On the rocks, neat, dirty, frozen, or zero proof — we’re spilling the Long Island iced tea on the best spots to grab a drink after work in Indy.
Get ready to drink up. Here are 27 places lifting spirits with their sip-worthy beverages.
Beer lovers
Sun King Brewing, Downtown, Carmel, Fishers
When you think of local beer, Sun King must come to mind. It’s grown into the second-largest beer brewer in the state and has been awarded with multiple medals at the Indiana Brewers Cup, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup competitions.
Upland Brewing Co., Multiple locations
Upland puts a unique twist on traditional recipes and traded a few cases of beer for barrels from Oliver Winery, and continues to innovate with its sour beers.
Bier Brewery, Indy, Carmel
Bier Brewery is all about quality bier — it was named the Indiana Brewers Cup Champion in 2011 and 2012, and has garnered over 110 medals at state, national, and international competitions.
Keeping spirits up
Hotel Tango Distillery, Fletcher Place, Zionsville
Hotel Tango is a local veteran-owned distillery that crafts bourbons, whiskeys, and other fine spirits. The Fletcher Place tasting room is its flagship Indianapolis location and the menu includes a couple zero proof options.
West Fork Whiskey, Indy, Westfield
West Fork pays homage to Indiana’s rich distilling history by creating sippable, smooth whiskeys — always 100% Indiana from grain to glass. This year it expanded, opening a massive new headquarters in Westfield. Pro tip: It also offers mocktails on the menu.
8th Day Distillery, 1125 E. Brookside Ave.
This distillery has called the Circle City Industrial Complex home since 2016 and offers bottled spirits and canned cocktails. The cocktail bar is always mixing up new and creative drinks.
Off the vine
Great Legs Wine Bar, 906 Carrollton Ave.
Legs, legs, what’s on the menu? Great Legs Wine Bar is now serving up mimosa Mondays in the Garage Food Hall, featuring a tasting room with the iconic Leg Lamp from the classic movie, “A Christmas Story.”
Peace Water Winery Mass Ave Tasting Room, 747 N. College Ave., Ste. B
This local winery donates 50% of its net profits to charity.
Easley Winery, 205 N. College Ave.
Two words: Wine slushies. Try one or opt for a $7 wine tasting.
Mass Ave Wine, 878 Mass Ave. | Enjoy a glass of wine while noshing on this shop’s curated menu of small plates, salads, sandwiches, and pizzas.
Late-night gems
Sundry & Vice, 850 Mass Ave.
Step behind the lobby of the Bottleworks Hotel and you’ll find an intimate bar with draft cocktails, beer, and wine.
Almost Famous, 721 Mass Ave.
Almost Famous | Crema is a jack of all trades, serving coffee in the morning, lunch and dinner, and then drinks at night. This spot offers a selection of non-alcoholic cocktails.
The Exchange, 301 Mass Ave.
The Exchange transformed one of downtown’s oldest buildings into a whiskey bar with speakeasy vibes and over 450 of the best whiskeys you can find anywhere in the country.
the ball & biscuit, 331 Mass Ave.
Looking for a good place to hang out? This cocktail bar has an extensive drink menu — including alcohol-free options — and bites to eat if you plan to stay awhile.
Nowhere Special, 608 Mass Ave.
This spot on Mass Avenue provides speakeasy vibes, craft cocktails, and delicious bites.
Mocktail musts
Cannon Ball Lounge, 141 E. Washington St.
Looking for mocktail options? Head over to the Cannon Ball Lounge at Hotel Indy, which has a menu section dedicated to mocktails. Bonus: Many of the classic and signature cocktails can be adapted to be zero proof.
Baby’s, 2147 N. Talbott St.
This burger and milkshake spot on the Old Northside has a selection of zero proof classic drinks like a Virgin Bloody Mary, Virgin Paloma, Virgin Mule, and Virgin Margarita.
HC Tavern + Kitchen, 9709 E. 116th St.
The INDYtoday team went here for a pre-holiday break outing and we each ordered one of the zero proof cocktails. The menu includes Tavern Punch, Pineapple Nojito, and Blue Basil Spritz — $10 each.
The Inferno Room, 902 Virginia Ave.
This Fountain Square tiki bar offers three mocktail options — the Coocoonut Grove, Amaru Antivenom, and Puteketeke. All for $10.
Big Woods Restaurants, Multiple locations
City Editor Nicole visited the Speedway location and tried the Strawberry Tart Daiquiri — made with strawberry purée, orange juice, lime juice, and lemonade.
Stay for dinner
The Fountain Room, 830 Mass Ave., Ste. 1480
At The Fountain Room, one of the Bottleworks District’s newest restaurants with supper club flair, has a selection of cocktails to pair with your dinner — like seasonal sangrias and everyday specials.
BODHI, 922 Mass Ave.
If you love Thai food, you’ll love this spot at the far end of Mass Ave. It has a wide selection of drinks from seasonal cocktails to sake — there’s even a non-alcoholic section.
Bocca, 122 E. 22nd St.
This modern restaurant serves up Italian cuisine that will draw you in with its trendy, intimate, and classy ambiance, but don’t forget to look for the speakeasy while you’re there.
Gather 22, 22 E. 22nd St.
This is a great spot to gather with friends after work. Try the Byrne’s Grilled Pizza, shareables, or other main dishes outside on the patio on a nice evening.
Raise the roof
Plat 99, 333 Delaware St.
This newly updated space serves up local craft beers and a rotating cocktail menu that can be paired with house-made pastries and small plates.
Rooftop Garden Cocktail Lounge, 1105 Prospect St.
It’s the top tier view of the skyline for us — especially during sunset. This cocktail lounge on the top floor of the Fountain Square Theatre Building is open seasonally seven days a week, weather permitting.
3Up Rooftop Bar, 201 W. Main St., Carmel
Explore north of Indy and visit 3Up for food, drinks, and live music. Pro tip: Celebrate “Wine Wednesday” with half price bottles of wine.
Host at home
Shop our favorite happy hour essentials to host friends for a drink at your place:
- The Elevated Craft Cocktail Shaker promises no more leaks and has a built-in measuring system.
- This set of six colored wine glasses reminds us of Estelle stemware — only more affordable.
- Pair your colorful wine glasses with a colorful decanter that’s an Anthropologie best-seller.
- Keep wine and champagne cold in a marble wine chiller.
- An electric wine opener makes opening bottles smooth and stress-free.
- Don’t forget the best drinkware made by small, local businesses — we’re big fans of the Pirani Life tumbler, an eco-friendly version of a Solo Cup, and these Kanga Coolers koozies that keep drinks cold.
