Best hotel pool in Indy, on account of the view.

Basketball games, big fan shop, outdoor plaza area with programming. Get a Ben’s Amish Pretzel, an Indiana brand, just to the left of the steps where they scan your ticket. For local beer, try Upland Brewing Company's Courtside Indiana Pale Ale (the official Pacers-branded beer) or Sun King (Sunlight Cream Ale is the signature).

WNBA Live location. Good place to get out of the heat. Connected to mall and JW Marriott by skywalk. Doesn’t connect to Gainbridge by skywalk.

Charity game, on Butler University campus, big parking lot (free, I assume). Drive there via Meridian Street to see mansions with the most prestigious address in town (closer to the arena). Just take Meridian straight north of downtown (the Sheraton is on Meridian and Ohio), turn left on 49th Street, and it goes right to Hinkle. GPS would take you a different way. To see all the homes, take Meridian to 56th Street and then turn on GPS for Hinkle. Plan to make at least half a day of it and see recs for Butler Area in this guide. It's a favorite with locals.

This location of the local favorite breakfast/brunch spot is the closest one to the Sheraton and next to the convention center. Get the omelets, cinnamon toast, stuffed French toast, croissant French toast, chilaquiles, chicken salad, turkey sandwich (Thanksgiving sliced turkey, not deli-style), creative salads, avocado toast, muffins and cookies. Local and seasonal.

Cocktails on a rooftop at Hotel Indy, a couple blocks from Gainbridge. Ask for the bartender from Hawaii and see what he recommends. He loves to make you something special! It’s not a nightcluby lounge. Pretty but casual.

Free arts and games on Monument Circle every day. It will have some WNBA-related programming. Wanderlog says this is temporarily closed but it’s not.

Whether you rent a bike and tour downtown on the whole loop or just walk short segments, the trail is an indispensable byway for visitors. It’s scenic and safe to take to a lot of popular destinations. Pacers Bikeshare locations are located all along the trail.

The locals’ favorite neighborhood downtown. Restaurants, shops, bars. Bottleworks District at the far end. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail crisscrosses it.

Repurposed Coca-Cola bottling plant with gorgeous Art Deco design, the Garage Food Hall, and entertainment. You can walk there in 30 minutes - it's a nice stroll through the city via popular Mass Ave and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Can also bike or Uber.

One of the best places in Indy. You feel like you are in a snow globe. Oprah has named it one of her Favorite Things, and a location recently opened at Disney World. Famous for cake, it also has a lunch menu. It’s a bit overpriced but delicious. Must make a reservation to dine in, or you can stop by and get a piece of cake to go. It’s close to Butler.

A hidden gem for fresh housemade soups, pressed sandwiches on Subito’s own bread, salads, half salads, and mouthwatering cookies. For quality, it’s the best quick lunch spot downtown and so under the radar! Even the salad dressings are made from scratch.

Casual counterpart to St. Elmo Steak House. Same world-famous shrimp cocktail. Great filet sliders, salads, fish and chips, pasta, steak, and gluten-free options. Get a bottle of the shrimp cocktail sauce to take home. Convenient to hotel and Gainbridge. A res would help but not required.

Upscale Italian in the Alexander Hotel, a block from Gainbridge’s Delaware Street entrance (back side). Local. Also hit the cocktail bar upstairs, Plat 99, and see the giant portrait made of hair combs in the lobby. Make a res if you can.

Landmark center of Indy, one block south of Sheraton. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument sits in the middle. There is an observation deck at the top. Take an elevator or climb 380 spiral steps. Another historic site on the Circle is Christ Church Cathedral. Oldest in Indy. You can pop in and see it or attend a service any day. (Worship times here - https://cccindy.org/worship/). There's a nightly light show at 9:45 p.m., 10:15 p.m., and 10:45 p.m. It's the building with the American flag lights in the photo.

The locals’ favorite neighborhood downtown. Restaurants, shops, bars. Bottleworks District at the far end. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail crisscrosses it.

Hip, artsy neighborhood on the edge of downtown, not far from Gainbridge. If you ever watched Good Bones on HGTV, a lot of it took place in Fountain Square. (The first photo here of bright blue pools isn’t Fountain Square. That’s Monument Circle. Stupid AI!)

Repurposed Coca-Cola bottling plant with gorgeous Art Deco design, the Garage Food Hall, and entertainment. You can walk there in 30 min - nice stroll through the city and along popular Mass Ave - or bike there via the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Or Uber.

