Indy Pregame/Postgame Bars

Submitted by BTB grad on December 2nd, 2021 at 8:14 PM

What drinking establishments near Lucas Oil Stadium are y'all hitting up pregame and then postgame for *fingers crossed* celebratory drinks?

Indy Pete - Go Blue

December 2nd, 2021 at 8:32 PM ^

Direct info from UM Indy alumni club (which had an awesome event last night with the super talented John U Bacon by the way):

This week's watch parties will start at Noon(12pm) for the UM Basketball vs. San Diego State game at 1pm. The watch party will continue for the B1G Football Championship Game vs. Iowa @ 8pm. 

  • DOWNTOWN: O'Reilly's Bar and Restaurant (36 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46204)
  • Addt'l Michigan Bars: Coaches Tavern (28 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46204) & Pearl Street Pizzeria and Pub (65 E Pearl St, Indianapolis, IN 46204)
  • When: Saturday December 4, 2021, 12pm EST

Note: Tin Roof will be an Iowa bar/watch party location

Primo

December 2nd, 2021 at 11:08 PM ^

Indy resident since 2009 here.  Some ideas:

DOWNTOWN

Unfortunately, downtown lost some in the past year (Slippery Noodle, Champps, Rock Bottom), but good options remain.  Within 10-15 minutes of the stadium you've got Yardhouse, Kilroy's, Punch Bowl Social, Nada, District Tap.  A Louisville brewery called Goodwood just opened in the old Ram.  Also highly recommend Taxman's Brewpub, located on South and Delaware (so an easy walk to Lucas).  the Plat 99 bar in the Alexander across the street is good for cocktails. There's a strip of bars on South Meridian that I do not frequent these days but for an event like this gets the job done: Tiki Bobs, Brother's, etc.

A little further from the stadium is Metazoa Brewing, which is a solid option if you're looking to hit up a brewery.

 

MASS AVE

This district is a tad northeast of "downtown" on...Massachusetts Avenue.  There's something for everyone there.  Rathskellar has a great biergarten that will be going in Saturday's 50 degree weather.  Burnside is 3 levels and solid.  The Tap is a decent sports bar.  A little further up Union 50 does great drinks.  And if you find yourself at Goodfella's Pizza, you might stumble upon their speakeasy if you look hard enough.

Fast casual dining: hit up Slapfish.  They just opened a bar next door called Raw Bar too.

North End: the new BOTTLEWORKS district.  Great food hall, a cool gaming bar, all around good stuff (across the street is a great cuban casual place called Yat's)

 

FOUNTAIN SQUARE / FLETCHER PLACE

The area just southeast of downtown has some great spots:

-Bluebeard: one of the best meals in town

-Hotel Tango: great craft distillery worth your time

-Chilly Water / Hoagies and Hops: Hoagies features authentic philly cheesesteaks (they fly their bread in from New Jersey) and Chilly Water has my favorite Indy beer: Blood on the Tracks Blood Orange IPA.

- Upland: Bloomington based craft brewery known nationally for their sours (good food too)

-Thunderbird: cocktail bar

-La margarita: solid mexican restaurant

IndyBlue

December 3rd, 2021 at 11:55 AM ^

There's a strip of bars on South Meridian that I do not frequent these days but for an event like this gets the job done: Tiki Bobs, Brother's, etc.

Just to add to this, I would avoid those places AFTER the game.  If you're over 25 like me, you'll be really out of place. 

Boglehead

December 3rd, 2021 at 7:28 AM ^

How late are bars open? I see Yard house closes at 11:30 pm on Sat’s. If we win I’d love to have some post-game beers while I wait out the Uber surge.