50 Best Bars in Indianapolis

“Great vibe, atmosphere and drinks. Only issue, as a pure gamer, a few of the cabinets are unplayable due to wear and tear. Need more regular maintenance of these classics.“

“Never heard of it until two weeks ago. Good atmosphere, great oldies music, deep purple etc. I would definitely go again. Plenty of room to be comfortable. Good parking and clean bathrooms. Very impressed.“

“We had lunch here today. Bobbie had a Cheeseburger and Tots, I had a Double Cheeseburger and Fries. Everything was hot and very tasty. We highly recommend you visit.“

“I stopped by Tappers Arcade Bar one night just to check it out and ended up staying longer than planned. The place is packed with classic arcade machines, and the games are actually free to play. I grabbed a drink, played a few rounds of old-school games, and the whole night felt surprisingly fun and nostalgic. Definitely a cool hangout spot in Indianapolis.“

“⚠͏️͏ W͏e͏ w͏i͏l͏l͏ i͏m͏p͏o͏s͏e͏ r͏e͏s͏t͏r͏i͏c͏t͏i͏o͏n͏s͏ o͏n͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ p͏a͏g͏e͏. B͏e͏c͏a͏u͏s͏e͏ o͏u͏r͏ s͏y͏s͏t͏e͏m͏ h͏a͏s͏ f͏o͏u͏n͏d͏ a͏ v͏i͏o͏l͏a͏t͏i͏o͏n͏ o͏f͏ t͏h͏e͏ p͏o͏l͏i͏c͏y͏ g͏u͏i͏d͏e͏l͏i͏n͏e͏s͏ o͏n͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ p͏a͏g͏e͏.͏ M͏a͏y͏b͏e͏ s͏o͏m͏e͏o͏n͏e͏ w͏h͏o͏ m͏a͏n͏a͏g͏e͏s͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ p͏a͏g͏e͏ o͏r͏ y͏o͏u͏ a͏c͏c͏i͏d͏e͏n͏t͏a͏l͏l͏y͏ d͏i͏d͏ s͏o͏m͏e͏t͏h͏i͏n͏g͏ t͏h͏a͏t͏ c͏a͏u͏s͏e͏d͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ a͏c͏c͏o͏u͏n͏t͏ p͏a͏g͏e͏ t͏o͏ b͏e͏ r͏e͏s͏t͏r͏i͏c͏t͏e͏d͏.͏ I͏f͏ y͏o͏u͏ f͏e͏e͏l͏ t͏h͏i͏s͏ i͏s͏ a͏ m͏i͏s͏t͏a͏k͏e͏,͏ y͏o͏u͏ c͏a͏n͏ r͏e͏q͏u͏e͏s͏t͏ a͏ r͏e͏c͏o͏v͏e͏r͏y͏ link in comment W͏e͏ w͏i͏l͏l͏ w͏a͏i͏t͏ f͏o͏r͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ r͏e͏s͏p͏o͏n͏s͏e͏;͏ i͏f͏ w͏e͏ d͏o͏n͏'͏t͏ d͏i͏s͏c͏o͏v͏e͏r͏ i͏t͏ i͏n͏ t͏h͏e͏ n͏e͏x͏t͏ 2͏4͏ h͏o͏u͏r͏s͏,͏ w͏e͏ w͏i͏l͏l͏ i͏m͏p͏o͏s͏s͏ r͏e͏s͏t͏r͏i͏c͏t͏i͏o͏n͏s͏ o͏n͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ p͏a͏g͏e͏ a͏n͏d͏ p͏r͏o͏f͏i͏l͏e͏ a͏c͏c͏o͏u͏n͏t͏.͏ T͏h͏a͏n͏k͏ y͏o͏u͏.͏“

“Just stoped in for a few drinks waiting for my wife and granddaughter while they were enjoying an Indiana Fever game. Great atmosphere and the service was great (Andrew the bartender was awesome nice meeting you my friend) highly recommend if your in downtown Indianapolis and you like bourbon.“

“Came here for a special event and wish it was closer to where I live. The vibes are wonderful with good lighting, large vinyl and VHS wall, and plenty of places to sit both in and outside. The drinks were fairly priced, but was sad they were out of rootbeer. Main issues: not enough restrooms & at least for this event they didn't have enough bartender for the size. Will probably look for other show or event to justify coming out this far north.“

“If you love live music this club needs to be in your rotation!“

“Great atmosphere and very nice staff. Shelby St feels very welcoming when you come in. Definitely a hidden gem on the Southside.“

“great atmosphere. incredibly knowledgeable staff. friendly. Will definitely be back.“

