• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

  • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Ancient + Historical
    • Beaches
    • Destinations
      • Destination Guides
        • Guide to the Hawaiian Islands
    • Museums
    • National Parks
    • Natural Wonders
  • Food + Drink
    • Bars
    • Local Food
    • Restaurants
  • Hotels + Resorts
    • All Inclusive
    • Beach
    • Boutique
    • Luxury
    • Spa Resorts
    • Cruises
  • Inspiration
    • Adventure
    • Beach Vacations
    • Family Vacations
    • Romance
    • Things To Do
    • Trip Ideas
    • Fall
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Winter
      • Best Winter Vacations: 10 Places to Consider for Your Getaway
  • Intel
    • Air Travel
    • Business
    • Camping Tips
    • General Travel Tips
    • Gift Guides
      • Gifts for Travelers: The Ultimate Gift Guide
    • Luggage
    • News
    • Packing Tips
    • Tech + Gear
    • Travel Accessories
    • Travel Deals
    • Health + Safety
  • Reviews
    • Cruises
      • 6 Best Cruises for Couples in Need of a Romantic Getaway
      • 10 Best Cruise Ships for Every Kind of Traveler | Review
    • Hotels + Resorts
      • Best Hotels in Las Vegas for Luxury, Partying, and Relaxation
      • Best Hotels in New Orleans: Your Luxury Guide
      • Couples Resorts: Take Your Pick From the World’s Best Romantic Getaways
      • The 10 Best Hotels in Miami
      • The 10 Best Bermuda Hotels for 2018: Tropical Luxury Resorts
      • Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the USA
      • 10 Best Hotels in Laguna Beach Reviewed | 2018
      • Hotels in Santorini: 8 Luxury Island Accommodations
      • Amalfi Coast Hotels Guide: Top 5 Places to Stay
    • Luggage
      • 13 Best Laptop Backpacks and Messenger Bags for the Efficient Traveler
      • Smart Backpacks for Every Smart Traveler | Review
      • 10 Best Travel Backpacks of 2018 for Your Next Adventure
      • Best Weekender Bags for Travel in 2018
      • The 6 Best Travel Tote Bags for Women We Just Can’t Get Enough of
      • Best Luggage Sets for the Fashion-Minded Traveler
      • Best Checked Luggage Pieces for Your Travels
      • Top Smart Luggage Products (Plus How to Choose Yours)
      • Best Lightweight Luggage Reviewed (Plus How to Choose Yours)
    • Tech + Gear
      • Best Portable Phone Charger: A Travel Accessory for Your on the Go Lifestyle
      • 7 Best Climbing Harnesses for Your Next Adventure
      • 10 Best Bluetooth Speakers Money Can Buy | Review
      • 5 Best Tree Tents and Hammocks for Your Next Outdoor Adventure
      • The Best Pop Up Camping Tent: 5 Top Options
      • The Best Car Camping Tent You Need for Your Next Adventure
      • 5 Best Camping Tents for Outdoors Adventurers
      • 7 Best Portable Water Filters for Your Outdoor Adventures
      • Best Travel Cameras For The Adventurous Photographer
      • The 6 Best Tent Heaters for Your Next Fall Camping Trip
      • The 7 Best iPhone Tripods to Buy in 2018
      • The 5 Best Chalk Bags of 2018: Your Shopping Guide
      • Choose the Best Travel Mug for Your Next Adventure | Review
      • 8 Cool Water Bottles for Your Next Adventure
      • The Best Portable Travel Coffee Makers for Your Caffeine Cravings
      • The 5 Best Hydration Packs to Bring on Your Travels
      • Choose the Best Hydration Bladder for Your Next Adventure
      • Best Sleeping Bags For This Year’s Adventures
      • The Best Travel Gadgets You Never Knew You Needed
    • Travel Accessories
      • The Best GPS Watch for Hiking: The Top Performers
      • The Best Hiking Watch: 6 Top Contenders and How to Pick the Right One
      • Best Dive Watches: 6 Stellar Options for Underwater Excursions
      • The Best Watches for Fashion-Minded Travelers
      • The 5 Best Men’s Watches of 2018: Stylish, Affordable Options
      • Top 5: The Best Packing Cubes to Help You Stay Organized
      • Your Guide to Finding the Best Travel Wallet | Review
    • Travel Apparel
      • 6 Best Climbing Shoes for Men and Women
      • 9 Best Winter Boots for Men: Stylish, Functional Finds
      • Best Winter Boots for Women: 6 Cold-Weather Styles to Keep You Warm
      • Best Hiking Sandals for Your Adventures
      • Best Hiking Pants for Men: Summer to Cold Weather Styles
      • Most Comfortable Sneakers for Fashion-Conscious Travelers
      • 11 Best Down Jackets for Women You Need for Your Next Trip
      • Best Winter Jackets for Men Who Travel
      • Best Winter Coats for Women (Plus How to Choose Yours)
      • Best Hiking Shoes for Women for All Seasons
      • The Best Hiking Shoes for Men: Durable, Lightweight Picks

Best Restaurants in Indianapolis: Take Your Pick

Buckle your seatbelts. Or maybe, loosen your belt. We’re taking you on the ultimate tour of the best restaurants in Indianapolis. 

