40 upscale places in Indianapolis, editor-picked. occasion restaurants in Indianapolis: destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Indianapolis food.
Beholder ★ 4.8
near-eastside · 1844 E 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46201
Beholder is Jonathan Brooks' near-eastside room on East 10th Street in Indianapolis. The constantly-changing menu is the city's most-watched table.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Reservations on Resy are essential for Friday and Saturday; the bar takes walk-ins.
Bluebeard ★ 4.7
fletcher-place · 653 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Bluebeard on Virginia Avenue in Indianapolis runs a scratch kitchen and the in-house Amelia's bakery. A James Beard semifinalist Fletcher Place anchor.
Tip: Walk in before 6:00 to drink at the bar; the dining room books up by Thursday for weekend nights.
Borage ★ 4.6
speedway · 1609 N Lynhurst Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46224
Borage in Speedway, Indianapolis is a cafe-bakery-market with weekend dinner service and a Progressive American menu. A reliable Indianapolis pick.
Tip: Dinner Thursday through Saturday only. Reservations on the website.
The Inferno Room ★ 4.6
fountain-square · 902 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
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.
Tinker Street ★ 4.5
downtown · 402 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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.
Tip: Sunday and Monday dinner only; closes Tuesday and Wednesday some weeks. Check the calendar before the drive.
Late Harvest Kitchen ★ 4.5
north-side · 8605 River Crossing Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46240
Ryan Nelson's farm-to-table room near Keystone at the Crossing. The menu changes daily and leans into Hoosier ingredients with a chef-driven point of view.
Tip: Bigger room than it looks from outside, with private dining for groups. Reservations on OpenTable book up Friday and Saturday.
Amara Indian Cuisine & Bar ★ 4.5
north-side · 1454 W 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260
Amara in Carmel runs modern South Asian out of an open kitchen, with tandoor-cooked lamb and chef-driven dal. One of the city's best Indian dining rooms.
Tip: Closed Monday. Reservations for dinner; lunch is walk-in friendly.
Workingman's Friend ★ 4.5
haughville · 234 N Belmont Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46222
Workingman's Friend on North Belmont in Haughville, Indianapolis is a 1918 lunch counter dive bar. Macedonian-origin, cash only, the West Side standard.
The Ball & Biscuit ★ 4.5
mass-ave · 331 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
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.
The Red Key Tavern ★ 4.5
broad-ripple · 5170 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46205
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.
1933 Lounge ★ 4.5
downtown · 127 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
1933 Lounge above St. Elmo Steak House on South Illinois in Indianapolis pours bourbon and serves the steakhouse small-plate menu. Walk-ins only.
Tinker Street Wine Bar ★ 4.5
downtown · 402 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Tinker Street on East 16th in Indianapolis runs a serious by-the-glass program alongside the seasonal kitchen. A James Beard recognized wine list.
Petite Chou Champagne Bar ★ 4.5
broad-ripple · 823 Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Petite Chou in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis runs a Champagne bar inside a French bistro. By-the-glass Champagne and grower bubbles in a Patachou-group room.
Mama Carolla's Old Italian ★ 4.4
meridian-kessler · 1031 E 54th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Mama Carolla's in Meridian Kessler, Indianapolis runs the canonical Italian-American room from a brick house on 54th. A reliable Indianapolis pick.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Reservations on OpenTable; the patio is the move in summer.
Salt on Mass ★ 4.4
mass-ave · 505 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Salt on Mass is an upscale seafood-and-steak room on Mass Avenue in Indianapolis. No freezers, scratch kitchen, handcrafted cocktails, coastal wine list.
Tip: Reservations on Opentable for the main dining room; the bar takes walk-ins and serves the full menu.
Mama Carolla's Old Italian ★ 4.4
meridian-kessler · 1031 E 54th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Mama Carolla's in Meridian Kessler, Indianapolis is the canonical Italian-American room of 54th Street. Red sauce and a candlelit cult following.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Patio in summer.
