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 in the Mile Square.

Adobo Grill
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. You might also try a michelada, which is a spicy beer cocktail similar to a Bloody Mary.
110 E. Washington St.
317.822.9990
Website
HBG Visits
KOTBR #74 - Tacos and Chelada at Adobo Grill

Dick’s Bodacious Bar-B-Q
This counter-service, Texas-style BBQ joint keeps a great craft beer list on tap and in bottles. A nice choice for a quick bite and a drink. I highly recommend the Hoss nachos.
50 N. Pennsylvania St.
317.916.9600
Website

Hoosier Park’s Winner's Circle
If you want to place a bet on most sporting events, 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's Circle is a bar, restaurant, and off-track betting facility. What's more, you’ll find craft beer to help lubricate your wallet.
20 N. Pennsylvania St.
317.656.7223
Website
HBG Visits
KOTBR #144 - Of Tridents and Horses

The Libertine Liquor Bar
Chef Neal Brown owned and operated the highly-regarded L’explorateur before opening The Libertine, which specializes in craft cocktails and small plates. The Libertine is better known for their cocktails than their craft beer, but we are making a convert out of Neal.
38 E. Washington Street
31.631.3333
Website

Pearl Street Pizzeria and Pub
A little off the beaten path but close to everything, Pearl Street serves up pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and craft beer. It's a great pick for a meal and a pint if Bankers Life Fieldhouse is your destination for a Pacers game or other event.
65 E. Pearl St.
317.638/3110
Website

The RAM Restaurant & Brewery
The two breweries downtown are chains, but they have good food and locally-crafted beers from fantastic brewmasters. The first chain brewery on our list is RAM. We recommend that you grab a pint of RAM’s special or seasonal brews, especially if any barrel-aged brews are on draft.
140 S. Illinois Street
317.955.9900
Website
HBG Visits
KOTBR #128 - Knights of the Beer Ramtable

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
The second of Indy's downtown chain breweries has been a longtime fixture on Washington Street. 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!)
10 W. Washington Street
317.681.8180
Website
HBG Visits
KOTBR #59 - A Likely Story
KOTBR #33 - Rock Bottom Pumpkin Ale

Scotty’s Brewhouse
Scotty’s Brewhouse has locations in Indy, Muncie, Lafayette, and Bloomington with a brewery (Thr3e Wise Men) in Broad Ripple. 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.
1 Virginia Ave. #100
317.571.0808
Website
HBG Visits
KOTBR #77 - The Socratic Beer Method

Tavern on South
Tavern on South has one of my favorite non-nachos appetizers: 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).
423 W. South St.
317.602.3115
Website
HBG Visits
KOTBR #133 - You're Going to Hate This

Tomlinson Tap Room
If you are looking for a variety of local food bites, you’ll find it at the City Market. Papa Roux and Three Days in Paris (crepes) are among 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).
222 E. Market Street
317.423.2337
Website
HBG Visits
Sneak Preview: Tomlinson Tap Room at City Market
Scenes from American Craft Beer Week | Sun King/Three Floyds Three Kings Tapping @ the Tomlinson Tap Room
Beer Diary #25 - Mike - FSB and F8 at Tomlinson Tap Room

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