A Visitor's Guide to Indianapolis

As Kentucky Sports Radio’s resident Hoosier, I am uniquely qualified to make sure Big Blue Nation has the best time possible in Indianapolis this weekend. This is a home game for me. There are few cities in the country that are as good at hosting events as Indiana’s capital city. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, formerly Banker’s Life Fieldhouse, has undergone a recent renovation and is beautiful inside now. Countless bars, restaurants, and hotels are within walking distance of the venue. Also, for our friends coming from south of the river, gambling is legal up here.

So, what are the recommendations for my fellow Kentucky fans visiting Indianapolis this weekend? We will run through all of the options here in a minute. First, you’ll want to make sure you secure tickets to the games. It looks like you can get in the building for as cheap as $30 right now for Session II on Thursday evening. However, full strip tickets for all six games in Indy are $150 currently on StubHub.

If you have tickets to the game on Thursday night you’ll still have all day Friday and the lead up to the game on Saturday (hopefully) to spend in the city. Others may just want to be in the area to immerse themselves in March Madness for an amazing atmosphere. Let’s dive in to your unofficial #BBN visitor’s guide to Indianapolis. For more specific recommendations or questions regarding anything downtown Indy related you can reach me all weekend on Twitter @BRamseyKSR.

Best Indianapolis Bars to Visit

We will begin with the important stuff. If you want to have a couple drinks and enjoy watching games all day long here are some of the places you’ll want to visit. You really can’t go wrong with the places within walking distance of Gainbridge Fieldhouse. You can also take a further walk (if it is nice) or grab a quick Lyft/Uber a mile down the road to the “Mass Ave” area or head 20 minutes north to Broad Ripple which is near Butler University. However, we are going to focus on the places right in the heart of downtown Indy.

Kilroy’s

For those who haven’t visited Indianapolis before you have to get yourself to Kilroy’s. It is just up Georgia Street from the Fieldhouse and will be a place that you can’t get outside of Indiana (with locations in Indianapolis, Broad Ripple, and Bloomington). It is your typical sports bar with great specials such as $2 Miller Lite and Coors Light on Thursday if you are in town before the game. Also, the Long Island’s come in 32oz pitchers if you are so inclined. However, the reason you go to Kilroy’s is for the stuffed breadsticks. Just trust me. Do not come to Indianapolis without getting some Kilroy’s stuffed breadsticks.

Brothers

Brothers is your classic college bar with locations on or near campus’ across the country. However, with no locations in Kentucky, this could be a new experience for Big Blue Nation. The crowd generally skews a little bit younger here, but that probably won’t be the case for NCAA Tournament weekend. You can $3 double wells on Thursday and $6.50 double wells on Friday. They will be hard to get once the games start, but Brothers does feature some larger tables as well if you have a bigger group wanting to sit together.

Slippery Noodle

If you love old, historic bars you’ll have to at least swing by the Slippery Noodle. This bar is out near Lucas Oil Stadium, less than half a mile from Gainbridge. Slippery Noodle is Indiana’s oldest bar having been established in 1850. It is a really cool place and usually features live blues music.

District Tap

This place has a ton of televisions, a ton of beers on tap, and is slightly “nicer” than Kilroy’s and Brothers. During normal weekends it has less of a college bar vibe, but during a busy weekend like the NCAA Tournament I would expect all downtown bars to be completely full and have a similar atmosphere. The wings are excellent, I would recommend getting them “dirty style,” and this will be your spot to try some of the local Indiana beers if that is more your speed.

Rathskeller

The Rathskeller is probably the most unique bar in Indianapolis. It is one mile from the Fieldhouse right as downtown Indy turns into “Mass Ave” whereas the previous bars are mostly a stone’s throw away from where the games will be held. There will be live music here every night and features and excellent outdoor beer garden if the weather permits. The place is massive and will feature a much different vibe than the pervious recommendations. If it is nice, the beer garden will get rowdy, but if you sit down inside you can enjoy some quiet and eat some excellent German-style food.

