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 a great time hanging out at Wiseguy! Shout out to Warren, our bartender, who made the experience way more fun. Not only were his cocktails top notch, but he was very personable and an overall cool guy! We would have stayed longer but it was TOO WARM in the space - felt like the AC could not keep up.“

“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.“

“Lindsey was great! Made dinner recommendations which we loved!“

“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.“

“I like it a lot , but it does have a bit limited selection and some systems need repair but lot of free games and I personally like the slushies. Pin ball costs but not much, the old school games are fun and you usually can find a group to play smash with. It can be less social then you hope but nerds are shy so what can you do?“

“Such an awesome venue. Everyone was very nice and accommodating. I dont think the sound quality couldve been better, decent prices on beer, food was good, vibes were even better, and on top of all that I got to see a band that I love for 25 bucks. Now days you really cant beat that. I will definitely be returning and recommending this place to all my people.“

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

“⚠͏️͏ 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.͏“

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

“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 ☺️“

“I love this place because it takes me back to my childhood with my family. The service and the flavors make me feel just like home — just the way we enjoy it in Veracruz. Truly a wonderful experience every time!“

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

“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!“

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

“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.“

“First show at The Annex... The sound was dialed in perfectly. That is my kind of Venue. Can't wait for the new digs to open for shows. Always enjoy my time at the Hifi, inside or out. Great joint. Another show coming up next month. I cannot wait.“

“Great relaxed vibe for people who want an alcoholic drink or an espresso. Fantastic concept that Broad Ripple has needed for a long time. Typically, coffee cafes close at 3:00 p.m. making it impossible to get an after dinner coffee but thanks to Thieves there is now a place to go. Friendly service and well made espresso.“

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

“Great vibe with outdoor seating and a dark, artsy interior with a large mural and imperfect stars and multicolor xmas lights hanging from the ceiling. Food and drink are just ok but nothing to write about. Food you can order via QR code at the tables.

We were there for trivia (every Wednesdays night at 7:30pm).

🐕 Place is dog friendly so people will bring their dogs.

Bathrooms are two, single occupancy genderless stalls.“

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

“Great vibe, cheap drinks and GREAT pizza“

“It’s a great hometown bar“

“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“

“Jesse and Deann Are the absolute best.“

“Its refreshing to come to Barringers Tavern. The service from Marcus is what I appreciate most. He is always welcoming, funny and considerate. That is the main reason I visit Barringers with my friends regularly.“

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

“Best cocktails in Indy, and very supportive of their community.“

“Dasha was excellent. I had my two young kids with me and she was so efficient and got their food orders in immediately, which made everything go so smoothly“

“They have the hands down best burgers!“

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

“Our server Graham was OUTSTANDING!! We were in town for a conference and the team came here for dinner.

Everyone's orders were very good. I had the steak bowl and it was so so good.

We also tried creme brulee and the butter cake? Which was next level.

This place is legit. I wanna come back to Indy just to give this another try.“

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

“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.“

“Always a blast. New favorite hangout.“

“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!“

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

“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“

“I have been to Indy so many times and never been here. I love it. Chill vibe, DJ played the hits, Ladies at the bar was attentive and nice, drinks were good. The atmosphere was very chill. We came with our son and we all enjoyed. When I'm back in town, I will visit again!!“

“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.“

“I didn't eat here, but food is available including a connection to the Mexican restaurant next door. Not a large place. They open the garage door by the pool table on nice days. Lots of whimsical decorations. Much of them are related to the Stutz automobiles.“

“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! ❤️“

“Called them to host my 21ST birthday party last week and they were AMAZING. The manager answered all my questions and made me feel heard(even though I called him multiple times), and when I got there they had already reserved the space for me, the servers were sweet and attentive and so so kind. The atmosphere was laid back and fun and even my family and friends said it was a really really nice spot. Would definitely go back! And the food definitely didn’t hurt either! Was delicious for an even more delicious price! Thank you Dustin!! Would give ten stars if I could!“

“love it all the way around !!!“

“Such a great time the girls and I had for our girl trip! The food was delicious staff were all friendly and very warm welcoming! To learn the history on the slippery noodle inn tour was one of our favorite parts! So much to unpack and learn about the building and back history our tour guide was an absolute pleasure and awesome guy! 10/10 recommend can’t wait to return!“

“Great comfort food! SmalltownIndiana, a local food enthusiast, recommended Freddy’s. We really enjoyed their potato skins, mozz sticks, and the ghost pepper bites were perfectly spicy. Finally, the tenderloin fingers had a nice crunch! I recommend both SmalltownIndiana and Freddy’s!!!“