18 best Indy 500 bars and restaurants
See the drivers, hear the stories, find the treasures and party down.
Eat, drink, Indianapolis 500, in that order, although you could put drink first, then eat. These are the best Indianapolis area bars and restaurants to hear tall tales, spot drivers and/or get the official race week meal — breaded tenderloin, of course.
1. Union Jack Pub
6225 W. 25th St., 317-243-3300, unionjackspeedway.com
“Bravest of the Brave” British racer Jim Crawford was wearing his traditional silver Indianapolis 500 badge on one of his last trips to this pub adored by race fans. Crawford told owner Rick Rising-Moore to toss the badge into the bar’s fish tank, where it is said to remain to this day. Bobby Rahal’s 1986 Carb Day appearance at Union Jack is legendary. He was hanging out, signing autographs and being a regular Joe. Two days later, Rahal won the Indianapolis 500. The place is full of racing memorabilia, including a car and an A.J. Foyt Jr. room. The deep-dish pizza is pretty famous, too.
2. Foyt Wine Vault
1182 N. Main St., Speedway, 317-672-4246, foytwinevault.com
Here it sits, the last car A.J. Foyt Jr. drove at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1992, before he really, really retired in 1993. That epic Indy 500 was the final race for other greats including Rick Mears, Tom Sneva and Gordon Johncock. In 2015, Larry Foyt and A.J. Foyt IV, son and grandson of the racing legend, opened this swanky wine bar featuring family racing memorabilia and impressive Foyt Family Wine. Each vintage marks a milestone in Foyt Jr.'s racing career. The No. 61 Pinot Noir marks the year of his first win at the Indy 500. No. 77 Cabernet Sauvignon celebrates the year that Foyt Jr. become the first driver to win the Indy 500 four times.
3. Long's Bakery
1453 N. Tremont St., 317-632-3741
When Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso announced in April that he would skip the Monaco Grand Prix this year to run the 101st Indianapolis 500, social media blew up with drivers welcoming the Spaniard to Indianapolis. On Twitter, Conor Daly (@conordaly22) put it best: "Who is taking @alo_oficial to Long's Bakery first? #Indy500 #tradition" Indy's glazed doughnut institution is on the way to the Speedway and open daily 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
4. Mug ’n’ Bun
5211 W. 10th St., 317-244-5669, mug-n-bun.com
This west-side classic drive-in open since 1960 is so close to the Speedway that you never know who might show up for its famous root beer in frosty mugs, hand-dipped onion rings and giant breaded tenderloins, the latter being the unofficial official Month of May must-eat in Indy. Fans have seen the Andrettis here. Jimmy Fallon showed up in 2012.
5. Flat 12 Bierwerks
414 Dorman St., 317-635-2337, flat12.me
James Hinchcliffe lives in Indianapolis and likes Flat 12's Indy taproom. If you see him, raise a toast with Hinchtown Hammer Down. The refreshing ale, created in 2012, is a tribute to the Canadian driver. When Hinchcliffe announced his IndyCar contract with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, he did it at Flat 12.
6. Average Joe's
814 Broad Ripple Ave., 317-253-5844, facebook.com/AverageJoesIndy/
Drivers, team owners and crews like to hang out here thanks to owner Robert Sabatini's history. He's been a race spotter, team member and now race event manager. Some of the memorabilia on display was handed to him during races, for instance the piece frame from a Formula One car that probably cost it's owner about $125,000 new. This is one of the few bars where you may watch the race live. An old-school satellite dish picks up the signal. Look from specials throughout Race Week.
7. McGilvery’s Pub & Eatery
3009 N. High School Road, 317-290-1331, mcgilverys.com
Auto Racing Flashback Tuesdays feature broadcasts of famous past races from around the world. Autosport Radio broadcasts race news live from the pub at 7 p.m. each Tuesday, too. Ten televisions are available for watching IndyCar action. The pub is just 2 miles from IMS, but fans claim they have driven 700 miles for one of McGilvery's breaded tenderloins.
8. Mike's Speedway Lounge
3701 W. 16th St., 317-631-8807, mikesspeedwaylounge.com
Step back into the 1970s sports bar era at this friendly place where even NASCAR fans are welcome. You can't miss it thanks to the checkered flag paint job adorning the front of the building. Stew, chili, burgers and fried chicken livers are famous from the kitchen, open daily until 3 a.m. Live music is usually on the schedule.
9. Pit Stop BBQ & Grill
932 E. Main St., Brownsburg, 317-858-8370, pitstopbbqandgrill.com
Barbecue comes with a dose of IndyCar kitsch and caring. Smoked brisket, pulled pork, St. Louis ribs, hand-cut tenderloins and, oh yeah, some of the best fried catfish you’ll ever eat are served. Eat like mad from the checker flag-trimmed buffet served Wednesday nights and for Sunday brunch. Kids get to play on the Sprint car parked inside the restaurant. Racing-themed photos and artworks decorate the walls. Fundraisers staged here have benefited injured drivers.
