Snuggle up with some holiday cheer as OnMilwaukee shares stories of everything merry and bright in the spirit of the season.
The OnMilwaukee Ho Ho Holiday Guide is brought to you by Harley-Davidson Museum and MolsonCoors.
The holiday spirit is coming in strong at Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen, 320 E. Clybourn St. where 5,000 twinkling lights and a blast of over-the-top holiday decor has transformed their private event space into a holiday-themed pop-up lounge.
Reservations for the Holiday Hideout are available starting today and running through Dec. 31. The experience offers groups of 7-14 guests the opportunity to gather together in a festive environment and enjoy holiday tunes, seasonal cocktails – including the Cranberry Mule, warm Holiday Brandy Cider, spiked Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa and Winter Spiced Old Fashioneds – alongside holiday appetizers like duck wontons, eggplant bruschetta, lamb meatballs and lobster hush puppies.
Bookings are available in 90-minute increments with availability at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Packages begin at $250, which includes a round of cocktails and a platter of seasonal appetizers. Additional cocktails and bites from the Crafthouse’s holiday menu are also available to add to the experience. Hideout guests also receive 20% off their purchase of Central Standard spirits and merchandise. Reservations can be made online.
Holiday dinners & parties
For those seeking to host a memorable holiday party with a bit more panache, five-course dinners with Executive Chef David Sapp are also available for 10-16 guests in the distillery’s Founders Room. Each dinner pairs one-of-a-kind cocktails featuring Central Standard spirits with menu items including Rappanahannock oysters, pan-seared diver scallops and Pinn Oaks Farms lamb Chops. Dinners are $110 per person and can be booked online. Book a dinner before Dec. 1 for a special price of $85 per person.
The venue’s second floor event space, The Mix, is also available for holiday parties with accommodations for up to 180 guests. Interested parties can inquire online.
For more information about all holiday experiences at Central Standard, visit the Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen website.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