Glass dome suspended over an intersection. Just a nice place to sit and unwind out of the heat. There’s nothing else in there. It’s adjacent to Circle Centre Mall’s food court. If you go to the food court, take it to the Artsgarden to eat in peace.

Repurposed car factory with top local restaurants (casual) on the north edge of downtown, a mile due north of Sheraton. Free car museum.

Great place to stroll, rent a bike, etc. It’s the city’s museum campus, situated around a lovely pedestrian canal. Check out the exterior of the Indiana State Museum - there are sculptures embedded all around the facade, one for each of Indiana’s 92 Counties. It’s a fun and free way to learn a little about Indiana. The Stardust Cafe at the History Center is a good place to eat with some canal-side scenery. There’s a 9/11 Monument with steel pillars from the World Trade Center, worth seeing, just along the canal. Another fun site is the NCAA Hall of Champions museum, if you like sports.

From the Sheraton, walk west on Ohio Street to the canal about three blocks to one primary entry point. The 9/11 Memorial is on the street level there. Even if you just walk there and back one day, it’s worth it. You can also walk west on Washington Street to the south terminus of the canal in the park. There is no admission - it’s just open space.

Free arts and games on Monument Circle every day. It will have some WNBA-related programming. Says temporarily closed but it’s not.

Newly renovated. You can take a 30-minute tour with a spin around the track in a bus for $15 or a 90-minute golf cart tour of the whole place for $55. Even you don't care about auto racing, it's still fascinating and fun. Lots of eye candy.

Fun college-sports museum. Well worth it if you are killing time. There’s a basketball court marked with famous game-winning shots.

Walk around the building and find sculptures embedded in the facade, one representing each Indiana county. The museum collection is more cultural than historical. The gift shop is great and doesn’t require admission.

The attraction part is called the Indiana History Center, and it's one of the best cultural attractions in Indy. It's so well done, interactive, and not stodgy. The current exhibit on Chuck Taylor, an Indiana basketball legend memorialized with the iconic Converse shoe, is fantastic (through Aug. 2, 2025). There's an actor playing Chuck Taylor!

This location is closest to the Sheraton and next to the convention center. Get the omelets, cinnamon toast, stuffed French toast, croissant French toast, chilaquiles, chicken salad, turkey sandwich (real sliced turkey, not deli-style), big salads, avocado toast, muffins and cookies. Local and seasonal.

All locations have the same menu. You might want to try more than one location because it’s the best breakfast/brunch spot in Indy. This location is in a cool historical car factory and it's worth checking out. See above for food description. Besides this location, the other one I recommend is the original location by Butler. Perhaps go to one downtown location for breakfast and the Butler location for lunch.

King of local coffee roasters, closest location to Sheraton. Atmosphere is nothing special, a former Starbucks. Location by Butler is cool, a former fire station, and has a bigger food menu.

Trendy coffeeshop and wine bar, a billion houseplants.

My favorite. Special historic location, high-quality drinks and nibbles, pleasant 15-minute walk from Sheraton. Seating is much better than what the photo shows.

Destination coffee shop, if you want to venture to Fountain Square. Hit the boutiques in the block, especially Howl & Hide leather goods and Indy Reads Books, which supports local literacy education.

Beloved neighborhood spot. A nice hearty morning stroll from the Sheraton along the Cultural Trail. The Calvin Pepper is the signature drink.

Best local bakery. Cinnamon rolls, savory pastries, croissants, dark brownies, all house made.

If you happen to go to the Stutz.

Healthy brunch, juice bar, cute atmosphere. Short walk from the Sheraton.

Stylish spot in Hotel Indy, convenient to Gainbridge. Not my favorite just because the menu is small, but if the menu looks good to you, it’s a solid choice.

Nationally lauded hipster foodie brunch in nouveau diner setting. Great coffee bar. Only Dutch Baby in town. No alterations to menu items. Often a wait.

Lunch only. A hidden gem for fresh housemade soups, pressed sandwiches on Subito’s own bread, salads, half salads, and mouthwatering cookies. For quality, it’s the best quick lunch spot downtown and so under the radar! Even the salad dressings are made from scratch.

Best Mexican spot downtown, on Georgia close to Gainbridge and Sheraton. Lots of seating, good bar seating. Pop over to The Index visitor center and gift shop a few steps away on Georgia.

Home of the world-famous shrimp cocktail, voted the spiciest food on the planet by Travel Channel. Every celebrity and athlete who comes to town tries it. Make a reservation. Sister restaurant next door is more affordable - Harry & Izzy’s.

