Nice vibe!!! I loved that the menu is different from upstairs. They had a person singing live music. Service is great 10/10!!! read more

McKenzie our server was great! Came here to celebrate my bday. They had valet for $20. The appetizer was great but the food from upstairs at commission row was bland. We had the chicken, salmon, and lamb chops. All dishes needed lots of salt and pepper. The lobster mac and cheese was so good, the charbroiled oysters was good, the short rib fries was thee best , and the drinks was amazing. I would only recommend the appetizers. The ambience was nice and chill. The entertainment for the night which was singing R&B came over and sang Happy Birthday which was touch read more

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Mel's is a real cute speakeasy at the bottom of Commission Row. You have to go into Commission and then take the elevator down to the lower level. You will see a door, just walk through it. Once you get in you will be greeted by the hostess. The ambiance is top tier! Its low key, the sounds from the fountains are soothing and the soundtrack...yeah, I need a copy lol. So this was my first time in Mel's and the staff was great. I got a welcoming shot, which was VERY GOOD!! I had the twice fried wings and BABYYYY, let me tell you they were fire!!! Since I like my wings fried hard, they were perfect. The bbq rub was very flavorful and I knew it was going to be, so I asked for extra!! The drink I chose was some type of milk punch and it was good! Overall, I had a very pleasant experience and I can't wait to go back!! read more

Mel's - Milk punch - Speakeasies Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Positively perfect! Damani, our server, was very attentive and helpful when trying to decide on a cocktail, or two : ), this evening at this hidden little speakeasy! The vibe was spectacular! Fun chandlers that light the room ever so lightly. The bar is well lit that makes you notice the wall of shelves with all kinds of elixirs! Seating is quaint and comfy. Service is outstanding! Damani was so sweet, he brought out a yummy sweet array of birthday sweets to help me celebrate my birthday! Thank you to the whole crew for making my day so special! Also, special thanks and shoutout to Tim, the manager, who was also very attentive and kind. He greeted us and checked in on us frequently to ensure that we were enjoying the ambiance and cocktails. All in all a wonderful experience. The cocktails are a touch pricey, but not too high. read more

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My husband and I were looking for a place to have a couple drinks and a quick bite before going to a concert nearby. We chose to go to Mel's. The place was cozy and intimate. We ordered the lobster mac & cheese and the steak frites. The food and drinks were good, but the service was very slow. I think we were forgotten about because it took over 30 minutes for our waitress to come. They did end up comping our drink. I'm sure it was an off night, but our first impression wasn't the best. read more

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They specialize in martinis and do them really well! Even have blue cheese olives which was a plus. Partner got a cocktail that was good, nothing mind blowing. Very friendly staff who took great care of us. Vibe is moody and romantic, good for date night as well as group outings. Would go back! read more

Mel's - Extra dirty martini with blue cheese olives - Speakeasies Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I think I've found my new spot! We had such a great time and the vibes were vibing haha. There was a live band (music is my love language) that was performing some Top 40 hits both new and old and we really enjoyed them. I loved the dim lighting and cozy seats, it really helped set the mood. After the live band stopped performing, they were playing Hip Hop music & honestly, I wasn't expecting it but loved it. I cannot remember or I don't know if our waiter ever told us his name but he was nice. The drinks were really good. I had wine but he had the Don't Call it Hip Hop & something else. I took a little sip of each & both were really good. We ordered fries (because I love them! lol) & they came with a garlic aioli sauce that was so delicious. They served other appetizers as well, but we were there for the drinks. I seriously cannot wait to return and take my friends as well. read more

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I was able to quickly grab a drink here before my comedy show and I wish I had more time to soak in the beauty of this place. Dimly lit, spacious and perfect for a date night. Mel's is a newly opened speakeasy tucked away on Commission Row. Our server understood the assignment and knew we had to be in and out, she delivered drinks, our oysters and the bill and still left us enough time for a photo shoot- Courtesy of the super friendly hostess who knew all the angles. Drinks are pricier than other Indy spots we visited, but still worth it. Also- hands down best oysters I've had in the city. We will absolutely prioritize returning and giving ourselves enough time to experience another round of drinks and try the other appetizers. read more

