Best nightclubs in Indianapolis: find options near you

I got tickets to watch Maurice Brown perform here and I had a great time. I was able to enjoy some great jazz while sipping on a couple of cocktails, and it made for a great time at the end of the day. The service was good considering how busy the place was, and the drinks were delicious. The cream cocktail reminded me of eggnog, and it was especially decadent. The carrot cake was also tasty. The music was top tier, and it was easy to appreciate. This is a great spot for high quality entertainment, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Wow!! What an experience! Had the distinct pleasure of listening to Ron Dixon and this incredible band put on a listening experience like NO OTHER! Beautiful atmosphere and ambiance. Excellent service staff!! Food was really good also. If you are in the area, trust me, this is worth the price of admission!!

We went to celebrate a friend’s birthday and happened to catch the Monday night Jazz Jam Session—which, to our delight, is free. While enjoying dinner, we were treated to an impressive lineup of local talent. The service was a bit slow, but understandable given how packed the place was. Still, the cozy, intimate setting made the experience special—you could even chat with the musicians between sets.

Last night Jazz artist she was excellent and her band was just as wonderful. Thanks for the Great show. Jazz kitchen food always delicious, Service is always very good.

This place exceeded my expectations. Food and drinks were very reasonably priced for the quality. I had the crab cakes and the Lavender Haze Drink. Top Notch. And of course the music was awesome.

What a cool spot! We stopped by on Monday night for the open sign up night. It was cool to see the jam band environment. Drinks were groovy and the brownie ice cream was amazing 😻. Make sure to book ahead as they have full performances most nights of the week!

Great music and great food. Probably going to be a once a month ordeal for me to get out of the house now.

Saw The Electric Avenue on 02/28/2026. Great show! Great atmosphere! No problems with picking up tickets at Will Call. Premium Seating was comfortable, reasonably priced and painless to reserve. Servers were on point with warm greetings, addressing party by name and coming around to check on our needs regularly. Exceeded all expectations!

I've been going to The Vogue Theater and seeing live music there off & on since 1995. Anyone and everyone in music BIG & small has performed there at some point. Legendary artists that have went on to have very successful musical careers – some of those guys/bands cut their teeth in this venue! It's been a training groud of sorts. And that's why alot of bands – even after they make it 'big' – at some point they all come back to pay homage to a venerated place and grace its stage again… They almost always do! ❤️ 🎤 🎶

Very vibey venue. Had great drinks for decent prices. Probably is worth it to get the vip seating next time. Love that where I stood the bands would pass by and gave a chance to chat with different members!

Came for the KREAM show. The artists were great, but The Vogue isn’t the best setup for EDM shows. The layout, especially with the bar placement, creates congestion and awkward sightlines. For a high-energy electronic show, that disrupts the flow and movement on the floor. The biggest issue is lighting. The ceiling reflects too much light, making the room brighter than it should be. EDM relies on darkness and contrast to create immersion, and the extra brightness really kills some of the experiential impact during drops and big moments. Love the history of the venue, but it could use some production adjustments to better support electronic acts.

This 21 and over venue is the place to see some of the best new and established local, regional national and international music artists in a smaller setting. Forty 5 is a local boutique production company that also owns this venue, the recently added "Turntable" venue next store as well as The Tobias Theatre. Turntable features mainly newer artists in a more intimate 18 and over space. If you like exploring music you can't go wrong with a show at either of these spaces.

I like the venue and the acoustics for a metal show. The place was packed for Whitechapel, which detracted a little, but the crowd was cool, so everyone did okay getting banged into, even outside the pit. Beverage areas seemed to be pretty quick and prices are reasonable for a music bar. There is enough still open in the area after a show to get a snack or late cocktail before going home. I will return to The Vogue for future shows.

Went and saw kream. Light show all night was boring. The djs were cool. Sound seemed pretty low all night. Definitely not what I'm used to when going to see dj's. Great bartenders though.

My wife and I just happened to be walking by and saw Tommy Davidson was in town that night. I asked the front bouncer security guard about tickets and he told us to go ahead get in line he had us covered. We got in the door and for $36 a ticket we were sat at a nice private table in the club. They serve appetizers and small enters. Typical bar fried food items. I had the spicy goat cheese fig jam burger, it was ok. Good unique flavors but was as hot as I would expect. I was starving so I can't complain. My wife had the chicken finger basket which was decent think high school lunch chicken fingers. Big Rich Green opened for Tommy Davidson and he was a riot from my home state of Ohio!! Tommy Davidson was hilarious and my face hurt by the time we left, that's how much I laughed. Check it out if you're in town!

