Indianapolis has been proud to host the NFL Combine for nearly 4 decades, which has served as not only the biggest pre-Draft event in the NFL Calendar for testing athleticism and getting official measurements; but also get medical checks, interview with prospects. Teams, agents, and media get to network, interview, and prepare for the Draft in a true Convention of Football beyond just the official locations of the Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. While those two locations are famously close
to each other, the walkable downtown Indianapolis (or easily drivable greater Circle City area) provides tons of restaurants, bars, and hotels for the rest of the Combine’s more unofficial proceedings to take place in a convenient locale.
As a born and raised Indy local, I have served as an unofficial ambassador/tour guide of Indianapolis for some of my close associates visiting Indianapolis for the Combine for a few years now. Leading up to the Combine various contacts across the NFL landscape have messaged me asking about the best places to eat and drink in Indy, how to navigate the skywalks to avoid being outside too often in case of inclement weather that can befall our city in late February/early March, and various other tips and information about the city. Call it Hoosier Hospitality, call it working in the service industry for a decade, or call it just being nice. Whatever it is, I’m compelled to help our new visitors enjoy their stay in Indianapolis.
As long as no one picks fights when visiting Indianapolis (behave yourselves); they are welcome to enjoy the Crossroads of America. For regular Colts fan readers, consider this an unofficial guide to downtown Indianapolis and become a part of this project by commenting other Indianapolis staples visitors to our fair city should check out while in town! Let’s show our Circle City pride and help make our guests to the city feel welcomed!
Steakhouses
St. Elmo’s Steak House $$$$
Most casual Indy visitors have definitely already heard of St. Elmo’s. Rest assured, it is deserving of the hype. The Shrimp Cocktail sauce packs a fresh horseradish-laden punch to the sinuses, the Steak is first class, and they have a good cocktail menu with a lot of variety. There is a reason it was a favorite for many celebrities and Colts players over the years visiting downtown; and it has earned its reputation over its 124 years of operation in Indy (one of the oldest restaurants in Indianapolis).
But at the same time, this reputation is a double edged sword. Demand for St. Elmo’s is high, even outside of the Combine. The wait times for a table at St. Elmo’s downtown can be egregiously long this time of year, so either OpenTable a reservation well in advance, go to it’s companion restaurant Harry and Izzy’s next door and hope its quicker, or go to another Harry and Izzy’s location on 82nd Street by the Fashion Mall (25 minute drive from Lucas Oil Stadium without heavy traffic, but even with traffic it could be quicker to drive and get a table there than wait at the original location during the Combine).
Visitors to Indy can even experience the same iconic recipes (albeit with some menu limitations) as early as stepping off of their plane by going to the Harry and Izzy’s in the Indianapolis Airport in Concourse A. This might be the most time efficient option as visitors arrive or prepare to leave Indianapolis.
The Eagle’s Nest $$$$
Need to get a view of downtown Indianapolis’ skyline and a bite to eat? Eagle’s Nest offers both with a 360 degree rotating view of downtown, strong steaks and seafood options, as well as a fun variety of seasonal drinks. Definitely recommend getting there while there’s still sunlight so you can see the sunset from there, as well as not informing others you are dining with of the rotating view to see how long it takes for them to notice (discreetly set a timer).
The Fountain Room $$$$
Located in the Bottleworks Hotel on Mass Ave (the former largest Coca-Cola Bottling plant in the world, now turned hotel and shopping district), the Fountain Room offers a mix of delicious customizable steak, waygu beef for burgers and meatloaf, and fine dining seafood options of King Crab legs and oysters. The aesthetic might be a departure from traditional steakhouses, but it still has plenty of classic Steakhouse food options to try.
The Art Deco locale of the Bottleworks District is also filled with other strong dining options to try (more on them later), a Pins Mechanical Company for drinks and duckpin bowling, a Sandbox VR for virtual reality gaming, and various shops and spas to explore as well.