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I made a reservation here to try out the Devour menu for three people at 6:30. I didn't realize that there was also a Pacers game the same night, but no biggie!! We arrived at 6:25 and the hostess directed us to a lounge table where there were big comfy chairs and an extra large coffee table, basically. She told us we could sit here or we could sit at a table that was a little bit more traditional but the size of the table wouldn't fit more than two plates. We asked if we could get a normal table because we were having a full meal. She said once everyone from the Pacers game cleared out we could grab one. I was a little upset about this because we made a reservation and you know the whole point of a reservation is to have priority over walk ins.... But whatever we got drinks, hung out, and we finally sat at a regular table around 7:15 on our own accord. No one asked if we wanted to move or directed us to a table, so we just got up and moved our stuff. Our salads arrived and we received our main course almost immediately after. Our waitress didn't check up on us until we were done and only then did she ask if we wanted a second round of drinks. We would have gotten some, but maybe 20 minutes prior with our meals not when they were being packaged in to-go containers. She offered to bring over the checks before we even got dessert but we agreed anyway. She said that they were gonna bring out the dessert in just a "few minutes." Fast forward 15 minutes later and we still have not gotten dessert. We grabbed the man filling up our waters and told him that we were still waiting on our macaroons. He grabbed them immediately and they were at our table in two minutes. I don't know if the Pacers game stresses people out (which is totally fair) but once everybody cleared out, there were maybe four or five tables occupied. The food is genuinely delicious so it's a bummer to have a service experience like this. The timing is off and the waitress could have been a little more attentive. I always give a little bit of grace because I know that the service industry can be crazy, but everyone that got seated after us had their meals and paid before we even got our dessert. read more

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I stopped in after dinner upstairs one evening. The ambiance is nice; dark and moody with good music that set the vibe but wasn't too loud. It was pretty early when I went so not much of a crowd. My husband and I sat at the bar. The bartender was friendly and helpful. I didn't love the cocktail menu options and my husband nor I loved the drinks, but I'd go back and try others. My only complaint is that it was SO cold we couldn't get comfortable and left earlier than we wanted bc we were freezing. read more

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Had been once before, just for drinks and they were ok. I liked the vibe: chill and modern, so wanted to come back. Got a drink, which tasted like juice or perhaps too sweet for my liking. My sandwich on the other hand. Nashville hot was anything but hot. It was sweet and I asked for hot sauce to add some spice but I think it made it worse. Our server was great, she was attentive and there when we needed her. Cool spot, limited menu so if you want dinner maybe not this place. Next time I'll ask for a drink that's not sweet. read more

Mel's - Nashville hot - Speakeasies Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The ambiance is very nice. The drinks presentation was great. The food is just alright. Nothing extraordinary. This place is more for drinking than eating. I would come again for drinks read more

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The food and service were great and prompt. It's a chill vibe, like a lounge/speakeasy with great music.

My friend and I stopped inside Mel's prior to the Janet Jackson concert. Mel's is a speakeasy located inside Commission Row. After you go down the steps, you will be greeted with a door. Inside you will find a beautiful dimly lit space. We didn't have reservations and were able to be seated immediately. There are private spaces you can sit in as well as tables and a bar. The bartenders were very friendly and greeted me upon arrival to my seat. I was also excited to hear someone singing live music! I ordered an expresso martini and it was delicious! I also ordered the salt and vinegar pork rinds and waffle chips served with french onion dip. The pork rinds were somewhat disappointing due to it not have the salt and vinegar taste. They simply taste like plain pork rinds. The chips were decent and the dip was a little too sweet for my liking. I will definitely return and try other items on the menu! read more

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This was a great spot for a date. They had a couple singing live music and the volume was perfect and not too loud. It was a great vibe and the drinks were well done. The "We were promised Hip Hop" rum cocktail was . Well balanced and delicious. We also got the fries with garlic aoli to munch on and it was very good. Only negative was we had a gift card and $10 coupons, and the server didn't use the coupons because "the gift card covered it all". That makes no sense at all and left us confused but we will just use the coupons elsewhere. read more

Mel's - Speakeasies Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This is a great spot to stop in before or after Gainbridge events as it is next to it. We stopped in after a Pacers game, not sure if it would be busy or not, but we were seated with no issues. The front desk was extremely nice and helpful and even talked with us for a couple of minutes as we were leaving, super friendly. The ambience is a speakeasy vibe with great chairs, hidden spaces and low lighting. There was a wonderful acoustic guitar that night, Sunday evening. He was able to make an impromptu song for us after overhearing a comment we had made, it was wonderful. The upstairs menu is not available downstairs, which they are sure to tell you. We did ask before coming downstairs and it was not a problem as we were looking for drinks and small bites. We wanted a wedge salad, but no salads were available on the menu downstairs. We did ask, and they were able to accomodate a wedge salad for us, which was very nice but I would not expect it all the time. The place was slower that Sunday evening and we were just excited they were able to help. We had oysters, wedge salad, and a smash burger between our group. Drinks and meals were delivered in a good time, but both had small errors that we did not bring up, so not bothered by them. (Just stating to see if there are concerns with other diners in the future and to check your items.) Everything was very good including the Old Fashion and their specialty drink with with two types of bourbon (one being Rye) and I cannot remember the name. It was not sweet and not too tart, nice mix if you regularly like and drink Old Fashions. PRO: Ambience Easy to find Food was great Drinks were wonderful Great vibe Great music CON: Small menu for downstairs, it is not a full menu Just verify orders, waiting to see if it was a one off or not, trying again! read more

Great ambiance! A flagship Cunningham property...amazing interior design. The smash burger was tasty and reasonably priced on the menu (and came with a generous side of fries). The hamachi crudo was flavorful...although quite a small appetizer portion. The beef tartare had a wonderful amount of shaved truffles and was the highlight of the evening...highly recommend this delightful flavor combo! read more

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Fantastic ambiance and service. Came by for late night bites and drinks. Great gin and bourbon lists. Excellent martini.

