This controversial mural is the work of The Droops, an Indianapolis-based artist collective who were 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. read more

Good bar with friendly staff. On weeknights it's a chill place that makes good drinks at a decent price. 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. read more

great food : Snuggs Pizza service : the bartenders are a bunch of sweeties the spot is the spot read more

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I've only been here a few times but we always meet unteresting people here. We live to sit by the outdoor wood fire and just strike up cinversations. Great cocktails, too! read more

Pizza was good! Drinks are strong..just the way we like them. Ambiance..grunge bar. Bartender was great.

I've been to the Spot a few times. The service is always great, the decor is interesting.. never really a dull moment. The spot offers such a wide variety of events as well. So nice to experience something different than the usual read more

Okay, I didn't get any pictures because I was intimidated by the local hipster crowd, who were so "cool" they wore full tweed blazers in 100 degree weather (literally multiple people, multiple genders in tweed blazers- did I miss the cool kid memo???) But this is probably my favorite bar In town!! The bar patio is suuuuppppperrrrr fun and natural-not like most places in town that are right in the road, they have done a fantastic job with landscaping and making you feel like you are in your own place. The bartenders are friendly, fast, and great at recommendations. No table service, only bar. The wood fired pizza they offer through a vendor who comes on the weekend is the absolute best pizza in town, and you can do take out! My only complaint is that it is to popular with other young people, so that parking is chaotic! Definitely carpool or walk!! Also they allow smoking on the patio, which is gross. Don't smoke kids. read more

Great people, great atmosphere, great place.... "MY" bar... love the grieve I've made here

The Spot Tavern has the BEST bartenders. Especially when Max is working! He plays the most fun music to dance to and was mixing up wild and delicious cocktails. The patio is the frosting on this crazy cake. There are wild sculptures and sunflower gardens in the summer. Hop vines and bamboo tower over your head. Spot has also curated an excellent collection of artwork..floor to ceiling ...painting, lights, graffiti, challenging and exciting murals all over the exterior, ect) oh yeah, $5 pizza pies. YAAAASS read more

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Great service, great coffee, and the food is very good. I always get the Chai tea and it is fabulous.

if you're under the age of 45 do not come here, and don't come here if you don't want to sit and stare at a live band instead of dancing. we got cut off after dancing to live music and having three drinks. staff is rude and old heads do not like when you have a good time. read more

Awesome place to hang out. Good music, vibes, artsy. Drinks are well priced and entertainment when I went was awesome. Cool patio/garden outside to hang out on. read more

The best selection of whiskey in town. Lots of seasonal rotating craft beers. The patio is undoubtedly the best in the area. Oh yeah, they also have $5 pizzas. read more

This place is dirty, the decor is creepy and the service is slllooooowwww. Maybe you have to be a hipster to appreciate those things.

Best bar in Lafayette if not all of Indiana. Whenever I'm in town, I drop in. Great people. read more

Spot Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Kinda sketch. And I kinda like it. My friend said this is not a bar he'd like to take his mom to. Then he took it a step further and said it's not a bar he'd like his mom knowing he's at. Well, that should tell you something. If you've been to some of the other dive bars in the area, then let me differentiate this one a bit from the others. This isn't THAT crowd. This crowd seems more like a branch of the Black Sparrow crew has exiled into the Spot Tavern. And it makes sense; it's owned by the same guy. A bit more about the place itself - The entrance doesn't quite look like an entrance. It's alright, don't try going around, that's really the door in. As you walk in it's divided into two rooms: the first is just a divey long bar, the second to the left is the pool hall with some AMAZING creeptastic art up. I wish that portrait of a lady was up for grabs. They do it "two ways" so you have the choice between beer and wine. I think they have ginger ale and coke to mix and simple syrups. The bartender made some interesting wine cocktail mojito thing if you want to classy it up a bit. Bartender is supah friendly, and the peeps are pretty chill. Ah, and no credit cards. But I don't even care. read more

This place is drrrrty, filthy. Love it. Beer selection is hipster...so is the crowd. Word, bro. read more

