In Wisconsin, fish fries are a way of life. Tail Feathers, this picturesque golf club’s restaurant, serves up popular renditions exclusively on Fridays in the form of crispy beer-battered cod and breaded lake perch filets. It all goes down perfectly with a brandy Old Fashioned — a regional staple.

Consensus around pizza is a rare phenomenon, but Lake Geneva locals and visitors agree that four-decade-old institution Next Door Pub reigns supreme among the top pizzerias in town. Casual and family-friendly, the restaurant features thin hearth-fired pies like the Pub’s Famous Garbage (sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions). It also has an extensive menu of burgers, pasta, sandwiches, and four kinds of Bloody Marys.

There’s nothing slick or showy about Lake Geneva Pie Co. — just simple, stellar fruit and cream pies in nostalgic flavors like banana cream, lemon meringue, and strawberry rhubarb, all inside a golden crust. The kitchen also puts out top-notch chicken pot pies and rich quiches stuffed with bacon, cheese, and vegetables.

The quaint charm of Lake Geneva is arguably best enjoyed on a leisurely bike ride. Enter Avant Cycle Cafe, a local coffee roaster and bicycle shop that offers repairs and rentals. The brand fully integrates both sides of the business, even including links to online route maps on each coffee label. Fuel up before hitting the streets with brewed coffee, cold brew, and espresso drinks.

Sometimes, the name just says it all. This tiny lakeside cafe gets straight to the point with a tight menu of eggy wraps filled with potatoes, veggies, beans, and cheese. There’s also a selection of lunch wraps like chicken-bacon-ranch (tomato, red onion, greens) and BLTs.

Simon Cumming, the chef and owner at the Italian-American bistro Sopra is keenly aware of Chicagoans’s outsized presence in Lake Geneva: he previously worked under chef Jason Paskewitz (Blanchard) at JP Chicago. His menu highlights crowd-pleasers like slow-braised lamb shoulder ragu and pan-roasted rainbow trout with pancetta and gnocchi.

Housed inside a precious cottage, Barrique is a relaxing retreat stocked with more than 55 wines by the glass and 50-plus beer options from craft breweries. There’s also an emphasis on seafood but this kitchen is a self-proclaimed “fried free zone” — instead, try the escargot, shrimp cocktail, and lump crab cakes.

Patios are hot commodities in Lake Geneva, especially during tourist season. Oakfire’s second-floor outdoor deck, located just next door to Barrique overlooking the water, is hard to beat. The six-year-old restaurant is best known for its Neapolitan-style wood fired pizzas pizza cooked inside imported Stefano Ferrara ovens. Favorites include the Bosco (sausage, cremini mushrooms, mozzarella, basil, pecorino) with optional giardiniera in a nod to Chicago. Additional locations are open in Kenosha and Minocqua, Wisconsin.

Those in search of a truly retro dining experience will want to swing by Joni’s Diner, a staple in the area for diner breakfast favorites and char-grilled burgers. It’s housed in a 1954 Jerry O’Mahony L-shaped prefab metal building (only about 20 remain in the U.S.).

An area landmark for half a century, Popeye’s — unrelated to the fast food chain — has pleased generations of fans with its popular rotisserie chickens and all-you-can-eat Friday fish fry. Munch on crispy cod on the patio and take in spectacular lake views.

Scoops is the adorable ice cream parlor every small town deserves. Stop in for generous dishes and cones in flavors like strawberry cheesecake and maple walnut. Italian ice is also available.

After years of selling pastries part-time out of her home, baker Abby Blada made the leap to full-time pastry professional in 2022 with the launch of her patisserie, Poppy Cakes. Patrons can expect decadent cupcakes, gorgeous iced cookies, and more.

Catch gorgeous, romantic sunsets over Geneva Lake through the Grandview Restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Perched atop a bluff near Blackhawk State Park inside the the upscale Geneva Inn, it’s a popular spot for special occasions featuring prime steaks, seafood, pastas, and more.