Bodhi Craft Bar + Thai Bistro ★ 4.4
mass-ave · 922 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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.
Tip: Closed Tuesday. The cocktail program is the angle here Walk-ins usually OK.
Vicino ★ 4.4
mass-ave · 888 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Vicino on Mass Ave in Indianapolis is a modern Italian room with hand-rolled pasta, regional Italian braises and a focused Italian wine list.
Tip: Reservations Tuesday through Saturday; the bar takes walk-ins.
Slippery Noodle Inn ★ 4.4
downtown · 372 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
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.
The Rathskeller Kellerbar ★ 4.4
mass-ave · 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
The Rathskeller's Kellerbar in the Athenaeum, Indianapolis has poured pilsner since 1894. The biergarten opens late spring through fall with weekend music.
Thieves ★ 4.4
broad-ripple · 740 E 65th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220
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.
HI-FI ★ 4.4
fountain-square · 1043 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
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.
The Jazz Kitchen ★ 4.4
broad-ripple · 5377 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220
The Jazz Kitchen on North College in SoBro, Indianapolis books live jazz seven nights a week. Pan-Latin small plates, cocktails, two sets nightly.
Livery ★ 4.3
mass-ave · 720 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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.
Tip: Two floors plus the rooftop. Reserve downstairs for dinner; the rooftop is walk-in and weather-dependent.
Livery ★ 4.3
mass-ave · 720 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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.
Tip: Two floors plus the rooftop. Reserve downstairs; rooftop seats are walk-in only.
The Aristocrat Pub & Restaurant ★ 4.3
broad-ripple · 5212 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220
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.
Plat 99 Mixology Lounge ★ 4.3
downtown · 333 S Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Plat 99 at The Alexander Hotel in Indianapolis is a cocktail lounge built around the hotel's contemporary-art collection. Chosen drinks, late hours.
Tappers Arcade Bar ★ 4.3
fountain-square · 501 Virginia Ave, Ste 102, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Tappers Arcade Bar on Virginia Avenue in Fletcher Place is Indianapolis's first barcade, pairing classic arcade cabinets with a deep tap list.
Hotel Tango Distillery ★ 4.3
fletcher-place · 702 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Hotel Tango on Virginia Avenue in Fletcher Place, Indianapolis is the country's first combat-disabled, veteran-owned distillery. Tasting room and patio.
Iozzo's Garden of Italy ★ 4.2
downtown · 946 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
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.
Tip: Pre-concert dinners get busy; reserve before Symphony or Pacers nights.
Metazoa Brewing Tap Room ★ 4.2
downtown · 140 S College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Metazoa Brewing's South College Avenue taproom donates 5% of profits to animal conservation. Dog-friendly, family-friendly, with a long Indiana draft list.
Tomlinson Tap Room ★ 4.2
downtown · 222 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Tomlinson Tap Room above City Market in downtown Indianapolis pours Indiana-only drafts. Mezzanine seating, food from the market vendors below.
Bakersfield Mass Ave Bar ★ 4.1
mass-ave · 334 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
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.
Chatham Tap Mass Ave ★ 4.1
mass-ave · 719 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
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.
The Eagle Bar ★ 4.1
mass-ave · 310 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
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.
Easley Winery Tasting Room ★ 4.1
downtown · 205 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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.
Forty Five Degrees ★ 4.0
mass-ave · 765 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
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.
Tip: Late kitchen Friday and Saturday until midnight. Walk-ins seat at the bar.
Spoke & Steele ★ 4.0
downtown · 123 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
Spoke & Steele in the Le Méridien Indianapolis is the convention-district New American room. Wagyu burger, roasted chicken, cocktail program on the bar.
Tip: Bar walk-ins all evening. Pre-Pacers crowds fill the dining room.
Tin Roof Indianapolis ★ 4.0
downtown · 36 S Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
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.
Moontown Brewing Bar Lounge ★ 4.0
carmel · 1000 W Main St, Carmel, IN 46032
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.