Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Knickerbocker Saloon

    4.1 (62 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 3:00 am (Next day)

    Knickerbocker Saloon Music Venues Photos

    Business Info

    KNICKERBOCKER SALOON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Live music
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Knickerbocker Saloon

    Recommended Reviews - Knickerbocker Saloon

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Front
    Luke W.

    Worthy atmosphere of the oldest bar claim, an eclectic blend of fascinating vintage lighting and long strung out dining area staging a very cool bar, us four guys dropped in to game a bachelor party.m before heading to Bistro 501. Staff was pleasant and enjoyable but a bit slow and awkward with checks. There needs to be easier ways to send money than fiddling with papers and pens. We each ordered a choice cocktail, old fashioned, Moscow mule, spicy Margarita, all way too watered down and overly sweet. This is a poor introduction to any downtown good times. Unable to recommend due to the lack of skill for extremely easy drink making here, my spicy Marg was embarrassing compared to a basic buffalo wild wings mango habanero margarita which actually offers a tingling sensational balanced blend. The same goes for the others who all were confused how a classic bar fell so far. When Buffalo Wild Wings has much better drinks than a long-lived local hotspot, something is seriously wrong!

    The view from the street seating.
    Zachary B.

    The history of this place is great. I suggest arriving after 8pm as the male bartenders dress up for work and are quick and on point. Covid has allows them to open seating on the street and it really quite nice. You can be outside and not have to be close to smokers. Meanwhile, we were served by a female bartender starting at about 7:15 p.m. Who was wearing what appeared to be pajama shorts and a tank top. She also appeared to be inebriated on the clock, loudly and outside use the f-word multiple times and is apparently voting for Trump. She then clocked out and argued outside with a milk acquaintance of hers on the patio for roughly 45 minutes.

    Full bar
    Matthew S.

    Day trip to Lafayette last month, but most of the details are lost to memories. Here's what I do remember: Oldest bar in the state as declared by the state legislature There are no taps, only cans/bottles. Could be due to the age of the bar or some such. There is a small stage in the main bar area for solo musicians or comics, and a larger stage in a separate room. The separate room also has a decent collection of musical instrument and other memorabilia. The restrooms and the hallway have a few old licenses from the bar's earliest days. This is very much a neighborhood bar with a lot of locals that will likely strike up a conversation. Food is limited, if not non-existent. However they don't mind if you bring in food, and there is an excellent french restaurant next door.

    a variety of liquors
    Boca H.

    Great bar and space down town Lafayette. Historic building and the speakeasy vibe helps you feel the history come alive. Live music and piano make the space come alive. Pool and games in opposite room behind bar.

    Indiana's oldest bar.

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3
    Photo of Kay E.
    33
    21
    2

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan B.
    0
    13
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great casual bar with an interesting history!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Boca H.
    5
    439
    491

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Phil S.
    22
    22
    11

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ryan R.
    25
    26
    11

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Derek B.
    226
    73
    11

    7 years ago

    Great place! Very nice bar. Great whiskey & beer selection. Very attentive staff. Fun spot.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Here on a slow Tuesday night. Very attentive bartender and as always, a clean and great place to be with friends!!!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carina A.
    247
    26
    28

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Karlee G.
    174
    15
    0

    6 years ago

    Lafayette tradition. Celebrated weddings, mourned funerals, puked here on my 21st. Service is either creepy or friendly and welcoming!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    By far, best bar in Lafayette/Indiana. The bartenders are so knowledgeable and always have interesting events or shows going on.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of GA A.
    13
    31
    3

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Love this place! Best Martinis in town! Great place for live music too.The staff is also amazing and fun.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Every time I went there, it was such a pleasant atmosphere, the wait staff and bartenders are super friendly

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    The place is the oldest bar in town, and has a good selection of beers. The ambiance is so-so, and usually not very happening.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Knickerbocker Saloon

    Review Highlights - Knickerbocker Saloon

    Here's what I do remember: Oldest bar in the state as declared by the state legislature There are no taps, only cans/bottles.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Boiler Up Bar