Honorable Mentions
- Tony’s of Indianapolis $$$$
- Prime 47 $$$$
- Commission Row (right by Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of Pacers) $$$$
- Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse $$$$
- Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse $$$$
- Dean’s Steak & Seafood $$$$
The first category of Steakhouses was filled with high end and expensive places. Sadly the more affordable steakhouses are chains, which goes against the guide’s purpose to give visitors new experiences of local Indianapolis food/drinks. So the listed Steakhouses might not be for everyone’s budget. But this guide isn’t just for the national media, top agents, and head coaches/GM’s who want blow their travel budget on the fanciest feasts around Naptown. No, this guide is for EVERYONE. Thankfully other categories provide more price ranges.
Italian
Iaria’s Italian Restaurant $$
Last year several of my fellow media associates wanted to get affordable, high quality local food within walking distance of Lucas Oil Stadium after watching the workouts and drills, but not feel out of place walking in with casual wear. After some discussion the group came to the consensus they wanted Italian food/pizza.
So naturally I suggested a location near and dear to family’s history: the location where my parents went on their first date. Iaria’s has been around Indianapolis in various forms since 1913 (initially as a grocery store before being turned into the restaurant in the 1930s, then moving to it’s current location in the 1950s) and the family owned Italian restaurant has kept using its original family recipes through 4 generations of ownership and management. It might not have the glitz and glam of the aforementioned steakhouses, with its aesthetic being a classic diner/dive bar tavern; but Iaria’s brings a warm atmosphere with great sauce in their chicken/veal, thin crust pizza, and pasta dishes that are staples of authentic Italian cuisine. It’s proud of its tradition and has stood the test of time for a reason.
Iozzo’s Garden of Italy $$
Another Italian family of grocers turned restauranteurs, The Iozzo’s family restaurant was a staple of the downtown dining experience of Indianapolis in the late 1920s-1940 has a multi-use venue of restaurant/bar/music hall/night club. However after tragedy befell the location the original Iozzo’s closed down for over 70 years; until generations later the Iozzo family reopened a new Iozzo’s downtown in 2009 with a mixture of traditional family recipes and new additions.
The new restaurant goes back to basics with a bar and restaurant rather than the music hall/night club origins, and the ambiance is more of a traditional classy Italian restaurant with white table clothes mixed with lovely outdoor seating (sadly not available if cold front continues) and rustic red brick touches. The wait times can be a lot so be sure to reserve a table ahead of time. If you get there early order the $1 Oysters special for happy hour 3-5pm; though that might be offered only on Mondays.
Vicino $$$
For more of a modern Italian vibe, head to Vicino’s. Another bar/restaurant with a modern current aesthetic. On weekends Vicino’s offers a brunch as well. A newer player in the downtown food scene, Vicino’s has racked up some awards as of late with a People’s Choice winner for Devour Indy’s Cocktail competition this past February (Indiana Weather cocktail), and one of the Top 25 Restaurants in Indianapolis Monthly in 2024.
Part of the Mass (Massachusetts) Ave hub of food, entertainment, drinks; if you can’t get a table at Vicino luckily there are plenty of nearby restaurants within walking distance of it.
Rosemary & Olive $$
A charming new eatery on Mass Ave that arrived in 2024, though its ownership trio (Stergiopoulos of Meridian Street’s Greek Islands, Giorgio’s Pizza owner Ozdemir, and Indianapolis restaurateur Pizzi) all bring unique touches of efficiency, friendly vibe, and detail orientation respectively.
Their vibe is cozy, and the menu is very pasta heavy with some Greek influence mixed with Italian. Their short rib ravioli stuffed with mirepoix and Romano cheese is sensational.
Outside of Downtown Honorable Mentions
- Mama Carolla’s $$ (in a charming house-turned-restaurant on the north side near Broad Ripple. Girlfriend definitely recommends their cannolis for dessert)
- Ambrosia $$$ (classy and delicious Italian restaurant from Gino Pizzi, have been there a few times and ordered something different each time and have yet to find a miss)
- Capri Italian Restaurant $$$ (another Italian restaurant that has stood the test of time since 1951. Very classy establishment. Has a sister restaurant in Granger, IN near South Bend so if guests also enjoy it and want to go somewhere nice near a Notre Game game, Capri is a great bet).
