30 Best Burgers in Door County
Coyote Roadhouse
Door County might be famous for fish boils, cherry pie, and rooftop goats, but anyone who's spent a long weekend on the peninsula knows the truth — this is one of the most underrated burger destinations in Wisconsin. From Sturgeon Bay all the way up to Washington Island, you'll find butter burgers, brewery burgers, smash burgers, supper club chopped sirloins, dive-bar legends, and even cherry-glazed creations that pay homage to the region's iconic orchards.
We pulled together this list for families driving up from Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine, and Kenosha counties — basically anyone making the easy three-hour trek north. Whether you're stopping for lunch on your way to the cabin or planning an entire weekend around the perfect cheeseburger, this guide has you covered. The list is organized by town, starting in Sturgeon Bay and working its way up Highway 42 to the tip of the peninsula and across the ferry to Washington Island.
A quick note before you go: many Door County spots are seasonal, and hours change with the tourist tides. Always double-check before you drive. And while we tried to capture the best of the best, the peninsula is full of hidden gems — so consider this your starting lineup, not the final word.
Now, let's eat.
Sturgeon Bay
1. Greenwood Supper Club (Fish Creek)
The Greenwood is technically just outside Sturgeon Bay city limits, but it's the perfect first stop as you head north. Open since 1929, this is one of Wisconsin's oldest supper clubs, with knotty-pine walls, family ownership stretching back nearly a century, and a chopped sirloin burger that's quietly become one of the best in the county. Pair it with a brandy old fashioned and you've started your trip the right way. Located at 9087 County Road A.
2. Nightingale Supper Club
Open since 1913, the Nightingale is a true Sturgeon Bay institution. It's known for prime rib and the famous horsey sauce, but the kids' menu includes burgers and grilled cheese, making it surprisingly family-friendly. Friday live music in the bar from 4:30 to 7:30 is a nice bonus. Located at 1541 Egg Harbor Road.
3. Door County Fire Company
Set inside Sturgeon Bay's original fire station with vintage fire memorabilia covering the walls, this casual sports bar has become a local favorite for burgers. Order the Backdraft Burger if you want some heat, or go classic with the Mushroom Swiss. Don't skip the hand-battered onion rings. Family-friendly with 17 taps and weekly fish fry, prime rib, and broasted chicken specials. Located at 38 South 3rd Avenue.
4. Kitty O'Reillys Irish Pub
Door County's liveliest Irish pub serves up multiple Angus beef burgers — the Smashed Burger, a Reuben Burger on marble rye, and the over-the-top Bloody Mary Burger with bacon, mozzarella, pickled onions, Bloody Mary aioli, a pretzel bun, and a pepperoncini stuck on top. The adjacent Kitty's Hideaway beer garden is dog-friendly and has a sandbox for kids. Open year-round. Located at 59 East Oak Street.
5. Poh's Corner Pub
Currently the top result on Yelp for "Best Burgers in Door County," Poh's is a Cheers-style downtown dive where owner Jeff Poh has been running the grill for more than 33 years. Order the Poh's Special. Reviewers consistently call it "the best burger in Sturgeon Bay, hands down." Prices haven't changed in years. Located at 164 North 3rd Avenue.
6. Waterfront Mary's Bar & Grill
Panoramic views of the Sturgeon Bay ship canal, dogs welcome on the deck, boat tie-ups, live music three nights a week, and a Sunday Bloody Mary breakfast that starts at 8 AM. The burgers share menu space with a legitimate fish boil — one of the only waterfront fish boils in Sturgeon Bay. Right next to Potawatomi State Park. Located at 3662 North Duluth Avenue.
7. Brygga Plates & Pours (formerly Stone Harbor)
Right by the Steel Bridge in downtown Sturgeon Bay, the recently renovated and rebranded Brygga delivers family-friendly pub fare with waterfront views, a kids' menu, a tiki bar called Papa Louie's, and weekend live music. Burgers are solid, but the bourbon-planked salmon is a sleeper pick. Located at 107 North 1st Avenue.
8. Mill Supper Club
Since 1930, this casual family-friendly spot has blended German classics like schnitzel and sauerbraten with American supper club staples. Burgers are on the bar menu, but plan around their famous family-style chicken on Wednesdays and Sundays. Located at 4128 State Highway 42/57.
9. Donny's Glidden Lodge
If you want a burger with arguably the best lake view in Door County, this is your spot. The stone-walled dining room overlooks Lake Michigan, reservations are required, and the 4 PM seating is a special-occasion ritual. Definitely more "splurge night" than "casual family lunch." Located at 4670 Glidden Drive.
🍔 The Best Burgers in Door County
30 spots across the peninsula — tap any pin to explore
Egg Harbor
10. Shipwrecked Brew Pub
Door County's original microbrewery and a must-stop for brewery-burger pairings. The menu is loaded with options — French Onion Burger, Shiver Me Timbers with jalapeños and chipotle aioli, a brat-and-burger combo patty, even a pretzel tavern burger. Wash it down with their signature Door County Cherry Wheat brewed on site. Don't miss the house-smoked pulled pork with cherry BBQ sauce. The second-story open-air dining has a water view and the building is rumored to be haunted, which is a fun fact for kids. Located at 7791 State Highway 42.
