If you’re looking to spend the perfect weekend in Indianapolis, look no further.
This curated itinerary is jam packed with ideas and places to visit during a weekend in Indianapolis.
I recently visited Indy with one of my best friends and am happy to report that we shopped, ate, got coffee, thrifted, brunched, and walked around the city a bit during our one-night stay. All in all, Indianapolis is a fun destination for a quick weekend.
Where to Stay for the Perfect Indianapolis Weekend?
I’d recommend if you are flying (and even driving like I did) to stay in the city center to make the most of your short visit. There are plenty of Airbnb’s and hotels nearby to accommodate your stay.
We stayed one night in a downtown Airbnb within easy walking distance of the city center. It cost around $160 with taxes and fees. I will say the unit wasn’t the freshest smelling and did have more of a budget feel to its furnishing, but it had a secure entrance and served the purpose for the one night we spent.
Parking in Indianapolis
As for parking, we used the Cultural Trail Lot located at 131 N Alabama Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204. It was less than 10 minutes to walk to our Airbnb and the daily rate was $6.
Parlor Public House for Coffee and Brunch (and Even Cocktails)
When it comes to dining, Indianapolis has something for everyone. From classic American fare to international cuisine, the city’s food scene is sure to satisfy. For a truly unique experience, head to the city’s Fountain Square neighborhood, where you’ll find a diverse array of restaurants and bars.
I’d recommend a stop at the Parlor Public House cafe and cocktail bar. The space is a hub for digital nomads, students looking to study, and friends meeting up. There’s plenty of space to sit and ample light to keep the vibes lively as well as all the plants.
The vanilla latte was good and so was the chicken salad croissant. Mmm. As an added bonus, the playlist was impeccable. And while the music did tend to be on the louder side, the shop offered three soundproof rooms that guests could use when taking calls. How thoughtful. This feature definitely increases the remote work-friendly rating.
St. Joseph’s Brewery Indianapolis, IN
If you’re looking for a solid beer and burger, check out St. Joseph’s Brewery in Downtown Indianapolis. There’s ample parking behind the building and the venue is set in a historic chapel.
What to order: start off with a flight of beer of course. Get the lay of the land before choosing your pint. Next, order the Reifen burger, complete with smoked cheddar, house-cured thick-cut bacon, and IPA BBQ sauce. This burger was stunning and the beer-battered fries to go with it were next level.
I give it a 10/10 for the atmosphere, the beer, and the food.
Whole Foods for Ice Cream and Dessert
I don’t know about you, but going to Whole Foods just feels like a vacation to me. It’s so expensive in there for regular groceries, but as a kid who was actually really health-conscious, I really loved going to Whole Foods.
This is why the downtown location of Whole Foods easily makes this list. It is within less than 10 minute’s walk of the Airbnb we stayed at and is the perfect spot for picking up a different kind of pint, one that hits the sweet spot. Gelato, almond butter packets, chocolate, and tea ended up being the perfect after-movie and chatting snacks for our girl’s trip. Plus, while Whole Foods may be too $$ for everyday groceries it is still the cheaper option
Yolk for Brunch
Yolk is a restaurant downtown that serves a delicious brunch menu. Think waffles, pancakes, eggs, and French toast. They’ve got it all. I’d say the menu is rather pricey and the vibe is definitely that of a chain, but it was still a good time.
I’ll also say the coffee I ordered ended up being way too sweet, so you may want to stick to the regular coffee menu. The specialty latte was served in a giant vat, filled with too much sweetener, and topped with whipped cream.
Thrifting in Indianapolis
There are quite a few thrift stores, vintage stores, and antique stores in Indianapolis. The regular thrift stores were reasonably priced and the vintage stores were more curated and pricey as a result, and the antique stores were vast and varied in price.
- Midland Arts and Antiques Market: 907 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46202 – Expect to spend 2 -3 hours here. There’s a mix of art, antiques, clothing, and jewelry.
- Mission 27 Resale: 1618 Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46203 – mostly clothing and some unopened cosmetics. Good selection. Similar to a Good Will.
- Goodwill near Mission Resale: 1260 Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46203
- Zodiac Vintage: 1060 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203 – a curated vintage shop with associated prices. Good selection of denim and vintage dresses.
Virginia Avenue is a great little strip to park and walk. There are plenty of boutiques, a couple of vintage shops, an aesthetic record store (Square Cat Vinyl), and a leather goods shop called Howl + Hides where they handmade all the bags in store.
Coat Check Coffee
For some afternoon coffee before heading home, or during one evening even, check out Coat Check Coffee: 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204. The building has a somewhat historic vibe with some history of the area printed along one of the halls. The seating is honestly not that prevalent and while the coffee is good, you will have to pay closer to $7 for a latte, so it’s on the steeper side.
All in all, there are too many places to visit if you just have a weekend in Indianapolis. The food scene is one that is underrated according to this Condé Nast article. A few other places to head to for a bite to eat include:
- The Eagle
- The Yard House
- Livery
- Leviathan Bakehouse
Overall, Indianapolis is a fairly walkable city if you’re staying in the downtown area. If you’re looking to do some thrifting in some other areas, a car or ride share is advisable.
