Alcoholic drinks are watered down and shots taste equally as watery, and it's so Smokey I can't breathe.

Smart move, Old Town, to set up a foodie table during the Arts Festival. I still won't go in to dine (maybe the mob o' Marlboro Men only show up when I arrive?), but now I'm super craving their pulled pork sandwiches. So this upgraded rating is for the tavern's dang good food. I'm a Hoosier - I've tried lots of pulled pork and love it. Old Town managed to serve me a sandwich different than one I've tried before. They offer North Carolina vinegar sauce pulled pork sandwiches that make most bbq sauces seem like kid-catsup. Tender pork, flavorful sauce that doesn't drown out the pork. You got me, Old Tavern. At least, you got me pulling up to pick up take out! ;) read more

Best bar in Carmel. Unlike much of the rest of the city, this place is laid back, welcoming, and welcoming to all that walk through the door. Best on weeknights when you can chat with the owner and bartenders. Gets pretty packed on weekends. read more

I don't know what burr Bruce (owner) has up his butt with his business neighbor, Peace Water Winery, but it's infantile and ridiculous. Each Friday and Saturday evening when Peace Water Winery has live acoustic entertainment on its back patio, Bruce maliciously blasts music at over 100 decibels out of a speaker mounted just outside his back door and right next to the Peace Water patio, attempting to create a miserable experience for the musician AND Peace Water's patrons. I am one of those musicians and experienced this last night (Saturday, Aug. 12th). He started this during my sound check. I, having also been a customer of Old Town Tavern over the years, walked over and politely asked Bruce to keep his music down after he refused to honor the same request by the manager of Peace Water Winery. Bruce AGREED to turn the music off and we shook hands. However, towards the end of my second of three sets, Bruce couldn't contain himself and started blaring his music again and maintained it at over 100 decibels outside of Carmel's sound ordinance. The photo below is a screenshot of my decibel meter reading I took about 50 feet from the back of his establishment right after playing my final set. Why is Bruce doing this? Maybe it's because his smokey dive bar, which is out of place in downtown Carmel, only has a handful of customers at any given time while places like Peace Water, The Pint Room, Muldoon's and Scotty's are packed. If he and his wife are going to continue to be angry and childish, perhaps it's time to retire and sell the place to someone who will embrace the positive culture and growth of the Carmel Arts District. I know that I will NEVER step back into this establishment as long as Bruce owns it or until he stops causing problems and apologizes to me and the owners of Peace Water Winery. -- at Old Town Tavern. read more

Old Town Tavern - Screen shot of my decibel meter from approx. 50 from the speaker outside of the back door of Old Town Tavern on Saturday evening, 8/12/17 - Dive Bars Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Place!! Good people and they are always friendly. My place!!!! Great bartenders. Love watching Colts football with my friends

Man Cathy the bartender leaves a lot to be desired & I never yelp post . Bar is usually a great dive

If you are looking for a smoky dive bar... this is it! Music and excellent character. If you don't smoke, don't try it! Great people great experience! Do not come here if you are going to a few nonsmoking spot after. This is the caboose! read more

The couple times my husband and I have been there it was horrible. Went in once when we first moved here 5 years ago. It was super smokey, lousy service, nasty restroom and only the regulars mattered to the bartender. We ended up drinking our first drink, paid our bill and walked out. The second time we went there, just last summer to give it another shot, there was a small party of 5 at a table out back and only 2 people inside at the bar. We sat at a table to get away from the smoke at the bar. We had every intention to eat dinner there. We waited and waited. We could here sounds from the kitchen and a couple people talking, but it was a good 10 minutes before we saw anyone. When the bartender came out from the kitchen she didn't even say Hi, or I'll be right with you. See said "you'll have to sit at the bar if you want to be waited on because we're short handed". And the way she said it wasn't even polite. Just then 4 people walked in that she obviously knew. They sat at the bar. She waited on them and was talking and laughing with them, and totally ignored us! (we weren't regulars) We walked out - again! This time without even getting a drink. I'm really surprised that "carmelites" let this kind of lousy customer service and nasty atmosphere exist in their cute, little town. It's a bad reflection on Carmel. read more

Would be a good crappy little smoke-filled bar to grab a drink in after work if the employees weren't so unfriendly/rude. Gave it a second chance, but the owner is as rude as the employees. Lesson learned. Never again... read more

True experience of what it means chill after a long week. Good people, good times and good liquor.... no judgment..... just real people living real lives and sharing it with others! If it's a really good night nobody will notice you're not wearing lipgloss because you're having so much fun! read more