10. 1911 Grill
1067 N. Main St., Speedway, 317-870-3780, sikarting.com
Last time I was busting up the kart track at 1911’s adjoining Speedway Indoor Karting track, I saw Sarah Fisher, and I swear she winked at my performance. After the challenging course of body-vibrating straightaways, shoulder-torqueing hairpins and a chicane that could shift a kidney, celebrate with a four-cheese bacon cheeseburger and beer at the grill.
11. Charlie Brown's Pancake & Steak House
1038 N. Main St., Speedway, 317-243-2502, facebook.com/Charlie-Browns-Pancake-and-Steak-House
Drivers past, present and probably future pop in this real-deal diner. Scan secluded back booths. You might get lucky and plop down next to a driver on a stool at horseshoe-shaped counters. Racers have their favorite spots, but don’t ask waitresses where. They're pretty darn protective of drivers’ privacy. House rules are firm: Keep your gawking to a minimum. No one, however, will fault you for asking for an autograph in the parking lot.
12. Big Woods Speedway
1002 N. Main St., Speedway, 317-757-3250, quaffon.com/big-woods-speedway
The bar centering the craft beer pub's grand hall is shaped like the nearby famous IMS oval. The bar is even positioned in the same north-south direction as the real thing. Tell your friends to meet you at Turn 1. Kiss the “yard of bricks” on the straightaway. Inside the loop, see a whopping 72 beer taps.
13. St. Elmo Steak House
127 S. Illinois St., 317-635-0636, stelmos.com
"It would be faster to list IndyCar drivers that have never been to St. Elmo Steak House," director of marketing Bryn Jones said. "We think of IndyCar drivers more as our regulars, and we see most of them throughout the year." Check the restaurant's website for a list of “regulars" including Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick, Roger Penske, Parnelli Jones, Sarah Fisher, A.J. Foyt, Dario Franchitti, Simon Pagenaud, Rick Mears, Juan Montoya, Bobby Rahal, Graham Rahal, Buddy Rice, Johnny Rutherford, Tony Stewart and all the Unsers and Andretties.
14. Checkered Flag Tavern
5725 W. Morris St., 317-247-6209
The neon sign boasting "beer, liquor, food" inside a big victory "V" under — what else? — checkered flags is way more impressive than the low, brick building it crowns. Driving by, you might shun this place, open since 1947 and updated a few years ago. If you do, you'll miss out on a little Indy 500 memorabilia and a whole lot of great food, namely jumbo buffalo wings, impressive breaded tenderloins and monster burgers including the fried mac and cheese burger, the double Checkered cheeseburger with ham, bacon, mushrooms, onions and a fried egg; and the bacon, peanut butter and jelly burger finished with sriracha and cole slaw.
15. Workingman's Friend
234 N. Belmont Ave., 317-636-2067, facebook.com/The-Workingmans-Friend
Graham Rahal reps Steak ’n’ Shake and legendary motor sports reporter Curt Cavin brings drivers and burgers together at his annual Burger Bash, but some drivers, including three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti, have been known to hit this 99-year-old bar for hand-formed, ground chuck patties smashed on the griddle until the meat’s edges are crisp and lacy. Thrillist deemed the cheeseburger with grilled onions Indiana's top burger. Cash only.
16. Fogo de Chao
117 E. Washington St., 317-638-4000, fogodechao.com
Stop ogling meat on a stick long enough to look around the dining room. This is the place to spot Brazilian drivers like Tony Kanaan. When Kanaan won the 2013 Indy 500, this is where he went to celebrate.
17. Café Patachou
225 W. Washington St., 317-632-0765, or 8697 River Crossing Blvd., (317) 815-0765, cafepatachou.com
The breakfast lunch hotspot known for broken yolk sandwiches and endless self-serve coffee attracts Scott Dixon, Alex Tagliani, Marco Andretti, Charlie Kimball and James Hinchcliffe. Keep your eyes open for drivers at both the Downtown and Fashion Mall area locations.
18. Bakersfield
334 Massachusetts Ave., 317-635-6962, bakersfieldtacos.com
While you’re slamming this place's famous tacos, margaritas and PBRs in boot-shaped mugs, look out for Josef Newgarden, Charlie Kimball and James Hinchcliffe.
Follow IndyStar food writer Liz Biro on Twitter: @lizbiro, Instagram: @lizbiro, Facebook and Pinterest. Call her at (317) 444-6264.