Restaurants & Bars
In this section, you will find a list of recommended restaurants and bars located in the Bloomington area. For your convenience, we have provided a short description of each establishment, along with the type of cuisine. The dress code is flexible, so you can feel comfortable wearing a business suit or casual clothing at any of these establishments.
Che Bello
106 W. 6th St.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-323-0303
Inspired by generations of Italian cooking and culture, Che Bello brings a fresh twist to Italian American classics while staying true to our roots to deliver a vibrant menu of rich, delicious Italian fare everyone will enjoy. We are located in the heart of downtown Bloomington, Indiana; visit us to experience the tastes and traditions of the Italian heritage right here in Southern Indiana.
Crazy Horse Food & Dinner Emporium
214 W. Kirkwood Ave.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-336-8877
The specialties of the house include Angus beef burgers, quesadillas, steaks, barbecued ribs, and also a variety of salads, sandwiches and chef specials. A classic, comfortable bar includes a weekday happy hour from 4 to 7 pm, and entertainment is available on Sundays. Voted Bloomington’s Best Bar selection, with 175 spirits and over 80 beers.
FARM Restaurant
108 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-323-0022
Chef Daniel Orr and the FARM team strive to create crowd-pleasing recipes for every budget and taste, using local foods with global flavors. The menu changes with the seasons, and there are always daily specials. To Chef Daniel Orr, simplicity is beauty. As a chef, he draws from a lifelong curiosity about individual ingredients combined with extensive training in the art of finding food’s true essence and flavor. The result is simple, yet sophisticated; it's the best of American food tempered by classic European training.
Hartzell's Ice Cream
107 N. Dunn St.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-332-3502
Handcrafted, small-batch, inventive ice cream is Hartzell Martel’s passion, inspired by the wide variety of people that live in and pass through Bloomington. Carefully curating each ingredient and locally sourcing whenever possible, he composes nuanced flavors ranging from Italian Caffé Corretto and Japanese Cherry Wasabi to Indiana Apple Butter Rummy Pecan.
The Irish Lion Restaurant & Pub
212 W. Kirkwood Ave.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-336-9076
Céad míle fáilte! Established in 1982, the Irish Lion is an independently owned restaurant and pub located in downtown Bloomington. An authentically restored historic 1882 tavern with stained glass windows, cast iron columns, an original Brunswick back bar and Civil War vintage front bar. In its 33rd year serving authentic Irish fare, daily specials, fresh seafood, steaks, lamb, salads, soups, Dublin pub stews, poultry, pasta and pub grub. Offering an extensive wine list, full bar, 100+ whiskeys, 116+ single malt scotches and pouring the finest Irish & European imports on draft.
Janko’s Little Zagreb
223 W. 6th St.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-332-0694
Since 1979, our steaks are thick, USDA choice, and hand-cut daily. Come visit us at the corner of 6th & Morton, and experience what has become a Bloomington institution and home of the finest steaks in the Midwest. Little Zagreb’s comprehensive wine list has received the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. You may soon be sitting down for the best steak dinner of your life.
Lennie’s
514 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-332-2112
Established in 1989, Lennie’s introduced gourmet pizza to Bloomington and has since become one of the town’s most popular and eclectic eateries. Lennie’s set another local landmark in 1994, with the addition of the first commercial brewery in Monroe County and the first brewpub in Southern Indiana.
Malibu Grill
106 N. Walnut St.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-332-4334
Malibu Grill is one of Bloomington’s most popular downtown restaurants. The innovative menu features hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, unique pastas, wood-fired pizzas, great burgers, amazing appetizers and an unparalleled selection of drinks. Voted B-town’s best restaurant multiple times, Malibu Grill is the perfect choice for a unique dining experience in the heart of downtown. The bar features a wide variety of memorable martinis, local draught beer and an extensive wine list. Outdoor seating is available, weather permitting.
Michael’s Uptown Cafe
102 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-339-0900
The Uptown mission is simple: seeking to nourish the body, mind and soul of all guests. A Bloomington landmark since 1976, they serve a variety of items from breakfast through dinner (including brunch on Saturdays and Sundays), while providing a comfortable gathering place for all.