Tin Roof

Old reliable. This will be where a lot of Kentucky fans hang out and watch the game if you don’t end up getting inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. If you spend your time in Lexington or Louisville you have likely been to this establishment before. Just as you will at the Kentucky locations, you’ll find live music here each night of the week. However, be warned, they do not have Miller Lite on tap for reasons I will truly never understand.

Best Restaurants in Downtown Area

Alright, you’ve had some drinks and it is time to sit down for a good meal. You can obviously opt for bar food at any of the above establishments, but if you are looking for a change of pace we have you covered. Whether you want an excellent steak with world famous shrimp cocktail, some of the best fried chicken in the city, or a classic Italian restaurant you will find what you are looking for somewhere in downtown Indianapolis.

St. Elmo’s

Even if you have never been to Indianapolis before, you probably have heard of St. Elmo’s. The oldest steakhouse in the city opened in 1902 and has been slinging the best steaks around ever since. However, top flight beef isn’t what has made this restaurant nationally known. The world-famous shrimp cocktail is what has made St. Elmo’s a national name. If you haven’t had it before you will want to go easy on the cocktail sauce for your first bit because it will hit you HARD. Pro tip: Harry & Izzy’s, which is also downtown, is under the same ownership umbrella of St. Elmo’s so they serve the same famous shrimp cocktails and have excellent steaks as well. If you can’t get a reservation at the original steakhouse, opt for Harry & Izzy’s for the same dining experience.

The Eagle

Back to Mass Ave we go, just 0.9 miles from Gainbridge Fieldhouse, to one of the highest rated places to eat in the area. The Eagle features their fried chicken along with outstanding biscuits. Their sides are to die for as well and if I may I would recommend the spoon bread, mac & cheese, and the sweet potato crock. As of Wednesday morning there were still reservations available for the weekend, but you’ll want to move quickly.

Iaria’s

If you want to feel like you are having dinner next to Tony Soprano I would recommend heading to Iaria’s Italian Restaurant. Located just 3/4 of a mile east of Gainbridge you will feel transported into a totally different era when you walk through the doors. Neon signs and old rustic booths adorn the interior along with the best Italian food in the city. Iaria’s has been in Indianapolis since 1933 and is known for being host to many NCAA Tournament selection committee dinners in the nights leading up to Selection Sunday.

Things to Do

Drinks have been had, food has been eaten, and maybe you are ready for a quick break away from staring at televisions screens while your bracket gets busted. Obviously the main Indianapolis attraction this weekend will be the six NCAA Tournament games taking place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. However, if you need a change of pace, the capital city has you covered.

Downtown Indy Blarney Bash

All afternoon and evening on Saturday, from 2:00 to 10:00 on Monument Circle right in the heart of downtown, there will be live music, green beer, and food trucks set up to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Indiana native Clayton Anderson will headline the event playing a set from 7:30-10:00. If the Wildcats aren’t playing during that time (which they likely will be) you will want to go hear him play. The entire event on the Circle will be a lot of fun though. Presale tickets are available for just $5.

NCAA Hall of Champions

With Indianapolis being NCAA headquarters the city also features the NCAA Hall of Champions. You can experience all of the history of the NCAA, enjoy some interactive exhibits, and learn the history of the different championship tournaments. This would be a great place to take your kids if you are looking for something to do during the day on Friday or Saturday.

Canal Walk

If you do venture out to the NCAA Hall of Champions, just a mile or so from the Fieldhouse, you will be in a great spot to pick up the Canal Walk. This is a beautiful area to enjoy the outdoors on the water and can even take the walk on up to the White River State Park. For those looking to enjoy some fresh air and get some exercise, this will be for you over the weekend.

Winner’s Circle

Okay, enough of the wholesome ideas. Let’s get back to beer and gambling. As already mentioned, gambling is very much legal here in the great state of Indiana. Along with the ability to download DraftKings, FanDuel, or your pick of the many online apps, you can also visit downtown Indianapolis’ sports book. The Winner’s Circle features a whole wall of televisions, a full bar, leather theater seating, sports betting kiosks, and a counter to make bets as well. If you prefer to hold a paper ticket and get handed cash as opposed to messing with online apps, definitely go check out the Winner’s Circle. It’ll be good practice for when it becomes legal in the Bluegrass State.