I have lived in Madison for a few years now since moving from New York, and a few of my favorite things about living in this city are the local shopping offerings and the delicious places to eat. If you’re a Madison native or find yourself in the area, Hilldale is a perfect destination for shopping and dining (and houses one of my cupcake shops!). Hilldale is Madison’s premium open-air shopping destination with a unique mix of more than 50 local and national retailers.
They offer a pedestrian-friendly streetscape, where you’ll find national brands like Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Sur La Table, Anthropologie, Lululemon Athletica, and The North Face, alongside best-in-class local boutiques such as Morgan’s Shoes, Twigs, Title Nine, and Sushi Muramoto.
In January, Hilldale initiated the second phase of its redevelopment plans to offer patrons a contemporary open-air layout and community green space. Hilldale’s south side redesign will make over the formerly enclosed area west of Macy’s to Sundance Cinemas. The exciting developments are set to finalize mid-summer.
Because Hilldale isn’t your typical shopping destination, they’ve even brightened up the area by debuting a Madison-specific mural, hand-painted by Nate Otto.
Let’s talk about a few of my favorite stores at Hilldale in Madison:
Gigi’s Cupcakes – Gigi’s is definitely my favorite for picking up treats or a quick shopping break. If you’re a lover of cupcakes, you must try this place out. They have a custom menu of cupcakes for each day of the week. One of my favorites was the Tiramisu; it was so delicious.
Kate Spade – I’m sure some of you ladies are fans of this brand, and I love having a location in Madison so I can stop by the beautiful shop instead of making purchases online. They recently released their spring collection, so it’s the perfect destination for a seasonal pop of color.
Lush Handmade Cosmetics – Going into this store is like heaven for me. Seriously, how cute are those bath bombs? I also love the customer service. Each Lush employee is polite, friendly and super helpful. They assist with trying out products, which I always appreciate.
Paper Source – If you’re currently wedding planning, this is the place to go! They literally have everything you could need to create your wedding invitations or pull together décor inspiration. Aside from wedding-related products, Paper Source is a great destination for all things crafting. You can pick up personalized stationery, custom announcements, calendars, planners, greeting cards, gift wrap, party supplies, paper crafts, and distinctive gifts.
Playthings: Playthings is a cute local boutique that offers toys, clothing, and accessories for kids. It’s a great destination for bringing little ones or picking up activities for a rainy day. Local moms, they’re having a semi-annual sale from March 16-19th and you can get 20% OFF the entire store!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Hilldale. All opinions and results expressed in this article are 100% my own.