Great spot in downtown. The acts that come in are cool. We got to see Nimesh Patel! He was fabulous. There’s a two item minimum inside but the food and drink menu is extensive, so it doesn’t feel bad to do that at all. We in fact ended up ordering a lot more.

Had a GREAT time watching Dale Jones. He is an absolute LEGEND and is woefully underappreciated, so I was extremely glad to see him coming to Indy! The staff at the club were extremely friendly and helpful and made sure they were never in the way or overbearing. The food isn't horribly overpriced like one might expect and is quite delicious!

It was fine. We went on a Thursday for the 7:30 Phil Hanley show. There was no food available in the bar area. The local beer selection was really good and the bar tender was great. The hostesses seating the audience didn't seem to understand Phil's comedy style and sat the wrong people near the stage. Phil made it work but it could have been much better. For our two items per person we ordered the appetizer platter. It was great. The chips and salsa was a joke. They brought a bowl of "chips" that were completely crushed. What was really funny was the waiter had upsold us the queso. 🤣

Came over the summer to watch one of my fav YouTubers comedy show. I love that the area is spacious but still very intimate. They do have a 2 item minimum, it doesn't have to be drinks. Most comedy clubs make you order atleast 2 drinks and I'm not a drinker. I had the Ceasar salad which was amazing, I definitely recommend trying. Can't wait to visit again.

Great club. Very shallow and wide, which means everything feels close and intimate. I saw Heath, Martin, and Ahurn tonight. Super funny guys. I hope they come through again soon. There was one woman who wouldn't shut up. She was given a couple of warnings from the stage, then they kicked her out. Great work from the club staff on getting rid of the distraction. Food and drinks were a little pricey, but normal for a captive venue. And the wait staff had a perfect balance between making sure I had what I needed without constantly interrupting my experience. It was a little tricky to find. It was listed as inside the Circle Center Mall, but some of the entrances to the mall (and all the stores) were closed (at 7:30p on a Wednesday), the mall information maps were not working, and the cleaning staff didn't understand English. Overall, it was a great experience, and I'll be going back.

The workers at Helium Comedy Club were not overly polite, but were not mean. The drinks were good, but pricey. They had a 2 drink minimum per person, which I have found is uncommon for comedy clubs.

Eat at The Garage Food Hall and then bar hop Mass Ave all the way to here to 16-Bit Bar+Arcade (bar with a slide, free skiball, games, etc). The maple whiskey cocktail is wayyyyyy to sweet; get the cocktail with a slim Jim interest. Overall really fun place for a group. Beware of douchy extreme ping ping players who apparently can push your glass over to break on the floor, and say nothing to you after. Almost all the games are free. There's an outdoor patio area too.

James Moscato was our bartender and he was amazing! So funny and personable. Get him that free t-shirt! Also the vibes here are phenomenal ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I came here for the first time with my mother and brother. They card you at the door. Pinball machines and retro arcade games are everywhere. Pinball is $1 and everything else is free. They have a change machine and ATM. The giant slide was fun to go down and the Game Over drink was decent but not very strong. You get to keep the cup as a souvenir. Fire pits are outside and chairs to sit in. Upstairs is another bar and comfortable sofas and some games with the slide access. In the back there are video games. The bar can make any drink you want off the menu since it is a full service bar. The drinks are pricey so I don't recommend coming just for the drinks. No food is served here either that I could see. You can't bring outside beverages. Good luck finding parking. You can use a parking garage nearby. 10/10 would go again. Perfect chill spot.

Great experience. Didn't have any food, but the bartenders were attentive and chill. Good drinks, and the atmosphere was awesome. Like hanging out in your best friend's basement in the '80s. Would definitely recommend.

Cocktails are cool. I had the Carrie Fisher and it was yummy and had rock candy on top. I enjoyed playing all the arcade games. 👾

Very hip and nostalgic arcade. Full bar with happy hour. Good prices. Games are free, 21 and up, which is also nice. There is skee ball, a lounge area with big screen TVs playing old music videos. Good place to play games or chill for the night. They even have a slide! Friendly service.

I had a great time. People in their 40's + would live this place. Just saying

Best dive bar around this part of Indy. Great band the last time I was there. Good lunch specials too.

Stopped in for a bite to eat!! It's a great fun place to go for food, drinks, and tunes!!!!

