Kurt Vonnegut, David Wakefield, and now Allison Fisher-Mannies are included on the list for having spent evenings at the iconic Red Key Tavern. I'll continue keeping this no-frills neighborhood dive bar on my short-list of watering holes as long as they keep bottles of Bell's Two Hearted in the cooler. read more

Nice local dive tavern with 50's-60's feel and simple menu. Cash only. Quite unique place to be :)

I just don't get it. I had a great experience the first time I was here. Tonight I ordered a cheese burger and it was delicious, even though it was overcooked and dry. I finished it and ordered a second one. I asked for it to be medium rare and the server said "all burgers here are cooked the same". I said okay that's fine, but can you please make sure it's not overcooked. She looked at me and walked away!!! Really!! read more

Oh my, my heart is full! This place was a slice of nostalgia! The seats, some with a few swipes of duct tape, were obviously there since the start of many a fun night sixty years ago! It felt like I would look over and see my grandparents, long ago passed. It has even the faintest smell of their home wafting in the background! We only ordered beers, and they had Sunking Cream Ale- so they were not trapped in a time warp literally! But man did the ambiance take me to years long gone. There were a sprinkling of regulars and some hipsters- even my suburbia friends and I were treated with care! The patriarch's pic was framed on the wall overlooking the scene and I am pretty darn sure he is looking down smiling! This would be hands-down the perfect place to grab a few friends and just focus on good conversation, service and homey-comfort. read more

Very limited seating. Yellow ceiling tiles from age. Potato salad was bland. Burger was better then average. I love historic places, but it has seen better days. There was one other table there yet service was a bit slow. The big turn off for me is given tiny ketchup packages and a cheap unknown brand. read more

Red Key Tavern - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

It's an old relic of a bar with dusty decorations and old timey music playing. It's definitely on the divey side, but a good option for a cheap drink in a low key atmosphere. The food menu is severely lacking, so don't come here hungry. read more

I really liked this place, and there are plenty of reviews that tell you all the great things about it, but i'm going to tell you about the one thing that irritated me. As a few people have mentioned, this place is cash only. Ok, that's not too bad, a little old fashioned, but it's not a huge deal because the do have an ATM. I went to use the ATM and as I put in my card, I thought at least it would be a no-fee ATM since they only take case. But nope. There it was. The notice of a $3.00 fee. That's crazy. I know it's only three bucks, but it's the principle. They force you to get cash, and then charge you for it. I would have complained but I was with a big group of friends, some of them live near by and are regulars so I didn't want to cause any problems. I'll go back with friends if it ever comes up again, but not by myself. i'll go somewhere else. read more

Vonnegut wrote, "And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, If this isn't nice, I don't know what is," in A Man Without a Country. Welp, here at the Red Key, if you think you're on an island, this place will turn you right around & you'll be murmuring all night,"If this isn't nice, I don't know what is." Maybe just the same way Vonnegut did when he frequented here. It hasn't changed. Sure President Obama & the U.S. Mint believe in change, but some things are better left exactly the way they were built. Same juke box (and if you are intimated by the seemingly stoic vibe..don't be! Play that music...those stoic faces will just take it as a poignant siren call to order another one). There's a lot of lore about the "rules of Russ," at this place -- where you're suppose to hang up your coat, drink out of a glass, etc. etc. My coat was on my chair, I was drinking out of a bottle, I wore a scruffed beard, and even at times had my knees up at the bar. These rules...seem to just say, "hey, don't be an idiot." Because when some Colts football look alikes straggled in asking for food after 11pm...they were booted pretty quickly. It's small sure...but there's times when the tables are open and make for a great way to lubricate a date right away, or even a double date. The wait staff are sweet hearts and massively attentive. The burger is the closest thing I've got to my grandpa's Memorial Day burger. Meaning: just let them cook it the way they want to. The cocktails are the best value here. Value as in Stiff. Stiff as in if you didn't think you were a 1955 business man...you will be after your next one. Note: Closed on Sundays. "Cash Only," but they have a ATM in bar. read more

People that are rating this bar poorly need to understand something: Indianapolis has the highest number of chain restaurants and bars per capita IN AMERICA. It is so seldom do you find an authentic chunk of classic Americana in Indianapolis. People are pissed about not having a draft or a credit card machine? You are sitting in the chair where Kurt Vonnegut wrote and you're upset that there is no ATM machine? Maybe you just need to head up the street to Champps and hang out with the rest of the philistines that make Indianapolis the sleepy and antiseptic doldrums that they are. For me, this bar is one of the few genuine and unvarnished spots to have a Manhattan in Indianapolis. The burgers are notoriously amazing and you should take a chance on the Braunschweiger. read more

