A Swiftie Guide to Indianapolis for the Eras Tour
Check out the best the city has to offer for Eras tour attendees according to lifelong Indy resident and OG Swiftie, Jenn!
🎵Welcome to Indianapolis!🎵 Ok ok, it doesn’t have quite the same ring as New York, but my little city still has plenty to offer. I’ve lived in downtown Indy for a decade, so I definitely have some thoughts on what to see and do with your short time in my hometown!
New to our Substack? We’re AP Taylor Swift, the podcast for Swifties who love to overanalyze lyrics! Check out our latest episode below or wherever you listen to podcasts
Coffee Shops
Ok, I’ll be honest with you right now. I’m not a huge coffee drinker (gasp!), but fortunately, I know many people who are. It’s top of the list because I know this is very important to many many people. Here are my recommendations for places that have the right vibes and the quality roast to match.
Chronic Coffee - 42 Virginia Ave
Open 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Daily
This cute little shop is right downtown, so super walkable if you are staying near Monument Circle. They offer both coffee and smoothies, so a great morning stop no matter your drink of preference. AND this weekend they are offering Taylor-themed drinks, merch, and will have plenty of friendship bracelets to trade with you!
Nine Lives Cat Cafe - 1315 Shelby St
Open 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Fri/Sat | Open 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sun
Yeah that’s right. We have a CAT CAFE. This cafe is located in the Fountain Square neighborhood (which if you are into local places, vintage clothes, and seeing a lot of people walking your dogs, it’s the place to be). They offer coffee, tea, some pastries, and CATS. The cat room is separate from the cafe, but you can sit at a counter and just admire the cats from a distance, or you can book a spot on their website ahead of time to go hang out with the kitties for a while. Seems like the perfect, chill way to spend a morning post-concert if you ask me…
Bovaconti - 1042 Virginia Ave
Open 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Daily
This jewelry-shop-turned-coffee-shop is incredibly Instagrammable and has incredible coffee to boot! I know I said I don’t drink coffee, but their Tiger Eye is my one exception. The back room is a great place to curl up with a book or a couple of friends, and it’s just a few stores away from the record store below!
Record Stores
Ok I made this plural, but there’s really only one place to go if you want to go to a record store in downtown Indy!
Square Cat Vinyl - 1054 Virginia Avenue
Open 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Fri/Sat | Open 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sun
Another gem in the Fountain Square neighborhood, this vinyl store is a VIBE. Whether you are looking for new vinyl or want to peruse used records, they’ve got you covered. They will also be hosting Taylor Swift listening parties at 2:00 pm each day of her performances, and they are offering a 10% discount on Taylor’s records!
Bookstores
It wouldn’t be an AP Taylor Swift list if we didn’t include bookstores! Fortunately, we have a few options for you.
Whispering Shelf - 414 N. College Avenue
Open 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fri/Sat | Open 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sun
This welcoming shop was created to be a place you want to curl up and hang out for a bit. They have a great selection of books and comfy chairs just waiting for you! It’s a great option, especially for out-of-towners who want to get out of their hotel but want to chill a bit. Go buy a book, get cozy, and enjoy an afternoon here!
Tomorrow Bookstore - 882 Massachusetts Ave
Open 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Fri/Sat | Open 11:00 - 5:00 PM Sun
This cute little bookstore is at the far end of Mass Ave near some great restaurant options (you’ll see them below!). This is the perfect place to browse before grabbing some food or as part of a walk along Mass Ave. to check out the many cute stores in that neighborhood. Bonus: they offer a 10% discount to teachers!
Indy Reads - 1066 Virginia Ave
Open 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Fri/Sat | 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sun
This bookstore helps fund a nonprofit with the same name! The nonprofit is working to promote adult literacy throughout Indianapolis, and the book store sells used books (and some new ones) to help fund their mission.
Restaurants
There are going to be dozens of lists of restaurants in Indy, but I do offer a unique twist for my recommendations. As someone who has pretty severe dietary restrictions (vegan and gluten free), these are my recommendations for places that cater to all sorts of diets!
Bodhi - 922 Massachusetts Ave
Open 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM Fri/Sat | Open 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM Sun
This instagram-worthy spot also serves some incredible Thai food. Because of this, it tends to be a pretty in-demand spot. They do not take reservations, so my personal recommendation is to go put your name in then use the wait time as an excuse to go to Tomorrow Bookstore and buy a book or two!
La Margarita - 1042 Virginia Ave
Open 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Fri/Sat | Open 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Sun
This Mexican restaurant is one of our top go-to spots (it helps that we live a ten-minute walk away). I’ve seen some debates about the best Mexican restaurant in Indy, and while I can’t speak to that argument, I can say that La Marg is both delicious and offers great options for all sorts of dietary needs. They even have vegan queso 🤤
Bru Burger - 410 Massachusetts Ave
Open 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM Fri/Sat | Open 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sun
Going gluten free was a recent change in my diet (thanks to my doctor who wants me to “feel better” or whatever), so discovering that Bru Burger actually has a decent gluten free bun option was thrilling. If you hit up Bru Burger, I also recommend walking just a bit up Mass Ave to also check out Silver in the City, a local store with artisan goods and fun trinkets!
Bazbeaux Pizza - 329 Massachusetts Ave
Open 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Fri/Sat | Open 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sun
Gluten free pizza crust has been the bane of my existence. So thank goodness Bazbeaux exists! Another Mass Ave classic (seeing a trend?), this pizza place has options for all dietary needs, and they are all delicious!
Nada - 11 West Maryland Street
Open 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Daily
You know how “New American” is a cuisine type? Well, I mentally categorize Nada as “New Mexican” even if that isn’t a thing. Nada is one of our go-to places for a more special night out. Their margs are killer, and it’s a crowd favorite for my group of friends. If you like spicy food, you gotta try the Kreeper salsa. I love it so much, my husband has been working to figure out the recipe, so he can make it for me at home! This place tends to be hopping, so I would recommend getting a reservation!
Other Things To Know
Getting around the city is pretty easy, because frankly it’s not that big of a place! Visit Indy put together this map that will show you key places and how to get around. They also have a whole landing page with all sorts of information about Indy and what all is going on this weekend! My list is limited to my favorite haunts, but Visit Indy has you covered with a much more comprehensive list if that’s what you want!
Depending on where you stay, walking will likely be pretty sufficient. Rideshare is always an option, but I also highly recommend taking advantage of our bike share system! We just restocked with a ton of e-bikes, and thanks to the Cultural Trail (seen on that map above), biking around downtown is really easy. If you want to explore more biking opportunities, check out this bike trail map that my husband just so happened to make for the nonprofit he volunteers with!