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Guide to the Best BBQ and Bars in Indianapolis
Our Favorite Bars in Indianapolis
The Commodore
The concept of a speakeasy developed during the Prohibition era when boozehounds and lawbreakers needed a secret place to drink their homemade moonshine and smuggled rum. Although those days are gone, the speakeasy is back in vogue, providing patrons with a vibey, low-lit setting that is tucked away from the surrounding noise of the city.
The Commodore is one of Indianapolis’ premier speakeasies, a hidden haven that serves handcrafted cocktails in an alluring, art-deco inspired atmosphere. The space sits behind an unmarked door inside of the Fountain Square Theater Building and getting there is part of the excitement and adventure. Visitors will quickly find that the Commodore bartenders are some of the best in the city, concocting classy drinks like the spicy “Walken Totty” made with mezcal, agave nectar, turmeric, and cayenne pepper, or the popular “Espressotini” blended with vodka, cold brew, and chocolate bitters. They also offer beers, wines, and yummy mocktails.
The Commodore is the perfect mix of sultry vibes and elite mixology.
Strange Bird
Every once in a while, a city is gifted with a truly unique restaurant that brightens and enlivens the local culture. In the east side’s Irvington neighborhood, Strange Bird does just that, and as a result, visitors flock from around Indy to get a taste of their tropical cocktails, fresh oysters, and gourmet ramen. Since this is an “Our Favorite Bars” section, we’ll focus on the drinks!
Strange Bird has been accurately described as “tiki-leaning,” which means the décor is tastefully done with distinctive light fixtures, touches of bamboo, and mid-century modern furniture. The vibe is on point and pairs perfectly with their creative cocktail menu. The standouts are the “Catamaran,” a grapefruit and gin colada, the “Scorpion Reef” a mezcal and rum based drink with dashes of pineapple, orgeat, and lemon, and finally the “Caipirinha,” a famous Brazilian concoction made with a sugarcane spirit called cachaca. Regardless of your choice, these cocktails will catapult your tastebuds into tropical lands.
Although we will remain faithful to the barbeque in this blog, we put our stamp of approval on Strange Bird’s fresh East Coast oysters and the handcrafted ramen bowls. The flavors pair wonderfully with the cocktails.
There’s no doubt that this Irvington tiki getaway has quickly become one of Indy’s most distinctive bar & dining experiences.
Guggman Haus Brewing Co.
Over the years, twin sisters Courtney and Abby simultaneously developed a love for craft beer. While Courtney spent time with her husband exploring the rich brewing culture of Germany, Abby lived in Denver, Colorado, one of America’s beer capitols. The knowledge base they acquired synthesized in their new business venture— Guggman Haus Brewing Company, one of Indianapolis’ hippest craft breweries.
Located on the northwest end of town, Guggman Haus’ sprawling taproom is the ideal setting for sampling Courtney and Abby’s impressive, handcrafted beer selection. They offer tried and true classics like the “Wilbur’s Prize Pilsner,” a classic American IPA, as well as an award-winning “Milk Jug Stout”. Visitors with more adventurous palates can sample the fruity options like Blackberry Pomegranate sour, the tropical passionfruit, orange, and guava sour, or the black currant plum. To honor Courtney’s time in Germany, the brewery also produces a traditional German Helles, Kolsch, and a little-known wheat beer called a Heferweizen. Guggman Haus seamlessly blends the old world brewing culture of Germany with America’s young and energetic brewing enthusiasm.
This is the perfect place to kick back, enjoy one-of-a-kind brews, and connect with beer lovers from all around Indianapolis.
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Our Favorite BBQ in Indianapolis
Gip Got Tips
Dwayne “Gip” Gibson and his wife Stephanie are the visionary couple behind Gip Got Tips, one of the city’s true hidden gems. Located on the northeast end of Indianapolis, just off E. 21st and Emerson Avenue, Gip Got Tips sits in a small shopping center alongside other local businesses.Stepping into the restaurant, you quickly see that Gips is serious about their barbeque. The smoker logo sticks out against the black & white checkered flooring, while the letters “BBQ,” spelled
out in orange, backlit lettering, draw customers towards the ordering window. There’s no doubt that you’re in the right place.