Kurt Vonnegut wrote in "Mother Night" that "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be..." the Red Key is a place where you don't have to pretend who you are, and the Red Key is a place that doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is. There is a profound sense of place here, a sort of effortless history exuded by walls and murals and acoustic tiles and model airplanes swaying from the ceiling, suspended in tribute to the last owner, a bomber pilot in WWII, who was a hardass about the rules in the way a man who has been tempered by war can be. The rules are still in effect. Vonnegut was said to drink here regularly, finding solace in a well-mixed drink as he wrote, unmolested by the assholes these rules discourage. He must have liked the Jukebox, blasting tunes from the 40s and 50s. He must have liked the bottled beer, the small menu, the people all came together for the solace of a drink. Its a place where everyone can laugh together, could cry together, where barriers are broken down, where the lonely traveler and the established author and the itinerant academic could all come together and feel alright doing both, after all, Vonnegut was right in his Palm Sunday sermon that "Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion, to the futility of thinking and striving anymore. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward -- and since I can start thinking and striving again that much sooner." I came into the Red Key on my only night in Indianapolis. Drinking, and laughing, and watching the commercials on the television for a free catheter kit, seeing the model airplanes swaying back and forth overhead, and feeling the cracked leather under my ass that Vonnegut probably felt under his...well, like the master said in God Bless You Dr. Kevorkian "everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt". Sometimes, thats all I really needed, a place to remind you of how lovely the world can be, how friendly people are outside of San Francisco, and how nice it is just to relax with a beer, knowing too well that, sometimes (just like Kilgore Trout observed in Timequake), you have to realize that "You were sick, but now you're well again, and there's work to be done". In "Slapstick" Vonnegut wrote that "Love is where you find it", and if that is the case, I could love Indianapolis, because a man such as myself can love the Red Key. read more

Uh, no. There's really nothing, in my opinion, to love about Red Key Tavern, except perhaps the sign outside displaying the titular red key. When I stopped in here with a friend, we were looking for food and drinks, as one might expect from people who decide to go to a bar. First of all, Red Key only accepts cash. That would be kind of cool if it had other redeeming features, but in this case, it's just one more grievance atop the pile. Second, the menu was very limited. If there were more options than hot dogs and hamburgers, I don't remember them. Finally, and most egregiously...wait for it.... There was nothing on tap. What!? This is a BAAAAAAAAAAAR. Bars are supposed to have beer on tap!!!! Seriously, what the hell is the point of a bar if you can't belly up with your posse and order a pitcher? Food, maybe? Oh wait, there wasn't much. So I guess we can all make a special trip to the ATM machine to sit in a dirty hole-in-the-wall and drink bottled beer for twice what we could have had it for at home. No, thank you. read more

I've waited a long time to review this place because I wanted to like the Red Key and was hoping it would change under "new" management. This place should rate 4-5 stars, but I haaaate Russ' stupid rules! (God rest his soul)...... "Dont curse"....sorry Sir, it slipped "Sit down!"....I was just stretching my legs & heading to the restroom "Don't move the chair"....sorry Sir "Don't put your feet on the seats"....I should have known, sorry Sir "There's a place to put your coat & it's not the chair"....are you f***** serious????? Sorry all, but I'm outta here. Somehow I managed to break more of Russ' antiquated rules each time I was forced by friends to go here. If I wanted to be harassed like this, I'd go to my grandmothers. Either you love this place or don't. I don't. Plus Vonnegut sucks. You might be thinking, "well, just don't go in there and be an ass", but I swear I wasn't. I was in there with people he liked and spend a lot time in a bar. I know how to behave. My behavior just never meet Russ' approval. read more