Very underwhelming place. Staff has an FU attitude and service is weak. Did a piss poor job on the evening of Carmel Wine Fest of trying to appeal to new clientele. I would not go back there if they were giving away free drinks! Very glad Carmel has evolved with many more options as I am done with that crappy place! read more

So we went tonight, waited ten minutes in line for drinks and the bartender told me that she couldn't serve my husband. Apparently the owner told him to turn his hat because it was backwards three or four times and he wouldn't do it. So I go over to my husband and he told me the owner did not say anything directly to him. I've been here a couple of times, but my husband hasn't. So, we don't know the rules since they aren't posted or anything. He is standing only ten feet from the owner or manager and called him out on it. They told him the if he turns his hat around, they will get him a drink. My husband was so pissed even though they got him a free drink. Bunch of liars! read more

Love me a good dive bar, but hate that smoking is still allowed. Took forever to get just a water from the bar. Bathroom was gross.

This is what bars were like a few decades ago, and thank the Lord there are a few still left. Nice folks and cold beer. This place anchors Carmel in the real world. read more

Great dive bar with pool, video game bowling, juke box, darts and golden tee. Yes, it's smoky. But it's a dive bar. You're not coming here with grandma. Nice 75 cent pool table. Decent priced drinks. It's a great dive bar in the middle of an uppity neighborhood. Five stars! read more

Owner was very rude. Just wanted to chill and drink my beer with friends. He wouldn't leave me alone, forcing me to turn my hat around. He seemed pretty racist. Was very uncomfortable read more

Maybe it's just because it was 5 o'clock, but I came here with a friend and felt very unwelcomed. For a dive bar, the owner sure has a lot of rules and opinions about how you manage your hairstyle read more

I work near downtown Carmel and have been in the area many, many times, and I've honestly never noticed Old Town Tavern. It's so easily unnoticed it's almost a shame! What I found really fascinating, especially for a downtown Carmel bar, was that you can still smoke inside of it. It's a nice sized bar for how dive-like it is. They have a decent beer list, and it's relatively cheap to drink there. For such a small hole in the wall, it was VERY packed with people and I really liked it. People of all kinds--locals, young adults, older patrons--it was quite a fun, happy mix! When the country music kicks on, expect some sweet dance moves. read more

Great little place. I typically stop in during the afternoon for a quick bite to eat...so it's not very busy, and not super smokey like some reviews have noted...the bartender knows her patrons and created a special basket appetizer just for me :) read more

This is one of my go to places in downtown Carmel, strictly because its my kind of atmosphere. Smokey bar, pool table and dart board. The drink specials aren't bad either and it's never as packed as the other bars. I only gave it three stars because of the staff. They aren't much for excepting people that aren't like them. Seems like only the regulars get good service and no one else matters. I don't go for service tho so it don't bother me too much, just meet my friends there and shoot some stick read more

If you love dive bars then you need to check this place out. It is very different from most of the other bars in the area. Bartenders know many patrons by name, you will always meet an interesting person to talk to, and the liquor/beer selection is decent. Darts, pool, and touchtunes are avaiable to keep you entertained, too! read more

Awful bar! First time customer. Spent $25 on vegas bombs that were a complete rip off and then got refused service. Will never come back ever again needs to removed from downtown carmel!!! Not up to par with other bars in the area at all read more

People can still smoke in here? Was surprised to see a patron walk in and light a cigarette next to us at the bar. The doors are open for air flow, but it was still very unpleasant. Good prices for basic drinks, they definitely have that going for them! Not the kindest of crowds though. read more

Old Town Tavern does not meet the standards of a Dive Bar, way below. I will never go back unless I see a cleaning crew parked out front for a few days. read more

This place is probably one of the most mediocre dive bars I've ever been too. I stood at the empty bar for 5 minutes before the bartender actually showed up. The owner is a grisly old man with a white beard who might be the rudest man you'll ever meet. He takes solice ij the fact that he is from New York, which he thinks makes him better than anyone in the area. Not to mention, they play their music on their empty back patio in an attempt to drown out the live music being played by the other local bars in the area. You'd be better off going to any other place in Carmel that serves alcohol. read more

What a great place. Stopped in for lunch one afternoon and hated to leave. Great food, great atmosphere, and the owners couldn't have been nicer (and no, we aren't regulars). As far as the smoke factor...it's a bar not a candy store. It you want to be in a smoke free environment move to NJ where the only place you can light up is in your own house. They don't even let you smoke outside over there. read more

Never in my life have I experienced a colder, crisper Coors Light. Service is always amazing, the bartenders are friendly and fun to be around. Huge fan of the pull tabs and the touch tunes is always poppin'. Also, love that I can smoke cigs inside the establishment makes it that much more enjoyable. Overall, Old Town is a 10/10. read more