It’s fun to just walk down the Mass Ave strip! Many of the restaurants & bars we listed are located on this street, so it would be a fun day activity to go bar/food hopping while shopping!
Some stores to shop at on Mass Ave for clothes, jewelry, house items, cards, gifts:
- Silver in the City (gifts, misc items)
- Global Gifts (gifts, misc items)
- Artisans (gifts, misc items)
- Sage Boutique (clothing)
- Chatham Home (gifts, household items)
- Clothes with a Cause (clothing)
- Decorate (gifts, household items, clothes)
- Penn & Beach (candles)
- Good Neighbor (clothes)
- Homespun Handmade (gifts, household items)
Visit the center of Indianapolis, which is Monument Circle! You can also take an elevator ride to the top :)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Good For: groups of any number
Time: day-time activity
The west side of downtown Indianapolis has a canal that runs through downtown. It is quite beautiful to take a walk down, and you can even rent paddleboats to ride the canal.
White River State Park is located alongside the canal, as well as some good restaurants and the Eiteljorg Museum!
Neighborhood: Downtown
Good For: groups of any number
Time: day-time activity
They'll create just about anything to have a good time! Fowling is a combination of football + bowling. Great for large groups that want to do something together. There's also a full bar!
Fowling Warehouse is located next door to So Chatti, 8th Day Distillery, and a brewery - so lots to enjoy along this strip!
Neighborhood: Windsor Park (next to Mass Ave)
Good For: groups of any number
Time: day or evening
Penn & Beach is a candle-making store where you can make a candle from scratch. You choose the hardware, the scents, and mix them to make your personal candle. It'll take a few hours to cure, but can usually pick it up that same evening (or the next day).
Located right downtown, by Mass Ave - very convenient to get to!
Neighborhood: Downtown - Mass Ave
Good For: small group, especially if no reservation made
Time: day-time activity
Kan-Kan is an indie art cinema that showcases movies from major blockbusters, local Indy flix, and artsy-fartsy-indie movies. We love supporting local business, and Kan-Kan is one of our favorite places to go to!
If staying at Bottleworks, it is less than a 5 minute drive away. Check their website (www.kankanindy.com) to see movie/show-times!
PS: if you’re interested in going, let us know. We are members here and can get you 2 tix for free (with free popcorn).
Neighborhood: Windsor Park (next to Mass Ave)
Good For: groups of any number
Time: day or evening, also has a restaurant attached (that's really delicious!)
Really cool place to indulge with friends/family!
So Chatti is a chocolate tasting experience, located near Mass Ave/downtown.
Neighborhood: Windsor Park (next to Mass Ave)
Good For: small group, especially without a reservation
Time: day-time activity
We love the Indy Zoo! It seems like a normal thing to do, but the Indianapolis Zoo is one of the top 10 zoo's in the US (in 2017 it was the #2 ranked zoo behind the famous San Diego zoo)!
Indy's zoo is known for our international orangutan center, the world's first successful artificial insemination of an elephant, and Indianapolis hosts the Prize Gala which is the premier award recognition for animal conservationists. We highly recommend a trip to the zoo, especially with the kiddos!
Neighborhood: Downtown
Good For: groups of any number
Time: day-time activity
Neighborhood: Downtown Good For: groups of any number Time: day-time activity
At the Keystone mall you'll find stores like Crate & Barrell, Anthropologie, Madewell, Dry Goods, Free People, Nordstrom, and a great food court!
Livery is our favorite restaurant in Indy! Located right by Mass Ave, it is close to those staying at The Bottleworks Hotel.
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
Neighborhood: Downtown - Mass Ave
Make Sure You Get: lamb empanadas & the cauliflower. Favorite drink is the Carriage House (trust me, if you like margaritas, you'll love these!)
Reservations: not required, but recommended for dinner time (or parties larger than 4)
Our 2nd favorite restaurant in Indy. It is located in Fountain Square neighborhood, which is a 5 minute drive/Uber from downtown.
Cuisine: New American
Neighborhood: Fountain Square
Make Sure You Get: Anything! The menu changes daily, but the beet salad is a favorite of ours, as well as the halibut, cheese & charcuterie. You can't go wrong here! The bread is made fresh at Amelia's Bakery next door.
Reservations: they don't take reservations
I know what you're thinking - why would they recommend a raw fish place in the Midwest?!?! Yes, we know - but it is so delicious! Slapfish is located right on Mass Ave, and they have a next-door restaurant specifically dedicated to a raw bar that is delicious!
