It's a time warp here. The atmosphere feels like a cool Wisconsin bar tucked away in the wintertime from the 60's. It's a friendly group of people from all backgrounds and ages without the loud buffoonery you get from other bars. I recommend for a bit of a homey basement feel if you're looking for some warmth. Food is also very good too (and cheap). Oh yeah, this place only takes cash! read more

Walked in, stepped back in time. O' Danny Boy on the jukebox made this "Mick" very happy. A pan fried burger like my mother used to make. A bartender that doesn't smile, just hands your beer over. A faint smell of time and lies woven into the walls that only the best bars contain. This place is a gem. read more

Red Key Tavern is a real Tavern, and that makes it rare. Friendly, decent drinks, good feel. You feel at home when you walk in the door, and you know the rules. read more

I'm really surprised this place got five stars, exposition about hardass bartenders be damned. I mean, maybe Kurt Vonnegut hung out here. But literary stars of his stature probably only carry around AMEX Black, not cash--in which case they'd be SOL at this bar. Of course, the small, dirty area is uber-smokey, so maybe the famous and nicotine addicted have taken a liking. read more

The Red Key is a true Indianapolis icon. It's famous neon sign has kept watch over College Avenue for well over 60 continuos years. Everything about The Key is original and untouched. It doesn't pretend to be anything that it is not. Be advised, she is quirky and set in her ways, but knowing the rules ahead of time will ensure that you will enjoy what this traditional bar has to offer. This historic tavern is like a time capsule that just happens to serve booze. The decor is about what you'd expect and simply oozes history. The bar itself stands strong against time with its orange shag coating which seems to act as a shield against the constant onslaught of thirsty local customers. The jukebox plays only 45s and still takes quarters featuring mostly big band selections. If you happen to hear "Danny Boy" playing for a third time, look for me enjoying a night cap. The tables and chairs are chrome and boomerang Formica. God help you if you are caught leaning back in a seat or moving the tables configuration without direct written consent from the staff. As I said, there are rules (for reference please refer to the pictures section of this Yelp page) most of which have been slightly loosened since founder and legend Russ (WWII veteran and bomber squadron member) passed away, but most are still intact. These may seem stuffy at first, but the rigidity has ensured the existence of this famous bar. If Kurt Vonnegut had to obey these same rules, "damn it" so do you and I. Most importantly the drinks are stiff and the bottled beers are served with a small jelly-jar style glass. The food menu is extremely limited, but good. Some of my neighbors suffer from a small addiction to their flat top grill hamburgers, so be careful. Service is straight forward and well steeped. This tavern is what every old neighborhood used to have and still should. read more

This is, in my opinion, the best kind of neighborhood bar. Cozy, divey, and friendly. Regulars there look like permanent fixtures of the place which is oddly welcoming. Even the bathroom graffiti is charming, in it's own way. Just a good, no frills place to grab a beer. read more

If dive bars are your thing, The Red Key Tavern is an institution among dives in Indy. I met the Indy chapter of Bourbon Women for a drink here and we had a great time. Nothing fancy, but they knew how to make us feel welcome and pour a stiff Manhattan. It's a cash only spot, and if you are picky about food plan on eating elsewhere, but definitely worth a visit. read more

This place! History, quirkiness, and damn good sandwiches. I wish it was in my neighborhood 'cause i would probably just move into their attic. This is the neighborhood joint of our imaginations. read more

Not really sure what all the buzz is about this place. Yeah it's divey, but EXTREMELY out dated. It's one of those places that reaks of stale air kind of like grandmas where nothin he been changed or moved for 40 years. Let alone cleaned! And that includes the shag carpet rug fronted bar. It's disgusting and loves to cover u in dust and must. And the beers we had were warm. Probably won't be back here. read more

This is one of the best bars in Indy. Yes, they have rules. Yes, the seating is tight. Yes, they have regulars, and I am unfortunately not one of them. Yes, the owners value freedom and allow smoking. Yes, they have great beers. Yes, when you're at the Red Key, you feel as though you've stepped back into better times. Yes, this is a one of a kind place. If you don't like neighborhood bars, stay out. You might be best suited for a chain bar like Brothers. This isn't a value judgment; it's the truth. read more