Love the atmosphere! Cool,casual,and relaxed! Love checking out all the Grateful Dead memorabilia and decor. It's fun and feels like a great spot to experience everything from lunch to evenings of live music and drinks. I really enjoyed the pool tables and seating. We ordered the cauliflower thin crust pizza which was fabulous, btw! The topping fresh and top notch as well as the serving sizes! Some really great beers on draft and staff is professional and knowledgeable! Thanks guys for great experiences! Will be a regular from now on!

Great venue to enjoy live Jazz on Tuesdays nights for FREE! That's why I go. OVER 21 BAR. They also do live rock & roll bands on Saturdays, sometimes outside on the Patio if the weather permits. I'm not sure about other live band nights. Staff has always been friendly and attentive. They are open for lunch too. Very popular spot, and can get crowded at times. A bingo group meets there certain days. There's pool tables and darts. Its always clean & tidy. Dog friendly, no kids!

Overall a great dive bar! My friends and I go to trivia and karaoke on Mondays which is always a blast. Great vibes, and the Grateful Dead theme everywhere is really neat! Pool and darts are fun too. That said, the place looks sketchy and dead on the outside, but give it a shot!

I've been there a couple of times, just to have a few drinks and occasionally something to eat. On one occasion, I asked the bartender for something and he said he didn't have it, but then someone else came in and he didn't tell them the same thing. I've always been respectful; if someone socializes with me, I'm sociable in return. I'm not interested in problems and I don't look for them. Last night, which will certainly be the last time I ever go there, a woman who served us at the bar was very rude from the start. To make matters worse, my friend and I only had one drink each, and she told us she wouldn't serve us anymore and that we had to leave, just like that. We asked her why she was kicking us out, and she said it was because we were saying things to a woman, when we were only chatting between ourselves. I didn't understand anything until she kicked us out again. I don't know if it was because we were talking in our own language, but in my opinion, it was an act of racism. She had no proof of what she was saying, only baseless accusations, and we even asked her who we had offended and to give us proof of what she was saying. To top it all off, when she kicked us out, she started yelling insults at us. I don't recommend this place, and I don't think anyone deserves to be treated that way without any reason. It's very dangerous; they're not mentally stable.

Absolutely love this place, has a definite 1970s feel complete with music. Had me missing my bell bottom, jeans, long brown hair and ponytail. I was told they have live music, I think they said every day of the week. The joint has a really cool retro vibe. The Mousetrap is basically split in half, part pool hall in back. With the bar and music venue up front. The place must be really jumping, when the band is playing. I had a breaded Tenderloin and onion rings. My Tenderloin was as big as a ball cap, I think, larger and breaded and fried to absolute crunchy perfection. The onion rings were rather ordinary, but Lord knows the tenderloin didn’t care and neither did I. What great food and service. I will return to try something else, hopefully when the band is playing. That way, I can get the whole Mousetrap experience. If you’re looking for a laid-back atmosphere, complete with good food and a retro 1970s feel. Look no further you have arrived at your destination. Great great place.! 👍👍👀

Nicky Blaine’s Cocktail Lounge is one of my favorite spots in Indianapolis. Great cigar selection, comfortable seating, and an excellent bar. The atmosphere is classic and relaxed just a great place to unwind. Love this place and would highly recommend it.

This place has a great dark, smoky, cozy vibe decorated in deep rich colors and with ample super comfortable leather couches. The cocktail and cigar menus are both extensive, and there is a nice selection of appetizers and snacks. Sadly, despite the place being over half empty, service was almost non-existent. I waited 30 minutes after finishing my only drink for a waiter to return, but alas, no. Meanwhile he visited the ladies nearby 6-7 times in the same interval. After giving up and going to the bar for help, I explained I had been waiting 30 minutes (originally wanting a second drink, but at this point just wanting to leave) and the only response I got was "oh." No apology whatsoever. I don't why I was ignored after my first drink was delivered as I was polite to the staff, dressed appropriately, quiet, and didn't make any special requests.

Had a wonderful cocktail here with my brother! It’s got the best vibes and even better worker! Brian is a great and makes good recommendations and then a good cocktail. You can’t go wrong here. Highly recommend taking a date here or go out with friends if you want somewhere fancier and high class.

Gotta be one of the USA’s most comfortable cigar lounges. Good music (not too loud to talk over), comfortable chairs and sofas, excellent service. Cigars were priced fairly. $5 cover absolutely worth it.

