The Alley is one of the better bars in Bloomington. I really like the overall vibe and atmosphere…read more-- it's a great place to hang out with friends. The location is convenient, and it has a fun, welcoming feel that keeps me coming back. Definitely a solid choice for a night out!

Neighborhood bar. Good sound level, small, close knit, local feel. Not an amazing beer selection,…read morebut varied enough.

If I lived around here this would easily be one of my go-to bars. They have a full bar plus 10 or…read moreso craft beers on tap and a PBR tap inside an old Chevy on the other side of the bar. Cozy, chill vibes, great low lighting, clean, unique decor...idk about the deer, but there's a lil something for everyone.  While we were there, the music made me feel like I was at The Bronze. They also have shuffleboard, ski ball, and foosball tables. Note: They do card everyone and ask for proof of vaccination. This is a great place to hang out with friends. All love.

Yep, you're not imagining it. I too, quit going here when I was asked for my Covid vaccination card…read morein 2023 (have alwaus been vaxxed). Which was made sadly amusing by the fact that I sat there for 25 minutes trying to look for it before ordering anything -- at which point you'd think they would be anxious I spread the virus all over the bar. Ridiculous. Brainless America at its best.

Fantastic bar and great people. Without detections you would never find it. Off of Hwy 37. Great…read morebar tender ask for Debbie on Mondays

The orbit room is always wonderful! They have wonderful music acts come in, both local and touring,…read moreand the YUMMIEST brown butter popcorn I have ever had.

This review is strictly for food--I'm glad this place exists presenting the weird music that they…read moreare. That said, the hot dogs are...not great for a place specializing in hot dogs. They're a bit too squishy, probably due to being steamed rather than charred, and I found the bun to be soggy and untoasted, the vegan "chili" to really just be black beans, and the "horseradish aioli" to just be ordinary mayo. I'm sure I'll be back for music, but I'll probably just order a drink next time.

Two weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to go out with the MBA program and had the best time that I…read morehave had in Bloomington. Shelby took care of our entire party and Sarah was so sweet. Could not recommend this place enough. 5/5.

Bouncers are weird and touchy, asked to pat down my girl friends but not me... would not recommend…read moreto the female crowd

This is a small local bar in a college town. I went to hear the Pat Harbison Quintet. The music…read morewas amazing. Parking is in the garage or on a lot. Be sure to use the app to pay for the parking. Patrons can bring food in to the bar to eat because they don't offer much in the way of munchies. Drinks were readily available and inexpensive. I enjoyed reading the graffiti in the bathroom!

Can't beat the blockhouse -- live music, kind & consistent community & staff, an awesome sense of…read moreplace, & $3 PBR! what more could you ask for?

Nick's never disappoints, and when it's summer in Bloomington and the outdoor seating is available,…read morewe make it a point to visit more often. In this case, a couple of buddies and I met for dinner and drinks. It's a shame Kirkwood isn't closed to cars completely, as the space was limited and there were kids on motorcycles driving up and down the road. Other than that, another great experience. As usual I ordered the Stromboli with no pickles. Word to first timers, when they say pickles they mean a LOT of pickles and the juice will run into the bread. So if that's not your thing, tell them to put them on a separate plate far far away or simply skip them. The strom at Nick's is, without a doubt, the single best sandwich in Bloomington. I ordered a side of fried mushrooms with mine, which are admittedly overpriced but also delish. Friends ordered a breaded tenderloin with fries and a burger with onion rings. Both enjoyed their meals, but other than the onion rings those wouldn't be anywhere the top of my list for a Nick's visit. The rings are fantastic, but I just love the pizza, stroms, Italian beef and some other things before I'd go the more traditional tenderloin or burger route. The place is a landmark in Bloomington with great food, great service and is a great place to hang out, have a great meal and a few beers and enjoy the night.

Management/ownership at the establishment is horrendous. My…read moreson turned 21 six months ago. Family had their welcome drinks for an event at this establishment. Bought out the Hoosier room. Wouldn't serve my son even though he had student ID, debit cards, credit cards and an address on his license that matches mine and my wife's (obviously). Still wouldn't do anything and said even if we called the cops to validate the ID he wouldn't accept it as valid. Need the "Real ID" to get on an airplane to get here. But this guy apparently knows something everyone else doesn't. Hmmmm. Crazy.

Great little club with good cocktails and excellent service. We enjoyed playing here. Would…read morereturn, would recommend.

My girlfriend used to love The Bishop when she was in school, but after her experience a few weeks…read moreago, she won't be back. She and four friends (a group of five) walked in on a Thursday night and were told by the bartender she wouldn't serve them as a group of five because she was "the only one working." Oddly, she said she would have served them if they were a group of three and a group of two. They offered to come up one by one to order instead. They did just that--individually bought beers--but when one of her friends (a Black man) walked back outside within the rails of the establishment, the bartender followed him, grabbed the beer out of his hand, and poured it in the street. She claimed it was "past the rail," even though other groups in the exact same spot were drinking without issue. When they asked for clarification, she eventually handed another friend ~$7 cash to give back to him. The whole situation felt discriminatory, especially since the group was diverse (including Black, Arab, and LGBTQ+ friends), respectful, and well-dressed professionals. Meanwhile, other patrons were not treated this way. To make it worse, when one of them asked a simple question about whether the former owner still ran the place, another customer started yelling at her, saying "everyone knows [owner's name], that doesn't make you special" and the bartender did nothing. What should have been a normal, fun night out turned into an incredibly uncomfortable experience.

First time visit for us. We'll be back. The cheeseburger seems to naturally come with grilled…read moreonions and pickles so that's how I ordered mine. The price is very affordable and the taste is better than the price. This place has been around since 1930. It's worth a visit.

The smash burgers are really good. Definitely recommend checking this place out. Great service and…read moregreat atmosphere. Brings me back to my childhood.