You can get a well made Manhattan here for around $4, so that alone is worth 4 stars. They also have the best server in town, Lana. They've got a limited food menu, but the salsa and the burger are both damn good. I love this place. read more

I had the pleasure of visiting the Red Key for the first time last night and loved it. As Brandon mentioned below, the manhattans are well made and cheap. The atmosphere is dive-y, but refined. The service was awesome and although it was my first time there I felt like a regular. This seems like a great bar to go to early weekday evening by yourself with a book and see where the night takes you! read more

My sister, friend, and I went to this little dive bar in the middle of the day and were the only customers. WE had a blast. It's old, outdated, and wonderful. Our bartender chatted us up and filled us in on the illustrious history of the bar and explained what some of the exotic decor came from. I was sold once I learned that Kurt Vonnegut was a huge fan as is author, Dan Wakefield. A fun, divey establishment. read more

This bar is a dying breed. Cash only, jukebox only has 45s, and the building has been there for 70 years. The food is made to order and is changed almost daily. Nick and Nora are extremely friendly and you never have to wait on a drink. The home made potato salad is a must try. The ONLY reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because it is cash only. You can get cash at the bar but it charges you money to do so. read more

I got bawled out by Russ Settle (R.I.P.) for the first time about thirty years ago and I've been coming back for more abuse ever since. The Red Key stands as one of the few unaltered features of the mid-century Indianapolis landscape. A limited shelf, an even more limited food menu, no draft beer, no swearing, no credit cards...who cares? Since they remodeled St. Elmo and did away with the front room as we knew it, The Key is one of the few places left in Indy that truly qualifies for "time warp" honors. Be prepared when you go there. They do have an ATM, but better to just be equipped with cash. And you will smell like an ashtray when you leave. Like I said. Time warp. They don't mix baby drinks. The flat-top in the kitchen is seasoned to perfection. In the cold months, the chili is awesome. .No bar in this town I'd rather frequent. read more

The Red Key is an Indianapolis Institution! Order a Manhattan and a burger with a side of potato salad (which has the consistency of mashed potatoes -- so good) and you are set for a delicious meal. read more

Great dive bar that receives kudos more for its atmosphere and cheap prices than their limited beer selection.

If you like local, cozy, vintage bars, this is your joint. 60 plus years and no changes, well I think the bar stools were replaced , but all the cracks and ceiling tiles are original. One of the few bars you can buy a fifth at without bartenders flinching at the request. Fantastic place to visit during the holidays, and cold long wintry nights! Or summer time... read more

An Indy icon, now non-smoking. One of the best burgers, tenderloins, or coney dogs in Indy. Great location, on-street parking. Limited menu, but very good. Good, attentive service. read more

If you have any expectation of getting food within an hour don't bother. The burn out line cook lady spent more time smoking cigs than actually cooking food - got there when the place was basically empty, after an hour of waiting for our two cheeseburgers we were told that "everyone is ordering food" - "everyone" showed up after we did, so not sure what happened. Anyway we ended up leaving. read more

First and foremost, the whiskey sours are to die for. That's why I go to the Red Key. I'm (finally) writing a review because of this story, however . . . I took my 80-year-old father there for a hamburger. He's been complaining for the last couple of years that all these high-end hamburger spots on Mass Ave. and in Broad Ripple I take him to are a joke -- no one makes a burger like he remembers from when he was a kid. I promised him the Red Key would not disappoint. It did not. My old, cantankerous, never-happy-with-anyone father actually made it a point to walk up to the bar to tell everyone how good his hamburger was. Seriously, when you can make someone like my Dad happy, it's for real. Go & grab a beer (or whiskey sour!) and burger now. read more

The food is made when you order it. How often does that happen. Best burgers in town, they will make them to order. The tenderloins are fresh, not deep fried, fresh breading.. read more

So glad that Indy bars are now smoke free...yet I can't help thinking this place was somehow better back in those days. Still, they make a good burger, small but decent beer list, and the friendliest service around. Probably really only a 3-star, but the staff and semi-eclectic crowd push it up into 4-star territory. read more

