hotel for approximately two hours we returned to find the dishes still in the room and the face clothes still not delivered. When we contacted the front desk again there appeared to be further confusion about the request. Housekeeping eventually arrived with bath towels, soap and hand towels after being told by the front desk that we had requested bath towels. We again had to clarify that we needed face cloths and a bath mat, requiring housekeeping to return a second time with the correct items. In addition to this, contacting reception provided extremely difficult. Calls were disconnected multiple times and on one occasion we were placed on hold for over nine minutes without acknowledgment before the call was disconnected. During the second evening of our stay we ordered room service again and we were advised the order would arrive within 45 minutes, however the delivery exceeded that timeframe as well. Despite asking to speak with a manager regarding these issues during our stay, someone eventually contacted us and advised they would speak with the relevant departments. However, we were then told we should follow up with operational management ourselves regarding a potential refund. Given the number of service failures experienced during our stay, we would have expected management to take ownership of the situation and advocate on our behalf rather than asking the guest to pursue this themselves. While individual staff members were polite (Harold), the overall experience felt extremely disjointed with repeated communication failures between departments. For a hotel with the reputation and pricing of The Pfister, guests would reasonably expect far stronger service coordination and attention to detail. Considering the highly rate of the rooms, the level of service and room preparation we experienced was extremely disappointing. We hope operational management reviews these issues carefully so future guests do not encounter the same experience.
• EK

  eunice kanana

  Mar 8, 2026
  5.0
  There are hotels that feel like places to sleep and hotels that feel like destinations. The Pfister is firmly the second kind, and has been since 1893. It's one of those buildings that gets described as a landmark in the way that actually means something, not just because it's old, but because it still operates at a level that justifies the reputation. I stayed here for a long weekend with my partner, and from the moment we walked through the front doors into that lobby, the trip shifted into a different gear. The lobby is genuinely stunning. Victorian architecture, 19th-century European oil paintings on the walls, high ceilings, a grand staircase, the kind of space where you slow down and look up. The hotel has one of the largest collections of Victorian art of any hotel in the world, and it's not tucked away, it's just hanging there in hallways and common areas like the building earned the right to show it off, which it has. Our room was spacious, well-appointed, and the bed was one of the better hotel beds I've slept in. The windows looked out over downtown Milwaukee and you could see Lake Michigan in the distance on clear mornings. Housekeeping was thorough and unobtrusive. We had dinner at Mason Street Grill, the hotel's main restaurant, on our first night. I ordered the wood-grilled steak, which came exactly as requested and had the kind of char on it that only a proper wood grill produces. My partner had the seared salmon, which she talked about again the next morning unprompted. Live jazz was playing in the background, which felt like the restaurant knowing exactly what it is and committing to it fully. Breakfast at the hotel cafe was easy and good, with a barista counter, pastries, a colossal breakfast sandwich that covered the whole morning, and Starbucks drinks for those who wanted them. We made it up to Blu on the 23rd floor one evening for cocktails, and that's worth building into any stay. The views of the Milwaukee skyline and Lake Michigan at night are legitimately beautiful, the bar program is solid, and the whole room feels appropriately elevated without being stiff. The staff throughout were one of the reasons the stay was so good. Warm, genuinely attentive, and clearly proud of where they work. That's not something you can manufacture, and the Pfister has had over a hundred years to figure it out.
• FB

  Flower Blueberry

  Mar 2, 2026
  5.0
  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Pfister Hotel is truly one of Milwaukee’s gems. Opened in 1893, it has such a rich history and timeless elegance that you can feel the moment you step inside. The architecture and grand lobby are absolutely stunning, and the entire hotel blends historic charm with modern comfort beautifully. Blu Bar on the 23rd floor is the highlight for me. The panoramic views of downtown Milwaukee and Lake Michigan are breathtaking — especially at sunset. The atmosphere is upscale but still relaxed, with comfortable seating and a great vibe for a date night, girls’ night, or a classy night out. The cocktails are well crafted and the service is friendly and attentive. One thing to note: Blu Bar no longer accepts cash, so be sure to bring a card for payment. Whether you’re staying at the hotel or just visiting for drinks, Blu alone makes The Pfister worth the trip. Such a special experience in the heart of Milwaukee.
• MP

  Mark Post

  Feb 22, 2026
  2.0
  I brought my wife to this hotel for her birthday. It has an outstanding reputation as a historic hotel with high-end amenities. The lobby and lounge area are absolutely beautiful. The architecture and finishes are outstanding. The abundance of art throughout the property is awesome. Checked in on a Monday afternoon. It was 60° outside and 80 in our room. We turned on the AC and we went to dinner at The Mason Street Grill. The dining experience at the Mason Street Grill was above average. The food was delicious and the wine was tasty. Service was slightly off, but that's okay because we weren't in a hurry. I had one of the best New York strips of my life, while my wife enjoyed the surf and turf. The brussel sprouts and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes were excellent accompaniments. We had some apple pastry thing for dessert. We should have had the key lime pie instead. We returned to our room to find that it was now 82° inside. I called the front desk, and they told me not to turn on the AC because it'll get hot in your room. Too late for that. A maintenance guy came up to see if he could help. He was very nice and his heart was in the right place. Unfortunately, his solution was to open the window of our room in the 21st floor and put a box fan in there to blow cool city air into our room for the evening. He also wanted to replace the thermostat. We asked for a different room. We spent some time at the Blue Lounge on the 23rd floor. The view was outstanding, and it was super relaxing. I would highly recommend a visit. We moved to a different room down the hall. The AC worked in the new room. However, the TV did not. My wife and I did get a good night's sleep. I went to take a shower in the morning, and the towel hanging on the shower door had a big brown stain in the middle of it. I'm sure it was washed, but it was a bit unsettling to look at, much less dry my face with it. We enjoyed breakfast in the cafe. Service was a bit slow. Most of the food was good, except for my remarkably burnt toast that left black crumbs all over my plate. The server was kind enough to replace it upon my request. We checked out and settled the bill. Management gave us a modest food credit for our troubles, which was appropriate. We had our parking ticket taken care of so we could get out. When we tried to leave the parking structure, the ticket did not work. So to avoid paying an additional $38, I had to go back to the front desk and have it taken care of. The concierge was super cool about it. He actually walked down to the parking gate to make sure I got out. Five stars for him. At the end of the day I can say I was really disappointed with my stay at the Pfister. Perhaps my expectations were too high based on the reputation of this hotel. Nonetheless, I did not find value in staying here. I travel 40 weeks out of the year, so I know the difference between good hotels and those that miss the mark. I'm hoping that my stay was an anomaly and that everyone else would have a better experience than I did.

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