The Spot is one of my favorite places to go just to hang out. It's a little rough around the edges, but that just makes it feel more like home. Just somewhere to go and feel like you're among friends. There isn't a full bar, but the selection of beer and wine is rotated frequently and each one is worth a try. Service is quick. The bartenders are interesting and there's always a high probability of seeing the owner, who is one of the friendliest people I've ever met. There's free pool and good conversation, but one of the best features of the spot is the live music. Local and touring bands are always coming through. The bands are interesting and most will hang out after their shows to mingle. If you like any kind of music, the spot is for you. I've seen everything from folk and punk to indie and electronic. All in all, the spot is the best spot in town. read more

I think this place is a great idea! You can smoke! Neat outside setup. Crazy art. I like it but..... They don't even carry my beer!?!? Corona!! Come on! Reality of the situation is that I wish they carried my beer because then I would hang out there. read more

A rocking dive bar club scene in this town. The bar has,a classic old school tavern look where dive meets modern swank bar club. A really interesting place but eish it had more drinks and more diverse crowd as it pretty much resembled a college age college hipster pretending clintel. read more

The Spot is a fun, eclectic, tavern-style bar that is a great place to meet new people. It serves private beers, high grade liquors (some of them $12 a shot), and has specials (this week's is a 16oz Old Tavern and Well shot for $5 total). The Spot hosts bands on a weekly basis in varying music styles, with and occasional open mic night, as well as open comedy nights. Make use of the large outdoor area that is fenced in. Weathered style interior, and controversial murals span the sides of the building. My only complaint: it's just a tad filthy. Fly traps hang from the ceiling and are full of hundreds of gnats. Gnats will linger by your drink wether on the bar or a table. Otherwise, very accepting crowd and bartenders who remember your name and favorite drink! read more

Unexpectedly in Indiana and literally stumbled upon THE SPOT. What could more one want? Totally underused patio complete with twinkle lights, buddha statues, murals and old school chairs. Delicious beer on tap and good bottle selection. We can't be sure but Paul Balwin seems to run this shit and I would gladly live under the rule of his benevolent hipster dictaorship. One critique--please remove creepy clown head. Free wifi! Why work from home? We would consider driving the 2 hours to come hang here again... read more

Spot Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Another Paul Baldwin creation. It's rough around the edges, but in a good way. There isn't a full bar, but the beer and wine selection is pretty varied. The patio in the back is also great, provided the weather is cooperating. read more

Hipster dive bar like you usually only find in much larger cities. Nice patio area and plenty of little nooks to lounge in. Only downside is that it allows smoking inside and it is only beer and wine, no hard liquor. Good craft beer selection in bottles and cans though. Friendly staff and owners, live music. read more

Favorite bar. Creepy and weird, and if I am wanting to get into a whole new world for a show, or time on the patio, it's the place to be. Loses luster because of the cigarette smoke for me, but that does vibe with the rest of the place, and I'm usually outside anyway. Loving the diverse, and ever present array of music being offered. Check it out. read more

This is an awesome bar - the owner, Paul, Brings a lot of music into this community and always supports the creative arts scene. It's a seedy place with fun wall art and a painting of a vagina in the woman's bathroom! No nonsense at the bar - only beer and wine, but that doesn't stop you from having a good time. Beware that people smoke inside, so you will come out of there smelling a little smokey... The staff here are some of the friendliest I've ever met. Can't wait to come back! read more

Best bar in town. The patio is the most laid back hangout spot in town if it's not too cold. A few music shows and/or art installations per week, some of them with a fair avg $5 cover charge. Beer prices are totally ok. Bartenders will treat you well. Don't go anywhere else! read more

Cool grungy place with a unique atmosphere and live music. They do different series and bring in talent from all over. Definitely a pretty chill spot. read more

If I was into surly hipsters serving overpriced drinks with apathy while no name bands show up fashionably late and play ironic music; this would be a five star review. read more

Phone and was stolen while we were there. Seems to happen often there... Ladies, watch your purses and phones!

Exceptionally nice bartender (Scot aka Scooter). Showed us around & played awesome music. Friendly conversation & laid back. Loved it.