Let me make this perfectly clear - The Red Key is not a bar, it's a monument to all great things American. Every dive bar and juke joint you've been to is merely a poor copy of the fantastic establishment that is the Red Key. You see, the Red Key was founded by Russ Settle. If you look up "Grizzled Bastard" in the Miriam-Webster dictionary, you will find a fine etching of Russ in his WWII uniform. Russ was shot down over Germany during our war against the Nazis, and found himself in one of the Reich's prison camps. When he finally got home, he built a bar full of Army Air Corps memorabilia with a jukebox where none of the music was produced after 1959. Russ also established a set of rules for civilized and gentlemanly conduct in his bar: 1. The bartender is always right. 2. The bartender is always right. 3. Do not lean back in your chairs. 4. No moving the furniture. 5. Coats cannot be hung on the backs of chairs if they drag on the floor, they must be hung on the coat rack. 6. There is no cursing in the bar. 7. The bartender is free to throw you out if you decide to break any of these rules. 8. Refer to rule #1 if there are any objections In addition to fantastically well mixed Manhattans and fine bottled beer, the Red Key also serves some of the best burgers I have ever consumed. They look so unassuming on their small plates but trust me, they are phenomenal. The Red Key was also a famous hangout of such literary likes as Kurt Vonnegut and Dan Wakefield. Look for bathroom graffiti for signs of their passing. read more

I thought I might of found a cool, hole in the wall bar to kick it, but I was wrong. First off, we tried to move a chair to another table but we got yelled at. (There were 5 other people in the bar, late on a Monday night) Then, we were told that they have a no cussing rule. Thought this was America? Whatever. We respected their rules, and went on to do what we came there to do; eat and drink. Decisions, decisions... The WHOLE menu of 4 items: hamburger, cheeseburger, hotdog, or tenderloin. I went with a cheeseburger and it was actually delicious and cheap. Solid choice by me. Beer was also good. We got to try a new brew from Avon, IN that we've never heard of. Then we go to pay and we get slapped with, "we don't accept credit cards." Wow! All in all, the beer and food was a plus, the service, rules, restrooms, and the fact that they don't accept credit cards was a buzzkill. read more

I knew this would be a place I liked when the guy who said "Vonnegut sucks" hated it. I.Love.Dive.Bars. I should really get that as a tattoo, as fewer statements in my life are more accurate. This place is the perfect level of low key, nicotine stained, juke box playing ambiance that I look for in a bar. The bartender was super nice and my friend and I weren't reprimanded at all - but then again, we have both worked in restaurants/bars and know how to behave respectfully. We were only here for one drink after dinner, but my rum and coke was perfectly mixed - not too weak, not just a glass of rum (though you'll never hear me complain aloud about that last one). I also appreciate the lack of modernization here - local dives are becoming far too rare as they are replaced with gastro-pubs, clubs, etc. Having grown up in a steel mill town, I have a special place in my heart for places like this - the Red Key reminds me of home in all the best ways. read more

Walking into the Red Key felt like walking back in time. The neighborhood bar of years and years ago. With a long bar on one side of the room and the other side lined with tables, we had no trouble finding a seat (we sat at the bar). The bar tender was friendly and efficient and poured a great drink. They had a solid liquor selection and even had a menu with some food on it, although we didn't eat. Make sure you bring cash, since they don't take credit cards. read more

This place is great, classic, authentic. There are rules to, no hats, no profanity, etc. The menu is VERY simple but all you need for a quick bite. I've had the braunschweirer sandwich and the hamburger which was great and only like five bucks! read more

This is the quintessential INDIANAPOLIS neighborhood pub. It's been around forever. Great late night atmosphere, but also a great lunch spot for a burger. It's a real burger-not the smashed up over cooked stuff at most bars-more like what you would make fresh at home. CASH ONLY, but they have an ATM. Enjoy. read more

If you're used to fine dining and an upscale atmosphere, you probably won't care for this place. But, if you like a good dive bar with a small, but solid menu, you'll enjoy this quite a lot. The cheeseburgers are amazing, the tenderloin is pretty darn good, and the atmosphere is one of a kind. The food and drinks are cheap, and the staff is friendly. If you've not been here...you should go. Today. read more

I don't know anyone who has a neutral opinion about the Red Key. It seems that either you love it and embrace the quirks and rules or you absolutely do not get the charm and hate it. Clearly, I fall into the first group. The Red Key is not an establishment to embrace change (although the infamous rules- see photo- are not nearly as strictly enforced as they used to be). From what I can gather, the bar is largely the same as it was 50 years ago. My father has been unsuccessfully campaigning for them to get outdoor seating for a decade with no results. This resistance to change is also the charm of the place. It's an old school neighborhood bar. For me, it's also in the neighborhood where I grew up, so in a trip there I will see kids and parents I knew in childhood. It is the kind of bar that is hip for young people yet my 50 something father's Tuesday night basketball group has been going there for 20 years and loves it, too. It is a classic, well-constructed little black dress of a bar. It's not going to be modern or trendy. You don't stand. You don't get pitchers. Ok, past the atmosphere and onto the drinks. I highly recommend either sticking with a basic beer or embracing the nostalgia and getting an old school cocktail. The manhattans are amazing as are the old fashioneds. For some reason, the whiskey sours lead to a terrible headache for me, but I know others who love them. Just be ready to pay for your (cheap!) drink in cash and all will be good. read more

I love the Red Key, but let's make it clear for the historical record: Kurt Vonnegut never stepped foot in the place. Ever.