PBR in a bottle! This place is quaint. It is old school. It has character. It is not shiny or spectacular but it is solid and dependable. And it has a great burger. Do yourself a favor. Have one. read more

Happy birthday to one of the best local bars in town! If you want a simple and pleasant experience or a place to wind down after a long day, this is it! While the food menu is small, everything is homemade and delicious. No frilly drinks, just nice stiff drinks and a wide selection of bottled beer. No bells and whistles needed. read more

Four friend and I ended up at the red key after a simple dinner at the sinking ship down the road. Lana our bartender was absolutely wonderful and attentive. I was disappointed by the one draft beer there was on tap but the service was great and we quickly felt as if we were at home. read more

Neighborhood place for the past 60+ years. Established rules. Good simple food.

Visited for the first time. It was OK, maybe a little too cool. The jukebox selection was great for elevators. The chili was very tasty, and the whiskey sours were, too. We were almost accosted when leaving by a transient outside. read more

Russ, you will be missed. And in your honor, tonight when I go home I will keep my feet off the furniture.

The Red Key Tavern is AWESOME!!! I love the atmosphere there. The jukebox is full great music such as Crosby, Sinatra, The Andrew Sisters, and other good oldies. The drinks are made with a perfection that only 60 years of business can provide. Further, the braunschweiger sandwich is amazing. I grew up eating braunschweiger sandwiches and have never had one outside of the home that was worth a damn. I would tell anyone looking for a great drink and a pub full of history that the Red Key Tavern is one of the best bars in Indianapolis. read more

Fun neighborhood atmosphere, friendly service. The very best part about this bar is thta the crowd is truly, truly mixed. The jukebox is, um, something else. Nice evening out! read more

Walking into the Red Key Tavern was the equivalent of walking into Mr. freeze's layer. Not a warm welcome by any means; actually there wasn't a welcome at all! My boyfriend and I recently moved to Sobro and heard of the Red Key so we decided to check it out on a random Wednesday evening. Walked in and sat at the shag carpeted bar top and was surprised by how old and outdated it was on the inside. The girl working the bar walked by us multiple times without even a hi or some sort of acknowledgment. When she finally decided to greet us it was anything but pleasant or polite. We ordered a drink and then saw the tiny "cash only" sign. I told her we didn't have any cash and she proceeded to look at me with a dumbfounded look "well there's an Atm at the door." I said oh, didn't see it! Ha, my bad. Went to the 'atm' and it was low and behold a credit card machine with a $50 minimum?? Not cool. Went to the bar and and she said I need to take $5 from that. We're thinking are you kidding?? Their menu consists of 4 typical sandwich entrees so all in all I'm super low key and NEVER take the time to write reviews but this place flat out sucks. read more

If you're an Indianapolis resident, you should be familiar with Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s bar of choice, the Red Key Tavern. Still stuck in what looks like 1957, it is charming and provides a laidback, comfortable atmosphere. The majority of the people working there were much older and it gave the impression that they want to keep the pub as a local, non-clubby place to drink and socialize, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. The drinks are good, and with every drink, they bring you a glass because apparently that's how you're supposed to drink. There are small TVs and other interesting memorabilia scattering its insides. They serve strange pub food, such as bagged potato chips, potato salad, and candy bars, and I'm sure there's other food as well. The one obnoxious thing about this place is that they don't accept debit/credit cards. Much like its appearance, the pub is stuck in an era of decades past. Conveniently located on College, you can hardly miss the rusted Red Key Tavern sign as you go by. It's worth checking out as an Indy staple. read more

Timeless and classic. Get a burger and a regular mixed drink or a beer. This isn't a fancy place, so if you're looking for something over the top and fruity, you'll need to find it elsewhere. Braunschweiger is also on the menu. Try it. Just try it. read more

an Indy tradition....everyone should go at least once. Old school bar withgood BAR GRUB

This place is great if you like overpriced drinks and being treated like you're in the ninth grade. Drinks are around 50 percent more expensive than most places. This place also has loads of rules. No standing, no jackets on your seat, no swearing, can't be too loud, etc. The place is pretty dingy and has a slightly depressing atmosphere. When I moved into the area people told me this bar was pretty alright, but I found it quite disappointing. read more