Casual counterpart to St. Elmo Steak House. Same world-famous shrimp cocktail. Great filet sliders, salads, fish and chips, pasta, steak, and gluten-free options. Get a bottle of the shrimp cocktail sauce to take home. Good bar seating.

Upscale Italian in the Alexander Hotel, a block from Gainbridge’s Delaware St entrance (back side). Local. Also hit the cocktail bar upstairs, Plat 99, and see the giant portrait made of hair combs in the lobby. Make a res if you can.

Local, right off Monument Circle. The tomato bisque is outrageous. Decent salads, too. Can take it to the Monument steps or eat outside. It’s small. .

Best by-the-slice downtown. Can take it to the Monument steps or eat in.

Tacos al pastor. No seating, but you can sit in the bar next door and there’s a window to retrieve your tacos. Point of going here is to check out the Stutz Building, too. A little off the beaten path downtown. Locals love it.

One of the best local craft brewers. Good pub fare. Close to Gainbridge.

Chain close to Sheraton. Meats cooked on Weber grills. I love the huge chop salad with roasted corn vinaigrette. Good bread basket. Good bar seating.

Best Thai in town. Cozy place, family owned and grandma is cooking in the back. Gorgeous presentations.

Local favorite. I get the off-menu jalapeño Mac and cheese with shrimp and sausage. Half salads are huge. Salmon sandwich and Impossible patties are alternatives to the big burgers. Good bar seating.

Spanish dishes in a former horse stable. Cool place. Local. Great quality. Something different in the heart of Mass Ave.

If you’re in the mood for seafood, raw bar or crab cakes. Central downtown location.

One of the better steakhouses downtown. I like to sit at the bar and split apps and sides. They are huge. Right by Gainbridge.

Close to the Sheraton. Live piano music. Good bar seating. Don’t be fooled by this photo of shrimp cocktail! It is not the world-famous shrimp cocktail at St. Elmo!

Stylish spot in Hotel Indy. Convenient to Gainbridge. I’ve never been for lunch or dinner - check the menu.

Pretty, classy, elevated comfort food. At Bottleworks. Go see the hotel across the street. Good bar seating.

Best place for sushi. Heart of Mass Ave.

Another sushi spot. Quirky design. A robot brings your food. Fun to try.

Best pub food near Gainbridge. Better than the other sports bars in the area. Coaches next door is OK but this is better for food. I wouldn’t go to Tin Roof, the other place on this block

Affordable Italian favorites. A chain but a crowd-pleaser and great location near Gainbridge. You can sit in a trolley car!

Great calzone across from Gainbridge.

My favorite spot. Cocktails on a rooftop at Hotel Indy, a couple blocks from Gainbridge. Ask for the bartender from Hawaii and see what he recommends. He loves to make you something special! It’s not a nightcluby lounge. Pretty but casual.

Real-deal tiki bar. his place feels like the Survivor Tribal Council set. Ask them to make the room rumble. I’ve never liked the food in the past but it looks like they’ve changed the menu and it seems better. But there are better places to go for dinner.

Pretty rooftop bar with views in the Intercontinental Hotel. Elevator to 11th floor (it’s unmarked). Make a res to sit outside, or swing by to see what’s open. Good light bites. This is the most “scenery” place in Indy, but you won’t be out of place. NBA teams stayed here during the Playoffs. WNBA players might stay here.

If you don’t want to go to a bar but aren’t ready to turn in, get some ice cream here and sit on the Monument steps. There’s a light show every night on the Circle at 9:45 p.m., 10:15 p.m., and 10:45 p.m.

Oldest bar in Indiana. Live blues. All the other nightspots around here are for college kids. This is the only suitable place for mature adults.

Two vintage duckpin bowling lanes inside the Fountain Square Theater Building. Action Bowling, on the top floor, is the best one. Atomic Bowling is in the basement. I prefer Action’s atmosphere. The views are nice. Pizza is good. Make reservations for a lane.

The original “student union for adults.” Beloved for breakfast and lunch. See description in Must Do.

Excellent locally roasted coffee and light cafe fare. Located in a former fire station. Easy parking. Cute shops on the next block.

Neighborhood favorite, sports bar and pub food. Lots of beer and cider on self-serve taps. Named after Butler’s mascot.

Another neighborhood favorite. Better food than the Bulldog. Love sitting at the bar here.