11. Casey's BBQ & Smokehouse
Once the historic Casey's Inn supper club from 1938, now reimagined as a cherry-wood smokehouse with a famous signature item called the Ruby Burger Special. Casey's smokes everything over Door County cherry wood, which gives the menu a genuinely regional flavor. The patio has an elevated view of Green Bay and dogs are welcome outside. Full kids' menu, brisket chili, smoked ribs, and a Friday perch fry round it out. Located at 7855 Highway 42.
Jacksonport
12. Mike's Port Pub & Grill
A family-run pub since 1991 known for excellent burgers, soups, and broasted chicken. The Tuesday $2 Burger Special is a 20-year tradition. Other menu favorites include the BBQ burger, an Italian beef burger, and three-burger sliders for $10.95. Small, casual, and very local. Located at 6269 WI-57.
Baileys Harbor
13. AC Tap
Self-described as "Wisconsin's best dive bar" and famously home to Packers running back AJ Dillon's favorite chicken wings, AC Tap is a Door County institution. The burgers are an excellent value compared to peninsula norms — try the Mushroom Swiss. Gluten-free buns are available. Best of all: the kitchen is open until 2 AM, making it the only legitimate late-night food option in Door County. Located at 9322 State Highway 57.
14. Door County Brewing Co. & DCBC Eats
A craft brewery with a taproom, year-round live music hall, dog-friendly beer garden with fire pits, and a casual food kitchen next door called DCBC Eats. The brewery markets itself as kid-friendly and the burgers pair perfectly with the experimental Hacienda Beer Co. lineup also brewed here. One of the best craft-beer-and-a-burger family experiences on the peninsula. Located at 8099 State Highway 57.
15. Coyote Roadhouse
An "everybody-knows-your-name" lake tavern on the north end of Kangaroo Lake with an outdoor deck, a canoe and kayak launch right outside, and a real family-friendly kids' menu. Cheeseburgers earn repeat praise, but the heaping loaf of thin onion rings is the side that gets all the buzz. Open year-round. Great mid-peninsula stop. Located at 3026 County E.
Fish Creek
16. Wild Tomato Wood-Fired Pizza and Grille
Open year-round since 2008, Wild Tomato is beloved for pizza but the burgers are no afterthought. Beef is sourced from local farms including Waseda Farms in Jacksonport, Wildwood Farms in Sister Bay, Steep Creek Farm in Sturgeon Bay, and Peninsula Pork. Order the WT Angus Beef Burger. There's a pet-friendly beer garden patio, an extensive craft beer list, and you're directly across from Peninsula State Park — the perfect post-hike stop. Kids love watching the wood-fired oven. Located at 4023 State Highway 42.
17. Bayside Tavern
Since 1975, the MacDonald family has run this Fish Creek landmark, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025. Honored as "Wisconsin's Best Small Town Bar," Bayside is famous for its chili-topped burger, award-winning Smilin' Bob's Cincinnati-style chili, Friday perch fry, and the legendary Flaming Bayside Coffee. Open daily 11 AM to 2 AM, year-round, with a kids' menu. Gluten-free buns and beer available. Located at 4160 Main Street.
18. Hill Street
The newest buzzy spot on Fish Creek's main drag. Two bars, indoor and outdoor seating, late-night Asian noodles, and a burger menu that includes the Korgan Burger and the California King. The "no substitutions and no ketchup" house policy is part of the personality — go with it. Open year-round, Tuesday through Sunday until 2 AM. Located at 4149 Main Street.
19. English Inn
You can't miss the life-size horse statues and armored knights out front. This historic charm-filled supper club includes burgers on a broader menu of steaks, seafood, and tavern classics. More of a destination dinner than a quick lunch. Located at 3713 Highway 42.
Ephraim
20. Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor
If there's one stop on this list that should be on every Door County family itinerary, it's Wilson's. Open since 1906 with house-brewed root beer on tap, an old-school soda-fountain counter, a 1950s jukebox, more than 20 ice cream flavors, and a view of Eagle Harbor from the carry-out tables. The All-American Cheeseburger is a fine diner-style burger, and the nostalgia is unbeatable. Open mid-May through mid-October only. Located at 9990 Water Street.
Sister Bay
21. Husby's Food & Spirits
Voted "Best Burger" by Door County Magazine readers, Husby's is the strongest burger credential on the peninsula. Door County's original sports bar is open daily and year-round with more than a dozen flatscreens, a kids' menu, an outdoor patio, and live music every summer weekend at The Garage cantina next door. Pair the cheeseburger with the local whitefish wrap, garlic parmesan wings, and a Friday perch fry. Located at 10641 North Bay Shore Drive.