When you think about traveling the world, you probably haven’t thought about Indianapolis. But foodies have. This bustling city in Indiana is home to some of the world’s best food. Sometimes, the greatest adventures are right outside our front door. While some travelers are thrill seekers, this one’s for the eat seekers. Without further ado, here are the best restaurants in Indianapolis.

1. Mesh

best restaurants in indianapolis - Mesh

Credit: Mesh / Facebook

At Mesh, innovative cuisine meets casual dining. If you want to go out for a bite without having to get all dressed up, Mesh has you covered. From the original menu to the unique decor, Mesh is an ideal setting for casual business meetings, romantic evenings, or just a night out with your friends. While lunch and dinner are tempting, the brunch menu has stolen our hearts.

Start off and work up an appetite with some good old-fashioned biscuits and jam or a curated fruit and cheese platter. You can choose from options more suited to breakfast eaters, including to-die-for French toast with apricot marmalade, fresh omelettes, or a more hearty chicken and waffles, or breakfast burger. While you’re there, why not treat yourself to a peach puree mesh bellini or fresh-squeezed mimosa? Drinks on us! Just kidding.

2. Bru Burger Bar

Bru Burger Bar

Credit: Bru Burger Bar / Facebook

Bru has gained quite the reputation among Indy locals. Known best for its chef style and classic burgers, whatever you order, you can’t go wrong. Their bold flavors will satisfy any craving. Our favorite is the veggie burger, topped with a sweet chili mayo, cucumber slaw, habanero hot sauce, and melted havarti cheese. For a little refreshment, choose from sixteen rotating craft bottles of draft options and if you’re feeling like something a little stronger, opt for some of their finest bourbon and whiskey.

The atmosphere lends to its classic feel. Sleek granite countertops complement the brick walls and wooden tables give off an intimate dining appearance. In the warmth of the summer months, grab a seat outside on the patio overlooking Mass Avenue.

3. Cafe Patachou

best restaurants in indianapolis - Cafe Patachou

Credit: Cafe Patachou

Have you tried a farm to table experience? If not, you should now. Martha Hoover’s Cafe Patachou offers the unique opportunity to taste an excellent cuisine from a sustainably-sourced menu. It’s great to know the food you’re eating was sourced in a way that protects the environment and you can be a part of social change in Indianapolis.

While at Patachou, we recommend the farm fresh omelettes, or vegan Cuban breakfast. Warm yourself up with a delicious cappuccino or cool down with a fresh yogurt smoothie.

4. Bluebeard

best restaurants in indianapolis - Bluebeard

Credit: Bluebeard / Facebook

Why is Bluebeard one of the best restaurants in Indianapolis? Its menu varies daily, inspired by the freshest and finest ingredients. At Bluebeard, they believe that food is meant to be a shared experience. Local farmers have taken that to heart, sharing their ingredients with guests and locals who visit. While they’re not open for breakfast or brunch, their lunch and dinner menus more than make up for that. Their lunch and dinner menus serve up some of the best seafood we’ve ever had – from oysters to a Scandinavian-style pickled herring. If you’re feeling more in the mood for classic comfort food, their pizza, mac & cheese, and French onion soup are sublime.

5. Milktooth

best restaurants in indianapolis - Milktooth

Credit: Milktooth / Facebook

Sweet tooths and coffee aficionados, this one’s for you. In recent years, Milktooth has been earning national accolades for their unique brunch, stellar coffee bar, and a cocktail spot that’s more than worth the wait for a table. It is most popular for their local apple Dutch baby pancakes, sorghum glazed bacon, spicy miso soup, and a rotating menu.

This garage turned restaurant offers a trendy, hipster vibe. For your first time visiting, sit at the kitchen bar and watch the chefs cook your order or hang outside on the patio and enjoy the Fletcher Place neighborhood views.

6. The Lemon Bar

The Lemon Bar

Credit: Lemon Bar / Facebook

It’s all in the name. Our mouths are watering already. After expanding beyond six shops, Kate Drury, owner of the Flying Bakery, opened the Lemon Bar. But it’s so much more than just a bakery. With a full-service lunch and dinner menus (and a killer Shepherd’s pie, we might add), it’s easy to see why her little place is one of the best restaurants in Indianapolis. Indulge in cheese boards, warm salads, and a sizzling portobello melt. Slices of full-size cupcakes show her true range of culinary art and will reveal an appetite to consume it all.