Cuisine: Seafood
Neighborhood: Downtown - Mass Ave
Make Sure You Get: smoked plate, oysters, lobster roll (if you are prepared to be in a food coma after)
Reservations: typically not needed if going during the day.
The name says it all - it's a food hall. Located right across the street from The Bottleworks Hotel, we highly recommend stopping by here to try the various food stalls here. From Venezuelan arepas, to Brazilian, to gyros, beer, fish & chips, and burgers. You have many options here and plenty of seating!
Highly recommend stopping by here for a casual lunch or dinner!
Cuisine: mix of everything
Neighborhood: Downtown - Mass Ave
Make Sure You Get: try the arepas!
Reservations: n/a - none
Delicious, mouth-watering, slightly greasy (but not too greasy) burgers. If you're familiar with Steak n' Shake - this is similar in style with thinner patties. The flavor is delicious, and they also have veggie burger option if needed. Baby's is located in the Near Northside neighborhood, which is a 5 minute drive north of downtown.
Also don't skimp on the fries and milkshakes - they are so good!
Cuisine: Burgers
Neighborhood: Near North-side
Make Sure You Get: milkshakes and fries (or at least split with someone)
Reservations: not needed
This restaurant serves dinner as well, but we like it best for brunch! Hearty brunch options with a self-serve bloody mary bar! Great place to hang out, and the brewery is located inside an old church
Cuisine: American
Neighborhood: Downtown - near Mass Ave
Make Sure You Get: beer flight, bloody mary bar
Reservations: not needed
Located on Mass Ave - this is a great breakfast spot with a plethera of healthy (and not so healthy) options to have everyone covered. It's no Waffle House, but settles your breakfast cravings for sure!
Cuisine: American - healthy
Neighborhood: Downtown - Mass Ave
Make Sure You Get: juice bar flight, mimosa buckets, everything you get here will be tasty!
Reservations: doesn't take reservations
Our favorite Thai restaurant! Located at the very far end of Mass Ave, we love the food and environment here! They also have great crafted cocktails. It is a small restaurant, so I wouldn’t recommend it for large parties.
Cuisine: Thai
Neighborhood: Downtown - Mass Ave
Make Sure You Get: egg rolls, and any of their cocktails
Reservations: doesn't take reservations
Great late-night/casual creole food! Beware - you will be in a food coma afterwards!
We recommend this for late-night food, or that Sunday hangover!
Cuisine: Cajun/Creole
Neighborhood: Downtown - Mass Ave
Make Sure You Get: extra bread with whatever you order (trust us). The Crawfish Etouffee is their most popular item
Reservations: N/A - not needed
Sun King is the most popular/famous brewery in Indianapolis. Located down College Avenue, you can take a super quick Uber, or walk from the Bottleworks Hotel.
Location: downtown Indianapolis (College Avenue)
Why We Love It: good for beer lovers, unique to Indy!
A really fun arcade bar! They have a plethora of arcade games to play as well ask skeeball (all free), and fun kitschy drinks! This place gets crowded in the evenings, so get there earlier to avoid a wait! Also, next door is a restaurant called The Tap that has good late night food and lots of good beer options.
Location: Downtown - Mass Ave
Why We Love It: free games paired with quirky drinks
Our favorite place to get crafted cocktails. The Exchange is known for their whiskey collection, but they can make any kind of cocktail (and well). The decor is very art deco - great photo ops :)
Location: Downtown - Mass Ave
Why We Love It: whiskey collection, and overall great crafted cocktails
If you're into beer and casual hangouts - Ralston's is well known for that. 100's of beer on tap, casual atmosphere, good food, darts, and shuffle puck. You can always rely on Ralston's to have the right games on at the right time.
Location: Downtown - Mass Ave
Why We Love It: shufflepuck! convenient location, good drinks
A fun brewery that allows dogs! All their beers are animal themed (in the name) and you'll often find tons of dogs strolling around the place! The beer is good, and the dogs are even better. They don't have food, but will allow you to DoorDash anything. They often have a food truck in the back.
Location: Downtown - College Ave
Why We Love It: what's not to love about dogs?!
Located next to So Chatti, and the Fowling Warehouse - this is a really great distillery that makes their own gin, vodka, rum, and whiskey. They have delicious froze and gin cocktails! You can also buy some crafted cocktails in a can.
Location: Windsor Park (next to Mass Ave)
Why We Love It: love their gin froze! Great location next to So Chatti, Fowling Warehouse, etc.