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Wayfinder MKE, the globally inspired restaurant and brewery at 2108 N. Farwell Ave., debuted its chef-driven menu in April, showcasing a cadre of shareable dishes inspired by various culinary traditions from across the globe.
Next up, The Explorium Hospitality Group will be debuting the East Side venue’s spacious rooftop patio, which will operate in keeping with the worldly Wayfinder theme with a themed menu featuring six tiki-themed cocktails, six beers on tap, a selection of wines and wide selection of call cocktails.
Tropical cocktails will include:
- Pineapple Daiquiri: A tropical twist on the classic featuring Plantation 3 Stars rum, acid-adjusted pineapple juice, demerara syrup, and a touch of saline. Garnished with pineapple.
- Hibiscus Lemonade: Wheatley vodka infused with hibiscus tea, mixed with lemonade and served over ice.
- Bitter Strawberry Mai Tai: Strawberry-infused Campari shaken with Jamaican rum, Dry Curaçao, lime, orgeat, and a touch of simple syrup. Served over crushed ice with fresh mint and a strawberry.
- I’m the Captain Now: Woodford Reserve bourbon meets acidulated pineapple, lemon, cherry liqueur, orgeat, a double dash of bitters and aquafaba for a silky finish. Garnished with pineapple leaf and a Luxardo cherry.
- Carson’s No. 4 Cup: A sparkling, island-style punch featuring aged rum, dry Curaçao, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters topped with cola and ginger beer. Garnishes include fresh citrus, strawberry, mint, and edible flowers.
- Tahitian 75: Botanical Roku Gin, St-Germain, passionfruit syrup, lime and prosecco with a garnish of dried lemon.
In an effort to keep pricing in check, cocktails will be priced in the $8-$12 range, allowing guests to consider making Wayfinder and its rooftop a regular stop all summer long.
While the Rooftop will not have a full-service menu, Co-owner Mike Doble says that they will be offering a menu of light snacks that can be purchased at the bar.
Celebrate the grand opening
To celebrate the grand opening of the second-floor urban rooftop, Wayfinder MKE will be throwing a four-day celebration to officially welcome guests to the beautiful new patio. The weekend will feature eight amazing live music acts, behind-the-scenes brewery tours, a variety of food and drink specials and stunning rooftop vibes.
The celebratory schedule will include:
Thursday, May 15
4 to 7 p.m. at Wayfinder: Evan Christian
7 to 10 p.m. on The Rooftop: Andy Gelles Band
Friday, May 16
4 to 7 p.m. at Wayfinder: Paul Cebar
5:30 p.m.: Brewery Tour
7 to 10 p.m. on The Rooftop: Ethan Keller
Saturday, May 17
12 p.m. and 2 p.m.: Brewery Tours
2 to 5 p.m. at Wayfinder: Jazz in Vivo
7 to 10 p.m. on the Rooftop: AJ Fink
Sunday, May 18
1:30 p.m.: Brewery Tour
1 to 4 p.m. at Wayfinder: Jamie Lynn
5 to 7:30 p.m. on The Rooftop: Heat Advisory
Moving forward, The Rooftop will be open Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
If demand warrants, the rooftop could expand its hours to include seven days a week.
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.
