If you’re currently craving the flavors of fall, buckle up because Wauwatosa’s local restaurants, bakeries, chocolate shops, and breweries are all showing off this season — and we’re giving you an inside peek into their can’t-miss seasonal offerings.

Chocolates & Candies — Oh My!

For anyone who isn’t trick-or-treating, but wishes they were, Wauwatosa’s chocolate shops offer everything you’re looking for.  Niemann’s Candies & Ice Cream is a family-owned business that’s been around since 1970 and is rooted in history with the same recipes and displays since the beginning. Dive into their Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream, homemade caramel apples, or Harvest Box of assorted chocolates for a heavenly Tosa treat.  Try hand-dipped perfection at Ultimate Confections in Wauwatosa’s 68th & Wells District. This small, local chocolate shop opened in 1995 and continues to push the envelope on its confections today. We recommend ordering the Glob Turtle, a glob of caramel sandwiched between two globs of chocolate and sprinkled with pecans, for a taste of autumn.  Situated in the heart of our charming city, Tabal Chocolate specializes in a bean-to-bar chocolate-making technique that makes their offerings oh-so-memorable. Grab a s’mores kit as a sweet souvenir or try any of their fall flavors in a bar of chocolate.

The Baked Good(ies)

If you’re more into the allure of fall-flavored baked treats, Wauwatosa has you covered. Black Twig Bakery’s seasonal menu features Instagram-worthy bites including, snickerdoodle cookie dough macarons, salted caramel oatmeal cream pie sandwich cookies, pumpkin with cream cheese frosting cinnamon rolls, and vanilla chai cupcakes. Owned by multiple local families, Rocket Baby Bakery prides itself on only using Wisconsin ingredients and baking all of its goods from scratch daily. Order from their walk-up window or walk into the adorable shop in East Tosa for a cinnamon roll, s’mores babka, or pumpkin cream cheese muffin.

Beverages… with a little bit of spice 

There’s nothing quite like an iced cold beer or a cozy hot tea to truly embrace the autumn season.  Get in the spirit with Good City Brewing’s Oktoberfest beer (while supplies last) at their brewery in the Mayfair Collection. Try The Fermentoriums Harvest Apple Ale for a crisp sip or Blood Orange Seltzer for something on the lighter side.  Get a taste of the classics with The Little Village Play Café’s pumpkin spice latte. Ally’s Powerhouse Café also offers Chai Tea Latte — served hot or cold — with your choice of milk.

Fancy Fall Fare

For a completed elevated fall dining experience, make a reservation at Il Mito Trattoria E Enoteca or Eldr + Rime. Although it’s on the menu year-round, we would be remiss not to mention Il Mito’s mouth-watering pumpkin-stuffed ravioli. Or, to end your dinner on a sweet (yet spiced) note, order Eldr + Rime’s seasonal cream puff shell with spiced pumpkin, all-white chocolate mousse pistachio, and a caramel drizzle.
Header image courtesy of @cafehollander.