As the name suggests, Gip is all about the tips. Dwayne and his team decided to build the menu around what they do best, which is rib tips, smoked chicken wings, and the lesser-known chicken tips, which are a juicy cut. For individuals, we recommend ordering the rib tip or chicken tip dinner, which comes with your choice of two sides. Gips also excels at providing barbeque for large parties, so don’t be afraid to bring a crew!
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Smokin’ Barrel BBQ
Smokin’ Barrel BBQ was born out of a $70 grill that Cassandra MacFarland gifted to her husband Mike on Father’s Day. When legend of his barbeque prowess spread throughout the local community, the family quickly realized that they had a business opportunity on their hands. This was 2016 and every day since, the MacFarland’s artisan barbeque has grown in popularity.
One could say that the MacFarland’s are BBQ purists— they reject the phrase “sauce is boss” and rely on their rubs and smoking techniques to provide the meat with its flavor. As they like to say, “our meats stand alone.” Mike and family have zeroed in on smoking Indy’s finest brisket, ribs, rib tips, chicken, turkey, pork belly, and their most popular item, the pulled pork. Patrons can’t go wrong with the sides of baked beans, mustard potato salad, mac and cheese, or corn casserole.
Fans of the Smokin’ Barrell give the MacFarland’s barbeque the highest praise— they say you can taste the passion in the cooking. Whether it’s in the fall-off-the-bone rib meat, the savory brisket, or the tender smoked chicken, Mike and Cassandra’s dedication to the craft is evident in every bite.
Rusted Silo
Although the Rusted Silo is in Lizton, IN, about 30 minutes northwest of the city, no respectable Indianapolis BBQ list would be complete without this award-winning restaurant. Indeed, when you ask the local BBQ experts, the Rusted Silo is frequently mentioned in the top three. What’s the Silo’s secret? It’s their dedication to serving the best southern style barbeque that the Midwest has ever seen.
Chef Rob Ecker has over 25 of years of cooking experience under his belt and is the Rusted Silo’s trusted pit master. He oversees and manages the meat cooking process from start to finish. The result is a stellar selection of beef brisket, baby back ribs, smoked chicken, pork butt, and spareribs, all of which melt off the bone and are served beside collard greens, zucchini & tomatoes, coleslaw, potato salad, cheese grits, ranch beans, or their one of a kind “mac-n-beer cheese” made with a dash of lager and topped with Goldfish crackers. After you’ve gotten your fill of savory, choose from three homemade desserts— the bourbon pecan pie, peach cobbler, and “Mama June’s Nanner Pudding.”
If the long drive out of the city intimidates you, we recommend visiting the Rusted Silo over the weekend. Think of it as a sort of barbeque pilgrimage— it’s worth the trip.
Conclusion: Can Someone Pass the Napkins?
Well, there you have it folks. After all this highly taxing labor, I think it’s time to wipe the sauce from our fingers, gulp down the last sip from our drink, and head back home to Westminster Apartments. Our work here is done.Before we go, we’d like to suggest some travel plans. If you’d like to visit a barbeque joint and bar in one trip, then we recommend the following pairs: Gip Got Tips + The Commodore, Smokin’ Barrel BBQ + Strange Bird, and Rusted Silo + Guggman Haus Brewing Company. Combining the two will save you time on the road and maximize your eating and drinking efforts! When it’s all said and done, please come visit our team at Westminster Apartments. We offer Greenwood’s finest 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments inside a people-focused living community with stellar amenities like a resort-style swimming pool, private tanning bed, and beautiful A-frame clubhouse. Schedule a tour with us today— we would love to show you around. Who knows? In one day, you could come away with a rack of ribs, a handcrafted cocktail, and a beautiful new apartment!