Indianapolis drinking culture runs from blues-bar institutions to dedicated mixology rooms, much of it concentrated on Massachusetts Avenue and around Fountain Square. The Slippery Noodle Inn downtown is one of the oldest bars in the state, while The Ball & Biscuit and Bakersfield's bar on Mass Ave handle the contemporary cocktail crowd. Fountain Square adds The Inferno Room and HI-FI, and Hotel Tango Distillery pours its own spirits in Fletcher Place.
Cocktail bars in Indianapolis
22 cocktail bar places in Indianapolis we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Indianapolis · Cocktail Bar across every city.
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Slippery Noodle Inn
- ★ 4.4
- $$$
- Downtown Indianapolis
Drink Bourbon and a Sun King draft
Slippery Noodle Inn on South Meridian in Indianapolis dates to 1850 as the Tremont House.
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Workingman's Friend
- ★ 4.5
- $$$
- Haughville
Drink Beer and a smash burger
Workingman's Friend on North Belmont in Haughville, Indianapolis is a 1918 lunch counter dive bar.
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The Rathskeller Kellerbar
- ★ 4.4
- $$$
- Mass Ave
Drink Hofbrau on draft and German wines
The Rathskeller's Kellerbar in the Athenaeum, Indianapolis has poured pilsner since 1894.
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Bakersfield Mass Ave Bar
- ★ 4.1
- $$$
- Mass Ave
Drink Mezcal flights and 100+ tequilas
Bakersfield Mass Ave is a tequila-and-whiskey bar on Mass Ave, Indianapolis.
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The Ball & Biscuit
- ★ 4.5
- $$$
- Mass Ave
Drink Pre-Prohibition classics and original cocktails
The Ball & Biscuit on Mass Ave in Indianapolis runs the city's most-decorated craft cocktail program with a deep American whiskey list and back bar.
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The Inferno Room
- ★ 4.6
- $$$
- Fountain Square
Drink Tiki cocktails and rum flights
The Inferno Room on Virginia Avenue in Fountain Square, Indianapolis is the city's home for tiki and exotic cocktails.
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The Red Key Tavern
- ★ 4.5
- $$$
- Broad Ripple
Drink Cold beer and a cheeseburger
The Red Key Tavern on North College in SoBro, Indianapolis is a 1933 tavern, a Dan Wakefield haunt with a jukebox of 45s, cash only and still a classic dive.
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The Aristocrat Pub & Restaurant
- ★ 4.3
- $$$
- Broad Ripple
Drink Indiana craft drafts and a pub burger
The Aristocrat Pub in South Broad Ripple, Indianapolis since 1933.
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High Velocity
- ★ 3.9
- $$$
- Downtown Indianapolis
Drink Craft cocktails and a long beer list
High Velocity at the JW Marriott Indianapolis is the downtown convention-district sports bar.
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Plat 99 Mixology Lounge
- ★ 4.3
- $$$
- Downtown Indianapolis
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.
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1933 Lounge
- ★ 4.5
- $$$
- Downtown Indianapolis
Drink Bourbon flights and a shrimp cocktail
1933 Lounge above St.
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Thieves
- ★ 4.4
- $$$
- Broad Ripple
Drink Mezcal cocktails and amaro flights
Thieves on East 65th in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis runs a tight cocktail program with a long mezcal-and-amaro list.
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Tin Roof Indianapolis
- ★ 4.0
- $$$
- Downtown Indianapolis
Drink Whiskey and a draft
Tin Roof on South Pennsylvania in Indianapolis runs live music seven nights a week.
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HI-FI
- ★ 4.4
- $$$
- Fountain Square
Drink Beer and a music ticket
HI-FI on Virginia Avenue in Fountain Square is a 400-capacity live music venue.
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Tappers Arcade Bar
- ★ 4.3
- $$$
- Fountain Square
Drink Beer and Skee-Ball
Tappers Arcade Bar on Virginia Avenue in Fletcher Place is Indianapolis's first barcade, pairing classic arcade cabinets with a deep tap list.
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Metazoa Brewing Tap Room
- ★ 4.2
- $$$
- Downtown Indianapolis
Drink Metazoa drafts and a guest list
Metazoa Brewing's South College Avenue taproom donates 5% of profits to animal conservation.
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The Jazz Kitchen
- ★ 4.4
- $$$
- Broad Ripple
Drink Old fashioned and a jazz set
The Jazz Kitchen on North College in SoBro, Indianapolis books live jazz seven nights a week.
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Chatham Tap Mass Ave
- ★ 4.1
- $$$
- Mass Ave
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.
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Hotel Tango Distillery
- ★ 4.3
- $$$
- Fletcher Place
Drink Hotel Tango cocktails and spirit flights
Hotel Tango on Virginia Avenue in Fletcher Place, Indianapolis is the country's first combat-disabled, veteran-owned distillery.
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The Eagle Bar
- ★ 4.1
- $$$
- Mass Ave
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.
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Moontown Brewing Bar Lounge
- ★ 4.0
- $$$
- Carmel
Drink Moontown drafts and seasonal pours
Moontown Brewing in Carmel is the suburb's craft beer anchor.
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Easley Winery Tasting Room
- ★ 4.1
- $$$
- Downtown Indianapolis
Drink Easley wines by the glass
Easley Winery on North College in Indianapolis is an urban winery and tasting room.