Online this place looked quant and unique so I decide to choose this bar over the popular chain that was up the street. When I walked in I was greeted by the host who told me the bar had open seating. I then asked if I can check out the cigars and I was told "the bar has a menu" which threw me off because I would prefer to see the cigars I'm going to purchase rather than looking at list, but whatever. When I sat down the bartender asked if I would like a drink so I ordered. I then informed him that I would like a cigar. He brought me the menu and the informed me that I could also check out the humidor which is what I wanted to do in the first place. At this point I already had my drink so I walked to the same host and asked for the humidor and he told me that I had I could now access it but I couldn't bring my drink inside the humidor because "people spill their drinks inside all the time" and suggested that I leave my drink on a random table that wasn't visible inside the humidor. Anyone that works at a bar should understand why this is a terrible idea. At this point as a customer I felt insulted as if I was being treated like a toddler instead of a paying customer. I skipped the cigar and went to the chain up the street which is what I would recommend everyone else to do.

My friend and I went here for a cigar and drinks. The lounge was really cool. Lots of comfortable leather couches and chairs. The cocktails were delicious. The server recommended some great cigars for us. I look forward to going back!

I was in Indianapolis for the weekend, for the Indianapolis marathon. We came here Saturday night after a good steak dinner to celebrate. This is one of the best cigar bars in the world!, Seriously. It is perfection We were able to meet the owner, Simon, who is cool, friendly, outgoing, and very proud of this amazing place. It’s an easy, five star, easy thumbs up.

We had are after Xmas party here. On a Saturday night 6 till 9 company employees only. There was good food some free drinks. And some door prizes. Herd some good music and had a great time…

Went to celebrate my birthday here and we absolutely loved it! My friends and I had a great time. The drinks were really good, food was good, our waiter did awesome, 0 complaints!

Food not served here. I highly recommend the Sex on the moon mixed drink. We got a bucket and it was well worth it!

I had an absolute blast at Howl at the Moon in Indianapolis! This place is the ultimate nightlife spot, with an electrifying atmosphere that keeps the energy high all night long. The dueling pianos were a total highlight—talented musicians played everything from classic rock to today’s hits, taking crowd requests that had everyone singing and dancing. The venue’s vibrant vibe, great service, and interactive entertainment made it a perfect night out. five stars all the way!

Always an awesome time when we go there. We are frequent flyers now. We've been to the one in Chicago and the one in Indianapolis and they're both look great. You should try it out. You'll be addicted ❤️❤️❤️💯🎉

My husband and I went to Howl at the Moon for Valentine’s Day (we went the weekend prior). It was a blast!! I would highly recommend to any one in the younger crowd of bar-going. They had live music and very attentive bartenders. We got a cocktail in a bucket and 3 shots each. It was not overly priced like most downtown bars are, but they did have a special for the holidays. It was a very fun time and I am excited to go back!

We had such a great time! We reserved a table for 10 pm. We were right on the dance floor, had everything we wanted/needed. Music was great! Crowd was great! This might be my favorite Howl at the Moon location!

Super cool little dive bar. They had security at both exits which made me a little nervous but the bartender was super nice and we felt welcome. Jalapeno poppers were pretty good!

My daughter took me it was my first time here fried chicken was a 10 amazing like home cooking 🫶🏽 my drink was made just right a mango pineapple long island and it was the bar tender birthday so here service was on point. I will come back 🤭😊 darts games bar and seating. People just enjoying themselves and music on juke box

Another good local place on my way to downtown outings! Had a delicious wrap and onion rings. Cold bottled beer. Nice people and plenty of tables!

Always a great time here. We met Alexis on a random Thursday and she treated us so well we made plans to return the following week. We truly enjoyed karaoke night. The pizza, chicken wings, fried cauliflower and French fries are ALL delicious. The drinks are good too.

