☕ Madison’s best new restaurants and coffee shops

💰 River Food Pantry Raises $12M For Larger Facility

• The River Food Pantry said it has hit its fundraising goal of $12 million to build a larger facility on Packers Avenue.
• The new facility, which is currently under construction, will be 32,500 square feet, nearly three times the size of the current pantry facility just off Packers Avenue and Northport Drive. The River serves 3,000 people each week.
• Officials say the additional room will allow them to expand access to groceries, as well as restart other programs that had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, including clothing and houseware distribution and classes. The new facility is expected to open before the end of 2025. [River Food Pantry, WKOW]

🧑‍🏫 Some UW Faculty Aren’t Happy About Workload Requirements

• Tucked away in the recently-approved state budget that included increased funding for the Universities of Wisconsin was one big string attached. The budget requires instructional staff at UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee to teach at least 12 credits a year, and staff at other schools must teach 24 credits a year.
• Professors can “buy” release time from teaching by getting outside funding for their research. Critics worry that exemption will widen inequalities between Madison, Milwaukee, and the other UWs since the two schools tend to have greater access to outside funding as large research institutions. [🎧 City Cast Madison, 🔒 WSJ]

🐶 Humane Society is Facing an Urgent Funding Crisis

• The Dane County Humane Society says it may have to cut back services for stray, neglected, and dangerous animals if it doesn’t receive adequate funding from the city and county immediately.
• The humane society is a non-profit that receives most of its funding through private donations, but contracts with Public Health Madison & Dane County to provide state-mandated public services.
• DCHS officials said that its funding through Public Health Madison & Dane County is set to run out at the end of August. They’re asking Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Dane County Executive Melissa Agard to meet to restructure its contract, noting that funding has not been adjusted for inflation in over 15 years. [WMTV, DCHS]

Welcome to our list of the best new restaurants and bars opening in and around Madison! We’ll update this list each month. If we’ve missed a new spot you think we should feature, let us know!

Check out all of these spots and more of our favorite local treasures on Overlook Maps!

July 2025

The Victory Cafe (East Side)

The Atwood Avenue coffee shop gets a triumphant reopening 10 months after it was seriously damaged by a fire. The cozy feel of The Victory is largely intact, although the floors are refinished and a new tin ceiling shines overhead.

On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talked with Victory owner Patrick Downey about the long road to reopening the coffee shop.

Mexli (South Madison)

The building just off the Beltline between Selective Video and a 7-11 has been a lot of different restaurants over the years. But based on the early buzz, Mexli might have staying power. The Mexican restaurant distinguishes itself by focusing on breakfast and lunch, from breakfast burritos to ranchero omelets.

JavaAbilities (Monona)

This new locally-owned coffee shop on Monona Drive offers a full breakfast and lunch menu along with its coffee. But its mission goes beyond food and drink, as the owners aim to create an inclusive environment particularly for both diners and employees with disabilities.

Ashirwad (State Street)

The owners of The Globe and Triangle Market have another State Street venture, an Indian restaurant on the 100 block. Ashirwad (the name roughly translates as “blessing”) is a bright and cozy restaurant that serves favorites like lamb biryani and chicken tikka masala.

Dreamy Teazy (North Madison)

This spot on North Sherman Avenue just had its soft opening, offering boba tea and smoothies along with a selection of sweet treats, including tiramisu, rice cakes, and fruit cake rolls.

Tailer Nicole Wine and Cupcake Lounge (Black Business Hub)

This elegant, hotly-anticipated lounge is finally open on the first floor of the Black Business Hub on Park Street. It’s envisioned as a space where people, especially women, can refresh and recharge. Staff will offer wine and cupcake pairing suggestions, and they’ve just launched a Saturday brunch menu.

DeVine Grilling (Black Business Hub)

Perhaps less elegant, but just as delicious, is the new brick-and-mortar location in the Hub for the popular food cart. Oxtips, jerk chicken nachos, smoked mac & cheese, and more are on the menu.