Elevated Southern comfort. Our only restaurant by a Top Chef alum.

High-end Latin American menu. Pretty interior and bar. Good bar seating.

Great bakery for something sweet or bagels to take back to the hotel. I like the jarred Cake in a Cup.

Best local bookshop.

Free. Huge installations integrated with nature, and a biergarten. This is where the Fever shot their Sports Illustrated cover. This is part of the excellent Indianapolis Museum of Art (aka Newfields).

Nicest restaurant near Butler.

In the Cafe Patachou family, this French bistro is so pretty and decadent. The duck-fat frites are to die for. The tiny boutique next door, Grazie Mille, is a gem.

One of the best places in Indy. You feel like you are in a snow globe. Oprah has named it one of her Favorite Things, and a location recently opened at Disney World. Famous for cake, it also has a lunch menu. It’s a bit overpriced but delicious. Must make a reservation to dine in, or you can stop by and get a piece of cake to go.

Charity game on Butler University campus, big parking lot (free, I assume). Drive there via Meridian Street to see mansions with the most prestigious address in town (closer to the arena). Just take Meridian straight north of downtown (the Sheraton is on Meridian and Ohio), turn left on 49th Street, and it goes right to Hinkle. GPS would take you a different way. To see all the homes, take Meridian to 56th Street and then turn on GPS for Hinkle. Plan to make at least half a day of it and see recs for Butler Area in this guide. It's a favorite with locals.

Closest place to Hinkle for a bite, a few steps away. It’s local and fine pub fare. But there's a broader selection of restaurants five minutes away.

Beloved Creole spot. Big plates of etouffee. Affordable. Might have to park on a side street.

Official visitors center with some cool locally made souvenirs. Good place for ornaments and shot glasses, if you collect those. Also specialty food items, artwork, books, Indy 500 flags, tons of stickers, great kids stuff. I love the Indiana basketball plushie.

Locally designed sports-related T-shirts and glassware. I bet they will have some WNBA stuff. They make a Caitlin shirt that says “I’m feeling 22,” which is both her number and a Taylor Swift song. Some of their shirts are at The Index.

Go here for Ambre Essences perfume, the unofficial scent of Indianapolis. It’s made here, all natural, and it is to die for. Everyone in Indy wears it. You stop smelling it on yourself but everyone else can smell it until you scrub it off. The scent intensifies in the heat, like when you sweat. Ambre is a local craze but it is sold all over the country. In Indy, you always hear, “Are you wearing Ambre?” It comes in travel-friendly vials. This place is three blocks from the Sheraton.

Another place for Ambre Essences, this one on Mass Ave.

AKA PUP. Local bags made from recycled banners, like Super Bowl and NBA All-Stars banners. Some material is the roof of our former Colts stadium. That’s how this nonprofit started, by salvaging the dome material and making bags to fund community projects. The Amtrak line is made from leather seats from the Northeast Corridor route in New England. PUP bags are THE best things you can buy in Indy. They are a little hard to find. Silver in the City downtown has a few, and you might see it at The Index or inside WNBA Live. Keep an eye open for PUP stuff! I’m not suggesting you go to their studio.

A cute gift shop. Place to check for PUP bags. Description says Fountain-Fletcher neighborhood, but it’s not there! Never has been. Weird.

If you happen to need new walking shoes, this historic shop has high-end comfort brands. There’s a shop parrot that will talk to you.

My favorite boutique downtown. Little lovely gifts, jewelry, homethings. If you take a walk on Mass Ave.

Great locally made leathergoods. Maker makes stuff for Willie Nelson. Interesting store. I wouldn’t make a special trip, but if you go to Fountain Square, it’s worth a stop.

Mostly used books and cool tote bags. Some new books by local authors - The Far Land is amazing! NY Times best-seller, Spielberg wants to adapt it for Netflix. Indy Reads funds local literacy education, so it’s a good cause. Locals love this store, if you venture to Fountain Square.

The gift shop is a great place for Indiana-related souvenirs, like the classic chocolate race car, an Indiana-shaped cookie cutter, and Raggedy Ann and Clifford dolls (they're from Indiana!). Lots of books and traditional souvenirs like mugs, ornaments, and magnets. Admission not required to shop.

Similar to the Indiana Historical Society gift shop, with more toys and less history. Admission not required to shop.

If you need something essential, like makeup you forgot or hotel room snacks, this is your best bet. It’s one block from the Sheraton. The second exterior photo the app loaded is not in Indy! 😆