22. Sister Bay Bowl
A fourth-generation family supper club run by the Willems family since the 1940s, combining a vintage bowling alley with manual scoring, a supper club, and a pizza parlor. The 6-ounce Bowl Burger is unofficially rated among the best in the county. Sister Bay Bowl has also been voted "Best Fish Fry" and "Best Old Fashioned" by Door County Magazine readers. The kids' menu includes a free game of bowling — basically the perfect rainy-day Door County dinner. 75 years strong in 2026. Located at 10640 North Bay Shore Drive.
23. Wild Tomato (Sister Bay)
The Sister Bay outpost of Wild Tomato opens directly onto the public beach with a wood-fired oven going inside. Same farm-sourced burgers and pizza as Fish Creek, but with even better post-swim access. Located at 10677 North Bay Shore Drive.
24. Fred & Fuzzy's Waterfront Bar & Grill
A northwoods tiki-bar vibe on Little Sister Bay with picnic tables on the beach and one of the most lauded sunset views in all of Door County. Grilled sandwiches, burgers, full bar, boat tie-ups, and storm-watching from the heated awning in spring and fall. Note that operating status has fluctuated recently, so confirm before driving over. Located at 10620 Little Sister Road.
25. CHOP
An upscale-casual American steakhouse from the Lure/CHOP restaurant group, with a newly expanded bar, a rooftop deck, daily 4 to 6 PM happy hour, and $5 Wisconsin old fashioneds. Burgers appear on the bar menu — a more refined date-night option than a classic burger joint. Reservations recommended. Located at 2345 Mill Road.
Ellison Bay
26. Mink River Basin
Marketed boldly as "Best Burgers in Door County" and backed up by a Door County Pulse feature, Mink River Basin offers seven regular burger options plus five rotating weekly specials. Don't miss the 12 Pepper Butter Bacon Burger or the owner's signature pick, the Dragonslayer, with creamy buffalo sauce, jalapeños, and pepper jack. Meat is delivered fresh daily and seasoned with just salt and pepper. With more than 40 taps and over 100 whiskeys, this northernmost sports bar is a destination unto itself. Located on Mink River Road in Ellison Bay.
Washington Island
27. Hotel Washington Restaurant
Worth the ferry ride. The 1904 hotel's farm-to-table restaurant has been featured in The New York Times and runs a midweek burger night alongside its small plates and seasonal dinner service. Open May through October, Wednesday through Saturday, 5 to 8 PM. Romantic, refined, and a true experience. Located at 354 Range Line Road.
28. Albatross Drive-In
A seasonal Washington Island institution that delivers exactly what you want after a ferry ride — classic drive-in burgers and malts in a quintessentially summery setting. The kid-friendly counterpoint to Hotel Washington's dinner-night vibe. Located on Main Road.
A Few More Spots Worth Knowing
29. Mr. G's Logan Creek Grille (between Sturgeon Bay and Jacksonport)
Formerly Mr. G's Supper Club, this historic spot maintains an old-fashioned supper club atmosphere alongside a creek-side tiki bar and the county's largest ballroom, which seats 400 to 500 people for events. Burgers, whitefish, and classic supper club fare anchor the menu. A good casual lunch stop with a nostalgic vibe.
30. Hitching Post Bar and Grill (Sturgeon Bay area)
A repeat appearance on Yelp's Top 10 Door County burger list, the Hitching Post is the kind of hidden-gem local favorite you stumble into and remember for years. Worth seeking out if you want to eat where the locals eat.
Don't Forget the Pre-Peninsula Pit Stop
If you're driving up Highway 57 from Milwaukee, consider a quick detour to Joe Rouer's Bar in Luxemburg, Wisconsin. It's not technically Door County, but this classic country tavern has been making cast-iron-skillet burgers since 1952 — over three million sold and counting. At under $3 a burger, it's a Wisconsin road-trip rite of passage and a great way to break up the drive before you cross the bridge into the peninsula.
Plan Your Door County Burger Road Trip
Three hours from Milwaukee, with 30+ burger options spread across nearly 80 miles of peninsula — that's a lot of cheeseburger. Our advice: pick three or four spots that match your trip. Maybe a brewery burger at Shipwrecked on the way north, a beach lunch at Wild Tomato or Wilson's, a sunset burger at Fred & Fuzzy's or Donny's Glidden Lodge, and the unofficial Door County championship round at Husby's, Mink River Basin, or Sister Bay Bowl.
The peninsula is small enough that you can hit several of these in a single weekend, but big enough that you'll always have a reason to come back. And honestly, that's kind of the magic of Door County dining — you'll never run out of new spots to try.
Got a favorite Door County burger we missed? Drop it in the comments. We're always updating this list, and the locals always know best.
Hours and seasonal openings change frequently in Door County. Always verify with the restaurant before you drive. This guide is updated regularly, but a quick phone call or website check is your best friend before any trip.
Where to get the best burger in Door County, Wisconsin? Here’s our guide from award-winning Husby's to dive-bar legends, brewery patties, and waterfront tiki bars