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    The Whistle Stop

    4.2 (85 reviews)
    InexpensiveAmerican, Bars

    The Whistle Stop Photos

    Business Info

    THE WHISTLE STOP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Juke Box

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    Recommended Reviews - The Whistle Stop

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    Vodka Redbull
    Emm M.

    This is a great bar just south of downtown Indy. They have an incredible bourbon selection, great drink prices, and high quality bar food. It's got very cool "dive bar" aesthetics inside, too. The bartender was super friendly, quick, and very attentive. Finally they also have touch tunes! 10/10 this is a great bar. You definitely want to check it out.

    Just a bit of the eclectic decor.
    Philip M.

    This unassuming gem of a place is located near the Lucas Oil Stadium and blends so well into the neighboring buildings that it's easy to overlook, which is a shame. Even at the prime dinner hour we visited, it was fairly slow compared to what we expected to see around that time on a weekend. Regardless, the food and folks here are amazing! Emily and Taylor made us feel like welcome friends both nights we went in while attending GENCON, and we will definitely return any time we are in town. Tip: When you're here, make sure to ask about the food as there are likely more options than appear on the menu, including (possibly) bourbon ice cream. If you like BBQ, the brisket fries are not to be missed! My understanding is that they have a new owner who is very interested in the food side of things and likes to experiment, so look forward to new items with some regularity.

    Tank G.

    This is a hole in the wall bar right in the shadow of Lucas Oil stadium and across from the bus station. It is a dimly lit joint and has a bar area with seating and a dining area. There is also some seats that overlook the dining area. The bar is a full service bar and has a television above it. They serve signature cocktails and beer. They have a digital juke box in the bar area and the dining area has a couple of televisions and video games back by the bathrooms. There is metered street parking out front and some lots available in a reasonable walking distance. Currently, there is a lot of road construction going on around the bar, taking up some of the nearby street parking. I heard that this place had boozey ice cream, so I was all in. I had to come here. I was disappointed that they were no longer selling the ice cream, due to some controversy/drama. I was crushed (cue puppy face). I came here mainly for that, ohh well, I had to make the best of it. The bar has a local vibe. The bartender knew most of the patrons that were there very well. It was clear that they were regulars. The place has a limited menu with stuff like, burgers, fried banana peppers, an exotic grilled cheese, and chicken sandwiches. I ordered the brisket burger with fries. It took about 15 minutes for me to get my food and it was pretty good. Both the fries and burger were flavorful. I sat at the bar and eat my meal and my only knock was that the bartender lost track of me some times and got too wrapped up in conversations with patrons at the bar. Not a huge deal, because he was very friendly. But I was on a schedule and had to go. This is a decent hole in the bar located on the outskirts of the downtown indy bar/club district. It looks like more of a local spot and not very tourisy. It is definitely worth checking out.

    Miss this bar & Christie our fave bartender there. Can't wait until this pandemic ends so we can resume our "good times".

    Went yesterday with a few friends & to see our favorite bartender, Christie. Drinks & food were great & the best service ever. She never disappoints.

    Can't even explain this night!
    Elizabeth H.

    When downtown Indy calls your name you go here!!!! Smelling like you would expect...this divey watering hole promises a great vibe packed with all walks of life! I've never had a bad time here and word of advice to "newbies" it tends to get super busy before and after games. It is beside Lucas Oil Stadium and can at times receive a slew of homeless strange people wandering the streets. There is street parking if you are lucky but don't forget there is a parking lot beside the building. This establishment has kept me hostage because I was having such a good time! I have missed concerts and birthday parties because the music was good, and the vibe was even better! So if you find yourself looking for a "divey"-cool spot check it out!

    Whit W.

    The moment I came in here I was greeted met some locals and had a great time! That's why I love dive bars ! Great food drinks service and people! Thank you Kristi

    Bar seating
    Mike K.

    Was in town for the Olympic swimming trials at Lucus Oil and wanted a traditional dive bar to grab an app and cold beer. Happened to catch the owner Rob sitting at the end of bar. We had a great conversation about the bar and so much more. Rob even brought out a couple of his favorites which included duck empanadas and homemade butter pecan ice cream. It was such an experience- definitely the best we had in Indy. We like everything from the 5 star restaurants to good old fashion dive bars like this one. Cant beat good people and cold drinks. The Whistle Stop is the best - don't miss out.

    Those brisket fries are shareable AND delicious!