I was not impressed with the menu. We weren't told that we could order from the upstairs menu, too, until we asked a second time. By then, it was too late. The wait staff was very kind, but frazzled because the restaurant was slammed right when we arrived. We had to wait an incredibly long time for our food to arrive, but our smash burgers were delicious. The burger was priced well, but everything else seemed to be priced exorbitantly high. I was dumbfounded at the price of the cauliflower steak, $27! read more

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Reservations at CR so game here to pregame. Our waiter came fairly promptly & took our first drink order and waters. Drinks came about 25 minutes later...so I was now suspicious as no waters had arrived. After another 39 minutes, I went to Hostess and begged for water. Waiter came back at some point and with a hand full of dishes, asked if we needed anything. I told him he was free to put plates down and then come back. He didn't. Last time we saw him. Manager stopped by and we asked for another round. Water finally came and so did drinks. We wanted an appetizer but with reservations at CR, decided we should just wait it out. Plus, the menu is not really accessible - pretty limited options. Long story short, Manager apologized and tried to make it right, but not living up to the hype. read more

Mel's - Speakeasies Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Mel's is my go to speakeasy. Great vibes and music. Food is good! I recommend the steak frites or smash burger. A chipmunk stole my car for the drink. Thank me later! read more

Mel's - A chipmunk stole my car cocktail! - Speakeasies Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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The bartenders are knowledgeable and friendly. The drinks were amazing and price moderately. The bar is beautiful and classy. I would highly recommend it. read more

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I've been dying to come here and finally made it in last Friday. We didn't have a reservation but were able to sit at the bar top right away. This place is visually stunning so if you are into the aesthetics when dining out I highly recommend this. Low lighting, beautiful finishes, and unique decoration. It would be a great place for a celebration or a nice date or to go before or after a Pacers or Fever game of course! They had a guy playing live music. He was doing a mix of piano, DJing, and singing covers. He was really good! Not too loud either like some places where you can't hear your conversation lol. Our bartender, Chandler, was so attentive and just super cool. My friend wanted something with chocolate and tequila so he whipped her up a delicious chocolately espresso martini kind of drink. I went with the Hey, U Wanna Special? from their signature cocktail list. It was very good. We split the smash burger and it was one of the best burgers I've had in Indy! Perfectly cooked and seasoned patty with cheese, grilled onions, and garlic aioli. What really makes it shine is the soft Hawaiian bun it comes on. The fries were pretty good too! I'll definitely be back. read more

Mel's - Hey, U Wanna Special? - Speakeasies Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

They do not accommodate! RUDE we had money to spend they would not accept a big group.

Loved this speakeasy. Great vibe and good drinks. The staff were friendly and made it a good experience.

This is my favorite spot to have cocktails. My friends generally make the plans and I just show up but I request Mel's now. Everything here is on point every time. Love the whole vibe. Totally recommend, can't lose coming here. read more

We've been traveling for the past week, this was our second stop in Indy. Our first was wonderful at another location. Mel's was recommended to us and was awful! Let me rephrase, we were treated wonderfully by our host, however our server could barely give us the time of day. After waiting a while to order he finally brought our drinks and never retuned! Didn't ask if we wanted anything else and when I requested the check he sent the host with it and never looked at us again. I have never been treated so poorly when spending almost $20 per drink. I do not recommend and will never return. PLEASE DO BETTER! read more

What a fun spot! A hidden gem underneath Commission Row and the perfect place to end the evening with a pre-bed cocktail. My friend and I indulged in one espresso martini each, and our server, Elle, was lovely and extremely helpful as it was our first visit. The music was on point too, fitting for the dark, moody decor. They even surprised us with some old-school hip-hop, which I love! While I didn't look at the menu at prices, the bill totaled around $47 for the two cocktails & gratuity. Not cheap by any means, but que sera sera. I'll definitely return, and hopefully with a larger party as they had a few very sexy private rooms that were begging for a good time. Good job, Indy! read more

Mel's - Espresso martini - Speakeasies Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Cute little brunch spot. I had the chicken and waffles and a peanut butter smoothie. The food was delicious, but wish the smoothie was a bit thicker. My server was nice and made the experience care free. read more

Amazing staff, atmosphere, drinks and food. We went on a Thursday night so it was a little more quiet.