7. Thai Select

best restaurants in indianapolis - Thai Select

Credit: Thai Select / Facebook

A full selection of local and imported wines line red brick walls. Stylish pendant lighting lends to a close, intimate atmosphere. At Thai Select, you’ll find some of the best dumplings, generous salad rolls, and a delightfully aromatic coconut soup. We’ve got to say, the basil duck and noodle dishes also hit the spot. We’ve got to say, this is not just one of the best restaurants in Indianapolis but also some of the best Thai food you could ever have.

8. Rize

best restaurants in indianapolis - Rize

Credit: Rize Restaurant / Facebook

Located in the Ironworks Hotel, don’t be surprised if you spot hotel guests and freelancers sitting in their pajamas around the corners. Soaring ceilings catch plentiful light, pouring in from the open windows. Sit, bask in the light and the smells. Chef Natalie Wall is working hard with the team to whip up delightful breakfasts for all of the guests and those who wander in from the streets to take a bite. Whether you want a healthy breakfast bowl or a hot frittata, sit tight, it’s coming your way. For an appetizer you won’t forget, order a well-garnished egg tart or classic Pop Tart.

9. Txuleta Basque Cider House

Txuleta Basque Cider House

Credit: Txuleta Basque Cider House / Facebook

Take a walk up to the second floor of the Txuleta Basque Cider House. Here, classic grilled tilapias and hearty dishes draw you in while the Spanish-themed cider bar will make you stay. Take a seat and peruse the diverse menu. If you ordered a cider, pair it with a salt-cod omelet and some crispy patatas bravas. Yum. Serrano ham, anchovies, olives, and almonds are the perfect bite size snacks to go along with your dish of choice. So order up and don’t forget to grab on of Brugge’s signature brews.

10. Love Handle

best restaurants in indianapolis - Love Handle

Credit: Love Handle / Facebook

Now, here’s a name that grabs your attention. After spending two years running their cafe on 10th Street, owners Chris and Ally Benedyk picked up and moved this innovative sandwich shop to the bustling center of Massachusetts Ave. Beer, wine, and a stellar dinner service were added to the menu, much to guests’ delight. With more hours to enjoy “B&G” (biscuits and gravy) sandwiches stuffed with pork belly and wild mushrooms, we can’t complain. As a homage to their former location, the Benedyks also plan to include some mouth-watering Milwaukee fish fries every Friday night.

11. Burger Study

Burger Study

Credit: The Burger Study / Facebook

The Burger Study has truly perfected the art of beef. Its preceder, St. Elmo Steakhouse, has a legendary 115 year history. Perhaps, they’re best known for having the Ron Swanson stamp of approval (Parks and Rec, anyone?). In 2017, St. Elmo’s opened this burger shop and it’s been poppin’ ever since. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular and best restaurants in Indianapolis. While the menu is a bit steep, the dry-aged burgers definitely earn their price tag. Vegetarians who visit can enjoy tasty zucchini crisps, and fried cauliflower tossed in a healthy herb butter. Bon appetit.

12. Three Carrots Fountain Square

Three Carrots Fountain Square

Credit: Three Carrots Fountain Square / Facebook

Vegetarians and vegans, this one’s for you. The city’s most popular lunch stand finally got a building of its own. Sit down at the Fountain Square location and enjoy state of the art avocado toasts (prime millennial food), vegan biscuits, and fettuccine topped with miso alfredo sauce or bite into a mouthful of mac and cheese with braised greens. We definitely appreciate a good vegan and veggie meal. It’s healthy and sustainable.

13. Oca

best restaurants in indianapolis - Oca

Credit: Oca / Facebook

In Italian and Spanish, oca means goose. To most others, it’s known for being one of the best restaurants in Indianapolis. With daily specials and seasonal additions, the tempting menu is always evolving, offering some of the best meats like beer sausages and hopped salami that money can buy. Now, the two owners, birds of a feather, are at it again. Since Oca is located inside the award-winning Sun King Brewery, you can choose from over 20 taps for the perfect pairing with Oca’s unique sausages, sandwiches, pizza, and cheese boards. Grab a pint and a plate to eat in or order “to go” with your growler. Oca has a cool story and even cooler eats.

Take A Food Road Trip. Go Visit the Best Restaurants in Indianapolis.

Have we convinced you yet? Foodies, Indy is a culinary paradise. While the places we listed are definitely some of the best restaurants in Indianapolis, there are plenty more to explore. Do some Google searching, some soul searching, and embark on the the food adventure of a lifetime.

Do you have any favorite restaurants of your own? They don’t have to be in the Indy area. They could be anywhere in the world. Let us know in the comment section below. We’d love to pick your brain.

Related Article: Airbnb Ranks Indianapolis as a Top Destination to Travel

Food + Drink,  Restaurants best city for foodies,  best food,  best restaurants,  best restaurants in Indianapolis,  Indianapolis,  indy

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Copyright © 2023 · Trekbible.com - All Rights Reserved.
About · Contribute · Privacy Policy · Contact Us