Nick’s English Hut
423 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-332-4040
Nick’s English Hut is located in the heart of downtown Bloomington on the legendary street of Kirkwood. This restaurant and pizzeria offers American and Italian cuisine, featuring their famous pizza, strombolis and burgers. Experience great drink menus, incredibly fresh and interesting daily specials. Nick’s is a wonderful family experience as well. Whatever dining experience you may want — lunch at the bar, dinner in the Hoosier Room while watching an IU game, or a family dinner in our back room — Nick’s is the place.
Samira Restaurant
100 W. 6th St.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-331-3761
Home of Afghanistan cuisine, including kebabs, vegetarian dishes, rack of lamb, salad entrees and more. The buffet includes baked chicken, meatballs in tomato sauce, and a variety of side vegetable dishes, white and spiced rice, green salads and desserts.
SmokeWorks
121 N. College Ave.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-287-8190
SmokeWorks is a Memphis-style dry rub barbecue joint with a silly amount of bourbon, whiskey and moonshine. Our menu features brisket, ribs, turkey, chicken and sausage, alongside made-from-scratch southern sides. Everything at SmokeWorks is made in-house daily using family recipes, and our meats are smoked up to 18 hours on Indiana hickory.
Whether you’re joining us for lunch, dinner or solely a drink, you’re sure to experience an array of flavors that will transport you to the heart of Tennessee.
Southern Stone
405 W. Patterson Drive
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-822-3623
Starting in the late 1800s, Bloomington, Indiana, began to supply the world with limestone. This limestone was quickly recognized as the "the world's greatest limestone." Tying our roots in limestone with our love of Southern fare, we created Southern Stone. With quality local and organic food as our main focus, we are constantly working to provide our guests with an exceptional dining experience.
The Tap
101 N. College Ave.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-287-8579
At The Tap, great beer is what we do best. Each day you’ll find Bloomington’s best beer selection, with 90 hand-selected brews on tap, and our draft menu changes every day. Our brewery is located on-site and offers 20 original beers on tap to choose from. Enjoy a pint of our brewer’s best work in our upstairs bar or in our lower Brew Pub off Kirkwood Ave. You can even grab a growler of one of our unique small-batch beers to-go.
In addition to our beers on tap, we have over 400 bottled beers to choose from, featuring a wide variety of craft and import styles from breweries around the world.
If you’re looking for something new, try one of our blended drafts (a combination of two or more draft beers layered together to create a new flavor) or beer shots (a smaller mixed beer concoction with higher ABV) for a remix of flavor. For those who prefer something other than beer, we even have wine, served uniquely on tap.
Trojan Horse Restaurant & Tavern
100 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-332-1101
The Trojan Horse Restaurant & Tavern has been a cornerstone of Bloomington since 1978. Almost as famous as the gyros and falafels is the view for the passers-by of the lamb and beef being carved on the spit. The public-view kitchen was designed to give the same feel as the traditional Greek sandwich shops in Chicago, but the Trojan Horse still maintains Bloomington’s small town, Courthouse Square atmosphere. Stop in for all your Greek and American favorites, and don’t forget the baklava — order it à la mode with their unique baklava ice cream.
Upland Bloomington Brew Pub
350 W. 11th St.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-336-2337
Known to friends and family as simply “The Upland.” Although there is a small bar area, the rest of the dining room is family friendly and includes a yummy kids' menu. The talented kitchen crew utilizes local proteins and produce whenever possible to design seasonal lunch and dinner menus and weekly specials. There are also plenty of creative and delicious vegetarian and vegan options available daily.
The Village Pub
Princess Theatre
217 W. 6th St.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-668-2085
The Village Pub is a high-end gastro pub with a regional twist. We have taken the hospitality, tradition and warmth of your classic American pub and married it with the soul, vibrancy and eclectic nature of the Bloomington community. In our search for the next great cocktail experience, we strive to provide the best ingredients with new creative techniques. We do what we love for you — and it is our greatest pleasure to serve you the newest experience in Bloomington.
Yogi’s Grill and Bar
302 N. Walnut St.
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 1-812-822-3591
Since 1992, Yogi’s Grill & Bar has been a place for meetings of the minds, power lunches, pain and joy through awful and fantastic sports seasons, and an outlet to voice your opinion no matter how right or wrong it may be. Located just north of the downtown square, Yogi’s new location offers amazing design, awesome food and drinks, and exceptional service.