- Sangiovese $$$ (another Pizzi restaurant since 1994, though the ownership has changed hands since 2000. However the kitchen has been managed by Chef Cisco for over a decade and has been consistently highly rated. Strong wine selection as well, was a Wine Spectator Award Winner for their in depth menu and knowledge on Brunellos and Super-Tuscans. Cool location at the Ironworks Hotel north side.)
Pizzerias
Some of the Italian Restaurants listed above are still on the pricier side (though not as much as the aforementioned steakhouses). Not to worry, the Pizzerias of Indianapolis have a wider range of price points that can appeal to everyone’s wallets while not skimping out on quality. Expect casual dining unless otherwise noted.
King Dough $
Might as well start with the King. From towing around a brick oven behind their pickup truck to sell their pizzas to Bloomington students at IU in 2014 to opening up their first restaurant in 2019; the husband-wife duo of Adam and Alicia “Mama Pizza” Sweets have come a long way in their culinary journey. The duo’s “Thunderdome” wood-fired pizza oven cranks out 14” Neapolitan-inspired pizza. Definitely recommend either the Destroyer or the Butcher.
Winners of Best Pizza in Indianapolis in 2025 per IndyStar, the newcomers have quickly risen in the Indy pizza market.
Bazbeaux $-$$
Winner of Best Pizza in Indianapolis from Indianapolis Monthly/IndyStar used to be an annual award to Bazbeaux for nearly 2 decades straight. From 1986-2003 Bazbeux reigned supreme with their New York style pizzas in their original Broad Ripple location of an old gravedigger’s house (along with the downtown location opening up in 1989). Both restaurants moved just steps away from their original locations afterwards for more seating, as demand has been high for years for Bazbeaux. They even opened up a location in Carmel to meet the demand there for north side customers.
Bazbeaux still has been a strong competitor in pizza contests in Indianapolis, showing that the classics still hit the spot.
Futuro $
If you want Chicago-style or Detroit-style pizza, Futuro offers some of the best in the city at both. A 2021 post-COVID debut to the restaurant scene in an old diner turned into a Yelper’s paradise, where its earned 2nd place on Yelp’s Top 100 Pizza Spots in the Midwest.
Their fresh daily-made dough and sauces are strong additions to the Indianapolis food hierarchy. If you need thicker pizza to warm you up, Futuro is a good bet.
Napolese $$-$$$
Just by the name you can probably have a guess what style pizza they have here. A classic of Naples thin crust pizza, if you get a heavy topping pizza like the Meridian Kessler (long cut Pepperoni, sausage, button mushrooms bursting with flavor) be sure to fold your slices to avoid falling toppings. A bit classier joint with Olives brought for the table, it’s a sensational pizza place that can also have some interesting appetizers and salads (Veggie chopped with the beats and blue cheese is awesome).
Goodfellas $
Another New York style by the slice pizza place, this casual pizzeria is intense when it comes to proportions. Slices are enormous. The breadstick feeds two. They sell some solid black and white cookies. With their classic New York iconography littering their walls the place screams Big Apple.
Come for the pizza, stay for the Wiseguy Lounge speakeasy out back (more on that later).
Outside of Downtown Honorable Mentions
- Diavola $
- Pizzology $$
- Puccini’s $
- Brozinni Pizza $
- Greeks Pizza $
- Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza $
- Roca Bar $
- Some Guys Pizza $$
- HotBox Pizza $
Chicken
America’s favorite meat gets its own category, as theres some strong chicken joints around town that get rave reviews.
Ale Emporium $$
Honestly Ale Emporium could’ve been in the prior category with their deep dish Chicago pizzas. But if you’ve ever been to Ale, you know their signature isn’t in the pizza (even if it is really good).
Get the Hermanaki Wings. A spicy teriyaki bursting with flavor and just enough heat to keep you warm. Ale Emporium can be a noisy bar/tavern with live entertainment some nights, so it might not be the easiest place to discuss business. But if you need casual, entertaining, and good eats while needing to watch a game; Ale is a top choice.
