The arts-and-dining corridor running northeast from downtown, lined with breweries, theaters and the city's most-watched new kitchens.
Order Wiener schnitzel, a Sun King or Hofbrau on draft, and the soft pretzel with beer cheese.
The Rathskeller in Indianapolis has poured pilsner and served schnitzel in the Athenaeum since 1894. The biergarten is one of the best in the city.
Order Half a chicken, the spoonbread, the kale salad. Sit at the picnic tables outside in summer.
Cincinnati import that nails the Mass Avenue fried-chicken brief. Brined and dredged in-house, served with spoonbread and a half-dozen Southern sides.
Order The daily-changing wild fish, a dry-aged ribeye to share, the chef's cocktail off the list.
Salt on Mass is an upscale seafood-and-steak room on Mass Avenue in Indianapolis. No freezers, scratch kitchen, handcrafted cocktails, coastal wine list.
Order Three street tacos, the queso, a flight off the mezcal list.
Bakersfield Mass Ave in Indianapolis runs Mexican street fare with over 100 tequilas, an American whiskey list and one of the better Mass Ave patios.
Order Whatever ceviche is on the day's board, the beef empanadas, a mezcal cocktail.
Livery in Indianapolis is a pan-Latin room in a restored 1890s horse livery off Mass Avenue, with a long mezcal list, ceviches and a summer rooftop.
Order The Bru burger with sharp cheddar, truffle fries, an Indiana draft.
Bru Burger Bar opened on Mass Avenue in 2011 and remains the avenue's standard burger room. Hand-pattied house grinds, scratch brioche, craft-beer list.
Order The Quattro Stagioni pie, a Bazbeaux salad, a craft draft.
Bazbeaux on Mass Ave in Indianapolis has built specialty pies for over 30 years. Thin crust, creative combinations, the Mass Ave dinner-walk standard.
Order Two creative rolls off the menu, a hot-rock entree, a craft cocktail.
Forty Five Degrees on Mass Ave is the avenue's sushi anchor. Cocktails, hot-rock cooking and a strong roll list, with a late-kitchen most nights.
Order The smash burger with cheddar and the day's draft list.
Tavern at the Point on the historic Old Point Tavern corner is the new operator at one of Indy's oldest bar addresses. Gastro-pub plates, Indiana drafts.
Order Green curry, the pad see ew, a Bodhi cocktail.
Bodhi on Mass Ave in Indianapolis is a 21-plus women-owned Thai cocktail bar and bistro. Family recipes, creative drinks, late kitchen on weekends.
Order A chocolate chip cookie and a cortado off the house espresso.
Please & Thank You on Mass Ave in Indianapolis is a record-shop coffee bar imported from Louisville. The chocolate chip cookie is the city's reference cookie.
Also on this listThe Eagle Mass AveThe RathskellerBakersfield Mass AveLivery
Order A Death by Chocolate and a Hoosier Mama.
The Flying Cupcake's Mass Ave shop in Indianapolis bakes scratch cupcakes from local single-origin chocolate. Daily flavors plus seasonal rotations.
Order A stuffed chocolate chip and a milk for dunking.
Cookie Plug on Mass Ave in Indianapolis serves oversized stuffed cookies that are part cake, part brownie, part cookie. Late hours, hip-hop themed shop.
Order A chocolate chip cookie warm and a cortado.
Please & Thank You on Mass Ave in Indianapolis bakes the city's reference chocolate-chip cookie and pours espresso under a vinyl-wall counter.
Order A box of six: salted caramel, pistachio, raspberry, lemon, coffee, chocolate.
Macaron Bar on Mass Ave in Indianapolis runs scratch French macarons in 20-plus flavors. A downtown branch of the Cincinnati pastry shop, fresh daily.
Order A signature latte and the daily quiche.
Coat Check Coffee in the Athenaeum off Mass Ave, Indianapolis is a daytime cafe in a historic German social club. Signature lattes plus a food menu.
Drink Hofbrau on draft and German wines
The Rathskeller's Kellerbar in the Athenaeum, Indianapolis has poured pilsner since 1894. The biergarten opens late spring through fall with weekend music.
Drink Mezcal flights and 100+ tequilas
Bakersfield Mass Ave is a tequila-and-whiskey bar on Mass Ave, Indianapolis. Over 100 tequilas, an American whiskey list, a late kitchen Friday and Saturday.
Drink Pre-Prohibition classics and original cocktails
The Ball & Biscuit on Mass Ave in Indianapolis runs the city's most-decorated craft cocktail program with a deep American whiskey list and back bar.
Drink English drafts and Sunday Premier League
Chatham Tap on Mass Ave in Indianapolis is a soccer-mad pub with English drafts and Premier League on every screen. A reliable Indianapolis pick.
Drink Hi-Lite cocktails and a pitcher
The Eagle's bar on Mass Ave in Indianapolis pours pitchers and serves the full dining-room menu. Sit at the chef's counter for a half-chicken and a Hi-Lite.
Sun King Brewery on North College in Indianapolis is the city's biggest local. The downtown taproom runs the full lineup with rotating food trucks outside.
Order Sunday pasta class with Chef Monica.
Italian Heritage Society of Indiana runs pasta-making classes at the Nestle Inn near Mass Ave. Hands-on instruction, recipes, communal dinner with wine.
Order Chicken biscuit and a Hi-Lite
The Eagle on Mass Ave in Indianapolis runs weekend Southern brunch. Chicken biscuit, biscuits and gravy, the same fried chicken from the dinner menu.
Order Avocado toast and a fresh-pressed juice
Garden Table on Mass Ave in Indianapolis runs a juicery brunch program with health-leaning bowls and toasts. The bright corner room serves all day.
Try Fried chicken and spoonbread
The Eagle Mass Ave in Indianapolis runs a late kitchen Friday and Saturday until midnight. Fried chicken, spoonbread and pours from a long beer list.
Also on this listBakersfield Mass Ave
Metro Nightclub and Restaurant on Mass Ave is Indianapolis's gay-owned nightclub and restaurant, open since 1990 with a dance floor and twice-weekly karaoke.
Tini on Mass Ave is an LGBTQ-friendly martini bar, a sliver of a room with a half-dozen screens playing music videos and frequent theme nights.