    Boiler Up Bar

    4.0(22 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Prices are hoping visitors and Purdue tourists cannot go more than a mile from campus. Sadly the…read moremenu has wildly bloated numbers double what many similar restaurants offer, Town and Gown, Bistro 501, RedSeven deliver and reach above expectations unlike the dull expensive dry roast recently eaten this past week. I cannot comprehend this place, after four visits with friends, unable to recommend any dish or drink as a standout win up against the cost. Let me nail down each dish we had this past Wednesday, the grilled bacon was entirely fine, quite tough but nice fatty flavors, I like Teay's River candied bacon app better. Oyster was good, east coast briny does me right. Our Old Fashioneds were insanely expensive without offering any memorable flavors, balance seemed restrained neither giving a forward bite or a smooth sweetness. Strawberry Lemon sprits was similar, an overpriced kid's slushy. Asparagus was fine. Potato sides surprisingly flavorless, we all couldn't believe how dull the potatoes were. My sister's salmon looked half the size of Town and Gown's while costing fifty percent more and offering half the food. She did finish the ocean protein but left most of the rice. Thankfully the desserts were better, bread pudding somewhat dry and needing a sparkle of that smooth actual pudding but the winner was definitely the key lime. Rich and dense, dreamy and tangy, I got happy! Sure the atmosphere and staff is enjoyable, providing some fresh city vibes compared to the homely and old school Mountain Jacks. However Jacks and Mcgraws Steakhouse both do far better as culinary is concerned. Would be exciting to see this place fix up their inconsistency, out of touch pricing, or they'll be the next to go the way of Bowen Bistro during the next economic crash.

    Megan Van Dyke is an excellent bartender. She gave us great service! We'll be back! Located in the…read morePurdue Memorial Union, this is a gorgeous bar!

    Photos
    Boiler Up Bar
    Boiler Up Bar
    Boiler Up Bar

    See all

    Bistro 501

    Bistro 501

    4.2(228 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$$

    Bistro 501 consistently delivers a top-tier French dining experience. For dinner, the flavor…read moreprofiles are exceptional; the duck is remarkably tender and rich, while the recommended blue cheese hamburger offers a gourmet twist on a classic, bursting with savory notes. However, a true must-order is their grilled salmon, expertly blackened - a masterclass in texture and seasoning. While admittedly a bit pricey, the overall food quality here is truly top-notch, making it a beloved institution for both locals and discerning tourists seeking authentic French cuisine. The service at Bistro 501 is impeccable and highly attentive, contributing significantly to its stellar reputation. We experienced no wait, and parking was refreshingly easy, a definite plus for any busy evening. It's important to note that this establishment caters to an adult audience, as it does not offer accommodations like highchairs, nor does it typically host young children. The entire experience, from the moment you arrive, reinforces why Bistro 501 remains a cornerstone of the local dining scene. I will be back!

    Made a reservation online for my birthday dinner to finally check out this place. Everything was…read moredelicious. Server was really knowledgeable on the menu and made sure we knew what to expect from each dish. Very allergen friendly place as well. I'd love to come back and check out their brunch sometime soon. My steak was good, but very expensive. The mashed potatoes were a little chunky but that's something I personally prefer anyway.

    Photos
    Bistro 501 - Interior

    Interior

    Bistro 501 - French Onion Burger*  Best burger in Lafayette! 5/5

    French Onion Burger* Best burger in Lafayette! 5/5

    Bistro 501 - Interior

    See all

    Interior

    Spot Tavern - spot tavern lafayette indiana

    Spot Tavern

    4.1(31 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    This controversial mural is the work of The Droops, an Indianapolis-based artist collective who…read morewere commissioned by The Spot to do the piece in 2015. It located on the side of the Spot and overlooks their parking lot. It takes up 2 sections of the bar's side wall. The mural is in great shape but as you can see in the photos, its lower park is obstructed by parked vehicles. It is a collogue of random images that include a guillotine, a beer on a folding chair, a tombstone, a skull, a in a bikini with four eyes holding a beer up, a knife, a clown, a bomb, a trumpet, a cigarette butt, a foot, a face being punched by a fist, a hand holding a knife, and an odd character holding a beer while playing a piano. The mural also depicts a naked woman tied to a tree and male genitalia in between a hotdog bun, which caused quite a site as you can imagine. There were calls by the community to have the offensive piece removed, covered up or fenced off. The change.org petition ended with 20 supporters. At one point the Lafayette police issued a warning that artwork was violation of the city's graffiti ordinance. There was a point during all of this that they used a Mike Pence head (who was governor at the time) to cover the male genitalia. Ultimately, the Spot won and the city decided that the mural was not graffiti and did not meet the criteria for a citation. The mural is standing today. Even though there are a lot of images to digest. The artwork is very nice. This is a provocative piece that definitely generates conversation. You can deiced for yourself what your thoughts on the piece are. Parking to get a closer look at the mural is easy, even though it overlooks a parking lot, the lot is kind of tight. There is however, some free parking pretty close to the mural too. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. There of tons of murals to check out in the immediate area.