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    10 years ago

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    Photo of Kayla A.
    95
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    15

    9 years ago

    Pretty good food & a great place to stop before a Colts game for a drink and bite to eat. Also very close to Lucas Oil!

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    15 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Just had my first visit. I plan on making many more! Terrific atmosphere, great drinks. Summer is an awesome hostess.!

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    13 years ago

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Whistle Stop

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    4.1(411 reviews)
    1.1 miFountain Square
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    I found out Indy has a Tiki bar and this one seemed to be the popular one in the city so I decided…read moreto go. I went there late at night and by looking at the outside there was nothing that really stood out to me, BUT as soon as I stepped in it was a WHOLE vibe! Their tiki bar experience from top to bottom was decked out in tiki figures and every tropical decor you can imagine, it definitely felt like I was walking into a Hawaiian resort. The drinks were so fancy and they came in a fancy glass, tiki mug, or coconut shaped mug which I loved! I ordered the Tambaran Firedancer and I'm so glad I did, it came with a whole fire show and it tasted great. It had the right combination of alcohol and other juices. I also ordered the coconut cream pie and it was good. EDIT: My experience was so great that I came here again the next day and had an even better experience (didn't think they would too off the first one lol) The staff were so friendly and welcoming to me, they really made the night unforgettable! Second night I ordered the Corsair of Umbar and the basket of fries. The fries were amazing and definitely made my list of top five favorite fries!! The drink was good, but I wasn't a fan of the Fernet. Finding a parking space was easy since they have a parking lot, but the parking lot is pretty small.

    Hmm, bummed to say I'm knocking my rating from a 5 to a 3 star based on the food. As some others…read morehave mentioned, they updated their menu since I came here last year and not for the better. I came with two friends a weekend ago and the waiter said how they had a new chef and new menu and how great it was! So, we tried the pollo boracho, which was... fine. I mean, it's just braised chicken with veggies, which is tasty, but I miss the Polynesian options they had a year ago... drinks were still excellent, and service was good! We wanted to sit in chairs with backs and when they sat us at a table with stools, we asked and they didn't really offer a solution. There were some highbacked chairs in the corner, but the table between them was small and low to the ground... I wish the waiter had just asked us to wait 15 minutes for someone to leave, but that was not an option, apparently. Leaving the old photos from my visit a year ago, including the old lettuce wraps.

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    Strange Bird - Jiro-kei ramen

    Strange Bird

    4.5(403 reviews)
    4.8 mi
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    Seriously, this was one of the best meals I've ever had. Strange Bird truly has something for…read moreeveryone - whether you're planning a night out with friends, a date night, or celebrating a special occasion, it's the perfect spot. The staff, drinks, food, music and overall atmosphere are consistently exceptional. The cocktail menu is fantastic. My personal favorite is the painkiller - a delicious blend of coconut, rum, orange, pineapple, and nutmeg. It's served in a skull glass and tastes absolutely perfect. I also appreciate that they make their noodles in house! Have you ever had a meal you can't stop thinking about? That's exactly how I feel about the shoyu ramen. It features their noodles, truffle zest, pork belly, egg, veggies and chicken in a deeply flavorful broth. Order a side of rice and dip it into the broth and thank me later! Patio seating available.

    I had very high hopes coming here after all of the awesome reviews on this place, and I left a…read morelittle bit disappointed, because I personally don't think my experience lived up to the hype. We came in on a Friday night at 6:30 with no reservation, and had to wait ~5 minutes for a table of two. We were sat at a high top at the bar, which we appreciated. Our server greeted us quickly, and checked in a few times throughout the night. Service was average, nothing spectacular but nothing to complain about. I had a hurricane to start off. Packed full of the good stuff, and one was definitely enough for the night. Appropriate price for what you get. This drink is what brought my review from a 2 for the food to a 3 in total. We started off with pork Bao buns. The bun was spongy, but somewhat dry. The pork lacked any sort of flavor, and the sauce on it didn't do much for me. The next part of the meal was the most disappointing for me: the curry chicken wings. Let me tell you- I was excited for these. These lacked any sort of flavor at all, and the only thing saving it was the ranch. The wings had a good crisp, but the sauce was lacking taste. I had the Shoyu ramen for my main. It was a pretty average bowl of ramen, but for the price, I expected more. The pork in it was flavorful, but the chicken in it was odd in my opinion with an unexpected herby flavor. Overall, service was average (but we appreciated getting sat fast), drinks were strong (and saved the meal) and the food was average. Would go if invited by a friend, but probably would not return on my own.

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    The Whistle Stop - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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