The Ball and Biscuit, Mass Ave’s longest-running cocktail bar, was recently named to USA TODAY’s 2026 Bars of the Year. But the popular downtown haunt is hardly Indianapolis’ only watering hole worthy of recognition. There are all sorts of reasons people fall in love with a favorite bar, whether it’s the site of a precious memory or, in many cases, the place to which it’s easiest to walk.
Identifying any cluster of bars as the “best” might be a fruitless endeavor. That said, a short list of Indianapolis bars, each for a different kind of night, just missed the cut for USA TODAY’s 2026 roundup. Here are seven of those bars:
For a true dive: Dorman Street Saloon
901 Dorman St., (317) 237-9008, facebook.com/dorman.street
A huge variety of establishments bill themselves as dive bars, but few live up to the designation as well as the decades-old Dorman Street saloon. You want to catch the big game? Too bad; here’s TNT showing Rush Hour 2 on a not-very-large TV. A small but diverse beer fridge, a pair of pool tables and a back patio that might as well be your neighbor’s backyard constitute a throwback bar that succeeds at being a tremendous hangout, even if it’s not trying to do much else.
For a good show: Melody Inn
3826 N. Illinois St., (317) 923-4707, melodyindy.com
Melody Inn stands out in the pantheon of live music bars in that it specializes in original songs. That may be a disappointment for those eager to hear their 3,000th Fleetwood Mac cover, but it’s a great opportunity to plunge into something new. The historic nearly century-old establishment wears its age proudly with its original oak bar, vinyl booths and a back garden with equal amounts of history and cigarette smoke baked into it.
For a glass of wine: Solely Wine Bar
1106 E. 16th St., (770) 617-6118, drinksolelywine.com
In less than two years Solely has quickly emerged as a cozy destination for experienced wine drinkers and the wine-curious alike. Solely’s shelves are flooded with reds and whites, but the selection available by the glass each night is much more approachable thanks in large part to a well-versed and attentive staff. If you find talking about wine makes your head spin before you’ve even taken a sip, you can still probably find something you’ll like here. The bar recently held a wine-paired Taco Bell dinner, proving it’s not that serious.
For the atmosphere: The Commodore
1107 Prospect St., instagram.com/thecommodore_indy
A memorable speakeasy, with all its sleek decor, squint-inducing darkness and expertly crafted drinks, will make you feel like you’ve stepped into an entirely different world. Very few bars achieve the juxtaposition of outside vs. inside like The Commodore in Fountain Square, a tiny windowless cocktail bar that guests can only access through one of the most barren, haunted-looking hallways in Indianapolis. Boundary-pushing drinks, all-out seasonal decor and bar tabs that arrive clamped in books or DVD cases all make The Commodore feel distinctly fun, which is arguably all a bar should be.
For gameday: The Dugout
621 Virginia Ave., (317) 916-1514, thedugoutindy.com
A Fletcher Place mainstay since 1954, the Dugout has morphed into a fascinating amalgam of three different bars over the years that offers guests a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure experience. Hang out in the original somewhat divey bar, huddle under massive TVs in the adjoining room or crowd around a picnic table with your friends in the sun on the massive patio that overlooks Virginia Avenue. Dugout is arguably at its peak during Colts and Pacers games, but it’s hard to beat a warm summer evening with a pitcher of beer and an absurdly large tray of chicken tenders.
For a neighborhood hang: Plump’s Last Shot
6416 Cornell Ave., (317) 257-5867, plumpslastshot.com
Similar to the Dugout, Plump’s is a sprawling conglomeration of nooks and crannies spread across a former house’s front lawn, back patio and first floor. Opened in 1995 by Milan High School and Butler University legend Bobby Plump – you’re probably familiar with the film inspired by Plump’s 1954 championship-winning Milan team, starring Gene Hackman – the bar practically swallows Broad Ripple passersby with its excited chatter and palpable charm. Between the main room plastered with Indiana basketball memorabilia and a kitchen that regularly pumps out such delicacies as beef Manhattans, chili dogs and pork tenderloin sandwiches, there may not be a more intensely Hoosier bar in town.
For a piece of history: The Red Key
5170 N. College Ave., (317) 283-4601, redkeytavern.com
The Red Key isn’t the oldest bar in Indy, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one that’s preserved its original feel as well as this Meridian-Kessler institution. Many of the bar’s tables and chairs are the same ones that scuffed the floor on opening night in 1933, and credit cards remain valueless where payment is concerned. Customers and friends of the Red Key have repeatedly rallied to support the bar and its owners over the years, although even first-timers can slide into a booth and feel welcome. And while this isn’t a list based on food quality, it’s worth noting the Red Key flips a mean burger.
Contact dining reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@indystar.com. You can follow him on Instagram @BradleyHohulin and stay up to date with Indy dining news by signing up for the Indylicious newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 7 Indianapolis bars we wish could have made USA TODAY’s Best of 2026
Reporting by Bradley Hohulin, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bradley Hohulin, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