My friend and I came here specifically because the Google reviews said they had happy hour…we were ready to relax and enjoy some drinks. Turns out, they don’t have happy hour at all, which was already disappointing. But what really blew us away was the rude and unnecessary comment from the man at the front desk. The place was completely empty, no customers, no vibe, just silence. We could’ve just sat and waited for our Uber, but decided to order a drink anyway. As we were leaving, the man looked at us and said, "I hope you find somewhere cheaper," as if we couldn’t afford to be there. It was insulting and totally uncalled for. We weren’t leaving because of the prices, we were leaving because the place misrepresented itself online. Judging by how empty it was, it seems like they don’t get much business anyway, and with that kind of attitude, it’s no surprise. Wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone. Misleading info, bad vibes, and rude staff

I didn't wait long for a table because I caught seats at the bar, 😂 💯. It was really crowded that night. If you want to reserve for a group, you can contact the facility and do so for a fee. The place is cool; I gave 3 stars because the business is always booming on the weekends so it could really use a makeover. It is 2 old inside and highly dusty; I have real bad allergies so I stayed going out to get some air because it was stuffy and dry. Other than that, I okay 🎯 for the 1st time ever and I had a blast just hanging out with an old co worker and some cool strangers. We all took shots together, responsibly.

Great spot with good cold beer, drinks and excellent food! Patrons and staff are very friendly. I recommend the breaded tenderloin and hot 🔥 chips! Also plenty of parking 🅿️ is available and makes for an easy in and out! 5 ✨ 's! Looking forward to visiting again soon!

Still waiting to decide on the food, will let you know. I ordered the combo basket and substituted the chicken tenders for the fried green tomatoes. Hope they’re good as hell!!! Well they are really good!!!! For someone who doesn’t eat fried foods, I went all in!!😉☠️🏳️‍🌈

It's one of my favorite locations to come and enjoy a good meal and great service! No matter the day, time, or weather, they are open and ready to serve you. Great small atmosphere to watch some sports. It was a cold, snowy, and windy day on my last visit, but nice and warm inside! Again, a great location for take out or dine-in!

Been here several times and loved everything but the fish. It wasn't fresh at all. Was reheated and horrible but the sloppy tots, tacos, pizza and burgers were good. But still 5 stars. Reliable late nite place.

Some of the best food and drinks I've had. Love their onion rings, they're absolutely fantastic.

When it's late night and you want some real bar food this is the place to go. This place is LGBTQ friendly. Please go on karaoke night!

Even at 2am on a Monday night, the bar was slightly busy but Tina was amazing!! She made us Great drinks, was easy and friendly to talk to and ask questions. Thanks again will be back soon

Came in yesterday on a Monday around 7pm and ordered chicken tender basket with onion rings to go, chicken was raw still and onion rings were burnt…. This the type of cooks you keep here? Waited 45 min for a meal I couldn’t eat… Only reason I came here is because I ran into a guy named Ryan with a black Ollys shirt on at the No Kings protest that recommended me come try it out. Not a good first impression maybe I need to come when Ryan is working

Really great local brews on tap served in glass. Super cool atmosphere with nice lighting. Great date location!

For the last 2 years I’ve been coming in with my small dog to grab a drink and study. The bartender would say hi and the cooks would bring treats. Today after seating myself and settling in, I was sharply informed, without greeting or anything, that my dogs are not allowed. It was curt and unapologetic and made me feel like I had done something wrong. There is no sign out front and there have been others with dogs (regulars) which was why I started bringing mine. When I tried to ask about what has changed or of this was always a thing, the bartender was incredibly passive aggressive, refusing to acknowledge me or my question. She made very clear that I was unwelcome and a bother. Would not even engage with my questions. Just straight gaslit me, like I’d never been in. I understand policy changes, and I respect rules. I have no problem with dogs not being allowed. What was disappointing and hurtful was the complete lack of kindness and passive aggressive dismissal I received. She could have simply been kind, said hello first or even smiled. But instead I left feeling humiliated in front of everyone there and I will never return, with or without my dog. It was already a rough day, so much for being compassionate towards each other. Thanks to the other 3 male bartenders who have always been welcoming.

Good was great…our bartender Matt was excellent…after his shift he went to the back bar where we got corned been n cabbage and had another great bartender…with a rockin mohawk! We will be back! Happy St Patrick's Day!

Good place to relax and hand out. Friendly staff and nice service. Food is good, specially Thursday is steak night. If you like steak , you shouldn’t miss it. Forgot to take pic because it’s too good. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 the chicken wing is amazing, try the everything sauce, you will love it.

You gotta stop by this place! OG Mike is amazing! He has been there since before I was born, and he knows his stuff. And the new bartender Hannah is also the bees knees!! Go check it out.

Literally my favorite bar in Indy (shitty kitty side) – have been going for over 20 years. I enjoy the diverse crowd, the bartenders are nice, and I always feel comfortable and relaxed there!

Just a blast from the past when I used to hang out in my punk n drunk days. I've never eaten here…. maybe next time I'm in Indy!