Indianapolis

10th Street Diner

A cozy industrial brick building houses one of Indianapolis' best restaurants, with a rotating menu of vegan sandwiches, salads, and sides that focuses on American diner food, but also has a surprise Greek, Indian, or Mexican dish. For any Taco Bell fans, try the crunchwrap on days when it's offered. Note that Saturdays have shorter hours and a restricted menu.

$15

A2Z Cafe

Named after the owners and their child (Asraf, Antonio and Zulma) A2Z offers up tasty breakfast and lunch dishes. From oatmeal to crepes, omelettes and "build your own" breakfast, to babba ganouche and Divine Salmon Cake salad. Warm, friendly environment for families and friends alike.

Alley Cat

A dive bar in Broad Ripple, down an alley. No windows, smoke-ridden, and open at 7AM for breakfast till 3AM for dinner. A great jukebox, legendary bar staff, numerous pool tables, and the hardest drinks in town. Sometimes bands play too. A place you know will never change. Vegetarian friendly. 21+

Ambrosia

Located in Broad Ripple, a family establishment for just that, and for romantic night outs, gatherings, and so forth. Owned by a tiny Italian lady who has kept it in the family since she moved here so long ago. Great Italian food and a bar next door. Great outdoor dining. Dress cute, jeans are very lame to wear here, and enjoy a nice, relaxing, homemade Italian meal. Elegant and light decor, Ambrosia is also a staple place to visit for visiting racecar drivers.

Andrus O'Reilly's

Irish owned. Traditional Irish and American food in a dark, nice, clean environment. Plenty of televisions for your sports viewing pleasure, lots of beers and plenty of room to wander. Nice outdoor dining, and a good place to grab a bite for lunch or early evening.

Arthur's Music Store

Arthur's is Indy's finest music instrument shop, focusing mainly on fretted instruments. From its retro housing, it's been a staple on the Indy music scene since 1952. From guitars to banjos, dulcimers to luthiers—you can find it all. A great place for on-site repairs and supplies too. A must-see for any stringed instrument lover.

Beech Grove Bowl

Go bowling anytime at the 24-hour bowling alley. Located about 10 minutes south of downtown Indy. Pick up a plate of cheese-sticks and a couple of beers and bowl your brains out anytime. It's also located in a small burb south of downtown Indy that has a very "small town" feel. Very local. Games are cheap.

Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre

For over 30 years B&B has been providing Equity Broadway performances. Buffet dinner with cocktails is served during performances. Seasons range from classic Rodgers and Hammerstein shows to modern hits. All ages.

$32.50–52.50

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

The only Indianan to become U.S. president to date, holding office for one term (1889–1893). See this hero of the Civil War's stunning 1875 home, constructed in the Italianate Victorian style. It has three stories and is crammed with personal items, artwork, political mementos, and antiques. There is a First Ladies display in the carriage house at the back. They host entertaining events all year long, many of which feature outstanding reenactments of historical individuals from Indiana. A naturalization ceremony, tours of Victorian murder mysteries, and the always entertaining croquet competition are all held there.

Mon-Fri 10AM-2PM, Sat 10AM-3PM, Sun noon-3PM·Adult $16, veteran $15, senior $15, college student $11, child $11, pre-school free

Brickyard Crossing

Shares space with the Indy Motor Speedway; four holes are inside the oval.

Broad Ripple Brew Pub

British-style pub in Northern Broad Ripple. It was the first brewpub in town, and is the oldest microbrewery in the state. If E.S.B., India Pale Ale, Lager, Porter and Bitter falls into your vocabulary then this is a place for you. Good food—Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, and a good vegetarian menu. Friendly and familiar bar staff. Indoor and outdoor dining makes this one of the busiest lunch and dinner spots in the area. They also have real darts (not plastic). All ages.

Broad Ripple Park

Broad Ripple park was established in 1946 as an amusement park on the White River. The park features a family center, swimming pool, playground, fitness trail, baseball diamond, tennis courts and boating. They have a great dog park, which does require a pass and proof of recent dog vaccinations. Everyday tons of dogs and their owners play in a well kept, fenced area. It can get very muddy when rainy or snowy. It's within walking distance of Broad Ripple Village. Activities are free, dog pass rates vary.

Broad Ripple Vintage

One of Indy's best known vintage shops, they offer a wide variety of retro clothes—mainly 1960s, 70s and 80s. Large array of t-shirts and accessories and drag queen sized gowns. They always are playing The Doors, and the decor is out of an old school head shop. Quite pricey, and we swear that prices go up around Halloween.

Brown's Antiques

Brown's on 5th

Gift shop that specializes in Vera Bradley bags. You can get new and old bags, in this collectors paradise. It's like Vera Bradley threw up and out popped this store.

Buck Creek Winery

This family-run farm winery has 4 acres of vineyard on over 12 acres of farm land in the southeast corner of Indianapolis. There are 13 grape varieties are grown on the property. The winery offers free wine tasting and tours of the processing room and vineyard.

Buffer Park Golf Course

IndyGolf.com users rated this as their favorite nine-hole course in 2001. A well-maintained 3,411 yards from the Championship Tees.

Capri

Locally owned Italian restaurant that is one of the stars of the city. The family is from Naples, and the food is fresh and delectable. Dine in the bar—a dark wooden collection of comfy couches and a few televisions. Live music all week and a nice wine list.

