Indianapolis Travel Guide

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What to Eat in Indianapolis

It's no secret that steakhouses are king in Indianapolis (especially St. Elmo Steakhouse, a landmark in itself), but there's more to this city than meat and potatoes. Whether you're looking for farm-to-table, Creole, Italian, Thai, Latin or anything in between, you'll likely find it. Foodies rejoice — Indy's dining scene knows no bounds.

For breakfast, locals and critics recommend you start at Cafe Patachou with one of its cooked-to-order omelets. When lunchtime rolls around, you'll have your pick of casual eateries, but Shapiro's Delicatessen (get the pastrami sandwich with a side of the matzo ball soup) and Yats (don't pass up the chili cheese étouffée) are Hoosier favorites.

If you're not in the mood for a steak dinner, sample the eclectic four-course tasting menu at Recess, which changes nightly. Bluebeard (which borrows its moniker from Kurt Vonnegut's novel of the same name) is another favorite among locals and visitors. Situated in the historic Holy Rosary neighborhood in a renovated 1920s-era factory warehouse, Bluebeard serves up a menu of contemporary American cuisine (try the chicken liver pate).

And then there's the beer. As is the trend across the country, the Indianapolis craft beer scene has exploded in recent years. Use this Visit Indy guide to map out your brewery crawl.

Find the Best Restaurants in Indianapolis

#1
Long's Bakery
#1 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (2530)
$ | American
1453 N Tremont St, Indianapolis, IN 46222-2800
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#2
Conner's Kitchen + Bar
#2 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (498)
$ - $$ | American, Bar, Contemporary
350 West Maryland St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
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#3
Livery
#3 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (160)
$ - $$ | Latin, Central American, Contemporary
720 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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#4
The Capital Grille
#4 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (849)
$$ | Steakhouse
40 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3402
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#5
Vida
#5 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (221)
$$ | American, Contemporary
601 E New York St Corner of New York and Park, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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#6
Ruth's Chris Steak House
#6 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (500)
$$ | American, Steakhouse
45 S Illinois St Circle Centre Mall, Indianapolis, IN 46204
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#7
Burger Theory at the Holiday Inn Indianapolis Airport
#7 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (476)
$ - $$ | American, Bar
8555 Stansted Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46241-9001
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#8
High Velocity
#8 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (975)
$ - $$ | American, Bar, Contemporary
10 S West St JW Marriott Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2709
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#9
Cafe Patachou
#9 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (969)
$ - $$ | American, Cafe
225 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3435
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#10
Caplinger's Fresh Catch
#10 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (324)
$ - $$ | American, Seafood, Cajun & Creole, Healthy
7460 N Shadeland Ave Suite 400, Indianapolis, IN 46250-2862
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#11
Tinker Street Restaurant & Wine Bar
#11 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (289)
$ - $$ | American, Wine Bar
402 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202-2602
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#12
St. Elmo Steak House
#12 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (3567)
$$ | American, Steakhouse
127 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225-1079
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#13
Bluebeard
#13 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (399)
$ - $$ | American
653 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203-1755
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#14
Mama Carolla's Old Italian Restaurant
#14 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (409)
$ - $$ | Italian, Tuscan, Central-Italian
1031 E 54th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220-3219
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#15
Harry and Izzy's
#15 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (1864)
$$ | American, Steakhouse, Grill
153 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225-1079
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#16
Union 50
#16 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (346)
$ - $$ | American, Bar, Contemporary, Gastropub
620 N East St, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3421
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#17
Seasons 52
#17 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (702)
$ - $$ | American
8650 Keystone Xing, Indianapolis, IN 46240-2170
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#18
The Tamale Place
#18 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (418)
$ | Mexican, Latin, Fast Food
5242 Rockville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46224-9110
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#19
Iozzo's Garden of Italy
#19 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (326)
$ - $$ | Seafood, Italian
946 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225-1337
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#20
Fire by the Monon
#20 of 2,199 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Tripadvisor (162)
$ - $$ | American, Bar
6523 Ferguson St, Indianapolis, IN 46220-1179
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