Ohhhkay, so my plus one needed a burger after the Tequila Swizzle Stick, and this was just the closest thing, so we just literally stumbled in...BUT I'm so glad that we did! First things first, there's a list of rules that you are supposed to follow...can't move tables, can't curse, etc...so move past that and you're good. to. go. There is a whopping menu of about four options...hotdog, hamburger, tenderloin, nothing too crazy but the perfect drunk meal/snack/what have you. I wasn't planning on having a beer but when I saw a local brew that I'd never tried, I though ahh, what the hell, and dove right in, and so glad I did! Cutter's brew was delightful! Lastly, I made 4 new Yelpy friends here and we even moved tables to all sit together...it was great! Glad this little hole in the wall is right down the street because I'll definitely make it a stop on my B.Ripp travels! read more

We started our holiday party at Jillians (not my choice), then after we OD'd on electronics, The Red Key Tavern was a welcome relief, hung out in the back, great jute box, lots of regulars, felt like you are in a neighbor's living room. Just what a neighboorhood bar should be! read more

RKT is a nice hole in the wall bar that fits its purpose (cheap drinks within walking distance from my house) quite well. I definitely wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but since I can walk there when the mood strikes me, I'll frequent this place. Okay selection here, but no draught beers. A few times I've asked for a drink and they don't have them mixers or liquors needed. Last week I asked for a drink with blue curacao, and they told me "Sorry, we ran out that during Colts season." Well, I'm pretty sure that was more than six months ago, so I'm not sure why they wouldn't have restocked that. All in all, a quiet low key dive bar that is good for a drink or two. Service is always friendly and fast here. read more

This is everything I love in a neighborhood bar. - strong drinks, delicious cheeseburgers, and cold beer. Bring cash and mind your p & q's. read more

Red Key Tavern - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

A bit divy but, a well maintained dive. There is nothing fancy about this small, cash only bar. The food selection is basic and there is a limited array of bottled beers. The Redkey is best suited for late night conversations over drinks with a few friends. read more

I visited in mid-afternoon and did not have a beer. Also, to be fair, it was really slow and there was only one person working the bar, register and kitchen - aka the chief, cook and bottle washer. As you might guess, the service was a little slow. It's forgiven. However, its a bit more difficult to forgive the burger that was only average with as much fat-fingering the rating scale as I can ethically stand. And the tenderloin - pork as it were - was rather thin and over cooked. I'm a little concerned I know the qualities that comprise a really good tenderloin sandwich by the way. So, being that I'm a total sucker for nostalgia, I'm rounding way up to three stars for this review. Maybe a seat at the bar and a brew would better my impression. read more

This is a great place to grab a drink and chill. As other yelpers have said it's been in business for 60 years. So that means they understand how to run a bar that doesn't rely on trendy drinks and showy service. I love that I can come here and actually hear what my friends are saying! Don't get me wrong though, I do enjoy the fast paste, dance-all-nighters... Every once in a while ;) However, The Red Key is all about good conversation in a classy environment. The older I get, the more I'm into that kind of thing. I get so busy with my crazy schedule that when I do get to have a night out, I need to catch up on my friend's gossip and gab. The staff is always friendly and the drinks are good prices. The location is great also, because it's just far enough from the main strip that you can avoid the college parties;) One of my favorite Indy spots! read more

This place hasn't changed a thing in 20+ years. Old time look and feel. Great cheese burgers

The Red Key is as good as they get for locally owned and operated hangout bars. The staff is fantastic and they've maintained a great family atmosphere even after the generational ownership change. The drinks are well priced for the pours and the selection is vast considering the size of the space. And they have the BEST burger in town! If you're a fan of potato salad, pray they have some the night you're there as everyone raves about it. Leave any attitude at the door, come in, HANG your coat and sit back and enjoy a long gone era. read more