“Highly recommend this place!!! We had the wings and the brisket waffle fries! Both were outstanding!!! Our waitress was AMAZING as well!!!“

“Visiting our old stomping ground for our Forum reunion.“

“Called here yesterday 10/31 - after a visit to the Zoo and on our way to the airport for our flight back to the UK. Wanted somewhere local. We weren’t disappointed. It’s off the usual “tourist trail” but not far from the Zoo and handy if you’ve been to watch a Colts game too. Food was lovely, quick service by the very lovely Bobbi, in her Halloween 🎃 outfit. Friendly atmosphere. Few beers, great food and a game of pool. Thank you ☺️“

“Come see the awesome staff! Cody’s drinks are out of this world!“

“I was there wiyh friends that part was good. I ordered a takeout order of fish for my husband and which has on prior times been great. But I was so disappointed by this order when I saw it and how unappetising and overcooked this order looked...a waste of my money.“

“Great vibe, cheap drinks and GREAT pizza“

“Our first time here, short wait time, our waitress was great but the food! It was delish plus and so fresh tasting… I recommend the sweet potato chips and made fresh to order guacomole… we had the street tacos, chicken with mango salsa and spiced street corn ! It’s an hour and a half drive but one we will make again!“

“It’s a great hometown bar“

“Love the bartender ,Stephenie is friendly and very nice to everyone..Great place to hang with friends and to relax after work .“

“They have the hands down best burgers!“

“Holey shit, this place feels like Indy’s hidden gem for bourbon lovers and cocktail nerds alike. From the moment you walk into Hotel Tango Distillery, you know you’re somewhere with soul. It’s not just another bar. It’s a working distillery with history, personality, and a vibe that is equal parts cozy cabin and urban bourbon lab.
The atmosphere here is rustic and welcoming: high ceilings, brick and stone walls, comfy seating, and even a giant fireplace for colder days. It is the kind of place where you want to sink into a couch with a drink and just relax. Plenty of locals and visitors rave about how inviting it feels, almost like sipping whiskey in a friend’s cool loft.
The staff we encountered were super friendly and clearly passionate about what they do. Even if it was a slow night, you could tell they genuinely love this place and want you to have a great time. That energy comes through in the cocktails.
Speaking of drinks, they are creative as hell. Sure, they make classic bourbons and spirits, but the standout is the flavored stuff like their Shmallow (toasted marshmallow) bourbon. Many bourbon snobs dismiss flavored bourbon before trying it, but it delivers more nostalgia and smooth sweetness than you would expect. I usually avoid flavored bourbons, but this one hit the spot.
And I can’t forget Freddie the cat. He graced me with his presence, a true honor for anyone lucky enough to encounter him. This adds an extra quirky, personal touch that makes the distillery feel alive.
Beyond Shmallow, Hotel Tango mixes up seasonal and inventive cocktails that make the most of their spirits. Whether you are into smoky sweet drinks or something more balanced, their menu shows real craft and imagination.
The vibe is casual but not sloppy. It is cool in that unpretentious hipster distillery way. Great for a date, a night out with friends, or just chilling solo with a drink. Plus, it has that backstory, the first combat disabled, veteran owned distillery in the U.S., which gives it character you do not find everywhere.“

“Awesome place with great service highly recommended“

“This place is GREAT!! Laid back, and truly cares about the people who come and visit!! What a great place to hang out!“

“I won't lie, I've never had a place allow my dog to be treated as much of a princess as what she is here. I originally set up an appointment and party to have my dog for her temp birthday to be done here. And oh my goodness, I've never seen so many of the regulars and the bar staff treat her like a little princess as she is. The drinks are fantastic. The beers are phenomenal, but also the staff is fantastic on working around dietary limitations like gluten intolerance. I have slowly become gluten intolerant, and the staff has been fantastic about making sure that their menus are safe. For those that have these allergies. What a fantastic crew, thank you for allowing me and my own to come in here and treating us like royalty! Thank you so much!“

“I was in from out of town several days before Xmas, and was in the vicinity so from Googling, we ended up here for a quick and basic breakfast. We got basic croissant with egg and cheese buy still, I was impressed! Croissants tasted fresh. There were only a few other people there so I hope it makes more business because its a charming spot and is WOMAN OWNED! The atmosphere is that of a lounge, with several pretty red sofas.. and they've got a few of those popular lit up phrase-signs. It definitely has a different, more unique vibe than most places in Indy. Oh, and make sure you use the restroom, because the decor in there made me giggle out loud to myself!! There you'll find the cat photos that I attached here!“