World Famous HotBoys $$
Technically a California-chain, I’m willing to forgive my no non-local chain rule just this once since they have no locations outside of their prior 5 in Cali. And besides, we can’t talk Indy chicken without HotBoys.
Near the Commodore Speakeasy (more on that later), this Nashville style hot wings brings the heat and offers delicious sauce to dip your chicken into. If you need a great fried chicken spot, hit up HotBoys.
His Place Eatery $$
Got a taste for Soul Food? Go to this husband and wife owned establishment and the Jones’ cook up red velvet chicken & waffles, collard greens grill cheese, and so much more. The pairing of Jones’ family recipes and formal cooking education has created a unique soul food experience that doesn’t need to be heavy or fried to be enjoyed (but still tastes great if it is).
Delicious soul food without the “itis”? Sign me up.
Breakfast/Lunch
Shapiro’s Delicatessen $$
A classic staple of downtown Indianapolis food scene since 1905, this former local chain of restaurants is down to its only location, the original spot within walking distance of Lucas Oil Stadium. A regular game-day spot for Colts, Pacers, and Fever fans, this large delicatessen has an old-school cafeteria deli atmosphere with food served on a tray line.
The Baked and Fried Chicken are both sensational, the sandwiches are thick and filled with juicy bites, and the hot Matzo Ball soup is a chills killer for a winter day.
Café Patachou $$
A mix of French and American breakfast and lunch cuisine, this place advertises itself as a “student union for adults” vibe. A mixture of French style Omelets, thick bread cinnamon toast, and some strong salads along with some fun cocktails; this Café has quickly gained popularity and locations around town.
Latin
Livery $$$
Another Yelp Favorite, Livery made the list of the Top 100 Places to Eat in the US. This two story former horse stable from the 1890s has been transformed into a casual Latin food hotspot with outdoor rooftop patio seating. They take no reservations but while you wait you can get drinks most nights. Their empanadas and savory pies filled with a large variety of ingredients have been well renowned.
Fernando’s $$
No relation to Fernando Mendoza, but I did hear Fernando by ABBA being sung by staff in the kitchen after the National Championship win. This Mexican-Brazilian fusion restaurant was created by a Mexican-Brazilian family winning the lottery and combining their cookbooks to make a unique Latin cuisine experience since 2023. With a location in Mass Ave and another in Broad Ripple that’s moving to a new location in Broad Ripple for more space… its safe to say the family’s reinvestment in themselves paid off.
Named the 2025 Main Street Small Business of the Year by the IEDC and Indiana Small Business Development Center, they have been quickly gaining esteem in the Indianapolis food scene. From their Feijoada (black bean stew), savory Picanha (sirloin cap), and Crawfish quesadillas to their signature cocktails and margarita flights, it’s quickly became a top spot to eat in Indy.
Julieta Taco Shop $$
Sometimes a restaurant can overwhelm you with choices on a menu. Julieta offers an escape from that with a very simplistic and small menu. You can get a few different kinds of tacos. You can get tortas. You can get quesadillas. There are a handful of toppings/add ons. If you want drinks your options are soda and water. That’s it.
But with this simplicity comes consistently high quality specialization. Julieta’s has some of the best tacos in the city. This 4 year old Taco shop is small with a few seats but there are seating options beyond it in the nearby Stutz building it is a part of with other shops and restaurants and bakeries inside and shared communal seating if need be. If you want a Taco to go though, get some Julietas.
Condado Tacos $$
A local chain of Mexican restaurants, Condado’s delivers customizable tacos and some great guac, queso, and salsa options. They also have some protein packed bowls like the Swole Bowl for those who want some workout fuel. The margarita flight there is really good and they have a good bar variety. The downtown location is on Mass Ave, with plenty of other shopping and dinning/drinks options around to explore.
Asian/Seafood
Modita $$
Modita is another Bottleworks District restaurant with some serious skill in the kitchen. Chef Megan Stoller won the Best dish at the Taste of Home and has competed in several World Food Championships with Chef Collin Hilton winning in 2025.
