In a city with four lakes — Mendota, Monona, Wingra, and Waubesa — it’s more than reasonable to want your new apartment to have a view overlooking one of those beautiful scenes. Fortunately, nearly every apartment building on or near the isthmus will come one with views of at least one lake, but you can catch two from most rooftops. Let’s look at some of the best Madison apartments with watery vistas.
Mendota Lakeshore Apartments
You can’t get much closer to Lake Mendota without being in a boat. This apartment building is a bit on the older side, but it has plenty of modern amenities — with a gym, cable, and internet included. Walking out the back doors is walking out into a lakeside park with a pier and a fire pit, making it the perfect place to spend a warm summer night with friends.
The Lux
This building isn’t exactly on the beach, but it offers a stellar rooftop patio with views of both Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, a pool, and grills. Given its relative proximity to campus, it’s a popular choice with students, but it has classy granite countertops, a sophisticated mechanical valet (read: robot) parking system, views of the Capitol building, and gorgeous hardwood floors.
The Ovation
Much like the Luxe, this luxurious apartment building capitalizes on its location by making its rooftop something spectacular, with a lighted pergola, pool, and plenty of seating from which to enjoy the lakes and the Capitol. Even from the inside, it’s decked out with smart touches: oversized windows bring in tons of light, fireplaces, a sauna, yoga, a carwash, barbecues, and more, plus plenty of onsite heated parking.
Seven27
Still within walking distance of downtown and the Capitol building, Seven27 is located on quieter street on Monona and Brittingham Bay, where you’ll find a beach and watersport rentals and easy access to bike trails. If large complexes aren’t your style, this modern building — just four stories high — will be the perfect fit. Floor-to-ceiling windows make it easy to take in the bay, and large shared terraces let you bask in the sun, too.
Lincoln School
Near James Madison park and downtown, this former school now holds nearly 30 apartments with unique layouts and new fixtures like stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. With James Madison less than a block away — and Lake Mendota closer yet — your backyard is nearly limitless and filled with recreational activities. Or, just stay inside and soak the view.
The Roundhouse Apartments
Living up to their name, the Roundhouse Apartments are in a silo-like building that, from the upper floors, overlooks Lake Mendota. It’s also extremely close to the University of Wisconsin and one of the main streets for entertainment in the city: State Street.
