Monument Circle and the convention-center core. St. Elmo's holds the corner since 1902, Shapiro's the Reuben since 1905.
Order Five jumbo shrimp around the eye-watering horseradish cocktail sauce, then the filet mignon.
St. Elmo Steak House on South Illinois Street has anchored Indianapolis steakhouse dining since 1902. The eye-watering shrimp cocktail is the city's icon.
Order The six-course tasting at 150 dollars per person, or the chef's tasting at 235 with the standard pairings.
Vida is Thomas Melvin's tasting-menu room in Indianapolis since 2016. The six-course menu changes weekly and is the city's most ambitious kitchen.
Order Whatever the chef's running on the small plates board plus a glass off the European wine list.
Tinker Street on East 16th turns out seasonal New American small plates and pairs them off a serious wine list. Tom Main runs the kitchen and the room.
Order The cheese ravioli, the meatballs and the house Chianti.
Iaria's in Indianapolis has been on the same South College Avenue corner since 1933, the canonical old-school red-sauce Italian-American house.
Order The Reuben, a side of macaroni salad, and a slice of sugar cream pie.
Shapiro's Deli in Indianapolis opened in 1905. The Reuben, the corned beef on rye and the matzo ball soup have run the same counter for a century.
On this list, shown aboveSt. Elmo Steak HouseVidaTinker Street
Order Veal scaloppine, the house lasagna, the tiramisu.
Iozzo's Garden of Italy in Indianapolis carries the recipes of the city's first full-service Italian restaurant. A South Meridian dinner-and-wine room.
Order The wagyu burger and a craft cocktail at the bar.
Spoke & Steele in the Le Méridien Indianapolis is the convention-district New American room. Wagyu burger, roasted chicken, cocktail program on the bar.
Also on this listShapiro's DelicatessenIaria's Italian Restaurant
Order A flat white off the rotating espresso, plus a pour-over from Africa.
Quills Coffee on North Meridian in Indianapolis pours single-origin filter, espresso and pastries from the Louisville-based roaster's only Indy cafe.
Order A butter croissant and a kouign-amann.
Circle City Sweets at 16 Tech in Indianapolis runs scratch French-style pastries, laminated croissants, kouign-amann, macarons and artisan breads.
Order A coconut cake donut and a regular coffee.
Jack's Donuts on West Market in downtown Indianapolis is the Central Indiana donut institution since 1961. Cake donuts and coffee, no frills.
Order A flat white off the rotating espresso, plus a pour-over from Africa.
Quills Coffee on North Meridian in Indianapolis pours single-origin filter, espresso and pastries from the Louisville-based roaster's only Indy cafe.
Tinker Street on East 16th in Indianapolis runs a serious by-the-glass program alongside the seasonal kitchen. A James Beard recognized wine list.
Drink Bourbon and a Sun King draft
Slippery Noodle Inn on South Meridian in Indianapolis dates to 1850 as the Tremont House. Indiana's oldest bar in continuous operation, a blues room.
Drink Craft cocktails and a long beer list
High Velocity at the JW Marriott Indianapolis is the downtown convention-district sports bar. Eighty-plus screens, an extensive beer list, full kitchen.
Drink Bartender-choice cocktails and art-program pairings
Plat 99 at The Alexander Hotel in Indianapolis is a cocktail lounge built around the hotel's contemporary-art collection. Chosen drinks, late hours.
Drink Bourbon flights and a shrimp cocktail
1933 Lounge above St. Elmo Steak House on South Illinois in Indianapolis pours bourbon and serves the steakhouse small-plate menu. Walk-ins only.
Drink Whiskey and a draft
Tin Roof on South Pennsylvania in Indianapolis runs live music seven nights a week. A downtown live-music room with a deep draft list and pub kitchen.
Drink Metazoa drafts and a guest list
Metazoa Brewing's South College Avenue taproom donates 5% of profits to animal conservation. Dog-friendly, family-friendly, with a long Indiana draft list.
Drink Easley wines by the glass
Easley Winery on North College in Indianapolis is an urban winery and tasting room. Indiana fruit wines, cheese plates, the city's longest-running wine bar.
Try Multi-vendor food hall in shipping containers
The AMP at 16 Tech is a food hall in a former water company service bay, with 20-plus vendors selling cheesesteaks, tacos, wings, BBQ, pastries and coffee.
Centerpoint Brewing on East Brookside Avenue, Indianapolis is a small east-of-downtown taproom running a tightly-edited lineup of crisp lagers and modern.
The Original Farmers' Market on Monument Circle in Indianapolis runs Wednesday morning May through October. The downtown lunch crowd's mid-week produce stop.
On this list, shown aboveShapiro's Delicatessen
Order Seasonal small plates from the brunch board
Tinker Street on East 16th in Indianapolis runs a Sunday brunch service. Seasonal small plates, the same wine list, the most-watched brunch room downtown.
Order Matzo brei or corned beef hash
Shapiro's Delicatessen on South Meridian in Indianapolis runs weekend breakfast 9 to noon. Matzo brei and corned-beef hash served counter-style since 1905.
Order Broken-yolk sandwich and a Patachou potato
Cafe Patachou Downtown across from the State Capitol in Indianapolis serves the same flagship menu in a daylit downtown room. Cinnamon toast standard.
Try Bar burgers and Reuben dogs
The Slippery Noodle Inn kitchen on South Meridian in Indianapolis runs late Friday and Saturday alongside the blues stage. A reliable Indianapolis pick.