Despite this level of acclaim, Modita is a pretty casual place that isn’t crazy expensive with most options on the menu. Filled with fantastic sushi, dim sum, noodles, rice, and robota grilled specials and with a full bar; it brings a balance of a great meal and a comfortable atmosphere.
Bodhi
If you have any minors younger than 21 with you, scroll elsewhere. Otherwise this family owned Thai bar/bistro was awarded one of USA Today’s Best Restaurants of 2025 with three generations of the Phojanasupan family’s women owning and operating this establishment. Filled with craft cocktails amazing curry and spiced foods, this place is a delight.
Hasuno $$
Another family owned restaurant, Hasuno and its sister restaurant Tegry Bistro to the north have a great selection of fresh seafood, sushi, buckwheat noodle dishes, and sake/Japanese cocktails. All while presenting a naturally calm yet modern atmosphere. This Fountain Square restaurant might not have national acclaim yet, but this hidden gem punches well above its weight as some of the best Japanese food in Indianapolis.
Slapfish $$
Slapfish is a fast-casual chain that is starting to expand beyond its 3 locations in Indianapolis (one in LAX airport) after getting strong acclaim in 2016, 2017, and 2022 award seasons for its sustainability, trendsetting, and emerging brands respectively.
From boat-to-plate sourcing and high quality seafood Slapfish has some strong top dishes from their Lobster Rolls to their Clobster Grilled Cheese and Epic Shrimp Burrito.
Salt On Mass $$$
Another Mass Ave staple, Salt on Mass highly regarded for its fresh seafood. The Chilean Sea Bass is a standout here along with scallops, lobster Mac and cheese, and crab cakes. For a sweet treat the girlfriend the recommends the key lime chiffon cake.
The atmosphere is more on the modern classy side so it won’t be for all attire, but with a nice upscale bar and customers craving good seafood inland it attracts a good crowd most nights.
FortyFive Degrees $$
Winner of the Best Sushi Restaurant of Indianapolis in 2024 was FortyFive Degrees from the Quality Business Awards. The 18 year old sushi restaurant is named after the 45 degree corner of Mass Ave and College that it sits at, with plenty of seating but can have a decent wait time due to its reputation. Its modern atmosphere brings a ton of energy into the room, and it is frequently bustling with diners. Reservations are recommended.
Sports Bars
Kilroy’s $
An iconic staple of the IU Bloomington student bar scene, Kilroys is a bustling sports bar that keeps to its college town roots and often has Indianapolis students from IUI and Bloomington alums flocking to it on game days and weekends.
Be prepared for crowds on peak days, but you can certainly watch games here with a passionate fan base of Indiana sports fans.
Tom’s Watch Bar $
Do you want wall to wall covered in TVs to not miss a single game anywhere in the country? Tom’s Watch Bar lives up to the name and fills that need with insane coverage with 140+ screens. On top of Sports coverage, their beer and cocktail variety is insane with over 50+ of each. With solid classic bar food as well, if you don’t want to miss any games Tom’s is the way to go.
The Hangar $$
The Hangar offers a few different ways to enjoy food and drinks as well as several activities. In warmer weather you and a group can get a pedal bar and tour around Indy while drinking and a guide drives for you. For Cold February days you can instead opt to stay inside their full service bar and restaurant with a wide variety of pints and drinks, a woodfire pizza oven, and 150” TVs to watch the games while being located right in between Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium.
As fans as activities go if you are able to book ahead of time you can get access to steel tipped video dart games, DIY crafting (glass painting, wood burning, Laser etching tumblers, T-shirt/hat making) for a homemade souvenir, or play indoor Golf/hook up 15 ft Mario Kart. For a crowd that’s looking to drink and do something, the Hangar offers a fun variety of activities.
High Velocity $$
Located right in the enormous JW Marriott. High Velocity offers a large scale bar and restaurant with plenty of TVs while not trying to overwhelm with entire walls of screens. Feels more like a food centric restaurant disguised as a sports bar. The bar is still the centerpiece and you can get all the classic bar foods there, but there menu is filled with other non-fried options and a wide array of appetizers that if you get a table seat comes on a giant serving board called the Touchdown Tray to share family style.
