With dozens of concerts, art fairs, stage productions and more headed to Central Indiana this fall, Hoosiers have several chances to plan a night on the town. If you’re looking to grab a drink before or after your show, these central Indiana spots have you covered.
Downtown bars and breweries
Mel’s at Commission Row
110 S. Delaware St., (317) 550-2500, commissionrow.com
Short of purchasing a drink inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, this is the closest bar to the basketball arena and occasional concert venue. Mel’s is the speakeasy lounge beneath Commission Row, the Pacers-owned steakhouse operated by the Cunningham Restaurant Group, with a well-stocked bar. Small plates from the Commission Row menu like shrimp cocktail ($26), oysters ($24 per half-dozen) and truffle parmesan fries ($12) are served in sleek, dimly lit digs inspired by the hush-hush watering holes of the Prohibition era.
Taxman Brewing
310 S. Delaware St., (317) 559-2803, taxmanbrewing.com
For the arts enthusiast who holds hops and malt in the same regard as a well-honed contralto, Taxman pours a wide array of beers close to Gainbridge, the Hilbert Circle Theatre and the Indiana Repertory Theatre. The spacious brewery specializes in Belgian and other Central European ales, though you’ll also find a rotating farmhouse-style IPA and monthly specials.
Loughmiller’s Pub and Eatery
301 W. Washington St., (317) 638-7380, loughmillerspub.com
Loughmiller’s sits roughly half a mile from White River State Park and Lucas Oil Stadium. The storied downtown tavern offers a strong variety of spirits and brews as well as an impressive variety of burgers ($14 to $23) and sandwiches ($12.50 to $15).
Downtown bars, breweries near Old National Centre
The Ball and Biscuit
331 Massachusetts Ave., (317) 636-0539, ballandbiscuit.com
A USA TODAY 2026 Bars of the Year honoree, the Ball and Biscuit has specialized in craft cocktails longer than any other bar on Mass Ave. Operator-owner Kendall Lockwood Fields and her staff curate a rotating signature drinks lineup, while the kitchen turns out luxuriant small bites like bread pudding ($11) and macaroni and cheese laced with gruyere, sharp cheddar, parmesan, smoked gouda and mascarpone ($14).
Saint Joseph Brewery
540 N. College Ave., (317) 602-5670, saintjoseph.beer
Roughly a quarter-mile from Old National Centre, Basile Theatre and IndyFringe Theatre, Saint Joseph serves primarily German-inspired beers and upscale pub grub in a renovated parish. The Absolution Amber and Bienna lager, a Mexican-style lager with the toasty malt flavors for which Central Europe is famed, are crowd favorites. So is the poutine ($11 to $15), available smothered in beef or buffalo chicken.
Liberty Street
653 Massachusetts Ave., (317) 686-6382
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more relaxed atmosphere in a Mass Ave bar than at Liberty Street, a quiet but convivial hangout with plenty of spirits and a robust draft list served from behind a 24-foot-long mahogany bar. And if you’re trying to keep the night’s number of musical performances to just one, be warned that the bar hosts karaoke nights every Saturday at 10 p.m.
Bars, breweries near Ruoff Music Center
Ale Emporium
11501 Geist Pavilion Drive, Fishers, (317) 288-7394, ale-emporium.com
A 12-minute drive from Ruoff, this popular destination features wings ($12 to $30), pizza ($14 to $32), a spirit selection that spans multiple shelves and a draft beer list featuring more than 30 pours.
Britton Tavern
14005 Mundy Drive, Fishers, (317) 774-3188, thebrittontavern.co
Breadsticks, potato skins, wings and egg rolls ($9 to $19) join spirits and beer, as well as frequent live music performances, at this establishment roughly a 15-minute drive from Ruoff.
Bars, breweries near Carmel Palladium, Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre
Sun King Brewing
351 Monon Blvd., Carmel, (317) 843-6250, sunkingbrewing.com/carmel
In addition to a constantly evolving tap list, Sun King’s Carmel location offers food from La Margarita and Queenie’s Pizza. From Carmel’s bustling Midtown Plaza, a 0.6-mile walk down the Monon Trail drops you right next to the Palladium.
Muldoon’s on Main
111 W. Main St., Carmel, (317) 571-1116, muldoons.net
A Carmel staple since 1981, Muldoon’s specializes in European fare like Irish stew ($13), fish and chips ($18) and cottage pie ($18). But the family-friendly pub doesn’t skimp on the beverage side of things, pouring Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s in vast quantities. A five-minute drive or a 20-minute walk takes you from Main Street to Carter Green.
3UP Rooftop Lounge
201 W. Main St., Carmel, (317) 740-0930, 3uprooftop.com
Located above Anthony’s Chophouse at the intersection of Main Street and the Monon Trail, 3UP offers cocktails, wine, bubbles and beer alongside small sharable plates with a view of Carmel’s Arts and Design District.
Bars, breweries near Butler University’s arts venues
Chatham Tap Butler
4702 Sunset Ave., (317) 606-2500, chathamtap.com
Located a five-minute walk from the Schrott Center for the Arts and Clowes Memorial Hall, Chatham Tap’s Butler location features a full bar with a large selection of Saint Joseph beers. The soccer bar also sports an impressively varied food menu, including wings ($12 for a half-dozen, $20 for a dozen), fish and chips ($13 to $18), sandwiches and burgers ($11 to $19) and pizzas ($15 to $21).
The Red Key Tavern
5170 N. College Ave., (317) 283-4601, redkeytavern.com
One of Indianapolis’ oldest bars at nearly 100 years old, the Red Key is a quintessential no-frills, throwback hangout. Some of the tables and chairs have been around since the 1950s, cash remains the only form of payment and the burgers, served on plastic plates with an optional side of chips, are considered by many among the best in town.
Guggman Haus 46th Street
4601 N. College Ave., (317) 426-2761, guggmanhausbrewing.com
Home to IndyStar readers’ favorite beer as of 2025, Guggman Haus’ Meridian-Kessler taproom majors in German-inspired beer but also offers the acclaimed Winner’s Jug milk stout and the Riverside New England IPA that has become a favorite in the warmer months. The 46th Street location’s kitchen is smaller than Guggman’s sprawling flagship location just northwest of downtown, but you can still choose from soft pretzels ($8), sandwiches ($12 to $14) and flatbreads ($12).
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: Catching a show? Where to get a drink near Indy’s performing arts venues
Reporting by Bradley Hohulin, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bradley Hohulin, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
