Cocktails, wine bars and dives: drinking in Indianapolis for grown-ups.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Indianapolis for grown-ups.
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.
Signature drink: Bourbon and a Sun King draft
Food: Bar menu and Indiana American sides
Workingman's Friend on North Belmont in Haughville, Indianapolis is a 1918 lunch counter dive bar. Macedonian-origin, cash only, the West Side standard.
Signature drink: Beer and a smash burger
Food: Smash double cheeseburgers and fries
The Rathskeller's Kellerbar in the Athenaeum, Indianapolis has poured pilsner since 1894. The biergarten opens late spring through fall with weekend music.
Signature drink: Hofbrau on draft and German wines
Food: Schnitzel and pretzel
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.
Signature drink: Mezcal flights and 100+ tequilas
Food: Street tacos and queso
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.
Signature drink: Pre-Prohibition classics and original cocktails
Food: Snack plates and shareables
The Inferno Room on Virginia Avenue in Fountain Square, Indianapolis is the city's home for tiki and exotic cocktails. Six nights a week, 21-plus only.
Signature drink: Tiki cocktails and rum flights
Food: Tiki bar snacks
The Red Key Tavern on North College in SoBro, Indianapolis is a 1933 tavern. Vonnegut's hangout, no cell phones rule, the city's most respected dive.
Signature drink: Cold beer and a cheeseburger
Food: Cheeseburgers and tavern plates
The Aristocrat Pub in South Broad Ripple, Indianapolis since 1933. A cherished neighborhood pub with a wide draft list and the city's longest patio.
Signature drink: Indiana craft drafts and a pub burger
Food: Pub menu
High Velocity at the JW Marriott Indianapolis is the downtown convention-district sports bar. Eighty-plus screens, an extensive beer list, full kitchen.
Signature drink: Craft cocktails and a long beer list
Food: Elevated bar food
Plat 99 at The Alexander Hotel in Indianapolis is a cocktail lounge built around the hotel's contemporary-art collection. Chosen drinks, late hours.
Signature drink: Bartender-choice cocktails and art-program pairings
Food: Small plates
1933 Lounge above St. Elmo Steak House on South Illinois in Indianapolis pours bourbon and serves the steakhouse small-plate menu. Walk-ins only.
Signature drink: Bourbon flights and a shrimp cocktail
Food: Steakhouse small plates
Thieves on East 65th in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis runs a tight cocktail program with a long mezcal-and-amaro list. Bartender's choice off the chalkboard.
Signature drink: Mezcal cocktails and amaro flights
Food: Snack plates
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.
Signature drink: Whiskey and a draft
Food: Pub food
HI-FI on Virginia Avenue in Fountain Square is a 400-capacity live music venue. Six nights a week of touring acts and the city's strongest indie programming.
Signature drink: Beer and a music ticket
Food: Bar menu only
Tappers Arcade Bar on Virginia Avenue in Fletcher Place is Indianapolis's first barcade, pairing classic arcade cabinets with a deep tap list.
Signature drink: Beer and Skee-Ball
Food: Pizza and bar snacks
Metazoa Brewing's South College Avenue taproom donates 5% of profits to animal conservation. Dog-friendly, family-friendly, with a long Indiana draft list.
Signature drink: Metazoa drafts and a guest list
Food: Food trucks rotating
The Jazz Kitchen on North College in SoBro, Indianapolis books live jazz seven nights a week. Pan-Latin small plates, cocktails, two sets nightly.
Signature drink: Old fashioned and a jazz set
Food: Pan-Latin and Caribbean small plates
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.
Signature drink: English drafts and Sunday Premier League
Food: British pub plates
Tomlinson Tap Room above City Market in downtown Indianapolis pours Indiana-only drafts. Mezzanine seating, food from the market vendors below.
Signature drink: Indiana-only drafts
Food: City Market food vendors
Hotel Tango on Virginia Avenue in Fletcher Place, Indianapolis is the country's first combat-disabled, veteran-owned distillery. Tasting room and patio.
Signature drink: Hotel Tango cocktails and spirit flights
Food: Snack plates
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.
Signature drink: Hi-Lite cocktails and a pitcher
Food: Fried chicken and spoonbread
Moontown Brewing in Carmel is the suburb's craft beer anchor. Long Indiana list, full kitchen, a yard for warm-weather drinking, 21-plus only.
Signature drink: Moontown drafts and seasonal pours
Food: Pub food
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.
Signature drink: Easley wines by the glass
Food: Cheese plates