Recommended for large and hungry parties to go to if they want to be right next to the action as it’s within walking distance of Lucas Oil and Gainbridge as well as within home run distance of Victory Field (but would take an insane and frankly impossible foul fly to get anywhere close to the restaurant based on the size and angle of the baseball stadium).
Honorable Mention of Non-Sports Bars
- The Rathskeller (iconic Bavarian German outdoor biergarten that can suit so many styles with upscale dining rooms and a lively Kellerbar with a wide array of imported beer.)
- Slippery Noodle Inn (oldest bar in Indiana as it’s been around since 1850, has live blues and jazz music, and large portions of food. Can be loud but hearty with excellent reviews and a true throwback rustic feel).
Breweries
Indianapolis has undergone a transformation of breweries over the last few decades, with several excellent brewers creating a deep well of local beers sure to be found in many local bars and restaurants around town. If you want to go to the source you will find plenty of in-house exclusives and regular access to their seasonal rotations, as well as a diverse mix of food options to pair with their brews.
St. Joseph’s Brewery & Public House $$
Debuting in 2015, St. Josephs is one of the smaller breweries around town. But they have quickly gained acclaim by winning the Indiana Brewers’ Cup within their first few years of existence with their Benevolent Belgian Blonde (Gold), and the Confessional IPA (Bronze) alongside their Sanctuary Saison (Bronze) medalling highly.
In case the breweries’ name and beer branding didn’t tip you off, St. Joseph’s location is in the historic former Catholic church of the same name that has been in Indianapolis since 1873.
However the Church hadn’t held mass since 1949 and was only used as a Catholic community center for the next 6 years afterwards, as the old Lockerbie neighborhood became more industrial instead of residential. Eventually the area shifted to be the bustling and gentrified Mass Ave area and the old Church finally was bought and repurposed for its modern Brewery.
The Brewery has a solid amount of screens at the bar for sports entertainment, and the atmosphere is child friendly in the restaurant dining area. Sunday Brunch also includes a build your own Bloody Mary bar as well for the adults. Overall the food is delicious and well proportioned and the beers have a wide variety of flavors and styles and the vibes inside are laidback and fun.
Sun King Brewing $$
Sun King began with two friends who worked in various brewery and bartending jobs around Indy who decided to create their own brews together in 2005 in their spare time. By 2007 they became highly awarded earning three Great American Beer Festival medals, two Festival of Barrel Aged Beer medals, dozens of Indiana Brewer’s Cup medals, and were awarded the 2007 Indiana Brewery of the Year title despite their initially small and cramped brewery. By 2009 they had their first full kegs rolling out the door, becoming Indianapolis’ first full scale production brewery since Indianapolis Brewing Company closed in 1948.
Now they are the 2nd Largest Beer Brewery in the State of Indiana with 5 Brewery locations all throughout Indiana, an Indianapolis airport bar, and one brewery in Sarasota Florida; as well as scoring highly in national and International Brewing competitions.
Their top-tier, must-try beers include the flagship Sunlight Cream Ale, the highly decorated Pachanga Mexican-Style Lager, and the popular Wee Mac Scottish Ale. They also produce popular IPAs like Osiris and GFJ.
Metazoa Brewing Company $$
Another new player and fast riser in the Indianapolis Brewing landscape, Metazoa began in 2016 and by 2021 was voted Brewery of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival. What stands out about their brewery is they REALLY love animals. Each brew is named after a different one and has an accompanying design of it on the can and 5% of all of Metazoa’s profits go to animal charities from shelters, rescues, zoos, and reserves/sanctuaries in Indiana, the Midwest, and beyond. The Brewery itself is very pet friendly so if you want to meet local pups while getting a beer this is the place for you.
The downside to their pet friendliness is that having a kitchen is not allowed so the food provided is snacks from a pair of local Chip and Pretzel companies, but there is nearby eats within walking distance of Metazoa if visitors need more food instead of drinks. Hoppopotamus IPA, Puppy Slumber Party Peanut Butter Stout, Nap in the Hammock Cream Ale, Wicked Pawsome New England IPA, and Trash Panda Blonde Ale are the most popular brews of their selection.
