I Made Plans for You: A Cozy November Night in Wauwatosa

A little holiday cheer, Italian food, sauna time + ice cream. Your November plans are officially made!

It's officially the time of year when it's dark by 5pm + staying home in sweatpants sounds pretty tempting. But, there's still so much happening around Milwaukee + I'm determined to make the most of it!

So, I made plans for you.

This month, we're heading to Wauwatosa for a cozy little evening with some festive drinks, really good Italian food, a new way to unwind + of course, dessert.

Grab your significant other, make it a girls' night, or take yourself on a little solo date. Here's the plan!

1. Start with a festive drink at Camp Bar Tosa 🎄

First things first, we're getting into the holiday spirit at Santa Camp!

If there's one thing Wisconsin does well, it's a good themed bar + Camp Bar really leans into the holidays. Grab one of their seasonal cocktails, take in all the Christmas decorations + play a quick round of shuffleboard or Skee-Ball while you're there.

The plan: One festive drink, a little friendly competition + then we're off to dinner!

2. Head down North Ave for dinner at IL MITO 🍝

Next up, one of my favorite local spots: Italian Food at IL MITO!

We're heading just down the road to IL MITO for a cozy Italian dinner. This is the exact restaurant I'm craving when it's getting cold outside. Good pasta, a glass of wine + absolutely no reason to rush.

If you're looking for an order recommendation, I have two.

The Ravioli di Zucca is such a good fall dinner + their Prosciutto Pizza (Parma) is another favorite. Honestly, 10/10 recommend either one.

I'd make a reservation for around 5pm so you have plenty of time to enjoy dinner before heading to the main event.

3. Time to relax at Heat Haven Sauna Park 🔥

Okay, THIS is what we're planning the whole evening around!

Heat Haven has popped up in Hoyt Park for the season + I went to check it out last week + am officially obsessed! I can't think of a better way to spend a chilly November evening.

Imagine wood-fired saunas, cold plunges, fresh air + a little time away from your phone + everything else going on during this busy time of year.

I especially love that they offer community sauna sessions on Sunday mornings. It's a chance to try something new, get out of your normal routine + maybe even meet a few new people along the way.

A few things to know before you go:

• Community sessions are $35 per person for 75 minutes.

• You can also book a private sauna if you'd rather make it a group outing.

• Bring your swimsuit, a towel + something warm to throw on afterward.

• They're open Tuesday through Sunday, but you'll want to reserve your spot ahead of time.

Book your sauna: heathaven.co

4. Because there's always room for ice cream🍦

You didn't think I was going to send you home without dessert, did you?

On your way home, make one last stop at Joy Ice Cream Social on North Ave.

In Wisconsin, there's never a bad time for ice cream, especially when you've just spent the evening warming up in a sauna.

Joy is one of those neighborhood spots that's always so fun to visit. Grab a scoop of your favorite Chocolate Shoppe flavor (they have dairy-free options, too!) + enjoy one last little treat before calling it a night.

Just make sure you plan your sauna session around their closing time so you don't miss out!

Just like that, your November plans are made!

4 local stops, a little bit of everything + hopefully a new favorite spot or two.

One of my favorite things about Milwaukee is how easy it is to turn an ordinary evening into something fun when you know where to go + that's exactly why I started this series!

Every month, I'll be putting together a new mini itinerary featuring local businesses, things to do + little experiences around Milwaukee that I think deserve a spot on your calendar.

No endless scrolling trying to figure out what to do. Just pick a day, grab your people + go!

See you around MKE! 🤎