If it was good enough for Kurt Vonnegut, it's good enough for us! One of our absolute favorite Indianapolis bars. Maybe it's the model airplanes, maybe it's the taxidermy or maybe it's the locals in the bar. Whatever it is-the Red Key has it. Star power! Sure it's dust-covered and, well when we went, smelling of some chemical or other. We asked the sweet bartender what the smell was and she said, "he's doing that thing." We don't know who he was or that thing but we accepted it nonetheless. We may have less brain cells but we didn't need those anyway-not when you have the Red Key Tavern! read more

This is one of the classic bars of Indy, and if you enjoy quirky establishments, this is the place for you. Had a great evening with friends who met there and were introduced by the bartender and are now married and have two kids! read more

Multi generational corner bar. Cash only, no problem, not super expensive, but good to hang out in.

Quintessential bar from the era of Happy Days ! While the crusty proprietor is now ensuring and enforcing correct bar etiquette at the great saloon in the sky...his legacy lives on in the form of the retro charming Red Key Tavern. Usually an interesting mix of patrons...and excellent old skool juke box...and pretty darn good burgers...but ya won't find goat cheese or any kind o aioli offered...good ol' pre slice processed cheese like product to adorn your burger ! Great neighborhood bar with lots of history and the aforementioned charm.... Well worth a stop on your libatious travels ! read more

As happy as I am about the great new restaurants in Indy, one of the downsides is that the old standards have lost sight of who they are trying to keep up. Red Key is the real deal. Family owned, family run... everything a true neighborhood bar should be. Drinks are simple and not overpriced. Service is friendly and genuine. It's a working man's bar and a place where a bartender can have a drink in peace after a shift. The burgers are awesome. Like the kind you remember eating on the fourth July. No secret sauce, just simple and perfect. It's a real bar for genuine folks. read more

Okay. My husband and I live in the Mapleton-Fall Creek area so we have passed Red Key a few times. After reading some reviews I immediately was intrigued by the burger reviews because that seems to be what everyone was eating. So we decided to go in on a Monday evening for dinner. It is a smaller place so my husband and I wanted to sit on the patio, the front was full so we sat in the back. Which was fine, but it wasn't the best ambiance. We didn't know that they were cash only and the menu is very limited. Now, as we discussed at the beginning it is a smaller location when we walked in we didn't feel very welcomed by the staff, maybe this is just because they are super relaxed or because we were novices. Nonetheless we sat in the back, had a drink ordered burgers. There were no fries and there wasn't a variety of chips. Once the burgers arrived, they were great! They were juicy and big. Very deserving of their review. The ambiance and service did leave something to be desired so Steve and I concluded that we would go back and just get to go! read more

Best bar in Indy!! The staff is helpful and attentive without being constantly in your face. I highly recommend the burger here. It is simple and delicious for only 5$ read more

The woman at the bar is so rude! I will never attend this establishment. There are plenty of places in the area. I suggest you patron elsewhere. read more

Delicious burgers, thanks for staying open for takeout during these challenging Coronavirus times.

Ahhh yes! I have a new favorite old place to drink now. I've been here twice recently. The employees are super nice and seem very interested to know whether it's your first time there and equally as excited to offer any historical information about the Red Key. I've only drank beer and one very stiff mixed drink during my visits but I heard from a reliable source that their Manhattan is legit. Besides domestic beer in bottles they do offer a few decent craft beers in bottles and cans (3 Sun King varieties!) Red Key has a small menu but if you can get past their burger then you're more adventurous than I am. This is a hand-formed burger that is lovingly cooked on a grill that's been seasoned for 70+ years. Tasty fresh toppings, too. Delicious! I went to Red Key years ago with a friend and we both made mistakes that Russ the owner quickly chastised us on. My friend asked what beer they had on draft ("I've NEVER and WILL NEVER serve any draft beer!!") and then I asked if they had any drink specials ("DRINK SPECIALS!?! DRINK SPECIALS?!?!") Well, that pretty much scared us off. I was younger and more intimidated then. But, if ol' Russ was still around I'm sure I would find great humor in receiving such a verbal beating from him. Also, a great quote from Russ that our wonderful server told us the other night, "Martinis are like breasts - three is too many, two is just right, one is not enough." (Obviously Russ never saw the movie Total Recall.) Oh, one more thing, I think the jukebox is ultracool. All oldies. Probably most tunes are from the 1940's. 4 plays for $1. Leaves more money for burgers & Manhattans. :) read more