Chatham Tap

English-style pub that features hi-def TVs playing soccer (err, "football") all day and night. A nice selection of high end beers and a mix of bar style food with more gourmet takes on classics. They serve some of the best fish and chips in town to a mix of hipsters, post-work yuppies, gays and jocks.

Chatterbox

A local favorite and one of the oldest bars in town. It's a Mass Ave. staple that has walls graffitied by visitors and the bathrooms as well. Bring a marker. Drinks are really strong and they have a small wine menu with good choices and beers too. Live jazz is the thing here. The teeny tiny bar features a teeny tiny stage that caters to Indy's finest real jazz. This is the place to hear good simple old school jazz at its finest. Smoke free early in the evening, and outdoor seating which is the best in town. Check the website for wine tastings and special events. Great place to mix with the locals—artists, journalists, musicians all call it home. Grab some Jamaican Patties while you're there. 21+.

Check out a basketball game at Hinkle Fieldhouse

Butler University. Butler's Bulldogs are one of the top teams in the NCAA, and this arena is full of history. The facility is heavily connected with the 1986 movie Hoosiers—the real-life high school team whose story provided the basis for the movie won the 1954 Indiana state championship at this very site, and major parts of the movie were filmed here. Even without the Hoosiers connection, Hinkle is one of college sports' most legendary venues.

$5–20

Chocolate Cafe

South Bend Chocolate Company chocolate, sweets, coffees and sweet drinks. Check out the wall of celebrities who've indulged, and get educated on chocolate by the helpful and friendly staff. Watch fudge get made, sample the goods and enjoy the best hot chocolate in town. Vegetarian friendly.

Circle Centre Mall

This is the mall that caused the big revitalization of downtown Indy. Shopping and restaurants fill up this mall. The mall has had no department stores since the last anchor, Carson's, went under in 2018. It had lost Nordstrom in 2011; some of the space vacated by that retailer used to house the offices of the city's main newspaper, The Indianapolis Star. Other stores included Victoria's Secret, Banana Republic, Hot Topic, Forever 21, Abercrombie & Fitch, Go! Retail Group, H&M and more. The fourth floor had a movie theater and video game arcade. Unfortunately, the mall closed its doors on December 31, 2025 when the Circle Centre Development Company announced that it had sold the mall to Hendricks Commercial Properties. It is targeted to open in 2029, will include retail, dining, and entertainment; office space, and more than 300 apartments, along with public plazas and green spaces.

Circle City Sound

Performances held every Monday evening at 7PM at Scottish Rite Cathedral (650 N Meridian St) and throughout the city. Indy's only barbershop performance group.

City Market

Halfway between Mass Ave. and the Wholesale District this is a historical landmark in downtown Indy full of shops and restaurants. From chocolates to crafts, fresh meats to veggies, they also feature an awesome farmer market in the warm months.

Civic Theatre

This is Indy's largest professionally managed theater, which started in 1914. From comedies to drama, they host it all. Their performance of The Crucible deeply moved viewers. $24–32. All ages.

Claus' German Sausage & Meats

Indy's finest place for homemade sausage, lunch meat, smoked, and well, meat. It opened as Klemm's in 1913, and is now owned by Claus Muth, who is a master sausage maker from Frankfurt, Germany. They also have great German beers and other goods.

Clay Terrace

The first new outdoor mall in ages is in the burb of Carmel. A well kept environment this mall has a wide variety of shops and restaurants. Shops include DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, Dick's Sporting Goods, Wild Oats, Sur La Table, Z Gallerie, Indigo Nation and White House/Black Market. When the weather is nice, it is a lovely place to stroll.

Coaches Tavern

Popular for lunch and after-work meet ups, Coaches celebrates just that—sports and coaches. A nice wooden pub located right downtown with high tables, video games and jukebox, and of course sports on the TV. Live music and DJs offer entertainment on the small stage and outdoor seating is nice during the warm months. Thursdays is $2 pint night, and the beer choices are good and plentiful. They also serve food—and lots of it. Great place for lunch and a brew in the afternoon. Vegetarian-friendly. 21+

Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial

Monument that is part of White River State Park that pays tribute to over 3,000 Medal of Honor recipients. Ranges from Civil War through modern day clashes. It is made up of 27 curved glass walls, each 7–10 ft high, and etched with the names. It's quite breathtaking—especially at night.

Open from dawn to dusk·Free

Conner Prairie Interactive History Park

Conner Prairie Living History Museum

Settled in the 1880s, Conner Prairie is an Indiana tradition for those interested in learning about Indiana living "back in the day." With volunteers dressed in period-costume year round you are able to experience every aspect of the way of life—from blacksmithing to cooking, games and schooling, farming and church. Start at the modern museum learning about the science and anthropological history, then head to the living history museum featuring authentic buildings from the 1880s. Take a flight on 1859 Balloon Voyage, visit Dupont, IN circa 1863 and experience Morgan's Raid, or visit the brand new (for 2017) Treetop Outpost. Special exhibits come and go, such as Native American regional language sponsored by History Channel. In the summer the grounds feature Symphony on the Prairie where one can picnic in the evening and enjoy live classical and pops performances. Halloween features haunted hay rides featuring the Headless Horseman and the holiday season includes dinners, candlelight tours and other celebrations. Restaurants on hand and a gift shop too.

Nov-Mar: Tue–Sun 10AM–3PM, Mar–Oct: Tue–Sun 10AM–5PM·Adult $25, senior (65+) $23, youth (2–12) $19, member or child under age 2 free; balloon prices: member $14, non-member $18; free parking