    Good bar with friendly staff. On weeknights it's a chill place that makes good drinks at a decent…read moreprice. They have a turntable and offer to play records if you bring them in. On weekends it can get packed and they open up the dance area with loud music. The vibe is still good, just a lot more going on. The outdoor area is a great place to hang out for a more chill experience on these nights.

    Photos
    Spot Tavern - Spot tavern lafayette indiana

    Spot tavern lafayette indiana

    Spot Tavern
    Spot Tavern

    See all

    Red Seven Bar & Grill - Salad with side shrimp

    Red Seven Bar & Grill

    4.0(292 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    It's been five and a half years since my last review, so I thought that an update is in order,…read moreparticularly since a few irritating things on recent visits cause me to lower the rating. The quality of the food remains high. The Americana burger that I spoke of in my previous review seems not to be on the menu any more, but several other burgers are, and they are quite good. My current favorite item, however, is the pork chop, which is huge (I get three meals out of it) and delicious. My wife continues to get her go-to item, the lobster mac and cheese, and speaks highly of it every time. (Not surprisingly, though, it has gone up in price since my previous review; it now costs $24.70 instead of $19. The pork chop is the same price.) The one menu item I tend to avoid is the french fries, which aren't as good as you would think they would be in a place like this. Now, about those irritating things. About a month ago my wife and I stopped by here in the late afternoon, about a quarter to five, and she of course ordered the lobster mac. The price on the lunch menu was the same as on the dinner menu, and so was (I think) the portion size, but at lunch you don't get a complimentary salad with your meal. Since we were about fifteen minutes away from the dinner-menu turnover (or so we were told; there was nothing in writing to alert the customer to this), you would have thought the restaurant would, in the name of good customer relations, have thrown in the stupid salad, but no, rules are rules. Then yesterday my wife and I ordered takeout. I placed the order on Red 7's website at around 2:30 PM. At this time, of course, the only menu showing online was the lunch menu. But when I indicated that I would like a 4:30 PM pickup, a dinner menu appeared. Not unreasonably, I took this as a sign that they were now offering the dinner menu at 4:30. I ordered my pork chop and my wife's lobster mac from the dinner menu, and the restaurant accepted my order and sent me a confirmation email. Then, about 4:15 PM, after my wife and I were already on the road to pick up the food (we live in West Lafayette, the restaurant is in Lafayette, about a 20 minute drive away), I got a phone call from the restaurant saying that the pork chop was only available at dinner and would not be ready until "around 5". So we had to turn around, drive home, and then leave again about 20 minutes later. I have no idea why Red 7 couldn't state explicitly when the dinner menu took effect, why they made the menu available and accepted my order when I placed it if it would not be in effect at the time of pickup, and why the restaurant felt the need to wait until fifteen minutes before I was supposed to pick up the food before telling me it wasn't going to be ready. Forwarned is forearmed, I suppose, and from now on, despite what the computer says, I won't be ordering dinner for any time earlier than 5 PM. But these annoying things are precisely the kind of thing that can detract from an otherwise good meal and leave the customer with a (no pun intended) bad taste in his mouth.

    This is still one of my favorite places in Lafayette! I love their patio, portion sizes and food!…read moreRecently I ordered the almond & Parmesan crusted chicken and it was amazing! For $18 I was able to eat 3 meals because the portion was very nice. I would suggest subbing the spinach for the brussel sprouts. The patio is always love to sit on with ample seating and the service has been good on each visit.

    Photos
    Red Seven Bar & Grill
    Red Seven Bar & Grill - Cavatappi

    Cavatappi

    Red Seven Bar & Grill - Million Dollar Mojito

    See all

    Million Dollar Mojito

    Knickerbocker Saloon - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...