Upland Brewing Company $$
One of the more established brands of Indiana Breweries with its origin dating back to 1998 in Bloomington, this Brewery has become the signature beer for Indiana University and has a diverse portfolio of drafts and a regional powerhouse with distribution to 20 States. They are a gastro-brewpub popular Dragonfly IPA, Hoosier GameDay Ale (with accompanying IU Candy Cane Cans), Two of Tarts Sour being some of their most popular.
Their most historic is the Champagne Velvet Pilsner, which was originally the Flagship beer of Terre Haute Brewing (which was the 7th biggest Beer producer in the US before shutting down in 1954.) and had a diehard yet mythologized fan base before the recipe was rediscovered in the 1990s and started a small microbrewery locally in Terre Haute before closing and the rights to it was acquired by Upland in 2016. If you want a fresh taste of history, head to Upland.
Taxman Brewing Company $$
Taxman began in 2014 out of Bargersville, Indiana just south of Indy in an old general store that underwent transformations as a bank, arcade, and hardware store before becoming Taxman Brewing. Their downtown location is a former livery horse stable that pulled coal wagons for Indianapolis Power and Light Company before being moved across the street from its foundations for a new development and transformed into its current gastropub with live music and large events right next to the Pacers Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Taxman has become a central player in transforming its hometown and giving other smaller breweries, wineries, distilleries, and cideries across Indiana and the Midwest platforms with its annual Death & Taxes Day Beer Release & Tasting Festival each April since 2015.
Their style is Belgian brewing where a trio of its founders originally met and “researched” a variety of local options before returning stateside to start their own version of the flavors they fell in love with abroad with experimental home brews. Their most decorated beer won a Bronze at the Great American Beer Festival for their Qualified Quadrupel ale in 2015 and has since racked up 3 GABF medals, a Gold in the Brussels Beer Challenge, 5 European Beer Star Awards, and 3 Best in Style from the World Beer Awards.
Speakeasies
For guests looking for some mystery and exclusivity, Indianapolis has hidden gem speakeasies. Some require passwords to enter, though there are nearby hints available that visitors can find to get access to these high quality yet secretive establishments that remind us of Prohibition Era nightlife.
Bootleggers
“Bootleggers is on point. (That’s a hint.) This brick-walled bunker is gritty in all the right places, with plenty of classic cocktails to choose from. You’ll need a password to enter the underground speakeasy, but if you need a hint — or a snack — you can find it at the restaurant upstairs. Hint, hint.“
That is all Visit Indy is willing to share with Bootleggers. Its is underneath The Flatiron on Penn if you need to navigate to find the clues, but that is all you will get out of this writer about its whereabouts and code.
Commodore
Fountain Square’s speakeasy in the Murphy Building, upstairs you can find a game room, an old school duckpin bowling alley, a burger joint, and a rooftop bar with a great view. But go downstairs and you will find this dark and lush Speakeasy open for business.
No password required here, just a lack of signage and a downstairs basement that’s easy to miss hiding a bar with a wide variety of drinks and liqueurs (including some rare bottles if you want a taste of something hard to get anywhere).
The Vault
Enter a heist movie with a bank vault entrance and a 4 digit password separating you from accessing this treasure of a speakeasy. Hint: If we’re going to work together, I want it understood I take no orders. This speakeasy loves its theme, with mugshots of infamous bank robbers all over the walls.
There is live Jazz every Thursday so this bar & grill can get noisy then but very lively. Kitchen closes earlier than the bar so break in early if you want food with your craft cocktails.
Wiseguy Lounge
There’s no external signage for Wiseguy Lounge, which is hidden in plain sight along Mass Ave. Named one of the Top 50 Speakeasies in the United States and Canada, Wiseguy Lounge embodies the energy and ambiance of the ‘20s. Think rich leather sofas, low lighting, well-dressed bartenders, and elite bourbons, with more than 400 available. Located right behind Goodfellas Pizza, this spot is right in the middle of the bustling Mass Ave and hits the spot after a mid bar crawl snack from the storefront.
