Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Downtown

You can forget all your troubles and forget all your cares and drink downtown…

Indianapolis has some great drinking neighborhoods. Broad Ripple, Fountain Square, Massachusetts Avenue… they all have great establishments for craft beer, but if you live, work, or visit downtown, there is no need for expensive cab fares or a potential DUI. There are a variety of places within stumbling distance. Here are a few of our favorites, with distances from the center of the city (Monument Circle) and from the house that Peyton built (Lucas Oil Stadium)…

Adobo Grill
(Monument Circle: 2 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 8 blocks)
110 E. Washington St.
http://www.adobogrill.com/indianapolis/
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2009/06/kotbr-74-tacos-and-chelada-at-adobo.html
This Mexican grill has a small craft beer selection, but they make your guacamole tableside (highly recommended), have fantastic tacos, and a fine selection of tequila, if that’s your thing.

Creation Café
(Monument Circle: 11 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 18 blocks)
337 W. 11th St.
http://www.thecreationcafe.com/
The Creation Café is located in the former church building known as Buggs Temple. It is located at the north end of the Central Canal, which puts it a good mile from the city center. But it is close to IUPUI and a short people mover ride to Methodist or IU/Riley Hospital. Because even hospital patients need a drink. The views from Creation Café are spectacular and a popular place when the weather is nice.

Dick’s Bodacious Bar-B-Q
(Monument Circle: 1/2 block; Lucas Oil Stadium: 9 blocks)
50 N. Pennsylvania St.
http://www.dicksbbq.com/
This counter-service Texas-style BBQ joint keeps a great craft beer list on tap and in bottles. A great choice for a quick bite and a drink. I highly recommend the Hoss nachos.

Hoosier Park’s Winner Circle
(Monument Circle: 1 block; Lucas Oil Stadium: 8 blocks)
20 N. Pennsylvania St.
http://hoosierpark.com/winnerscircle
If you want to place a bet on the big game, you can’t do it in Indy. At least, not legally. But if you want to bet on the ponies, Indy can help you. The Winner Circle is a bar, restaurant, and off-track betting facility. It just recently opened, but you’ll find craft beer to help lubricate your wallet.

The Libertine
(Monument Circle: 1 block; Lucas Oil Stadium: 7 blocks)
38 E. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
http://www.libertineindy.com/
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/search/label/Craft%20Beer%20and%20Fine%20Food%20Symposium
Chef Neal Brown owned and operated L’Explorateur before opening The Libertine. We are fans of Neal’s food. The Libertine is probably better known for their cocktails than their craft beer, but we are making a convert out of Neal…

Mo’ Joe Coffeehouse
(Monument Circle: 7 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 10 blocks)
222 W. Michigan St.
http://www.mojoecoffeehouse.com/
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2009/09/kotbr-86-berghoff-at-mojo-coffee-house.html
Close to IUPUI, Mo’ Joe is an off-campus coffee shop that is adjacent to a college bookstore and serves a selection of bottled beer. A relaxing place to hang and be out of the way.

Pearl Street Pizzeria and Pub
(Monument Circle: 2 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 7 blocks)
65 E. Pearl St.
http://www.pearlstreetpizzeria.com/
A little off the beaten path, but close to everything, Pearl Street serves up pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and craft beer. It is in the same building as O’Reilly’s ( ) and Coaches Tavern ( ), two other bars with craft beer selections. And great picks if Bankers Life Fieldhouse is your destination.

Ram Restaurant & Big Horn Brewery
(Monument Circle: 3 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 8 blocks)
140 S. Illinois Street
http://www.theram.com/indiana/indianapolis.html
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2011/06/kotbr-128-knights-of-beer-ramtable.html
The two breweries downtown are chains, but they have good food and locally crafted beers with fantastic brewers. We recommend you grab a burger and a pint of Andrew Castner’s special or seasonal brews.

Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
(Monument Circle: 1 block; Lucas Oil Stadium: 6 blocks)
10 W. Washington Street
http://www.rockbottom.com/indianapolis-downtown
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2008/11/kotbr-59-likely-story.html
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2007/11/rock-bottom-pumpkin-ale.html
Brewer Jerry Sutherlin brews up some fantastic hoppy beers (the Hopbomb is a personal favorite) and the food is good too. I recommend the nachos (I like nachos!)

Scotty’s Brewhouse
(Monument Circle: 2 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 7 blocks)
One Virginia Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
www.scottysbrewhouse.com
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2009/06/kotbr-77-socratic-beer-method.html
Scotty’s Brewhouse has locations in Indy, Muncie, Lafayette, and Bloomington with a brewery (Thr3e Wise Men) in Broad Ripple and a Burger Joint in Columbus. The food menu is extensive and the craft beer tap list is the largest downtown. The patio is a great place to hang and there are plenty of TV’s inside. It is a block from the front door of Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Tavern on South
(Monument Circle: 9 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 1 block)
423 W. South St.
Indianapolis, IN 46225
http://tavernonsouth.com/
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2011/08/kotbr-133-youre-going-to-hate-this.html
Tavern on South has one of my favorite non-nachos appetizer: Shagbark Teriyaki Duck Wings. The mushroom cappachino soup is wonderful on a cold day. The entire menu is fantastic. It is close to Lucas Oil Stadium. And it has a great tap list. You’ll find me there after work during half priced appetizers (4p-6p Monday through Thursday).

Tomlinson Tap Room at the historic City Market
(Monument Circle: 3 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 10 blocks)
222 E. Market Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
http://www.indycm.com/index.php/tomlinsontaproom
HBG Visits
http://www.hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2010/11/sneak-preview-tomlinson-tap-room-at.html
http://www.hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2011/02/replicale-tapping-at-tomlinson.html
If you are looking for a variety of local food bites, you’ll find it at the City Market. Papa Roux and 3 Nights in Paris (crepes) are amongst my favorites. But the icing on the cake: the Tomlinson Tap Room. Located on the second floor of the main hall, the TTP serves nothing but Indiana craft beer. And you can get growlers to go (except on Sundays).

Previously in our "Where to Drink in Indy" series:

Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Broad Ripple, the North Side, and the Northeast Side
Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Mass Ave, the Near East Side, and the Near North Side
Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Fountain Square