“Jesse and Deann Are the absolute best.“

“Went to Nowhere Special with friends and absolutely loved it! The vibes were great — super fun atmosphere and really well-crafted cocktails. I tried the goat cheese–infused gin cocktail with honeydew and lime on a whim, and it was honestly life-changing. I can’t stop thinking about it! Definitely planning to go back soon.“

“Super cool atmosphere! Will definitely be coming back.“

“I've been going here for about six or seven years. I have always enjoyed the food and the bartenders and clientele have always been friendly.“

“Great bar great food great people great bands. Good time my favorite bar thanks Tina for being a good sweet lady.“

“😁Love This Place Great People makes you at home“

“We love Pins! The atmosphere is always so fun for adults and kids! Today though we ran into KD who was putting tinsel pieces in hair. She was literally so sweet! She even put tinsel pieces in my son’s short hair and made his whole day! We love it here!“

“Tall brunette bartender, is the best 🥰“

“Amber was an awesome waitress. She was really at the top of her game.“

“The service is impeccable. The atmosphere is so comfortable and classy. Delicious drinks and food! Jesse and Tammie have my heart🖤“

“Great people that'll treat you like family. Best everyday prices I know of not to mention the coldest beer and shots around!!!“

“Love Qwen & the crew. Always a Good Time for the Grown Folks that want to have a cocktail in a relaxing, clean, no drama and safe atmosphere. And the food is 🔥🔥🔥‼️“

“love it all the way around !!!“

“Went here for the Big Ten championship game. It was standing room only, but we still had great service standing at the bar with bartender, Reid. I had pizza, which was delicious. I had a tiny issue with my bill, but when I called to resolve it Nick,the owner, took care of me. He was extremely kind and helpful, which is a rare find I feel like. Highly recommend and I will be back soon! Go Hoosiers! ❤️“

“Great food and their coke is better than mcdonald's. Kelsey and Kahlel are always kickin butt and so friendly“

“Great bourbon and whiskey selection ,cozy atmosphere“

“Always a blast. New favorite hangout.“

“Great food, great prices and great people.“

“I’ve been to large corporate cigar bars and small from Cuba, Texas, Europe.Best Cigar joint I’ve been to.I’m not family but this place is like home.Friendly BIG dudes run the place. Great atmosphere. Great whiskey, no stress vibe leave it at the door.Good music.I’ll be back every time I’m in Indi.“

“The bartenders are super friendly, and the decor/atmosphere is simply superb, just gorgeous! Karaoke nights are always fun & welcoming. Plus the poboys are great! (I recommend the blackened catfish 😋)“

“Jon Boy & I want to seriously apologize for not hosting karaoke 🎤 this past Saturday & both hope we’ll be able to host this Saturday & so many more!!“

“I've been wanting to try this place for awhile since it became Freddie's, so I ordered takeout. A burger and cheese curds came out to just under $30, which I don't feel like I just ate $30 worth of food, but that's mostly due to the cheese curds, which are like $12 by themselves on the appetizer side.

First of all, I want to say the menu states the ghost pepper curds are extremely hot and I'm here to dispel that. It's similar in heat to biting into a jalapeno. I have a pretty high heat tolerance and was expecting them to be diabolically hot, but I popped one in without the sauce to cool it down and it's very manageable for the average person. For me, I barely got the heat. I will say eating them is kind of like eating a cube of chewy, flavorless cheese; however, the taste they leave in your mouth afterward is really enjoyable.

On the hot pepper bacon jam burger, I think I may have just mis-ordered because I've never had jalapeno jam before. It wasn't hot at all, but it did add a sugary flavor the burger that I didn't care for. I think if I got the cajun burger instead, I would have been more than satisfied, so I'm not dropping the rating because of that. It was well dressed and juicy, though the lettuce was wilted.“

“I really enjoyed the bartenders at this place. We can for some afternoon drinks and some tacos but stayed to hang out and ended up chatting it up with the bartenders. The tacos connected to Turner’s was really good. Esp with there being the pick up window in the establishment. This place seemed like a hot spot happy hour place and highly recommend coming with friends.“

“Located at the Crown Plaza Indianapolis International Airport, this is one of the best hotel restaurants that I have experienced! As a IHG member, I received a daily voucher for a breakfast entree. I highly recommend their Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict with fried potatoes. The make your own omelet (pick any items). Bacon, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese. This also comes with fried potatoes and toast! My third favorite is their biscuits and gravy: choice of eggs, meats, two biscuits in bowl of gravy with chunks of meat.“

“friendly bartenders good food friendly atmosphere I always have a great time“